Author's note.

I would like to thank everyone who has reviewed this story, I haven't really written in a few years, but I would like to inform everyone that I'm back in business. I have every intention of finishing all of my other stories as my muse allows. To the reviewer posting under Guest, thank you for your time. I am sorry this story is not your cup of tea, and that's why I make my intentions clear from the start, nothing worse than getting caught up in a story and finding a surprise deal breaker. Well enough of that, on to the story.

As everyone can figure I don't own Harry Potter, or associated characters, I'm just playing in the sandbox

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Molly Weasley was terrified, she was pacing around Dumbledore's office, fretting about her children. Not only had her only daughter Ginny been taken into the Chamber of Secrets by Merlin knows who, but Ron and Harry had disappeared too. It seemed like all she had were questions, and no one had any answers, Dumbledore had only just returned to the school after the Board of Governors had reinstated him, and he had no answers to offer. The waiting and worry were tearing her heart, she just wanted to hold her children and never let go. No mother should ever have to suffer this, she thought as she continued her pacing.

Professor Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts, Supreme Mugwump of the ICW and Chief Warlock of the Wizengmot felt old, for all of his power, political and magical, he was helpless in this situation. Too make matters worse, it was Harry Potter and two of the Weasley children that were missing, he knew he shouldn't play favorites, and that all of the students of Hogwarts should be equal in his eyes, but he couldn't help but develop a fondness for the boy, and it was well known that the Weasley family held a special place in his heart. There are very few people Dumbledore knew he could trust, and the Weasley family contained many of them, that's why he'd asked Molly to find Harry and make sure he got on the Hogwarts Express last year if Hagrid somehow failed to make sure he did, and a good thing too. Hagrid, bless his soul, was kind and well meaning, but sometimes he forgot to take care of the details. Dumbledore regarded Molly and Arthur as he sat, he felt very keenly their fear and his own . The waiting, and worry were almost too much for him, helplessness was not something that he was used to, and he was certain of one thing, he didn't like it one bit.

Arthur Weasley sat in his seat in Dumbledore's office, it was all he could do not to join his wife pacing the carpet, but he knew that he had to keep up the outward show of strength and calm, he'd be the stable rock his family needed, no matter how unstable and worried he really felt. He trusted Albus's judgement, and Minerva's as well, at the current moment she was in the library chasing leads on the Chamber of Secrets, while in the dungeons Snape was going through the Slytherin House records for any information about it or who could have possibly opened it again. He could only hope that someone would bring good news soon.

Bill Weasley sat watching his parents fretting over his youngest siblings and their friend. The tall redhead had only arrived a few hours ago, he'd taken an international portkey to Gringotts, and from there he flooed directly to Dumbledore's office. Bill had hoped to be part of any rescue attempts, but so far no one even knew where to look, best they knew Ginny had been taken into the Chamber of Secrets, and they could only guess about Ron and Harry, it also seemed as if Lockhart was missing too. The whole thing was driving him spar, he was a man of action, and it was his family that was in danger, every instinct of his being was telling him to tear the school apart until he found them, and who or what took them, he'd make them pay, he was certain of that, man or beast nothing hurt his family if it wanted to live.

The chiming of the clock and Molly's pacing feet were the only sounds in the room, until just before midnight, the fire in Dumbledore's fireplace flared and Madam Pomphrey's head appeared.

"They're back, Fawks just flashed them into the infirmary. " She said, her voice even and calm in spite of the good news she delivered.

All at once the room exploded into action as the three Weasleys rushed out followed by the headmaster moving at a more sedate pace.

(Hospital Wing, Hogwarts 11:58 pm)

Harry was lead to a bed and made to lay down, Madame Pompfrey would check him over as soon as she finished getting Ginny, Ron, and Lockhart into beds, Harry decided that after what Lockhart had done he'd never call Lockhart professor again, the man was a fraud, Thor was right, Lockhart is a scoundrel, and worse. Harry's eyes fell on Hermione's petrified form, soon the mandrakes would be ready and she would be restored, how he missed her, but even petrified she still helped, if not for her he and Ron never would have known about the Basilisk and how it was getting around. Silently Harry contemplated the petrified girl, and wondered if she would be one of the valkyries he would lead, it seemed to fit, she had been at his side through everything so far, he chose not to think about the other thing, he was only 12 after all. As Harry sat waiting the doors burst open and Mrs Weasley came rushing in followed by Mr Weasley and another redhead Harry didn't know, and professor Dumbledore brought up the rear. Mrs Weasley rushed over to Ron and Ginny's beds, and Madame Pompfrey was talking to her but he couldn't quite hear it.

"How are you feeling my boy?" Harry heard Professor Dumbledore ask drawing his attention away from the Weasleys.

" Not as bad as I should, I think I'm ok." Harry responded.

" Do you feel up to telling me about what happened, and who was responsible for opening the Chamber? " Dumbledore asked.

Harry took a deep breath before laying back and telling the professor everything that had happened up to the time they flashed into the hospital wing. Harry decided not to mention his death, or his time in Valhalla, he would fill the professor in after he talked it over with Odin, until then he'd just say Fawks healed his wounds.

Professor Dumbledore listened intently as Harry told his story, Dumbledore knew he wasn't telling everything but decided that he'd keep an eye out and not press Harry about it yet. To say he was disturbed by events in the Chamber would be an understatement, Tom Riddle had left something of himself behind, very few objects could do what the diary did, none of them were good, and the implications were troubling to say the least, especially considering that Tom, while not quite alive, wasn't quite dead either. After Harry finished his storey Dumbledore decided to check on the others, before returning to his office to officially fire Lockhart, and begin research into the diary, he may not have a moment to lose if his suspicions were correct.

Ginny watched as her mother was fretting over Ron after finishing with her, guilt and pain filled her heart, she couldn't stop blaming herself for all of this, but Tom was so strong, and he'd been in her mind so long she felt as if he'd never leave her, his threats and the pain he caused in her mind would haunt her forever. Madame Pompfrey had given her a dreamless sleeping draught after professor Dumbledore came to see her, he hadn't asked her about the incident, only checked to make sure she was ok, and to assure her that she wasn't in trouble. After about an hour of visiting with her family they'd been asked to leave so that she and the others could get some sleep. Ginny took her potion, and laid down, as she felt sleep coming on a familiar but distant presence brushed across her mind, it felt friendly and light, not at all like Tom, she drifted into the darkness of a dreamless sleep before she could contemplate it

Ron Weasley may not have been the most observant person, but he did know a few things, and something he was certain of, if not for Harry and Hermione he wouldn't still have a sister. Ron felt a sense of guilt eating at him, he was her brother, not just her brother but her big brother, and he failed her. Ron knew Ginny wasn't acting like herself, he knew something wasn't exactly right, but he ignored it, well no more he decided, he'd be a better brother to her, and better friend to Harry and Hermione from now on

Sometime after everyone fell asleep, Astrid entered the hospital wing, she knew that while only a few could see her unless she let them, she still didn't want to risk it. Being seen would lead to awkward questions about her identity and her reason for being in the hospital wing in the first place, not something she could yet answer. . Astrid walked across the room to first check their champion Harry, he was sleeping soundly and seemed to have healed well, not that she was surprised. He may not yet know it but he had the powers of an Aesir growing and expanding inside him augmenting his own magic. Harry was powerful before, but he would be off the scale before the summer was over.

"Rest well brave warrior. " she whispered before making her way to Ginny's bed. She stood regarding the tiny redhead, so much power in such a small package. Asrid had been all but certain in the Chamber of Secrets of who Ginny was and who she had been, but now she was absolutely certain. It had been 500 years since she felt that familiar presence and power, but here it was again in the young girl before her.

"It's been a long time old friend, how I've missed you and our fallen sisters. " Astrid said as she brushed red hair from Ginny's face. Asrid felt another faint but familiar presence, making her way over to Hermione she regarded the petrified brunette, she couldn't be absolutely certain this time, be she felt almost sure she was again with one of her fallen sisters, she could only be absolutely sure after the girl's magic completely awakened after she was restored in a few days. Astrid decided that it was time to return to Valhalla and report to Odin, after that she'd have a long conversation about this over a bottle of mead with Frigga and Sif, intresting days were ahead, and she knew legends once again lived.