AN:

It was a very productive month for me with a total of four chapters with more than 40,000 words. So here is the last chapter of the month. The next chapter in April.

English is my second language and I apologize for any mistakes.


Chapter 12 – The Heir of Slytherin

The two snakes then parted, and a crack appeared in the wall. The two halves of the wall slid to the side. Shivering from head to foot, but also with absolute determination, Harry walked inside. He would save Daphne! Whatever the cost! And if it were his own life!


Greenish twilight dimly illuminated the large chamber into which Harry was now entering. Huge stone pillars, entwined with more carved snakes, rose up on the sides, but the ceiling and walls of the Chamber of Secrets were hidden in the dark. The basilisk as well?

He must not hesitate, Harry reminded himself. Daphne's life depended on his determination. Clenching his wand in his hand, he moved forward between the serpentine columns, listening for any noise and watching for any movement so that he could close his eyes immediately if necessary, but nothing moved and the only sound in this deadly silence was the pounding of his own heart.

Stepping between the last pair of pillars, he saw a huge statue in front of him, as high as the chamber itself. Unlike the previous smaller columns, however, this statue was not made of stone, but of a kind of metal. It was the statue of a wizard with a long, thin beard: Salazar Slytherin. Two enormous grey metal feet stood on the cold floor of the chamber ... and right between these feet lay two small figures, facedown. One of them had colorless, but once beautiful honey blonde hair!

"Daphne!" Harry screamed. Forgetting caution, he ran the last few meters and fell on his knees beside her, touching a diary lying on the floor with his legs. Immediately a sharp pain went through Harry's scar, but he hardly noticed it.

"Daphne! Don't be dead! Please! Don't be dead!"

He grabbed Daphne by the shoulder, turning her over. Her face was even paler than the past few months, as white as snow, and just as cold. Her eyes were closed. Harry tried to take her pulse. At first, he felt nothing, but then after a few seconds, which felt like a terrible eternity to Harry, he felt a heartbeat. She was still alive!

"Daphne, please wake up," he whispered in tears, shaking her desperately. Her head, however, lolled hopelessly from side to side. She just had to wake up again! She couldn't -

"She won't wake up," he suddenly heard a soft voice.

Harry immediately jumped up, pointing his wand at where the voice had come from. There he saw a tall, black-haired boy, dressed in a Hogwarts cloak, who leaned calmly against the next pillar and slid a wand through his fingers. However, his outline was strangely blurred, as though Harry were looking at him through a misted window.

"Who are you?" Harry called.

"I've been waiting a long time for this, Harry Potter," replied the boy, emitting a weird, misty light. "For the chance to see you. To speak to you."

"How do you know who I am?" Harry raged inside. He had no time for that nonsense.

"You are famous, Harry Potter. Little innocent Ginny Weasley told me so much about you when she wrote all of her pitiful worries and woes in the diary. She really wanted to meet you, you know? The famous, good, great Harry Potter!" Harry thought he saw something predatory in the boy's eyes when he said this.

Who was that? Suspiciously, Harry asked, "Are you a ghost?"

"A ghost?" the boy laughed softly. It was a high, cold laugh that made the hairs stand up on the back of Harry's neck. "Oh no, I'm not a ghost. You could say I'm ... a memory. Preserved in a diary for fifty years."

Harry's eyes darted back to the diary lying on the floor, and then back to Daphne's lifeless figure. Daphne! He had to get her out of here! He remembered what that ... memory had said.

"Why did you say that she won't wake up? Speak!"

His "conversational partner" had meanwhile started walking around Harry. Harry followed each of his movements, clutching his wand. He just had a damn bad feeling about this figure.

"Because it was me who put her in this state."

Harry pointed his wand at him, ready to attack. "Why did you do that?"

"Because I knew you would come to save her. Love is such ... weakness. Little Ginny was so jealous of the lovely Miss Greengrass, even if she has regained hope in the past few months ... It seemed to me that she was almost a little happy when I forced her to kidnap your Daphne here." If the boy was in any way impressed by the wand pointing at him, at least he showed no sign of it. "You know, little Ginny told me everything about you. Your whole fascinating story." His eyes roved over the lightning scar on Harry's forehead, taking on a hungry expression. "I just had to find out more about you, talk to you, meet you. I have many questions for you, Harry Potter."

"What do you want from me?" Harry replied angrily. If this person had done that to Daphne, then he was his enemy!

"Well," said the boy, smiling cheerfully. "How is it that you, a skinny boy with no extraordinary magical talent, managed to defeat the greatest wizard of all time? How did you escape with nothing but a scar while Lord Voldemort's powers were destroyed?" There was a strange red gleam in his hungry eyes now.

"What do you care about Voldemort?" Harry spat.

"Voldemort is my past, present and future, Harry Potter..."

The person then raised the wand with which he had been playing between his fingers all the time. He traced it through the air and wrote three shimmering words: TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE

"The name my miserable parents gave me. The name of my filthy Muggle father. What an intolerable shame!" said the boy in disgust. "The blood of Salazar Slytherin himself runs in my veins, through my mother's side! No, Harry, I fashioned myself a new name. A name I knew wizards and witches everywhere would one day fear to speak, when I had become the greatest sorcerer in the world!"

He waved his wand again and the letters rearranged themselves. Now one could read: I AM LORD VOLDEMORT

Harry was paralyzed with horror by the revelation. He stared at the boy, Voldemort, stunned. The memory of the man who would later kill his parents...

His hand clutched his wand so violently that his knuckles became white. Bright sparks shot from the tip of the wand. Finally, he forced himself to speak. In a low, hateful voice, he replied, "You're not."

"I'm more than you can imagine in your wildest dreams, Harry," Voldemort said with a broad, false smile. "But there is one thing I want to know from you: how did you survive? Tell me everything. The longer you talk, the longer you stay alive. And your beloved too." He gave Daphne a contemptuous and disgusted look. "I still need her life force to become strong enough to leave the pages of the diary."

Harry realized that he had to do something. The longer he waited, the more life dwindled out of Daphne and strengthened Voldemort. He could already see that Voldemort's outline was becoming clearer and more solid. If there had to be a fight between them, and everything indicated it, it would be better as soon as possible.

So Harry suddenly shot a silent stunner on Voldemort. And in fact, he seemed to have surprised him with his behavior. Before Voldemort could do anything, the spell hit him in the middle of his chest ... and went straight through him to smash ineffectively on the opposite wall.

Voldemort's grotesque smile grew even wider. "Well, Harry, that was a foolish mistake. But if you really want it that way, we are now matching the powers of Lord Voldemort, heir of Salazar Slytherin, against famous Harry Potter with the scar."

Voldemort, however, made no move to raise his wand. Instead, he looked up into the stone face of Slytherin, which was hidden high up in the half-darkness. Harry looked carefully at his enemy, his wand still raised, ready to fight. Voldemort opened his mouth wide and started to hiss, but Harry understood what he was saying...

"Speak to me, Slytherin, greatest of the Hogwarts Four."

Horror-struck, Harry watched the mouth of the statue open, revealing a huge black hole. Something moved inside the mouth. Something was slithering up from its depth.

Harry immediately knew what it had to be. Slytherin's monster, the basilisk! He backed away until he hit the dark wall, closing his eyes.

He heard something huge hit the stone floor of the chamber. He knew what was happening, he could sense it, could almost see the giant serpent uncoiling itself from Slytherin's mouth. Then he heard Voldemort's hissing voice: "Kill him!"

For the first time in his life, Harry felt panic and overwhelming hopelessness. Without an instant miracle, this would be his end…


It was as if Daphne could hear music from far away. It was beautiful music that sparked a feeling of bliss within her. She felt brought back in a memory: the feeling of grass and sand under her bare feet. The smell of the salty sea air in her nose. The wind that played with her hair. And more than anything else, shining emerald eyes, a kiss in front of a cloudless night sky...

She then felt something else. Something cold and hard under her back. It was extremely uncomfortable. She wondered where she was. The last thing she could remember was how she entered the castle after returning from her usual place on the lake. And then only darkness...

Daphne tried to open her eyes, but she lacked the strength to do so. She felt so tired…

She heard a loud sound as if a large piece of meat had hit the ground. And then a hissing voice that made her blood run cold. "Kill him!"

Daphne was filled with unprecedented fear and hopelessness. With utmost effort, she managed to lift her eyelids. Now she could see that she was lying on a stone surface. Otherwise, she could not see much other than a blurry green shape that filled her entire field of vision. She noticed that the shape was moving, and after blinking several times she recognized what it was: a huge snake crawling on the stone floor!

Daphne felt new energy impregnating her limbs. Now she could lift her upper body a bit to take a closer look at her surroundings. At first, she did not see much in the greenish twilight, only that a mighty snake was actually coiling in front of her. She realized everything! Snake. Monster. The monster of Slytherin! She was in the Chamber of Secrets and that one in front of her had to be a basilisk!

She felt her eyes magically drawn to a spot on a high stone wall. There, half in the dark, was ... Harry! Harry stood there, eyes closed to avoid the basilisk's deadly gaze. The panic in Daphne intensified. Harry was in mortal danger! It was as if her entire chest was convulsing. And then a strange feeling of power.

Before she could even think, she shouted in despair, "No!"

Daphne felt her voice echo from the walls, even the blood in her veins seemed to quiver. She felt like the whole world had come to a halt for the basilisk had actually stopped moving towards Harry! The basilisk started to turn, very slowly, as if in slow motion.

Still, Daphne needed several moments to understand what was going on. The basilisk now turned to her! His gaze ... Panicked, she bowed her head.

She heard that ice-cold voice again. "Turn around again! You shall kill the boy! Kill the boy!"

Even though it sounded like incomprehensible hissing, she understood the meaning of the words! A cold shiver ran down her back. The voice spoke in Parseltongue! But she could do that as well!

Without lifting her head, she now spoke with all the strength she could muster, "No! Get out of here. Close your eyes. Get out!"

There was an expectant silence. Then, however, she heard the basilisk start moving again and crawling on the stone floor.

"No! Come back! Kill the boy!" The voice was furious. Did it work? Daphne did not dare lift her head as she continued to listen to the irate voice. "Come back! Follow my orders! I am the Heir of Slytherin! You must -"

The floor stopped vibrating. The crawling noises disappeared. The basilisk was gone.

Daphne dared to open her eyes again. Once she got used to the dim light conditions, she looked directly into the far-away emerald-green eyes of her dreams and memories. A pleasant warmth filled her, and at the same time a feeling of crushing sadness. Harry…


"No!"

That was Daphne's voice! He would even recognize it among thousands of others. Harry needed all his willpower to avoid opening his eyes. Somewhere in front of him was still the basilisk ... But Daphne was alive! And that certainty filled him with deep relief.

He realized that both of them were still in mortal danger. They had to do something! They had to escape the basilisk and defeat Voldemort. They had to –

Voldemort's hissing voice ripped Harry out of his thoughts. "Turn around again! You shall kill the boy! Kill the boy!"

What happened? Voldemort was angry, that much was clear. Angry with the basilisk?

"No! Get out of here. Close your eyes. Get out!" That had been Daphne's voice again. She tried to control the basilisk, Harry realized! But only the Heir –

He heard the basilisk start crawling on the floor again. And then again, the wrathful voice of Voldemort. "No! Come back! Kill the boy! Come back! Follow my orders! I am the Heir of Slytherin! You must -"

Harry did not hear anything anymore. No crawling or wriggling. The ground no longer vibrated from the movements of the mighty snake. The basilisk, Slytherin's monster, was gone.

With a feeling of confidence that Harry could not really explain, he dared to open his eyes again. Once he got used to the dim light conditions, he looked directly into the far-away ice-blue eyes of his dreams and memories. Daphne! Harry felt a pleasant warmth, and at the same time a will to fight. They would survive this, and then he would never let her go again! Whatever made her turn away from him, they would overcome it together.

It was as if the whole world was standing still. There was only Daphne and him. Emerald eyes looking into ice blue ones. And vice versa. Harry tried to put all his feelings into his look: affection, determination, anger, forgiveness ... love.

He saw Daphne's eyes begin to shimmer in the dim light of the chamber, but it was a shimmer of unshed tears. Before he even made the conscious decision to do so, Harry was halfway to Daphne. It seemed to him that Daphne was resisting running to him too. She looked at him with an expression of pain and regret. Of sadness and ... overwhelming love.

He no longer believed her previous words, had seen through her deception. But why had she deemed it necessary to turn away from him? To cause him so much pain?

"That won't save you," Voldemort's voice suddenly cut through the silence. "Then I'll just have to kill you by myself."

Reluctantly, Harry turned his gaze away from Daphne and instead directed it as his opponent. Voldemort had put on a scornful expression, his wand raised. Harry immediately took up a fighting stance. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Daphne standing a few meters away from him, the wand also ready to fight. They would fight together.

Hateful he looked at their opponent, who still looked slightly transparent. "This won't be our end, but yours, Voldemort ... no, Tom!"

Voldemort grimaced angrily at the mention of his birth name. "Soon you'll be dead, Harry. The famous Harry Potter, who thought he could oppose the Dark Lord. And once the boy is dead, we, Greengrass, will have a long conversation." With his last words, he looked at Daphne. There was something so hideous in his eyes that Harry felt a rage of anger.

"Die, you bastard," Harry screamed, firing several Bone-Breaking Curses at Voldemort. Beside him, Daphne also quickly fired a whole arsenal of spells and curses at their opponent.

Voldemort, however, only swung his wand briefly and all their spells and curses bounced off him ineffectively. Now he smiled sneeringly. The way Harry would probably smile if a ladybug tried to attack him. But that only made Harry even angrier. He let many more curses follow, his entire repertoire of collected knowledge that he had trained so often in the Room of Requirement. With which he had easily defeated his four roommates. Yet again, Voldemort was able to ward off all his attacks with a brief gesture. Harry was beside himself. That bastard should at least pretend that this was a real fight!

"That's pathetic, you two," Voldemort laughed. "I'll show you how a real wizard fights."

With that, Voldemort took the offensive. With superhuman speed, he fired several purple flashes at Harry and Daphne at the same time. Harry could just create a magical shield in front of him, but the flashes just went through his shield and hit him in the middle of the chest, causing him to feel sharp pain. The pain lasted for half a second, and then it was gone.

Surprised, Harry looked at Daphne. She, too, held her chest but was otherwise apparently unharmed. They exchanged a look and made sure that they were both indeed okay.

"How unfortunate," came Voldemort's somewhat irritated, yet cheerful voice. "It looks like we have to wait a little longer. Please have some patience until I kill you, yes? It won't take much longer. And you can't escape."

Harry realized what it was about. Voldemort had deprived Daphne and the Weasley girl of vitality so that he could return to physical form. Now he had only Weasley. However, in the last few minutes, Voldemort's appearance had always become more solid and material. If they did not take urgent action, Voldemort would soon have regained physical form. Then his spells would have their full, deadly power again as well. They had to defeat him before!

He exchanged another look with Daphne. She must have come to the same conclusion as he had if he read her expression correctly. Her eyes flicked briefly to Weasley lying on the floor. Harry understood what she was thinking. If they killed Weasley, Voldemort could no longer drain her!

But was he really able to kill another, even defenseless, person? However, Weasley had put them into this situation in the first place. And if he had to choose between the survival of Daphne and him or the survival of a girl with whom he had no connection at all, he would always choose them both. He had already advised Daphne to do the same thing once. But still…

He remembered the diary lying on the floor. It contained the essence, the memory of Voldemort! At least for the moment! If they destroyed the diary, that would kill Voldemort's memory as well. But Daphne couldn't know that ... They had to make a decision. Their survival, their chance of a happy and free life depended on it.

This exchange of looks and all these thoughts had lasted only a few seconds, during which Voldemort had looked at them complacently the whole time. He had no doubt that he would defeat them. If that wasn't a misjudgment!

Harry clutched his wand. That must have been the sign Daphne had been waiting for. At the same time, Harry and Daphne whipped around and fired spells at their respective targets.

"Confringo!"

"Incendio!"

Two red flashes shot out of their wands. With a pounding heart, they watched their spells hit their targets.

Daphne's blasting course, however, simply bounced off a magical shield around Weasley. And Harry's fire spell, which was supposed to be able to set every book ablaze immediately, hit the diary but had no effect. The book had not even got a burn mark.

"Oh, you're so pathetic," Voldemort said cheerfully. Harry and Daphne turned back to him. "Did you really think I would leave my source of life, the lovely Miss Weasley, unprotected? And Harry, please refrain from trying to misappropriate other people's property. That's out of place, you know?"

Harry had had enough now. Even if it were hopeless, he would not stop fighting his parents' murderer until his last breath. He nodded to Daphne, which she replied. If that was their last fight, they would fight it together.

They defiantly raised their wands. "You haven't won yet, Tom," Harry said bitterly. With that, Harry sent a silent stunner on Voldemort who simply dodged.

Another magical clash broke out. Multi-colored flashes shot through the entire chamber and bounced off walls. Several of the stone pillars were damaged. But Voldemort dodged each of their spells or blocked them with his wand. Harry and Daphne could only be thankful that Voldemort had not yet regained his full physical form, for despite all their attempts at defense, they were repeatedly hit by his curses. They still had no lasting effects, but they became increasingly painful. Not long and they both would die, Harry knew.

However, they also kept Voldemort moving so that they could fire on the diary from time to time. The diary was engulfed in flames, flung through the air, splashed with corrosive acid and much more, but nothing could harm the book. It looked as immaculate as ever. All their spells had not even left a small scratch on the leather cover.

Voldemort drove them through the chamber as he liked. By now, they were right in front of the statue of Salazar Slytherin again. Where it all started.

Harry saw an orange flash hit Daphne in her stomach, causing her to cry out in pain and collapse on the floor.

"Daphne!" Harry screamed in panic. In a split second he was next to her, putting up a magical shield. Daphne spat blood.

Harry heard Voldemort's mocking laugh. "Everything will be over soon, Harry. Then you'll be back with your dear Mudblood mother."

Furious rage filled Harry. It couldn't end like this! That just couldn't be the end! They had to be able to destroy this damn diary somehow.

One last desperate option came to Harry's mind. It was very likely that this would be their death. If he could do it at all. But he had no choice. Beside him, Daphne coughed up more and more blood while Voldemort grinned at them confidently. He did not even attack them anymore. He knew he was going to win. But pride came before a fall, as the saying went…

Clutching his wand, he gathered all his wrath at the monster in front of him. All his hatred. He felt the scorching heat rise inside him. He felt the life of the flames that he wanted to create. He could almost see the firestorm in his mind's eye, see it enveloping Voldemort, his flesh melting until there wasn't any ash left. He could almost hear his cries of pain. It was music to his ears.

A feeling of power flowed through Harry. This time he could accomplish it! This time he had a target to which he could direct his anger, his hatred, his destructive frenzy. With that he raised his wand. However, he did not point it at Voldemort, but at the diary a little further away. He felt like his blood was boiling in his veins.

Before Voldemort, who was still laughing derisively, noticed anything, Harry shouted, "Puranaeros Stugaeto!"

Harry felt the feeling of power shoot through his body, through his outstretched arm into his wand. His arm and entire body trembled. An unbearable heat filled him, making him cry in pain. He had never experienced such agony, not even in all his time with the Dursleys.

A tremendous stream of fire broke out of Harry's wand and shot straight at the diary. There was a horrible noise, and Harry would have loved to cover his ears if he could. Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion. He saw the certainty of victory vanish from Voldemort's face and be replaced by sheer horror. He also saw how the stream of fire from countless, intermingling shades of color kept moving towards its target. The stream of fire fanned out and flaming figures of hell burst out of the stream. Harry recognized serpents, dragons and chimaeras. The denizens of hell hissed and roared as if they wanted to destroy the whole world. It was terrifying, abominable, and beautiful.

Finally, the Fiendfyre reached the diary. There was a long, dreadful, piercing scream and Harry saw Voldemort writhing on the floor, squirming in pain, his eyes bleeding, the flesh melting from his bones. The last thing Harry saw of the memory of Voldemort before it vanished in a bloodcurdling scream was a look of sheer hatred, a look that Harry returned from the bottom of his heart.

"Harry..." he heard Daphne's weak voice beside him, who had gotten up again in the meantime. Her chin and upper body, however, were covered in blood, her own blood. "We have to get out of here, the fire..."

Harry looked in the direction where the stream of fire had hit the diary. By now, the part of the chamber had turned into a pure inferno. The flaming creatures of hell consumed everything they encountered. Most of the massive serpent pillars had already melted and gone forever. However, in its rage of destruction, the fire became more and more greedy. He could feel the life and desire of the flames. There would never be rest until they had destroyed all life in the world. As the flames destroyed the remaining stone pillars, the heat became more and more unbearable. Daphne was right, they had to get out of here!

He took her hand, something he hadn't done in many months. Immediately he felt the old intimacy again, even if her hand trembled in his. Daphne was at the end of her tether, but he couldn't have consideration for that, for her own sake.

Harry ran off, dragging Daphne, who was panting with exertion, but as yet she kept up. Harry ran in the only possible direction: further into the chamber. Which only meant that they ran behind the huge statue of Salazar Slytherin. Harry looked around in panic, but nowhere did he see a tunnel or opening in the walls. They were in a hopeless situation. Behind them the metal statue, in front of them stone. Right and left of them open space and then stone walls.

He felt the heat in his back getting more intense. Harry turned around and saw the devouring flames of hell envelop the statue of Salazar Slytherin, which glowed red. It, too, would soon have melted, and then the flames would rush to the last remaining targets...

Harry and Daphne cowered down at the wall of rock, as far away from the flame inferno as possible, when they heard the furious hiss of the basilisk passing in the flames. Harry put his arms protectively around Daphne, feeling her rattling breath in the crook of his neck. She was completely run down, but there was no way out for them, anyway. Should this be their end?

Daphne lifted her head, and Harry saw how much effort it took. "Harry ... I'm scared ... I'm so cold..." Harry tightened his grip on his partner, but he too was terrified. "Harry, you have to..." Daphne coughed up blood again. "... you have to control the fire ... put it out ... you can do it! You created it..."

She was right, Harry thought! At least he had to try. For them both. For their future. Harry broke away from Daphne, but only to kneel down in front of her, the Fiendfyre blazing behind his back. Soon it would reach them if he did not prevent it. However, there was one more thing he had to say to Daphne, since he did not know if he would ever have the chance again.

He took her hands and looked intently into her beautiful blue eyes, wide with fear, as the devouring heat became almost unbearable. All the masks had fallen, here at the likely end of their journey together.

"Daphne ... I miss you ... I know that something has deeply bothered you over the past few months ... and I wish you could have told me ... But ... no matter whether we now die here or not ... I love you, Daphne, I love you!"

Daphne's eyes widened in surprise and indescribable emotion, but Harry had already whipped around. With a determined face, he looked at the flaming inferno in front of him, this devastating force of nature. He raised his wand and closed his eyes, feeling like his hair and skin could catch fire at any moment. Gathering all his inner strength, he indulged in his feelings.

The next moment he felt the cool sea breeze blow over his heated face. In his mind he was with Daphne on the dune on the beach again, while above them the shooting stars passed. Harry had never been as happy as at this moment last Halloween, even though it was the day his parents had died. However, pain and happiness, sadness and joy were often close together. He knew that his parents had loved him. They had sacrificed themselves so that he could live. He would perpetuate their memory in his heart forever!

Harry wanted nothing more than to have his own family. His parents were dead, but he would create his own family! He made a firm commitment to that! Together with Daphne. He wanted to experience moments like on the beach again and again in the future. They would create many more such memories in the future! But for that they had to survive here and now!

He suddenly saw an image in his mind. He was sitting next to an older Daphne lying in a bed, her face beaming with joy. There was a bundle in her arms. She handed it to Harry and when he took it, he saw the roundish face of a baby with closed eyes! That was his child, he realized! Daphne smiled at him, exhausted but overjoyed, which Harry returned with all his heart. A feeling of bliss pervaded him. That was the future he wanted to fight for! He felt a tear of joy slide down his face. The first tear followed many more. His entire face was now wet and occasionally tears also fell on the baby in his arms.

And tears of love could put out flames of hatred...

Suddenly Harry felt incredibly exhausted. The hand with his wand was trembling like crazy. Opening his eyes again, he saw that the fire had indeed been extinguished. A mist of ash and smoke settled over the scene of destruction, while Harry felt he could not breathe.

His legs stopped working, and he collapsed on the floor. With a great effort, he turned to Daphne, seeing her eyes open with difficulty, even if he did not know if she could still see him through the dark clouds of smoke. Her eyes closed, and her head tilted to the side.

Harry also felt himself getting weaker and weaker, his eyelids closing slowly. It was as if he heard beautiful music before darkness eventually spread over him.


The first thing Harry noticed when he came to himself was loud sobbing. But who was crying here? He opened his eyes and immediately closed them again when the bright light dazzled him.

"Careful, Harry. Take your time," he heard Dumbledore's warm voice somewhere next to him. But Dumbledore was gone, wasn't he?

This time opening his eyes only a little, he saw numerous silhouettes around him but could not make out any details. He blinked several times and finally his gaze became clearer. Looking around, he saw that he was in Professor McGonagall's office. He himself was lying on a kind of couch in the room, which was lightened by a multitude of candles. Next to him were Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore, who smiled softly at him, but Harry could also see a certain sadness in his light blue eyes. Behind them sat a red-haired woman in a chair, her face pressed to the chest of a red-haired man who was gently stroking the woman's back. The woman sobbed miserably and in her right hand she held something that looked like a big round clock. Sitting on a high bookshelf, he recognized the phoenix Fawkes, who was watching them all curiously.

However, he could not see one specific person. "Where's Daphne?" he asked appalled, sitting up on the couch.

"She's fine, Harry," Dumbledore replied quickly. "She is in the hospital wing. She will survive!"

Harry breathed a sigh of relief. They had made it; they had escaped from the chamber! But how?

"But how did we get here? I only remember that I passed out..." Harry expressed his confusion.

"Fawkes brought you here. He seemed to have an idea that you needed him. Just in time ... Harry, what happened?"

Suddenly, the crying woman rushed over. "What about Ginny?!" she shouted.

Harry now looked into the tearful and swollen face of the woman who had to be Ginny Weasley's mother, feeling deep guilt and pity. In a halting voice he answered, "I-I couldn't save her ... she didn't survive. I'm sorry…"

The woman sobbed even more. Presumably, she had hoped until the very end. The red-haired man, probably Mr. Weasley, went to his wife and took her arms. In his eyes he saw harrowing sadness. "Molly..." he said in a trembling voice. Harry felt incredibly sorry for them. They had lost their daughter today...

"Molly, Arthur," came Professor McGonagall's voice. "We have to tell your other children. They need you now." With that she led the two sobbing parents out. Harry, Dumbledore and Fawkes were left behind.

"Harry," Dumbledore spoke again, "Please tell me what happened."

Harry pondered. If their fight against Voldemort had shown him one thing, it was that he was still far too weak. He and Daphne had not even been able to defeat a faint replica of Voldemort. If Voldemort was still out there somewhere and would one day be able to return, Harry could not afford to have Dumbledore as an enemy too. It would not hurt to tell him some things that had happened, but not everything.

"It was Voldemort, sir," Harry replied. "He enchanted Ginny Weasley and forced her to open the Chamber of Secrets. And she kidnapped Daphne to lure me into the chamber."

"But how did Lord Voldemort manage to enchant Ginny when my sources tell me he is currently in hiding in the forests of Albania?" Dumbledore eyed him through his half-moon-shaped glasses.

"It was his diary. He, Tom Riddle, made it when he was a student at Hogwarts. Ginny Weasley wrote in, so Voldemort could get her under his control."

Dumbledore thoughtfully stroked his long white beard. "Very few people know that Lord Voldemort was once called Tom Riddle ... How could you defeat him? And the Monster of Slytherin?"

Harry preferred not to talk about the basilisk and how they defeated it. And he also preferred to remain silent about his use of Fiendfyre. "There was no monster," he lied, avoiding direct eye contact. "It was all possessed Ginny Weasley. And we were able to defeat Voldemort by destroying the diary."

A deep wrinkle formed on Dumbledore's forehead. He looked at Harry and after a few moments he said, "The diary is completely destroyed? Nothing is left of it?"

"Yes, professor."

"Then I want to ask just one more thing, Harry. How did you get into the chamber and where is the entrance?"

"I asked the Moaning Myrtle. By the way, someone could have come up with the idea before me. The entrance is in her toilet. However, you must be a Parselmouth to be able to open the entrance, so that won't help you that much."

Harry defied Dumbledore's gaze. Finally, the headmaster sighed. "Then it's best to go to the hospital wing," he said. "Daphne will not wake up until tomorrow though. But you also have to rest -"

"But I also have a question for you, Professor," interrupted Harry. "Voldemort wanted to know how I could survive when he, the real Voldemort, wanted to kill me. I didn't say anything, but I didn't know anything anyway. How did I survive, Professor?"

A slight smile formed on Dumbledore's lip. "You were saved by the greatest power in the world, Harry." At Harry's confused look, he continued, "Love, Harry. You know that your mother sacrificed herself for you. She died for you. And with her sacrifice of love, she placed a powerful protection around you, from which Voldemort's killing curse was hurled back at him. Your mother's love and sacrifice saved you, Harry ... Love is a power that Lord Voldemort has always failed to understand…"

Harry felt a pleasant warmth in his body again, accompanied by melancholy. Once again, he decided to perpetuate the memory of his parents forever! His mother must not have died in vain!

Dumbledore looked at him with a sad smile, as if he knew exactly what was going on in Harry. But there was one more question that Harry had been thinking about for a long time and now seemed to be a good time to finally ask it.

"But why did Voldemort want to kill me in the first place?"

This time Dumbledore sighed even deeper. "I can't tell you, Harry. Not today. Not now. One day you will -"

Before Harry could respond, the office door was opened with a loud bang. A tall man with long white-blonde hair and expensive clothes entered the room. Behind him, a house-elf hobbled in, whom Harry knew only too well. It was Dobby. However, Dobby looked even more miserable than usual. There was a large, open scratch on his forehead that kept dripping blood on Dobby's anxious face. His body was heavily wrapped in bandages and it looked to Harry that every step he took caused him pain. Harry felt the anger rise inside him. Was this man Dobby's master?

"Ah, good evening, Lucius," Dumbledore said cheerfully, apparently unaffected by Dobby's appearance. "Harry, this is Lucius Malfoy. The father of your classmate Draco."

An intense argument broke out between Malfoy and Dumbledore, which Harry paid little attention to because his eyes were on Dobby all the time. After seeing Harry, he had positioned himself behind Malfoy so that his master could not see him. He started pointing at himself, then at Harry, and finally at Malfoy, before hitting himself hard on the head with his fist.

At first, Harry had not understood what Dobby was trying to tell him, but the house-elf kept repeating the movements, staring at Harry with wide eyes. Suddenly, Harry understood. Malfoy was Dobby's master. Dobby had warned him of the danger of the Chamber of Secrets. He must have learned it from his master. So Malfoy was behind the opening of the Chamber! Somehow, he must have managed to get Ginny Weasley into possession of the obsessed diary. This bastard had endangered all of Hogwarts, his home. And worse: Daphne! He would pay for that!

He nodded to Dobby with clenched fists, who then backed into a corner and twisted his ears in punishment. Harry decided to free the house-elf from his misery. Dobby had always meant well for him. He did not deserve to be so mistreated by Malfoy. Harry thought about how he could do this. The Imperius Curse was out of the question here in the middle of Hogwarts...

Finally, Malfoy and Dumbledore seemed to have finished their verbal battle. "We're going Dobby!" Malfoy shouted angrily, wrenching open the office door. When Dobby limped over, Malfoy kicked him right through it. They could hear Dobby squealing with pain all the way along the corridor.

Harry was beside himself. Malfoy was truly a monster. "Professor, I need to talk to Mr. Malfoy one more time," Harry spat between clenched teeth.

Dumbledore nodded goodbye to him. "Whatever you think is right, Harry."

With quick steps, Harry ran down the corridor, closer and closer to Dobby's cries of pain. He caught up with them at the top of the stairs.

"Malfoy!" Harry called wrathfully.

Malfoy stopped and turned around, flinching at the sight of Harry's furious expression. "What do you want, boy?" Malfoy said, and Harry realized who Draco had inherited his arrogant behavior from.

Harry would have loved to dispatch him right there and now, but he forced himself to remain calm. That was the wrong place and the wrong time to do it. But at some point, he would get Malfoy and make him pay for everything he had done, Harry thought.

Therefore, Harry just said with open aversion, "I want you to set Dobby free!"

Malfoy's eyes widened in surprise. "What do you have to do with my house-elf?"

"I see how you treat him. No living being should be treated like this. Set him free! Immediately!"

"And why should I do that, boy?" Malfoy asked sardonically.

"Because otherwise I will make your whole life a living hell," Harry replied with venom in his voice. "When I'm done with you, there will nothing be left of you. I know you're behind the opening of the Chamber of Secrets. Voldemort told me!" A lie, but Malfoy could not know that.

Malfoy was getting paler than ever. "You have no evidence of this!"

"I don't need it! I'll just tell everyone I meet. I go to the Daily Prophet. I bet they're really keen to have an interview with me. I will have my memories visualized as photos and published in the newspaper. I'll tell everyone that you're responsible for the opening of the Chamber of Secrets and Ginny Weasley's death. Who will the public believe more? The Boy Who Lived, or a man known across Britain for his pureblood bigotry and whose son had threatened Muggle-born and so-called blood traitors all school year? When I'm done with you, nothing will be left of you and your reputation! Or you set Dobby free and I leave you alone." At least for now, Harry added in his thoughts. "It is your decision alone."

Malfoy looked at him with a reddened head. Just like his son, Harry thought. "How dare you?!" he spat, pulling out his wand.

However, Harry had expected that. At the first twitching of Malfoy's hand, he quickly pulled out his wand as well. Therefore, the two so unequal figures now faced each other with their wands raised, but Harry had fought Voldemort personally (at least his memory). So he would not be afraid of his pathetic servant! Even if Harry secretly had to admit that it was still likely that Malfoy was far superior to him. But he would not show any doubts!

"Are you sure you want to attack me here, Malfoy? In the middle of Hogwarts?"

There was understanding on Malfoy's face as if he was only now realizing the scope of all of this.

"How do you decide?" asked Harry in a firm voice.

He saw Malfoy grind his jaws in anger, his eyes keeping wandering between Harry and Dobby. He had no choice, and that must have become clear to him now. He took off his left glove and threw it at Dobby, who caught it immediately.

"Dobby, you are ... free." It was obvious that these words took Malfoy a lot of effort.

Dobby's face beamed with joy. Malfoy looked at Harry with an expression of pure hatred. "You'll pay for that, Potter! You'll meet the same sticky end as your parents one of these days. Like all Mudbloods and blood traitors!"

With a last incensed stare at both of them, he swung his cloak around him, hurrying away. When Malfoy was gone, Harry turned his gaze back to the house-elf next to him.

The latter stared at him with tears in his ball eyes. "Harry Potter freed Dobby!" said Dobby shrilly. "Harry Potter freed Dobby! Harry Potter is so great, so kind, so -"

"Dobby!" Harry interrupted. "You don't have to praise me like that. That was the least I could do. You didn't deserve to be treated like this by Malfoy!"

Dobby threw his arms around Harry's middle and hugged him, starting to sob loudly. "Harry Potter is even greater than Dobby thought! Dobby will be devoted to you forever, Harry Potter sir!"

Harry smiled at the house-elf. "Thanks, Dobby. If I ever need your help, I'll tell you."

"Harry Potter just has to call Dobby's name and Dobby will come. Farewell, Harry Potter sir!" And with a final loud crack, Dobby disappeared.

Harry shook his head and walked towards the hospital wing. He was feeling extremely exhausted again. Apparently, the confrontation with Malfoy had used up the last of his remaining strength.

He also wanted to check on Daphne and make sure she was fine. Then, hopefully, a bright new morning would dawn for them.


In the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey had immediately put him in a bed and Harry had fallen asleep as soon as he closed his eyes. When he woke up again, it was already noon. So he had slept for almost ten hours. Sleep had been good for him because he felt more relaxed than he had in a long time.

The petrified victims of the basilisk were still lying in the other beds. Harry still didn't know why the basilisk's gaze had only petrified and not killed them, but this question was no longer relevant. The basilisk was dead and could never attack people again. Madam Pomfrey had happily told him that the petrified could be revived soon. Then normality could finally return to Hogwarts.

She had also told him that Daphne would wake up later in the day. She had been hit by a vile curse, but it had not had its full strength and devastating effect. Harry was once again relieved that they had not faced the real Voldemort, otherwise Daphne would undoubtedly be dead now. So Madam Pomfrey had been able to heal Daphne with some magic and potions.

And that is how it came that Harry was now sitting at Daphne's bed, holding her hand. She looked peaceful as she lay there, Harry thought, her chest lowering and lifting imperceptibly with every breath she took. Her face showed no emotion whatsoever, which was probably due to the dreamless sleep potion she had been given.

Harry gently brushed a strand of hair from her face. She was still so pale, only the dark circles around the eyes added some color to her face. It hurt Harry to see Daphne like this. If she woke up again, they would talk! He would not let her go this time until she told him everything that was bothering her, which frightened her so much that she had felt it necessary to turn away from him and their common goal. He would no longer accept excuses or falsehoods. That was all in the past.

Harry felt a familiar rage when he remembered that Daphne's parents hadn't shown up or even asked about their daughter's condition. Harry, however, was not surprised at all. That, too, would soon be a thing of the past.

Several hours passed in which Harry did not stir from his seat next to Daphne's bed. Eventually, Daphne woke up again, blinking several times to get used to the bright sunlight. Harry squeezed her hand.

"It's all good, Daph. You're in the hospital wing."

Daphne's gaze cleared and now she apparently recognized the face of Harry, who had leaned over her and smiled.

"Harry ..." Her voice was still a little rough, but that would go away.

"I'm with you, Daph. I'm not going anywhere." He looked deep into Daphne's eyes, which began to shimmer again.

Daphne swallowed loudly and then seemed to be fixing a point next to Harry's head. "I'm sorry you had to come to save me," she said in a dry voice. "It won't happen again. I'll never be a burden to you again. I will -"

"Please shut up now, Daph," Harry interrupted her flow, rolling his eyes. It was exactly as he had feared.

Daphne looked at him in surprise and with an open mouth. "What…?"

"I said you should just hold your tongue now, Daphne," repeated Harry. "You know, I was afraid you'd react like that. That you would try again to distance yourself from me, to end our partnership. But that won't wash with me anymore, do you hear?" His voice had become much more vehement. "Something was bothering you deeply, I understand. And you're terrified, I understand that too. But I don't understand your reaction to that. That you have withdrawn and turned away. That you lied. For I don't believe a single word you said to me in January. Therefore, I won't rest until I get a full explanation from you. How I react to that is my decision, do you hear? You won't make this decision for me!"

"I –"

"No backchat! If you are feeling better and you can get out of bed, we go to the Room of Requirement and there we can talk. And if you can't get out of bed yet, then you'll rest. And I'll sit next to you all the time and take care of you. And that's that."

Daphne closed her eyes wearily, the raising and lowering of her chest accelerating. Suddenly, her upper body started to shake violently, her hand clenching in his.

Harry jumped up, startled. "Daphne, what's –"

Daphne opened her eyes again, and Harry saw that they were full of tears. He immediately bent over her, putting his arms around her. Daphne was now sobbing on his shoulder.

"Everything will be fine, Daphne. We ... we sort it out..." He no longer knew how to behave. Had he been too harsh?

"I ... I'm fine," said Daphne among sobs. "I think ... that I can leave the bed ... let's ... let's go to the Room of Requirement ... I just want to get it over with ... I just can't take it anymore..."

Harry looked into her tear-streaked face. It hurt his heart to see her like this, but they needed clarity. He finally had to know what she was all about. He could feel the impatience within him.

"Then I'll get Madam Pomfrey," he said in a husky voice. "She'll definitely want to see you again, I guess. And then we can go."

In fact, Madam Pomfrey examined Daphne one more time. After a few diagnostic spells, however, she allowed them to leave the hospital wing, but Daphne would have to come back tomorrow to make sure that the internal injuries didn't start again.

Thus, Harry and Daphne were now walking through the school corridors. On the way they met several other students, who continued to look at them fearfully and suspiciously. Nobody wanted to be around him for long, Harry noticed. Word had probably gotten around the castle that Ginny Weasley had died. And who would the student body probably blame for this? Harry sighed in frustration.

Daphne walked beside him, apparently not noticing any of this. She kept her head down and her arms were wrapped around her torso, which trembled violently. Harry had to keep pushing her in the right direction on the way, but he also knew that she had to sort it out for herself, whatever it was that was going on in her head. He would get his answers soon.

Finally, they reached the Room of Requirement. At Harry's request, it had taken the form of the cozy fireplace room where Harry and Daphne had spent so many happy hours.

Harry sat down in one of the armchairs, looking at Daphne, who was standing in front of him, her head turned away and still trembling all over.

"Daphne..." Harry said hesitantly. How should he continue now?

Daphne, however, made the decision for him, because with a shaky, low voice she began to tell…


Flashback, on previous Christmas Eve, Greengrass Manor

Daphne ran up the stairs, not caring whether she was heard or not. It just didn't matter. Her thoughts were pure chaos. Without paying attention to what she was doing, she blew the door to her mother's bedroom off its hinges and plunged into it.

There her mother was sitting on the bed, apparently about to get dressed. She stared at Daphne, startled. "What -"

Daphne did not hesitate for a moment but immediately pointed her wand at her mother. "Imperio!"

It was no comparison to the feeling when she tried to subdue her father. Unlike Morpheus Greengrass, his wife made no resistance. Daphne instantly felt the familiar, intoxicating feeling of power and surrendered to it.

"Is it true?! Tell me the truth!" Daphne cried with tears, her heart aching in her chest.

"What do you mean?" asked her mother apathetically, her empty eyes on Daphne and her head slightly tilted to the side.

"Who is my father?" Daphne's voice trembled. It just couldn't be true. Please! Anything but that!

In complete contrast to Daphne's emotional chaos, her mother answered without hesitation, in an emotionless voice, as if she was in no way aware of the significance of her words, "Your father is the Dark Lord."

The world collapsed on Daphne. She dropped to her knees. No! No! No! It just couldn't be true! She tore her hair and red sparks shot from her wand.

Her breathing became frantic, but she felt like she couldn't breathe at all. Her heart was beating so hard that it hurt. She wanted to rip it out of her chest. The furniture in the room and the walls started to tremble.

"No ... how..." Daphne stammered, trembling all over.

"Morpheus and I wanted to win his favor," said her mother, who had apparently taken Daphne's words as an order, in a still impassive voice. "But we didn't want to fight or openly announce ourselves as his supporters. That's why I offered myself to him. It was my husband's idea. The Dark Lord used me like a lifeless piece of meat. It was horrible. I felt that he cared more about subjugation and the feeling of power over me than sexual pleasure. His sperm that flowed out of me afterwards was brown and dirty. I was so disgusted. Nine months later, you were born."

Daphne had to throw up. It just couldn't be true! It was just a bad dream! But she knew it wasn't a dream. Everything here was real! Her feelings overwhelmed her.

She ran off. She ran out of her mother's bedroom. She ran out of her family's house. She kept running. She ran through the snow and deep into the forest. She had no idea how long she was running. She just wanted to get away. Away from this house, away from these people, away from this world, away from everything. At some point she was completely exhausted and fell into the high snow under a tree in the middle of the deep forest. No sunlight reached her, maybe the sun had already set. Daphne curled up tightly.

It just couldn't be true! Please! Harry would hate her for it! He could never live with it! She could never live with it herself...

She just couldn't get the pictures out of her head. Her mother, lying on her back, simply forgotten and thrown away after use. Brown dirty sperm dripping out of her ... from which she would come into life. The blood of this man, this monster ran in her veins ... Again she had to vomit. She saw strands of her hair in the pool of sick. She had always liked her hair. The only thing for which she was grateful to her mother. Harry had liked to play with her strands ...

But what about everything else? Her skin, her nose, her ears? Did she have all of this from this monster ... her ... begetter? Her fingernails clawed into her face. She wanted to rip it out. She wanted to rip everything out! Her damn heart too. She felt her fingernails create bleeding wounds. The blood dripped into the white snow. Now she was already staining the purity of the snow with her blood, Daphne laughed insanely. She felt like she was losing her mind.

She could never live a happy life. All her desires, all her dreams of a better, pleasant life were a thing of the past with this day. Shattered by the terrible truth. She would never have a loving family. She didn't deserve one. Harry would hate her. She was the daughter of his parents' murderer! It was almost as if Daphne could see the green flashes and hear the cries of death. He could never reciprocate her love. He would shout at her, damn her, never want to have anything to do with her again. He would get to know another woman, fall in love with her, and start a family. And he did well. She herself was a despicable monster. A freak that should never have been born. Her very existence was a mistake. She didn't deserve love, just disgust.

She felt the freezing cold paralyze her limbs. If she simply stayed here, she would have frozen to death soon. An easy, pleasant way to die. Didn't she even have the courage to kill herself, Daphne wondered insanely. She didn't deserve a happy life. She didn't deserve love. But was death her escape?

Trembling, Daphne raised her wand and pointed it at her throat. She should just end it here and now! The world was far better off without her. She herself was better off if she could escape life and this terrible truth. And Harry was better off if he never saw her again, too. Even if it hurt him, it would be a lot more gracious than if he found out that he had spent the past few months with the daughter of his parents' murderer. With the daughter of a monster. With the daughter of ... Voldemort. Daphne sobbed. Her very existence caused her pain.

She tightened her grip on her wand. Soon everything would be over...


"But you didn't kill yourself," Harry said matter-of-factly.

Daphne was slumped on the floor and was one sobbing and howling picture of misery. "No ... I was too weak..."

Harry looked at the girl crouching in front of him, his own head also a mess of thoughts and feelings. Daphne was ... Voldemort's daughter? He felt a sharp pain in his heart. That changed everything!

But did it really, asked a voice in his head. When he had previously thought that her father was a follower of Voldemort, he didn't care...

But Voldemort was the murderer of his parents! He had to perpetuate their memory!

Yes, Voldemort was the murderer of his parents. And he would take revenge for that. But that wasn't Daphne's fault...

But his blood ran through her veins! He had to hate her now, loathe her!

That was what his mind told him. But his heart just couldn't make him hate her.

He heard Daphne's desperate sobs, saw her tears wet the floor. And his heart ached at the sight. These were the only words he could think of to describe his feelings. He realized that Daphne had been carrying this revelation, this terrible truth, for half a year now. Completely alone. He could not even imagine how she must have felt...

He sat next to her as if he was in a trance. Carefully, he put his arms around his partner. Daphne startled at the sudden touch and tried to pull away from his arms, but Harry did not let her go, smelling the scent of her hair again, which reminded him of oranges and vast fields of sunflowers.

How he had missed that fragrance, he thought. How he had missed Daphne! At that moment, he realized that he did not care what Daphne had revealed. Ever since he led her to this miraculous mirror on his first Christmas at Hogwarts, he knew that they shared the same desire. Even in the time after that, he witnessed this truth again and again. It was all about finding some happiness and love in a world that gave her none since the day she was born. How could he hate her when she was just another victim of the cruelty of this world? How could he hate her when he … loved her?

He pulled away from Daphne and stared straight into her tearful face and reddened eyes. Her whole face was swollen, and small bubbles formed in front of her nostrils. She really did not look very attractive at that moment. Still, Harry leaned forward without thinking about it and pressed his lips to hers. The kiss tasted salty and was far from pleasant, yet it dissipated any remaining doubts in Harry. That was right! It just felt right!

When they broke apart, Daphne looked at him, startled and shocked. She tried to say something but could not do it.

"Daphne," said Harry firmly, clutching her tightly, "I don't care, do you hear? Who your father is doesn't change a thing. It is not your fault, not your responsibility, and certainly not a reason I would hate you. It doesn't change anything. I've already told you, Daphne, and it hasn't changed: I love you!"

Harry saw the conflicting feelings in Daphne's eyes. For a brief moment, something like hope flashed but was then immediately replaced by desperate pain. "My existence is a mistake ... I don't deserve love..." she said in a broken voice.

"Don't say that!" Harry replied angrily. "Everyone deserves a chance at love. A chance to be happy."

"But…"

"No buts! I love you, Daphne! Never in my life have I been so sure of something. You are not your father! And I will never give this bastard the power over us to destroy our lives ... You are my life, Daphne! I want to spend my life with you!"

Harry had to breathe in and out several times to calm down again. Daphne trembled and looked at him with her beautiful ice-blue eyes. He saw that she was still struggling to give in to her hope. Probably, she had already resigned herself to her misery. Stupid girl!

"I love you, Daphne," said Harry, feeling his eyes welled up with tears as well. "But I'm also angry with you! How could you decide to turn away from me? Not telling me the slightest bit? Do you know how you hurt me with this?" At this point, Harry's voice also failed.

Daphne's eyes widened. "I … I never wanted to hurt you! I just wanted to protect you ... I wanted you to be fine -"

"But you did exactly the opposite! The last few months, I've felt worse than ever before in my life!"

"Harry, I ..." As Daphne struggled to find the right words, Harry recognized the truth in her eyes, which at that moment seemed like an open book to him.

"Just never do that again. Never doubt us again." With that Harry leaned forward again and kissed Daphne. The kiss was still salty, but unlike the first time, this kiss was beautiful for Harry. He tried to put all his love in this kiss, just wanting to have the old Daphne back. The Daphne who was joyous. The Daphne who schemed. With whom he wanted to spend his future so that one day they would have their own small family. He remembered the baby in his arms that he had seen in the chamber. That was the future he wanted to create with Daphne!

This time, as they slowly broke away from each other, he gently stroked her lips with his thumb, smiling at her. And this time she returned the smile, despite the leftover tears in her eyes. To Harry, the moment she smiled at him and her blue eyes beamed with joy felt like an eternity that should never end.

"Thank you, Harry!" Daphne finally said, putting her hand on his cheek to bring him closer to her again. "I love you too!" With that she kissed him. Now all dams were broken. Harry's one hand went to Daphne's back to bring her closer to him. His other hand stroked through her hair and played with her strands. It just felt right!

Daphne's arms wrapped around his neck as if she never wanted to let go of him again. At some point, however, Harry had to take a breath and broke away from her, much to her reluctance, obviously. "Daphne," laughed Harry, "I need air."

Daphne immediately pressed against him again, hugging him so hard that Harry could almost hear his ribs cracking. "I'm sorry, Harry!" she called. "I will never doubt you again! Doubt us! I love you, Harry, more than anything else in the world. More than myself. You were the reason I didn't kill myself! You are my weakness, Harry Potter! I love you! I've loved you for so long. I already loved you at Christmas. I wanted to see you again, at least one more time. That's why I wasn't able to kill myself."

Harry remembered Dumbledore's words from the previous day and had to agree with them from the bottom of his heart. "Love isn't a weakness, Daph. It's a wonderful thing. The greatest power in the world!"

He kissed her again and this time the kiss lasted even longer than the last one. Eventually, however, both children had to take a breath, looking at each other tenderly. Harry felt her hand on his cheek, while also running his thumb over the rings under her eyes to wipe away the last traces of her tears.

"But Harry," Daphne said in a trembling voice. "What if there's something of him in me? I don't want to be like him. But I often feel this cruelty in me. Sometimes I just want to hurt people. Make them suffer like I suffered. You are the only person who is important to me. The others could all perish, I wouldn't care. I'm not a good person, Harry... "

"You are a person, Daphne, a human. With all the strengths and weaknesses that come with that. With all light and dark sides. You are not in the least like Voldemort. You can love. And you are loved. You're much more human than him. You'll never be like him! He has no power over us. We go our own way. I told you before, Daphne: Our story is not yet written. We write it together."

Another kiss followed. And another one. And another one. In the end, the two were just in each other's arms and enjoyed being reunited. The tears had dried up, the grief was in the past and they awaited a new morning. They did not know if the future would be good or bad, but they would face it all together. They were no longer separated! And at that thought Harry just felt happy.

At some point - it was already getting dark outside - the two children realized that they could not stay on the floor like this forever.

"I think we have to go back to our dorms," Harry said reluctantly.

"No!" Daphne's body cramped in his hug.

"Daphne, we really need -"

"No, Harry! I was incredibly stupid, and this stupidity has already made me lose you in the past few months. I never want to lose you again And at least tonight, I don't want to be alone. Please, Harry! Stay with me tonight!"

At her words, a large four-poster bed suddenly appeared in the room. Harry sighed with a smile. "If you ask me like that, I can hardly refuse, can I? All right, Daph, I'll stay with you."

With that, the two children climbed into bed. Harry put his arms around Daphne, who pressed her back tight against him.

"I love you, Harry," Daphne said softly.

"I love you too, Daphne."

Harry inhaled Daphne's scent again, feeling a pleasant warmth fill him. Everything was back to what it should be. Everything was fine again.

Within seconds, Harry had fallen asleep, and for the first time in months, no nightmares awaited him.


Daphne had never felt as safe and cared for as at that moment, feeling Harry's arms around her and huddling up to him. Their love was the only thing that mattered. Their love was the only thing that was important to her. As long as she had Harry, nothing in this world could bring her to her knees. She was deaf to the ugly voice inside her head that told her she was worthless and did not deserve love. Harry loved her and she loved Harry. That certainty was her sanctuary, her little piece of heaven in this hell of life.


Next chapter: The Rediscovered Couple

Preview:

Careful not to touch the still glowing metal, the two stepped through the opening and into the darkness that awaited them behind.


AN:

The revelation of Daphne's father was almost a bit anti-climactic, wasn't it? But I think most of you have already figured it out before, anyway.

I'm really sorry for Ginny. In principle, she's a very interesting and tragic character that was too underdeveloped in the books, which was also my problem with the Harry/Ginny romance in the books. In fanfictions I read great stories about both. Here I simply saw no way how the events in the chamber could have turned out well for her. However, it also somehow fits the tone of this story that Harry's canon wife has just died on the side and Harry doesn't even notice...

Apropos, Riddle used Ginny's wand if you were wondering.

By the way, I imagined the fiendfyre as a mixture of a destructive force of nature and a living creature. For me it definitely has a kind of will, which you have to subdue in order to be able to control the fire.

The next chapter will deal with the aftermath of what happened in this chapter, including Harry and Daphne again visiting the Chamber of Secrets...

At the end, a request: I am looking for one or two people who would be interested in proofreading (especially grammar) my chapters before publication. If you are interested, please feel free to contact me. Just so I know who to contact if I need to.