I Don't Want to be a Hero - Second Year
Chapter Twenty-One
Harry's 2nd Year of Halloween
26 Oct 1992 - Evening
Regulus had been left to the Chamber of Secrets along with his gigantic friend Hephaestus. Harry had his book of wonderful stories which told of Merlin's enchanted childhood as he talked to animals, and learned many wondrous things about magic.
They had not left the Chamber of Secrets (through a hidden passage that led to the Headmistress's tower) until close to dinner which meant they all missed afternoon classes. A meeting with Minerva could not be avoided since it was likely they were being looked for.
The suit of armor stepped aside to allow the group to ascend to the Headmistress's office, and when Lucius opened the door, Minerva nearly jumped from her desk to greet them all worriedly. She very nearly hugged them but stopped herself, and examined all of them only.
"What happened to all of you?" she demanded as she Transfigured a few books into chairs for the students.
Lucius, designated spokesman, told her, "After you and Mr. Lupin removed Mr. Filch and his cat to the Infirmary we discovered that Miss Granger was missing. Curiosity led us into the bathroom where we spoke to Miss Tremble, the ghost. Through our discussion we learned that Miss Granger fell into… the Chamber of Secrets."
"The Chamber of Secrets is real?" she asked in wonder.
Severus nodded, "So it is, Headmistress. Much of it is flooded, though, which destroyed the library of Salazar Slytherin that we came across."
"Oh dear, perhaps Madame Pince the librarian…" began the Headmistress.
"Impossible, Professor," interrupted Lucius smoothly. "After working through the maze down there Severus and I decided to seal the entrance."
"Most of those books are on the Dark Arts, Professor McGonagall," said Severus, "and the Ministry would likely confiscate them for eventual destruction."
"But, such a loss," sighed the Headmistress as she sat slowly in the only unoccupied chair left. She then noticed the quiet students. "Have any of you anything to add?" she asked looking over her spectacles at each of them. One by one they kept silent, and shook their heads in the negative. "all right, then," she waved her hand to usher them out of her office. "Dinner will be starting soon. Eat a good meal, and then off to bed. You'll all need to make up any work you missed."
Draco, Harry, and Hermione were all prepared to escape but Severus stopped them. "Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Snape, 50 points each for getting a teacher rather than exploring alone." He then pierced Hermione with his eyes, "Miss Granger, 30 points from Gryffindor for going off on your own, and insuring that a rescue was required that eventually endangered all of us."
Hermione glared, "That's not fair!"
"Miss Granger," said Lucius, a tone of warning in his voice, "You need to curb your curiosity, and to develop a sense of self-preservation."
Hermione looked to her Head of House for understanding but found none when Minerva added, "I'm sorry, Miss Granger, but you should have stayed in the corridor to wait for your friends return, and us. I agree with the professors and the points stand. Now, off you go."
Hermione shut her mouth to any protests, turned on her heel, and flounced out. Harry and Draco glanced at each other. They both then bid good evening to their parents, and followed Hermione.
The office door shut quietly, and Severus stretched out his legs. Lucius made to stand but Minerva's glare stopped them both. "As for you two… You both missed your afternoon classes. Lectures only tomorrow." Minerva rose from her chair, and paced. "I know there is more to your story then a flooded chamber, and soggy books." She turned her sharp gaze on Lucius. Of the two men she had always found it easier to break Lucius' Slytherin silence rather Severus who would not break even if death were imminent. "What kept all of you down there for so long?" Lucius slouched in his chair, and averted his gaze. Severus, as calm as ever, made not a twitch to reveal what he knew. "Was it such a labyrinth that you were all lost?" She strolled nonchalantly towards the fireplace. "I find it curious that you both likely followed your sons into the chamber. Draco, I have noticed, has a streak of exploring Gryffindor in him."
"He does not!" Lucius sat up indignantly. "Harry had fallen, and before I could stop him Severus was right behind his clumsy child."
Severus' eyes burned darkly at the older wizard. "My son was caught by surprise when that sink disappeared right out from under him, Lucius. I followed him into the unknown because I promised never to let him face a potential threat alone, again." Severus' lips thinned, and his brief smile was a quick, accusing one, as he purred, "As I recall it was your son that wanted to 'ride' down into the chamber again, and to also take a turn on the spiral slide into the antechamber."
"Were you both at an amusement park?" Minerva asked sharply. They both glared at her.
"The chamber was far from amusing, Minerva," Severus dead-panned.
"Then enlighten me, Severus, what was it?" Minerva riposted smoothly as she sat down with all the grace of a queen into her chair.
Lucius was invariably the one to break but Severus had known Minerva as a colleague longer than his friend had, and he decided she deserved some idea of what the 'Chamber of Secrets' was.
"The Chamber of Secrets is nothing more than what Rowena Ravenclaws Library, Godric Gryffindors Room of Everything, and Helga Hufflepuffs Garden were. It is beneath the dungeons, and I suspect partly beneath the Black Lake as it was flooded," began Severus. "Still heavily warded after all these centuries it is a labyrinth and one with many entrances and egresses, and many more that had been sealed shut."
"We did get lost," muttered Lucius.
"And, the legendary monster? Did you have an encounter with it? What was it?" asked Minerva as she placed her attention on the Potions Master.
"A basilisk we believe," sighed Severus as if he had lost millions of galleons. "Bones that crumbled to an unusable dust when we found them in the antechamber."
Minerva was disappointed. "And, the library that Salazar Slytherin had?" she asked hopefully. "Was it truly destroyed by flooding?"
Lucius nodded, and Severus replied, "What we saw of the actual room was almost bare and suffered from flooding, and there was additional structural damage throughout from settling." He shook his head. "I suspect that the true treasures of Salazar Slytherin's collection reside in one of the many rooms of the dungeons. A labyrinth in its own right that I hazard to guess no one has ever completely explored."
"Minerva," interjected Lucius, "it really has been an impossibly long day, and I would like to know how Narcissa is getting along. Might we go?"
"You may, Lucius," nodded Minerva. "Severus, will you assure me that you did, indeed, seal the chamber?"
"We both did, Minerva. After a very long walk, that was wet, mind you, Lucius and I decided that there was too much that was damaged, and we did not need to have wandering students losing themselves in there."
With a heavy sigh, Minerva bade the two wizards a good evening, and did not watch as they left her office.
"A lecture, lovely," grumbled Severus as he stepped onto the spiral staircase.
"Narcissa has been hoarding chocolate of late," he mused and followed his friend. "I had better see that she eats something nutritious for dinner or our child will be born needing a dental healer."
Once in the corridor Severus leaned towards Lucius, "I am going after that skin on saturday. Care to assist?"
Lucius smirked, and nodded. "After Narcissa's appointment with the Healer at 10:30am. Then I am free to be your assistant, Severus."
29 Oct 1992 - Thursday Morning
Harry's talent of being a Parselmouth, and setting a snake to attack Justin Finch-Fletchley made the rounds of the student body in record time but his friends the Weasley twins, Luna Lovegood, Neville Longbottom, and Draco and Hermione, all reminded the students of what a good person Harry was. On Thursday during lunch Justin Finch-Fletchly, escorted by the first year Luna Lovegood, apologised to Harry.
"You really weren't telling that snake to eat me?" asked Justin as he was invited along with Draco to sit down for lunch.
"No, I wasn't," agreed Harry. "I had no idea it was poisonous. I just told it to stay where it was." He glanced at Draco. "You pulled the snake from it's lunch and he was kind of mad about that."
"Hm," mused Draco. "I never really thought it had come from anywhere. I just thought it… was there."
"A lot of the spells we're learning change one object into another, or Summon something from another place," lectured Hermione. "Professor McGonagall's taught us that even if a glass is conjured it is being created by the molecules in the air, and the energy of one's magic." She ignored a few of the blank stares.
Justin was impressed. "How come you're not in Ravenclaw, Hermione?"
"Professor Snape says she reads a book then does what it says without thinking," piped in Neville. Hermione glared at him, and he began to stuff tomatoes from his salad into his mouth.
Draco laughed, "It's true, Hermione! You read all about Polyjuice Potion and were going to brew it until Harry snitched on you."
"That wasn't very nice, Harry," chided Hermione glumly.
"Well you weren't thinking, Hermione," Harry defended himself. "Honestly! Polyjuice Potion? Do you know how dangerous that is?"
"You could have turned yourself into a nice cat," smiled Luna. "Big bushy tail, orange hair. So lovely! And much nicer than a Crumpled Horn Snorkack."
Draco giggled, then sobered. "Besides, Hermione, you were lucky. All you got was a lecture and an essay to do. Professor Snape could have taken a hundred points, and given you detention."
"I just wanted to see if I could brew it…" Hermione grumbled.
"That's not the point, 'Mione!" declared Harry. "You haven't got the power to risk it. That's what dad was trying to tell you. You're not a fifth year, you're a second year. Stop trying to get so far ahead of everyone that you'll kill yourself before you're twenty!"
Hermione gaped, started to say something but she was too much in shock; too embarassed to do so.
Draco gave the witch a one-armed hug. "C'mon, Hermione. We all know you're brilliant but sometimes in your quest for brilliance you think up some of the dumbest things."
Hermione shrugged off Draco's arm, picked up her lunch, and moved to the end of the table.
"What?" asked Draco. "What did I say?"
Harry chuckled, "You're as subtle as a Bludger, you know that?"
Draco shrugged glanced down at Hermione, and saw her sniffle. That just killed him. Picking up his plate he scooted away from the table and went down to apologise.
For a moment their friends watched but then turned politely away when Draco hugged Hermione.
"Justin," Harry said pulling everyone's attention back to the young boy. He was holding out the book Regulus had given him. "This is about Merlin growing up, and talking to animals. The Lady of the Lake gave him the Gift of Voice and he could talk to any animal including snakes. In there is a neat story about Merlin meeting an albino snake that he named Snow. Snow taught Merlin the magic of becoming the animals he talked with."
Justin's eyes widened. He was impressed. "He learned how to become an Animagus from a snake? That's so cool!"
"I'll let you borrow my book for a bit but I want it back in a week, all right?" He really did not want to let anyone read his book, or even to touch it but Harry figured Justin needed to really understand that speaking to snakes was not a bad thing.
Justin graciously took the book from Harry. As he was about to open it Luna placed her hand on it, "We should have story time in Ravenclaw, Justin. Wouldn't that be fun?"
Justin smiled softly to the pretty little first year, and Harry was practically overwhelmed by the jealousy that burst in his heart at the sight. It took all his willpower not to start a fight after he had just made peace with the boy.
"I think story time would be perfect, Luna," agreed Justin. "You can help me, and read, too." He then turned to Harry. "Thanks, Harry, for trusting me with your book, and letting me know that… well, you didn't want to hurt me with that snake."
Harry smiled, and inwardly breathed a sigh of relief that he had conquered that demon inside him. Justin got up from the table, and returned to the Ravenclaw table. Luna stayed where she was, and grabbed his hand.
"Your eyes flashed, Harry," she said.
"They… what… they flashed?" He was more than puzzled. Now he thought maybe something was wrong with them. He tapped around them with his finger-tips.
Luna giggled, and kissed his cheek. "Don't be jealous of Justin, Harry. He treats me like a little sister in our House because there are a few who think I'm odd."
Harry breathed a sigh of relief, and then he flicked one of Luna's delicate radish earrings. "You're not odd, Luna, just unique. I think that's neat." He was rewarded with a smile that lit him up inside and out. Squeezing Luna's little hand, he then quickly dove into his lunch.
Ginny Weasley sat on the opposite of the table beside Fred and George. She glared at Luna. "I heard you didn't try out for Quidditch because you were scared, Luna."
Luna should have taken offence but she did not. She smiled at Ginny, and replied, "I'm terrified of flying, Ginny! Now, if I flew on the back of a thestral or just on my own… that would be the thing."
Harry's ears perked up as Luna spoke. "Can witches and wizard really fly without a broom?"
"History says that Morgan Le Fay flew but I haven't heard of anyone else doing it," Luna sighed unhappily.
"That's a myth," Ginny sniped.
"A myth," intruded Fred.
"Is created from a grain," expanded George.
"Of truth," finished Fred.
"Never dismiss a myth, Ginnikins," George chided his little sister.
Fred tugged a hank of her hair, "You never know when you might be part of one."
"Don't be silly, you clowns," smiled Ginny. She had borne her share of teasing from all of her brothers but she loved them endlessly, and knew they loved her. She put her elbow on the table, and her chin on her hand as she stared wistfully at Harry. She so wished that he would pay attention to her.
"Uhm, Harry," began Ginny. "How do Muggles celebrate Halloween?"
He dropped his head to stare at his food. "I don't know, Ginny. I never celebrated."
"Oh… uh…" Ginny's cheeks coloured, and she stabbed at her food. No longer able to stand any possible teasing from anyone else which could include Harry. She pushed away from the table, and ran out of the Great Hall.
Harry stared after her in puzzlement. "What did I do?"
"It's what you didn't do, Little Snape," replied George.
"Ginnikins fancies you, Harry." Harry's head whipped back to the twins, and he was so shocked his face wanted to fall off. Fred smiled.
George explained, "Ginny's read everything about the Boy-Who-Lived, and that includes when he went and killed Quirrell and Voldy. You're a hero, Harry."
"I didn't kill Voldy!" snapped Harry, frustrated at always having to tell everyone it was not he that had killed that monster. His voice lowered to a grumble, "And, Quirrell was an accident. He was going to kill me, and I put up my hands to defend myself." He raised his hands before his face to demonstrate then dropped them. "I didn't know he was going to burn up like that." Seeing his hands turn the wizard's head into ash was an awful thing and it was one of those things that haunted his nightmares. There was nothing heroic about what had happened.
Fred patted Harry's arm. "We know you didn't, mate."
"I was scared, Fred. Quirrell killed my dad right in front of me, and he was going to do the same to me. What's heroic about that?" He was about to leave and go to his first class to get away from everyone when Luna lay her hand on his arm to stop him.
Luna's voice was gentle as it released her wisdom, "Ginny worships you, Harry. We all did. It's what we were taught. None of us knew there was just a normal boy behind the legend. She wants to be your friend, and she doesn't know how to do that."
Harry frowned, "But Ginny's always so clingy, and saying dumb things to me." He glanced over at Fred and George. "I'm sorry, guys, but Ginny just really irritates me."
"Luna's right, Little Snape. She just wants a friend, and yeah, she does fancy you," said George.
"Why's that my fault?" Harry complained. "I don't know what to do!"
Luna rose from the bench, and held out her hand to Harry, "Come on, Harry. Let's go find Ginny." Harry held Luna's hand but he hesitated. "We're her friends, Harry," she coaxed. "And Ginny's upset. Let's go be her friends."
At that moment the sun spilled through the clouds in the Enchanted Ceiling and one beam fell like a halo around Luna; she was an angel. Harry rose, and together they went to find the only female Weasley.
a/n: A note to reader NJ Dryad - first of all thank you for writing such in-depth and wonderful reviews for 'I Don't Want to be a Hero'. Just so you, and everyone else knows: I was raised by an artist, and I myself did pen and inks until I could no longer control a pen about 5 years ago. I do write original fiction and some of it is at Archive of Our Own and ff dot net's sister site. My specialty is scary/horror fiction short stories. I will see if I am able to post a link to those sites on my profile.