I don't own Harry Potter.

Chapter eighteen

It was all his fault. He knew it was. There was no denying it. His actions nearly cost a girl her life...

THREE DAYS EARLIER

The day was like any other day for a Quidditch match. The weather was perfect. The sky was bright blue with a few clouds. Everyone was looking forward to the upcoming game.

That was everyone but Harry. He kept having this bad feeling that he forgot something... or someone. He just couldn't figure out what it was. But then he heard it. It was the voice of the Basilisk.

"Kill this time...let me rip... tear..."

"The voice! I wish I knew what it was."

Just like the first time Hermione started to run off to the library. Harry stopped her. He said that she could go to the library after the match. But he still felt like he was forgetting something. He was walking out of the Entrance Hall when he remembered who else was Petrified that day.

"Percy, I'll be right back. I promise that I won't miss the match." Penelope told her boyfriend. She gave him a peck on the cheek and went towards the stairs that led to the fourth floor.

Harry left Ron and Hermione when he jumped on his broom and flew to the library as fast as he could.

There was one problem with the library; it had more than one door. And Harry had to figure out which door Penny would have used to get to Entrance Hall. He ignored all of the northern exits and kept to the southern ones.

But he knew that he was running out of time. He could hear the snake. He could he the desire to kill someone... anyone. And Harry knew that if he was too late a girl would loose her life and Hogwarts would cease to exist. He pushed his broom to its limits hoping that it would be enough.

Harry found her a near the fourth floor girls' bathroom. It was there that he heard the basilisk once more.

"Kill her... destroy the filth."

Harry hopped off his broom.

"We have to get out of here!" Just then, the snake came at them. Harry covered the taller girl's eyes and tried to protect her with his body. The snake lunged at them but Harry pulled them both to the ground a few seconds before it was too late.

"What's going on?" Penny screamed.

"I'll explain later," he replied while pulling her toward his broom. "Right now we need to get out of here before that snake comes back."

"Snake? Oh Merlin, you don't think that was a..." She screamed again, when she realized that the danger wasn't passed. The snake went after them again.

"Will you be quiet?" he dragged her to the broom. "Get on and keep your eyes closed." That last demand wasn't that hard to keep because Penny refused to open her eyes.

Harry really didn't know if the snake would follow them but he knew that it was better to be safe than sorry. Penny seemed to think the same thing since she refused to let go of Harry.

Unfortunately for them, it did. The Basilisk went under them and suddenly swiped its tail at them; knocking them both off from the broom. Harry and Penny were both unconscious but not before they heard a hissing.

"Let's go, they're dead. Master is waiting for us."

When Harry woke next the first thing that he saw was a black a blue blur that he knew was his dad. He stifled a giggle when he saw that he was asleep. He grabbed his glasses and tried to remember what happened that would require Sirius next to his bed. Then he realized that he was in the Hospital Wing.

He looked around and saw that Penelope was curled in a tight, protective ball. She looked scared but otherwise she was fine. He was relieved that she alive but if he had remembered her in the first place she wouldn't be in the Hospital Wing to begin with. He knew that it was his entire fault.

Not two minutes later Sirius was awake. He was surprised to see Harry awake.

"Hi. Am I in trouble?" he looked into Sirius' eyes.

Sirius chuckled softly. "No, you're not in trouble. McGonagall wants to know what happened though. Penelope hasn't said a word since she's been brought in here. Poor child is terrified."

"Wait? Why McGonagall? Why not Dumbledore?" He looked around the room again a realized that the headmaster was no where to be seen.

"Pronglet, Dumbledore left two days ago. The school governors didn't seem to think that he was fit to be headmaster. You knew that this was a possibility.

"Hagrid was taken as well. He's not in Azkaban. I managed to at least to stop that from happening. He's in a cell in the Ministry."

"It seems as though they learned their lesson not to send people to Azkaban without a trial." Harry tried to joke. He looked at Penny again and saw that she hadn't moved a muscle.

"How long have I been here?" He didn't take his eyes off Penny.

"Three days. Everyone was starting to get worried. Hermione, Ron, and Neville have been pestering poor McGonagall to be allowed to see you. That reminds me. I have to go tell Minerva that you're awake." He ruffled Harry's hair and left to get the transfiguration teacher and temporary headmistress, Minerva McGonagall.

Once Sirius was gone, Madam Pomfrey realized that Harry was awake. She was muttering how they should have told her right away. The poor boy did need a checkup after all. Harry just told himself to grin and bear it because he knew that if he complained she would only take longer.

Sirius soon came barreling in with McGonagall at his heals. He wasn't all that surprised to see the look of relief on her face. Harry smiled at her.

"Harry, I glad to see that you are finally awake."

"Hi Professor. So you want to hear what happened three days ago."

"Well that and the reason that you were on the fourth floor when you had a Quidditch game in less than 10 minutes."

Harry contemplated over whether it was safe to finally tell her the whole truth about his past... and his possible future. He decided to feel out her loyalties before he told her.

"Professor, are you in contact with Professor Dumbledore?" He never took his eyes off from her. He knew that his eyes were everyone's weakness... well, almost everyone's. He didn't think that Voldemort would crumble to dust because he looked at him. But McGonagall was compelled to tell him the truth.

"I am but if you ask me not to tell him something I won't. I know that he has no right to know about your personal life. I would be more than honored if you would tell me. I would also respect your decision if you don't."

"I was there because I knew that it was going to happen," Harry confessed.

"You're a Seer?" she asked skeptically.

"No, I'm not a Seer. And I wouldn't want to be a Seer." He took a deep breath. "Professor, I'm from the future. That's how I know when something happens. That's how I know things I'm not supposed to know."

"How can I be sure that I can believe you? I've known you for almost two years and I've never seen any signs that you were nothing more than a normal child." She knew that she was in denial about that but she really didn't care at the moment.

"I could tell you things that there is no way for me to know unless I am who I said I am. I know about the prophecy. The only reason Professor Trelawney is here is because the headmaster is protecting her from the Death Eaters. Thirteen years ago, she made a prophecy about me and Voldemort and she didn't even know it. She doesn't even know that she needs protection."

"I believe you. Merlin, help us all, but I believe you. Now, will you please tell me what happened on Saturday? The headmaster deserves some form of the truth as it did happen in his school." Harry smiled and told her what happened... and some of what will happen. But he didn't tell her everything like he did with Sirius and Remus. He needed to trust that she wouldn't interfere too much and become overprotective.

It wasn't until almost a week later that Harry was allowed to leave the Hospital Wing. Penelope Clearwater was still in shock and seemed that she would be for a very long time. During that whole time, Harry wasn't allowed any visitors outside his own family and professors. He was really out about this because he really wanted to talk to his friends.

He got the full story of what was going on in Gryffindor Tower that night after dinner. Hermione was in the library soon after the attack on Harry and Penny and found out that it was a Basilisk that was Petrifying the Muggle-borns and refused to go anywhere without a mirror. It took everything in her not to tell everybody when Harry confirmed it.

They also told them about their last visit to Hagrid's hut. He was a little peeved that they went in his trunk without his permission and didn't like that they took his Invisibility Cloak.

When he finally returned to Potions Snape gave him a venomous glare.

He was angry that Harry was able to keep in his class. He took points whenever he could and tried to fail his potion. But everyone could see that it was perfect. It was nearly as good as one of his own... not that he would ever admit that. He would never hear the end of it if he praised the arrogant child. He even let Harry know that he wasn't about to be coddled just because of his brush with death.

"So our hero finally decides to show up for class. I expect all of your make-up work to be done by the end of today or you will have detention. And not even your Head of House will be able to get you out of it."

"Professor, I'm already done. It was remarkably easy. If you think I cheated you can ask Professor McGonagall about it. She was the one who got me all he books that I needed. Awfully kind of her to do so, don't you think." Harry smirked at him as he handed him the completed essays. "I really didn't have anything to do but read and do homework while I was in the Hospital Wing."

Harry's other teachers gave him plenty of time to make up his work even though exams were only a few weeks away. Ron was horror-struck that they would still have to do the exams when everything was so chaotic around the castle.

But then again only Harry knew that the exams were going to be cancelled. But that bothered Harry because he was planning to take his O.W.L. in Potions... that is if was allowed.

A/N So, should Harry take his Potions O.W.L.? I want your opinion on this.