Chapter Thirteen

"The chamber of secrets?" Lily said. "I thought that was a myth."

"No," Dumbledore said. "It was opened fifty years ago when I was a young professor. There were several attacks, culminating in a girl's death. We thought the school was going to be closed until Hagrid was expelled. The culprit framed Hagrid and everyone was satisfied."

"Well," Gilderoy said. "Begging your pardon Headmaster, but how do you know it wasn't Hagrid? From what I've heard, he had a habit of keeping dangerous creatures like werewolf cubs underneath his bed."

"Because the creature he kept did not have the power to petrify. As a matter-of-fact, Hagrid told me that it was scared of whatever was in the school."

Lily looked at the old Headmaster suspiciously. "Wait a moment," she began slowly. "You don't deny that he kept dangerous creatures, but you said that it wasn't this dangerous creature."

"Hagrid would never intentionally hurt anyone."

"Hagrid doesn't have a healthy idea of dangerous," Lily said staring at Dumbledore. Her green eyes were glowing and her face was subtly wrong. It was longer than it should've been. Her mouth was slightly extended from the rest of her face and her teeth were noticeably sharper. "You knew didn't you?"

"What I may or may not know is not for this discussion," Dumbledore said firmly. "Right now, we need to decide what to do about the Chamber of Secrets."

"We should close the school," Lily said firmly. "The aurors can do a full investigation."

"The aurors never found anything when they investigated fifty years ago," Dumbledore explained patiently. "If we close the school, there is a good chance it will never open again."

"The safety of the Students needs to be considered," Lily said.

"It's only a cat right now," Gilderoy said. "Why don't we wait and see what happens. I mean…" He broke off as Filch glared at him.

"I've already been fired," Filch said. "Maybe I ought to give Dumbledore a reason to terminate me. It may be just a cat to you, but she has been my only friend for all these years."

Lockhart was silent. He stared down at his hands. His cheeks tinged a faint pink.

"No," Dumbledore said firmly. "We are not closing the school. I will investigate and see if I can't find anything that can lead us to the chamber."

"I will help as well," Lockhart said. "With too masters of magic, I'm sure we can find out what we need to know."

Lily opened her mouth to protest, but she didn't even get a word out before Dumbledore interrupted.

"Some Headmasters wouldn't let you teach here because you are a Wolfshifter. You may not be a lycanthrope, but you are for all intents and purposes a werewolf. We have to find out what has happened. If the chamber is opening again, I believe that someone is being forced to open it. If that is the case, closing the school could endanger their lives or the rest of Wizarding Britain."

Lily sat back in her chair. Dumbledore was right. If the chamber was opened, what would happen if the person being forced to open it couldn't find any prey? Would whatever lurked in the chamber attack Hogsmeade or Muggle London?"

"You're right," Lily said. "It is better to make a stand here, but why not use ourselves as bate for the monster? We could send the students home and…"

"No," Dumbledore said. "Whatever dark magic is being used to open the chamber, it is most likely controlling one of the students. Sending them home would only cause the outcome I fear."

"Why not search their belongings," Filch said. "I imagine that we could find whatever it is controlling one of the little brats."

"What excuse would you use?" Dumbledore said. "The elves would have to be told exactly what to look for. Besides, what might the controlled do once they found out the object was missing?"

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree with Filch," Lily said. "If we destroy the object opening the chamber, it should sever the control it has on the student."

"There are too many unknown variables," Dumbledore said. "We wait. That is my final word on the matter. Now, I suggest we all go to bed."

XXX

Lily looked across her desk at Harry, Ginny, and Hermione. She noticed that Ginny was unhealthily pale. Her skin was almost waxy and her eyes were bright and feverish. She swayed unsteadily in her chair. Her head dropped to her chest before she jerked upright.

"Ginny," she said softly. "Are you alright?"

Ginny's head jerked up. "Yes," she said slowly. "I," she yawned hugely. "I'm just so tired for some reason."

Lily studied her for several seconds. "I think you need to go see Madam Pomfrey."

"I will if I'm not better in a few days," Ginny said. She straightened up with an effort and gave Lily her full attention. "What's happened?"

Lily swiftly explained about the Chamber of Secrets and how Dumbledore feared it was open again. "I think it would be best if you three came to stay in my quarters. I know you wanted to try living as normal students, but your safety is my main concern."

Harry and Hermione both nodded, but Ginny appeared troubled. After a few seconds, she nodded as well. "When do you want us to move?" she asked.

"Tonight," Lily said.

Harry stood. "Come on," he said. "We'd better move our things."

Ginny stopped at the door. "Can Luna come? I don't want to leave her alone."

"Of course, we've got more than enough room."

XXX

Voldemort scowled in his prison. This was going to make things so much more complicated. He couldn't afford to take that much energy from the Weasley girl again, but he needed life energy to complete his task. Where was he going to find the energy he needed if not from his host?

He would have to find an alternate source of power or choose his time to steal energy from Ginny a lot more carefully. His thoughts drifted to the squib caretaker. His life-force would definitely make him stronger, but how to get him? There would be time to think of that in the future.

For now, he would have to bide his time. He would have to choose his targets carefully, but his mission would be successful. The Evans boy would die and he would get his body restored.

XXX

Neville confronted Harry the next morning. He was followed by a boy with silvery blond hair and steel grey eyes.

"Heard you moved out of the Ravenclaw dorm, Evans. What's the matter? Think you're too good to stay in dorms like the rest of us or did you just miss Mummy too much?"

Harry ground his teeth. His golden green eyes began to glow. "Stay out of this Longbottom," he growled.

"Or what?" the blond boy said. "Are you going to call your Mum?"

Blue light flared around harry, forming into golden runes. The runes hung on the air, unsupported, blazing with barely restrained power.

Neville and Malfoy took a step back, looking nervous.

"Back off," Harry said. "Leave me alone, or suffer the consequences."

"This isn't over," Neville said. He turned and stalked away, followed by the blond boy.

"That was good restraint," Ginny said, "but you know it's not over."

"It never is," Harry said sounding tired. "There's always going to be Longbottoms and Malfoys trying to torment us. I suppose I should get used to it by now." He looked down the hallway not really seeing anything. "It's because of people like them I never had a real childhood."

"It's alright," Ginny said. "We'll figure out what's going on and everything will work out."

"For now," Harry said, "but how long can we keep fighting Aeval? "Is this what the rest of my life is going to be like? Am I going to constantly be looking over my shoulder for the next attack?"

Ginny and Hermione said nothing. They just followed Harry to their next class in silence.

XXX

Over the next month, everything was quiet. The petrification of Filch's cat was nearly forgotten. November slowly progressed towards December. The Black Lake froze and snow flurries began to occur on regular occasions. Quidditch season was starting up and the excitement around the school was palpable. Ravenclaw had already beaten Hufflepuff and the Gryffindor verses Slytherin match was right around the corner.

"Why didn't you try out for our house team?" Ginny asked. "You'd probably be really good."

"Nah," Harry said. "I'd rather fly with a fae artifact and I don't think they'd allow that."

Ginny shook her head. "You should try flying on a broom. It's fun. You'd probably like it."

"NO thanks," Hermione said. "I'll keep my feet on the ground."

"And I have better control with a fae artifact,' Harry said. "I'd rather put my faith in something I know rather than something I've never tried."

"And I like flying with the pixies," Luna said.

Ginny pouted. "You three don't know what you're missing."

XXX

The Gryffindor verses Slytherin match was a disaster for the Gryffindors. Draco Malfoy was the seeker for the Slytherin team and his Father had purchased new brooms for the entire team.

To make matters worse, Neville was the seeker for Gryffindor and he had no ability to fly whatsoever. The highlight, or more specifically lowlight, of the match was Neville lunging forward, grabbing the snitch, and then falling off his broom while still fifty feet in the air. Only Dumbledore's quick action saved him from being badly injured. As it was, thanks to an inept Lockhart, he still got all the bones in his right arm removed before being taken to the hospital wing.

XXX

"We really need to do something about him," Lily said taking a sip of her tea.

"I'm open to suggestions," Dumbledore said. "Unfortunately, he was the only one to apply for the Defense job. Now, you didn't come to talk to me about Professor Lockhart. What did you really want to talk about?"

"It's Ginny," Lily said. "Something is really wrong. She's sleeping a lot more than usual. She's as white as a sheet and her magic isn't as strong as it used to be. I made her go and see Madam Pomfrey, but Pomfrey nor Ariana found anything beyond magical exhaustion. Ariana was able to perform a ley line trick to recharge her and for a while that seemed to work, but she's beginning to slow down again. It's almost like something is sucking the life out of her."

"I see," Dumbledore said stoking his beard. "And you think this has something to do with The Chamber of Secrets?"

"I don't know," Lily said, "but something is seriously off. I hate to ask, but would you mind taking a look at her? I am good, but I am not arrogant enough to think I know everything. I am a mistress of wandless magic, but I don't know all magic."

"Of course," Dumbledore said. "I'll be happy to examine her. When would you like to…"

Their conversation was interrupted by a flash of fire. Ariana's head formed out of the flames.

"Albus," she said. "Come quickly. A student has been petrified."

XXX

Dumbledore and Lily hurried into the Hospital Wing. "Who is it?" he panted.

Pomfrey pointed to the body lying on the bed. Lily leant over the body. The boy's mousy brown hair fell across his face. "He's a first year," she said. "Colin Creevey I think his name is."

"You're right," Ariana said stepping up beside her. "I found him when coming back from the kitchens." She gestured at the other bed. "I think he was coming to see Longbottom."

Dumbledore picked up a camera from the bedside table. Opening the back of the camera, a jet of steam wafted out.

"The film is melted," Ariana murmured.

"How long until the mandrakes are ready?" Dumbledore asked.

"It'll be a few more months. They need to mature according to Sprout," Pomfrey said.

"We need to inform his parents," Lily said.

Dumbledore was shaking his head before she'd completed the sentence. "No, this situation can be mended. We just need to get the mandrakes ready."

"His parents still have a right to know," Lily snapped. "They are his parents for heaven's sake."

"No," Dumbledore said firmly. "This is an internal matter. We will handle it on the quiet."

"The Ministry will need to be informed," Ariana said. "You can't hide this forever."

"Yes, I know. I'll inform Fudge in the morning."

Lily glared at Dumbledore. "So that's it," she snarled. "We're just going to sweep this under the rug? What about his education? You just expect him to be fine after being in a coma for months?"

"Lily," Dumbledore began.

"No, is this how you view muggles? Do you think they are little children that don't need to be informed of matters they may not understand? If this is the way you treat them, it is no wonder we've been persecuted."

"I have to think of Hogwarts," Dumbledore said patiently. "Tell me Lily, if I did inform Mr. Creevey's parents, how long would it be before they informed other parents of Muggle-borns? Regardless of what the Pure-bloods think, we need Muggle-borns, not just for their finances, but for their blood as well. Without the fae and Muggle-borns our race will die out."

Ariana's eyes flashed. "SO that is how you view us? You think we are breeding stock?"

"The fae treated us as such," Dumbledore countered. "I don't see why you are so surprised."

"The fae formed a beneficial alliance for all parties," Ariana said. "They wanted to insure that all the children had the best homes as possible. They worked with you in the war with Grindelwald."

"But not with Voldemort," Dumbledore said his tone as cold as ice.

"Enough!" Lily hissed. "We are not here to discuss ancient history. We are here to decide whether or not to inform Mr. Creevey's parents of his petrification."

"I thought that had already been decided," Dumbledore said. "No, we are not telling them. I am Headmaster and I have to put the school first."

"Fine," Lily snapped. She turned and began walking towards the door. With her hand on the handle, she turned back to look at Dumbledore. "Remember, Dumbledore, without students there is no school."

XXX

The news of Colin's petrification spread through the school like wildfire. It was also apparent that there had been some sort of falling out between Lily and Dumbledore. They barely spoke to one another and sat as far as possible from one another at the Head table.

"What are you going to do Milady," Ariana asked one afternoon as she had tea with Lily.

"What I feel is right," Lily said. "I truly believe that Creevey's parents have a right to know what is going on."

"You intend to tell them?"

"I see no other option." Lily stirred her tea thoughtfully. "AN institution is not more important than the people that make it up."

"Allow me to do this for you," Ariana said.

Lily raised an eyebrow. "I cannot ask you to do this. This will damage your relationship with Albus."

"You're not asking me. I would not offer if I didn't think it was necessary. First," she said walking over to Colin's bed. "I think it would be better if the petrification was reversed."

She placed a hand on Colin's forehead. Her forehead wrinkled with concentration. Golden light flowed from her hands until it incased Colin's entire body. There was a jerk as she touched a Ley line. White bolts of lightning crackled across the ceiling. Leaning over, Ariana placed her mouth on Colin's.

Lily heard the hiss as she breathed into his mouth. Colin convulsed on the bed. He drew in a ragged breath. His eyes slowly opened and he looked up at Ariana.

"Um Hi," he said hesitantly.

Ariana brushed his hair off his face. Stepping away from the bed, she stumbled and would've collapsed had Lily not been there to catch her.

"Thanks," she sighed. "That took a lot more out of me than I thought it would. Whatever petrified that boy was very old and very powerful. It took all I had to reverse it."

"I didn't know you could do that," Lily said handing Ariana a glass of water.

"Fae healers have to be able to mend many things," Ariana said. "When I was reworked into an elf, they found that I had a healing gift."

"Reworked?" Lily asked.

"Fae healers know an old bit of magic called Biomagic. It allows them to take a descendant of the fae and bring those genes to the surface, effectively rewriting the person's genetic structure. It's similar to the adoption process that the Seelie court used, but a little more complicated."

Ariana tried to stand. "I guess I need to inform Colin's parents of what has happened."

"What has happened?" Colin said. "Am I in trouble? I don't remember doing anything wrong."

Ariana smiled gently at him. "No, you're not in trouble." She looked at Lily. "Can you explain things to him?"

Lily nodded. "Of course," she said, "but are you sure you feel up to this? You used up a lot of magic."

"I can use the Ley lines for this," Ariana said pulling on her cloak. "I'll be back later."

XXX

Dumbledore looked over his desk at his sister. "Why didn't you tell us about this?"

"First, the only one that had been petrified originally was the cat. I was not going to expend so much magic to restore a cat.

Secondly, I was not originally planning to restore Mr. Creevey because of the strain it causes. It'll take weeks for me to fully recover and if the prince is injured during this time I may not have the energy to heal him."

"Then why do it?" Dumbledore asked. "If the cost is that high, why expend the energy to heal a boy that would've been healed eventually anyway?"

"Because I realized that being here strictly to aid the prince was selfish. Oberon never would've made such a caveat. He helped whomever and wherever he could."

"So how did his parents take it?"

"Surprisingly well, when I assured them that this was a singular event and that the students were in no more danger."

"You know that's not true," Dumbledore said sternly. "We have no idea where the chamber is or what might be inside it."

Ariana stood and headed towards the door. "Then I suggest you get to work finding out more about it, shouldn't you? You were here fifty years ago when the chamber was opened. You should be able to figure out a common theme or pattern."

XXX

The school was relieved to have Colin back among them. For the weeks leading up to Christmas he kept getting asked what it had been like to be petrified.

The teachers kept an eye out for any strange behavior, but saw nothing. Even Ginny seemed back to her old self. The week before Christmas, they woke up to a Hogwarts buried in several feet of snow.

"Shame we got classes," Harry said piling eggs and bacon onto his plate. "It'd be fun to have a snowball fight."

"You'd get creamed," Ginny said through a mouthful of sausage.

"You wish," Harry quipped back.

"Snowball fights are always fun," Luna said dreamily. "It's also fun to look for icecaps?"

Ginny looked at Harry. "What are icecaps?"

"No idea," Harry said.

Hermione snorted. "I bet she made those up for sure."

Luna smiled serenely at Hermione. "Could have."

As Harry watched his friends talking, he hoped that Aeval would leave him alone for this year at least. It would be so nice not to have to worry about someone trying to kill him.

XXX

Voldemort was impatient. He couldn't wait much longer. The teachers were watching the students for any strange behavior. He couldn't afford to kill Filch now. It might draw attention to Ginny's possession. He would have to act fast. But first, he needed to gather his strength. Possessing this girl was not going to be easy.

XXX

Hermione stirred the potion, watching as the color changed to a royal blue. She wished she could've told her friends about this, but she wanted to handle this alone. Besides, she only had enough for two doses.

She had found the Pollyjuice potion in a book she'd picked up from Diagon Alley. The potion would allow her to take on the form of another person for an hour. Getting the ingredients had been difficult and keeping it from her friends even more so, but this was necessary.

The previous year at Hogwarts, Malfoy and Longbottom had been mortal enemies. Now they were hanging out together. Why would they do that? She was curious if they were the ones who opened the Chamber of Secrets. It sounded farfetched, but Malfoy and his Father had no love for those they considered lesser wizards.

This potion would allow her to find out the truth once and for all.

XXX

It began on midnight of the twenty-first of December. Ginny awoke and sat up. Slowly, she climbed out of bed and silently made her way to her trunk. As quietly as possible, she opened the lid and pulled out a set of robes.

In the back of her mind, Ginny was screaming. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop her hands from pulling her robes on. She struggled to stop her feet, but they moved against her will forcing her towards the door of her room. She tried to scream, but no sound made it passed her lips. The door closed with a bang behind her. Her feet carried her into the front room and out the door. Unnoticed by her, a figure slipped out of the shadows of a chair where he'd been sitting and followed her.

XXX

Harry followed Ginny through the silent corridors of Hogwarts. He'd known something was wrong all day. Ginny had seemed distant. He used his sight on her and noticed something strange about her aura.

Ginny's aura was usually pure gold flecked with the faintest traces of red. Today it was different. Her aura was nearly all black. There were only a few tiny specks of gold left in her aura. He'd known something was wrong immediately. He'd considered saying something to his Mother, but had elected not to. After all, what could he say? "Mum, Ginny's aura looks weird."

Even in his ears the words sounded stupid. Since talking to his Mother was out, he'd elected to do the next best thing. He'd decided to watch her. He froze as Ginny entered a girl's bathroom.

Slowly, he followed her inside. He watched as she stopped before one of the sinks. She opened her mouth and a hissing sound emerged.

The sink seemed to melt. In its place, a pipe emerged. Ginny slid into the pipe. Without hesitation, Harry followed her.

As he jumped inside, someone else dove in right behind him.

XXX

Harry slid down a slimy tunnel and landed at the bottom with a wet splat. Rising to his feet, he came face to face with Ginny.

Ginny's eyes glowed faintly and a triumphant smile split her face. "You've made this so easy for me."

"What?" Harry began.

A high pitched giggle escaped Ginny's mouth, but at the same time it was a low chuckle. It was as if Ginny's voice was being overlapped by another. A male's voice.

Harry's eyes widened. "Voldemort," he whispered.

"You are correct sir," Voldemort said smiling with Ginny's mouth. "Unfortunately, I didn't expect you here so soon and I am not strong enough to deal with you yet."

Runes flared around Harry. Ley line energy surged through him. Harry's golden green eyes were lit with a blue light. He raised his hand. A single rune flared in his palm. The rune expanded the light that created it turning from a pale blue to a fiery red. The light left his palm accompanied by a sound like a clap of thunder.

Ginny/Voldemort casually side-stepped the spell. Her other hand came up and she smashed a steel pipe into Harry's head. The blow landed with a sickening crack. Blood flew on the air as Harry collapsed.

Ginny looked down at Harry's unconscious body. "I hate to use Muggle fighting, but I'm not sure I could beat you in a magical duel in my current condition."

"Fight him Ginny," a dreamy voice said from the pipe.

Ginny spun around. Her glowing eyes widened as she saw Luna standing calmly in front of her. "You," she hissed.

"I'm not talking to you," Luna said. "I'm talking to Ginny. You can win this Ginny don't let this little spirit control you. He may have been a dark Lord years ago, but now he's just a parasite, too scared to accept that he's lost."

For a second, the red light in Ginny's eyes dimmed. When she spoke, there was no trace of Voldemort's voice underneath hers.

"Luna, run, please I don't want to hurt you."

"I'm not going to leave you, Ginny," Luna said. "You are my friend and friends don't abandon friends."

The red light flared in Ginny's eyes. "That is refreshing," Voldemort said. "It has been a long time since I have seen such loyalty. Go away, girl. I have no quarrel with you. I just need to kill the Evans boy and it will all be over."

"What about Ginny," Luna asked, her silvery eyes flashing. "What's going to happen to her?"

"It is unfortunate," Voldemort said, "but she is going to die so I can be reborn."

Luna's chin jutted out. "Then I am not leaving her."

"Fine," Voldemort said. "I will allow you to die with the Evans boy so you will not enter the next life alone." Quick as a snake, Ginny's hand flew up, a red light striking Luna in the chest.

XXX

Hermione burst into Lily's room, her eyes wide. "Lily," she shrieked. "Ginny and Harry are both gone."

With a snarl, Lily sat up and looked at the clock. It was only half passed six in the morning. She started to ask Hermione what she was talking about before her words registered.

"What do you mean she and Harry are gone?"

"Luna's missing too," Hermione said.

Lily leapt out of bed and began to pull on her clothes. "Come on, we are going to see Dumbledore."

Hermione hesitated. "You go see Dumbledore. I'll search the school and see if I can find them."

Lily shook her head. "Hermione, I can't let you wander around the school alone. You need to come with me."

Reluctantly, Hermione followed Lily out of her quarters.

XXX

Harry groaned. His head hurt like hell. What had happened? Raising a hand, he touched the side of his head. His hair was wet and matted with blood.

"Harry," a voice said from beside him. The voice was familiar. Harry could tell just by that one word that the person was terrified.

"Luna," he croaked.

"Yeah, I followed you down here. Ginny is…"

"Possessed I know."

"Not anymore," a cheerful voice said from behind them.

Spinning around, Harry froze. A sixteen year old boy with a pale face, and dark hair stared at them. His eyes were a glowing red. A golden light outlined his body.

Glancing behind him, he saw Ginny lying in a crumpled heap on the floor. Her skin was a white as paper. He could see every bone outlined beneath her skin. He was brought back to reality by Voldemort beginning to speak again.

"I have drawn enough life energy from Ginny to make myself corporeal. Now I feel like I can take you."

"You think we're just going to sit here and wait to die?" Harry snapped.

"I think under ordinary circumstances, you'd fight. You should know though that the more power I use the faster I'll be draining poor Ginny's life-force."

"I was right," Luna said. "You are a parasite."

"I am what the world has made me," Voldemort said. He raised his hand, the tips of his fingers glowing green. "Two curses and it will all be over. Just relax, I don't think it will hurt and even if it does, it will all be over soon."

Harry exploded. His robes ripped as his muscles bulged. His face elongated into a slavering wolf's head. With a snarl, he lunged, his teeth sinking into Voldemort's hand.

Voldemort yelled and tried to pull back, but Harry's teeth held firm. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Voldemort's hand coming around.

He leapt back, narrowly avoiding the green light flying at his head. He lunged again, claws raking across Voldemort's face.

Snarling, he snapped, his fangs clipping together just short of Voldemort's nose.

XXX

Luna watched as Harry snarled at Voldemort. Something was wrong. Harry wasn't using any magic. His movements were graceful, feral, and full of rage.

Her eyes widened. Harry wasn't in control anymore. What was she going to do? Harry couldn't beat Voldemort in his current state. He had to think like a fae not a wolf, but how was she going to get through to him?

XXX

He growled, feeling the magic building in the air. He tried to dodge, but the green light hit him full in the face, knocking him off his feet.

He smashed into the wall and slid down to the floor, leaving a trail of blood and fur behind.

XXX

Harry blinked. He was standing in Limbo again. His Father was smiling at him, his gold eyes twinkling.

"Well, that looked fun."

"Maybe for you," Harry said. "I'm dead aren't I?"

"No, we just used the killing curse to initiate a conversation that needed to take place."

"We?"

Oberon pointed behind him.

Harry turned around to see an eight foot tall wolfman standing there, a doggy grin splitting his muzzle. A stubby tail wagged behind him.

"What the?" Harry began.

"That's your wolf," Oberon explained patiently.

"Okay, what's it doing outside my subconscious?"

"Because that's how you see me," the wolfman's voice boomed like thunder. "You see me as a separate entity, so I appear as a separate entity."

"Exactly," Oberon said. "I told you before that fae are magic. That applies to half-breed fae as well. Your wolf is part of your magic, but you continue to view yourself as two souls trapped in a single body. In order to have access to your true power, you need to accept the wolf as part of you, not as another being you share your body with. He is you, a tails to your heads if you prefer. You two are one."

"I know that," Harry said.

"You know it up here," Oberon tapped Harry's forehead with a finger. "You don't accept it though. Why do you think fae-shifter hybrids are forbidden? The fae struggle against their animal nature. Very few can unify their split souls. Those that can't usually go on a killing spree or are locked in their animal forms forever."

"And those that can?" Harry asked.

"Those that can usually grow to have magic that far accedes that of their parents. If you can merge your wolf and fae side, you will have a much better chance of survival. If you can't, what little control you have managed to obtain will fade and you will be lost to your wolf forever."

"Insanity or a boost in power," Harry said thoughtfully. "What a hard choice?" He straightened up. "Alright, how do I do this?"

"Just accept him," Oberon said. "The wolf is part of you. You don't have to control it. You don't have to fight it for dominance of your body. It is you. Fighting it is fighting yourself. You and the wolf are one."

"So how do I do this?" Harry asked. "What am I supposed to do hug him?"

"I think a handshake will suffice," the wolfman rumbled.

Hesitantly, Harry reached out and took hold of the wolfman's clawed hand. The world vanished in a blast of light. The howl of a wolf and the scream of a human boy echoed through Limbo before both Harry and the wolfman vanished.

Where they had stood was a tall boy that looked to be fifteen or sixteen. His hair was no longer blue, but silver. His eyes, sometimes gold and other times golden green had turned the shining green of Emeralds. Muscles rippled as he shifted on the balls of his feet.

"You did it," Oberon said wonderingly.

"I have to go back don't I?" he said. He stopped and raised a hand to his mouth. His voice had changed. There was a low gravelly quality to it, like the growl of a wolf."

"I'm afraid so. Your little friend needs your help."

"Luna, is she alright? Has Voldemort harmed her?"

"She's fine. Time doesn't pass the same here as it does outside. It's only been a few seconds in the mortal world."

"Thanks Dad," Harry said. "Before I go, how come Mum didn't have to learn to be one with her wolf?"

"Wolfshifters and hybrids are not the same. The Wolfshifter must learn to control their wolf. They have to master their wolf. The fae/wolfshifter hybrid is different. They have two different types of magic inside them and they must join those different magics to achieve harmony."

"Which is why Mum couldn't teach me how to truly control my wolf," Harry observed.

"Exactly."

"Thanks again," Harry said. "I'll see you around?"

"Sooner than you think," Oberon said with a wink.

The world dissolved around him and Harry was engulfed by darkness.

XXX

Voldemort stared down at Harry's fallen body. "I did it," he whispered. "It's over."

Hearing a soft sobbing behind him; he turned to see Luna with tears running down her pale cheeks. "Do not cry girl," he said gently. "My mission is complete. Harry Evans is dead. I have no reason to kill you now."

"You're a monster," Luna said her voice shaking with grief and rage.

"I am what I have to be to keep the Wizarding world safe."

"Any excuse that will keep you in power right?" Luna hissed.

Voldemort opened his mouth to say something, but a blast of light caused him to freeze. Turning, he saw Harry sitting up, silver hair falling around his face.

"That was unpleasant," he said, his deeper voice rumbling through the chamber.

As Voldemort watched, Harry grew visibly taller. Muscles rippled beneath his torn robes. His golden green eyes turning the color of freshly cut emeralds.

"You were dead," Voldemort whispered clearly dismayed.

"I was, but I resolved conflict and got over it."

His new green eyes glowed with blue fire. "Now," he said smiling nastily. "Where were we?"

Voldemort unleashed a volley of spells at Harry, but somehow, he never seemed to be where the spell was headed."

Harry swiped a hand through the air. Four diagonal lines appeared on Voldemort's chest. Voldemort screamed. Streams of white mist flowed from the wound, across the intervening space and into Ginny.

"Just as I thought," Harry said. "If you take damage, the energy you stole gets returned to the one it was stolen from. Until the process is complete, you two are connected."

"This isn't over," Voldemort bellowed. He began hissing. The sound echoed eerily around the chamber. There was a cracking sound.

Harry turned to see the mouth of the statue yawning open. AN enormous serpent slithered out of the statue and struck the floor with a thud.

"Harry," Luna screamed. "Don't look into its eyes. That is a basilisk. It can kill with its stare."

"Clever girl," Voldemort said. "You see, I don't have to kill you the snake will do it for me."

Harry concentrated, long razor sharp claws extended from his fingers. His hair grew to cover his face, his teeth became as sharp as daggers and his eyes turned amber. With a growl, he leapt into the air and slashed at the snake.

The basilisk hissed in pain as his claws left a long gash across its snout. It snapped at him, barely missing his fingers.

Fire leapt from Harry's hand scorching the snake's scales, and boiling its eyes in its sockets. The snake let out a sound like a cat that's had its whiskers pulled as its eyes exploded.

Harry watched as the scorch marks on the scales faded, but the eyes didn't heal. "Eyes down, now I just got to watch out for the teeth."

"Oi," Luna shouted. The snake turned towards her. "Fetch."

Luna lobbed a little black Diary directly into the snake's open mouth. The snake reflexively snapped its mouth shut.

Voldemort screamed. There was an explosion that shook the cavern and blew the head off of Slytherin's basilisk. Blood and bits of flesh showered Harry and Luna.

Finally the cavern was silent. Harry wiped blood and something he really didn't want to identify off his face and looked at Luna.

"Fetch?"

Luna shrugged, a slight smile twitching the corner of her mouth. They both turned to look at Ginny.

She was still unconscious, but her color was coming back into her face. "We need to get her to the Hospital Wing."

She glanced back the way they'd come. "How are we going to get out of here?"

"I have a plan," Harry said.

XXX

Harry wined as he poked his snout out of the pipe. His claws dug into the stone lip above him. Muscles straining, he struggled to climb the last few inches. He could feel Luna's legs clamped tightly round his waist.

A slim hand came into view, and gripped the stone. With a grunt, Luna pulled herself out of the pipe. Turning around, she reached in and drew Ginny off of Harry's back.

Harry slipped out of the pipe and collapsed panting on the floor. A tingling feeling shot through him. His entire body seemed to dissolve before reforming into his normal form.

"Well, well, well," a smug voice came from the doorway. "I think I just found who opened the chamber of secrets."

XXX

Hermione dropped the black hair into the glass and watched as the potion turned the color of mud. She was just thankful she'd started carrying some of the potion with her. She hated lying to Lily about feeling sick, but this was her only chance to get answers.

Raising the glass to her lips, she downed the viscous liquid.

Dropping the glass, she let out a piercing scream as her skin rippled and her bones broke. The screamed turned to the yowl of a large cat.

She felt her eyes roll back in her head and she collapsed to the floor.