Aren't you lucky! Two chapter's in one day. I was feeling generous as I probably won't be able to update for a while again. I put a lot into this chapter, some you'll know, some you won't, and some won't be mentioned again until much later chapters. So keep an eye out.
Please review this chapter as would love to hear your opinions, I'm feeling a little reviewless.
Disclaimer - Nope still don't own it.
Chamber of Secrets – Part 3
Riddle, Dobby and Ginny
How he managed to do it again he didn't know. It wasn't like he went looking for trouble, trouble found him, and find him it did. He looked back at Ginny and frowned at the diary next to her. That was where his power came from. The diary needed to be destroyed. It was getting harder to breath as the venom flooded through his system, not to mention that Riddles taunts were getting on his nerves. He gripped the basilisk fang in his hand and quickly brought the diary towards him flipping it open. Even if he couldn't save himself, he could save Ginny. He quickly brought the fang down, straight into the little black book that had started all the trouble.
"Nooooo!" cried the figure of Tom Riddle, aka Lord Voldemort before exploding into tiny fragments of light. It was over. His hand lost grip of the fang and it fell to the floor, the venom was starting to take effect, he was feeling colder than he had ever felt before, even the time when Uncle Vernon had made him clear the drive of snow with no gloves or coat on. He was dying, but he wasn't afraid. If Dumbledore was right then a new adventure awaited him, one where maybe his parents would be to look after him.
He heard movement and saw Ginny sit up, looking around to see where she was. He gave a sigh of relief, she was alive. She turned around to see him, her eyes widening taking in his dishevelled appearance.
"Ginny, you need to get out. Follow the tunnel and you'll find Ron. He'll make sure you get out safely." His breathing was becoming shallower with each breath, he didn't know how long the basilisk venom took to work, but it felt quick. He looked back at Ginny who had tears in her eyes.
"It was me Harry, I attacked the students, I opened the chamber of secrets…"Harry put his hand up to stop her mid-sentence.
"No, it wasn't you. Voldemort was controlling you, none of it was your fault." He saw her eyes widen at the mention of Tom's made up name.
"You mean Tom Riddle, he, he was You Know Who?" He nodded, the motion sapping on his reserve strength. His vision was already starting to fail, the room slowly beginning to grow darker.
"Ginny," he said urgently. "You need to leave now. I can't help you anymore. I was a bit slow trying to save you," he said motioning towards his arm, which hung limply by his side. He heard her gasp as she lay her eyes on the wound that was killing him. "You need to get to Ron, he'll get you back. Tell him that he was the best mate I could ever ask for."
"Harry, no I'm not leaving you," Ginny cried trying to find a way out of the situation. "I can't leave you here to die Harry, you're hurt because you came to save me. It's my fault, he took me to get to you. If you die he's won." Harry shook his head.
"Voldemort doesn't understand love and friendship, I would willingly die for any of my friends. There's nothing that anyone can do, it's too late," he said finally the last of his strength leaving him. Seeing him begin to fall Ginny quickly grabbed him and gently lay him down his head in her lap, her eyes full of tears.
It was at this moment that Fawkes reappeared, swooping down to land next to Harry. The phoenix made Harry feel braver as the bird nestled into him. "You were great Fawkes, I just wasn't quick enough," he murmured. His vison had almost gone, the pain in his arm increasing, he saw Ginny's face above him, eyes puffy from crying, begging him to stay with her.
He was slipping away… or was he. The pain had started to disappear, and his vision was returning. Ginny's face was coming back into focus, as was the cavern they were in. He blinked, moving his head to see Fawkes crying onto his arm. His eyes widened. Of course, phoenix tears have healing powers. Feeling his strength returning he made to sit up, startling Ginny. He looked down at his arm. Where before there had been gaping wound, only a small scar remained. He glanced up to Ginny who was crying again, but in joy this time, a smile on her face. Seeing him look at her she gave him a full blown smile before giving him a small kiss full of emotion onto his lips.
"That's for being my gallant knight," she giggled. He touched his lips. His first kiss. He never imagined that his first kiss would be in a place like this, but then being the hero sometimes had its perks. He smiled at her.
"It's over Gin, it's just a memory." He grasped her hand and squeezed it. "It's time to get out of here, your brother's waiting for us." At the mention of returning Ginny's face fell and she seemed on the verge of tears again.
"They're going to expel me, my parents are going to hate me because I helped Tom attack the muggleborns." Harry shook his head.
"I won't let them. Dumbledore will understand, I'll explain everything ok, everything will be fine." He gave her a small hug before they made their way back to where the tunnel had collapsed.
"Ron are you there?" he called out. A head with red hair appeared from behind the pile of rubble. A small hole had been made where they could get out.
"Harry is that you?" Harry grinned.
"Who else do you think would battle a basilisk and save the girl?" he asked in jest. He saw Ron shake his head.
"Only you." He grinned helping Ginny through the hole first. When he got through the two siblings were hugging, both glad to see each other again. "You have no idea how glad I am to see you two again, I thought that with the noise going on back there that the basilisk had got you." Ginny gave him a small look with which Harry shook his head.
"Ha, it takes more than Voldemort to kill me." Ron looked confused. "Don't worry I'll explain everything when we meet up with the teachers, I only want to tell it once." Ron nodded. "So where's Lockhart?" he asked. Ron grinned.
"Oh he's knocked out at the bottom of the pipe. That spell he tried to do with my wand threw him right back, for some reason he doesn't remember who he is. Of course he was still annoying so I hit him on the head with a rock, knocked him out cold." Harry grinned.
"That'll teach him to mess with the Potter-Weasley duo." Ron nodded.
"So how are we getting back up there?" Ron said pointing to the pipe. Harry pointed to Fawkes who was hovering at the base of the pipe. "I don't think that bird is going to carry all of us Harry."
"You'd be surprised what Fawkes can do," and he grabbed hold of Fawkes tails feathers, his other arm wrapping around Ginny. Ron grabbed his sister's hand and reluctantly grabbed a hold of Lockhart.
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Upon reaching the teacher's staff room chaos had occurred. The moment they had opened the door to see Mr and Mrs Weasley they had descended on all three of the students pulling them in for hugs, thanking the boys for saving the youngest Weasley. Another surprise was that Dumbledore was back. He gave the headmaster a small smile, glad to see that some things were back to normal.
Once everyone was seated Harry and Ron both proceeded to tell how they came to know about the chamber of secrets, missing parts out like polyjuice potion and the forbidden forest. Then when Harry explained what had happened in the chamber Mrs Weasley had held her sobbing daughter close, as if afraid she would lose her again. He deliberately did not mention the almost dying from a basilisk fang part.
"It is most fortunate that your daughter is very strong willed. Any less and Voldemort may have completely taken her over." Dumbledore said. Mrs Weasley paled at the mention of You Know Who's name. "Yes, it is known by few that when in school Voldemort was known as Tom Riddle. I don't know how it happened but it would appear that Ginny received his diary." At this the tears that had been threatening to spill from Ginny's eyes burst out and ran down hr cheeks.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know he was You Know Who. I thought he was my friend, someone to talk to." She wailed. Her mother and father drew her into a hug. Dumbledore nodded.
"Stronger witches and wizards than you have fallen to Voldemort's charm. I believe a nice hot chocolate and dreamless sleep potion would be a good idea for Miss Weasley," he said looking over to the nurse. She nodded and carefully herded the Weasley family to the hospital wing. Dumbledore finally cast his gaze over to where Lockhart was finally awakening. He sighed.
"Impaled on your own sword Gilderoy," he said shaking his head. Harry and Ron shared a knowing grin. "Mr Weasley could you escort Professor Lockhart here to the hospital wing, then could you get this letter delivered please. I believe we need our groundskeeper back." Ron nodded before disappearing with Lockhart. "Come, let us finish this conversation in my office."
Harry followed Dumbledore to his office, Fawkes still sitting on his shoulder, the sword he had pulled from the hat hanging from his belt. As Dumbledore took his seat he gave Harry a warm look over the top of his half-moon spectacles. "I would like to thank you Harry, for once again protecting the school from the dangers of Lord Voldemort. You have saved a student from a horrible fate and destroyed the monster that has had the school terrified. I would like to award you and Mr Weasley special awards for services to the school for your efforts." Harry smiled.
"Thank you professor. I couldn't have done it without Fawkes though. He was a life saver," he said stroking Fawkes feathers. The phoenix seemed rather comfortable on his shoulder, even though his perch was just the other side of the desk. He felt strangely connected to the phoenix but it was comforting rather than disconcerting.
"Yes, Fawkes is rather amazing that way. For Fawkes to come to your aid you must have shown me great loyalty." Harry blushed remembering his comments to Riddle. "Loyalty and bravery are good traits for a wizard in Gryffindor," he finished. Harry looked up quickly
"But the sorting hat wanted to put me in Slytherin, it said I would do great things in Slytherin." Dumbledore nodded.
"It is true that you possess many of the traits of Slytherin himself,"
"Then the hat was right, I should be in Slytherin. Even Voldemort realised how much like him I am!"
"Harry, my boy. You are nothing like Voldemort. Please listen to me. You and Voldemort do share common traits. You both grew up without your parents, you both call Hogwarts your home and you both can speak Parstletongue."
"But he could speak Parstletongue because he was the heir of Slytherin. Why can I speak it?" Harry asked curiously.
"I believe it is because when Voldemort went to kill you 11 years ago in Godric's Hollow, he transferred some of his powers into you."
Harry sat their silently, still stroking Fawkes feathers as it was comforting. He looked back up at Dumbledore who was observing him quietly.
"Wait, why parents lived in Godric's hollow, the birthplace of Godric Gryffindor?" he asked. Dumbledore chuckled.
"Yes Harry. The Potter family have lived there for many generations. It's one of the reasons why most Potters go to Gryffindor. If you want more proof that you belong in Gryffindor you should look more carefully at that magnificent sword you are holding." Harry held the sword with both hands looking at it closely. His eyes widened as he saw the inscription on the side of the blade.
"Godric Gryffindor," he whispered.
"Yes, only a true Gryffindor could pull that out of the hat." He straightened up. " Now I believe…" but he was cut short by the entrance of Lucius Malfoy and…
"Dobby? You work for the Malfoys?" Lucius looked down at Dobby with a sneering look before glaring back at Dumbledore.
"So it's true. You have returned." Dumbledore gave Harry a small wink before looking directly at Malfoy.
"Yes, well when Arthur Weasley's daughter was taken down to the chamber, they saw fit to call me back. Some of the governors were under the impression that there would be dire consequences if I wasn't suspended." Lucius paled.
"That's an outrageous accusation. I only look out for the wellbeing of this school," he glared at Harry. "And it's students." He paused. "I assume the culprit has been caught?" he asked. Dumbledore nodded.
"It was Voldemort." If possible Malfoy had paled even further. "Though this time he chose to work through means of this diary. Luckily Mr Potter here was able to find out the truth and put a stop to the attacks before anyone was killed. If not for him the school may have been closed indefinitely." Malfoy glared at Harry making Harry smirk. Malfoy definitely did not seem very happy.
"Let us hope that Mr Potter will always be there to save the day," he sneered. Harry confidently stared at him, the small smirk still on his face. He petted Fawkes's head.
"Don't worry, I will be," especially form snakes like you he thought. Malfoy quickly turned around hitting Dobby with his cane.
Come Dobby, were leaving." He kicked Dobby down the steps and exited the room, the yelps of Dobby still heard from outside the room. Harry flinched, wishing there was something he could do. His eyes widened as a small thought popped into his mind. There was something he could do, and if anyone deserved help it was Dobby. He placed Gryffindor's sword on Dumbledore's desk. He grabbed the diary and looked at Fawkes.
"You coming?" he asked. Fawkes trilled in agreement, making Harry smile. He looked back at Dumbledore. "I'll be right back."
"I have momentarily fallen asleep," he said eyes gleaming from behind his glasses. Harry quickly exited the room and whilst on the steps took his sock off placing it within the book. He smirked. Lucius Malfoy was about to get his comeuppance.
"Mr Malfoy," he shouted at the retreating figure. Lucius turned around grimacing at seeing Harry walking towards him. "I have something of yours," he said handing him the little black book. He watched his face turn red in anger, making him act irrationally giving the book straight to Dobby, exactly as he planned.
"I don't have any idea what you're talking about Potter," he sneered.
"I think that you placed it into Ginny Weasley's cauldron that time in the Flourish and Blotts. After all, if Mr Weasley's daughter was found attacking muggleborns his muggle protection act may have been thrown out. And we know just how much you love muggles Mr Malfoy."
"Why don't you prove it?" Harry stood there silently, of course there was no proof, but at this moment in time that wasn't his purpose. "I thought so. Come Dobby, were leaving." As he turned around Harry mouthed at Dobby to open the book. He watched as Dobby's eyes widened and a smile spread across his face.
"Master has given Dobby a sock. Dobby is a free elf." He exclaimed in happiness. Lucius turned back around to see his servant holding a sock jumping around in joy. His eyes moved to Harry who was smirking.
"Potter! You will pay for that." He went to pull out his wand but the next moment he was picking himself up off the floor.
"You shall not harm Harry Potter!" shouted Dobby. They both watched as Lucius stalked away in anger.
"That was brilliant Dobby. Are you happy that you're free of the Malfoys?" Dobby nodded.
"Dobby did not like working for the Malfoys. How can Dobby ever repay Harry Potter?" Harry looked at him uncomfortably.
"I don't want anything from you Dobby, just knowing your happy is good enough for me." He smiled. "What will you do now?"
"Dobby must look for another job as Dobby does like working Harry Potter. Although most people may not want to take on a dismissed elf." His ears drooped, but suddenly lifted again. "Oh, what if Harry Potter made me his house elf. Dobby would be very honoured." Harry looked at him dumbstruck. His own house elf? He saw Dobby looking at him eyes pleading. "Unless Harry Potter does not want…" Dobby's ears drooped.
"No, No that's not it. It's just a lot to take in." He looked at Dobby closely. It was obvious that the little elf really wanted to work for him. He closed his eyes trying to remember what he had read about house elves at the beginning of the year. They were very loyal to their masters, especially if you treated them right. He remembered that if they were dismissed by their master they could become magically weakened. He didn't want Dobby to get hurt because he had not thought of the consequences of his actions. He smiled at Dobby. "First I want Fawkes to take a look at you and heal any injuries from the Malfoys." He looked at Fawkes to see if that was ok with him. The bird nodded its head in agreement.
"Dobby will allow Harry Potters bird to heal Dobby." Harry smiled.
"He's not my bird, he Professor Dumbledore's Phoenix." At this Dobby frowned.
"But Dobby can sense the bond between you two" Harry looked at him confused as he watched Fawkes heal the wounds on Dobby. Maybe it occurred during the chamber, after all he did save my life. He smiled as the bird once again landed on his shoulder rubbing his head into Harry's neck. He gently stroked the phoenix's tail feathers. Fawkes always amazed him. He looked back at Dobby who looked much healthier.
"Ok Dobby. I will let you become my house elf but I will not be your master, I will be your friend." Dobby nodded eagerly. "And because you are my friend I cannot allow you to work for free. How does ten Galleons a week and Sunday's off sound?" Dobby looked up at him with horror on his face.
"That is being too much Harry Potter. Dobby only be asking for one Galleon a week and one day off a month." Harry nodded in agreement. "I'm also going to sort some kind of uniform for you, you will no longer be dressed in rags." Dobby beamed up at him.
He held out his arm for Dobby to take. Dobby grasped Harry's arm and Harry took a second to remember the bonding ritual he had read. "I Harry James Potter, Head of the House of Potter do hereby call into my employment Dobby the House elf, may he always be a member of the house of Potter." A tingle crossed his hand, showing that the bonding in deed had been completed. Dobby's eyes shone with happiness.
"Harry Potter is a great wizard. Dobby will love working for the Potter." Harry grinned and gave Dobby a hug.
"Welcome to the family Dobby."
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They were on the train ride home and Harry was thinking about everything that had happened after he had bonded with Dobby. They had both agreed to keep it a secret, the less people that knew the better. He had returned Fawkes and the diary back to Dumbledore soon after, still confused about his connection with the fire bird. The bird had been almost reluctant to go back to Dumbledore, maybe one day he would figure it out. After that there had been a feast where the petrified students had come in after being awoken, unfortunately that meant Mrs Norris was back on the prowl. There had been a huge cheer when they were told that all exams were cancelled as a school treat, the OWLs and NEWT students could take their exams in the summer to give them more time to revise. It was good to see Hermione back amongst them, but what was best was Hagrid returning mid feast and thanking them for clearing his name.
Now on the train ride home, it was the first time that Harry was actually looking forward to going back to the Dursley's. He and Dobby had made many plans for the summer, first and foremost was making his room liveable. He sighed happily, it would defiantly be the best summer ever he thought.
He looked over to where Ginny was sitting. She was sharing a compartment with them as she still felt a bit uncomfortable around other people. He still blushed every time he looked at her, remembering the kiss in the chamber. He had finally managed to talk to her yesterday. She'd been hiding in the library, maybe hoping that he would come and talk to her as she was sitting in the hidden corner. He'd told her that none of it was her fault, hoping that she would come to believe it. She told him all about the nightmares she had, of Tom making her attack the students, of scenarios where he had not come to save her, or had died in the chamber. She had cried and Harry had let her. If there was anyone to be scared of, it was Lord Voldemort. He told her that sometimes he wished he had someone to go to with his nightmares and fears. She had appeared shocked when she heard that he too had nightmares. He told her that when he fought Quirrel he had nightmares for weeks, after all he had killed him which was enough to scare any kid. He also told her about the recent nightmares he had of the chamber, that he got there too late or not defeating the basilisk. The talk had brought them both closer, they now knew more about each other than either had before.
He watched as she noticed that he was looking at her giving him a small smile. His insides felt like they were doing backflips, it was a strange feeling. He watched as she leaned across.
"Can we talk?" she whispered, motioning her head at the two sleeping figures of Ron and Hermione. He nodded, casting a silencing charm around the two of them, so as not to wake the other two. "Harry whenever you're asked about the chamber, you always downplay your part. You make it sound as if you accidently walked into the chamber and the snake just dropped dead in a fluke." Harry smiled, he had been wondering when she would ask him about that.
"I guess that's because that's what I've always done, I don't like to draw attention to myself any more than I already do for being the bloody boy-who-lived. I mean what if they decided to extra hyphenate my name. Can you imagine Harry Potter the Boy-Who-Lived-and-protected-the-philosopers-stone-and-Killed-A-Basilisk? It would just get longer every year!" He looked up to see Ginny trying to stop herself from laughing. "I think I'd be a laughing stock by the end of seventh year," he joked. Ginny finally gave up and ended up laughing so much that she created herself a stitch.
"Oh Harry, why are you not like this with everyone else?" Harry's eyes darkened causing Ginny to calm down. "I'm sorry Harry but why don't you ever let anyone see you this way? Happy, Smart and Funny. All the girls would be right after you." Harry smiled.
"I tried, I really did. When I first started Hogwarts I thought I could be myself but I got shown straight away that trying to be different, to be good at everything got you treated differently. The only people who know the real me would probably be you, the twins and Dumbledore." Ginny nodded.
"I couldn't believe it when I found out that the twins actually had you helping out with their pranks, I knew that they had an anonymous benefactor but didn't in a million years think it would be you." Harry bowed in jest.
"Thank you, thank you. I sign autographs at one and seven." He grinned mischievously causing Ginny to elbow him.
"What about the other thing, you know the fact that you have both basilisk venom and phoenix tears running through your blood?" Harry shrugged.
"I don't know. I haven't felt any different, apart from around Fawkes. I feel like I miss him. Dobby said something about a bond between us, maybe it was because he saved my life. I've looked in the library to see if it's ever happened before but in all cases I've read, all people bitten by a basilisk are dead within three minutes." Ginny squeezed his hand.
"Well you must have some strong magic then Mr Potter because I think it was about five minutes until you faltered. You know I almost lost you, what would I do without my best friend around hey?" Harry laughed.
"Bring me back and give me the biggest scalding of my life?" Ginny laughed along with him.
"What am I going to do with you? You're a medical mystery, and an untold hero." She shook her head.
"I'm no Lockhart," he quipped. Ginny laughed again.
"I can't believe that idiot tried to obliviate you two with Ron's wand. Ron really needs to get a better grip on his wand." Harry blushed.
"I wasn't much better, I dropped mine making sure you were alive."
"Yeah, well it's a good thing you knew the shield charm otherwise you might not have even got there. I still can't believe he got hit by his own charm, talk about karma." Harry nodded his head.
"Yeah well don't tell Ron or Hermione that. They seem to think that it was Lockhart being his usual stupid self," he grinned before cancelling the silencing charm.
Yes he thought, this summer would definitely be interesting.