Harry Potter is not mine
Chapter 20- Trying truce
Harry walked on farther into the chamber, a chill going through him knowing the basilisk could be anywhere. His footsteps echoed and strange shadows were cast by the pillars holding the ceiling. Finally he reached the end of the chamber where a huge statue of what must be Salazar Slytherin stood. And between it's feet was-
"Ginny!" Harry shouted her name and it echoed loud enough to be heard miles away Harry was sure. But it didn't wake Ginny.
"Oh please Ginny. Don't be dead. Wake up. Please. I've got to get you out of here."
"She won't wake."
Harry turned to see a tall dark haired boy leaning against a pillar. Although he had never seen him before, he had a guess at who he might be.
"Are you Tom Riddle?"
The other boy nodded.
Harry felt sure his first impression of Riddle had been right when he'd learned Riddle had accused Hagrid. There was something about him that wasn't right. Something that was too calm for what was happening.
"Don't just stand there. Help me get her out of here." He checked to see if Ginny was breathing while he asked, although something told him Riddle wasn't there to help.
"She's alive, but only just," he said as if disinterested. Then his full focus was on Harry.
"So tell me, Harry Potter. How did you survive with only a scar when Voldemort's powers were destroyed?"
"How would you know about that?"
Riddle smirked.
"Haven't you figured it out by now? It was Ginny who was behind all the attacks. It was her who strangled the roosters and wrote the messages on the wall. She did it all."
Harry couldn't believe that anymore than he could believe Hagrid had been behind the first attacks.
"There's no way Ginny would ever do any of those things. Unless- She was possessed wasn't she?"
"It certainly was boring listening to the silly little troubles of an eleven-year-old girl," he went on in answer. "But I was patient., I was sympathetic, I was kind." Harry thought he was going to be sick listening to the way Ginny had been used. "Ginny simply loved me.It paid off. I grew stronger on her deepest fears, her darkest secrets. Powerful enough to start feeding Miss Weasley a few of my secrets, to start pouring a little of my soul back into her."
Only one person could be so twisted and evil. Harry felt a chill but showed no fear as he spat the name "Voldemort."
"Very good Harry. I suppose you figured out my anagram?" He pulled a wand from his pocket, and Harry felt a pang of panic realizing it was his own wand Voldemort was holding. Harry must have dropped it when he went to Ginny. With the Holly and Phoenix feather wand he wrote the words "Tom Marvolo Riddle" in fire in the air, and with a swish of the wand the letters rearranged themselves to say I AM LORD VOLDEMORT.
"Never bothered thinking about that," Harry said fiercely. "I just reasoned only you could be so deranged."
Riddle's face took on a horrifying sneer.
"Deranged am I? I've become the most powerful wizard on Earth."
"Sorry to disappoint you, but the most powerful wizard on Earth is Albus Dumbledore."
Laughing his cold cruel laugh Riddle said "The senile old fool has been driven away by the mere memory of me, preserved in my diary."
Harry remembered what Dumbledore had said the night he left.
"He'll never be gone as long as those here are loyal to him."
It was as if those words were a signal. Music Harry had never heard before could be heard somewhere in the distance. It grew louder, and Harry felt his courage growing. Fawkes swooped in and dropped something at Harry's feet, which Harry recognized as the Sorting Hat. Riddle recognized them too, but only laughed.
"This is what Dumbledore sends his defender! A songbird and an old hat! Do you feel brave, Harry Potter? Do you feel safe now?"
As if he'd admit to being afraid, even though he was.
"Now tell me how you survived when we met those two times in the past. The longer you talk, the longer you stay alive."
Harry could see Riddle's form becoming clearer and clearer, probably draining from Ginny, so he knew stalling would be a bad idea. He'd have to fight Riddle now.
"My mother gave her life for me. My muggle-born mother. And I've seen the real you, I saw you last year. You're a wreck. You're barely alive. That's where all your powers got you."
But Riddle didn't seem bothered.
"So it was just a miscalculation on my part. There's nothing special about you after all. I had wondered with all the similarities between us."
"I'm nothing like you," Harry said. "I could never hurt innocent people."
"You have a lot to learn Harry. Now, let's match the powers of Lord Voldemort, heir of Salazar Slytherin, against famous Harry Potter, and the best weapons Dumbledore can give him."
Riddle turned to the statue of Slytherin and said "Speak to my, Slytherin, greatest of the Hogwarts Four."
The mouth of the statue opened and a giant snake slithered out. Harry knew no matter what he couldn't look it in the eye. He ran towards a wall of the chamber and closed his eyes tight. He heard the basilisk coming toward him. Then he heard a shriek and chancing a look out of the corner of his eye he saw Fawkes had blinded the serpent making it safe to look at. But even blinded it was still following Riddle's directions and going after Harry.
"Help me! Someone, anyone!" He knew there was nobody else there though. The only help that came was Fawkes dropping the Sorting hat in front of him. Not knowing what else to do, he put it on, thought again of his need for help, and felt something hard form inside the hat. Taking the hat off, he found a silver sword with rubies in the handle. The snake was striking, and he knew what he had to do. He shoved the sword's point into the basilisk's open mouth and up into it's brain, but as he did he felt something like a dagger sink into his arm. The snake fell dead to the side, but Harry shook remembering what his dad had told him about basilisk venom being fatal in less than a minute.
"You're dead, Harry Potter," said Riddle's voice above him. "Dead. Even Dumbledore's bird knows it. Do you see what he's doing, Potter? He's crying."
Indeed, pearly tears were falling on the wound. Harry could barely see them with his vision blurred by the poison. Somehow Fawkes was coming back into focus though. Of course! Didn't phoenix tears have healing powers? Riddle chased the bird away, but except for a faint fang shaped white scar the wound was healed. The danger from the venom was over.
"Very well. I prefer it this way anyhow. Just the two of us," Riddle said in his icy voice. Harry had no idea how he would fight him without his wand until Fawkes dropped the diary in his lap. The fang that had broken off in Harry's arm when the snake fell rolled, and Harry grabbed it and drove it into the diary. Somehow it was the only thing to do. And it worked. Something like a thin tar erupted from the book and Riddle vanished. Ginny was waking up. It was over.
Harry had hoped that by the time Fawkes flew them all out of the Chamber that his dad would be there since he'd been coming every evening looking for the basilisk. He'd hoped it would be McGonagall or Flitwick coming to help. Not Snape. But of course with his luck that's who it was. Neville stood behind him, looking absolutely terrified. Harry knew his friend had always been afraid of Snape and it had taken courage to get him. The potions master must have been the first teacher he found.
"Very unwise going into the Chamber alone," he commented emotionlessly. "We will see what Dumbledore has to say about it. Come with me."
He seemed to ignore the fact that they'd saved Ginny. At least Dumbledore was back.
Five very worried faces greeted them when they reached Dumbledore's office. Along with the professors Mr. And Mrs. Weasley and Remus Lupin were there. Dumbledore must have contacted them. As soon as they came into the room a frantic Remus nearly pounced on his son.
"You weren't bitten Harry? For God's sake say nobody was bitten!"
Without giving him a chance to answer, Remus started examining every inch of Harry he could see. When he came to the spot on Harry's arm where there was still a faded white mark from the basilisk bite he staggered back. A look of horror was on his face, which was whiter than any of the ghosts.
"I'm fine," Harry said quickly. "We're all fine. Well, except for Lockhart. He lost his memory. Got hit by his own spell."
Remus grabbed Harry into a hug and said in a strangled sounding whisper "Is there ever going to be a time when I can let you out of my sight without worrying it will be the last time I ever see you alive?"
"There wasn't time to wait for help," Ron explained. "Ginny would have been- would have been-"
Mrs Weasley started sobbing and Harry found himself telling the whole story. He lowered his voice and mumbled the part where Ginny had been possessed. He didn't want to get her in trouble, but there was just no way to leave that part out.
"Ginny!" Mr Weasley said. "What have I always told you? Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps it's brains." Seeing how emotionally drained Ginny was he didn't say anything else except telling her gently "We'll talk later."
The Weasleys were allowed to go with Ginny to the Hospital Wing. McGonagall was asked to go with Lockhart. Snape turned to go and Neville took the hint, leaving so Dumbledore could have a private word with Harry and Remus.
"First of all, I want to thank you Harry," Dumbledore began. "You must have shown me extreme loyalty. Nothing but that could have called Fawkes to you." He reached up to stroke the Phoenix.
"So, you've met Tom Riddle. I imagine he was most interested in you."
Harry nodded. "He mentioned some- similarities between us but," he smiled at his dad, remembering their talk when Harry had first learned about being a parselmouth. "I know I'm not like him, even if I can talk to snakes."
"That's good Harry," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling. But then he looked more somber. "You can speak Parseltongue because Lord Voldemort can speak Parseltongue. It seems the night he gave you that scar, he transferred some of his powers to you.
Remus gripped Harry's shoulder and said "It doesn't mean anything Harry."
"Or at least, it doesn't change who you are," Dumbledore continued. If you need proof that you are a true Gryffindor, here it is."
He held out the sword Harry had used to kill the basilisk, and Harry saw the name "Godric Gryffindor" engraved on it. Setting the sword aside, Dumbledore took out some ink, parchment, and a quill.
"We'll need our gamekeeper back. Best to send this right away. We'll be needing a new Defense teacher too." He looked at Remus. "Would you be interested in the job?"
Remus looked astonished.
"I've always wanted to teach at Hogwarts. But wouldn't I be a danger to the students? They couldn't go somewhere else during the full moon the way Harry does."
"The Shrieking Shack is still as useable as when you were a student. But I see no need to resort to that. You have heard of the Wolfsbane potion I'm sure?"
"Yes," Remus answered. "I know it lets werewolves keep their minds when they transform. I've never been able to get access to it though, and even if I knew how to make it I've never been much of a potions brewer."
"Professor Snape will be able to brew you a monthly supply. I have already asked him if he'd be willing to do so."
"Oh no, not him," Harry thought. Remus looked relieved though, and said "In that case I'd love to take the job."
"Splendid," Dumbledore said, and opened the door for them. When they were in the hallway they saw Snape was there. He glared at Remus, but the new Defense teacher was the first to speak.
"Severus, I know we've never gotten along, but I hope we can at least try to be polite to each other as co-workers. James was my best friend." He paused as if debating whether Harry should hear the next part, but decided it would be best. "But that doesn't mean I agreed with everything he did. And I had nothing to do with that so called prank Sirius pulled. If I had known I would have told you my secret myself rather than risk something happening."
Snape scowled and asked " Are you saying that because you know the Ministry would have had you killed if you'd bitten me and they'd known it was you? Or do you delight in reminding me that I was in debt to Potter?"
"I am in debt to you," Remus said calmly, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "You saved my son's life last year and went to help him this year."
He held out his hand, and Harry was sure Snape would never take it. However, Snape looked at the hand as if it were a weapon before taking it for the briefest second and said bitterly "A fact which your son was wise enough not to remind me of and which I have no doubts I will live to regret."
"My son, James' son, and Lily's son." There was no mistaking the emphasis Remus put on Lily's name, but Snape walked away without another word.
"What was that all about?" Harry asked.
"Something that Severus should be the one to tell you if and when he decides to," his dad said.
They were about to walk away when they saw Lucius Malfoy coming towards them. And at his heels was Dobby. So the Malfoys were his masters. Only taking time to give Harry and Remus a cold glare he knocked on the door. Dumbledore answered and although Lucius looked surprised at seeing Dumbledore back he only asked "So- have you caught the culprit?"
"We have."
"And-" Lucius said as if waiting for spectacular news. "Who was it?"
"Voldemort."
Lucius' face fell, and Harry wondered if it was fear of the name or disappointment.
"Only this time he chose to act through an innocent girl," Dumbledore went on, gesturing towards the destroyed diary. "Let us hope no more of Voldemort's old school things find their way into innocent hands."
Lucius looked as if he'd like to strangle someone, but Harry was paying more attention to Dobby, who'd been looking back and forth between Harry, the book and his master. Suddenly Harry remembered that day at Diagon Alley and how Lucius had handed her back her book. It would have been so easy to slip the diary inside.
"Sir?'' Harry said, looking into since the door hadn't closed yet. "I wonder if I might have that diary?"
"Whatever do you want that thing for?" Remus asked curiously, and Harry flashed a grin that reminded Remus strongly of when James had been planning a prank. Harry removed his sock and stuck it to the cover of the diary.
"I'll be right back Dad." He hurried after the other man as Remus followed him. "Mr. Malfoy, I believe this is yours."
Lucius took the diary, peeled off the sock, and after tossing the sock to Dobby said "What makes you think that?"
"I think you slipped it to Ginny that day at Diagon Alley."
Knowing there was no way to prove that, Lucius smirked and told Dobby to come. But Dobby stood where he was.
"Master has given Dobby a sock. Dobby is free!" He said in an almost reverent sounding cry of happiness. Realizing what Harry had done, he reached for his wand and aimed it at the boy. Remus reached for his own wand at the same time, but there was no need. Dobby stood between his former master and Harry.
"You shall not harm Harry Potter-Lupin!" he shouted, and sent Lucius toppling back in a ball of light. There was nothing for Lucius to do but walk off commenting Harry would one day meet the same "sticky end" as his parents. Dobby meanwhile was practically worshiping Harry. Harry had been glad to help the elf, but there was one thing he had to ask in return.
"Just promise me one thing Dobby. Never try to save my life again."
All in all a great end to the year. To make it even better exams were canceled and everyone who was petrified was back to normal. For once Harry felt he could relax. What more could possible happen next year?
AN: I know I've mostly been following cannon so far. Just been making sure the things that have to happen are covered. Anyway, on to Prisoner of Azkaban, which will have more changes than the previous two.