Daphne's fingers remained crossed even as the Sorting Hat was taken off her sister's head and she began to make her way to the blue-and-bronze table, where she received scattered applause.
When Astoria sat down, alone, she made sure she was seated so she could face them at the Slytherin table.
"Happy?" Daphne mouthed to her sister.
"Yeah," Astoria mouthed back, nodding her head and smiling slightly.
Daphne uncrossed her fingers and sighed in relief, turning to grin at Harry and Tracey. They settled in to watch the remainder of the sorting but exchanged more grins when the girl with dirty-blonde hair, "Lovegood, Luna", was sorted into Ravenclaw as well, as when the hat was removed the girl floated over to sit right beside Astoria.
The sorting continued, though the only name any of them recognised came when the final new student, "Weasley, Ginevra," joined her older brothers in Gryffindor. Once Professor McGonagall had retaken her seat at his side Dumbledore stood and smiled benignly at his full hall of students. "Welcome one and all to another year at Hogwarts! The Start-of-Term speech can wait until we are fed and watered, so for now, allow me to tell you all a humourous joke I heard over the summer."
Beside him, Professor McGonagall began to rub the bridge of her nose.
Dumbledore continued to smile. "How does a Niffler find its hoard?" He paused, looking around the room at the vacant expressions on his student's faces. "Diggin'"
At once, the tables were laden with food while Dumbledore beamed brightly at them all, ignoring the exasperated groans from the students and especially his staff. As he was sitting back down in his throne-like chair, a Weasley twin stood and shouted at him. "That was terrible, sir, let me tell you one-"
"I think we have had enough jokes for tonight, Mr. Weasley," Professor McGonagall cut in sharply, giving Dumbledore a filthy look.
As they were piling their plates with food, Harry turned to look past Tracey at the rest of their year mates, who were sitting further away from them than they had at the Leaving Feast. Tracey, seeing where he was looking, turned to look at them as well.
When he noticed Harry looking, Malfoy sneered before turning away pointedly, earning a snort of amusement from Harry. "I'm guessing they've given up on finding a way into our good graces," Harry said, turning to Daphne.
Looking up from her Shepherd's Pie, Daphne glanced past the two of them to the larger group. "What a crying shame, whatever shall we do?"
Harry chuckled and turned to Tracey. "What do you think, Tracey?"
Tracey shrugged as she cut into her beef. "No idea, Harry, I didn't speak to any of them after...you know," She finished with an embarrassed shrug.
"What about Zabini? You two sat together," Harry asked as he glanced at the dark-skinned boy, who was now sitting alone.
"We only ever said hello and goodbye to each other, we aren't friends. Zabini doesn't really care about having company, but I didn't want to be on my own and he never told me to go away," Tracey explained between mouthfuls.
"Fair enough," Harry shrugged before focusing his attention on his roast dinner.
The feast passed quickly as the three of them chatted. When the dessert plates, which had replaced the main course, had disappeared Dumbledore rose to his feet again to give his Start-of-Term speech.
The only change since last year was Quirrell, who Dumbledore informed them was taking an extended leave (quite a few students turned to look at Harry then, earning glares from Daphne and Tracey), being replaced as the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher by Gilderoy Lockhart. When he was introduced, the man got to his feet and bowed deeply, smiling widely and showing off his perfect teeth.
"He does look very punchable," Daphne muttered, resulting in Harry having to stifle a laugh.
When the houses were dismissed to their common rooms, Harry and Daphne jumped to their feet and rushed around their table to Astoria, followed by Tracey who ambled along after them. When they reached her the younger girl gave them a small smile, but up close they could see how nervous she was.
Daphne spoke quickly to her sister. "Your Prefects will show you to the common room and they'll escort you back here for breakfast tomorrow where you'll get your schedule. When you get it, show it to me and we'll find a time where we're all free to show you around the castle, okay?"
Astoria smiled gratefully at her sister, nodding her head, but was interrupted from answering by the girl who had been sitting beside her.
"I believe they are waiting for us," She said to Astoria, her grey eyes looking at the impatient Ravenclaw Prefect, around which the rest of the first years had already gathered.
"Okay, Luna," Astoria said to the other girl, before quickly turning to Harry, Daphne, and the now-arrived Tracey. "This is Luna Lovegood, by the way." She introduced the other girl. "Luna, this is my sister Daphne, my 'sort-of' brother Harry," Astoria winked at him before moving on to Tracey. "And this is Tracey."
"Hello, Daphne, Harry and Tracey." Luna greeted serenely.
"Hello, Luna," They all responded politely. When the other girl just smiled in response, Daphne turned back to her younger sister.
"Go on, Tori, we'll see you...and Luna, in the morning," Daphne urged. Astoria nodded and together with Luna, she bounded off and joined their fellow year mates.
The hall was clearing of students when Harry, after sharing a quick look with Daphne, walked away toward the staff table.
"Where's he going?" Tracey asked the other girl as she watched Harry quickly waylay Dumbledore as he was leaving, speaking in hushed tones with the Headmaster.
"He's just asking Dumbledore's permission for something," Daphne responded quietly. "Sorry, Trace, but we can't say what it is. It's-"
"Private," Tracey butted in, smiling. "It's okay Daph, I understand, you don't have to tell me," Tracey assured the other girl, who smiled appreciatively at her for understanding. Together, they waited for Harry to return, and when he did they began to walk to the Slytherin common room.
Quickly making their way through the room, where they noted they were receiving either appraising or downright hostile glances from those gathered in the common room/ Deciding to ignore them, the trio continued on their way into the corridor that held their private rooms.
As each of them stood in front of their individual doors, Tracey, who had the room beside Daphne's, turned to the other two. "I'll see you in the morning?"
They both nodded and smiled at her. "Sure, whoever gets up first can just knock to wake the others," Daphne proposed. When the other two nodded, Tracey beamed and called out goodnight before stepping into her room and closing the door.
As soon as she was gone, Daphne moved from her own door and entered alongside Harry into his. After she had shut the door behind her, Harry quickly made his way to his trunk, rifling through it and fishing out his invisibility cloak.
"What did Dumbledore say?" Daphne asked as he walked back over to her.
"He gave us permission to go tonight, as long as we are back in our rooms by midnight, but he wants us to visit her during weekend days after this one time so we're not breaking curfew," Harry reported.
Daphne nodded her acceptance as Harry lifted the cloak over the pair of them. They left the room, creeping through the common area until they reached the door, where they had to wait until nobody was looking before they could exit.
Once they had, Daphne turned to look over her shoulder at the boy, both of them grinning as they made their way to the second floor.
After an absence of two months, it was time to reunite with their friend.
Serana was waiting in the main chamber for them when they arrived.
As soon as her yellow eyes settled on the pair of them she spoke happily. "Harry, Daphne, it is good to see you both again."
"Hello, Serana," Harry smiled up at his gargantuan friend as they came to a stop before her. He was reaching out to rub the scales on the side of her neck when Daphne spoke behind him.
"Hallow, Sera," Daphne said slowly, trying to replicate Harry's greeting.
Serana stared at the girl for a moment before turning to Harry. "Harry, why is she butchering our language?"
"Shush, she's trying, okay?" Harry quickly scolded the basilisk before turning to Daphne. "That was great, Daph, you nearly got it!"
Daphne beamed at him before turning blindly behind her. "Have you conjured chairs yet?"
"Oh, no, wait a sec," Harry quickly conjured two armchairs for the pair of them and walked over to guide the close-eyed Daphne into one. He settled in beside her and turned back to Serana, smiling widely.
"I've missed you, Serana," Harry told her as he settled back into his seat.
"I have missed you too, little one, both of you," Serana hissed back as she slithered closer to the pair of them, lowering her large head and resting it before them.
"Did you get the food Dumbledore arranged for you?" Harry asked with a knowing grin.
Serana hissed in satisfaction. "Yes, you never told me that would happen. The large man provided plentiful offerings almost nightly," She reported, and Harry was sure that if she was capable of it she would be smiling widely. "I have not needed to hunt since we saw each other last."
"The Headmaster wanted to make sure you were provided for after being left on your own for so long, Hagrid was happy to help." Harry informed her with a grin as he thought about his giant friend.
Serana lifted her head imperiously. "As is my right as the protector of this school,"
Harry laughed and turned to update Daphne on the conversation. As she giggled at the basilisk's high opinion of herself, Harry shuffled in his seat and turned back to Serana. "About that, there's actually something I wanted to talk to you about." When Serana lifted her head again with interest Harry continued. "This summer, we received a warning that there was a plot that would take place here that might put me, and the rest of the students, in danger."
Serana hissed angrily. "Tell me all you know, Harry,"
Harry told her all they knew about the plot from Dobby's warning, which unfortunately amounted to very little information. When Harry told her of the old book, Serana hissed again unhappily. "I do not know what it could be but I will be vigilant."
"I know," Harry smiled before he began to tell her of their summer, with occasional input from Daphne when he paused his retelling to translate for her. When he had finished he asked Serana how her summer had gone.
"I made my patrols as usual, but I spent much of my time resting. I am relieved that my food requirements were taken care of," Serana recounted as she laid her head back on the stone floor. "I have felt fatigued more often recently."
"Are you ill?" Harry asked quickly and worriedly.
"No, little one, I am just getting old. It has been many years since my Master hatched me," Serana told him gently. "Now go on back to your nest, you are to resume your learning tomorrow and you will need your rest."
"Yes, Mum," Harry responded cheekily as he got to his feet, pulling Daphne up with him. "We'll come back to see you on Sunday, that's in four nights' time. We could bring Hagrid, the large man who has been leaving you your food. I'm sure he'd love to meet you if you agree?"
Serana stretched her jaw, once again making Harry think she was trying to smile. "I would be happy to meet your friend, little one. Now, off you go, I will look forward to your next visit."
Together, the two children made their way toward the passage that would lead to the boathouse exit, but Harry paused to turn to the curled-up Basilisk in the middle of the chamber before he left.
"Goodbye, Serana,"
"Goodbye, little one,"
The next morning, after the pair of them had spent five minutes pounding on Tracey's door to wake her up, the three of them made their way to the Great Hall for breakfast.
"It's too early to be awake," Tracey moaned through a yawn as she dropped onto the Slytherin bench heavily.
Harry shook his head at the girl as he took the seat beside her. "It's quarter past seven, it's not that early. We don't know if we have a class first period so we'll need to make the most of this time to eat breakfast."
"It's too early to use logic," Tracey moaned again as she crossed her arms on top of the table and laid her head on them.
Daphne had her eyes trained on the doorway as she buttered her toast. "I hope everything went well for Tori,"
Harry followed her line of sight as he did the same with his own toast. "We'll find out soon," He turned back to Daphne but paused when he saw Snape making his way toward them from the staff table. "Here comes Snape,"
Reaching them, the hook-nosed Potions Master dropped Harry and Daphne's schedules in front of them without a word, but when he turned to Tracey he sneered at the sight of her. "Davis, wake up!" He barked harshly.
Tracey jumped up, looking around widely until she caught sight of their Head of House. "Sorry, Professor,"
Snape's sneer deepened as he dropped her schedule on the table before stalking away to the next batch of students.
Unperturbed, Tracey liberated Harry's toast, biting into the first slice happily as she plucked up her schedule to peruse it. "Looks like our Head of House hates me too, now. That should be fun."
Harry was too busy mourning the loss of his perfectly buttered toast to reply, so Daphne tore her eyes away from the doorway to lean across him. "Welcome to the club, we're still working on membership badges but we'll keep you posted,"
While she had been speaking Harry, who was munching on a slice of toast he had stolen from Daphne's plate while she was distracted, turned his own eyes to the doorway. "Oh, Tori is here."
As Astoria, once again in the company of Luna, took a seat at the Ravenclaw table Daphne picked up her own schedule and got to her feet. "While you two are busy with your budding careers as toast bandits, I'm going to speak to my sister,"
Harry and Tracey both grunted in response, mouths full of food, as Daphne rolled her eyes and quickly made her way toward the Ravenclaw table. When she reached the two first years she dropped into the seat opposite them.
"Morning, how did your first night go?" Daphne asked her sister.
"It was fine," Astoria answered tightly, her expression stony. Daphne frowned and was about to question her when Astoria shook her head minutely. Daphne's frown deepened as she turned to Luna.
"How about you, Luna? Everything go okay?"
Luna blinked at her slowly. "Yes, our new common room is very interesting. Our house has its own private library, I'm excited to begin exploring it." The girl reported in a dreamy voice.
Daphne quirked her head. "That's useful, do you have your own rooms too?"
Astoria's stony look hardened while Luna shook her head. "No, we are sharing with two other girls. They do not seem to like Astoria very much,"
Astoria turned and gave the girl beside her a withering look, but Luna did not seem to notice as she reached out and took an apple from a bowl in front of her, biting into it with a happy smile. With the object of her frustration ignoring her, Astoria sighed and turned to her sister. "All I did was say hello, but they know our surname and weren't interested in speaking to me. Don't worry, I can handle them."
At that moment, Harry and Tracey both sat down on either side of Daphne, having migrated over from the Slytherin table themselves. "What can you handle?" Harry questioned, having heard the end of the conversation.
Daphne turned quickly to answer him. "The other girls in their dorm believe the stories about Mum and Dad,"
Harry gave Astoria a sympathetic look, receiving a smile from the younger girl before he turned back to Daphne. "Have you read the schedules?"
Daphne shook her head and nodded toward Astoria and Luna. "They haven't got theirs yet," She paused and looked past him at the staff table. "But look, Professor Flitwick is sorting them now so it shouldn't be long."
"We've got him first, a double period with the Hufflepuffs," Tracey informed her from her other side. "Then double Defence after lunch with the Gryffindors."
That cheered Astoria up as she immediately grinned across the table at her older sister. "Tough luck sister, let me know how it goes."
Daphne raised her eyebrow at her. "Don't talk too soon, Tori, here comes your Head of House with your schedules," As Astoria, and Luna who was now eating her second apple, turned to watch the diminutive man approach, Daphne continued with a grin. "You might have him before us."
"I bloody hope not," Astoria replied quickly before smiling at Professor Flitwick as he came to a stop before them.
"Good morning Miss Greengrass, Miss Lovegood," He smiled at his two new students, before turning to the three Slytherins. "And Mr. Potter, the elder Miss Greengrass, Miss Davis, a good morning to you also."
"Morning, Professor," The older three all chorused as the Professor turned to his newest charges.
"Your schedules, girls. The Prefects will escort you to your classes for the first week so be sure to try and memorise the way to each." He instructed with a smile before turning back to the older three. "I will see you all first period."
He bounded away as Astoria quickly opened her schedule, sighing in relief when her eyes quickly found Wednesday morning. "No Defence, thank Merlin. We've got Transfiguration with the Gryffindors first."
Daphne motioned with her hand for Astoria to pass her schedule over, but as she was still reading it she didn't notice. However, Luna did and offered her own to the older girl, who took it with a smile.
"Thanks, Luna," She told her quickly as she took out her own schedule to compare. "Okay, we've all got the last period free. You've got Charms, so when it's over stay by the classroom and we'll come to you."
Astoria nodded her agreement, so Daphne passed Luna's schedule back to her. After putting it back into her robes, the blonde girl settled in to look at the boy sitting opposite her, her grey eyes on his own green. "You are Harry Potter," She informed him helpfully.
Harry blinked. "Err, yeah, just Harry is fine though,"
Luna nodded serenely before she reached out to the bowl in front of her again, taking four apples from it. She passed two to Astoria before placing the remaining in a robe pocket each.
"You must really like apples?" Tracey said with a small smirk at the younger girl's actions.
Luna looked up at her oddly. "They are pleasant, but they are not for me. Daddy said that it is customary to give an apple to the Professors at the start of each class, I did not want to attend unprepared." She replied matter-of-factly, so much so that both Harry and Tracey jerked back with frowns, wondering if it was true and if they had both committed dreadful faux paus last year.
While they were still trying to work it out, Luna turned to Astoria. "Our year mates are gathering again." She told the other girl simply as she got to her own feet. "Goodbye, Harry, Daphne, Tracey," She said, giving a small wave to each, before slowly making her way to the other first years that were standing with a waiting Prefect.
When she had gone, Astoria turned and smiled at them all.
"Isn't she great? She's absolutely nuts, I've just secured my entertainment for the next seven years."
Charms class passed much too quickly, and lunch after it, and soon they were making their way slowly toward the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom.
As Harry and Daphne dragged their feet, Tracey kept trying to hurry them along. "Come on, it won't be that bad!"
Daphne gave her a flat look. "Of course you'd think that, it wasn't your mum who punched him."
Tracey giggled. "I know, but from what you told me he's probably used to getting punched, I'm sure he's forgotten about it."
When they arrived at the classroom they found that the door was already opened, and when they entered they found all of the female members of both houses already present and filling up the first two rows.
Rolling her eyes, Daphne led them to the back row, taking the desk in the far left corner beside Harry as Tracey plonked down at the desk beside theirs. Eventually, the males of the class trudged into the room, quickly finding seats of their own. Zabini sat beside Tracey with a muttered hello, but otherwise said nothing.
Once the last student, Longbottom, had taken his seat, their attention was diverted to the office door at the front of the classroom as it was opened. Lockhart stood in the doorway for a moment, leaning roguishly on it and smiling widely at them all.
The occupants of the front two rows all sighed dreamily in unintended chorus, which the man seemed to have been waiting for as he then closed the door behind him and made his way to the desk at the front of the room.
"A very good morning to you all!" Lockhart greeted cheerfully, looking around at them all. He stepped forward, plucking a book from the pile on Pansy Parkinson's desk. He held it up, pointing to the picture of himself smiling and winking on the front. "Me", he said, pointing at it and winking in time. "Gilderoy Lockhart, Order of Merlin, Third Class, Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defence League and five-times winner of Witch Weekly's Most-Charming-Smile Award - but I don't talk about that. I didn't get rid of the Bandon Banshee by smiling at her."
He stopped then, grinning at them again as he waited for laughs. None did, the boys looked faintly ill while the girl's were staring up at him adoringly, barely paying attention to what he was actually saying.
He clapped his hands together after a moment "Now, first things first, before I begin imparting my vast knowledge on your young, eager minds, I will take the register. Though I am sure you are all present, after all, who would be fool enough to miss the first class taught by Gilderoy Lockhart?" He asked dramatically, posing and grinning roguishly again.
Harry, Daphne and Tracey all shared nauseous looks.
Lockhart went around to his desk and daintily sat on his comfortable seat, pulling the register toward him. As he called out names, he would pause to smile at each of them, but when he got to "Greengrass, Daphne" the smile dropped from his face as he slowly looked up at the class.
"Here, sir," Daphne called out, lifting her hand in the air and her eyebrow challengingly.
Lockhart eyed her for a moment before nodding shortly, resuming his roll call, but when he reached "Potter, Harry," he smiled wider than he had at any point thus far and looked up eagerly.
"Here, sir," Harry called from beside Daphne. Lockhart beamed at him for a moment before he glanced at the girl beside him, eyebrows furrowed. As one, Harry and Daphne slowly and obviously made fists with their left hands before placing their elbows on their desks and resting their head on the knuckles of their fists, grinning knowingly.
Whilst Tracey frantically tried to stifle her laughter, Lockhart's nostrils flared for a moment before he hurriedly looked back down at the register, quickly making his way through it.
"Now," He clapped his hands again. "How about we start with a little quiz to ensure you have all read your books," He paused again, glancing around at each student's desk. "Well done, I see you all have purchased them. Now, this quiz will be nothing to worry about, I just want to check you have all read them, see how well you've taken them in."
After Bullstrode, who had been handed the quizzes and asked to pass them around, had given them theirs they looked down and began to read. Harry couldn't believe it when he saw what the questions were, and the sheer number of them, 54 in total spread over three whole pages. He shared a disbelieving look with the girls either side of him before, with a sigh, he began to write his answers as truthfully and honestly as he could.
He managed to get eight questions in before he grew bored and looked over to Daphne's answers.
DEFENCE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS SECOND YEAR ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE TEST
1. What is Gilderoy Lockhart's favourite colour? - The colour of money.
2. What is Gilderoy Lockhart's secret ambition? - To one day no longer require outside help to tie his shoelaces.
3. What, in your opinion, is Gilderoy Lockhart's greatest achievement to date? - Finding a toupée that looks like real hair.
4. Who is Gilderoy Lockhart's greatest friend? - Marie Greengrass, she's the only person in his life who has treated him as he deserves.
5. After which daring adventure was Gilderoy Lockhart awarded the Order of Merlin, Third Class? - He finally managed to spell his own name - he's so proud of it that he writes it out in it's entirety at every opportunity.
6. How many times has Gilderoy Lockhart won Witch Weekly's Most-Charming-Smile Award? - He won it? Wow, he's never mentioned it before.
7. Which is Gilderoy Lockhart's best side for photographs? - His backside.
8. Has Gilderoy Lockhart ever won the Dunstable Duelling Championship for wizards or just been pipped at the post? - Of course, he always wins- hold on, I thought it said the Dunce Duelling Championships, never mind.
9. Which product does Gilderoy Lockhart use to clean his teeth with to achieve his famous dazzling white smile? - I'm not sure, but I'd recommend Basilisk venom.
10. What is the person name which Gilderoy Lockhart has given to his broomstick? - Josephine my flying machine.
Harry had to clutch the desk hard, breathing heavily through his nose. He shared an amused look with the girl, who was grinning as she continued to answer the questions. Well, if she was determined to get a detention, he may as well join her.
To that end, he erased his previous answers and began to write quickly, all the way to the third page and the final question:
54. When is Gilderoy Lockhart's birthday, and what would his ideal gift be? - The day he was born, and he already has his ideal gift - a picture of himself.
Bullstrode was once again sent out to retrieve the quizzes and when she reached their table she idly glanced down at Daphne's, which had ended up on top of the pile. The large girl snorted once, shaking her head with amusement, before she returned to the front. When she reached him, Lockhart smiled and winked at her, causing the large girl to gasp and drop the papers.
Lockhart chuckled and, waving off the girl's frantic apologies, leaned down and gathered up the tests. He began to read the top one - which, of course, was Daphne's. His eyebrows were nearly in his hairline as he skimmed her answers and he began to shake his head. "Tut tut, Miss Greengrass, this really won't do." He flipped the page and continued to skim her answers, tutting again. When he had reached the end, he placed the test down with a sigh and looked up at her.
Daphne smiled at him innocently, her head leaning on her fist yet again
Lockhart looked very much like he was about to lose his temper before he caught himself and began to smile stupidly again. "Not to worry, my dear, as it is only the first day I believe I can excuse your lack of knowledge for now. After all, we have all year to catch you up!" He looked away then to the other tests, missing Daphne pretending to sob.
He thumbed through the tests again. "Oh dear, hardly any of you remembered that my favourite colour is lilac. I say so in Year with a Yeti. And a few of you need to read Wanderings with Werewolves more carefully - I clearly state in chapter twelve that my ideal birthday gift would be harmony between all magic and non-magic peoples - though I wouldn't say no to a large bottle of Ogden's Old Firewhisky!"
He winked at them all yet again before he suddenly paused and began to inspect one of the quizzes more thoroughly "Oh ho, well, it seems as if one of you has studied their books." He looked up, glancing around the room. "Where is Miss Tracey Davis?"
The whole room turned to look at the girl at the back of the room in surprise, with the exception of Harry and Daphne, who merely looked betrayed. Lockhart beamed at her when she shakily rose her hand before he quickly skimmed the rest of her answers. "I do believe you have earned full marks, Miss Davis! Very well done!"
Tracey, blushing from head to toe, nodded bashfully and breathed out a sigh of relief when the rest of the class turned back around as Lockhart, finished with his perusal of the tests, had spoken again. "If you would all wait a moment, I have a rather splendid surprise for you all."
As he bent down under his desk to retrieve this surprise, Harry and Daphne turned to Tracey. "How could you?" Daphne demanded, looking hurt.
Tracey looked mortified. "I had nothing else to do for the rest of summer! I tried, Daph, I really did, but I had to give up and read the bloody things." She cocked her head apologetically toward the front of the room. "I know he's a twit, but you've got to give it to him, he writes a good story."
Daphne stuck her nose up in the air but was unable to respond verbally as Lockhart had just emerged and placed a large cage with a cloth draped over it onto his desk. He moved around the desk until he stood before it, looking seriously at them all.
"Now - be warned. It is my job to arm you against the foulest creatures known to wizardkind! You may find yourselves facing your worst fears in this room. Know only that no harm can befall you whilst I am here. All I ask is that you remain calm." He told them dramatically, his voice barely above a whisper.
He reached out with his hand and grasped the top of the cover but paused to look around at them all again. "I must ask you all not to scream," He said lowly, quite effectively building the tension in the room. "It might provoke them."
As one, the whole class held their breath as Lockhart theatrically whipped the cloth from the cage, revealing the little blue creatures trapped within. Their tiny, beady black eyes looked out of the bars of their prison malevolently at them all.
"Yes, freshly-caught Cornish pixies!"
Harry was staring at a particular pixie that was making a rather rude hand gesture at him when it had noticed him looking and therefore missed whatever was said that preceded Lockhart losing what little mind he previously possessed and opening the cage.
Instantly, the pixies flew out of the cage and descended upon them like something from the Book of Revelations, and only a quick shield from Harry protected the three of them whilst the rest of the class found themselves under attack.
A cage full of eight-inch pixies against the other 13 twelve-year-olds and one allegedly adult wizard.
They never stood a chance.
The pixies were everywhere, stealing inkwells and dumping them over people's heads, urinating on the myriad of self-portraits that Lockhart had placed around the room, and one had either suavely bartered for, or more likely forcibly stolen poor Neville Longbottom's wand and was currently dancing provocatively on the desk with it, whispering sweet nothings into the wand's non-existent ears as it did so.
"Round them up, round them up, they're only pixies!" Lockhart shouted before he removed his own wand with a flourish. "Peskipiksi Pesternomi!"
Harry had never felt such a lack of surprise as he did when absolutely nothing happened after Lockhart's attempt at a spell, nor when the pixie that had stolen Longbottom's wand, which had apparently received permission from its wooden beau to add another to their relationship, stole Lockhart's right from his hand and, after retrieving its first love, flew them both over to the top of the wardrobe where it began to do unspeakable and frankly somewhat immoral things to both of them.
Ignoring the pixie and its rather unorthodox inanimate harem, Harry was instead watching their teacher flee for his life, or at the very least his toupée, and race out of the door as the bell rang for the end of their double period.
Wisely, the rest of the class followed after him, with the exception of the three Slytherins at the back (Harry was currently holding up both Daphne and Tracey as they cried tears of laughter into his shoulders) and Neville Longbottom, who had somehow found himself hanging by his collar from the chandelier - which was, unfortunately for him, a perfect height from which to witness what his wand was currently being used for.
"I-I never-" Daphne had to pause as she began to laugh wildly again. Breathing heavily, she managed to get herself under control enough to continue "I n-never thought that I'd s-say this, but t-that was the best l-lesson we've ever had!" She howled, clutching her ribs and burying her face in Harry's shoulder.
"Potter," A voice calmly intoned from his other side. Harry turned to Tracey's desk and for the first time noticed that Zabini was still present, ink running down his face. "Would it have killed you to extend that shield to cover me as well?"
Harry winced at the other boy. "Err, sorry"
Zabini shook his head, got to his feet, walked stoically through the hell the pixies put him through, and left the room without another word.
The three of them glanced at each other for a moment before they gathered their things. Harry kept up his shield to protect them as they made their way to the door, marvelling at the chaos that had been caused to the room.
They made it out of the door and were halfway down the corridor when they heard a loud crash.
They all stopped, one foot each hanging in the air, and slowly turned back to the Theatre of Mayhem, formally known as the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom.
It was Daphne who realised what had happened first.
"Oh sweet Merlin we forgot Longbottom," She whispered, horrified.
Harry's mind unfroze and he quickly ran back into the room, wand brandished and ready to defend the Gryffindor. His eyes quickly found the remains of the chandelier, but Longbottom was thankfully not pinned beneath it.
Instead, the boy had somehow managed to clamber up to the top of the wardrobe and was currently throttling the pixie who had stolen his wand. As Daphne and Tracey skidded to a halt beside him, their own eyes widening at the actions of the usually timid boy, Harry shared a glance with the pixie horde, who had all frozen themselves to witness the murder of one of their own.
The two sides stared at each other for a long moment before one of the pixies, perhaps their leader, rose high into the air and released a war cry, pointing at Longbottom who was still shaking the now-limp pixie.
The battle that occurred next lasted for all of a second before Harry froze every single one of the little menaces.
It went down in Hogwarts Legend anyway, mainly because Tracey had a gift for exaggeration.
It had not taken him very long to exert a certain degree of control over the foolish girl.
He was Tom Riddle, after all, and no matter how strong-willed the chit had proven to be, she could not hope to keep him out for long. Sitting up in the girl's bed, he looked around the darkened room before slowly he brought her legs around and placed them on the cold floor of the dormitory.
Cold.
It felt wonderful.
Fifty years of feeling nothing gave one an appreciation for the simple things in life, even what would have otherwise been an uncomfortable feeling. He slowly stood and, shakily, took a deep lungful of air.
He never thought he would miss the simple act of breathing, but he had.
He closed the girl's eyes and took a moment to revel in the feeling for a moment before he shook his head firmly. The moment of frivolity was gone, it was down to business now.
He moved as quickly as he could toward the doorway, struggling slightly as he was unused to being much shorter than usual, and quickly slipped out of the room. He glanced around the hideously red and gold common room, finding it empty, and then made his way out of the portrait hole.
He smiled, small and fleeting though it was as he looked around the seventh-floor corridor. He had spent the last fifty years in Salazar's Chamber, unable to leave it, and he felt as much joy as he was capable of when he finally set eyes on another part of his home.
Shaking his head again, he expertly made his way through the hallways of the castle, his knowledge of its stonework unrivalled, before he arrived at the second-floor bathroom that housed the entrance to his noble ancestor's lair and the beast he had left for his descendant.
Sliding down the tunnel, just this once in too good of a mood to bemoan the indignity of it, he landed smoothly on his feet when he reached the end. He walked swiftly forwards until he reached the wall.
"Open."
Slowly, the wall before him dissolved, and he walked into the same chamber he had been entombed in for the last half-century.
He walked until he was in the centre of the room, and he waited.
Of course, he did not have to wait long until the mouth of the statue of Salazar Slytherin opened slowly, and the head of his most useful tool emerged.
"Is that you, Harry?" The beast questioned as its tongue tasted the air before it as it slithered fully out of the passage, and it reared back when it either saw him or sensed him.
Or her, it did not matter at the moment.
Tom cocked his head as he regarded the beast, staring fearlessly into its yellow eyes. "You have had company since I saw you last? How wonderful for you." He hissed softly to it, slowly stepping closer to the frozen beast.
Slowly, the face of Ginny Weasley stretched into a thin, cruel smile, her eyes narrowing as Tom glared at the Basilisk.
"You must tell me all about this 'Harry', my pet."
Having spent all of Saturday giving Astoria, and Luna, the "Grand Hogwarts Tour", as Tracey called it, they had to wait until the next day to meet with the second largest friend they had at Hogwarts.
Only Astoria joined them this time as Daphne had explained to Tracey that they had a surprise for her little sister. Nodding in understanding, Tracey had thrown her arm around Luna's shoulder and announced that the two of them would be having their own fun without them.
Luna seemed happy either way.
So, it was Harry, Daphne and Astoria who knocked on the wooden door of Hagrid's hut, the oldest two sharing a grin when the booming barks of Fang could be heard, and soon enough the door opened and the great head of Rubeus Hagrid poked out to regard them.
"Hello, yeh two!" Hagrid beamed through his thick beard at the older pair, before his eyes moved to Astoria. "An' yeh've brought a guest! Come in, come in."
They entered, and almost immediately Astoria was under assault from an enthusiastic boarhound. More falling than sitting on the seat beneath her, she stroked the dog's coarse fur happily, a wide smile on her face.
"Hagrid, this is my little sister, Astoria," Daphne introduced as she amusedly watched Fang lick her sister's face.
"Hello, Astoria! Pleasure ter meet yeh," Hagrid smiled at the younger girl as he absently grabbed Fang's collar and pulled him off the girl, forcing the dog to rest his head on her lap.
"Likewise, Mr. Hagrid," Astoria replied with a polite smile.
"Jus' Hagrid's fine. How're yeh all?" He asked as he brought over the steaming kettle, passing cups to each of them.
Harry and Daphne began to recount their summer, with help from Astoria every now and then, while Hagrid did the same. When he began to tell them about leaving food for Serana, Harry and Daphne shared a wry smile.
"Actually, about that..." Harry started as he turned from Daphne to look between Hagrid and Astoria. "How would you like to meet her?"
Harry wasn't really sure how it had happened, but the next time he was aware of anything he was moving quickly toward the castle doors at a much quicker pace than he imagined possible, his body perfectly perpendicular.
Looking to his side, he found Daphne in a similar position to himself, though he had to look past familiar legs to see her.
It was when Hagrid burst through the castle doors that he finally stopped and looked down quickly at the boy he was carrying in his right hand as easily as if he were a twig. "Which way, Harry, which way?" The giant man questioned excitedly.
"Second-floor bathroom, Hagrid," Daphne told him from his left hand.
Hagrid thundered toward the staircase, students jumping out of his path, and began to take them five at a time. As he bounded over the last step, Astoria finally spoke from her place draped over the man's left shoulder.
"This wasn't how I was expecting my day to go, to be honest."
"Remember, both of you, keep your eyes closed. Do not open them for even a second, understand?" Daphne said sternly to the pair, eyeing her sister especially.
Whilst Astoria nodded seriously, Hagrid did not deign to answer and instead dived down the hole that they had only just measured to make sure he could fit through.
Harry, staring after the giant man, just shrugged. "At least this means he won't land on any of us at the bottom." He turned and smiled at the two girls. "I'll see you down there."
Harry jumped, leaving Daphne alone with Astoria. She stepped closer to her little sister, placing both hands on her shoulders. "Promise me, Tori, promise me that you won't open your eyes. Mum and Dad trusted me with this, so you have to listen to me."
"I promise, Daph," Astoria agreed firmly. Daphne inspected her face for a moment, looking for signs of deceit, before she finally nodded and stepped back.
"Go on, then."
As she watched her sister dive down the hole, Daphne just shook her head as she stood on the precipice, waiting a few seconds to follow. "Why oh why did she jump headfirst?"
Once she had landed at the bottom, she discovered that Harry had already decided to use their last resort and had conjured a thick cloth that was now wrapped around the upper part of Hagrid's face, making it impossible for the man to see.
Harry turned to Astoria and raised his eyebrow, to which the younger girl responded by squeezing her eyes closed tightly. Nodding to himself, he stepped closer to the girl and turned so his back was to her. "Okay, Tori, put your hands on my shoulders and keep them there."
The girl quickly did so and after Daphne had then placed her hands on Astoria's, Harry quickly guided Hagrid until he could do the same on Daphne's. After looking back once more to make sure the Greengrass sisters both had their eyes closed, he began to lead them toward the chamber.
Their footsteps echoed loudly as they made their way toward the doorway, which, with a quick hiss, Harry quickly opened. He smiled widely when he saw that Serana was waiting in the centre of the chamber for them.
"Hello, Serana, I brought-"
That was as far as Harry got before, to his utter horror and confusion, his friend lunged for the group, her large maw wide and ready to bite down on the first thing she could.
In a split second, Harry conjured the strongest shield he could. He staggered when Serana's head smashed into the shield and she bounced back, hissing angrily and shaking her large head in pain.
"Rip, tear, kill."
Harry's eyes widened when he heard her words. He stared numbly at his friend for a moment before Daphne spoke frantically from behind him. "Harry, what's going on? What's-"
She was unable to finish as Serana lunged for them again, forcing Harry to exert all of his energy to ensure his shield held, for if it did not he knew that it would mean the death of them all. Once again, the Basilisk rebounded off his shield, hissing in pain and agony. She shook her head for only a moment before stopping, her yellow eyes boring into Harry's own green. He saw no recognition, no friendliness in the eyes of his friend.
Somehow, someway, Serana was under control again.
"Harry, wha'-" Hagrid started, and Harry heard the giant man begin to walk forwards. He threw his other hand out and slammed his magic into Hagrid, forcing him to remain in place."
"Hagrid, stay there," Harry instructed firmly, before turning back to the Basilisk.
Taking a step forward, Harry concentrated hard, and with a wave of his wand, the stone floor of the chamber rose up and over Serana's body, pinning her in place. Her head and tail thrashed around wildly as she struggled to free herself, hissing angrily all the while.
"Rip, tear, kill."
Harry was breathing heavily after his efforts and he staggered back into Astoria, who exclaimed in surprise when she felt him impact her. "Daphne," Harry began frantically, half-turning his head to both look at his best friend and keep an eye on his other, more dangerous one. "Go! All three of you, go to the boathouse exit, get Dumbledore."
"Harry, what's going on? Why is Serana-"
Serana bucked hard against her makeshift constraints, forcing Harry to clench his teeth and concentrate on her again to keep her in place. "That isn't Serana, Daph. Go, go now, quickly, get Dumbledore. Run straight forward, all three of you. When I shout, you can open your eyes but do not look back."
He heard Daphne stamp her foot angrily behind him. "No! I am not leaving you in danger again-"
Serana slammed her side hard against the stone prison, causing large chunks of it to break away. Harry clenched his jaw harder as he quickly pulled more of the stone floor up to wrap around her.
"Rip, tear, kill."
Breathing furiously, he turned and looked up at Hagrid. "Hagrid, grab her, grab them both and get them out of here. When I say you can take off the blindfold, do it then run as quickly as you can. Get Dumbledore, Hagrid."
"Harry, I can' leave yeh-" Hagrid pleaded, but Harry cut him off again angrily.
"GO!" He roared at the large man. "Hagrid, please, take them. Get Dumbledore, he'll know what to do."
This, it seemed, was what finally got through to Hagrid. The giant man reached forward blindly until his hands knocked heavily into Daphne and Astoria's backs. When he made contact with them, he scooped both of them up into his arms.
Harry nodded in relief as he turned back to Serana, who was continuing her attempts to free herself. "Good, Hagrid, start walking directly forward," He instructed, stepping to the side so Hagrid could pass him. On his shoulders, he could see Astoria, her face screwed up tightly in fear, and Daphne, who was staring straight at him.
"Close your eyes!" Harry shouted at her as he strained again to keep Serana in place. "Daphne, close your eyes!"
Daphne screwed her eyes closed then and Harry was sure that a tear dropped from one as she did. Once Hagrid had passed the furious Basilisk, who doubled her efforts to escape when prey was so tantalisingly close, Harry called out again.
"Hagrid, move Daphne so she's facing forward and she'll show you how to leave. Make sure you run," Harry ground out, feeling his knees grow weak as Serana began to buck over and over, large chunks of stone falling from the construct holding her in place.
Hagrid did so, and in short order he began to bound toward the boathouse passageway, leaving Harry alone with the bloodthirsty Serana who, with a sudden surge of effort, smashed through the stone holding her in place.
Harry grimaced. "Serana, snap out of it! It's me, it's Harry!" He tried as he stepped back a few paces.
"Rip, tear, kill."
Harry's eyes began to water as he pointed his wand at his friend.
He hoped Dumbledore would get here soon.
When Serana lunged for him again, Harry was ready for her.
No longer needing to hold back Daphne, Astoria and Hagrid, he was able to bring his full power to bear. Quickly he swung his left hand toward the Basilisk as if he were throwing a punch, and Serana's head was knocked off course as a titanic force of magic slammed into it.
Harry dove to the side to avoid her oncoming body as Serana hissed in anger and pain.
"Rip, tear, kill."
"Serana! It's me! Why are you doing this?" Harry tried again as he scrambled to get distance between himself and the deadly snake. Serana did not speak again as she twisted around and slithered straight for him again.
Serana lunged for him again but missed, as Harry had shot up straight into the air.
The roar of the blue flames echoed around the chamber as Harry looked down at the Basilisk, who was hissing angrily as she looked back up at him. Harry sighed in relief when Serana lowered herself down to the chamber floor, believing that she had given up her pursuit, but he was proven wrong when she suddenly shot upwards after him, extending her body until only the last 10 feet of her form remained on solid ground to steady her.
Harry's eyes widened and he soared to the right just in time to avoid her jaws crunching down on him. As he was flying around the chamber, Serana followed after him, her head only just below the ceiling. Harry looked up, belatedly realising that the height of the chamber was much shorter than Serana's 60-foot length.
As she slithered quickly after him, Harry struck her with his magic again and again, knocking her off course and eliciting hisses of pain from her. Harry did not know how many times they both attacked each other, until finally, Harry struck her hard enough to knock her fully to the floor.
A high-pitched keening wail emerged from the Basilisk as she shook her head in pain, slowly lifting it back up from the stone floor. Harry felt ill when he saw red blood leaking freely from the slits of her nose, and wondered if he had caused irreversible damage to his friend.
Flying a safe distance away, Harry landed back on solid ground and focused on the Basilisk, who was still shaking her head to clear it. He brought his hands together until they were both on his wand and heaved with his magic which answered him almost immediately, the stone floor around the Basilisk once again rising into the air before dropping heavily onto her, trapping her in place once more.
Immediately she began to buck against the constraints, but with all of his power focused on her she was unable to do any more damage than chip a few loose stones from her prison.
Sighing in relief, Harry cautiously began to approach her. "Serana..."
"Rip, tear, kill." The Basilisk hissed again, staring straight at him, seemingly hoping that her deadly gaze would work on the immune boy.
Harry swallowed the lump in his throat as he looked into her eyes. He didn't know what to do, he didn't know how to break through the control his friend was under. With a jolt, he remembered the plot Dobby had warned them off, and he felt his lower lip begin to tremble.
It stood to reason that the current mindless state Serana had found herself in was connected to the plot, and the only way for her to be controlled was by a descendant of Salazar Slytherin...
Somehow, Voldemort had forced her to follow his orders once again.
He began to walk close to his friend as his eyes watered heavily. "Serana, please snap out of it. Don't let him control you again."
When he got close, Serana bucked hard against her restraints and snapped her jaws uselessly. Harry paused, no more than four feet away from her maw, as tears began to freely fall.
"Rip, tear, kill."
He felt Dumbledore arrive at the same time as he heard the flash of Phoenix fire behind him.
Turning, he took in the appearance of the aged Headmaster, the white wand of Gellert Grindelwald held firmly in his right hand. His eyes were shut tight as his head moved around. "Harry, are you there?"
"I'm here, sir," Harry answered morosely, turning away from the Basilisk who had once again started to buck against her restraints, and walked toward Dumbledore. "Serana, she-"
"Hagrid, and the Misses Greengrass, explained it to me, Harry." Dumbledore interrupted gently as Harry came to a stop beside him. Fawkes crooned softly from the man's shoulder when Harry approached, but not even the song of the Phoenix could lift Harry's spirits.
"Sir...", Harry started weakly before his voice broke and he was forced to start again. "Sir, she's gone."
"Gone, Harry?" Dumbledore questioned softly over the sounds of the Basilisk trying to free herself, hissing madly.
"Her...her mind, sir." Harry choked, feeling tears begin to flow freely down his cheeks. "Serana is gone, she's..."
"I see," The Headmaster responded sadly, reaching up with his free hand to stroke Fawkes' plumage.
Harry swallowed heavily. "I-I can hold her, but I-if I'm not here..."
Dumbledore put away his white wand and reached out until he found Harry's shoulder, squeezing it comfortingly. "Then she will be a danger to all of Hogwarts, Harry." He said to the boy, his voice firm yet sympathetic.
Harry nodded as his bottom lip began to tremble violently. He was incredibly grateful at the moment that Dumbledore could not see him. "He's controlling her again, sir. I don't know how, but he is. She never wanted to be under his control again."
Dumbledore squeezed his shoulder again, his voice soft as he responded. "She would not, Harry."
Harry's breath hitched harshly as he turned back to the Basilisk. "I promised."
"Harry?"
Harry turned back to the Headmaster, fighting back his sobs. "I promised her I wouldn't let him control her again, that she wouldn't be used to hurt anyone again."
"I understand, Harry, and I believe you have come to the wisest, and kindest, conclusion," Dumbledore told him softly. Fawkes trilled again, trying to offer whatever comfort he could.
"It will be quick, and gentle, Harry, I promise," Dumbledore told him gently as he dropped his hand from the boy's shoulder, reaching into his robes again to retrieve the white wand, but Harry quickly grabbed his arm to stop him.
"No," Harry spoke firmly, even through his tears. "I have to do it."
Dumbledore shook his head. "Harry, that is not-"
"It is necessary, sir. I promised her that I wouldn't let her be controlled again." Harry interrupted in as strong a voice as he could muster. "I have to keep my promise."
Dumbledore was silent for a long moment before he sighed, nodding once. "If you are sure, Harry."
Harry was certain that if the Headmaster's eyes were open and he could see his face the man would have refused him, but as it was Harry just nodded. "I am, sir."
The boy stepped away then from the old man and the immortal bird, walking slowly until he was only feet away from the Basilisk.
"Serana..." Harry started, staring into the yellow eyes that had once belonged to his friend. Above her head, a long, sharp shape began to coalesce in the air, its deadly tip pointing straight down at the floor below it.
"Rip, tear, kill,"
"...I'm sorry." Harry finished, still staring into her eyes as the metal spike descended rapidly, falling for only a second before he heard the tip pierce through the stone below the last remaining Basilisk's head.
He began to sob freely and brokenly when the light left her eyes in an instant. He dived toward her, hugging her snout with his arms as he mourned for his friend, whispering apologies over and over.
When the Headmaster, who was now free to open his eyes, walked slowly toward him, placing his hand on his shoulder once more, the boy spun rapidly on the spot and wrapped his arms around the man.
As he held his student close, rubbing his hands comfortingly on his back, Albus Dumbledore looked up for the first and only time into the now harmless eyes of the Basilisk. On his shoulder, Fawkes began to sing lowly and mournfully.
"Serana is free now, Harry."
Oh boy.
Yeah.
Not going to write much here as actually writing that scene was upsetting for me, I enjoyed Serana as a character but unfortunately, like with Hermione, this was always going to be the end for her.
Thanks for your response to the last chapter, and I hope you enjoy this one (except the end, I hope that makes you bawl).
Please let me know what you think.
Enjoy!