Fawkes carries Lockhart, Ron, and Harry out of the Chambers, while Bloom carries the diary and Ginny out.
She's transformed, Ron told Harry how she came flying down and didn't even stop to think before blasting the pile of rocks to pebbles.
As Ron watched, she flew straight up to the doors and did the same thing, resulting in the loud crash Harry heard.
Harry looks over and Bloom, and realizes something else: the hole that had still been in her side when he saw her in the Hospital wing is gone!
She sees his shocked stare and mentally says When I woke up, I was surrounded by fire and the sheets were scorched - the Dragon Flame must have activated because of the pain from the vision I got. I transformed and went to find you right after realizing where you were.
Harry grins, until she looks at Lockhart, then at him questioningly.
Let's just say…you were right all along about him. He's been wiping the minds of witches and wizards who actually did the stuff he wrote about in his books - all he could do was memory charms, and now he can't even do that. Also, he didn't realize he'd have to potentially fight a monster when he became the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.
Bloom falls nearly a foot from shock, but quickly catches up.
That's the whole point of the class!
We know, he was a total moron before. Now, he's a clueless moron.
Bloom has to agree, Lockhart hasn't stopped rambling and spouting off the obvious the whole trip.
When they get to Dumbledore's office, he is actually there thankfully.
He says "You three do realize that in the past few hours you've broken nearly a dozen school rules?"
All three hang their heads, though they'd all do it again if the situation were the same.
"And there's sufficient evidence to expel all of you?"
They nod, but Bloom's trying to hide a grin - because Dumbledore doesn't sound like he's going to punish them.
"Therefore, it is only fitting that you all receive Special Awards for Services to the School."
Bloom breaks out in her grin now, and both Harry and Ron look surprised.
Ron exclaims "Thanks, sir!" "Now, Mr. Weasley, if you would, have an owl deliver these release papers to Azkaban. I believe we want our Gameskeeper back."
Ron immediately runs out, and Dumbledore turns to Harry.
"Harry…first, I want to thank you. You must have shown real loyalty to me in the dungeons - nothing but that could have called Fawkes to you. And second, I sense something is troubling you."
"It's just, I couldn't help noticing certain similarities between Tom and I…"
Harry doesn't know where to begin, but Bloom takes his hand and squeezes it comfortingly.
Dumbledore says "I see. Well, you can speak Parseltongue, and Bloom can understand it - and possibly speak it - through you, yes? It's because Voldemort can speak Parseltongue. If I'm not mistaken, he transferred some of his powers to you when he gave you that scar. And as for Bloom, it's simply a consequence of you two being connected."
Harry asks "Voldemort transferred some of his powers to me?"
"Unintentionally, yes."
"Then it's true, I should be in Slytherin."
Harry looks down, and Dumbledore says "You possess many of the qualities that Voldemort himself prizes, it's true. Determination, resourcefulness, and, I must say, a certain disregard for the rules. Why did the Sorting hat place you in Gryffindor?"
Harry says "Because I asked it to."
"Exactly, Harry! That's what makes you different from Voldemort! Our choices, not our abilities, show who we are. If you were truly like Voldemort, like Salazar Slytherin, you would not have been able to pull Godric Gryffindor's sword from the hat."
The doors burst open, and Lucius Malfoy comes in with Dobby on his heels.
Bloom instantly feels bad for Dobby now that she realizes exactly what family he's stuck serving - one that has to be almost as bad as the Dursleys.
"Out of my way, Potter! So, it's true, Dumbledore, your back."
Dumbledore coolly replies "When the councilors learned that Arthur Weasley's daughter had been taken into the Chambers, they saw fit to summon me back. And, it seemed many of them were under the impression that you would have cursed their families had they not agreed to suspend me in the first place."
Lucius's face turns red, and he asks "How dare you?!"
Bloom stiffens, and Dumbledore asks "I beg your pardon?"
"My sole concern has always been, and always will be, the safety of this school, and, of course, the students. The culprit has been identified, I assume?"
Bloom says "Yes, Voldemort."
Lucius raises an eyebrow, and Dumbledore adds "This time, he chose to act through somebody else - by way of this."
He holds up the diary, who's pages are charred and scorched black from Bloom's magic.
"I see, and I was under the impression that this young woman was one of the creature's victims."
Bloom says "Well, that would take Harry off the suspect list then, wouldn't it? After all, we are good friends."
Harry says "We discovered the diary and stopped the Basilisk from killing anyone else ever again."
Dumbledore adds "Let us hope none of Voldemort's old school things should ever end up in another student's hands again. The consequences for the one responsible would be severe."
Lucius says "Well, let us hope Mr. Potter will always be around to save the day."
Bloom says "Oh, don't worry. We'll stop Voldemort as many times as necessary until he finally lays down and dies like he should have years ago."
Lucius coolly says "That's an awfully bold statement to make, especially since you're so young."
There's a hint of threat in his voice, but Bloom doesn't care in the slightest.
"Well, let me make this very clear then. Everybody is so afraid of a guy who was beaten and should have died nearly 12 years ago. Well, Tom Marvolo Riddle doesn't scare me, not for an instant."
She meets Lucius's gaze as she says this, her eyes blazing with fire and power.
Lucius takes his leave, beating Dobby a bit on the way.
Bloom gets even angrier at that; no wonder Dobby has a habit of automatically hitting himself on the head hard enough to cause a concussion whenever he thinks he's done something wrong.
Harry asks "Professor, may I borrow that book?"
A few minutes later, Harry catches up with Lucius while Bloom follows a few feet behind.
"Mr. Malfoy! Mr. Malfoy! I have something of yours!"
Harry hands Lucius the book before the older man can stop and think not to take it.
He immediately hands it off to Dobby, not caring about the book.
"I don't know what you mean."
"Oh, I think you do. You slipped the diary into Ginny's bucket at Diagon Alley."
"Oh really? Prove it! Come Dobby, Dobby!"
Bloom motions to Dobby to open the book, and Dobby finds a sock inside the cover.
"Master has presented Dobby with clothes! Dobby is free!"
"What? I never-" he looks at the sock, then at Harry's triumphant smirk.
He lifts one pants leg to reveal he's missing a sock.
"You've lost me my servant!"
Lucius advances towards Harry in anger, not thinking anything would happen.
Bloom is in front of Harry in an instant, and Dobby yells "You shall not harm Harry Potter!"
Dobby blasts Lucius to the ground before Bloom can, much to her relief.
Lucius says "Your parents were meddlesome fools as well Potter. Mark my words, someday you'll meet the same sticky end!"
Bloom glares at him with fire in her eyes, then smirks and says "Right, until then, ask your son about what happened when he tried to use some pathetic curse on me in the Quidditch field."
Lucius can feel his nerve failing him - from a twelve-year-old girl, of all things - and leaves.
Dobby says "Harry Potter has freed Dobby! How can I ever repay you?"
Harry and Bloom look at each other for a moment, and Harry says "Just promise us one thing."
"Anything."
Bloom finishes "Don't ever try to keep Harry safe again. That's what I'm here for, and I've never gotten his arm broken doing it."
At the great feast, Hagrid comes running in a little late. He thanks all four friends for freeing him - especially when he was innocent to begin with.
Harry and Bloom say at the same time "It's not Hogwarts without you Hagrid!"
Dumbledore also cancels all finals as a gift to the school, something Hermione is disappointed about - but she didn't have to face the Basilisk either.
They board the train, and Harry, Bloom, and Ron are more than relieved to know they can get on the train.
If the gate is still blocked for Bloom and Harry, it wouldn't be all that terrible - it would mean they wouldn't have to go back to the Dursleys for the summer.
Bloom says they should travel around, she can make food and tents and such for them, and the idea is really inviting.
A summer without the Dursleys - no getting ordered around, no having to deal with Dudley and his obnoxious, bullying attitude - but they eventually decide to go back.
The supply lists will be mailed to their address, for one, and Harry got a form he has to get Vernon to sign.
Mrs. Faragonda is acting as Bloom's guardian, and she already gave her permission for Bloom.
AN: Looks like Lucius should be getting the hint that Bloom's more dangerous than most think as well as Draco. He really should take the hint now, before he gives her a reason to go all out on him - wings, skirt, fireballs from her hands, the whole bit. Also, Chem test went pretty good I think. Expect movie/book three soon.