Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the intellectual property associated with Harry Potter.

Hi all,

Here's the next chapter. Harry visits his parent's graves and has a dangerous encounter with something in the Hogwarts corridors.

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Chapter 24

31st October

It was Halloween, and Harry and Daphne were lounging together in the common room, enjoying a leisurely day and craving some relaxation. They had already finished their homework and were taking a break from cleaning up the Room of Hidden Things. They had made good progress in organising the room, clearing out a significant amount of space, which made the task much more manageable.

Hermione and Tracy were at the library, eager to uncover the secrets of the Enchanted Wall. Despite not being able to see it directly, they were certain that hidden knowledge lay within the library's depths. Harry, on the other hand, had his reservations, believing that any valuable information would have been discovered by now. Nevertheless, considering the library's immense size with the largest collection of magical books in all of Europe, the idea wasn't entirely implausible.

For the past hour, he had been listening to the three Gryffindor Chasers as they made their sales pitch to join the Gryffindor Quidditch team next year, after hearing about his impressive skills during the flying lesson. Evidently, they were desperate for a Seeker and thought he was the perfect candidate. The team captain, Oliver Wood, had encouraged them, although they didn't need much convincing. Harry was starting to warm up to the idea, but it was still too early to make a decision. He enjoyed keeping them in suspense though. As soon as they realised he was playing with them, they stopped bothering him and went off to bother the twins.

Fawkes, perched on the back of the sofa, relished the attention bestowed upon him by the other students. Aware of his fondness for candy, they had been feeding him a steady supply all morning.

"If you don't stop, you will get fat," Harry told the Phoenix. "How are you supposed to fly with all those extra pounds?"

Fawkes flapped his wings at him lazily, dismissing his concerns.

Harry reached for the pencil and paper within arm's reach. He had been working on designing a delivery device for his Spell Cards. It was not possible for him to store his Spell Cards in his pocket, as it was too slow and inefficient. He required a device capable of storing his Spell Cards and providing him with quick access to them. Furthermore, he needed a way to select the type of card he needed at a moment's notice. He already had five different types of Spell Cards, and he planned to add more in the future.

He didn't need to search far for inspiration. The wand holster was created with the purpose of easily releasing the wand into the user's hand by flicking their wrist. Mastering it required some practice, as it required a quick reaction speed to grasp the wand. If he could create a similar design for his Spell Cards, it would be perfect.

His first step involved creating an initial design. Although he had dabbled in drawing before, it was only on a limited basis. After going through several iterations, he finally created something that he was happy with. During this process, he also acquired a new skill.


The host has learned a new skill.

*Drawing 1 [130/500] - Drawing is a form of art or technique where images are crafted on a surface, usually paper, by using a range of tools such as ink, graphite, chalk, charcoal, or crayon. The host's ability to produce intricate and artistic images becomes more pronounced as the skill level increases.


The card delivery system he had in mind was a leather gauntlet that could be worn over his arm. However, there was one issue: he couldn't wear it on the same arm as his wand holster because it might cause interference. One of them had to be worn on his left arm.

Harry needed to learn how to use his left hand to wield either a spell card or a wand anyway. He concluded that it would be easier for him to handle the wand in his off-hand, but he needed to train to effectively use it. The Dexterity skill helped, but he wasn't ambidextrous. Since that time, he had been using his left hand for casting. Although his performance suffered, he believed the sacrifice would pay off in the future.

"What are you sketching?" Daphne asked lazily, stretching like a cat.

"Just working on the gauntlet," Harry answered. "I'm quite happy with it, but I simply can't resist the urge to keep tinkering with it."

"You can draw so well," Daphne said. "Is there nothing you cannot do with your hands?"

"You have seen nothing yet," Harry replied, waggling his eyebrows.

"Idiot," Daphne said, rolling her eyes.

After spending some time working on the design, he set it aside. Harry glanced around to ensure that there was no one paying attention before retrieving the Marauder's Map from his cloak. He quickly checked it before putting it away. He continued to watch Professor Quirrell closely. However, ever since the Master Artisans had arrived, he had avoided the third-floor corridor. It appeared that the new arrivals had not yet made any headway in solving the Enchanted Wall, as they remained here, having taken up residence in the castle.

"Are you still fixated on Professor Quirrell?" Daphne inquired, as she leaned her head against his shoulder.

"I have a valid reason," Harry explained, as he pointed to the man's location on the map. "What possible reason could he have for being in a girl's bathroom on the second floor?"

"What?" Daphne raised her head and examined the map. "That's absolutely disgusting! What on earth is he doing there?"

"Who knows?" Harry shrugged.

Daphne frowned. "Hang on, that's the bathroom Moaning Myrtle haunts. She terrorises any girl who enters to use its facilities."

"Moaning Myrtle is a ghost?"

"That's right."

"How did she get that name?"

"It is due to the noise she makes. She wails so loudly that her cries echo throughout the entire floor."

"Why not call her Wailing Myrtle? The word 'moaning' is misleading, don't you think?"

Daphne was confused for a moment before realising what he was insinuating, and she smacked his shoulder. "Don't be crass."

"What should we do about Quirrell? Is he even allowed in the girl's bathroom?" Harry asked.

"I think so. He could argue that he is investigating a disturbance or something. Since there are no girls inside the bathroom, there isn't anything to complain about."

"No girls besides Moaning Myrtle," Harry smirked. "Do you think Professor Quirrel has a fetish for ghosts?"

"I'm no longer listening to you," Daphne exclaimed, pushing off his shoulder as she rose from her seat. "I have decided to join the girls in the library. Right now, I find the current company displeasing."

"It was just a joke," Harry defended earnestly.

"Yeah right," Daphne sniffed, heading for the entrance. It swung open before she could reach it and his grandmother entered.

"Hello, Professor McGonagall," Daphne greeted her. "Are you here to see Harry?"

"Yes," Minerva nodded, "although you may want to join us."

"Sure," Daphne said and returned to her seat beside Harry.

Minerva took a seat across from them, appearing visibly nervous. Harry was taken aback, unaccustomed to seeing her in such a state.

"Harry, today is the anniversary of your parent's death," Minerva said quietly. "I make it a point to visit their graves every year. Would you like to come with me and see them?"

Harry's heart sank. The realisation that he forgot their anniversary hit him like a ton of bricks. How could he have forgotten such an occasion? Deep down, he tried not to dwell on these things, believing it would be futile to do so. Why bother focusing on something that couldn't be changed? But now, the weight of his forgetfulness brought forth a cascade of negative feelings.

There was no denying that he was nervous about seeing them. What would he even say to them? It wasn't as if he knew them, but should that be a reason to avoid seeing them? They were his parents. The people that made it possible for him to be here today. At least he could honour their memory by visiting their grave.

"Don't worry, Harry," Daphne reassured him with a gentle touch on his shoulder. "I'll be right by your side if you want me to go with you."

"Thank you, Daphne." Harry glanced over at his grandmother, concern etched on his face. "Do we need to be concerned about Dumbledore coming after me?"

"Rest assured, Sirius, Remus, and your grandfather will be in attendance," Minerva said. "I highly doubt that Dumbledore will even recall my yearly visit. "If you still have concerns, why not bring Fawkes with you?"

Fawkes trilled, clearly delighted with the suggestion.

"When do we leave?"

"Not until later this afternoon," Minerva said with a sigh. "I have a couple of unruly boys serving detention with me today."

When she mentioned them, they appeared behind her as if they had teleported. Harry was not surprised to see it was the twins. Ever since they sold the map to Harry, they have been experimenting with new products and causing mayhem.

"You called Professor McGonagall?" Fred grinned cheekily.

"It gladdens my heart to see your beautiful face, Milady." Charlie bowed with a flourish.

"Flattery will get you nowhere. You still have to serve detention under my supervision," Minerva declared with an air of severity, despite the subtle movement of her lips, indicating a struggle to suppress a smile.

Harry realised that now that he would be out of the castle, he could get the twins their gold. "Grandmother, can we stop in at Diagon Alley while we are out and about? There's something I need to get."

"As long as it doesn't take too long," Minerva said. "We want to return in time for the feast."

"It will only take ten minutes," Harry promised.


In the afternoon, Charlus, Sirius, and Remus joined them in Minerva's office, and together they used the Floo Network to travel to a pub in Godric's Hollow. They made their way down the street that led to the graveyard, with Fawkes suddenly appearing in a burst of flames and landing on Harry's shoulder. As they continued on their path, they came across Harry's parents' cottage, which had been left in ruins, serving as a poignant reminder of the tragic events that unfolded the night they were killed.

"Why haven't you cleared the wreckage?" Harry asked, his eyes scanning the remains of the cottage with a furrowed brow.

"I just…I…I haven't been able to find the strength," Minerva said, her voice trembling as a tear escaped and traced a path down her cheek. "That night…it tore me apart, and it took me so long to even begin to recover. It's ironic, really… because of the Ministry's inept efforts to seize the Potter's cottage, I found the determination to put myself back together so I could stop them."

"What a bunch of idiots," Charlus growled. "I am going to pay the old Minister a visit and give her a piece of my mind someday."

"It's one of the reasons I quit the Aurors and moved to America," Sirius said with a sad twist of his mouth. "Everyone was celebrating Voldemort's downfall, and praising Harry for his noble sacrifice. It got to be too much."

"He didn't have to convince me to leave," Remus added. "I was already tired of the place."

"Are you going to be returning to America," Harry asked, afraid of the answer. He enjoyed having them in his life.

"Not likely," Sirius replied. "I must fulfil my duty as your godfather, otherwise your parents might haunt me from beyond the grave."

"You're pack," Remus said simply.

Harry averted his gaze, determined to conceal the profound impact those words had on him.

"Why were they so interested in taking your property?" Daphne inquired, finding herself puzzled by the Ministry's actions.

"They wanted to transform it into a memorial," Minerva stated passionately. "A place where individuals could come and honour James, Lily, and Harry. I wasn't fundamentally opposed to the idea, but their suggestion of situating it alongside the ruins of the house was repugnant to me."

They arrived at the gate that led to the cemetery and followed the path until they reached a pair of graves bearing his parents' names. Harry stood frozen, unable to move another step. He let the others proceed and lay flowers on the graves, while Daphne remained by his side, holding his hand for comfort.

Charlus knelt down by his son's grave, lowering his head in sorrow and pleading for forgiveness. "I'm filled with deep regret, my dear son. I've made countless errors that drove us apart. If only I could turn back time...

Eventually, Harry mustered up his courage and gently placed the flowers he had been holding onto their grave. He then knelt down on the soft grass beneath him.

"What do I even say to them?" Harry asked quietly.

"You can tell them anything. I am sure they would be happy to hear your voice," Sirius said.

"Tell them what's happening in your life right now," Minerva urged. "They would be delighted to know that you're doing well and surrounded by loved ones. They sacrificed everything so you could have the chance to live."

Harry told them about his life events since escaping the orphanage. Looking back on it, he found the events to be slightly surreal, as if they happened to another person. It was probably due to the appearance of the Source, as it affected his life profoundly. He shared about Gabrielle and Daphne, the two girls who brought him joy. Unbeknownst to him, tears began to stream down his face. The presence of their graves compelled him to confront the harsh reality of their passing. Until now, it had merely existed as an abstract notion with no palpable weight.

Fawkes hopped off Harry's shoulder and landed on the graves. He shed a tear in remembrance of those buried there, paying his own tribute. Harry gently patted his companion to show his gratitude.

"What the hell?" Sirius swiftly pulled out his wand, cursing under his breath. He turned his gaze back towards the path they had just traversed.

"What is it?" Charlus questioned as he turned around, his wand firmly in his hand. Harry hadn't even noticed him summoning it.

"I could have sworn I saw Peter."

"What?" Remus sounded almost like a wild animal."Are you sure?"

"Peter Pettigrew?" Minerva asked, her face paling.

Harry watched as the adults grew more alert, their wands poised as though anticipating a confrontation. "Who is Peter Pettigrew?"

"The traitor who betrayed your parents to Voldemort," Sirius spat out.

What? How had he not heard of this before? Before he could inquire further, Charlus assumed control of the situation and began issuing commands. "Sirius, I need you to stay here and protect my wife and the kids. Remus, your enhanced senses give you a better chance of finding him, so you're coming with me. Fawkes, you need to evacuate them if they are in any danger."

Fawkes trilled in agreement, hopping back onto Harry's shoulder.

"Be careful," Sirius warned. "He is a cunning bastard, and he can change into a rat at any time."

"I am well aware," Remus said grimly, walking off in the direction Peter had been seen. Charlus flanked him, a stern expression on his face. If there was a chance that he could capture the man who was partially responsible for his son's death, he wouldn't let it go to waste.

Harry pulled out his Spell Cards from his pocket, preparing himself for any potential trouble that may arise. After a short five minutes, the two men returned, their expressions displaying a mix of disappointment and vigilance.

"Did you find anything?" Sirius asked, his hand gripping his wand.

"We have found a stakeout spot," Charlus stated. "From what it appears, he has been here for quite some time."

"His scent is all over the place," Remus said with a grimace. "It is unmistakably Peter. His Animagus form always gave off a distinctively unpleasant odour."

"Do you think he's waiting here to ambush Grandmother?" Harry asked, his voice filled with concern.

"Maybe," Charlus replied. "I can't think of any other reason for him to be here. Although, I'm willing to bet he didn't anticipate the rest of us being here."

Everyone surveyed their surroundings nervously, acutely aware of their dangerously exposed position. He could creep up on them at any given moment, given his Animagus form.

"We are returning to Hogwarts now," Minerva declared.

"I still need to take a trip to Diagon Alley," Harry reminded her.

"What do you need from there?" Sirius questioned. "I'll retrieve it for you."

"I need a thousand galleons from my trust vault," Harry said, handing him his vault key.

Charlus scowled at his grandson. "What do you need a thousand galleons for?"

"Business transaction," Harry said. "Don't worry, I'll replace it in the future."

"It's your gold," Charlus said dismissively. "Minerva and I will apparate the kids back to Hogsmeade, then we will take them up to the castle."

Sirius and Remus nodded before disappearing with a crack. Fawkes followed suit, leaving in a burst of flames. Charlus reached out and grabbed Harry's arm, who prepared himself for an unpleasant journey. In an instant, they felt the familiar sensation of being tightly squeezed through a tube. His feet hit solid ground. This time, Harry successfully maintained his balance by bending his knees to absorb the impact and avoid losing his lunch. Daphne wasn't as fortunate.

"You get used to it after a while," Harry said sympathetically.

"You're not helping," Daphne groaned, wiping her mouth.

They arrived back at the castle, and Daphne stopped in the Entrance Hall to inspect her dishevelled robes. "I would like to take a shower before I join the feast."

Daphne looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to escort her.

"But I'm hungry Daphne," Harry whined, and he wasn't lying. His stomach had been grumbling for a while now. He skipped lunch because he wasn't able to eat anything, as he had been feeling anxious about visiting his parent's graves.

"You are expected to comport yourself in a gentlemanly manner," Charlus reprimanded him, "Please accompany Daphne to the dormitories. I shall remain and partake in the festivities."

Harry sighed but followed his girlfriend up to the Gryffindor dormitories. Upon arriving, he realised it would be a good idea to take a shower and put on some fresh clothes as well. It didn't take him five minutes, but Daphne was taking her time. Harry waited in the common room while his stomach growled in protest from hunger.

Daphne emerged twenty minutes later, looking radiant and emitting a captivating fragrance. He held her hand as they departed from the common room.

Halfway down to the Great Hall, Harry came to a halt, overcome by a sudden feeling that something was amiss.

"Rip...tear...kill.."

"What the hell?" Harry's eyes darted around frantically as a sense of impending danger gripped him. An unfriendly presence was drawing near.

"What's happening?" Daphne asked, her voice laced with worry as she noticed his sudden agitation.

"Humans...I smell them nearby...rip...tear...kill."

"It's time for us to get out of this corridor," Harry said urgently. "Come on, I know a nearby shortcut that will take us down to the next floor."

Harry dragged her along despite her protests. All of a sudden, they could hear a piercing hissing sound coming from behind them as they frantically sprinted down the corridor and swiftly turned a corner. Something immense lurked behind them, Its body dragging across the ground. Whatever it was, the sound appeared alarmingly too near for their own peace of mind.

"What the hell is that?" Daphne screamed in terror.

"Whatever you do, don't look back," Harry said, his instincts telling him that it was important.

There came a thud from behind them. It seemed that whatever was trailing them had collided with the wall while attempting to navigate the corner. The scale of this thing must be immense. Harry caught sight of the candelabra that concealed the secret passage, prompting him to dash towards it. With an outstretched arm, he seized hold of it and pulled it down. As the stone wall began to shift, a grinding sound reverberated through the air, unveiling the entrance before them.

Harry's instincts were screaming at him, warning him that time was running out. He pushed Daphne into the cramped passage. They hastily retreated a few paces, right before a force struck the doorway, dislodging a few chunks of stone from the ceiling. The putrid odour emanating from the monster's breath assaulted Harry's nose before they quickly descended the staircase. Upon finally reaching the bottom of the stairs, they came to an abrupt stop, gasping for breath.

"Is it gone?" Daphne asked shakily. Harry enveloped her in a tight embrace as she clung to him with desperation. They allowed themselves a brief respite to console one another. Though they were uncertain of the source of their fear, it was frightening. In truth, knowing what pursued them may have been easier than the unknown.

"For the time being," Harry said with a grim expression. "Whatever it is, it poses a significant threat. If this creature is freely moving around the castle, it puts everyone at risk. We need to tell the professors."

"Where are we?" Daphne asked as they emerged from the passage into another corridor.

"On the second floor," Harry replied.

"Wait, this is the same corridor with Moaning Myrtle's bathroom," Daphne realised.

"Come on," Harry said. "Let's go down to the Great Hall."

They didn't make it very far, though, as they turned a corner, their hearts sank at the sight of something shining ominously on the wall between two windows. It was illuminated by dimly flickering torches placed in sconces along the wall.

"What is it?" Daphne asked, struggling to see through the dim lighting.

The two cautiously moved closer, their unease growing as they discovered the source of their fixation. In the dim light, they could see the words scrawled on the wall, glowing an ominous red. Traces of it dripped down, sending a chill down Harry's spine as he came to a dreadful realisation - it had to be blood.

THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED.

ENEMIES OF THE HEIR BEWARE

"Harry," Daphne gasped, pointing to something resting against the wall below the writing.

Harry was so distracted by the words that he hadn't seen the shape that was partially hidden in the shadows. They drew nearer, and it quickly became evident what was before them. A person stood chained to the wall, their eyes glazed over and their body completely still.

"Is he...?" Daphne recoiled in horror, unable to behold the sight in front of her.

Harry searched for a pulse on the man's neck but couldn't find one. A lifeless body lay before him, the first dead body he had ever come across, despite growing up in a rough neighbourhood.

He then recognised the identity of the man. It was one of the Master Artisans. He was aware of this fact because they all donned unique golden robes emblazoned with a hammer symbol on their chests, identical to the one adorning the guild branch located in Diagon Alley.

Turning away from the sight, he reached out and grabbed Daphne's hand. "Come on, we need to get to the Great Hall."

They hurried down to the ground floor and burst through the double doors into the Great Hall. The noise in the hall fell silent as everyone turned to see Harry and Daphne sprinting toward the head table. It was clear that something was wrong.

"What's going on, Harry?" Minerva rose from her seat, noticing their panicked expressions. Charlus and the Headmaster also stood up.

"There's a dead guy on the second floor," Harry blurted.

There were audible gasps of astonishment from both the professors and students, as his voice had not been particularly discreet.

"What?" Headmaster Flitwick exclaimed, his squeaky voice even higher than usual. "What are you going on about? Explain yourselves!"

Harry gestured widely, unable to put into words what he really wanted to say.

Daphne employed her Occlumency and managed to calm herself down. She placed a hand on his shoulder, and he looked at her sheepishly. "Harry, use your Occlumency to calm down. Then explain what happened from the beginning. You have a better idea of what happened."

Harry employed his Occlumency and took a deep breath before he began recounting what happened. From the point where he heard a voice that sounded like it wanted to commit violence, all the way up to where they found the message on the wall and the dead body. When he described the man in detail, one of the Master Artisans stood up in shock.

"Indra?" He shouted out in disbelief. His colleagues also looked shocked.

"He didn't attend the feast, Master Karlsson?" Headmaster Flitwick asked. He seemed to realise for the first time that one of them was missing from the feast.

"Indra is Indonesian," Karlsson explained. "He doesn't celebrate Halloween. He told me that he planned to spend the evening studying the Enchanted Wall."

"We need to go check for the scene ourselves," Charlus asserted. "I suggest we seal the Great Hall to protect the students and have some professors standing guard. I will volunteer to go with the party that investigates."

"Good call," Headmaster Flitwick said briskly. "Charlus, Hagrid, Quirinus, Master Karlsson and I will go to the second floor to investigate the scene. Hagrid, we may have a beast of some kind on the loose."

Quirinus appeared on the verge of fainting as he tightly clutched his necklace.

"I understand, Headmaster Flitwick," Hagrid rose from his seat. "I will grab meh crossbow and join yer shortly."

"No need, Hagrid," Minerva said, pointing her wand and conjuring a huge crossbow and bolts for him. She made it look effortless.

"Thank yer, Professor McGonagall." Hagrid hefted the huge crossbow in his hands like it weighed nothing.

"It sounded like it was hissing," Daphne explained. "Like a snake."

"Are you sure Miss Greengrass?" Severus asked sharply.

"I heard the same," Harry said quickly. "Whatever it was, it was huge. It couldn't follow us into the secret passage."

"Harry and Daphne, you can go and join your table now and have something to eat," Minerva said.

Harry sidled up to his grandfather and motioned for him to lean down. "Be careful. I had a strong sense that if we were to turn around and catch sight of the creature again, it would have dire consequences for us." Harry whispered.

"Is this the special ability of your Animagus form at work?"Charlus asked quietly. He wore a grim expression as if a troubling thought had just occurred to him.

Harry nodded before joining Daphne at the Gryffindor table.

Professor Flitwick rose up from his seat and addressed the students. "Students must remain in the Great Hall until we can investigate the situation. Could the Head Boy and Head Girl work with the Prefects to conduct a headcount of all the students? If anyone is missing, kindly inform Deputy Headmistress McGonagall immediately. There's no need to worry. Your safety is ensured as long as you remain here."

Harry and Daphne found themselves immediately bombarded with questions as soon as they sat down at the table. Despite Harry's attempt to maintain composure with his Occlumency, his nerves were stretched thin and he couldn't help but lose his temper. He snapped at everyone, demanding that they drop the topic. In a show of support, Percy stood up and instructed the others to give Harry and Daphne their space.

Now that the adrenaline had subsided, Harry began to feel hungry and tired. He loaded his plate with food and started eating. Daphne, on the other hand, could hardly eat anything and only picked at her food. Both of them couldn't help but keep looking towards the door, anxious about what the adults may encounter,

One of the Slytherin prefects approached his grandmother and spoke urgently to her. Has one of their students gone missing? In response, Minerva raised her wand and a small glowing cat materialised before quickly disappearing through the door.

Half an hour later, the adults returned, looking grim. Every eye in the hall was on them as the professors gathered together in a huddle to discuss the situation. Eventually, they broke up and Headmaster Flitwick addressed the students again.

"I regret to inform you that we have discovered the body of Master Halihi on the second floor. Additionally, a student by the name of Phylis Whitehead, who belonged to the Slytherin house, has been found deceased in a nearby classroom. Our condolences go out to all who had the privilege of knowing her."

The entire hall was filled with anxious whispers, and the majority of the students wore expressions of fear. Hogwarts, known as one of the safest places in all of Magical Britain, had tragically witnessed the loss of two lives on that fateful night.

Headmaster Flitwick continued. "We will call the Aurors to investigate, as it appears that a crime has occurred. Tonight, the students will camp out in the Great Hall while we search for the creature that is roaming the castle. If everyone has finished their dinner, we will rearrange the tables and conjure some sleeping bags now. Mr Potter and Miss Greengrass, could you please come over here?"

The tables disappeared as the students stood up. In a collective effort, the professors conjured sleeping bags for all of them. Minerva quickly embraced Harry and Daphne, disregarding the fact that they were in front of the entire school.

"I nearly lost you, tonight," Minerva whispered.

"We would have probably died if it wasn't for Harry," Daphne said quietly. "He reacted so fast and got us out of there."

Harry said nothing but hugged his grandmother tighter. Although he had been brave when the situation called for it, the realisation came of how scared he had been at the time. He was glad that he had a Demiguise as his Animagus form. The ability to sense danger was completely broken. Even so, they had nearly been caught. If he hadn't brought the Marauders Map from the twins, and known about the secret passage, then the outcome would have been far different.

Then suddenly, a realisation struck him, causing him to let go of his grandmother and slap his forehead in anger at his own stupidity.

"What was that for?" Daphne asked in confusion.

"I can't believe I forgot about Wobny, the house-elf that Headmaster Flitwick had given me for protection," Harry exclaimed with frustration. "I could have called him to pop us straight into the Great Hall."

"You were terrified," Minerve reminded him gently. "Don't be so hard on yourself."

"She's right, Harry," Daphne said, taking hold of his hand. "We are safe. That's all that matters."

Harry nodded, but he still felt inclined to place the blame on himself.

"Your parents are being called in, Daphne," Minerva told the girl. "The Aurors will want to interview you, but they need your parent's permission first."

Daphne nodded, and Minerva let go of them. By chance, Harry happened to look over at Professor Quirrell and noticed the man glaring at him. The moment Professor Quirrell realised he had been seen, he quickly averted his gaze.

What the hell was his problem?


So, what do you think? I always wondered why Voldemort didn't use the Basilisk in the first year as a distraction so he could obtain the stone. I assume it would have still responded to his commands. It would have caused a whole lot of chaos.

Thanks for reading.