Chapter 18 - Moments of Transition
"Thank you, Mr Potter, thank you for saving one of my own." McGonagall's voice was thick with emotion and her Scottish brogue. "Dare I ask how you managed it?"
Harry was grateful that she had taken over the conversation. It allowed him to ignore the manipulative old wizard. "Oh, um, that's an interesting story, Professor. As I told Professor Sprout, I was sure it was a basilisk. Anyway, I was passing the staffroom on my way back to the common room, when I overheard you say that Ginny was taken. I realised that I could try to track her with my familiar, Cesarina. She always had a good sense of smell, and she can recognise people by their scent."
"Really, Mr Potter?"
"Why yes, Professor." Harry beckoned her close and whispered in her ear the name of her perfume and shampoo.
"Very good, Mr Potter, but how did that help?" McGonagall was impatient to find out how he had done something like that.
"Yes, Harry, merely following her trail shouldn't have been enough to gain entrance to the Chamber of Secrets. Salazar Slytherin's legendary Chamber should have been impossible for anyone but a Parselmouth to enter." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as if he already knew that the boy was one.
Harry addressed McGonagall rather than Dumbledore, glad that she asked first. "It helped me find which way she went, all the way to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. I now suspect that she was the victim whose death was covered up fifty years ago when the Chamber was last opened. There, I found a dark, slimy pipe where one of the sinks should be, and scuff marks showing someone had recently been down it. So, I followed the same path after tying a rope I transfigured from a roll of toilet paper around my waist and around one of the taps, just in case."
The staff were enthralled by his story, the boy, no, young man had a very engaging manner and his open body language told them on an unconscious level that he was telling only the truth, despite how little resemblance it bore to reality.
"After a long slide down, the pipe ended and I came out under the lake at a guess. There were slimy walls, small bones underfoot, really dark, too. I cast a Lumos charm so I could at least see where I was going, prepared at any moment to close my eyes if I heard the basilisk. I went down this long, winding tunnel, and eventually came to a really big old statue. Ginny was laying at the foot of it, and she wouldn't wake up, and she was really, really pale. I felt her pulse, like they trained us to do in school."
"I'm sorry, Mr Potter, but that isn't part of the curriculum." Madam Pomfrey interjected. "Much as I wish they would add something like it."
"Oh, not here, at Park Mead Primary School, they've got an optional First Aid course, which a bunch of us took. It deals with things like cleaning and covering wounds through to what to do when someone's heart stops."
"When the heart stops, Mr Potter, that is the end." Madam Pomfrey added in an authoritative voice.
"That's not what they taught us, Madam Pomfrey. People are brought back every day after their heart stops. Not everyone, of course, but if it's just the heart, and you get to them in time, then you can make them good as new." Harry added a smile, hoping to avoid an argument here. He could give her the chance to learn better later.
"Moving on, Mr Potter. You felt for her pulse and then what?" McGonagall pulled them back on track.
"Then, this image of a tall, black-haired boy appeared, saying she wouldn't wake. He then went on to explain, in typical clichéd villain style, how he'd planned for his diary, which contained his memories, to be used to re-open the Chamber of Secrets and 'finish Slytherin's glorious work' or some such nonsense, murdering the students he didn't like."
"The idiot then made a strange hissing noise which called the ruddy Basilisk out! He taunted me about having Slytherin's Basilisk facing the great Harry Potter and 'the best Dumbledore could give me'. Fawkes had appeared neat as you please, you see, giving me the Sorting Hat of all things and settled on my shoulder. Why he didn't bring actual help I have no idea," Harry added with a look at Dumbledore. "When the basilisk came out, Fawkes just flew off and I closed my eyes. I turned and ran. I mean, this was a basilisk! Any sane person would, right?"
The nods from his audience assured him they would, too.
"Still, I had Ginny in my arms, and I'd managed to snag the diary in my haste so I kept it, too. Lucky thing I did! I pelted away, trying to get out of there, with the basilisk chasing me. I tripped on something, I think, falling to the side and there was this massive crash! The beast rammed headfirst into the wall of the Chamber. I used that noise to tell me which way not to go, let me tell you, and kept on going. There were other crashes, rocks falling, I think, as I kept running. The serpent also hit the walls a couple more times, trying to dodge the falling rocks probably because I was just running as fast as I could. I didn't want to waste time dodging blindly!
"This last time, it slammed into the wall ahead of me, thrashing about, knocking me to the ground. There was a big scream from my right, where the basilisk was, and I was getting up as fast as I can but it wasn't easy with the ground shaking and not being able to open my eyes in fear of the death gaze. Anyway, I got up, picked up Ginny again and pulled at the diary. The basilisk had bitten right through it, but it was still evidence, right, and besides, I didn't want to leave it behind.
"I ran again, ran to the pipe and tied the rope around my waist, then got us both up and out of there, just ahead of the collapsing ceiling too! After that, well, I kicked open the door to the Hospital Wing, Madam Pomfrey told me to sit here, and then you arrived." He wound down at last, feigning exhaustion.
"That's a wonderful tale, my boy, but I have to ask, do you have anything to back up your tale?" Dumbledore suggested gently as he could.
"That's Mr Potter to you, Mr Dumbledore, if you please. Well, I've got the diary and the basilisk fang. That ought to do it, right?" Harry put on a tired grin, then pulled out the diary and the fang, treating the latter exceedingly carefully. The fresh venom glistened in the light. Harry saw respect, even some awe, on his teachers' faces, and Dumbledore nodded sagely.
"Yes, Harry, that will do it."
"Oh, and there's the Sorting Hat, too, of course, sir." Harry produced it from a pocket, much rumpled, passing that straight over to the Headmaster.
Harry turned his head to look at the bird riding his shoulder, winking at it. "I wonder why Fawkes didn't just take us all out of there, when he obviously could get in." Fawkes just trilled a soft song, conveying to Harry at least joy and laughter.
"Phoenixes are wonderful and mysterious beings, Mr Potter," Dumbledore replied, eyes twinkling fully, dodging the question.
Ginny chose that moment to wake up, eyes fluttering open, and getting everyone's attention. "Oh, what happened, I feel like I was run over by a herd of hippogryphs."
Amid the bustling, the questioning was dropped, and as the girl headed back to her dorm to rest, Harry noticed Dumbledore looking at him with satisfaction where the other teachers merely looked on with pride and respect. Harry was growing more certain that Dumbledore's plans, whatever they may be, would not be in line with his own. That shouldn't surprise anyone, though he knew it would. The old man had been a powerful figure in this society for decades, and so much of that society would have to be torn down for Harry to achieve his aims. The rampant bigotry, the credulity, the misplaced superiority complex, the casual cruelty, all sanctioned and condoned and supported by traditions.
"Excuse me, Professor McGonagall, but now that Slytherin's Monster is dead and the Chamber is gone forever, does that mean the school is saved? I'd like it if my friends could walk the halls freely again, and right now, everyone is confined to their House areas."
"Oh, certainly Harry, I mean Mr. Potter. Thank you for reminding me. I must also see to bringing in Miss Weasley's parents. I am sure they will want to see their daughter after this harrowing incident. As for you, I believe you will at least get a Special Award for Services to the School for your efforts. Because of you, the threat to everyone here has been ended, and you directly rescued Miss Weasley from the Basilisk. I would offer House points as well," she smiled at him, "but thanks to your earlier efforts on the pitch, as well as in class, Hufflepuff are on course to winning both the Quidditch Cup and the House Cup. Rest assured, if Hufflepuff look like needing the boost, I would be happy to provide it, unless you would like to request them now, that is."
Harry considered the offer. It was refreshing to see one of the Lions willing to be rather Slytherin in their behaviour. "Thank you, Professor McGonagall, I think your proposal has a lot of merit."
Before he could say any more, Pomfrey was back with the long-awaited Mandrake Restorative Draughts, starting with the caretaker's cat, presumably to test its effectiveness. Sadly, the potion worked perfectly and the cantankerous cat was hissing and spitting and scratching at the door to be let out.
They all watched as the Weasley twins were next, coming around and scrambling for their pranking items, he guessed, none of which were present, of course. After looking around, they saw they were back in the Hospital Wing and informed of the date, and that there was the option of tutoring over the summer to help them catch up with what they'd missed. Harry grinned when they both groaned at that suggestion.
Next to wake was McLaggen, who was only calmed down when he was told that the monster was dead and Harry held up the fang as proof. On hearing how much time he'd lost, and that tutors were available, he seized on that chance. He knew, at least, that he needed to get all the help he could already, and missing months of classes would just put him further behind.
Last of all was the hyperactive boy, Colin Creevey. He'd only been Petrified three weeks, so he still had to take his regular exams, unlike the other three, and Hogwarts wouldn't provide extra tutoring to him. Harry was angry at that, but settled down when he overheard McGonagall quietly tell him that she would see about getting him some help at her own expense.
Colin admitted to following after Harry, trying to shoot him with his camera despite his refusal, and was penalised points for that. It wasn't going to be enough to break the stalker-in-training's habit, however, when her next words confirmed Harry as the boy's hero for having rescued Ginny from Slytherin's Monster. He also misinterpreted McGonagall's story as Harry having killed the beast in some exciting battle, far too close to the truth for Harry's liking.
At that moment, Lucius Malfoy strolled in, followed by the rest of the Board of Governors, and Harry noticed he paled when he saw Riddle's diary. Ginny had mentioned something about finding the diary in with her books too. Malfoy obviously knew what it was, which meant he was involved in the plot to give it to her.
Malfoy sneered at Dumbledore, "Yet another student attacked and you do nothing to stop it. Have you stopped the attacks yet? Have you caught the culprit?"
"We have-" Dumbledore began.
"Professor Dumbledore means that Mr Potter has stopped the attacks. He managed to rescue young Miss Weasley from Slytherin's Monster, in the process of which the Chamber was destroyed along with the beast. Hogwarts is safe once again." McGonagall cut in.
"And the culprit?"
"An enchanted artifact which was destroyed, Lucius." Dumbledore replied smiling. Lucius briefly flushed with anger before he got his face under control.
They were interrupted as the elf was finally awake, and a disgusted Lucius commanded it to head home immediately. The elf nodded its head quickly and popped out of the infirmary. Harry knew that meant the elf was bound to the Malfoy family, resolving to do what he could to talk to it later. If necessary, he would buy the elf's services from the Malfoys, though he was hoping he could get what he needed without owning a slave.
The Malfoy patriarch turned on his heel and stalked out of there, the Governors milling about confused until Harry showed them the basilisk fang. They fell over themselves praising the Boy-Who-Lived, and Dumbledore announced a feast to be held in honour of the occasion.
McGonagall flicked her wand, her voice booming out of speakers across the school, "All students, report to the Great Hall. The danger is now over. Repeat, the danger is now over. Report to the Great Hall for a Celebration Feast."
"Professors Sprout and McGonagall, would you accompany me to the Hall?"
The two agreed, escorting their now-favourite student out of the Hospital Wing before Madam Pomfrey could object about him leaving. The injuries she had found on him were real, inflicted by his clones and already mostly gone since they were only present for the Matron to discover, supporting his story, and even if they were real, they were minor.
At the Great Hall, there was laughter and shouting, and the women let Harry go to his friends when they got close enough. Harry gave his girls a hug, and his other friends shaking hands or patting him on the back. Professor Sprout was put out that he had slipped away from the other Hufflepuffs somehow but success brought forgiveness. In reality, his clone that had gone back with his friends had used Body Flicker once the group were hidden in the crowd of students and his friends had covered for him.
A few minutes later when the last of the students were escorted, rather firmly in some cases, to the Hall, Professor McGonagall stood to give the announcement. "It is my duty and a pleasure to announce that the threat against the school in the matter of the attacks by Slytherin's Monster is now over. In addition, the petrified students have been cured, and lastly, Miss Weasley was rescued from the very Chamber of Secrets itself and is now recovering from her ordeal. Please join me in thanking Mr Potter for his selfless act with a toast. To Mr Potter!"
As the cacophonous response died down, Harry's girls started checking him over for injuries, not listening to his protests that he was fine. In response to their questions, he promised a full explanation over the summer. He did mention that Lucius Malfoy seemed to know far too much about the whole affair, looking into Susan's eyes as he said that and nodding at her questioning look. "Perhaps a letter to your Aunt may be in order tonight, to give her the good news, of course. And I would like to see if we can arrange to chat with his house elf. The little creature looked terrified of Malfoy and hastened to obey when the man - and I use that word in the loosest possible terms - ordered him to return home. This was the same house elf that had been following me, too."
"You're right, Harry, a letter sounds like a great idea. A better idea is for us to have a quiet chat after the Feast." The rest of his girls nodded seriously, and Harry complied with their wishes without a word of protest.
Another announcement was made midway through the Feast, Dumbledore standing and getting their attention, even the Governors. "Now that the school has weathered this danger, the Aurors are free to return to the Ministry, going about their normal jobs while we go about ours."
Susan was dismayed with how readily they left on Dumbledore's command, and asked if Harry would send her aunt a quick message to come to the school urgently. Five minutes later, Madame Bones finished the Floo call relaying the message from her home, and stormed out, intent on reaching the castle. She made her way up to the staff table, more crowded than usual thanks to the addition of the Board, and 'requested' a moment of time from Dumbledore and Malfoy, as well as Mr Potter, adjourning to the antechamber.
"It has come to my attention that you saw fit to remove my Aurors arbitrarily, Mr Dumbledore."
"Oh, the danger has been resolved, quite successfully, I might add, by young Harry here."
"Headmaster, I have told you before to call me Mr. Potter, the same as any other student." Harry cut in, keeping his tone slightly annoyed but not outright hostile to convey his feelings on the matter.
"Oh quite right, Harry. Anyway, the basilisk is quite dead and the students are safe, so I sent the Aurors back to the Ministry. I let them get a bite to eat first, of course." His eyes twinkled, and Amelia cursed inside. She knew that now the danger was over, she couldn't keep her personnel there, but they were supposed to obey her and wait for her orders. She would be sure to remind them as soon as she returned to her department.
"And what of the culprit behind these attacks? Where is he?" Amelia asked.
"Oh, that was an enchanted diary, destroyed by a basilisk fang by Harry." Dumbledore offered airily as if it was of no importance, making Amelia wish she could grind her teeth.
"How did the diary make it into Hogwarts?"
"Yes, that's a very good question, Madam Bones," Harry took his cue, adding in an innocent voice, "and I believe Mr Malfoy has some answers for us. Since Hagrid was taken in for questioning over this affair, it would only be right for Mr Malfoy to do the same, surely."
Seizing the opportunity, Amelia's eyes lit up as she agreed. "Yes, I'm sure a few drops of Veritaserum would provide a very interesting conversation, don't you think, Mr Malfoy. There are many unsolved cases at the DMLE archives. I wonder just how much light you could shed on things."
"This is preposterous! You are taking the word of a boy?" The man in question squawked, taken off guard by the sudden accusation.
"The boy who came back with a fresh basilisk fang for proof, Mr Malfoy. His accusations do have more weight for that."
"You cannot prove I had anything to do with this!" The elder Malfoy sneered.
"Maybe not yet, but you will resign your position on the Board of Governors tonight. Cite whatever reason you like, but you will do it."
"And why should I do such a thing, Madame Bones?"
"Because it is the right thing to do since we both know you deliberately endangered students. Because you put your hatred ahead of your duty to your family, risking your own son's life in this affair. And because, Mr Malfoy, Malfoy Manor is still subject to official searches just like any other wizarding home under suspicion." Madame Bones added the clincher, then smiled sweetly. "Now, if you are as law-abiding as you claim, I am sure you have nothing to fear from such a search. And surely you won't force me to suspect you of other crimes, would you 'Lord' Malfoy?"
"Even the innocent may still prefer not to have their home invaded, Madame Bones. Very well, as I do not wish for my privacy and my grounds to be trampled by your thugs, I will resign from the Board. I trust this is the end of the matter and we can ignore the foolish suspicions of an overwrought little boy."
Harry kept his temper under control despite the insults. He was already coming further out into the open than he would prefer. Beheading the bastard for setting a monster on students, while satisfying, would not be the smart thing to do. Not in front of Director Bones! Not even if she'd enjoy it. Malfoy had gone too far, though, launching an attack like that on the school. One way or another, his power in this society would have to be destroyed.
Dumbledore said nothing to defend Harry, in his view there was no need. Lucius would be gone from the Board, the Aurors gone from his school, and Harry would have to learn to deal with adversity if he was to be ready for his task ahead.
As the blond slipped out, Dumbledore followed to make sure he carried through on his end of the agreement, leaving Harry alone with Madame Bones. "Madame Bones," Harry began.
"Please, after saving the school including my niece from the Basilisk, I believe you have earned the right to call me Amelia," she smiled, "and thank you again for what you did. I hope that you'll be able to provide the full story at some time."
"I would like that, Amelia. I hope to do so over summer when we can get everyone together." Harry gave her his most convincing smile, adding "I'd rather not have to tell my story over and over. It wasn't the most pleasant way to spend my time."
"Alright, Harry, I can wait as long as there's nothing urgent."
"I promise, Amelia, there's nothing in that story that would put you or anyone you care about at risk, and nothing illegal, to my knowledge. Though I did break a few school rules," he grinned, "but Professor McGonagall has said that despite that, what I did earned a reward instead."
"I agree, Harry, that was a very brave thing you did."
"Thank you, Amelia. I hope to see you again soon." He hoped she would take the hint to talk to his clones at the Kitsune Compound, but even if she didn't make an extra trip, she would normally visit again this week. He could talk to her then.
In the event, either Amelia didn't get the hint or was unable to spare the time with everything going on. When she visited three days later, he had made her favourites, well, some of her new favourites which was almost anything he cooked for her. While the Clan were far better chefs, Harry's tastes matched hers better, he found. Of course, the Clan were more than capable of cooking her way, but they seemed amused by letting Harry do all her cooking.
After she had finished, Harry took the plunge. "Amelia, my report to the Professors was not, perhaps, as complete as it could have been. And I may have misled them as to just how much I did."
"Was rescuing Ginny a lie?"
"No, Madam Bones, nor did I lie about entering the Chamber of Secrets and having to dodge its attacks. I don't trust Chief Warlock Dumbledore with my safety or my secrets. So, I didn't describe everything that happened while anything I said could be overheard and reported to him." He took a breath, then after reminding her that she had agreed to protect his secrets, he continued:
"Ginny wasn't the only girl I rescued from the Chamber, and it was the diary that nearly killed her, not the basilisk. The diary was enchanted to hold the memory, maybe even the soul, of the student that opened the Chamber about fifty years ago, setting the Basilisk on Muggle-born students, though he seems to have been particularly inept about it. There were a string of injuries, when the creature kills more easily than just about any other magical creature I've read about, and only a single death, the girl who became a ghost known as Moaning Myrtle.
"Ginny was slipped the diary before she came to Hogwarts. She wrote in it, and the diary wrote back. The student whose essence was preserved was named Tom Marvolo Riddle, a Slytherin named after his Muggle father and who later changed his name to one you know all too well."
Harry produced a scrabble set and laid out the tiles for Tom's name, rearranging them as she watched, to the new name. He nodded as she stared at him.
"Yes, he was the one who was behind the attacks. He managed to possess Ginny for short periods, even using his Parseltongue to open the Chamber and summon the beast. He had almost drained her life force, he told me, when he made Ginny herself write the note on the wall describing her coming murder to fuel his rebirth.
"The damn fool told me all of this, boasting about how he'd managed it, how he delighted in Ginny's panic and guilt and fear as that opened her up more to him. Then he called up the Basilisk while I was right there, challenging me to fight it with just what I had and the Hat from Dumbledore that had turned up with Fawkes so conveniently when I confronted Riddle.
"I tied a blindfold on and so did most of my clones. Two were left to spot for us, expendable in the fight since even if they died, nothing would be lost. As you have seen, my family have trained me to fight, but more than that, they trained me to fight with swords. Each of my clones was carrying a blade into that fight, barely managing to scratch its hide.
"No, it was soon obvious that we would have to attack a weak spot, and I haven't met a creature yet that could withstand a full sword thrust into its brain from underneath. So that's what my clones did while I stayed back out of the way."
"Here are the remains of the three blades they used, after the basilisk venom corroded them."
Amelia looked up as the door opened, one of Harry's clones carefully carrying in the ruined swords and two kunai that had fallen into the puddle of venom on the ground for her to examine.
"And you are willing to swear that this is true."
"I can't, Amelia. I'm only a clone too. The real Harry is at Hogwarts, though, and he is willing to swear on his life that you will have the whole truth of the matter. But that's not the problem."
"And what is the problem?"
"The other person I rescued, Amelia. She's twenty-one and attractive, and Ginny told me that Riddle wanted to use her to 'break a drought'. Ginny didn't understand what he meant, I'm glad to say. But I'm worried what would happen to her if I went through normal procedure for her kidnapping. She didn't get to see her attacker, she was simply taken away and dosed with the Draught of Living Death. And she has no idea at all about magic. The diary's gone, destroyed, and Ginny wasn't aware let alone in control when the girl was kidnapped, but I am afraid that she might get exposed to magic in the course of the investigation and then get her mind invaded, and all for nothing since the person who did it to her is beyond justice now.
"She's lost over a month of her life already, hasn't she lost enough?"
Amelia sighed, this was the part of her job she hated. "Harry, I understand what you're saying, but I have to follow the law. If someone makes a complaint, I have to investigate."
"That's why I won't be making a complaint, and neither will Mary. My family are already helping her deal with what was done to her, helping her see it wasn't her fault, that she's not to blame for being nearly raped. She thought she was, you know. We haven't found anything in your world that deals with trauma, but the Muggles have been dealing with it for a hundred and fifty years, trying lots of different things to help people recover from bad things like these.
"Some of the best things are also the simplest. Don't push. Talk when they're ready. Listen. Reassure them that it wasn't their fault, even when the mind betrays itself, imagining ways the victim was in the wrong. Be there for them. There are Muggle Healers who spend their working days listening and helping the victims, helping them rebuild their lives. They don't save everyone, they aren't perfect, but they're trying, and they're learning."
Amelia was ready to defend the Wizarding World instinctively, but the young man's calm delivery somehow prevented her from interrupting, and now that he had finished, she could see their point. The stab of envy she felt when she heard what the Muggle victims got told her that much.
"Okay, Harry. Perhaps I should insist, but if this helps her get better, to hell with it. You're right that if we did investigate, she would almost certainly find out about our world, and that would mean she would be memory charmed to remove those memories. You're also right that with the diary destroyed, and Ginny in truth just another victim, there's no one alive who was guilty, apart from Mr Malfoy and we have no real case against him."
"I still want to punish that bastard. Oh, sorry, Amelia, please pardon my language."
Amelia waved off the apology, "Apology accepted, Harry, besides, I have called him worse, though that is one of my secrets."
He nodded and continued, "We both know that he tried to get people killed this year, and only losing a position on the board doesn't seem like much of a punishment, more like something he has already proved he cannot handle correctly. And the house elf that was Petrified in the last attack was his. It obeyed Malfoy's order immediately to return home. I would like to free him, and the other house elves. At least, I want to help them find better lives."
"You want to free the house elves? Why would you want that?"
"Slavery itself is wrong. Anything that thinks and feels emotions should not be enslaved. Muggle Britain abolished slavery over a hundred years ago. The house elves are magically compelled to obey their owners, they can't go elsewhere, so they can be abused, they are abused if that elf of Malfoy's was anything to go by. He was afraid of the bastard but still had to obey him, still go back for more.
"I haven't read anywhere that they must be enslaved, only that they are enslaved, Amelia. That has to end."
"And if it isn't slavery?"
"Then just the abuse has to end. Why would it not be slavery? They don't get paid for their labour, they can't quit or change employer, and they can't even slack off like real human slaves do since they're magically compelled to obey orders."
"What if they don't want to be freed?"
"I'll find them people who will treat them better, then, while we work on improving their self image. They may not want to be freed simply because of indoctrination their whole lives. That doesn't have to be the same for their children."
"My, Harry, you are thinking of the future. Children, indeed." She smiled, trying to inject some levity into the conversation and give herself time to think. "You do like to challenge expectations."
"Thank you. I'll look into their situation more in case I'm wrong, but I still want to help that house elf of Malfoy's. What is the price for an elf? What would Malfoy want before he'd give his up?"
"I believe Malfoy would demand a higher price than most, not because he likes them but simply because he would think that anything of his is more valuable."
"Can you arrange a private meeting, Amelia?"
"I believe I can do that, though I may get someone else to approach him. He will be less likely to agree if he knows the request comes from me. It would be best if he knows that the meeting is for business, Harry."
'Thank you, Amelia, that's fine. Any time after I leave Hogwarts would be acceptable."
In the end, Harry was most grateful to his girls for helping him to relax after the meetings, and showed it by giving each of them long massages that left each of them moaning piles of pleasure.
The following weekend was also a chance for Harry to blow off steam, the final Quidditch match of the year between Hufflepuff and Slytherin. Slytherin needed a big win to have a chance at the Quidditch Cup, as well as to regain prestige after the affair with Slytherin's Chamber being destroyed and his monster killed all because of a twelve year old Hufflepuff.
Hufflepuff only needed a win or even a small defeat to get the Cup, but neither the team, nor the rest of their House, were going to be happy if that happened. They wanted to win, to show the school and themselves that even if the Snakes all had top of the line brooms, that hard work and coordination could still overcome a position of privilege.
The game was dirty from the start, the Slytherin Beaters using the same tactics as they had against Ravenclaw, hoping to pummel the Puffs into submission. Harry didn't know if that was what Snape wanted or simply what the team themselves decided. Either way, he wasn't going to put up with it.
The next time they deliberately aimed to maim Hermione, he was in position and waiting. Harry just dived in the way, trapping the Bludger in the folds of his robes for a second, and then flew away. It was worth the momentary pain as the chakra flowed through him in order to tie chakra threads around the iron ball and linking them to ones he'd tied to each Slytherin Beater. Sure, it was cheating, but they were doing it first. Time to do it better.
Harry flew off back into the game, but any time the opposing Beaters aimed at the Puffs, he pulled the ball off-course, making their every attack miss and the Beaters look foolish. They tried to complain that the Bludger had been hexed, but Madam Hooch was having none of it. She cast a detection spell and there was no extra magic on it of any sort, nor was there any malicious spell on the Beaters.
Next, Harry upped the ante, now they'd been shown up as whiners, by guiding the Bludger so that the Beaters seemed to be aiming at each other. After half a dozen attempts, he didn't even have to continue. They were making it a reality for him.
That naturally left the Hufflepuff team a free run on the goals. With Harry now free to work full time on Chasing, they made up the small deficit quickly and started building a lead. Malfoy was desperate now to find the Snitch, and he was lighter and faster than Diggory whose broom was good but not the best on the market. He saw it! He smirked as he went into a full-powered dive. Diggory was chasing him!
Unfortunately, Draco was too busy making sure Diggory was following him to keep track of how close to the ground he was. His planned Wronsky Feint turned into a painful crash, as Draco's broom simply couldn't pull up in time. Cedric's own broom wasn't as fast, so he had far more room to pull up, and he spotted and grabbed the Snitch before the arrogant blond could recover.
The final score was 460-190, and the Quidditch Cup was theirs!
The party that night was a lot of fun, and Tonks tried to make Harry blush with her jokes about a Harem, and then with flirting with him or the girls. They took it in stride, just teasing back that she was just happy to be done with her OWLs, which of course she was, though she was nervous about her results.
The rest of the year was a good chance to relax and catch up with friends once they got through their own exams, and Madame Bones gave him an early birthday present when she finally agreed to vouch for the families in Cranleigh, allowing them on her authority to learn about the Wizarding World.
At the Leaving Feast, Harry would treasure the expression of disbelief on Malfoy's face at Hufflepuff's victory, though not nearly as much as he treasured the smiles and love of his girls. Snape had kept up his usual level of bias towards his House, shamelessly taking points from the other Houses - seeming to concentrate on whoever was in the lead - and giving them to his own for reasons nothing short of ridiculous.
Right before the Feast, he had been called into Professor McGonagall's office, where she again praised his actions with the Chamber of Secrets. "Mr Potter, you are growing into a fine young man. Your rescue was against the letter of the rules but in the spirit of them. While I hope you will not continue to risk your life, I am most grateful that you were able to save the young girl.
"One hundred points for your bravery, and another hundred for your loyalty. You also managed to work out both the cause for the Petrifications before anyone else, and a way to keep yourself alive while performing your courageous rescue, so one hundred points for your quick thinking and research."
She looked at a marker and nodded to herself. "That is certain to ensure the correct result. And finally, Mr Potter, a request that if you have any other interesting news, that you will come and share it with me." She allowed herself a rare warm smile. "You have your mother's eyes and her will, and seeing you here makes me feel five years younger, not that that changes me from 'old' in your eyes, I am sure. Come see me anytime you would like to hear about your parents, if you will. For now, be off with you, the Feast is about to start, and it would never do to make you late."
As the students trickled in, expecting the usual silver and green banners, they were surprised to see the Great Hall bedecked to celebrate House Hufflepuff's victory instead. The most surprised, of course, were the Slytherins and the 'yellow ponce' himself. He looked torn between tears and rage, shooting a betrayed look at his Head of House who ignored the Second Year student. Once all were seated, those at the Slytherin table suddenly looked anywhere but towards the staff table or the Hufflepuff table. During this momentary lapse, Snape looked at Harry and gave a short nod of approval. Harry nodded back a moment later, just before the magic wore off Snape's students.
He said to his astonished friends, "I don't know just what his game is, but evidently he does approve of something I did and feels he cannot show it openly. Perhaps more of his actions are a mask, or perhaps not. Now, come on, let's eat before the speeches start."
They dug in with a will, finishing and enjoying light conversation while Dumbledore droned on about another year over, students finished, and so forth. The Feast was far easier for Harry to enjoy if he didn't have to pay attention to the doublespeak from the Headmaster at the same time. Besides, his friends were much more interesting to listen to. He had a clone on watch who would be able to memorise the speeches for later analysis.
After the speeches were over and the students released to return to their House common rooms, little Ginny Weasley came up to Hannah, whispering in her ear as she handed her a letter then running away blushing. Hannah rolled her eyes remembering her own crush and how she got over it, then looked at the letter. "It's for you, Harry." She said quietly, "Ginny was asking if she could get an answer in the morning, though she didn't mention what the question was."
"Alright, let's see what she wants." The group headed to 'their' room, girls cuddling with a Harry each, as the letter was opened and examined. "Oh, she just wants to pass on an invitation from her parents to stay for a while. They've wanted to thank me for rescuing Ginny and avenging the attack on their boys."
"You didn't, avenge them, I mean, did you?" Daphne asked. She couldn't picture Harry doing that for cruel boys like the twins were.
"I didn't do it for them, I did it to keep you safe, first and foremost. And yes, that does mean the story of the Chamber is going to be an interesting one."
"You're still not going to tell us, are you?" Hermione teased.
"It's not long now, my love, and you were doing so well being patient, too."
"Prat," she grinned, "you know you'd be trying to dig out the information too."
"Of course!" He laughed and gave each girl a cuddle, and then a kiss as their mood shifted, taking advantage of their brief window of privacy. Before their time was up, Daphne, feeling a little insecure because she hadn't had nearly enough time with him lately, asked him about the invitation.
"Oh, I'll accept, I think, unless there's a good reason not to. It'd be rude not to go, after all. I'm still hoping to see a lot of each of you though. One good thing about the summer is I don't have to hide as much."
They nodded, glad for the extra time they'd get with the young man they all adored.
"So, who wants to see a movie with me?"
Every hand went up, Lavender grinning as she held up her Harry's too. They chatted about various things before giving in to the inevitable and headed off to sleep. Naturally they planned to eat breakfast together for the last time until they returned to Hogwarts for their third year at the rather dangerous school. Harry hoped the trend would end, but was already planning for the worst. After all, this year had seen him go up against hundreds of the most dangerous class of creatures, and both years he'd encountered that 'dead' Dark Lord.
The breakfast talk was about summer plans, despite the friends generally knowing already, the excitement was building higher. "Hey, don't forget we've got the day at my place planned. Trust me, it'll be a day you'll never forget." Harry smiled, his parents had finally agreed to showing their ninja abilities, and generally reveal their secrets. They also had a party to throw, hopeful that the revelation wouldn't ruin the mood.
As for Harry, well, the clones at home were planning to spend a lot of the day with his Cranleigh girls, Ashley, Michelle, Meaghan, Ella and Stephanie. They were going to have fun over at Meaghan's place, her family had invited them over for a barbecue and swim. He'd keep the displays of affection as low-key as he could in deference to their preferences, but Michelle could be a handful, her impulses leading her to go further than was wise sometimes.
As Harry and his friends rode the train back to London, he knew that his life would never be boring. That was the way he liked it.
That night, two of the professors had a very interesting time. Gilderoy Lockhart had taken his leave as soon as the free meal was finished, though he was more polite about it than Severus Snape who did the same. He took the Floo to the Leaky Cauldron, eager to break his drought. "The sacrifices I make for teaching those kids," he muttered to himself, changing his clothes into something he felt more suitable for the clubs he would hit tonight, looking for some young girl to bless with his attentions.
He still stood out, of course, as he found a club with lots of young people dancing and drinking, but Gilderoy loved attention. Looking around, he found a gorgeous blonde with an athletic figure, surrounded by both her friends and her admirers both male and a couple of females too. Gilderoy drew his wand, trusting to the darkened interior of the dance club to cover his actions, and a Switching Spell later, the girl's drink had a new ingredient, a 'minor lust potion', as it was marketed, keyed only to Gilderoy. He didn't want to waste his time trying to chat up a Muggle when he could just use magic to get what he wanted.
As it happened, he wasn't the only wizard at the club that night. Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt had the night off and he still enjoyed the thrills of the dance scene. One of his friends from Hogwarts had introduced him to it over the summer following their graduation, and he would often go down, find a club and dance and watch the people, sometimes finding a girl interested in some no strings attached fun. That night, however, as the tall wizard watched over the crowd, he noticed the famous author and current Hogwarts DADA Professor walking to a girl who Kingsley had kept half an eye on. When Lockhart was a few paces away and finally in sight of the girl, she immediately brushed off her friends and rushed to Lockhart, grinding up against him.
A commotion broke out as her friends demanded to know who the man was, while the girl was trying to slip away from them so she could screw this stranger. Kingsley frowned as he recognised the signs of something strange, which in his experience meant magic. That meant, even on his night off, he'd have to do some work! Damn the man, he claimed to be a great wizard and hero, then the bugger goes and commits a crime right in front of an off-duty Auror.
Kingsley struggled through the crowd at first until they recognised what he was doing, more people getting out of the big man's way as he followed after the pair. The girl's friends had turned back, and Kingsley would have to question them about that, too, in case it was more magical interference.
By the time he made it to where he saw them, they were already out of the club and down a side alley. Hurrying against the tide of people moving in the club, he caught Lockhart and the girl in a compromising position. The notice-me-not charms were weak but enough to stop Muggles caring. The self-proclaimed protector had the girl on her knees and far more of the wizard exposed to view than Kingsley ever wanted to see. Two silent Stunners and a Cushioning Charm for the girl, and both were knocked out and on the ground, with Kingsley examining the girl and forcing her to swallow a Bezoar to neutralise the potion she'd obviously been given. He left Lockhart lying on the dirty street while he tended to the victim, waking her up and getting her statement before a memory charm made sure she didn't remember the questioning, believing instead that she'd gotten out there and the man had pushed her away, telling her to go back inside.
Once she had followed instructions, Shacklebolt took hold of Lockhart and spun on the spot, Apparating them straight to the DMLE arrivals area. The resulting scandal, while it wouldn't see the wizard punished for rape, did cost him his job at Hogwarts and most of his book sales, though some fans refused to believe the worst of their hero.
The other professor had both a much better, and much worse, time of it.
Minerva McGonagall was a firm teacher, proud, and loyal to her friends, as well as to her sense of justice.
Her problem was that these traits were now fighting one another. She had been a loyal friend to Albus Dumbledore for decades, serving in his Order of the Phoenix during the Rise of Voldemort as well as serving as his Deputy for so long. Normally, that wasn't a problem for her, he had been trying to improve their world, after all, fighting the Dark families and their adherents while refusing to 'sink to their level', as some might have put it. Albus was a great believer in redeeming people, and for that reason he opposed the death penalty, even advocating for early release or no prison terms for Dark wizards in order to promote their redemption 'back to the Light'. This, Minerva felt, was very noble, even if she didn't fully agree.
To her mind, justice should be served first. Redemption was all well and good, but it couldn't be given out, it must be earned. Still, Albus was her superior and she had supported him for that.
Then there was Halloween '81, and everything about that night. Somehow, You-Know-Who had been defeated, and Albus had sent her to watch over the family of Lily's sister, a most disagreeable group in her mind, then he'd dumped Lily's only boy, the only thing left of Minerva's friend, on their doorstep without even a word to them. Minerva had often wondered just why in Merlin's name she had meekly gone along with Albus' plan. It was most certainly not like her to make only a token objection to that madness.
Happily, little Harry was turning into a fine young man, now, but what he'd said about those people only matched what she had already feared. If it weren't for his rather unusual adopted parents, she was afraid he would have grown up without knowing love or kindness, which was no way for any child to live, let alone Harry.
Harry had surprised her when he turned up. For a start, he was neither Gryffindor, like his parents, nor Ravenclaw, as she'd felt Lily should have been, but a Hufflepuff. Then, he managed to get Severus Snape to see him as Lily's boy rather than a reminder of James, something she would never have expected. His good marks and friendly behaviour were another surprise, but a good one.
Then she reflected on the school year just past, which was where her problem really lay. Harry Potter had rescued Miss Weasley from the Chamber of Secrets, in the process saving the school and making it safe for all time from Slytherin's Monster. A grown wizard would have had trouble matching his feat, but it was left to a twelve year old boy with only two years of magical training to do a job that Albus Dumbledore should have done. And that was another issue. The way Fawkes had popped into the Chamber so conveniently raised questions like why Albus didn't go with him to give Harry proper backup, or better still get Harry and Ginny out of danger straight away!
It also, she realised then, meant Fawkes could have saved Albus at any time he came under attack. That put a different spin on how unconcerned the old man was about the attacks. It was like he alone was truly safe, and was doing nothing to protect others, even opposing for months Madame Bones' efforts to get Aurors in the school to help, instead of getting in and helping her get them to protect the students in their care. It was like danger to the students didn't matter to him as much as solving the puzzle.
Just like last year when the Philosopher's Stone was kept in the school behind deadly traps, putting students at risk not just from the traps but from whoever was trying to get it. She'd argued with him about that, but he'd ignored her. She'd heard from Pomona that he'd instead wanted Harry returned to those dreadful Dursleys. And just what happened to Professor Quirrell? He'd up and disappeared.
No, she couldn't put it off any longer. She could no longer trust Albus Dumbledore, and with that trust dead, killed by his own hands, she could no longer count him as a friend. That thought wasn't as painful as she thought it would be, and her mind turned to the reason for that. The wizard she trusted most right now was, strange as it may be, Harry Potter. The young man was hard-working, loyal, smart and braver than any Gryffindor since his father. Minerva smiled at last, glad she would get to talk to the boy more about his family. It was a crime for him not to know what they were like, and a joy to teach Harry.
Thank you for reading, and thanks again go out to my betas Cloud Zen, Slicerness and Daisy Duck for their help in making this story the best it can be. Your feedback is eagerly anticipated and your support has been most satisfying.