Chapter 27 - End of Second Year
"I'll bloody kill him!" I screeched as I sat up reaching for my wand, which I didn't find. I looked below me to see I was lying in a bed. I looked around the room and became very confused. I was in the Hospital Wing. "What the fuck happened?" I asked to no one in particular.
"We'll have none of that language, Miss Hyde." I heard. I looked towards the voice and saw Madam Pomfrey.
"You're fighting a losing battle there, Madam Pomfrey." I heard next. In the bed next to me was a very awake, no longer petrified, grinning Hermione Granger.
"'Mione!" I cried, leaping from my bed to hug her.
"And as to what happened." Madam Pomfrey continued, ignoring my outburst. "You were petrified. In the Chamber of Secrets. While saving Ginny Weasley. Poor Harry Potter had to carry you all the way back, he didn't think to levitate you."
"What happened to Ginny? And Harry? And Ron? And Lockhart?" I asked firing questions at them.
"Ginny was asleep in that bed over there until you woke her up by screaming murder, one of the more entertaining of the waking ups I believe, Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley are both fine, I believe they are currently with Professor Dumbledore and the Gilderoy Lockhart is in a magically induced coma to see if he regains his memories." Madam Pomfrey explained.
"He doesn't bloody deserve them." I growled.
"And why is that?" She asked.
"Because he's a damn fraud. He tried to do a memory charm on me to make me forget what had happened, he were going to leave Ginny down there. He told us he'd been doing memory charms on people for most of his life, taking credit for other exceptional witches and wizard's work. He hasn't done a thing in those books of his." I replied. 'Mione and Madam Pomfrey looked shocked. I sighed then stood up.
"And where do you think you're going?" Madam Pomfrey asked.
"To see Professor Dumbledore, I can't have been petrified for very long, I feel fine and I need to see him." I grinned at her. "I'll be back as soon as I'm done, I promise." I skipped off before she could respond. I ran to Professor Dumbledore's office and it turned out I didn't need his password. I saw Lucius Malfoy with his house elf enter so I snuck behind him as the gargoyle let us both in. I followed him almost silently as he burst into Dumbledore's office. I put my finger on my mouth towards Harry and Dumbledore, signalling them to keep quiet while I had a wicked grin on my face.
"So!" he said "You've come back. The governors suspended you, but you still saw fit to return to Hogwarts."
"Well, you see, Lucius," said Dumbledore, smiling serenely, "the other eleven governors contacted me today. It was something like being caught in a hailstorm of owls, to tell the truth. They'd heard that Arthur Weasley's daughter had been killed and wanted me back here at once. They seemed to think I was the best man for the job after all. Very strange tales they told me, too ... Several of them seemed to think that you had threatened to curse their families if they didn't agree to suspend me in the first place." Mr. Malfoy went even paler than usual, but his eyes were still slits of fury.
"So - have you stopped the attacks yet?" he sneered. "Have you caught the culprit?"
"We have," said Dumbledore, with a smile.
"Well?" Lucius asked sharply. "Who is it?" I snuck until I was close behind him.
"Voldemort!" I thundered into his ear. He screamed like a girl while I walked passed him to sit on a chair at Dumbledore's desk. "Same as last year and we beat him again." I sneered while he glared at me.
"Yes, But this time, Lord Voldemort was acting through somebody else. By means of this diary." Dumbledore continued as he held up the diary. I watched Lucius's face as Harry was watching the elf who was acting really weird. Lucius looked like he recognised it when he saw it.
"I see. . ." Lucius said slowly looking only at Dumbledore.
"A clever plan," said Dumbledore in a level voice, still staring Mr. Malfoy straight in the eye. "Because if Harry here and Ash and their friend Ron hadn't discovered this book, why Ginny Weasley might have taken all the blame. No one would ever have been able to prove she hadn't acted of her own free will..." Mr. Malfoy said nothing. His face was suddenly masklike. "And imagine," Dumbledore went on, "what might have happened then ... The Weasley's are one of our most prominent pure-blood families. Imagine the effect on Arthur Weasley and his Muggle Protection Act, if his own daughter was discovered attacking and - killing Muggle-borns ... Very fortunate the diary was discovered, and Riddle's memories wiped from it. Who knows what the consequences might have been otherwise..." Malfoy Senior forced himself to speak.
"Very fortunate," he said stiffly.
"Don't you want to know how Ginny got hold of that diary, Mr. Malfoy?" Harry asked him suddenly.
"How should I know how the stupid little girl got hold of it?" he spat.
"Because you were there, Lucius." I replied. "You put it in her cauldron. We remember now. We also know that you know everything that happened last time because Lord Voldemort told you."
"And you told Draco." Harry finished.
"Prove it," he hissed.
"Oh, no one will be able to do that," said Dumbledore, smiling at us. "Not now that Riddle has vanished from the book. On the other hand, I would advise you, Lucius, not to go giving out any more of Lord Voldemort's old school things. If any more of them find their way into innocent hands, I think Arthur Weasley, for one, will make sure they are traced back to you." Lucius Malfoy stood for a moment, his hand twitched, itching to grab his wand and show us his really nature. Instead, he turned to his house-elf
"We're going, Dobby!" He ordered. Dobby? I thought. The house elf that had caused us so much trouble trying to save Harry's lives countless times... was the Malfoy house elf. I burst into peals of laughter that I just couldn't hold in. Harry grinned, understanding what I was laughing about while Malfoy just glared confused as I fell on the floor from laughing. Malfoy sneered and left the room.
"Professor Dumbledore," Harry asked hurriedly. "Can I give that diary back to Mr. Malfoy, please?"
"Certainly, Harry," Dumbledore replied calmly. "But hurry. The feast, remember..." Harry grabbed the diary and ran to follow Lucius as I sat back on the chair, calming down.
"It may please you to know that I have awarded you, Harry and Ron, 200 hundred points each and a special award for services to the school." Dumbledore told me. I whooped.
"Go us!" I cheered doing a little happy dance. "It's safe to assume the might Gryffindor's have won. Again." This made Dumbledore chuckle.
"Care to explain your outburst before, Ash?" Dumbledore asked kindly.
"Dobby's Malfoy's house elf." I replied.
"Yes, I know that." Dumbledore smiled.
"Dobby is the house elf that has been helping Harry. Trying to save his life and getting him into trouble. He stole Harry's letters in the summer. He sealed the gate and Platform 9 3/4. He jinxed the bludger to try and... Well I don't know what that one was about really. All to try to get Harry to go home and not stay at Hogwarts because something bad was going to happen." I said in one breath. "My cousins house elf!" I sputtered and started laughing again. Dumbledore chuckled himself. Suddenly there was a loud bang outside. "I don't trust Lucius as far as I can throw him." I said before I left the room and ran outside. When out in the corridor, I saw Lucius sprawled out on the floor with Harry standing a few feet away and Dobby in between them, holding a sock. Lucius stood up then glared and ran off.
"Harry Potter freed Dobby!" said the elf shrilly, gazing up at Harry. "Harry Potter set Dobby free!"
"So" I started. "You're Dobby." I raised my eyebrow at him.
"Yes, Miss." Dobby replied. He looked a little scared so I gave him a brilliant smile.
"Call me Ash, Dobby. I'm happy you're free from the Malfoy's. They suck. Although, if you ever steal Harry's letters again and cause me such worry, I'll not be very happy." I warned him while grinning. Dobby went a little pink and smiled a little. "And you, Harry James Potter. Not even an 'are you okay?' I was petrified for a few hours and beaten up by a young Voldemort." Harry grinned and pulled me into a hug.
"I know you're fine, it takes a little more than that to put you on your arse." He replied. I grinned at him.
"I know." I agreed. "Hermione's awake, we should go see her before the feast."
"I've just got one question, Dobby," Harry asked, turning away from me. "You told me all this had nothing to do with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, remember? Well -"
"It was a clue, sir," said Dobby, his eyes widening, as though this was obvious. "Was giving you a clue. The Dark Lord, before he changed his name, could be freely named, you see?"
"Right," said Harry weakly. "Well, I'd better go."
"Harry Potter is greater by far than Dobby knew!" Dobby sobbed.
"Farewell, Harry Potter!" And with a crack, he was gone. Harry and I turned to eachother before running to the Hospital Wing.
-.-
The feast was a blast, most people were in jammies and all the Gryffindor's kept congratulating me, Ron and Harry about getting the points for Gryffindor. It seemed like every Slytherin was glowering at us. Justin came up and apologised to Harry. Hermione was over the moon that we'd worked it out in the end. Hagrid was freed from Azkaban, he gave the four of us an extra big squeeze, nearly killing us if I'm honest. But the best bit was from Dumbledore's speech where we found out there was no exams! Just about everyone cheered at that, except Hermione of course. The rest of the term flew by quietly and before we knew it, it was time to go home. The year had been crazy, I didn't think it could get as bad as last year. As the four of us said our goodbyes before we would separate at King's Cross Station, I know I couldn't have better friends than those three. This year, Harry decided to give us his phone number, not trusting the owl.
"This is called a telephone number," he told Ron, scribbling it thrice, tearing the parchment in three, and handing it to us. "I told your dad how to use a telephone last summer - he'll know. Call me at the Dursley's', okay? I can't stand another two months with only Dudley to talk to..."
"Please, I'll just appear at your house, I don't own a phone anyway." I told Harry but pocketing the piece of paper anyway.
"Your aunt and uncle will be proud, though, won't they?" said Hermione as they got off the train and joined the crowd thronging toward the enchanted barrier. "When they hear what you did this year?"
"Proud?" said Harry. "Are you crazy? All those times I could've died, and I didn't manage it? They'll be furious."
"That's because they're idiots." I replied. "I might have a word with them, they didn't seem to listen last year."
"Come on, Ash. I don't think it'll ever work." Harry nudged me grinning.
"But still..." I continued before I was interrupted by a loud voice.
"Aurora!" I heard mum cry. "My baby girl! What happened? How did you get into trouble with him this year? You could have died!" She wailed crying. I glared at Abbas who was grinning, he'd obviously told mum.
"Not know mum, I'm fine. I've just got to hope it doesn't happen again next year." I grinned at her.
"You're damn right it won't happen next year..." Dad boomed.
"Oh for god's sake." I muttered before I just walked away from them, pulling Harry with me, towards the Dursley. "Oi! What did I say last year?" I growled at Vernon. He cowered a little before glaring.
"You don't scare me, little girl." Vernon replied.
"Well, I should. I know a werewolf, I'm going to tell him your address and when I come over this summer, if there's bars on Harry's windows or he looks like he's been treated bad, I'll send him over to yours and he'll make Dudley here, his meal. There's enough of him there to feed my werewolf friend for a month." I sneered with an evil looking smirk on my face. Petunia clutched at her son. "I think it's freakin' impossible for these two boys to be related, I reckon he's adopted. Or maybe you're adopted, eh, Petunia? My aunt Lily was pretty."
"How dare you?" Petunia shrieked. "Shawna, control your wretch of a daughter!"
"I don't see anything wrong with what she said, Petunia." Mum replied. She then turned to Harry. "If you need anything over the summer, Harry, send an owl." Harry nodded and smiled. He hugged Me, Ron and Hermione and with one last sad smile he left with them. Hermione left next, driving away in her mum and dad's car, waving at us through the back window. I hugged all the Weasley's before they left, they had to floo because they didn't have a car anymore, and I had to see about getting them a new car. They can't cost that much. Our family floo'd home straight after. Mum had an announcement so we had a family meeting.
"Children. We have a very special surprise for you. It's a little unexpected, for us too but... I'm having a baby!" Mum finished by squealing.
"Oh my God!" I exclaimed in shock.
"That's brilliant!" Allie shrieked jumping up and down. "I'm not the youngest anymore!" Everyone laughed at that.
"How far gone are you mum?" Abe asked.
"Only a few weeks, they're due at the beginning of March." Mum replied.
"Do we get to name them?" I asked. "Those two named me and Allie! Please!"
"Them?" Dad asked.
"Well, they're obviously going to be twin's dad." Adair replied.
"You never know, I met get lucky and only have one this time." Mum smiled. We all laughed. This was great news. They'd all be Gryffindors when I was through with them, I thought grinning to myself.
"Alright, calm down now." Dad ordered. "Aurora, me and your mother would like to talk to you about your friends."
"What about my friends? They're the best friends a girl could have." I replied getting suspicious.
"Yeah, best friends that leave you in the hospital wing two years running." Adair muttered under his breath.
"Excuse me!" I boomed. "How in the hell was that their fault? If you want to blame anyone blame Lord fucking Voldemort!" Everyone cringed at his name.
"Language, Aurora." Mum ordered.
"Don't say that name in this house!" Dad boomed.
"It's a name! It's senseless to fear a name! I don't fear his name and I've faced a fair few times in my short life! And as for my friends, I'd be dead if it wasn't for them!" I screamed at him.
"If it wasn't for your damn friends, you'd have nothing to do with you-know-who!" Dad shouted back.
"How dare you!" I screeched. "You know nothing. If it wasn't for Harry, Lord Voldemort would probably still be alive and this family would be dead! You need to learn some gratitude! I hate you!" I grabbed my suitcase and Dion's cage and walked into the fireplace.
"Where do you think you're going?" Dad boomed.
"To the man's house who I think of as a father, who is a damn better father than you!" I yelled.
"The werewolf." Dad scoffed. I saw red.
"Liam." Mum gasped.
"A werewolf is better than a death eater scum." I spat at him. "Remus Lupin's house. Godric's Hollow." I threw the powder down then appeared in his living room. I heard Uncle Moony walk downstairs as I put my things on the floor and the tears started rolling down my cheek. Uncle Moony appeared at the door.
"Ash? What's happened?" He came rushing to me and pulled me into a hug as I cried on his shoulder, unable to talk.