Chapter seventeen

"What is it Harry?" Tonks asked after seeing his face.

"We are lucky Mrs. Norris is still alive." Harry said.

"Why?" Dumbledore asked.

"The monster is a basilisk." Harry said.

Everyone fell silent after that. "Are you sure Harry?" Dumbledore asked.

Harry nodded "I'm very sure. Hogwarts has hidden a message from the view, but she will show it now." Everyone watched as a layer of the wall seemed to crumble. It made a message visible.

"The chamber is opened. Enemies of the heir beware you." McGonagall read.


Too soon Tonks had to leave again. Harry missed her dearly, but was happy to see her again with Christmas. After Mrs. Norris was petrified no other accident had taken place. It was sad, but they couldn't un-petrify Mrs. Norris until the Mandrakes were full grown, which was going to take until almost the end of the year. Harry and Hogwarts had been investigating, but they couldn't find the chamber the message had spoken of. The news had travelled around the castle, but luckily the news that it was a basilisk hadn't come out. Harry had tried to convince Dumbledore to close the school until the basilisk was dealt with, but Dumbledore didn't listen.

In the meantime everyone was getting frustrated with Lockhart. He was still playing scenes from his own book, but he never showed them magic. Even Hermione had to admit he was likely a fraud. This time Lockhart was showing how he had blinded the vampires with a strong light from his wand. Harry was fed up with him and decided to confront him.

"Could you show us the spell professor?" He asked.

"The spell, my boy?" Lockhart said, looking like he didn't understand Harry.

"Yes the spell professor. That way we can use it to." Harry said a bit irritated.

"Off course." Lockhart said, trying to sound smart. "Lumos Maximus!" he screamed. Nothing happened. "Lumos Maximus!" He screamed again, a bit harder this time. "LUMOS MAXIMUS!" This time he screamed so hard that professor McGonagall walked in.

"What's going on here?" she said with a stern look.

"Oh I was just teaching these students a spell." Lockhart said.

McGonagall raised her eyebrow. "I'm sure that it isn't necessary to shout to learn the students something." The students snickered a bit.

"Off course not professor. It was merely for the presentation." Lockhart replied.

"Off course." McGonagall said and she left the room. Everyone was doing the best they could not to burst out laughing. Which meant some didn't succeed.


At lunch they told the twins about Lockhart.

"That calls for..."

"A prank." They reacted.

The seven of them quickly started planning a prank.

"We have to show the whole school he is a fraud." Ginny said.

"I might have an idea." Neville said.

"Tell us." Ron said.

"What if we let him make a fool of himself like Harry did in class today." Neville said.

"You mean letting him teach us something?" Hermione said. Neville nodded.

"What if we let him set up a club?" Harry asked. The other seven found it a brilliant idea. They started making plans. They would only put their plans in action after the Holidays, since that was only two weeks away.


Two weeks later Harry found himself on the Hogwarts Express with Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Neville.

"What are you guys going to do?" Neville asked.

"I'm going to the Alpen, skiing." Hermione said.

"We're just going to spend it with the family." Ron said, gesturing to Ginny and himself.

"I'm going to spend it with uncle Moony and Tonks." Harry said. "And you, Neville?" he asked.

"I probably have to go to a couple of parties gran's invited to." Neville said, not really looking forward to the holidays.

"I'm sure Remus won't mind you spending a day or two at ours." Harry said.

"Really?" Neville's face lit up.

Harry nodded "Really." The rest of the ride was spent comfortable talking.


"Uncle Moony!" Harry shouted and he ran towards Remus.

"Harry." Remus said and he opened his arms. Harry raced towards him and gave him a big hug.

"What about poor me?" a voice sounded from behind Remus.

Harry laughed: "I didn't forget you Dora." And he gave her a big hug to.

"Are you going to introduce to us Harry?" Ginny said teasing from behind him. Harry blushed.

"Oops, I'm sorry. Uncle Moony this is Ginny."

"Nice to meet you." Remus said to Ginny.

"Hi." She said back.

"And these are Hermione, Neville and Ron." Harry said. All of them greeted each other.

"We have to go now Harry." Remus said. Harry said goodbye to his friends and left with Remus and Tonks.


"Interesting friends you have." Remus said to Harry when they were at home. Tonks had gone to her own home.

"Yep." Harry said.

"How close are you five exactly?" Remus said.

Harry grinned. "About as close as the marauders." he said.

"Like siblings then?" Remus asked.

"Hermione is definitely my sister, just as Neville and Ron are my brothers. Ginny is a bit different though."

Remus grinned "It seems Harry here is developing a crush." He teased.

Harry blushed but shot back: "You should say that, it is as clear as a, I don't know what, that you love Tonks."

Now it was Remus' turn to bush. "I never denied it." He murmured.

"You actually admit it?" Harry said, his eyebrows shooting towards his hairline. "You're definitely easier than Tonks."

Remus looked at him with a question in his eyes, but Harry refused to answer.

Later that evening Harry was thinking back to what Remus had said. Did he have a crush on Ginny? It was true that he thought she was cute. It was clear to him she wasn't his little sister, but he didn't know what she was. He decided he had plenty of time to sort out his feelings, if there ever were feelings. He was only twelve after all.


Soon it was Christmas. Harry was out of bed early. He and Remus ate breakfast together. After breakfast they only had to wait half an hour until Tonks fell out the fireplace, literally.

"Still no luck?" Harry asked.

Tonks shook her head "I was hoping to have it mastered by now, but nope. MERRY CHRISTMAS." She screamed at the end.

"Tzjeez, Dora you gave me a heart attack." Remus said. "But merry Christmas to you to."

"Let's open the presents." Harry said.

They sat down on the floor and started opening their presents. Harry had gotten a book on Quitditch from Hermione and sweets from Ron. All his other presents were pictures. He certainly loved all those pictures. From Ginny he had gotten one from the five of them all together smiling and waving at the camera. From Neville one of both their mums smiling together. From Remus one of the marauders all together (missing Peter off course) and from Tonks he had gotten two. One of his parents together while his mum was pregnant, Tonks proudly proclaimed that she had taken the picture as a nine year old. The other one was of Tonks holding him together with his mum and dad.

Harry was still staring at the pictures when Tonks tapped him on his shoulder. He looked over and saw Remus staring at a small key. He grinned at Tonks she smiled nervous at him. He stood up. "Uncle Moony." He called out softly.

Remus looked up. "What is this?" He asked.

Harry smiled. "Dora and I decided to team up and give you a present from the both of us. The key in your hand is the key to the Shrieking Shack. We cleaned it out and made sure that you could stay there for a while before and after the transformation." Harry said.

Remus looked at him with glistering eyes. "You did that for me?" he asked.

"This isn't everything." Tonks said. She looked at Harry and Harry nodded. The two of them transformed. For Remus stood now a black panther and a wolf, who was circling through a lot of colours. He locked eyes with them.

"Did you seriously?" he asked. Harry and Tonks transformed back.

"You know why Dora is a wolf right?" Harry asked just before he left the chamber. Remus just nodded, he couldn't believe it. Tears were flowing out his eyes. He walked to Tonks and put his arms around her. He felt her hugging back.

"I'm yours now Remus and I will never let you go." Tonks whispered in his ear. He nodded. He then did the thing he never thought he could. He kissed Tonks. She kissed him back with an equal passion. They stood there, together in the living room, embraced by the other, when Remus felt his wolf relax. "She is ours. She is the true one." The wolf told him. Remus could only agree. Slowly Tonks pulled away from him and transformed. His wolf demanded to show himself and for the first time in his life his transformation was painless. Remus transformed into his wolf and he finally felt in tune with his wolf. All because of her. He then knew what he had to do. Slowly he bit himself and watched Dora doing the same. Both were now bleeding a bit and they putted their bleeding paws to each other. Remus made sure he did it well. She was his now and no other wolf could claim her. Soon after both transformed back. They once again kissed.


A/N: I actually wanted to go further and end the Holidays in this chapter, but I couldn't think of a way to go further after this moment.

After a message I got I decided to change the lay-out, since people found it confusing. Let me know what you think.