(Author's Note – Hello, welcome back. It's time to finish this. Two chapters left so I'm going to keep this message brief. As before, I don't own Harry Potter. Enjoy. Update, I'm fixing up some mistakes and added an explanation about the beast within.)
Last time: Tom Riddle was Lord Voldemort, hiding himself inside a book, using Ginny to attack the muggle born students. Riddle and the Basilisk was eventually defeated by Harry and Sophie, with the help of Dumbledore's bird, Fawkes.
For a moment, There was complete silence as we all stood in the doorway, covered in muck and slime and (In Harry's case) blood. Then there was a scream.
"Ginny!" It was Mrs Weasley, who had been sitting crying in front of the fire. She leapt to her feet, closely followed by Mr Weasley, and both of them flung themselves on their daughter. Yes, family was reunited but I was more worried about the Professors behind them. Professor Dumbledore was standing by the mantle place, beaming, next to Professor McGonagall, who was taking great, steadying gasps, clutching her chest. Fawkes threw past my head and settled on Dumbledore's shoulder, just as me, Harry and Ron were embraced into a tight embrace. "You saved her! You saved her! How did you do it?"
"I think we'd all like to know that." Said Professor McGonagall weakly. Mrs Weasley let goof Harry and me, who hesitated for a moment, he then walked over to the desk and laid upon it the sorting Hat, the ruby-encrusted sword and what remains of Riddle's diary. Harry then started telling them everything. For nearly quarter of an hour he spoke into the rapt silence:
"It all started when I first heard a hooded voice on Halloween, just before we found Mrs Norris petrified. Then a house elf named Dobby warned me that the Chamber was opened once before and history was about to repeat itself. After the next two attacks, Hermione brewed something called the Polyjuice potion, we thought it was Malfoy that was the Heir of Slytherin so we drank some but unfortunately despite having the intentions, he wasn't the heir of Slytherin. Hermione found out that it was a Basilisk that I was hearing, and it was moving through the pipes, but she was attacked before she could warn us. Everyone thought it was Hagrid that opened the chamber, but we were by a spider named Aragog, that Hagrid never opened the Chamber, he was innocent. Then, I worked out it was Myrtle that was killed fifty years ago and the entrance to the Chamber was in her bathroom..."
"Very well," Professor McGonagall prompted Harry, as he paused. " So you found out where the entrance was – breaking a hundred school rules into pieces along the way, I might add – but how on earth did you all manage to get out of there alive?"
"Well, when we got down there, Fawkes arrived with t-the h-h-hat and..." Harry faltered. Not once Harry mentioned the Tom's Diary or Ginny. Poor girl still crying her eyes out, what if they expelled her? The diary was destroyed, so we don't know how to prove that it was Tom that made Ginny do it all.
"What interests me most," Said Dumbledore gently, "is how Lord Voldemort managed to enchant Ginny, when my sources tell he is currently in hiding in the forests of Albania."
"W-what's that?" said Mr Weasley in a stunned voice. "You-know-who? En-enchant Ginny? Bur Ginny's not... Ginny hasn't been... has she?"
"It was the diary," Said Harry quickly, picking it up and showing it to Dumbledore. "Riddle wrote it when he was sixteen." Dumbledore took the diary from Harry and peered keenly down his long, crooked nose at its burnt and Soggy pages.
"Brilliant," He said softly. "Of course, he was probably the most brilliant student Hogwarts has ever seen..." He turned around to the Weasleys, who were looking utterly bewildered. "Very few people know that Lord Voldemort was once called Tom Riddle. I taught him myself fifty years ago, at Hogwarts. He disappeared after leaving the school... travelled far and wide... sank so deeply into the dark arts, consorted with the very worst of our kind, underwent so many dangerous, magical transformations, that when he resurfaced as Lord Voldemort, he was barely recognisable. Hardly anyone connected Lord Voldemort with the clever, handsome boy who wans once Head Boy here."
"But Ginny?" Said Mrs Weasley. "What's our Ginny got to do with – with – him?"
"His d-diary!" Ginny sobbed. "I've b-been writing in it, and he's been w-writing back all year-"
"Ginny" Said Mr Weasley, flabbergasted. "Haven't I taught you anything? What have I always told you? Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain. Why didn't you show the diary to me, or your mother? A suspicious object like that, it was clearly full of Dark Magic!"
"I-I didn't know," Ginny sobbed. "I found it inside one of the books Mum got me. I th-thought someone had just put it in there and forgotten about it..."
"Miss Weasley should go up to the hospital wing straight away," Dumbledore interrupted in a firm voice. "This has been a terrible ordeal for her. There will be no punishment. Older and wiser wizards than she have been hoodwinked by Lord Voldemort." He strode to the door and opened it. "Bed rest and perhaps a large, steaming mug of hot chocolate. I always find that cheers me up," He added, twinkling kindly down at her "You will find that Madam Pomfrey is awake. She's just giving out Mandrake juice – I dare say the Basilisk will be waking up at any moment."
"So Hermione's Ok!" I said brightly.
"There has been no lasting harm done." Said Dumbledore. Mrs Weasley let Ginny out, and Mr Weasley followed, still looking deeply shaken. "You know, Minerva ," Professor Dumbledore sais thoughtfully to Professor McGonagall, "I think all this merits a good feast. Might I ask you to go and alert the kitchens?
"Right," said Professor McGonagall crisply, also moving to the door. "I'll leave you to deal with the three of them, shall I?"
"Certainly." Said Dumbledore. Punish us? We risked our lives to save another from the dark lord and we are about to get punish for this? I copped the cruciatus curse because of this.
"The three of you have broken so many school rules. Enough for me to expel the three of you." Said Dumbledore. Shit, we can definitely kiss Hogwarts good-bye. "Which is why I've decided but to award you two hundred points apiece to Gryffindor and special awards for services to the school." Phew, for a second there, I thought we were going to be expelled, but I'll take the award. "But one of us seems to be keeping mightily quiet about his part in this dangerous adventure," Dumbledore added. "Why so modest, Gilderoy?" Shit! We had completely forgotten about Lockhart. We turned and saw Lockhart was standing in a corner of the room, still wearing his vague smile. When Dumbledore addressed him, Lockhart looked over his shoulder to see who he was talking to.
"Professor Dumbledore," Ron said quickly. "There was an accident down in the chamber of Secrets. Professor Lockhart-"
"Am I a Professor?" Said Lockhart in mild surprise. "Goodness. I expect I was hopeless, Was I?"
"He tried to do a Memory charm and the wand backfired," Ron explained quietly to Dumbledore.
"Dear me," Said Dumbledore, shaking his head, his long silver moustache quivering. "Impaled upon your own sword, Gilderoy!"
"Sword?" Said Lockhart dimly. "Haven't got a sword. That boy has, though," He pointed at Harry. "He'll lend you one."
"Would you mind taking Professor Lockhart up to the hospital wing too?" Dumbledore said to Ron. "Harry, Sophie, would you mind staying here? I'll like to have a few more words with you two..." Lockhart ambled out. Ron cast a curious look at all three of us as he shut the door. "Sit down, you two." Said Dumbledore gently.
"What is this all about, Professor?" I asked nervously.
"First of all, I want to thank you two," Said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling again. "You two have shown me real loyalty down in the chamber. Nothing but that could have called Fawkes to you." He stroked the phoenix, which fluttered down onto his knee.
"And so you meet Tom Riddle," Said Dumbledore thoughtfully. "I imagine he was most interested in you two..."
"Oh, he was so interested in us, to the point he wanted us dead..." I answered.
"I assumed that the cuts on your body, were caused by Tom?" Asked Dumbledore.
"Oh the cuts? H-He c-casted the c-cruciatus curse..." I said
"What is the Cruciatus curse?" Asked Harry.
"The Cruciatus curse Harry, is what we like to called, one of the unforgivable curses. This one, in muggle terms, is the torture curse." Answered Dumbledore.
"My parent's favourite past-time." I said.
"Riddle has been known to use this curse to either get information or bring his followers into line." Added Dumbledore. "Sophie's parents were known to use that curse." Harry looked down at me and saw a few tears coming out of my eyes, when did I started crying?
"So that's what Riddle meant..."
"Anything you wish tell me, Harry?" Asked Dumbledore.
"Professor Dumbledore... Riddle said I'm like him. Strange likeness, he said..."
"And He said I should be a monster, an killer, someone that everyone should be afraid of." I added.
"Did he now..." Said Dumbledore. "And what do you two think?"
"I'm nothing like him..." Harry said.
"And I'm not a killer..." I started but Dumbledore raised a hand to silence us.
"I certainly believe that he said it to get into your heads." Said Dumbledore gently. Take you for example, Harry. You can speak Parseltounge, because Lord Voldemort – who is the last remaining descendant of Salazar Slytherin – can speak Parseltounge. Unless I'm much mistaken, he transferred some of his own powers to you the night he gave you that scar. Not something he intended to do, I'm sure..."
"Voldemort put a bit of himself in me?" Harry said, thunderstruck.
"It certainly seems so"
"But how?" I asked
"That, I do not know, Sophie." He answered.
"So I should be in Slytherin," Harry Said, desperately into Dumbledore's face. "The Sorting Hat could see Slytherin's power in me, and it..."
"Put you into Gryffindor," Sais Dumbledore calmly. "Listen to me, Harry. You happen to have many qualities Salazar Slytherin prized in his hand-picked students. His own very rare gift, Parseltounge... resourcefulness... determination... a certain disregard for rules. Yet the Sorting Hat placed you in Gryffindor. You know why that was. Think."
"It only put in Gryffindor," Said Harry in a defeated voice. "Because I asked not to go in Slytherin."
"Exactly." Said Dumbledore, beaming once more. "Which makes you very different from Tom Riddle. It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. If you want proof, Harry, that you belong in Gryffindor, I suggest you look more closely at this." Dumbledore reached across to Professor McGonagall's desk, picked up the blood-stained silver sword and handed it to us. Harry turned it over, the rubies blazing in the firelight. And then we saw the name engraved just below the hilt.
GODRIC GRYFFINDOR
"Only a true Gryffindor could have pulled that out of the hat, Harry," Said Dumbledore simply.
"What about me?" I asked. "What's so interesting about me?"
"Well Sophie," Said Dumbledore. "Obviously, you're the daughter of Rodolphus and Bellatrix Lestrange, two of Voldemort's most loyal followers. Decades of pure-blood, flowing through your veins. You carry all the traits of a true blood, something that even Salazar Slytherin would be proud of."
"If I carry all the traits of a Slytherin, why did the sorting hat put me in Gryffindor?"
"I think you already know the answer." Said Dumbledore with a smile. I thought about it, back to it last year, when I was back in my first year. The Hat said I wasn't evil for Slytherin, said I was nothing like my parents, had a fighting spirit, was kind, and a thirst to prove myself. I smile, that was true but then again, the beast within...
"Sir, something else is bugging me, Riddle said something about the beast within, saying he has unleashed it, do you know anything about it?"
"Oh, I knew he was going to mention that." Said Dumbledore Gently. "It seems to be, that you, Miss Lestrange, has a Prophecy to go with your name."
"Prophecy? What do you mean?"
You have a power, Sophie," Answered Dumbledore. "A power even stronger than Lord Voldemort. They are known stories, stories of a creature. known to be deadly, has red-blood eyes, claws so sharp, it can slice through even the toughest of meat. Someone who has no care for its victim. What the Prophecy stats, the monster has somehow find its way inside of you."
"What?" I stuttered. Harry look at me, his eyes wide opened. "Can't I get rid of it?"
"I'm afraid not, It's been with you, since you were born."
"What happens if this, thing, comes out?"
"If it gets out, death and destruction, it will bring." He answered. "You will lose control of your mind, your body. If your magic isn't strong enough, you won't be able to stop it."
"Great," I answered.
"Don't fret, Miss Lestrange." Said Dumbledore. "I believe you will be ready for it, if you doesn't come out."
"Do you think so, sir?"
"I believe so." Said Dumbledore with a smile. Neither three of us said a word, then Dumbledore opened Professor McGonagall's draw and pulled out an quill and an a bottle of Ink.
"What you two need, is some food and some sleep. I suggest you go down to the feast, while I write to Azkaban – we need our gamekeeper back. And I must draft an advertisement for the Daily Prophet, too" He added thoughtfully." We'll be needing a new Defence against the dark arts teacher. Dear me, we do seem to go through a lot of those." We got up and started crossing to the door. Harry had just reached for the handle, however, when the door burst opens so violently that it bounced back off the wall. Lucius Malfoy stood there, fury in his face. And cowering underneath his arm, was a strange little elf-like creature, heavily wrapped in bandages.
"Dobby?" Whispered Harry
"So you're the little shit that's been trying to kill my friend all year." I shouted at him. "And I was wondering when your ugly, old face was going to show."
"Good evening, Lucius, " Said Dumbledore pleasantly. Mr Malfoy almost knocked both of us over as he swept into the room. Dobby went scurrying in after him, crouching the hem of his cloak, a look of abject terror on his face.
"So," Said Lucius Malfoy, his cold eyes fixed on Dumbledore. "You've come back. The governors suspended you, but you still saw fit to return to Hogwarts."
"Well, you see, Lucius," Said Dumbledore, smiling serenely. "The other eleven governors contacted me today. It was something like being caught in a hailstorm of owls, to tell the truth. They'd heard that Arthur Weasley's daughter had been killed and wanted me back her for once. They seemed to think I was the best man for the job after all. Very strange tales they told me, too. Several of them seemed to think that you had threatened to curse their families if they didn't agree to suspend me in the first place." Mr Malfoy went even paler than usual, but his eyes slits of fury.
"So – Have you stopped the attacks yet?' He sneered. "Have you caught the culprit?"
"We have," Said Dumbledore, with a smile.
"Well?" Said Mr Malfoy sharply "Who is it?"
"The same person as last time, Lucius," Said Dumbledore. "But this time, Lord Voldemort was acting through somebody else. By means of this diary." He held up the small black book with the large hold through the centre, watching Mr Malfoy closely.
"I see..." Said Mr Malfoy slowly to Dumbledore.
"A clever Plan." Said Dumbledore in a level voice, still staring Mr Malfoy straight in the eye. "Because if Harry and Sophie here..." Mr Malfoy shot us a swift, sharp look. 'and their friend, Ron, hadn't discovered the book, why – Ginny Weasley might have taken all the blame. No one would ever have been able to prove she hadn't acted of her own will..." Mr Malfoy said nothing. His mask was suddenly mask-like.
"And imagine," Dumbledore went on, "what might have happened then... The Weasleys are one of our most prominent pure-blood families. Imagine the effect on Arthur Weasley and his Muggle Protection Act, if his own daughter was discovered attacking and killing Muggle borns. Very fortunate the dairy was discovered, and Riddle's memories wiped from it. Who knows what the consequences might have been otherwise..." Mr Malfoy forced himself to speak.
"Very fortunate," He said stiffly.
"Don't you want to know Ginny hold of that diary, Mr Malfoy?" said Harry. Mr Malfoy turned to face us.
"What are you on about, Harry?" I asked.
"How should I know how that stupid little girl got hold of it?" He said.
"Because you gave it to her," Said Harry. "In flourish and Botts. You picked up her old Transfiguration book, slipped the diary inside it, didn't you?" I saw Malfoy's white hands clench and unclench.
"Prove it." He hissed.
"Oh, no one will be able to do that." Said Dumbledore. "Not now that Riddle has vanished from the book. On the other hand, I would advise you, Lucius, not to go giving any more of Lord Voldemort's old school things. If any more find their way into innocent hands, I think Arthur Weasley, for one, will make sure they are traced back to you..." Lucius Malfoy stood for a moment, then turned to his elf.
"We're going, Dobby!" He wrenched the door open, and as the elf came hurrying up to him, he kicked him right through it. We could hear Dobby squealing with pain all the way along the corridor, poor thing. Harry then walked straight up to Professor Dumbledore's desk.
"Professor," He said hurriedly. "Can I give that diary back to Mr Malfoy, please?"
"Certainly, Harry, " Said Dumbledore calmly. "But hurry. The feast, remember."
"Come on Sophie." Harry said as he grabbed and dashed out of the office. I ran straight after him. We could Dobby's squeals of pain receding around the corner. For some bizarre reason, Harry Starts to take his sock off and puts it on the book.
"Harry, why are you putting that sock on the book."
"You'll find out." He answered as we caught up with Malfoy at the top of the stairs.
"Mr Malfoy," he gasped, skidding to a halt, "We've got something for you." And he forced the sock into his hand.
"What the..." Mr Malfoy ripped the sock off the diary, threw it aside, then looked furiously form the book to us.
"You'll meet the sticky end as your parents one of these days Harry Potter," He said softly. " They were meddlesome fools, and you," He pointed to me. "The dark lord will return one day. And when he does, you better decide where your loyalties lie." He turned to go.
"Come, Dobby. I said, Come!" But Dobby, didn't move. He was holding up Harry's disgusting, slimy sock, and looking at it as though it was a priceless treasure.
"Master has given Dobby a sock," Said the elf in wonderment. "Master gave it to Dobby."
"What's that?" Spat Mr Malfoy. "What did you say?"
"Dobby has got a sock," Said Dobby in disbelief. "Master threw it, and Dobby caught it, and Dobby – Dobby is free." Lucius Malfoy stood frozen, staring at the elf. Then he lunged straight at us.
"You've me my servant!" But Dobby shouted.
"You shall not harm Harry Potter or his friend." There was a loud bang, and Mr Malfoy was thrown backwards. He crashed down the stairs, three at a time, landing in a crumpled heap on the landing below. He got up, his face livid, pulled out his wand, but Dobby raised a long threatening finger.
"You shall go now," He said fiercely, pointing down at Mr Malfoy. "You shall not touch them. You shall go now." Lucius Malfoy had no choice. With a last, incensed at all of us, he swung his cloak around him and hurried out of sight as I slowly put my wand back into my robes.
"Harry Potter freed Dobby!" Said the elf shrilly, gazing up at Harry, moonlight from the nearest window reflected in his eyes. "Harry Potter and his friend has set Dobby Free!"
"Least I can do, Dobby?" Said Harry, grinning. "Just promise never to try and save my life again." The elf's ugly brown face spilt suddenly into a wide, toothy smile.
"I've just got one question, said Harry, as Dobby pulled on Harry's sock with shaking hands. "You told me all this had nothing to do with He Who Must Not Be Named, remember? Well..."
"It was a clue, sir," Said Dobby, his eyes widening, as though this was obvious. "Dobby was giving you a clue. The Dark Lord, before he changed his name, could be freely named, you see?"
"Right," Said Harry weakly. Dobby then looked straight at me.
"Oh, Dobby's so sorry, Dobby does not know who you are."
"My name's Sophie Lestrange." I said. His eyes widened again.
"The stories, they are true," Said Dobby. "Tell Dobby, are you nothing like them?"
'No, Dobby." I said with a smile.
"Well, we probably better go," Said Harry. "There's a feast, and our friend Hermione should be awake by now..." Dobby then his arms around Harry's middle and hugged him, then he hugs me.
"Harry Potter and Sophie Lestrange is greater by than Dobby knew!" He sobbed. "Farewell, Harry Potter and Sophie Lestrange!" And with a final loud crack, Dobby disappeared.
"He's so nice," Said Harry
"Do you think we will see Dobby again?" I asked.
"Something tells me, we will." He answered as we both turned towards the great hall.
(Author' Note – Done and done. One more chapter left to go, the return of Hagrid, friends reunited and the School holidays. Final chapter should be up either between Wednesday and Friday. leave a review if you like. Any mistakes, I'll fix tomorrow, so until next time, Kizzard245 out!)