"Tonks, escort Potter back to his common room." Moody said and Harry shook his head.
"Like being dragged through the castle by two Aurors wasn't enough." Harry muttered but Moody heard him all the same. "And now I have to move with one following me around."
He pretended not to notice the hurt look that crossed Tonks's face.
"You shouldn't have been the first person at the scene if you didn't want to be bothered."
"And like I've told you about five times before, I was only there only because Hagrid dragged me with him."
"Right, your perfect alibi." Moody snorted showing how much he though of Harry's alibi. "Tell me again, what were you doing in the forbidden forest, which might I remind you it's forbidden."
"If you wish to enforce school rules, perhaps you should take a position as teacher." Harry commented and Tonks gaped at him while Moody growled.
"The forest, Potter...what were doing in the forest?"
"Potion ingredients, acromantula blood to be exact." He said staring the veteran Auror in the eye. The human one at least. "Do I have to repeat myself again, Mr. Moody or will that be all?"
Tonks snorted and Moody glared at her. "You find this funny,?"
"Sorry but I've never heard anyone call you 'Mr. Moody' before."
"Well Mr. Moody, I'm hoping that I won't be seeing you for a long time." Harry interrupted whatever the man had been about to say to Tonks. "Come on, auror, let's get this over with."
They walked for a couple of minutes, Tonks glancing at him every few seconds. She somehow managed to keep herself from tripping the whole time.
"You haven't tripped once." Harry commented. "I take it the academy has been to your satisfaction."
"Yeah, I guess it was." She paused and stared at for a second before blurting out. "What did I do to you?"
"Nothing to my knowledge, why?"
"We haven't seen each other for almost two years and after this I'll probably not see you for another year and when we get a chance to talk, you don't want." Tonks said, all in one breath and when she was finished she took two deep breaths before she continued. "Did something happen while I was away?"
"Quite a lot has happened since you joined the Academy, Nymphadora." He ignored her hiss of annoyance. "But nothing that could change the nature of our relationship."
"Then why_"
"Because I was making a point." Harry interrupted her. "There already rumors that I'm the heir of Slytherin and my anonymity of living in the shadows isn't being helped by this. Not to mention Moody seemed to be convinced that I had something to do with Lockhart despite everything that says otherwise."
"Yes we'll, if paranoia had a face, it would probably be scarred and with one magical eye." Tonks laughed, looking like the girl he remembered. "It's nice seeing you again though."
"I know." Harry said before he pulled her into a hug. "Which is why I'm doing this for once."
"Oh!" She squeaked at the unexpected contact before sighing and pulling Harry closer. "This is nice."
"Uhm." Harry hummed in agreement before pulling back while Tonks clung onto him. "That's enough, I have a reputation to maintain."
"But it was only three seconds!"
"Three seconds too many." He said firmly and started walking. "So, tell me all about Auror academy."
While Tonks chattered away, Harry listened with half an ear as he considered what to do with Daphne Greengrass. He subtly directed them, taking secret passageways and soon they were standing before the entrance to the hospital wing.
"This is the hospital wing, Harry!"
"So I can see." He replied in amusement. He reached into the inside of his robes and handed her a piece of parchment. "That is my version of the Marauder's map, it will show you where Hardwin is and direct you to the shortest route to reach him."
"I uh..." Tonks looked conflicted and Harry raised an eyebrow at her. "Oh screw Moody, I'll just leave this with Hardwin. Thanks Harry!"
With one last attempt at a hug which Harry managed to avoid and she was soon bounding down the hallway. And promptly tripped and crashed into a suit of armor.
"Bloody suit." Tonks cursed as she picked herself up.
"Bloody girl." The suit answered.
"Suit!" She spat back as she continued running.
"Girl!"
"Suit!" By this point she had reached around the corner. "Bloody, buggering suit_ watch where you're going midget!"
Harry raised an eyebrow at the firstie who rounded the corner clutching a bleeding nose. Tonks was no longer anywhere to be seen. Shaking his head, Harry entered the hospital wing. He saw the groups of parents hugging their children who had just received the Mandrake cure.
"You're late." Madam Pomfrey said the moment she saw him. "The last person got their dose thirty minutes ago."
"Sorry Poppy, I was a little caught up with the investigation." Harry replied to the healer. "Apparently, Moody thinks that I had something to do with Lockhart's death."
"If only I knew who had done it, I would have given him a gift." Pomfrey said, anger clear in her voice. "Such scum shouldn't be left roaming around. I sincerely wish he had suffered before."
"Really trying that oath of yours, Poppy."
"Oh, dont worry about me, I've got years of knowing what I can and can't do because of my healer's oath." She stared at him. "You on the other hand, I am worried about what you'll do with yours."
"I don't plan on becoming a healer, Poppy." Harry shook his head.
"I've got five years to convince you." Poppy replied before leaving Harry alone.
Harry walked towards one bed and pulled back the curtains to look at the girl behind. Daphne Greengrass was pale, ridiculously do and there was a thin sheet of sweat on her skin. And she was shivering.
"What...what did you do to me?" She stammered when she noticed him.
"Saved you from something horrible and you decided to double-cross me." Harry told her. "I have to commend you though, it was a good idea, trying to send me to Azkaban. After all, I can't collect my favours while I'm rotting in prison for life."
"What did you do to me, Potter."
"Just something to make sure people see what I want then to." He said and waved his wand over her, ending the spell he had cast on her. "You'll start to feel better in a few minutes, just remember that I do not appreciate being double crossed."
-PRPRPRPRPR-
"So, I guess that episode is done with." Hardwin sighed as he tossed a stone into the Llack lake. "I can't believe it has only been one week since we came back from the break."
"Time doesn't actually fly afterall, I guess."
"Far from it, but I expect with things going back to normal maybe it will go fatser."
"I wouldn't hold my breath on the normal part." Harry commented from where he was lying in the ground watching the evening sun. "The 'heir' has been pretty quiet, I imagine this would a good time as any to make things more interesting."
"I still can't believe that some people think that one of us could be the heir." Hardwin said. "I mean, for you you practically bleed Slytherin but me?"
Harry didn't answer and Hardwin sighed.
"Harry, how did you drain him of all his blood?"
"Ever had of Carnwennan?"
"Uh, Merlin's unbreakable dagger?"
"Not exactly. It belonged to Arthur but was crafted and enchanted by Merlin." Harry said. "The dagger was said to be able to cut through anything no matter how thick or hard it was."
"Oh, and why does this have to do anything with Lockhart?"
"What people didn't know was that it got it's capabilities through absorbing blood from magical creatures and Arthur's enemies." Harry said and Hardwin's eyes widened.
"You have the dagger?"
"No, but the goblins have crafted something for me with the same potential." Harry said and the dagger appeared in his hand. "It was enchanted so that I can summon and banish it at will and also it can't cut anyone related to me by blood, meaning you, mom and dad."
Harry passed the dagger to Hardwin who held it carefully, while he examined it's intricate designs. "I don't know, Harry. This sounds pretty dark."
"Oh, it's dark alright." Harry replied. "Draining someone of their blood? The process is probably as painful if not more painful than the Cruciatus."
"Right." Hardwin said while swiftly giving back the dagger to him. "And you think it wise to carry this around with all the suspicions?"
"I don't carry it around, stupid." Harry scoffed. "Like I told you, I can summon and banish it at will and when I banish it, it goes back to the Peverell vault in Gringotts. So unless the goblins get tired of my gold and betray me, I'm pretty safe as far as the dagger is concerned."
The two brothers stayed silent for almost a minute, one watching the Black lake while the other rested on the ground with his eyes closed, lost in their thoughts. After some time, Harry stood up and walked over to his brother.
"We make quite the pair, don't we?" Harry said and Hardwin simply nodded. "Two identical brothers but we couldn't be any more dissimilar. Light and shadow, and each comfortable with their role."
"What happens now?"
"Now, my moment in the light has come to an end. It's time to return to the shadows." Harry said and Hardwin suppressed a snort at Harry's dramatic declaration. "Which means it's time for you to shine again."
-PRPRPRPRPR-
Time did fly after that day. With quidditch, classes and homework, life had gone back to normal. At least as normal as life can be in a magical castle packed with magic welding teenagers.
Dumbledore brought some woman to cover for Lockhart's absence who did her best to help cover the time they had lost with Lockhart. Quidditch continued and Gryffindor were in the lead in the run for the house cup though Slytherin was a close second.
In Slytherin, life had become pretty interesting. While he had managed to return to the 'shadows' as far as the school was concerned, in the Slytherin common room it was different.
Calling in one of the five favours Daphne owed him, he had instructed her to bring him at least two clients that need favours. The rumors that said he had been the one to off Lockhart while disputed by the evidence continued to spread and people gave him a wide-birth.
Daphne did her part deligently, finding him people who wanted favours. Sometimes it was simple things like delivering a love notwe to a girl or boy, sometimes it was things like revenge or intimidation. Harry managed to do all these and somehow coming managing to come out squeaky clean.
For a price of course.
Harry soon gained a reputation. It wasn't spoken about in public, only those in the know could talk about it. Harry Potter, second-year Slytherin could do anything. All you have to do is ask him for a favor and offer him a good enough price and he will do it for you.
By the end of April, his reputation had spread to other houses. No one knew it or maybe they just refused to acknowledged it really but he practically ruled Slytherin. With the favours was owed, one word from him and your life would be a living hell.
Even the heir of Slytherin had practically faded to the background, his episode of petricifications almost completely forgotten. After all there was someone else, the Devil of Slytherin as he had been dubbed by the muggleborns. Making a deal with him was apparently like making a deal with the devil.
A week to the end of year exams, this all changed. The students had finished supper and it was
just a few minutes to curfew when an alarm sounded through the castle. All students were to go back to their common rooms for a roll call. The 'Heir' had struck again.
-PRPRPRPRPR-
The moment Snape finished the roll call, Harry excused himself and went to his room. According to Snape, one student had been attacked while two had been taken to the chamber.
He pulled out the map and looked for Hardwin. He wasn't surprised to see him just outside the staffroom. Only he wasn't alone, he was with Neville and Weasley. After that, Harry checked for any other students of interest to him.
Luna, the girl he planned to make his apprentice was missing as was Ginny Weasley, the girl he had suspected of being under the 'Heir's' control. Hermione was in the hospital wing, and she was probably the reason his brother was roaming around looking for her attacker.
His study of the map was interrupted by a knock on his door. Stowing it back into his pocket, Harry opened the door to see Tracey Davis. "Uhm hi, Harry."
"Hello, Tracey." Harry replied with a small smile and the girl blushed slightly. Apparently the brunette had developed a crush on him after her best friend told her of his save. "What can I do for you."
"I uh, well there is a whole lot you can do for me but this is probably not the best time." She grinned at him. She was also very bold and has no issues with speaking her mind. "The Weasley twins are outside the common room. I think you just got your latest clients."
"Thanks, Tracey. I'll be right there."
"Actually I was thinking, that I escort you down."
"I'm sure I can find my way to the common room."
"I know but I thought it would be nice if we descended together." She grinned in an attempt to look seductive. "You know, hand in hand?"
"I don't think so." Harry said and pushed past her.
"Hey, wait for me!"
-PRPRPRPRPR-
"We need your help to save our sister."
"Apparently there is nothing you can't do."
"And so we are here to ask for a favor."
"We are ready to give you anything, even our own souls, so long as you save our little Gin Gin."
"You really should be careful with the words you say when making a deal." Harry told the two redhead who looked at him sagely.
"But that's just the thing, little snake-"
"We are completely serious-"
"No matter how alien the idea is-"
"To have our little sister back with us."
"Very well." Harry said as he withdrew a small piece of parchment. "This is a contract which says I'm to do for you a favor and you're not to tell anyone about what it entails."
"You do contracts now?" Fred Weasley asked and his brother nodded.
"For something this big, I need something just as big." Harry replied simply, handing handing the contract to one twin who signed promptly signed it. "Er..."
Harry was never ever, short of words. But right now, he could only stare at the two in bewilderment even as the contract took effect another copy appeared. Seeing his face, the two simply grinned.
"What? Worried about payments?"
"Like we said, there is nothing you can demand from us we are not willing to offer."
"That's...pretty Gryffindor of you. And here I was convinced there wasn't anyone more Gryffindor than my brother." Harry said and the two tipped invisible hats for him. "Anyway, if I complete my end of the contract, you'll owe me a favor or two, the contract will burn up when your end has been full filled. In other words, magic will determine how much saving your sister is worth."
"That's...quite Slytherin of you." Harry tipped an invisible hat at them. "What do you want us to do?"
Harry turned and started walking down the hallway. "Go to the hospital wing and wait for your sister."
The moment he turned the corner, he whipped out the invisibility cloak and covered himself, just in time as the twins rounded the corner. "Wait, where did he go?"
"Well, I just arrived here with you, didn't I?" Fred asked.
"That you did." George replied as he brought out an old piece of parchment. "I solemnly swear I'm up to no good. Harry Potter."
Harry froze when he heard the activation phrase of the map. He whipped out his wand and was just about to summon it when he was stopped by Fred's words.
"He is not on the map!"
"But that's impossible!"
"Well, Ginny is missing from the map as well."
"Are you saying he knew where she was all this time?"
"You don't think he is working with the heir, do you?"
"Well, this needs investigating, brother of mine."
"I agree."
Harry watched the two walk away for a moment as he thought of what the twins had just said. This could be a problem, but he would deal with it when it's time came. Now though, he needed to stop his brother from rushi g to his death.
A few secret passageways later, Harry arrived outside Myrtle's bathroom. He opened it and immediately conjured a shield to block a stunner from Hardwin.
"What the hell, Harry?! I could have hurt you!"
"It's actually cute that you think you're capable of hurting me." Harry rolled his eyes. "What exactly do you think you're doing?"
"The bloody 'heir' has gone too far this time." Hardwin said furiously. "He hurt Hermione and kidnapped Ginny and Luna, I won't let him get away with this."
"Did it occur to you even for a second that he did this so you may rush to your death just like you're planning to do?"
"Thank you!" Neville exclaimed. "That is exactly what I've been telling him all this time."
"Well I don't care what his reasons are." Hardwin said. "He attacked my friend and I will not let it pass. You can either help me or stay there and be rational."
And with that he went back to searching around the sinks. Harry sighed and turned to Neville and Weasley. "You two, go back to your common room before you get into trouble."
"My sister is down there, I'm not leaving with her!" Ron protested hotly.
"No, Weasley. You most definitely are. Now sleep." Harry said, the last word coming out with a soothing undertone and Ron slumped onto the floor, fast asleep. "Eh? I hadn't expected to work."
"What...what was that?" Harry turned to Hardwin and blinked to see him struggling to stay away. Neville was asleep already.
"Right, I guess it needs more experiment." He waved his hand over Hardwin and he blinked, his mind no longer affected. "I've been experimenting with lacing my voice with magic. Clearly, I wasn't as successful as I had initially thought."
"You mean like perseltongue?"
"Exactly." Harry replied. "You could say that I'm trying to create a magic language. 'Magical English' if you will."
"Wow." Hardwin smiled before he shook his head. "We really need to get to the chamber."
Harry walked to one sink and hissed for it to open in perseltongue. The sink lowered into the floor revealing a very dirty sliding pipe.
"Of course you knew where the entrance was." Hardwin sighed before glancing at the two sleeping Gryffindors. "What about them?"
Harry shrugged uncaring. "I'm sure they'll be fine. Now, down you go."
"Hey, why do I get to go first?"
"Because you're a Gryffindor?"
"Fair enough." Hardwin said before jumping into the pipe and sliding down.
Harry peered after him until he had disappeared before he drew his wand and conjured a skateboard. He collected his robes around him and rolled down the pipe, making sure not to get dirty. When he reached the end of the pipe, Harry jumped off the skateboard and landed on hid feet in a show of grace.
"Show off." Hardwin muttered as he started walking towards the doors at the end. He paused to stare at the snake skin among the bones and grime. "That's one big ass snake."
"It is." Harry replied and they kept moving, the tunnel twisted this way and that way untill they reached a pair of double doors with numerous snake designs that looked so realistic that Hardwin half expected them to attack. "Whoever we find in there, I need you to distract him as long as you can."
"What are you going to do?"
"Try to get as much information as I can from Ginny's diary." When Hardwin looked at him in confusion, Harry explained. "I believe the Heir has been possessing her through the diary and the only to stop him is either killing Ginny or destroying the diary."
"I would prefer the later." Hardwin said immediately.
"So do I." Harry agreed. "Which is why I need to understand the nature of the diary and the best way to destroy it without harming the little Weasley."
He covered himself with the cloak and disappeared from sight. "You are my priority down here, Hardwin. If it comes between saving you or either of the girls down there, I'll not even need to think about it first."
"Let's hope it doesn't get to that." Hardwin said, having known that already. "~open~"
The serpents parted as the wall cracked open, the halves slid smoothly out of sight, and Hardwin, gripping his wand tightly, walked inside.
He was standing at the end of a very long, dimly lit chamber. Towering stone pillars entwined with more carved serpents rose to support a ceiling lost in darkness, casting long, black shadows through the odd, greenish gloom that filled the place.
He felt something brush past him and he knew Harry had just passed by him. Waving his wand, Hardwin cast the human revealing charm and he could see only two people in the chamber, Luna and Ginny. Harry of course was shrouded by the cloak.
The 'heir' was nowhere to be seen.
He cautiously walked forward, shield spell on the tip of his wand. Between the legs of what could only be Salazar Slytherin himself was Ginny. After making sure that there was no one else in the chamber, Hardwin walked over to Ginny.
With his left hand, he caught her pale arm and checked her pulse. It was there but very weak, like she had only a few hours left by his estimation. He walked over to the wall where Luna was tied up and her pulse was steady.
"This doesn't make sense." Hardwin said in frustration. "Where is the bloody heir?"
"Right here." Hardwin spun around at the soft voice. A tall, black-haired boy was leaning against the nearest pillar, watching. He was strangely blurred around the edges, as though Hardwin were looking at him through a misted window.
"Let me guess, Tom Riddle?" Hardwin asked and the boy who looked no older than sixteen grinned at him.
"So you know who I am?"
"An educated guess." Hardwin said, walking away from where Ginny was lying. "I know Hagrid wasn't the heir, the only explanation was that you framed him."
"Maybe you aren't as stupid as I had initially thought." Hardwin wasn't if he had been insulted or complimented. "Then again, you're probably simply parrotting your brother's words and you are as stupid as I thought. Which explains why you came down here alone."
"What do you want with Ginny?" Hardwin asked instead. "Why did you bring Luna?"
"Ginny was only a means to an end. It could have been anyone else and I wouldn't mind. It was only by chance that my diary landed in her hands." Tom answered with an apathetic shrug. "As for Lovegood, I was hoping it would draw your brother to come and rescue his little student. Clearly I was wrong."
"You didn't answer my first question." Hardwin said. "Why did you need Ginny. Somehow I doubt it was only to possess her for the petricifications."
"I needed her life force." Tom answered. "As you can see, I'm not really corporeal. But it's only a matter of hours now. Every time she wrote in my diary, she fed me a bit of her life force untill I was strong enough to absorb it by myself."
Tom paused and smiled at him. "And now in a few hours I'll be freed from my prison and together, we shall finish what we started."
"Together with who?"
"Oh, you haven't worked that out yet?" Tom grinned and drew Ginny's wand. Flaming letters flew from the tip of the wand to form the name 'Tom Mervolo Riddle' which then rearranged itself into 'I Am Lord Voldemort'.
"Bloody hell." Hardwin breathed as the implications of what he had just seen dawned on him and Tom's smile grew.
"You see?" he whispered. "It was a name I was already using at Hogwarts, to my most intimate friends only, of course. You think I was going to use my filthy Muggle father's name forever?"
Tom shook his head, clearly in his element. In another world, Hardwin suspected that he and Harry would have gotten along famously.
"I, in whose veins runs the blood of Salazar Slytherin himself, through my mother's side? I, keep the name of a foul, common Muggle, who abandoned me even before I was born, just because he found out his wife was a witch?" He leaned forward, blue eyes straring intently at Hardwin.
"No, Harry — I fashioned myself a new name, a name I knew wizards everywhere would one day fear to speak, when I had become the greatest sorcerer in the world!"
When Hardwin was sure Riddle was finished with his empowering monologue. He grinned, knowing what he was going to say was going to piss off Riddle. "Well, I hate to burst your bubble but you're not the greatest sorcerer alive. Far my from it actually."
"Is that so?" Tom looked amused. "I'm assuming you think it's Dumbledore? A wizard who fought a war for years but couldn't defeat me and he had to arrange for one family to die to end the war?"
"Well I can't say much about that but I wasn't talking about Dumbledore." Hardwin said. "I was talking about my brother. He is ten times the wizard you were at your age and the greatest wizard alive."
"Thanks, brother, I appreciate the vote of confidence." Harry said and Hardwin turned to see Harry standing up from where he had been squatting next to Ginny, Riddle's diary in his hand. "Hello, Tom."
"Give me the diary, Potter." Tom said, finally standing up. "You can't destroy that diary without killing the girl."
Harry didn't even blink, only looking amused. "It's kinda cute how confident you are even in the face of defeat."
"You don't seem to understand, Potter." Tom replied. "You are in my place of power, it's only a matter of hours before I am complete. Only my curiosity is keeping you alive right now."
"That's how it looks from your perspective, doesn't it?" Harry asked, his words dripping with amusement. Hardwin knew Harry can be infuriating but this was on an entirely different level.
"What are you talking about?"
"Oh, you'll find out soon enough."
"It doesn't matter anyway" Tom said, walking over to the statue of Slytherin. Looking up at the face, he shouted in perseltongue. "~Speak to me Salazar Slytherin, greatest of the Hogwarts four~"
Hardwin watched, his heart speeding up and adrenaline pumping through his system. Despite the situation, he could feel his body tingling in excitement. The last time he had felt this way was when he was fighting for his life last year and he realized he had actually missed it.
"Perselmouths are immune to the basilisk's gaze." Harry whispered to Hardwin before he turned and sprinted back to Ginny and Luna.
"What, Harry! Where are you going?"
Harry didn't answer, he reached the two first-year girls and flicked his wand. They floated into the air and followed him as he ran back towards the entrance, leaving Hardwin by himself.
"The greatest sorcerer you say?" Tom laughed and Hardwin whirled around to look at Riddle who was looking at him in amusement. "And now he has abandoned you. Well, time to die, little Potter."
Hardwin could hear slithering, and from the shadows behind Tom, a huge shape emerged and when it finally came into the light, Hardwin took a step back. The enormous serpent, bright, poisonous green, thick as an oak trunk, raised itself behind Tom like some guardian angel.
"Stare upon the majesty of Salazar's greatest creation because it will be the last thing you see in your pathetic life." Tom said, spreading his arms like a show man. "Now die."
The snake, whose eyes had been closed all this time suddenly opened and Hardwin found himself staring into large yellow slitted eyes. He stared right back, completely confident in Harry's knowledge.
"What?!" Tom gaped. "How are you not dead?!"
"I told you, Tom..." Harry said, apparently having finished what he had been up to. "~Your confidence was completely unwarranted~"
"Perselmouths? Interesting." Riddle said. "But the basilisk has more than just its eyes."
Harry's dagger appeared in his left hand and it floated in front of him. He drew his wand again. "I know."
Harry flicked his wand and the dagger flew forward. It passed right through Riddle who flickered slightly and embedded itself to the hilt into the giant snake. The snake hissed in pain and Harry started casting. Hardwin wasn't far behind.
While Harry's spell lifted the basilisk and slammed into the statue's legs, Hardwin disarmed Riddle and caught the wand. "Don't let it dislodge the dagger! It may not be strong enough to skewer it in half but it can weaken it."
"Got it." Hardwin nodded and cast his strongest spells at the gigantic snake which was rolling around in pain, trying to get rid of the dagger that was absorbing its blood.
"The spells aren't doing anything." Harry interrupted him. "It's magically resistant. We need spells that can do physical damage."
The basilisk took advantage of the lull and lunged at them. Hardwin's eyes widened at the sight of the approaching jaws, the snake moving too fast for something it's size. Harry pushed him out of the way just as the snake soared through his former position.
While Hardwin watched the snake fly over them, Harry wasn't being idle. Just after pushing Hardwin, he dived to the side, his wand ready and a bolt of lightning erupted from his wand and hit the snake's underside.
It let out a long-drawn hiss of pain as it was propelled even further and it fell into the dirty water. Harry leaped to his feet and fired more bolts of lightning into the water, the snake thrashing and hissing in pain. However, the snake either decided to ignore the pain or it just had a high pain resistance.
Even as Harry continued frying it with lightning, it suddenly lunged from the water, its body having wisps of steam. With how near to the water as he was, Harry had no time to dodge or conjure a shield.
At the last second, Hardwin jumped and knocked Harry out of the way. He managed to get Harry out of the way but he wasn't fast enough to dodge completely. The snake slammed into his shoulder, one of its long, venomous fangs slashing through his arm.
"Buggering hell!" He cursed, clutching his arm. He could feel the venom start moving, his arm felt like it was on fire.
As it turned around, probably to finish him off, a gust of wind suddenly lifted it and threw it into the wall. Harry stood up, conjuring over a dozen swords in a blink of an eye which all slammed into the snake pinning it to the wall. Its skin already weak from the frying.
Without wasting any time, Harry resummoned his dagger, ran to the snake that was still trying to escape and stabbed it through the top of its head. The dagger pierced through the skull, into its brain and its venom glands. It died almost instantly.
Leaving the dagger in the snake's corpse, Harry ran back to his brother as he pulled a small box from his inner pockets. He enlarged it and opened it to reveal different potions. He reached on the inside of the cover which had five vials full of his version of the 'elixir of life' and poured all five into Hardwin's mouth.
"Come on, brother." Harry said desperately, cradling Hardwin's unresponsive head. "There is still work to be done."
"It's quite a shame, Potter." Riddle said, staring at the dead basilisk. "It was a valliant effort but all in vain. Even in death, you were no match for Slytherin's legacy."
Harry felt Hardwin's pulse weaken slowly untill it disappeared completely. He laid him down and slowly stood up, his eyes boring into Tom Riddle's. His legs felt sluggish as he started approaching Tom slowly.
The older wizard watching silently as Harry came closer. He stopped for a second, staring at the slightly taller wizard with hard green eyes. Even at twelve-approaching thirteen, Harry was already tall and he didn't need to strain to stare into Riddle's eyes.
They stared down at each other, each getting a measure of the other before Harry broke eye contact and passed through Riddle to reach the basilisk. He physically pulled out the dagger, it's bone-white hilt stained with blood.
He slowly retrieved the diary from his pocket and placed it on the wall next to the basilisk corpse.
"You know there is nothing you can do that could destroy the diary." Tom said from behind him. "Not without killing the girl and even then, I'll just return to it. And bid my time."
"Well, I don't fucking care." Harry said softly and brought the dagger up and stabbed into the diarry. It passed through the diary, and into the wall until the hilt reached the cover.
Harry kept staring at the bleeding diary even as Tom cried out in pain. He ignored the explosion of magic as he was destroyed and kept watching the diary in the ensuing silence.
A silence which was broken by a loud gasp.
"Blood hell!" Harry whirled around to stare at Hardwin who was pushing himself into a seating position. "I'm never going through that, ever again."
Harry didn't know how he covered the distance but suddenly, he was hugging his brother tightly. Tears freely rolling down his face as he cried in relief.
"No." Harry whispered. "I won't let you."
-PRPRPRPRPR-
Hogwarts Express
"Did your scar hurt while we were in the chamber?"
Hardwin looked up from the healers' book he had been reading. Madam Pomfrey on examining Hardwin had found out that his little brush with death had some consequences. While Harry had managed to save his life with the potions, he had been a bit late and the venom had already travelled through his system.
The potions diluted the venom enough so that it wasn't lethal to Hardwin but given that they were just imitations of the real 'elixir of life', they never got rid of the venom in his system completely.
Now with his blood parmanently possessing basilisk venom, the majority of potions can nolonger work on him. The only option he had if he wanted to stay alive given the trouble he finds himself in was to learn as much healing magic as possible. And now he was Madam Pomfrey's sort of apprentice.
"Yeah. It did, though nothing compared to last year." Hardwin replied, surprised at the question. "In fact I was a bit too distracted to give it much notice so it wasn't that bad. Why?"
"While you were talking to Riddle, I examined the diary and the magic that was coming off it had felt familiar." Harry said. "I wasn't very sure where I felt something similar untill Luna told me the next day that the diary felt like your scar."
"My scar?"
Harry nodded. "I then remembered feeling the same aura coming off your scar last year the day after we fought Voldemort."
"What does that mean then?"
"I can't say for certain, but I'm going to need to have a look at it during the summer." Harry said and Hardwin nodded. He was looking forward to the summer to take his mind off the school year.
When they reached King's Cross station, Lilly was waiting for them and apparated them to Potter Manor where Harry's summer project was waiting for him. One he would be working on together with his mom.
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