Thank you, all of you who have read this story so far and to all of you who took a minute to post a review. Thank you, Harriverse, Raven2090, skeptic (you got it right, that's what I did!)

Harry Potter and the Trip to the Past

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Chapter – 18

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The next day dawned bright and just a bit cold. They were into November and cold days would become the normal state of affairs at Hogwarts. Harry was up and early and he checked the map first and was relieved to see Ginny sleeping in her dorm. He put the map away and got out of bed and ran for the bathrooms. He was ready in no time and seeing Neville and Hermione still sleeping by way of the map in Hermione's case and by peeping into Neville's curtains in his case, Harry swiftly walked down to the potions lab, by passing the Great Hall.

Snape was tending to the Ancestry Potion and he scowled when he saw Harry. 'Why are you so early?' then his expression changed. 'Is there a problem Potter?' he asked seeing Harry's expression.

Harry threw his bag on a chair nearby and then also threw himself on to another chair and looked at Snape with a disturbing look in his green eyes. Snape saw that look and immediately warded the room and also added spy wards to tell him if any one would approach the door. There was no floo here so there was no danger of anyone coming through it suddenly.

'You know what happened yesterday, Snape. Thankfully it was like last time Mrs. Norris was only petrified instead of outright killed by the basilisk. Only last time I discovered it and Flich accused me of killing his cat and this time he discovered it himself. But what if next time the basilisk manages to kill somebody?'

'You are the one who says we must not go into the Chamber and kill the basilisk.' Snape pointed out as he added some dragon claw powder to the potion.

'It is a horcrux of Voldemort that possesses her Snape. You saw what happened with Quirrell. We just cannot take a chance of attacking the basilisk if Ginny is there, because she is probably possessed and we would be meeting the Dark Lord and not her in the Chamber. And with the Dark Lord having complete control not only over Ginny but also over the basilisk, we would lose even before we begin to attack.'

Snape did not answer at once. He turned and attended to the potion one more time and then left it for the day. He would attend to it next only in the evening. 'Well what can we do Potter? We must and can only wait. That would be prudent.'

'Well,' Harry got up as he sighed deeply. 'I will keep watch as I have everyday and the moment I see Ginny in her dorm, I will come down and we will go and tackle the basilisk inside. I will leave now for breakfast. Bye.'

'Bye?' Snape glared at Harry's impertinence. 'Ten points from Gryffindor, Potter for assuming familiarity with a professor.' He said trying to get his usual nasty form with Harry. He had forgotten about it in the discussion of what had happened last night.

Harry laughed and waved cheekily and walked out. It was still early and not many people were there in the corridors. Harry walked up to the Great Hall and sat down in his usual place. Hermione and Neville had still not come down and Harry enjoyed a solitary breakfast, thinking about everything and nothing in general.

He was finishing when Hermione and Neville ran in and then stopped abruptly in relief when they saw Harry. A second later, both came running to him and Hermione scowled. "Where did you go so early? We have been searching for you.'

Harry looked surprised. 'But I have been right here Hermione.'

'No you haven't. We came here sometime ago and you were not here and we went to the Library and searched all over the place and you were not there anywhere. I thought something happened to you Harry. Like with Mrs. Norris.' Hermione's voice trembled as she looked at Harry, her eyes full of relief, anger, accusations and fear.

Harry's green eyes softened in understanding as he looked at Hermione and Neville who was also showing relief and fear, but no anger. 'Sorry, Hermione, Neville. I never thought to leave a note as I should have. I got up early and went to professor Snape to ask him if he needed any help and I stayed there until he threw me out and then I have been here. We must have just missed each other here, I think.'

Hermione's eyes flashed in relief and understanding. 'Oh, Harry I am so sorry. We were so worried.' She said looking at Neville who nodded with a grin.

Harry smiled. 'That's okay, Hermione. I feel nice that both of you think this much of me.'

Hermione brushed his comment away and from there they chatted mostly about what happened the day before. 'What could have made Mrs. Norris as good as dead, though, I wonder? I will look for monsters in the library and see if there is anything there.' she said and frowned at Harry and Neville when they groaned simultaneously and then laughed.

By then the Great Hall was getting filled up and soon everywhere there was only speculation about the monster that had attacked Mrs. Norris. Harry waited for Hermione and Neville to finish their breakfast and then the three of them got up to go for their classes when Harry saw Percy coming in with a very subdued and frightened Ginny.

Harry's heart twisted inside him and his soul went to the girl who was suffering so much. Percy was looking grim, as he held on tightly to his sister's arm and was almost dragging her to the tables.

'Are you alright Ginny? Percy is there something wrong with her? She looks so dull and as if in pain.' Harry asked Ginny and Percy, speaking for the first time to Ginny after he had said hello to her after she had been sorted.

'I… I am fine th-thanks.' Ginny stammered looking everywhere but at Harry, while Percy looked on grimly. 'She is missing our mother Harry. Nothing much. Now kindly excuse us, we have to have our breakfast.'

'Sure Percy.' Harry said looking sympathetically at Ginny who blushed and went on with Percy to have her breakfast.

Harry walked with his friends outside feeling terribly sad for Ginny. The weather was beginning to get colder and soon it would be only cold and colder Harry knew. Now though he was taking advantage of the crisp air to clear his head, before going on to his classes. Suddenly there was a shout behind them and Harry turning saw Malfoy, Blaise and Pansy walking towards them. Harry and the other two waited for them to come and they went for a walk, discussing the Chamber.

'Harry,' Malfoy said in a low voice and subtly pulled him behind so that they were lagging behind. Harry turned to him and saw that Malfoy's face was very troubled.

'What is it Draco? Is there a problem?' Harry asked in concern, wondering just what this could be.

'Yesterday the Chamber was opened you know.' Malfoy started haltingly. Harry nodded wondering just where this was heading to. Malfoy blushed a bit and looked straight as he continued in very low tones. 'My father told me that this year there were terrible things planned for all muggleborns and even half-bloods. I really did not know what it could be until now, but seeing what happened yesterday, I think he meant the monster being unleashed from the Chamber. I have written to him to ask him about the monster and if he replies, I will tell you, but until then, be very careful and also ask Hermione to be very careful too. And,' here Malfoy turned to look straight into Harry's eyes, 'don't tell any of them what I told you okay?'

Harry was astounded and totally shocked. He had never expected any of this. Malfoy had changed beyond recognition this time. He was in fact warning him, Harry to be careful and also telling him to advice Hermione to be careful as well. Last time he was hoping Hermione would be killed by the unknown monster and this time he wanted her to be careful.

Things were beginning to change and Harry was hoping that they would not change so much that he would be cast into the unknown, but this particular change was very welcome. Harry now, was silent for a few seconds as he looked deep into worried and anxious grey eyes, before he regarded Malfoy with a very grateful expression on his face and a wide smile gracing his lips.

'That was very kind of you Draco. Just what a friend would do. Of course I will be careful and of course I will ask Hermione to be careful also.' He said, linking his arms with a very pleased Malfoy who apparently liked all the good things Harry told about him.

'But don't tell her it was my father, Harry. I don't want anyone even, Pansy and Blaise to know what Father has told me and can you warn the others as if it is something you thought of by yourself?' he asked bluntly. Harry simply nodded and then they walked silently towards the others.

'What were you two talking about?' Pansy asked, her eyes moving between Draco's slightly flushed face and Harry's smiling one.

'What else but what happened yesterday.' Harry retorted. 'Who are the enemies and who is the Heir? I was saying it must be someone who is in Slytherin, because only Slytherins have heirs and stuff like that and Draco and I were talking about it. What do guys think?' Harry asked, while Draco kept quiet.

They were now walking slowly towards the lake, intending to go around a little it before getting back to the castle for classes. The air was crisp and clean, and there was a cold wind blowing around them, making them feel glad they had their coats over them.

'Of course it is the heir of Slytherin.' Pansy exclaimed. 'Who else can it be? I remember Father telling me about a Chamber of secrets created by Salazar Slytherin.'

'Well, today we have history. I think we should ask professor Binns.' Hermione said with a determined air about her, scowling as everyone sniggered. 'Binns?' Malfoy drawled, his voice mocking, 'Hermione, he won't know a thing. You mark my words.'

'Anyway, I think I shall. Even if he splutters or makes excuses I will ask him and if he does not answer, then I think I will go to professor McGonagall about it.' She said not to be deterred from her aim.

They walked back to class and that after noon Hermione disturbed Binns and asked him about the Chamber of Secrets. Harry watched as Binns explained much like last time and then after class Hermione led everyone, including the Slytherins to an empty classroom for a discussion. Harry had to leave to assist Snape after dinner and because of that Hermione had called everyone now.

'Well, what does everyone think of this?' she asked generally. Harry, Neville, Malfoy and most of the Slytherins along with Ron, Dean and Seamus and Parvati and Lavender were there.

'Nothing Hermione. It is to be expected from a Slytherin of course.' Ron said sarcastically, glaring at everyone in green robes and then bestowing his most hateful stare for Malfoy, who was returning it with interest and had drawn out his wand.

'Will you both shut up?' Harry asked irritably. He was feeling very down since he had seen Ginny in the morning and the fact they were not able to get to either the Diary or the basilisk was not helping his temper any. 'We are here to see how we can be careful. Let us not blame anyone for what someone did a thousand years ago, Ron and Draco put down your wands.'

Both of them scowled but obeyed and then Hermione told all of them to stay in groups and be careful. 'Let us not go out after dinner is over and let us keep together. Please, until Dumbledore deals with it.'

All of them agreed and then they went up, still discussing the dos and don'ts until they reached the Great Hall, where they separated and went to their respective tables. Harry looked at the Head Table and saw a very solemn Dumbledore and other staff members. He looked away again and ate his dinner almost silently, his mind still on Ginny's face he saw that morning.

The next few days went by with Ginny spending more and more time during the nights in the Chamber. Harry wondered how they had never found it last time. Quidditch had completely changed this time. The first time around, Harry and Draco met during the first practise when Draco had called Hermione a mudblood and Ron had spent the morning spitting out slugs. This time that event played out completely differently.

This time Harry knew that the Slytherins had first practise the next morning because of his friendship with Malfoy and he had gone and told Oliver about it. That resulted in Oliver using some choice words against Snape in particular and Slytherins in general and had postponed the Quidditch practise from the morning to after class and went off to McGonagall to get a slip of his own in case the Slytherins came and took over that practise too.

There was also no duelling club this time, Harry having warned Snape about what happened last time and Snape promptly stopped Lockhart's suggestion when it came up in the Halloween staff meeting.

The Saturday night, after Halloween, Harry sat as usual with the map in his dorm. It had been a long day that day, even though they had no classes. Harry had spent the entire morning working with Snape. Hermione and Draco were also helping Snape cut a lot of disgusting potion ingredients. The afternoon had gone in preparation and after dinner, Harry was very tired. He was not sleeping well these days and he was also maintaining as if everything was fine with him. That was taking a toll.

Harry sat in his bed, silently with his map and then he started just a bit. Ginny was no where to be seen in the Chamber and he looked in the girls' dorm and she was there! Harry could not believe his eyes and he checked and re-checked and then was about to change into a Phoenix and flash away to Snape's potions classrooms when he decided to wait for sometime to see if Ginny would actually stay in her dorms that night.

In that time Harry used the map to check for the basilisk and found that it was not in the main chamber and it was not anywhere in the School. Harry did not waste a minute and spelling his curtains closed and taking out his invisibility cloak, draped it over himself and changed into a Phoenix. Harry then flashed to the potion master's lab and changing back knocked loudly. A few minutes later, Snape opened the door and felt something brush past him with an 'it's me Snape'.

Snape quickly closed the door and warded it and went inside. 'What is it Potter? The Chamber is clear tonight?'

Harry nodded and handed over the map to Snape who inspected it thoroughly. 'The thought of what Voldemort would do to Ginny, Snape, is terrifying me. When Voldemort realized the Stone was false, he tortured and killed Quirrell. What if he does that to Ginny?'

Harry's face and voice were very troubled. He had been thinking deeply when he had been sitting alone in his bed all these nights and this was something that had terrified him. He had already spoken to Snape about it, but Snape had silently heard him out and told him they would decide when they got to go.

'The basilisk while very valuable when alive, if it is possessed, Potter then we have no choice. The Dark Lord may have bound the basilisk to the diary after he created the horcrux and if he has done so, then we just cannot take a chance and let it live.' He had said cryptically and totally out of context, then.

Now Snape said the same thing and added, 'I have thought of what you said Potter and surprisingly for a Potter you have indeed thought out the problem well.' he sneered mildly and Harry rolled his eyes, smiling a bit, even though he was very worried about Ginny. Trust Snape to make a compliment sound like an insult.

'Well what should we do? I really want to tackle the basilisk in case this time it goes on and kills someone.' Harry looked into the distance trying to understand and come to some kind of clarity about all this.

'I think we should kill the basilisk, Potter.' Snape said. 'We cannot allow a possessed monster to roam around in the School. Only we will remove the basilisk from the Chamber and let the Diary think, the snake has gone out and is not coming back. The Dark Lord will not suspect you or Miss. Weasley. He will be puzzled and we will try and take the diary from her and destroy it as soon as possible. Come on.' Snape looked once more at the map and then started casting invisibility charms on himself and Harry. Harry also threw the invisibility cloak over him, Snape sneered magnificently when Harry asked him to come into the cloak.

'I really do not need such contraptions Potter.' He said. Harry rolled his eyes. 'You are jealous. This is an invisibility cloak Snape, not any ordinary contraption.' Snape did not answer but sneered only, this time Harry could not see the sneer because they were both invisible and walked away, holding the map in his hands. He had cast a disillusionment charm on the map once more before walking towards the second floor un-used girls' bathroom.

But today Ginny was still in her dorm and so they reached there safely and Harry quickly went to the tap that never worked and hissed, 'open' and watched as the whole section of the sink opened. Snape looked his eyes wide in his face as the most secret Chamber created by the Founder of his House was being opened in front of his eyes.

'Jump down Snape' Harry told him and he went in first, falling through the tunnel. Harry landed in a heap on top of a lot of bones and hastily stood up and moved away, just in time too, because Snape was falling down, though he was coming slowly and landing perfectly. Harry scowled. Snape had removed his invisibility spells, though Harry had kept them on as he jumped. Harry removed them off himself and then walked briskly, after casting a 'lumos' spell that gave a steady beam of light. Snape checked the map for Ginny once again. She was still asleep in her dormitory and he walked behind Harry, equally briskly, his own wand emitting a ray of light as well.

They soon reached the door and Harry shivered just a little. 'Open' he hissed and the door opened at once. Harry and Snape conjured a whole lot of roosters and placed a silencing charm on them and let them inside and then Harry took a deep breath and walked into the huge chamber.

The chamber was the same as he had seen it last time and Snape looked one more time at the map to checking Ginny was still sleeping and then put it inside his robes. Snape then gave his attention to the huge Chamber and Harry and Snape started their systematic search of any other rooms inside of the Chamber. There was nothing. Harry felt a bit disappointed. He had hoped to find Salazar's personal room or library or some such thing, that he had missed last time, in his frightening fight with the basilisk, but there was nothing to be seen.

'Where does the basilisk come from? There is nothing here to show it is housed here.' Snape asked looking up at the huge statue of Salazar Slytherin.

'It comes from inside his mouth.' Snape turned to Harry with a disbelieving look on his face. 'What?' he asked.

'Yes, Snape. If I call out in Parseltongue, then the basilisk will emerge from the mouth of Salazar Slytherin. There seems to be nothing here, I think Voldemort probably cleaned up everything here. He must have been here so many times in the past. I will hiss in Parseltongue and the moment the mouth of Salazar Slytherin's statue opens, let us go to the doorway and when we see the basilisk coming out cancel the silencing charm on the roosters. Okay?'

Snape simply nodded, his wand held straight and steady, his eyes, looking at the statue already. Harry took a deep breath and said the words he had heard a young Tom Riddle say so many years ago. 'Speak to me, Slytherin, greatest of Hogwarts four.' Harry hissed and saw with awe as did Snape, as the mouth of the ancient Salazar Slytherin began to open.

The moment Harry noticed some movement he began to start walking backwards, his wand held aloft. The basilisk was coming out and Harry could hear its angry hissing, 'Who is that? It is not my Master? Who dares call for me apart from my Master?'

Harry waited until that last second and just when in another second, the basilisk would have come out; Harry cancelled the silencing spells of the roosters. Snape started conjuring some more roosters and all of them were squawking for all that they were worth. Harry and Snape were at the door when they heard a loud hiss of pain, 'Noooo' and they stepped outside in alarm and Harry quickly shut the door and warded it. Now Harry and Snape could not hear the roosters and all noise was shut off. It was deathly quiet and Harry was feeling very nervous and not a little frightened.

They waited for a few minutes and then Harry opened the door, simultaneously conjuring a few more roosters and letting them cry. A minute later Harry and behind him Snape, stepped inside the room and slowly lifted his eyes to the mouth of Salazar Slytherin.

The head of the ancient basilisk was hanging out of Salazar's mouth and it was very, very dead. Its yellow eyes were closed and there was no movement at all. Snape went forward and cast his wand looking for life in the old basilisk and then turned to Harry and pronounced it dead. Harry then levitated the basilisk along with Snape's help and soon had the whole basilisk on the floor. Snape conjured huge vials and removed all the venom and with many preservation charms, he cut the basilisk into many pieces and once again cast preservation charms on all the pieces and then packed all of them into special containers he conjured.

'I will transfer the pieces into other containers and then tell you tomorrow. You may come and ward the whole package. We will need the venom until all the horcruxes are destroyed and then we may decide what to do with it.' Snape told him. Harry nodded absent minded and then closed the mouth by the simple means of, 'Thank you, Slytherin, the greatest of Hogwarts Four.' And watched the mouth close.

Snape shrunk all the packages and Harry vanished the roosters and then Snape started out of the passage, once again checking for Ginny. But Ginny was still in her dorm and Snape walked out to the base of the tunnel and waited for Harry.

Harry in the meantime was busy removing the traces of their magic and any evidence of their stay in the Chamber. He soon joined Snape, whose black eyes were gleaming with pleasure. He was probably thinking of the basilisk and all the potions he could make from it, Harry thought, grinning to himself as he joined Snape to leave the Chamber, hopefully for ever, this time.

Snape flicked his wand and a staircase fitted itself from the ground to the entrance to the third floor bathroom and once again applying invisibility charms on themselves and Harry climbed the steps, removing their magical traces as he moved upwards to the entrance.

There Snape yet again checked the map and then went outside, with Harry following him under the invisibility cloak. 'Close' he hissed and watched the Chamber close of its own accord.

'Who is there?' Harry and Snape jumped as they turned to see Moaning Myrtle who was floating very near to them. She could not see Harry who was under the cloak, but Harry did not know if she could see Snape. He, himself could not, but he did not know about ghosts and he quickly conjured a small snake and let it levitate in the air very near Myrtle and started moving quickly towards the door.

'Oooh!' Myrtle screeched and floated to the last bathroom and flushed down loudly. 'Come on! And give me the map! I am going back to my dorm from here.' He hissed softly and snatched the now visible parchment when it came floating towards him, and opened the door. Harry went out first and a second later Snape came out and made himself visible.

'Walk.' He said and Harry walked towards the Gryffindor common room and the moment he said the password and opened the door, Snape walked away. It was almost morning and Harry knew he would have a terrible day because he had not slept at all. He went up his dorm and crept into his bed safely, changing his robes and cleaning himself with a few flicks of his wand. In about three seconds Harry was asleep.

The next thing Harry knew was being shaken awake by Neville who was looking very worried. 'Harry, are you okay?' he was asking as Harry opened a bloodshot eye and peered at Neville.

'Whassat? Where's the fire?' he asked almost falling asleep again, and Neville giggled. 'No fire, Harry, but it almost time for classes. Hermione and I have finished our breakfast and we have to go for Charms. We got you some breakfast, which Hermione has kept in the common room under a warming charm, so you wash and come down. Okay?'

Harry blinked as he processed that and then he blinked again. He sighed and then smiled. 'Sorry, Nev. I was studying late into the night and I am feeling so sleepy now. I will come down in a minute okay?'

Neville laughed and went down to Hermione. Harry, wishing he had asked for a pepper up potion from Snape last night, grumpily went to the bathrooms and in about ten minutes, came down, looking a bit better.

'What were you reading Harry?' was the greeting Hermione gave him and Harry sighed as Neville giggled again. 'What else but the Self Updating Book of Spells, Hermione. I was reading about the origin of Runes and I found it fascinating.' Harry replied, as he mentally braced himself for all sorts of questions about Runes, from Hermione. He answered them as he ate hurriedly, thanking his stars that class was due to begin and they had very little time for Hermione to properly question him.

Harry thanked them and soon they were running down for Charms with Professor Flitwick.

End of Chapter – 18

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