Chapter Eleven
"I do hope the two of you know that I have sufficient evidence to expel the both of you as well as revoke Miss Weasley's attendance to Hogwarts." Stern blue eyes peered over half moon spectacles at two fidgeting students, Ron Weasley and Ember Potter. Both were filthy and soaked from their trek below the castle grounds, in Ember's case, she actually had flecks of blood from an injury.
"Yes, Sir." They were scared, ashamed, and guilty. They had broken too many rules over the year, especially in one night.
Dumbledore had been called back from his little vacation because, not just a student went missing, but The-Girl-Who-Lived went missing. A frantic Minerva had alerted the Ministry Aurors when her second bed check found Ginny and Ron Weasley missing, as well as Ember Potter. The last anyone had saw them was visiting their frozen friend and Minerva's first bed check. The School Board immediately revoked their last order, returning Dumbledore back to his rightful position, hoping his tie to the wards would aide in finding three missing students.
Instead, the three students found them with one very confused Defense Professor.
"Then it falls on me to tell you, Mister Weasley and Miss Potter," he didn't miss the flinches, "that you will be," especially didn't miss the tiny whimpers, "receiving special honors for services to this school."
"What!"
He chuckled at the absolute shock on their faces, "Fawkes has delivered the news of your achievements, as his bonded I can understand some of the images. And when I can't, there is the Sorting Hat, who also regaled your tales." He smiled brightly as he held out a tied scroll to Ron, "Although, Mister Weasley, I ask a favor that you will send this off with an owl. I do believe we would like to have our Games keeper back."
Ron grinned, eager to return to his sister's bedside with the rest of his family. All but his dad were at St. Mungo's. His dad was waiting downstairs for his son and the verdict. Together they would head back to Ginny as Molly demanded she be looked over by specialists, just in case her possession caused damage. The School Board agreed to pick up the tab as it was the school where she suffered the most.
Dumbledore waited until only Ember was left, "would you like to tell your side of the story of what happened in the Chamber? Both Fawkes and the hat only know so much."
Ember shifted her weight, eyes moving away from his stare as she shivered in remembrance. /The blinded Basilisk thrashed, searching for a prey it couldn't see, following the scent.
Ember had tried to maneuver around so she could grab Ginny, even if she had to drag her out. She hoped distance would disrupt whatever Riddle was doing to her. But she had forgotten snakes relied on vibrations as she made her move.
She whimpered as Riddle laughed at her plight. She had no formal or informal sword training, swinging at the snake's head as it struck. When it had reared for its last fatal strike, it had been pure luck for her to twist while shoving the sword into place.
She didn't miss.
And it didn't miss her.
The Basilisk cried out, jerking with a sword embedded in its brain while one fang embedded in her arm. She stumbled back to Ginny's side, worried on how they were now going to walk out, "but we will, I promise."
"Pathetic, Potter. But it's no matter. You may have ended my pet's life but soon both you and Weasley will breathe your last. Basilisk venom is quite powerful, is it not, Potter?"
She chocked on coppery saliva as hot tears flooded her eyes. It hurt. It burned. But she refused to be the only one to fall. She hissed in pain, yanking the fang from her arm, allowing dark blood to flow free. In another painful move she dragged Riddle's diary to her knees.
"And what do you think you are trying, Potter?"
She looked up through her death, unsteady hands fumbling, "You're just a memory living in a diary. She poured her soul into these pages. I told you I would do what it took to stop you. If I go," cough, cough, "you go."
"No!"
He lunged for her, forgetting the wand in his hand as she rammed the poisonous fang deep into the black cover of his journal, burying as deep as she could. Bubbling black ink poured forth as he screamed in pain. Her vision swayed, coughing harder, laying her head down in a promise of a quick rest. The last she saw was a bright reddish orange object standing over her while the last she heard was Ginny's sobs to get up.
That was until she woke up to Ron shaking her./
Ember had been shocked to find herself alive until they explained that Fawkes had been crying onto her arm, his tears healing her wound, when Ron had come stumbling inside with Lockhart. She had Fawkes help them return to the castle, only to be swamped by a hysterical Lily while Molly sobbed over Ginny. After awhile, Ron and Ember had been escorted to Dumbledore's office to explain their actions that night.
Knock, knock!
"Come in, Mister Potter."
Ember wearily turned to find her brother, "Mum is waiting."
Dumbledore chuckled, knowing Lily's temper well from her time in school, especially when it came to James, "Yes, we wouldn't want Lily to be waiting long." He turned back to Ember, holding the hilt of the very sword she used to her, "This belongs to you now. You showed true Gryffindor traits to pull this out of a hat." She inhaled as he smiled at the name of her House's sake etched in metal, "but I do believe you have a worried mother waiting." He dismissed the two as his wards alerted the arrival of a miffed Lord Malfoy.
Ember eagerly dragged her brother away when Lucius walked inside, "Good day, Mister Malfoy." As ever, Harry was polite.
"Thank you, Mister Potter."
Ember would have kept going if she hadn't noticed the arrival of a familiar face behind Malfoy, "Dobby!" She would have gone after him if another voice hadn't stopped her.
"Ember!"
"Hermione!" All thoughts fled of Dobby at the sight of her unfrozen friend. She rushed to the brunette's side to see for herself Hermione was healthy. Lily and James joined the reunion with the Grangers, Remus, and Sirius at their side. No one really paid much attention to Harry waiting quietly beside the revolving stairs.
Harry patiently waited for the reunion to die down when the stairs creaked and out came a furious Lucius Malfoy. He was surprised to find that Lucius still ran into him despite the space from the stairway and harry. He let loose a tiny cry of startlement as he tumbled to the ground.
Lucius blinked at the sound, looking about until he found the emerald gaze of Harry Potter. He hadn't realized, in his anger, that he had actually done the commoner thing, knocking down another. His sneer softened, holding out a hand, "Forgive me, Mister Potter. I did not see you."
"Yes," Harry allowed himself to be pulled upwards, "you seemed distracted."
Lucius gave one last glare towards the Headmaster's office, "Yes, I lost my servant to an old fool's trickery."
"I am sorry." Steel gray eyes looked back to find glazed emerald staring over his left shoulder, shivers ran down his spine though he refused to show it.
"So, you can view but you're not a Seer," Lucius' voice was low though gloved fingers gently caressed the boy's face, feathering along a smooth cheek, "do they know you don't belong? Do they know how you're a part of the Underworld? What do they know of what you see and hear?"
Harry's eyes flicked between the crooning blonde and the abyss behind him, "If you go, you will suffer. It waits at the edge, hungry and demanding. It will take all when it fails."
Lucius moved closer, "tell me, my little one, what do you hear for me?"
Emerald eyes locked onto gray, "Do not follow for the cold waits. The shadow dares all to disobey. One must remain hidden to escape for warmth."
Lucius chuckled, "But of course. I do hope you will be over for the holiday. Draco would be most upset if you miss his party. Consider this your invitation, my little one."
"Very well. I would not like for Draco to be wondering."
The blonde moved away, "I shall see to it that you arrive for a stay. Until then, Harry."
Harry nodded and watched the blonde disappear from sight. He remained silent as his family hurried to his side. He said nothing as Sirius and James demanded what Malfoy had wanted, especially with touching him in such a manner. Lily and Remus were on his side, willing to wait it out. Harry simply turned and walked with them to the gates. There was still a few days left to the holiday and Lily demanded Ember come home for a rest.