Here is the last chapter going over the Chamber of Secrets. I don't own anything, all of this is J.K. Rowling, Oda and Zialema's. Good reading.
Ace was arranging a sail with some pirates, when someone whistled. Straightening, he saw Thatch with Spade on a hand, visibly porting a message.
- Mail for you, Ace !
-Thanks, Thatch.
The young pirate finished his knot and went to his eagle.
He took the letter.
"Ace,
Not really knowing who to contact, I'm addressing this to you, since I saw that your eagle was still in the owlery. We found this in Hermione's hand. We're hoping that it will be useful. We suppose that the entry of the Chamber of Secrets is in Moaning Myrtle's toilet.
Neither Ron, nor me know what we will do, but we will act, that's for sure.
In the hope it will be useful to you.
With my regards,
Harry James Potter."
Ace looked in the envelop and found a page of a book… about the Basilisks. He read all of this stunned, and rushed toward Marco who was at the wheel, all the while talking to his captain, comfortably installed in his chair, behind him, drinking.
-Marco! Ace called.
The man turned from the conversation, eyebrows raised from surprise, and took the letter Ace gave him. He frowned seeing what it was about.
- Oyaji, we found the monster of Hogwarts. Two morons are going to died, yoi, Marco stated.
-Then, go my son, and quickly!
Ace begged his captain with his eyes, but he only had a negative shook of the head as an answer.
-I'll be careful, Ace, Marco assured holding his maps to his second.
He took Ace's face between his hands and smiled.
- Wait for me here, and don't make Oyaji scream too much, yoi.
He kissed him and flew away deftly.
- Dumbledore was chased away from this castle by only my memory! The ghost of Riddle hissed while his face turned repugnant because of the anger.
If Harry hadn't become so distrustful of the Headmaster, because of some remarks from last year and at the beginning of this one, he would have told this man that Dumbledore wasn't far away.
On his chest, in his shirt, while he was searching for an answer, he sensed the feather becoming hotter, slowly, but significantly.
He knew what to answer.
-Oh, but who told you that Dumbledore was the only one you should be warry of?
It may have been bluff, since he suspected that the ones who could bring him out of here wouldn't be here in time. Riddle opened his mouth to reply, but a strange music invade the Chamber, who was desert. The music got stronger, to the point of making Harry's heart vibrate in his chest.
Then, something flamed on the top of a pillar.
Fawkes.
Fawkes flew toward Harry and let fall at his foot an old used hat.
This made Riddle laugh. After all, for allies, Harry only had the Sorting Hat and a simple Phoenix.
But crossing eyes with the bird, Harry understood another message:
Try to survive as long as you can, he isn't too far. He will find the way.
Marco didn't bother to change.
He flew as fast as his wings of fire allowed him in the corridors, dodging the teachers and the prefects. He smashed open the door of the toilet of Myrtle like a blue meteorite, almost scaring her and drove in the passage, wings against his body, gaining a maximum of speed.
He continued to follow the path, until Ron freeing a way in the stone, who stopped seeing him pass like a rocket.
Marco took fire, losing speed, but passed in the gap, and continue his race.
He passed another door and penetrated in the Chamber of Secret. At least.
Just in time to see Riddle delighted about the soon to be death of Harry, while the corpse of the basilisk was on the ground, still, losing his blood.
-I'll teach you how to use sword, Potter, Marco commented transforming back in human. Don't worry, you won't die.
-And there, is a witness of my revival! Riddle gloated.
-The dead, they stay dead, ahou, put it in your skull, yoi.
Marco took the fang of the serpent that Harry just removed from his arm and, quickly, was in the diary.
-Sayonara.
He plunged the fang in the small book, beginning the destruction of the part of soul in it. He knew that, behind him, Fawkes was crying on the student's wound.
And brusquely, Tom Marvolo Riddle wasn't here anymore.
Marco stood up and turned toward Harry to examine how the wound was healing.
- I always was jealous of the commons phoenixes, he confessed to Harry.
-Why, sir? Harry asked.
-If I can't die of the majorities of things who would kill a normal human, I can't heal those close to me with my tears, yoi. How do you feel, young man?
-Better… and Ginny?
For all answer, Ginny began to steer.
- Stay here, I'll take care of here, Marco assured him.
He went to the young girl to help her.
-Careful, all is over… Marco reassured her. Without Potter, you wouldn't be here anymore, be grateful.
-I doubt that we would have been okay without you, sir, Voldy was about to finish me himself, Harry confessed when Fawkes flew away, allowing him to take his wand back.
Ginny burst into tears.
-It… it's my fault… I wanted to tell you the other day… Harry… but I couldn't…not before Percy! I swear… that I didn't want… but Riddle made me do it…
-It's over, now, I killed the Basilisk and the diary is no more, Harry comforted her showing her the big hole in the diary.
-I will be expelled… Ginny moaned.
-No, not at all. It was possession, you just have a healer to examine your mind to realize that you weren't the mistress of your acts, yoi, Marco assured her. The only thing we can reproach you, is to not asked for help to a professor when you realized the danger, but for the rest, nothing. We shouldn't stay here, yoi.
Marco went to grab the sword and removed the blood with an expert gesture of his hand, before passing it into his belt.
-You will really teach me the sword? Harry asked. Or you were just joking?
- If you are interested, I can of course do it, yoi.
He hoists Ginny in his arms and turned toward Harry.
-Take this thing, and once it's over, we will have a little talk, yoi.
He showed the diary with his shin, while Harry picked the hat up. The boy nodded and put the diary in his pocket.
It was almost funny to see the way Fawkes perched himself on Marco's shoulder singing happily.
They walked out of the Chamber who closed itself hissing behind them, and backtracked until the collapse.
-How did you know where I was, sensei? Harry inquired.
-Spade is a very fast eagle. And we weren't very far from the British Coasts. Ace showed me the message and, being the only one having wing, I went first, yoi.
They ended up hearing the scraping noise of stone, and Harry called Ron out.
-And Ginny? Ron asked working against the stone even more.
-She could be better, young man. Move aside, yoi, the Phoenix said.
He closed his eyes, pulling his magic to protect the people on the other side, and with a kick, sent all the fallen stones flying, freeing the way totally, without hurting in any way Ron nor Lockhart.
Ron stayed a moment gobsmacked, like Ginny and Harry, before rushing toward his sister, happy to see her alive.
- How did you come here, sir? Ron asked.
-Same as you, but with a little more personal way, yoi. Marco answered entrusting the little redhead to her brother.
Ginny protested crying but a glare from Marco and she went to cry in her brother's arms.
- What happened? Ron asked.
- I think that your sister need a doctor, before your friend tell you anything about what happened, yoi.
-Where is Lockhart? Harry inquired to change the subject.
-Here, but he isn't well. Come see it. Is it your bird?
Marco passed a finger under the beak of Fawkes with a brief smile and replied:
-Just a friend. Dumbledore would like to pretend that Fawkes is his, but he doesn't understand that birds are free creatures, yoi.
The Phoenix let out a melodious cry and Marco had a bigger smile.
-Let's see Lockhart.
Ron led them to the incompetent teacher, toward the pipe's entrance. The man was humming on the ground absentmindedly.
-What happened to him? Marco questioned.
-Well… he tried to use a memory charm against us with my wand and…
- I retire my question, I don't want to know, yoi, the man sighed.
Lockhart saw them and told them happily:
-Hello! Funny place, no? Is it yours?
A vein appeared on Marco's forehead, while the two boys were trying to not laugh.
A blow from the side of his hand in the neck of the man and this one was losing consciousness.
-It'll give us a break, yoi, the pirate sighed.
- How do we do to go back up? Harry asked. You have an idea Ron?
Ron shook his head.
- Weasley, you grab Fawkes legs, he will take you up, Marco ordered. Potter, on my back.
Marco arranged Lockhart so he could take him better once in animal form, then hold the sword to Harry.
-You're sure? Ron inquired.
Marco glared at him and looked at Fawkes on his shoulder.
-Do you accept to do it? Marco asked.
The bird nodded and flew above the two Weasley. Ron and his sister grabbed his talons and the phoenix took them up immediately.
Marco flamed in a blue fire and took the appearance of a Phoenix.
-Climb, yoi.
-You're sure? Harry hesitated.
-Either you climb, or I take you between my talons and it's not a mode of transport very agreeable.
And he took in his beak the silver sword.
Harry climbed hesitating on the back of the bird, and felt glad when it didn't burn. It was… a strange sensation.
Marco raised a leg to grab one of Lockhart's arm and flew off the best he could.
-Where are we going? Harry asked.
-Minerva… Marco muttered, trying to not let the sword in his beak fall.
Marco retired in a corner of the room, staring at Dumbledore.
From what he knew, this man should have come back earlier. Much earlier.
He looked at Potter putting on the desk the sword of Gryffindor, the Sorting Hat and Riddle's diary. He then looked at Dumbledore and then his teacher who just passed his fingers in Fawkes' feathers, on his shoulder.
The irritation of the Headmaster didn't escape the pirate. He had hoped that Fawkes moved to prove that he had Potter under his influence, but he had gone to Potter because he had called a phoenix to help, without realizing it.
"Check."
He listened to Harry telling the tale, without stopping. He looked at Marco.
What should he do with Ginny?
-It's my fault, Ginny intervened. I assume entirely my actions.
She sniffed, but stay straight.
-You don't have to try to cover me, Harry… if there is one thing I learned with the Professor Fushisho, it's that being honest is always the best.
Marco almost choked. He never taught this to anyone!
- Surprising from you, dear, Minerva stated.
-I am the first surprised, yoi, Marco confessed. I may play on the bad side of the law, but I don't lie, it's a principle. I often play on the words, or give only some info, but that's all. I can tell that if I taught honesty to young people without knowing, maybe I should change to a job of the other side of the law.
-I don't think that your captain will want that, my dear Marco. However, continue, miss, Dumbledore said.
-I found this diary in my things… I thought that mum gave it to me… I didn't know… and I wrote in it, like a diary…
-Before you lash at her, maybe she should calm herself and sleep. Why don't you accompany her to the infirmary? Marco said to the parents.
-Good idea, let's go, Molly, Mr Weasley said.
Marco gestured to Ron to accompany them and looked at his colleague, who raised her eyebrows and followed the movement, leading Lockhart with her. Marco walked toward Dumbledore and told him:
-The question isn't to know how the diary ended up in the belongings of this young girl, but, how you didn't remark it, yoi.
-Come on, I'm not omniscient, my dear, Dumbledore defended himself.
- Without offending you, sir, you should have known it. After all, you knew last year that Quirrel had Voldemort behind his head, and you knew that I was fighting him, without Hermione or Luffy telling you anything, Harry pointed. You are the Headmaster of this school, you know more than anyone else here.
-Not so much, I fear, Harry, Dumbledore sighed.
- The castle gives a lot of power to his Headmaster… and you could have known where the Chamber of Secrets was if you had asked. You also had the power to destroy the basilisk during one of his outing to attack the students. Don't play dumb with me, yoi. I may be younger than you, but the manipulations, I know about them. Now, I will explain one or two things to Potter. Don't forget to send a message to Azkaban, I'm sure that Hagrid would like to be free, yoi. Shall we go, young man?
Harry nodded and walked toward the door. Before he was there, he was being pushed back, just behind Marco, while the door opened before Lucius Malfoy, accompanied by…
- Dobby? Harry breathed.
-Well, you came back, Lucius said entering. The Board suspended you, Dumbledore, and the Minister himself asked you to go away, Mister Fushisho, but you're here again!
- You see, the members of the Board of Governors contacted me today, after they learned what happened to Arthur's daughter. They decided to give me my post back, but they also told me some strange stories, about you, jinxing their families.
"Liar, it's been a while since you received these messages" Marco though.
- As for me, I never listened to the law, yoi. Why should I listen to a good for nothing blinded by his position and some bags of gold? Even more so when one of my student's life is at stake. Plus, me and the others didn't have the right to come back so long as the attacks hadn't stopped, yoi.
-Ah… Lucius said white with anger. So, you have the culprit?
-Exactly, Dumbledore said.
- So? Who was it?
In a blink, Marco was at Lucius' side, grabbing on of his arm, giving him a strange look.
-Snake Face, yoi.
-True. But this time he acted by the intermediary of a diary, Dumbledore indicated.
Marco glanced at Dobby who was fidgeting, but reported his attention to Lucius. When the man moved to released himself, Marco step back, his thumb in his belt.
-Which was ingenious because without the presence of Misters Potter and Ronald Weasley, nobody would have discovered it, and we could have though that Miss Weasley as the only culprit.
Lucius threw a look to Harry and Marco took the sword on the desk, while Dumbledore continued talking.
-It's a relief, of course, Malfoy commented, stiff.
Harry took one step and Marco posed one hand on his shoulder.
- I feel very brave, don't worry, Harry assured.
-Very stupid, but if you want, stated Marco releasing his shoulder.
He still grabbed the sword tighter.
-Would you know, perhaps, how Ginny found herself with this diary? Harry asked.
-How would I know, where this little idiot found this object? Lucius sneered.
-Maybe because it was you who placed it in her things, at Flourish and Bott, while you took her old transfiguration book. You took the opportunity to place it there.
Malfoy clenched his fists.
-You would have to prove it, he hissed.
-Which is now impossible, since Riddle isn't in this diary anymore. I would however like if you don't give away anymore old belongings from Tom school days, Dumbledore pointed.
- Even more if they have been transformed into Hocruxes, yoi, added Marco.
- Sorry? asked Lucius.
-Oops, so you didn't know that you gave away in this absurd and stupid way a piece of your master's soul?
Lucius invented a new shade of pale and began to shake. Dumbledore glanced at Marco, as if he begrudges him for letting this information out, while the Phoenix stared at the man before him with greeeat satisfaction.
- We're going, Dobby, growled Malfoy.
And he went away behind the fly of his coat, making his house elf walk out with him by kicking him.
Harry grabbed the diary, without asking for permission, and walked behind Lucius. Marco put the sword back on the desk bowing before the blade and went to join Potter, finding him removing one of his socks while walking which he put the diary in, before putting his foot back in his shoes.
-You really looking for troubles, Potter, Marco noted, while they joined Lucius.
-I am a Gryffindor after all, Harry answered. Mr Malfoy you forgot something!
And he put the sock in Malfoy's hands, who when ripping the diary from the socks, threw the cloth to Dobby.
Seeing what he had in his hands, he glared at Harry and told him:
-You will end up like your pathetic parents one day, Harry Potter. Let's go Dobby.
No answer.
-I said come!
Dobby didn't move and looked at the muddied sock as if it was an invaluable treasure.
-The master gave a sock to Dobby. The master gave a cloth to Dobby…
-What?! What are you talking about?!
-Dobby received a sock! The master threw it and Dobby catch it! Which mean that Dobby is free!
Malfoy turned toward Harry, mad with rage, and rushed toward him.
-You made me lose my servant!
Harry raised his wand to defend himself while Dobby intervened, but someone else was faster.
-Arrrgh!
Lucius fell on the ground, two spears of fire trapping his hands.
- It was a bad idea to attack one of my classmate, ahou…
Harry saw with incredulity Ace on the other side of the corridor, two flaming spear in his hands, shirtless, and with his hat on his head.
-You won't touch Harry Potter! The elf said threatening Lucius with one finger.
The man stood up with difficulty and walked away.
Marco turned away from what he was doing when someone knocked.
Ace, sitting on his lap, had a cute pout and begged Marco with his eye, holding tightly the blonde's neck who had removed himself from the kiss.
-Well, we will do it another day, yoi.
The boy sighed and left his laps to go on a chair, on the other side of the desk.
-It's open, Potter.
Harry opened the door, the hair still wet from the recent shower.
-If you're not at the feast yet, it's that you have questions. I'm listening, Marco told him relaxing in his chair. You can talk in front of Ace, yoi.
Harry nodded and sat on a chair.
-There is… a lot of things that I don't understand, sensei. And above all… I'm scared.
-Of?
-I saw a lot of common things between Riddle and me…
-You're not him. You may have some similitude, but you're not him. You have a link, both of you, which is from your scar. This tragic night, he wanted, with your death, do something bad, but it didn't work, and, as consequence, he gave you some of his traits, yoi. But contrary to him, you… how can I explain this… you stayed pure? I don't see another way to say it.
-What Marco is trying to say, it's that, even with everything, you didn't take the easy way, of power and glory. Riddle wanted to make a name for himself, you, you want to be forgotten. Your journey can look alike at some points, but your motivations aren't the same, Ace commented.
-You won't understand why you two are different before you are older. If you're searching for a big difference, I have one who will relieve you immediately, yoi. You're not after power like he was. Another thing…?
-The diary…
-Hocruxe. You're wondering what it is, aren't you, Potter?
-Yes.
Marco sighed and looked at him with sad eyes.
-You really want to know? You will know, one day or another. The later we can, I hope, yoi. But you will have to know, if what I think will happen, happens really.
Harry stayed a moment thinking before shaking his head.
-Then, I don't want to know.
-When the time is right, we will tell you, promised Marco. But for now, know that what allowed Snake Face to stay alive, even if dead, is what made it that he will probably come back some day, yoi.
-I understand, Harry murmured.
-If you need something, don't hesitate.
-How did you know that I was in danger?
-My feather.
Ace raised an eyebrow surprised, and then shrugged.
-Your feather?
Ace took one of Marco's feather from his pocket.
-It's a part of him, with some magic, he can know what is happening around a feather away from his body, Ace explained. And those who have them are protected. If you're in danger, a phoenix will come to your help.
-I see, Harry whispered while Ace put his feather back in his pocket.
-Come on, go to the feast. Your brother must be recovered, Ace, and Luffy must be back.
The two students immediately rushed out, under the smirk of the teacher.
A new year was ending. The half of the causes of headaches too.
And Dumbledore had to find a new professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts.