Chamber of Secrets
Harry had been back at the Dursley's. Some things were better than before Hogwarts, and some things were worse. He still had Dudley's second bedroom, but all his new wizarding things were locked away in the cupboard under the stairs. Harry worried that he'd get in trouble for not doing his homework, but what could he do when his books were locked away? Also, he had to release Hedwig and tell her to not come back and that he'd see her at Hogwarts. Vernon had threatened to kill her and Harry wouldn't allow that.
One of the first things his uncle had asked him when he got home was if he had talked about them. Harry denied it. But Vernon didn't believe him. The fat man yanked off his belt, demanding the truth. Boy screamed that he wasn't lying, that he really hadn't told. After about an hour, Vernon was finally satisfied that Harry was telling the truth and released him to go upstairs. Harry woke healed and didn't think twice at suddenly being in his room.
Rose got to come Out to garden and cook everyday, but was sent back to Dudley's second bedroom when Petunia had the tea parties. She was hurt. She really liked those. They were fun, but she did as she was told. Silas was feeling restless, but knew he shouldn't come Out. There was nothing for him to do at the Dursley's anyway. Gabriel felt the same, but was having a harder time containing his restlessness.
Boy and Rose of course weren't feeling any stress. They were Out almost everyday. And anyway, they could go a long time without feeling they had to come Out since they slept while in their rooms. Silas and Gabriel slept sometimes, but were mostly aware and awake, watching behind Harry's eyes.
That was how things stood a month after Hogwarts let out. Now it was midmorning. Rose was gardening happily until Dudley came over to pick on her. Rose couldn't hear what he was saying, but could clearly feel the fear and hate rolling off the older boy. When the blonde shoved her, Gabriel had enough and pushed Out.
"What are you looking at, freak?" Dudley glared as Harry stood and looked him over with bright eyes.
"Just trying to decide what would be the best spell to set your clothes on fire." Gabriel answered and began to grin widely as Dudley's fat face paled.
"You c-can't… Dad told you you're not to do m-magic… he said he'll chuck you out of the house… and you haven't got anywhere else to go… you haven't got any friends to take you…"
"How do you know I don't have friends?" Gabriel stalked closer to the boy and Dudley waddled backwards as quick as he could go. "I have tons."
"Liar. They w-would have written t-today if that were t-true." Dudley was beginning to feel more confident. "It's your birthday, isn't it? Not one letter means not one friend, freak!"
"Jiggery pokery!" Gabriel said in a fierce voice while wiggling his fingers in the boy's direction. "Hocus pocus! Squiggly wiggly!"
"MUUUUUM!" Dudley screamed in terror as he raced to the kitchen. "MUUUM! He's doing you know what!"
Silas glared at Gabriel as he came back In. Gabriel was at least ashamed and whispered a sorry to the sleeping Harry on the couch. Boy was already Out and taking a vicious punishment, and for the first time in his life it wasn't from Vernon. Petunia shrieked as she thrashed Boy with a hot frying pan. It was so bad that Boy couldn't even crawl up the stairs afterward and Petunia had to drag him.
"We are having important guests tonight." She hissed breathlessly. "If I hear one sound out of you, Vernon will come up and you'll regret it. Do you hear?"
"I'm sorry. Yes. I'll be good." Boy whispered hoarsely, curled in a trembling ball. Tears drenched his face and sobs echoed around the bare room. "Sorry. Sorry. So sorry. Forgive me. Sorry. I'll be good. Very good. Don't hurt me, I'm sorry."
Petunia smiled grimly and locked the door behind her. Boy continued to cry, huddled in agony, unaware of the magic he was using to try and ease the pain. It took two hours and he fell back In exhausted. Harry came awake and sighed. He stretched his sore muscles and yawned. Limping, he made his way to the bed and crawled under the single thin sheet. He was so tired he didn't see there was thing else in the bed until he almost lay on it.
The creature jumped to his feet as Harry jerked back and bowed so low that its long nose touched the floor. It had huge floppy ears and eyes the size of tennis balls. It was no higher than his waist and Harry was pretty small. It looked harmless though. Harry couldn't think of anything truly threatening that would wear a pillowcase as clothes.
And so Harry met Dobby and listened to the creature's warnings about going back to Hogwarts. But he wouldn't stay at the Dursley's. The new room was better than the cupboard, sure, but now that he had tasted the freedom at Hogwarts he was never going to settle for this. He winced every time the creature made noise. He knew that was a very bad idea. The Dursley's never liked hearing from him. Plus, he thought he could hear guest downstairs.
But all that was forgotten when he found out Dobby had been keeping his letters. First he felt relief. He really had been afraid his friends had forgotten him. It had hurt badly, but now he knew that wasn't true. And that made him mad. He tried to grab the letters, but he was stiff, sore, and tired. He missed. The little creature ran downstairs. Harry cursed and chased after him as silently as he could, his heart hammering in his chest painfully fast.
"No." Harry choked, face paling and a headache building behind his eyes as he watched Aunt Petunia's fancy desert float dangerously across the kitchen. Unknown to him, Boy was pressing at him, trying to get Out as Harry's own fear called to him. "Please… they'll kill me…"
"Harry Potter must say he's not going back to school." Dobby insisted.
"Dobby… please…" Harry said urgently, his headache worsening. He fought to ignore it.
"Say it, sir."
"I can't. I have to go back." Harry pleaded.
"Then Dobby must do it, sir, for Harry Potter's own good."
The pudding dropped, crashed, shattered. An owl told him he would be expelled if there were any more magic at all in his residence. Vernon smiled like a demon as he read the letter. "No magic." He said gleefully and turned back to a shaking Harry who knew no more. Boy stayed Out for three whole days; Vernon beating him again and again. He was doing so much damage so fast that Boy couldn't keep up with it all.
The Silas and Gabriel weren't aware what was happening because Boy blocked them from watching as they normally did through Harry, but they knew it couldn't be good for Boy to have to use so much to heal them. They would die if things kept as they were. Silas and Gabriel were fighting constantly. Neither could get Out to do anything because the body's physical pain anchored Boy, but as the body weakened, they might have a chance and both of the teens wanted Out when that happened.
"I can protect us better!" Gabriel yelled.
"I can get us out alive. This isn't a battle, but an escape." Silas drawled from his perch, leaning casually against the wall.
Surprisingly, neither of the boys were needed. On the third night of their continual punishment, the Weasley twins and Ron arrived in a flying car to rescue them. The Weasley's stared in horror as they peaked in the window with prison bars on it. They could just hear whimpering and crying sounds.
"Harry. Harry!" Ron called as loud as he dared. "Are you okay? Answer me!"
Boy lifted his head and looked at the window. He flinched back seeing people were there. His crying got louder and he curled up tighter. Silas and Gabriel stopped fighting and began working together. No one from Hogwarts could see Boy. They might find out about all of them and who knew where that would lead. Nowhere pleasant, they were sure.
After much pulling and fighting, they got Boy to back down and allow Harry to slip back Out. Silas tried to ignore Boy's hysterical crying inside the cupboard, but Gabriel sat at the door (Boy didn't like to be watched or touched. He'd feel best alone inside the dark cupboard) and tried to calm him with words of comfort and reassurance.
Harry was shocked and then joyful to see his friends. He ignored the many bruises and cuts. All the worst damage had been healed already. The pain really was tolerable. The twins shared a meaningful look, but relaxed as Harry and Ron chatted happily in the back about Dobby and what it all could mean.
Harry loved the Burrow and was completely clueless that the older Weasley's were watching him very carefully. Ron was pretty much oblivious as well and the two stuck together. Due to the intense worried attention on them, Silas deemed it best that no one come Out until they were back at Hogwarts. Gabriel muttered under his breath, but went to his room without a word. Silas smiled and went to his own.
xXxXxXx
A week and a half later Harry was shopping for school supplies after his crash landing in Borgin and Burkes and witnessing the strange sale with the Malfoy's. Later that same afternoon, he went through the fiasco with Lockhart and confrontation with the Malfoy's at the bookstore. Overall, it wasn't such a fun trip.
By September 1st, Harry was almost sad to go back to Hogwarts. He really loved it at the Burrow and almost felt like he could belong with the large loving family. But that didn't mean he didn't want to go to Hogwarts. He felt panicky when they couldn't get through the barrier. Silas shook his head at Harry; who cared if they missed the train? The Weasley's would get them to school and he'd probably get to miss the boring feast. The Slytherin glared coldly at Gabriel when the he cheered as Ron talked Harry into flying the car to school.
"Oh, come on, Silas!" Gabriel laughed. "I'll be fun!"
Of course, not even Gabriel thought it was fun when the car started dieing later that night. He rushed Out and tried to control the situation. Ron was sitting there screaming his head off as they raced toward the castle walls and was no help at all. Gabriel lunged and yanked the wheel. They arched in the air and came hurtling to the ground. Purposely Gabriel aimed for a tree hoping that would break their fall and save their lives.
The tough old willow did exactly that. They hung a foot off the ground, nursing their hurts from the crash when the tree started attacking them. Gabriel was astounded. Ron panicked again, but Gabriel yelled, "Reverse!" The car shot out of the tree, landed on the ground, and came to a stop. Thank god that was over. He relaxed.
Harry found himself on the ground at Hogwarts after being forcefully expelled by the car. Ron was pissed that they lost the car, but he was glad they were alive. Harry felt his head and the growing bruise and lump there. He must have been knocked unconscious for a bit there. He grimaced against the pain and trudged after the redhead up to the school. The Sorting was already underway. There was no way they could sneak in without being seen.
Then Snape found them. He led them to the dungeons and when the man promised they'd be expelled, Harry retreated in horror. Silas rose to take his place. This was going to be a battle of cunning, but in all honesty he wasn't really worried. He really didn't think they'd get expelled. Harry was the Boy-Who-Lived, for god's sake. Dumbledore would want him under his thumb. Expulsion would put Harry out of reach and the headmaster wouldn't want that.
Silas sat watchful as Ron explained and pleaded with McGonagall. He felt Professor Snape's eyes on him and met the black-eyed stare with a serious face. The Professor frowned, but Dumbledore entered before he could speak. "Please explain this." The headmaster said after a long silence; heavy disappointment laced his voice.
Silas bowed his head to hide his sneer. Fuck the man! Silas knew damn well that Dumbledore wasn't really disappointed. All he was doing was trying to manipulate Harry. Silas could see the truth in the old man's body language. He's probably pleased with Harry and Gabriel's recklessness, Silas thought bitterly. Dumbledore would need that kind of attitude in his weapon of war. But none of Silas' true feelings showed in his voice as he carefully edited the tale to make it sound like an innocent mistake and a traumatic event at the same time. After that, he wasn't needed and faded back In.
"We'll go and get out stuff." Ron said hopelessly. Harry looked around and saw that Dumbledore and McGonagall had arrived. He must have hit his head harder than he thought to keep blacking out.
"What are you talking about, Weasley?" McGonagall frowned at him.
"Well, you're expelling us, aren't you?"
"Not today, Mr. Weasley." Dumbledore rumbled and Harry thought he'd faint with relief.
He happily accepted the detention. He'd have a hundred of them if it meant he could stay. The relief didn't last very long. The next day at breakfast a Howler arrived and he learned that Mr. Weasley was facing an inquiry at work. He felt horrible. The day got worse as he bumped into Lockhart during Herbology class and the blonde Professor insisted on making a fool of them both.
In fact, the whole start of term was pretty unpleasant for Harry. He had taken to avoiding Lockhart as much as possible, Ron was miserable (thus Harry was upset) because of his malfunctioning wand, and Oliver was even more fanatical about Quidditch than ever. Not to mention the constant stress from the fights with Malfoy and the rest of the Slytherins.
But none of this much mattered to Silas. He still came Out to study every night in Hogwarts Library. Gabriel seethed about being cooped up, especially when the Slytherins came around to make trouble, but Silas only had to shoot him a cold glare to make him calm down. He was still in the doghouse with the Slytherin teen from the whole car incident.
xXxXxXx
(A/N: Warning: child molestation in the following section.)
Then on the first Saturday since school had started, McGonagall told Harry he'd have detention with Lockhart while Ron had detention with Filch. Harry arrived at Lockhart's door five till eight at night and had to grit his teeth and force himself to knock. The conceited airhead welcomed him and shut the door. Harry stared at the huge pile of fan mail in shock.
"You can address the envelopes!" Lockhart told Harry as though this were a huge treat. "This first one's to Gladys Gudgeon, bless her… huge fan of mine…"
They were at it for at least an hour when Lockhart stood and came up behind Harry. Harry tensed as he felt the Professor's hands settle on his shoulders and begin to rub.
"You're so tense. I know this is hard work, but you have to learn to pace yourself." Lockhart said gently. "Just relax. Doesn't that feel good?"
Harry felt himself slowly relax in spite of himself and nodded. Lockhart smiled and continued to massage, going lower down the boy's back. Eventually he slid Harry's outer school robes off and continued to massage. Harry felt uncomfortable. No one had ever touched him like this before. But then again, touching wasn't something his family was fond of. He remembered Petunia messaging Dudley's shoulders a few times when the boy had come back from football practice when he was younger. Dudley quit after half a season, though. It had been too hard. So Harry didn't say anything about the impromptu massage. It did feel good.
"You're really worked up." Lockhart said in a worried tone. "Undo a few of your shirt buttons so I can get to your shoulders with this ointment. One of my fans sent it to me. Really nice of her."
"I don't know…" Harry murmured nervously.
"Oh, tut Harry. We have to stick together. No one else knows the burdens we face. Come on. Don't be shy. It's just a little cream. It'll relax you right fast."
Harry did as he was told. The cream was warm as Lockhart rubbed it into his skin. He felt his muscles go even more lax, like water. He felt almost numb and smiled. It was a weird feeling. Something told him that this wasn't good at all, but he didn't pay attention. He felt great, so what could be wrong?
Harry's eyes widened when he felt his shirt slip all the way off. Lockhart assured him he just wanted to put more on and so he relaxed. More cream was spread and the detached feeling increased until he was in a happy haze. That shrank when he felt his pants coming undone. He batted at the Professor, but Lockhart just knocked his hands away.
"Shhh, Harry. It'll be aright. I won't hurt you, I promise. This will feel even better. Won't you like that?"
Harry squirmed as he felt his teacher's hands on him. The numb sensation didn't stop the wave of pleasure when the Professor went to his knees and began to lick at him. Harry moaned in horror. No, this wasn't happening! Stop! But he couldn't cry out. Screaming inside, he broke apart and fell away.
"You like that, kitten? It's so good, isn't it?" Lockhart asked huskily.
Green eyes stared blankly and then he began to moan in pleasure as that hot mouth went back to work. Oh yes. This was nice. Smiling, Harry's head tossed and turned as he arched weakly into the warm, hot, exciting sensations. Lockhart gasped and masturbated to the sound of the small twelve year old moaning and purring as he worked his mouth.
xXxXxXx
Silas stared sadly at the sleeping boy on the couch. Gabriel paced angrily, wanting Out to hex the bastard. But the new one was too entrenched and oh so happy. Things continued for a good half hour before Harry faded and a young woman appeared in the corner. She smiled seductively and with satisfaction.
The two boys guessed her age was around fifteen or so. She has on a blood red dress. It was sleeveless and came up to her chin, but was skin tight, displaying her full breasts. The skirt part fell to the floor, but two slits on the side went high enough to show her curvy hips. She stood barefoot and her dark red hair was shoulder length. She had bangs that framed her face and fell into her smoldering dark brown eyes. Her full red lips were naturally pouty.
The boys could feel the magic around her weave a subtle glamour of attraction, kind of like a Veela. Thankfully, the two boys were unaffected. Silas stared blankly and Gabriel glared at her as she blew a kiss and walked to her room, hips swaying provocatively. Boy was crying loudly from within the cupboard.
xXxXxXx
Harry found himself moving an aching hand over another envelope. He glanced around at the candles and found they had shrunk several inches since he had started this tedious detention. The many Lockhart's staring down at him made him uncomfortable and he fidgeted. He definitely didn't like the smile the Professor was shooting over at him. Blushing, he tried to concentrate on the paper. It must be nearly time to leave, he thought miserably though he didn't know why he was so anxious to go, please let it be nearly time.
"You alight, Harry?" Lockhart smiled. "Great Scott- look at the time! We've been here nearly four hours! I'd never have believed it- the time's flown hasn't it?"
Harry didn't answer.
"Well, we'll just keep our fun secret. No need to make others jealous, right, Harry?"
"Yes, sir." Harry said quickly and stood, grabbing his bag.
"Good." Lockhart smiled. "I'll see you in class then."
Feeling dazed, Harry left. It was so late that the Gryffindor common room was almost empty. He went straight up to the dormitory. He was strangely grateful that Ron wasn't back yet from working with Filch. Without a word, he pulled on his pajamas, got into bed, and fell instantly asleep.
xXxXxXx
Almost two months passed. The new personality named herself Kitten. The boys refused to call her that and settled for Kit. She was like Rose and Boy, sleeping until she was needed. Unfortunately, that was three more times. And like Boy, while she was Out, the others couldn't see what was happening. They had to settle for asking her when she came In what happened. It was hard to understand her since she was always content and sleepy by then, but Silas gathered that Lockhart hadn't gone further with her than making out, touching, and blow jobs.
He and Gabriel began tentatively discussing coming clean with a professor. But they were reluctant because then they'd have to explain that Harry wasn't alone in his head. In any case, Gabriel wanted to tell McGonagall and Silas wanted to tell Professor Snape because Professor McGonagall was too deeply in Dumbledore's pocket. Silas refused to let them be revealed to the headmaster. So for the time being they were at a stalemate.
xXxXxXx
Harry, Ron, and Hermione kept their promise to Nick and went to his deathday party. It was the least Harry could do since the ghost had saved him from Filch's punishment for mudding the castle floors after Quidditch practice. It was dark and gloomy and they were glad to leave. They hurried to the Great Hall, hoping they might be able to catch the end of the feast when Harry came to a stop.
"…rip…tear…kill…"
The voice was cold, silky, and murderous. Harry was so shocked that he clutched the wall as he looked around wildly for whoever was speaking. Ron and Hermione were ahead of him and turned around curiously to find out why he had stopped so suddenly. Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but Harry stopped her by raising his hand.
"…soo hungry…for soo long…"
"Listen." Harry frowned, seeing no one else in the corridor. "Do you hear that? What is it?"
"…kill…time to kill…"
"I don't hear anything." Hermione whispered. Ron scrunched his face as he concentrated, but he shook his head too.
"…hungry… want blood…"
The voice was growing fainter. Harry was sure it was moving away and up. Why couldn't his friends hear? But it was obviously a threat. It was going to hurt someone! He fell back and Gabriel smiled grimly. He caught the Gryffindor's eyes and shouted, "This way!"
They ran up the nearest stairs and found themselves in the entrance hall. It was no good hoping to hear anything here, the babble of talk from the Halloween feast was echoing out of the Great Hall. He sprinted up the marble staircase to the first floor, Ron and Hermione clattering behind him.
"Harry, what're we…"
"SHH!" Gabriel ordered as he stalked forward, wand at ready. He strained his ears. Distantly, from the floor above and growing fainter, he heard the voice again.
"…I smell blood…delicious blood…"
"It's going to kill someone!" Gabriel explained to the shocked Gryffindors as he took off again. He hurtled around the whole of the second floor, Ron and Hermione panting behind him, not stopping until they turned a corner into the last deserted passage.
"Harry, what was that all about?" Ron panted as he wiped sweat from his face. "I can't hear a thing."
But Hermione gave a sudden gasp, pointing down the corridor; "Look!"
Seeing he was too late to stop whatever had happened, Gabriel faded back. Harry blinked and watched as Ron and Hermione approached something ahead of him. He looked around, but wasn't sure where he was. Shrugging and curious, he stepped up to his friends. There was a puddle of water, Ms. Norris hanging stiff as stone from an iron torch holder, and huge letters smeared in red:
THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED.
ENEMIES OF THE HEIR, BEWARE.
xXxXxXx
Everyone in the school was in an uproar. Ron and Hermione were eager to find out all they could about the Chamber of Secrets, but Harry was a little reluctant. Especially since half the school thought he was the Heir. Hermione was frustrated beyond belief when all she could find out about the Chamber in a week's time was the vague explanation given by Professor Binns one day in class.
Harry dragged his feet as Hermione and Ron made him stay after DADA with them. When the three of them were alone, she approached Lockhart with a permission slip to visit the restricted section. It didn't take much sweet talking to get the ditzy professor to sign it.
"So, Harry," Lockhart said while Hermione folded the note and slipped it in her bag. "Tomorrow's the first Quidditch match of the season, I believe? Gryffindor against Slytherin, is it not? I hear you're quite the player. I was a Seeker, too. I was asked to try for the National Squad, but preferred to dedicate my life to the eradication of the Dark Forces. Still, if ever you feel the need for a little private training, don't hesitate to ask. Always happy to pass on my expertise to less able players…"
Harry made an indistinct noise in his throat and then hurried after Ron and Hermione.
xXxXxXx
The match was horrible. They won, but Dobby set a bludger against him and Lockhart made all his bones in his arm disappear. Growing them back had Boy out in a flash. Thankfully, Pomfrey was asleep most of the night and no one noticed the odd behavior. It was early morning when Harry woke to find the teachers hovering over the second petrification victim: Colin Creevey.
xXxXxXx
Harry participated passively as Ron and Hermione worked hard on the Polyjuice potion planning on interrogating Malfoy over Christmas break. Harry was glad for one thing though. This year both Ron and Hermione were staying with him for the winter holiday. He hoped Malfoy staying too wouldn't ruin it.
Unfortunately for him, it wasn't Malfoy who ruined the holidays. It was Harry himself. Three weeks into December, Lockhart started a dueling club. Harry was dragged there by Hermione. Ron was just as reluctant. Everything was going okay, but then he was paired with Malfoy. They were dueling and then a snake shot out of the blonde's wand.
"Don't move, Potter." Snape said lazily, clearly enjoying the sight of Harry standing motionless, eye to eye with the angry snake. "I'll get rid of it."
"Allow me!" Lockhart brandished his wand. The snake flew into the air and landed painfully.
It hissed furiously, fangs barred at a terrified Justin Finch-Fletchley. Gabriel surged forward under the power of his need to protect people and strode toward the snake. It was curled and preparing to strike.
He growled angrily and then shouted, "Leave him alone!" Miraculously, inexplicably, the snake slumped to the floor, docile as a garden hose. Satisfied, Gabriel slipped back and Harry stared at the snake in some confusion.
"As you wish. I will not attack these pathetic humans." The snake hissed petulantly.
"Thank you." Harry said uncertainly, but he relaxed. He was very glad that no one was going to get hurt. He looked up at Justin, grinning, expecting to see Justin looking relieved or puzzled or even grateful, but certainly not angry and scared.
"What do you think you're playing at?" The Hufflepuff demanded before turning and running from the room.
Before the room could explode into motion, Ron and Hermione hurried him from the room. They quickly explained that what sounded like English to him was really hissing sounds to everyone else. Harry spoke Parseltongue. It was a dark power supposedly, and originated with Salazar himself. Harry stared at them in horror not wanting the talent at all.
xXxXxXx
Inside the soul chamber, Silas hissed in pain as he was struck by what looked like lightening. Gabriel stared in awe as the teen rose up and then collapsed. Gabriel ran to him and helped him into a chair. Worried blue eyes met swirling blue-gray. "What was that?"
"Parseltongue. Only I can access it now." Silas sighed.
xXxXxXx
Things got worse from there. The whole school, except for a few, turned on Harry. They were sure more than ever before that he was the Heir out to kill muggle-borns. Justin was the next petrified. More interested in solving the mystery now that it involved him so deeply, he took Polyjuice with Ron. They became Crabbe and Goyle and interrogated Malfoy, only to find out Mr. Weasley was fined 50 gallons over the car.
Time passed. The night before Valentine's Day Lockhart and Kitten played for the first time in weeks. And the day after, Harry found the diary. When he fell asleep, Silas came Out. He knew what the diary was for and he wrote confidently on the first page. He conversed with Tom about the Chamber, but faded In to let Harry view the memory when offered. How else would Harry be told what happened?
When it was over, Harry crashed, spread-eagled, on his four poster in the Gryffindor dormitory. Riddle's diary was lying open on his stomach. Harry was dazed. He felt stupid for not expecting such things from something magical. Before he had time to regain his breath, the door opened and Ron came in. Harry sat up sweating and shaking.
"What's up?" Ron frowned with concern.
"It was Hagrid, Ron. Hagrid opened the Chamber of Secrets fifty years ago."
xXxXxXx
None of them wanted to confront Hagrid about it, but things became desperate a couple weeks later when Hagrid was sent to Azkaban and Dumbledore was kicked out of the school. Things were becoming unbearable. Everyone was frightened and tiptoeing around. The stress was suffocating. The only good thing was that the new rules and security kept Lockhart away from Harry.
When Harry saw spiders running to the Forbidden Forest during Herbology one day, he made up his mind to follow them just like Hagrid had said. Harry was doing well. He talked Ron into going with him all by himself, and that night snuck out of the school and out to the forest. But Ron's fear and anxiety was contagious.
Just as they stepped within the dark foreboding branches, he shrank back fearfully and Gabriel took his place. Gabriel confidently and competently led them through the forest, following the small spiders. He guided the conversation with Aragog (with whispered tips from Silas) and kept them both alive while getting back out of the forest.
Harry came back to himself halfway back to the castle, covered in dirt and scratches. Ron looked worse. He bit his lip, but didn't dare ask what happened. It was then that he began to suspect something was wrong with him. He was just having too many unexplained black outs. Maybe he was sick?
He listened as Ron hysterically ranted about the evening, basically telling him everything that happened in the forest. His green eyes got wide as he listened. Had he really done all that? That night he lay in bed thinking of everything Ron had said. He thought over the great Aragog's words. If Ron remembered right, the spider said that the only victim fifty years ago had been a girl in a bathroom. What if she never left?
xXxXxXx
Silas fell tiredly into a chair. It was hard to get that boy to listen to him! He'd been yelling Moaning Myrtle's name for almost fifteen minutes now.
"Good job." Gabriel said sincerely from the chair across from him.
"You didn't do too bad yourself." Silas drawled and they shared a tired smile.
xXxXxXx
The security measures prevented Harry and Ron from gathering more substantial evidence to free Hagrid and bring back Dumbledore. But things got even more serious when they heard that another student had been attacked and this time it wasn't just petrification. The victim had been abducted. It was Ginny. After hearing the news, Harry sat silently in the common room with the mourning and worried Weasley's all day. Night fell and eventually it was only Ron and Harry left.
"Do you know what?" Ron suddenly spoke. "I think we should go tell Lockhart what we know. You heard. They're sending him after Ginny and we have to do all we can."
Because Harry couldn't think of anything else to do, and because he wanted to be doing something, he agreed. The Gryffindors around them were so miserable and felt so bad for Ginny that nobody tied to stop them as they left. It was full dark by the time they got to Lockhart's office. Ron knocked and there was a sudden silence inside. Then the door opened the tiniest crack and they saw one of Lockhart's eyes peering out at them.
"Oh, Mr. Potter… Mr. Weasley…" The professor said and opened the door wider. "I'm rather busy…"
"We've got important information for you." Ron said boldly. "We think it'll help you."
Looking uncomfortable, Lockhart let them in. The two boys saw that the office was almost completely stripped. Two large trunks stood open on the floor. "Are you going somewhere?" Ron asked. Harry had fallen strangely mute.
"Er, well, yes. Urgent call, unavoidable, I've got to go."
"What about my sister?"
"Well, as to that… most unfortunate…"
"You're the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher!" Harry found his voice. "You can't go now! Not with all the Dark stuff going on here! You can't run away! What about all that stuff you did in your books? This should be easy!"
"My dear boy, do use your common sense. My books wouldn't have sold half as well if people didn't think I'd done all those things. No one wants to read about some ugly old Armenian warlock, even if he did save a village from werewolves. He'd look dreadful on the front cover. No dress sense at all. And the witch who banished the Bandon Banshee had a harelip. I mean, come on…"
"So you've just been taking credit for what a load of other people have done?" Harry couldn't believe it. He didn't like Lockhart, but this was low.
Lockhart ignored them, "Let's see. I think that's everything. Yes. Only one thing left." He pulled out his wand and turned to the boys. "Awfully sorry, but I'll have to put a Memory Charm on you now. Can't have you blabbing my secrets all over the place. Especially you, Harry…"
"Expelliarmus!" Gabriel yelled.
Lockhart stared up into Harry's furious and gleeful eyes and said, "What d'you want me to do?"
Gabriel cocked his head as if listening to something. And he was. Silas was suggesting they confirm the location of the Chamber and then drop Lockhart inside for the basilisk before going to another teacher with what they knew. "You're in luck." Gabriel said, very pleased with the evilness of Silas' idea in this case. He'd just tweak it a bit. "We know where the Chamber is. And what's inside it. Let's go and add another adventure to your list."
Myrtle showed them the entrance and Gabriel sunk back to let Silas order it open in Parseltongue. Then, before Silas knew it, he was yanked back and Gabriel took his place one more. Ignoring the threats from the angry Slytherin, Gabriel followed the others into the hole. There was no time to waste. Ginny was dieing and he had to save her. Harry and all of them owed the Weasley's. The Weasley's had saved their life by rescuing them when they did and they had only caused them problems in repayment over the car.
Silas seethed silently, knowing better than to distract the reckless hero. Gabriel landed after Ron in the dark entrance tunnel just as Lockhart leapt. Gabriel jumped forward, but he was too late. Lockhart had knocked Ron over and taken the redhead's wand. The professor yelled a curse and Gabriel cast a shielding charm that was way above a second year's level. It wavered, but held steady long enough to rebound Lockhart's curse right back at him. The ceiling caved from the force of the two spells.
"Ron, are you okay?" Gabriel demanded.
"I'm here!" Ron called. He was on the other side of a rock pile. "Lockhart's with me, but he's unconscious."
"Wait there with Lockhart. Try to clear a small hole. I'll be back with Ginny." Gabriel decided and turned to enter the Chamber, ignoring Ron's and Silas' protests.
It was a good thing for Gabriel that the Chamber had already been opened. He wouldn't have been able to get in had it not. Silas definitely wouldn't have been agreeable to come out and hiss Parseltongue to get them in. It was too bad that Harry had locked Parseltongue away because it could have come in handy to order the basilisk to back off. Oh, well. Determined, Gabriel leapt into battle.
xXxXxXx
Gabriel came out victorious, but exhausted. So much so that he faded In and it was Silas who had to gather the sobbing Ginny, anxious Ron, and the pervert Lockhart out of the Chamber. Silas knew the girl needed medical attention, but he was growing rapidly weaker himself. McGonagall's office was closer than the infirmary and he led their sorry group there instead.
He knocked and was told to come in. Silas stood staring at Dumbledore with a brilliantly glowing Fawkes on his shoulder. Ms. Weasley was embracing her children in tears and McGonagall looked about to have a heart attack. Silas felt cold anger and hatred, but before it could influence him or reach his face it was bled away by the Demon. He let it. Otherwise he would have begun cursing that smiling old man.
Dumbledore had been here! Why hadn't he come down and done something? Again the bastard left them to battle things far above their skill level. Again he risked their lives for a damn fucking test. It wouldn't surprise Silas at all if it hadn't been the spells that made the ceiling fall, but Dumbledore himself. The bastard probably wanted Gabriel to go on alone!
All eyes turned to him as they demanded to know what happened. In answer, Silas strode forward and placed the stabbed diary on the desk. Then he placed Gryffindor's sword and the Sorting Hat next to it. Silas was careful never to touch the blade himself and used the Sorting Hat to grip it. When he had come Out to replace Gabriel, it had burned him.
Knowing he couldn't escape without telling them what happened, Silas concisely summed up what prompted Gabriel's actions and what happened in the Chamber. Ginny began crying loudly when he explained what the diary had done to her and who had done it. McGonagall had fallen back into a chair with shock and Ms. Weasley was crying with her daughter. Ron was very pale and Lockhart played stupidly with a paper weight. Dumbledore's eyes never left Silas, or rather who he thought was Harry.
Tired, Silas sat in the chair in front of the desk and faded In. Harry came aware in the middle of Dumbledore's speech about Tom Riddle and Voldemort being the same person and once a student. Harry was numb with shock and fatigue. What was gong on? Why was he so sore and covered with slime and blood? He was answered unknowingly by Dumbledore.
"I seem to remember telling you both that I would have to expel you if you broke anymore school rules." Dumbledore said calmly and both Ron and Harry began to shake. "Which goes to show that the best of us must sometimes eat our words. You will both receive Special Awards for Services to the School. I think two hundred points for you Ron for helping solve the mystery of the monster within the Chamber and figuring out the Chamber's location. Another two hundred for you, Harry, for defeating the basilisk and Tom Riddle. Four hundred points to Gryffindor."
Ron gasped and leapt to his feet to hug a stunned Harry. He had defeated a basilisk and Voldemort's memory? How in the world had he done that? Shaking, he just stared dully as Ron shook him in his excitement.
"But one of us seems to be keeping mightily quiet about his part in this dangerous adventure." Dumbledore added. "Why so modest, Gilderoy?"
Ron quickly explained that there had been an accident and that Lockhart's memory had been completely erased.
"Dear me," Dumbledore smiled as he shook his head. "Impaled upon your own sword, Gilderoy!"
Silas and Gabriel both instantly became enraged. The bastard knew that pervert had been a fake! It was his fault that Harry had been molested! Harry had no idea why he was suddenly so angry, but the emotion was gone just as fast as it came. Swaying, Harry crumbled forward in a faint.
xXxXxXx
He woke up in the hospital wing. Hermione and Ron were there and told him all about the feast he had missed. Exams were canceled and Ron explained the strange note next to some flowers and candy by Harry's bed. It was from Dobby. It seemed the headmaster heard of the house-elf's plight and managed to get him free while returning the ruined diary to Lucius Malfoy.
Harry remained subdued for a few days, upset with his repeating memory blanks, but soon was just as happy as everyone else. The last two and a half weeks passed in a haze of blazing sunshine and there were plenty of things to cheer Harry up. Lucius was no longer a school governor. Draco was no longer strutting around. He was instead sulky and resentful. And Ginny was beginning to smile again. Things were good.
Even returning to the Dursley's wasn't as bad as it could have been. Both Ron and Hermione wanted to make double sure they could contact him over the summer and took his phone number. Harry asked Ron how he was going to call and Ron promised him he'd find a way. Harry smiled hugely and hugged the redhead, making the boy blush, and together they walked back through the gateway to the Muggle world.
End Chamber of Secrets.
A/N: Harry's third year will follow Prisoner of Azkaban's main events, but my story will now begin to veer from cannon. For example: Snape will find out about Harry's mental condition and begin to try to help him during the summer. Also, the story will no longer be done in a summary style and will be present tense.