A.N. right well this is the chapter 4 sorry it's a bit later than usual but I was really busy with school and stuff. Anyhow hope you enjoy it

Chapter 4 – claiming the glory

Harry slept until twelve the next morning, both magically and emotionally drained.

He opened his eyes slowly but didn't move, taking in the sunlight streaming through the window to the left of his bed. He looked around to see all the beds empty but one.

Neville Longbottom sat, legs crossed, head resting against the backrest of his bed. He appeared to be waiting for Harry to wake.

Confused Harry got out of bed, staggering slightly when his legs couldn't support his weight. Reaching for his glasses he slipped them on his face taking a better look around at the gold and red room.

Neville jumped slightly when he realised that Harry was awake but didn't move from his position, just waited. He averted his eyes when Harry moved to his trunk, pulling off his shirt he began to dress.

While Harry was changing he wondered why Neville was here, perhaps to talk to him, they had never been particularly good friends but things can change.

When Harry was fully dressed he moved towards Neville, who moved his head off the headboard, Harry sat cross-legged mimicking Neville and waited.

He opened his mouth several times before finally deciding on what to say.

"I wanted to thank you for saving the school. I don't think I could have faced going home if I didn't have something to look forward to, an escape." Neville went wide eyed for a minute before wincing, realising his slip, he hoped that Harry didn't notice.

Neville had grown from the boy that had been in adoration of everything, to this.

Harry sat in silence for a moment, it was clear that he hadn't meant to say the last part. His word and expression processed in Harry's mind as well as all the things he knew about Neville.

"Neville," he asked tentatively "How is it living with your gran?"

Neville stiffened; his knuckles went white when he clenched his hands into very tight fists.

"I don't think that it's something I can tell you at the moment Harry." Neville said softly before moving to the door but pausing when he reached it "Sorry Harry but it's not time yet, why don't you come down to the hall? There's a feast on in celebration of everyone's return."

Neville walked from the room leaving Harry in an extremely confused state.

Harry stayed in the same position for some time. He was finally alone, giving him a chance to think about the rollercoaster of events that had happened over the past day. 'Salazar Slytherin came to tell me that I was the heir of Slytherin, the house that is supposed to be the most evil of them all. But he had seemed to be genuinely concerned about my future and I think I want to train under Slytherin. I could learn so much. I could protect people.' he was definitely done considering.

Harry wanted to go and tell Slytherin straight away, however when he walked into the common room he found it to be completely crammed with people. He saw the Weasley twins in one corner entertaining everyone, laughing and just having fun. None of them had any worries about what was going to happen in their future. Harry tried to move through the crowd but was spotted by the twins.

"Harry, there you are!" they clapped him on the back dragging him over to the celebrations, which had clearly not made it to the hall. The twins pulled him to the front of the crowd, everyone stared at him eagerly. He wasn't in the mood for this. "This is the boy that saved our sisters life and our school!" They all cheered and the Weasley twins let off their own homemade fireworks, filling the room with colour and light.

Harry looked at everyone, a grim expression on his face, he knew he had helped to save the school but he couldn't bring himself to enjoy the celebrations, even if they were in his honour.

That was when the twins noticed their saviour wasn't having fun. They grabbed his arms, pulling him slightly off to the side.

"What's wrong Harry?"

"Not enjoying the celebrations?" they asked

'I really wish I knew how they did that' Harry thought.

Looking at the duo he felt bad for them, they obviously didn't know what had happened to their family yet.

"Guys, why don't we go up to my dorm to talk?" he said, slightly awkwardly.

They took one look at the serious look on Harry's face and nodded, slipping away from the noisy party. The twins followed Harry up the winding spiral staircase, they had obviously noticed something was wrong; they had lost the fun look always dancing in their eyes, a look Harry had always envied but had never quite been able to achieve.

They arrived at the second year dormitory before Harry had a chance to think about what he would say. How do you tell someone that their family is falling apart? Harry sat at one end of his bed, the twins at the other wearing identical looks of confusion and concern.

He paused a moment before answering their unspoken question.

"Usually I wouldn't tell you this, I don't think that it is my place to tell you but this time I don't have a choice. Yesterday I went into the Chamber with Ron after we heard that Ginny had been taken by the person that opened the Chamber. When we got down there the rocks collapsed when I walked slightly ahead of him, it cut us of so I continued without him. When I got to the Chamber I saw Ginny; she was unconscious on the floor, then a young version of Voldemort turned up. He said that he would attack me with the monster in the Chamber; I managed to defeat the beast and get Ginny out. When we got out Dumbledore was there to meet us and he did not look happy," he paused before continuing "The next part of the tale isn't so nice, we got to Dumbledore's office and he told your parents everything that had happened, because you see Ginny was the one that let out the monster in the Chamber. But she didn't have a choice in the matter, when he told your parents they didn't want anything to do with her. They didn't believe that she was good anymore they thought that she was evil." When he finished this extraordinary tale they both looked shocked, not sure what to believe.

"Harry please tell me you're joking." Fred said desperately "That can't be true my parents would never do this to Ginny."

George just sat there staring at the bed, a distant look on his face. Seemingly oblivious to what his brother was saying.

"Fred I don't think that he's lying," George looked shocked at his brother's words. "Everyone knows that our parents are some of the lightest wizards in England today, but last year I heard them talking to Dumbledore, they were telling him about someone that they believed had been thinking about helping the dark side because they had taken their family hostage. I heard them say that they could never be a light wizard again."

Fred looked confused and betrayed, but he knew that his twin would never lie to him, something he couldn't say about his parents.

Harry watched the brothers lose their cool; it seemed everyone was losing everything today. He sat uncomfortable 'I shouldn't be intruding on this moment it's not my place'.

Harry got up to leave, trying not to disturb the distort duo. He made his way quickly and quietly to the door. Opening it slightly he slipped out, not looking back he missed the looks of gratitude that passed their faces.

Harry walked back down the stairs, rounding the corner he started to hear the laughing of the innocent students who had no idea what had just transpired. He rounded the last corner and the bright colours seemed to swallow the sad feeling falling over him.

He could see the same people in exactly the same places as they were when he left. Keeping his head down, he pushed his way through the crowded people who were cheering and having fun. He frowned whenever someone moved in front of his path, but he didn't say anything, just dodged around them.

He made it to the entrance, opening the door. He almost stumbled outside into the hallway. The portrait swung closed behind him, snapping so quickly Harry jumped turning to look at the Fat Lady.

"Are you ok Harry? You seem a little jumpy." she said kindly, but he still cringed at her shrill voice.

"I'm fine, don't worry about me" he said to her before walking down to the hallway towards the hall.

He knew that he had missed breakfast but hopefully someone would have left food down there, he hadn't eaten anything since before he went into the Chamber. There was no one anywhere in the halls, 'They must all be in their common rooms celebrating, oh well I don't really care I don't want to talk to anyone at the moment'.

He entered the Great Hall to see only a few people dotted around. He counted five people seated at the Slytherin table, sat close together, they immediately sent scowls Harry's way when he entered.

He looked away; he wasn't in the mood to deal with the obnoxious Slytherins 'I wonder what they would do if they knew that I was Slytherin's heir' he got a slightly evil smile on his face as he thought of the looks of horror that would emerge on their faces.

Shaking his head he looked to the next table there were maybe ten Hufflepuff's seated in a long line all talking in quiet voices but at the moment none of them had noticed that someone else had entered the hall.

The Ravenclaw table was different to the last two. While on this one there was a group of friends sitting together they appeared to be laughing at a young girl with blond hair at the other end of the table, she was staring dreamily off into space, staring at the ceiling above her. It wasn't that unexpected for first years to be a little bit overwhelmed, but from what Harry could see she had a distant look on her face staring beyond the blue sky above. She moved from her position looking straight into Harry eyes with startling blue eyes that almost made Harry look away.

He was for some reason curious about her, how was she being blatantly laughed at and yet was taking it so lightly.

Harry walked forward before he realised what he was doing. She followed him with her eyes, smiling loftily at him.

He stopped in front of her smiling "Hi, I'm Harry" he said stretching out his hand across the table.

The girl looked at it for a moment but then reached out her hand to shake it. "Hi I'm Luna" she said dreamily.

"Do you mind if I sit here?" he said indicating the seat in front of her.

"Not at all go ahead." she replied, he sat himself in front of her.

They sat in silence for a moment, until Luna spoke

"The marinay's wanted me to congratulate you," Great. This is what he didn't want to hear from this girl, for her to thank him for closing the Chamber and saving the school. So that was why the next thing that she said shocked him so much "They think that it's a wonderful opportunity for you, but I suppose that it would completely oppose your house, I think that it is much too big of a decision for a twelve year old but I can't wait to see what choice you make."

Harry sat there for a moment mouth hanging open in shock at the little girl in front of him who had just figured out something the great Dumbledore hadn't. That in itself intrigued Harry. Looking closer Harry noticed that her feet, which were tucked under her, were bare.

He frowned "Luna why aren't you wearing any shoes?" he asked

"Oh that, some of my things sometimes go missing. They always have a way of coming back to me though" she said lightly

Harry's face was one of anger when he looked over at the people he had seen laughing at Luna earlier. They were looking at Luna in jealously, but when they saw that Harry was looking over at them and he didn't look happy, they immediately looked down at the table in front of them.

Turning back to Luna he asked her "They take them don't they? Don't lie to me Luna, I know that you're no idiot. Look, I know what it's like to be bullied and alone, don't let this be how you remember this experience, but don't change yourself like I have seen some people do. Be yourself but don't let them ruin you find people who respect and like you for who you are. I know that I haven't known you very long but I would like to be your friend." Harry finished

Luna had remained silent through all of Harry's speech but she was smiling that dreamy smile again by the time he was finished.

"Harry that is very sweet of you to want to look out for me, but I can assure you I have no intention of letting their attempts of getting me out of Hogwarts bother me. And trust me I will never change to fit anyone else's happiness, I am who I am. And I think that I would like to be friends with you." she said smiling.

Harry smiled at her too; he opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by someone calling his name. Looking around he saw the Weasley twins making their way towards him.

"Excuse me Luna" she nodded and went back to staring at the enchanted ceiling above.

Harry got up and met the red heads in the middle.

"Harry we,"

"Really need to,"

"Talk to you" they said

"Ah, you are back to speaking together, that must mean that you feeling better. As for speaking to me, why don't we go sit at the Gryffindor table?" he said amused now that they were back to their normal selves. Well sort of.

They sat away from the few students sitting at the Gryffindor table, keeping their heads together.

"Ok guys, so in all seriousness what is it that you want?" he asked when they we all settled.

They looked at each other silently communicating.

"Well Harry we believe what you said about our parents,"

"We want to help Ginny in any way we can"

"So we want your help" they finished.

Harry smiled, Ginny would definitely need a small family at some time and this was a brilliant start.

"That's great guys; she really did need someone to stick by her, even If she won't admit it."

"Harry I know that we were a little bit in shock before, but how is Ginny?" George asked

Harry was a little uncomfortable answering this "I don't know how to describe it but I have a suggestion," they nodded eagerly listening intently "I think that you should keep playing the pranks, try to keep everyone's spirits up. I will even help at times but I think that you need to keep everyone laughing it's something you just can't beat." he finished.

Harry looked up, when he heard the scraping of shoes against the floor. Slowly the hall was filling with students, they were coming in at a steady pace, some of the people were walking towards Harry at a slow pace. They all looked really nervous, their eyes were darting from Harry to the floor.

Interestedly he watched a group of nine of them come to a stop in front of them, he raised an eyebrow. Justin spoke for them.

"Harry, we all just wanted to say that we're sorry for thinking that you were the one that was attacking all of the students. We should have listened to you. We're sorry."

Harry was slightly shocked by this admission, they were all so sure and here they were apologising. 'Ha, they probably just want to get back on the good side of the boy who lived. Ugh pitiful.' Harry thought spitefully.

"Fine, I'll forgive you this time." Harry said to them. He then turned back to Fred and George.

Justin and hid friends looked miffed that they hadn't been given a warmer reception. Justin tapped Harry on the shoulder.

"Is that all you have to say to us, after all were agreeing for us to not think of you as a mass murder." Justin said a smug look on his face.

Harry was slightly shocked that they were this stupid "You want me to be grateful for the fact that you only want to be friends with me after you found out that I wasn't a mass murder and saved the day? So after all of that you want me to beg for the fact that you now want to be friends with me?"

His look of anger had put shock on all of their faces which made harry smirk, he turned back to Fred and George to find them laughing, not even trying to hide it.

Harry heard the angry footsteps behind him as they stomped off, when they were far enough away the three of them burst out laughing.

By this time the hall had filled to bursting point, as was usual on an evening. Ron had come to sit by Harry but wasn't talking to him, he was bragging to the people next to him about saving them all from the violent monster. Most of them were gathered around him, wide eyes taking in every word of crap he was saying. Harry shook his head, he knew Ron had confidences issues but this was ridiculous.

The doors slammed open, the whole hall went silent simultaneously turning towards the giant doors at the foot of the hall. There stood all of the victims of Voldemort alive and well. He saw Hermione standing with them, she was searching the Gryffindor table, he assumed, looking for him and Ron.

He stood up pulling Ron to his feet as well and waved to her. Her face lit up when she saw them, running she made it to them both pulling them into a tight hug which they both returned just as enthusiastically.

"Oh I am so glad to see you guys." she said letting go of them. Sitting back down, both of them joined Harry, sitting on either side of him.

"Hermione glad to see your back in the land of the living." Harry said smiling at her.

"This is no time to make jokes Harry. I don't think it was funny. I have just gone through an awful experience." She said dramatically

Harry was miffed "Oh I'm so sorry, you clearly have gone through the hardest time, let's just forget the fact that it wasn't you that went into the Chamber, the fact that it was me that faced the basilisk and that it was me that faced the heir and won." he said irritation showing.

"Don't you dare talk to me like that Harry you would never have done any of this without me, you're not smart enough." she said smugly completely filled with self-importance.

Harry just shook his head at her; he couldn't believe what he was seeing from his supposed best friends, it was like they were completely differently people from the times that he met them to now.

"Hello students" came Dumbledore's voice, turning he saw him standing before his golden phoenix podium staring out into the faces. "I thought that today I would tell you what happened in the Chamber of Secrets. Ginny Weasley was taken into the Chamber only to be saved by Harry Potter. He managed to defeat the Heir of Slytherin and save the school from closure. You should all be very grateful to him." Harry sat there anger bubbling through him as he felt the eyes of everyone in the hall fixate on him, whispers spread through the hall.

'Damn I don't want this' Harry moved from his seat eyes fixed on the floor, he walked from the Hall not even looking back.

That's it please R&R