Beta: AriArlene [real life friend who loves fanfiction]
Original Release Date: 8/9/15
Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the canon Harry Potter universe or any other universe.
Chapter Thirty – Classes Resume
Looking at the quad Omni Play display angled away from the door and anyone else sitting in the office, Amelia notes the normal status of many areas of Hogwarts, including a dedicated screen to just watch what could be the potential entrance to the Chamber of Secrets. Looking over the tray on her desk with 'In', Amelia sighs as she begins reading report after report, minor violation after minor violation.
At Kings Cross station, all things look normal, minus the lack of conversation as all students begin boarding the train after a Hogwarts letter had arrived shortly after Christmas stating that the school had resolved the issues regarding why ALL of the students had been sent home for the winter break.
Following the mandatory sending home of all students, the staff at Hogwarts had been swamped with letters ranging from anger, fear, and overall concern, the staff had written up a letter to ease the minds of both parents and students alike regarding the petrifications, and that no more would occur. Even with that promise, the staff had included that all students are to go in groups of three or four to every class and meal, that following the last meal of each day, that the students would be given ten minutes to reach their dormitory before a mandatory curfew would be enacted, and each student found outside of their dormitory would be properly reprimanded for their disregard to enacted policy.
Sitting down in a compartment, Harry and Neville find themselves joined quickly by Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and a unfamiliar blonde girl who just looks at the others in the compartment, saying nothing.
Clearing her throat, Ginny introduces, "This is Luna Lovegood, and she wanted to join us, if you all agree?"
Furrowing his eyebrows, Harry replies, "Why wouldn't she be accepted? She's as human as we are, and I bet she's smart to boot."
Smiling, Luna sits down across from Harry before speaking, "Thank you, Harry Potter."
Shaking his head, Harry answers, "Just call me Harry", before introducing Neville and Hermione, as Luna already knew Ron and Ginny.
"So why were we all sent home for the break? Not that I'm complaining" asks Hermione as she and Neville hold hands.
Almost everyone moves closer to the edge of their seat as Harry exhales before beginning, "Another student had been petrified, and with concerns growing over three petrifications, two of which are human, and Director Black had decided to close down Hogwarts temporarily to help decrease the likelihood of any more attacks going unnoticed. Now I'll tell you all this much, Sirius, Remus, and Amelia were very busy over the break, helping secure Hogwarts with some major safeguards, but I can't and won't say any more."
Eyes widening, Hermione asks, "And you know what they've done?"
Nodding his head, Harry answers, "I know what they've done, and how it works. Suffice to say that whatever was causing the petrifications will be caught and dealt with."
"Who was petrified last?" inquiries Ginny.
"Draco Malfoy" responds Harry.
Everyone gasps, except Harry and Luna, who remarks, "It's odd, isn't it? Only muggleborn students are supposedly the only ones to be attacked and killed, but ho hum."
Everyone stares at Luna until she finally asks nonchalantly, "Is there something on my face?"
"No, just wondering how you know this" inquiries Neville, the first one to recover from the surprise.
"Oh, just a rumor that has been spreading, or so I thought" replies Luna airily.
"Intriguing. Anyways, how was everyone's break?" begins Harry, attempting to change the topic away from things more dark.
The six fill up the rest of the train ride back to Hogwarts with talk about their break and the likes, finally getting their robes on when the prefects begin walking around. Sitting down and eating, the students of Hogwarts find the plates empting themselves as Dumbledore stands and walks to the podium before raising his hands for silence.
"As I'm sure you have questions, this is not the time for everything. You all were sent home at the request of the Ministry of Magic to better secure the castle from any more petrifications. Since then we have revised curfew that applies to EVERYONE, including prefects to ten minutes after the last meal is served. Any student found out of their dormitory after hours will be punished. All students are encouraged to travel in groups of three or four between classes. If these policies are followed, we shouldn't have any issues. Now, turn your minds to learning, for tomorrow begins classes."
Entering the common room, everyone begins to mill around, talking about the new policies, in what ways the castle had been secured, their break and the likes, when Professor McGonagall enters the room, causing silence to fall across the students.
"Attention everyone, your attention please. As you understand that no student, not even a prefect, are to leave their common room after the curfew, but if an issue arises, how are you to communicate with me? Turning to Marauders Emporium for assistance, they promptly assisted me alongside the other Heads of Houses to install a single Omni Play that only has the capacity to communicate with its mate in my office. This will be used only in emergencies and those caught and I assure you they will be caught, in abusing this device will be punished quite heavily. Any questions?"
"Why do we have to be in the common room so much? What if we want to go to the library to study?" asks a female voice from the crowd.
Pausing to think, Professor McGonagall answers, "That is a good point. I shall bring this up to the rest of the staff", before turning away.
Whispering to Harry, Neville asks, "Do you think that Sirius and Remus could set up a system to allow everyone access to the library's books, without having to leave the common rooms?"
Nodding his head, Harry answers, "I think so, but what about happens once we are allowed to visit the library in the evenings again? Taking all of those books and putting back onto the shelves would be tiring, even with magic. I'm fairly certain that the petrification issue will get resolved soon anyways."
"But still, maybe we should pitch the idea to her" replies Neville, still whispering before calling out, "Professor, may I speak with you?"
Turning around as she is walking away, Professor McGonagall answers, "Certainly Mr. Longbottom."
Following Professor McGonagall into the vacant Potions room off of the common room, Neville begins after the door closes, "Professor, I have an idea about the library. I spoke briefly with Harry, and he thinks it is possible as well."
"What is it, Mr. Longbottom?" asks Professor McGonagall wearily.
"I think we could put all of the books in the library into one massive Omni Connect like device, and allow everyone to access it and be able to read the books necessary" finishes Neville.
Pausing to think about it, Professor McGonagall responds, "I see. I shall mention it to the rest of the staff. But I don't think we will have much concern, especially as the petrifications should be done with shortly."
"I understand. Thank you, professor" replies Neville, before leaving the room.
Exiting the Gryffindor Common Room, Professor McGonagall makes her way back to her office, grabbing her Omni Play to keep tabs on the hallways, before heading off down the hallway.
A few minutes later, Professor McGonagall knocks at Dumbledore's office doors, before entering.
"Albus, Mr. Longbottom had a curious idea about accessing the library. Simply put, we put the books that aren't in the restricted section into one of the devices that Sirius and Remus have made, and then somehow allow the students be able to access the books, thus removing the need to have them out while we are looking for the attacker."
Stroking his beard, Dumbledore states, "Curious. If it comes to it, perhaps. I have faith in the system that Messrs Black and Lupin have installed."
/*the next day*/
Sitting down in a chair in Transfiguration, Harry waits as other students begin filing in, in groups of two or three. Walking in, Professor McGonagall places her tablet onto the desk before looking around the room."
"I'm glad to see you all have made it. We will begin immediately" announces Professor McGonagall before jumping right into teaching.
Knowing that the students wouldn't be as concerned about the petrifications if their minds were occupied with other things, the staff load the students with homework that didn't require the library. With days of inactivity on the tablets, the guard of the staff regarding the technology drops, guessing at whatever had caused the petrifications had given up. But one night at dinner, Harry chats happily with his friends when his watch vibrates, causing him to casually look down at his watch, before choking at the message. Quickly clearing his throat, he grabs his Omni Play from a robe pocket and watches as an figure begins walking towards Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.
Having been staring at Harry's face for a sign of what was happening, Neville asks confused, "Harry, what's wrong?"
Simply handing Neville the tablet with a split view of a floor overview and the view from one of the Sound Depicting Scene Sensor, or SDSS for short. Eyes widening as he notices the figure was definitely feminine, Neville calls out through the hubbub of the Great Hall, worry tinting his voice, "PROFESSOR McGONAGALL, OVER HERE PLEASE!"
Hearing the concern, Professor McGonagall quickly leaves the staff table, striding over to Neville with the entire room going quiet. Handing the tablet over, Neville sits anxiously as Professor McGonagall's eyes widen as she gasps.
"H-how do you have access to this?" she asks quietly.
"I have system administration level access" replies Harry in an equally quiet tone, eyes meeting hers.
"S-system administration level?"
"It means I have the same access as Sirius, Remus, and Amelia" answers Harry, voice still subdued.
Seeing that Professor McGonagall was still over at the Gryffindor table, Dumbledore and the rest of the staff quickly gather around her, watching the constantly replaying scene of a mysterious girl entering the bathroom.
"Albus, what do we do?" inquiries Professor McGonagall, fear tinting her voice ever so slightly, out of place for the normally confident professor.
Pausing to think, Dumbledore answers, "For now, we wait. We think we know what we are facing, but let's be certain first. We aren't equipped for such a meeting, especially with almost all of the students in the Great Hall. We could send the staff out to attack it, but that would leave very few members here to safeguard the students."
"We can help with at least distracting it" adds Harry, pulling out his paper copy of the Marauders Map and sprawling it over the table before calling out, "Fred, George, can you help me over here?"
Sitting down in the rapidly clearing around the professors, Harry, and Neville, Fred and George speak in chorus, "What are you thinking, Harry?"
Placing round blue chips onto areas around Hogwarts, Harry answers, "I've got some remotely detonable items around here," before placing three rectangular bricks, brown in color, onto the table and continuing, "and I've got three explosive bricks on me. If we can get the rest of my stash and some of yours, I'm thinking we could build a perimeter of the explosives around the Great Hall as a defensive position, freeing up the professors to take on the basilisk. The only—"
Looking around at the suddenly more populous expressions, all slackjawed, Harry begins slowly, "Uh, did I say something?"
"You did just say 'basilisk', did you not?" inquiries Hermione, rifling through her bag to find something.
"I did. The problem is not to stare in its eyes, hence the SDSS sensors around the castle. Now, only these units have a speaker…" begins Harry, looking at two dots nearing the hallway of Moaning Myrtle, just as another dot appears in the bathroom.
Ripping the tablet out of Snape's hands, Harry's fingers fly across the screen's virtual keyboard before shouting, "Luna, Ginny, close your eyes!"
Standing up, Harry looks at George and Fred in turn and announces, "You two handle things from here. Neville and I will confront—"
"Mr. Potter! You will not be rushing to your death!" screeches Professor McGonagall.
Without removing his eyes from Professor McGonagall's, Harry pulls out what looks like a diving mask and puts it over his eyes. Within seconds the images of the Great Hall are displayed on the inside of the mask, created by similar tech of the SDSS cameras.
"Neville and I have hand to hand combat training, some sword training, alongside some practice combat experience, and these goggles that display what is around us, without having to see it. Essentially the basilisk will be unable to kill us or even petrify us" answers Harry, running out of the Great Hall, Neville right behind him, brandishing a sword in his left hand.
Sitting down at the space where Harry and Neville had just left, Professor McGonagall just sits there dumbfounded, never having been challenged by a student like that before.
Elsewhere in the castle, Ginny and Luna stand still, eyes clenched shut as they were told by Harry, not hearing anything until the faint sound of a door creaking open nearby. Barely breathing, the two wait as the swishing sound of someone or something nears their position.
"Ginny, Luna, don't open your eyes! It's a basilisk and their look alone will kill you! Harry and Neville are on their way to back you up" comes the voice of George from one of the speakers mounted to a nearby SDSS.
Without warning their bodies go rigid, eyes still clamped shut, as they feel a floating sensation, unable to call out for help or even take a peek of where they are going.
Hearing a voice from his watch, Harry answers, "Yes, what is it?"
"…the girl and the basilisk have taken G-G-Ginny and L-Luna" comes Fred unsteadily.
Murmuring a variety of words that might make a sailor blush, Harry presses on, followed by the ever stoic Neville.
In the Great Hall, students sit, whispering to each other, except as the staff, Fred, George, and Hermione watch as the two run through the halls, missing the three dimensional head that had appeared from Fred's tablet.
"Excuse me, does anyone know where Harry is?" asks the 3D head of Remus.
Seeing a lot of heads nod, followed by the lifting up of Harry's tablet, now following what Harry sees and then the Marauders Map showing the position of the two very close to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, and the disappearing dots of Ginny, Luna, and the still mysterious girl disappearing off of the map.
"Harry's Omni Play, override authorization code alpha tango bravo three five two, active sound sensor designation zero, in three dimensional mode" states Remus, face paling rapidly.
Seconds later a 3D view of the chamber under Hogwarts appears, basilisk clearly in sight, three girls in sight. Even with the reverberations around the chamber, Hermione gasps at the picture clarity before saying faintly, "I recognize her. The girl who has Luna and Ginny…she's in Gryffindor. Her name…is Fay Dunbar."
Cursing softly, Remus's face disappears from view, but his voice is clearly heard, "SIRIUS! HARRY'S TRYING TO TACKLE THE BASILISK WITH ONLY NEVILLE!"
The tinkling sound of glass breaking is heard as another voice calls out, "AMELIA! HARRY'S TRYING TO SAVE THE WORLD AGAIN, AND THIS TIME IT'S AGAINST THE BASILISK!"
The sound of breaking glass is heard once more before Amelia's voice is heard faintly, "Go to Hogwarts, I'll get some Aurors and get there posthaste."
Storming into Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, Harry and Neville look around, finally spotting the cord leading to the portion under the castle, quickly discussing the best way to get down there. Sliding down the cord, Harry first, the two finally stand on firm ground, goggles revealing only the hexagonal shaped sensor, but nothing more.
Author note: Thank you all to who have read, reviewed, favorited, etc, it encourages me to continue this. Blackangel150, I love technology, and because I'm so heavily entrenched in it I wanted to bring some [apparently more than not] tech to the wizarding world. Of course with my ADHD mind, I end up continuously adding new tech to the line up. Compared to my original plan to release only like 10/12 items total, I think I've gone over that. And to not really release any spoilers, but there is going to be more released by Sirius and Remus in the future.
Also, I apologize for the time to write this chapter, as I was on vacation and started my job, which took a lot out of me. Now, according to the Harry Potter Wikia, Fay Dunbar is a character. Now, it didn't say what year she was in, and maybe she was just a movie character, but she is who I chose to be the one writing in the diary.