Chapter 10
Facing the Chamber
Note from the authors: So, you'll notice that this is where some of the changes from canon start, mostly in Fudge in this chapter, but a lot more coming up. There is a secret that will be revealed later down the line, but right now, don't expect things to go the way they went in the book. Also, we love the feedback, and want to thank all of you for reading so far. I promise, a lot more is coming. This story will continue through to the end, we will never abandon it.
Also, a new note, we've made some edits to this chapter, making it much better.
Tensions in Hogwarts were high. There were more attacks and the bullying Harry received increased in intensity. Insults were hurled at him and insinuations that his parents would be rolling in their graves were commonplace. Another scary rumour was circling that, during Voldemort's attack at the end of the first school year, the Dark Lord had possessed Harry; that's why the attacks were happening.
He hated to admit that he spent most of his evenings with the curtains drawn across his 4-poster bed near tears. He wrote endlessly to Sirius but when his godfather asked if Harry wanted to leave Hogwarts until the true heir was caught, he declined. Hogwarts was still his home from home. Besides, Dumbledore was here.
Harry didn't think that things could get worse but, oh boy, was he wrong.
Hermione had been Petrified.
Distraught, Harry barely noticed the bullying decrease after the news went viral around the school. Harry Potter wouldn't attack his best friend.
Hagrid had also been taken to Azkaban by Fudge, on suspicion of being involved in the attacks like a few decades before, and Dumbledore had been suspended from his job. Both had left clues for Harry and Ron to follow. Poor Ron had nightmares about sentient talking spiders invading the castle for weeks after Hagrid's not so subtle clue led the two deep into the Forbidden Forest and into the lair of Hagrid's pet and friend, the talking arachnid named Aragog.
With Minerva now the acting head of Hogwarts in Dumbledore's absence, Harry's movements were under constant surveillance. Curfew was strict and when lessons weren't in session, he spent his spare time sitting with Hermione. Logically he knew it was pointless, that she couldn't hear him, but still he stayed, telling her about homework and the things learned during lessons.
It was during one of these visits that Harry noticed a screwed-up piece of paper clenched in Hermione's frozen fists. It took some manoeuvring, but he and Ron got it free with little tearing and read what was clearly a page torn haphazardly from a book, with the biggest clue of what was transpiring at the school scribbled in Hermione's handwriting. Suddenly, everything made sense.
"A Basilisk," Harry repeated as the two of them hurriedly left the hospital wing with the piece of paper clenched in his hand. "No wonder I've been hearing those damned whispers when no one else can. It's because I can talk to them."
"And Dobby said the same thing, maybe that's what Hermione realised. Snakes, and Spiders, because Basilisks make spiders flee in terror," Ron agreed, fear in his voice as the two quickly walked through the empty halls. The sconces cast flicking shadows and Harry shivered.
"We need to tell my aunt Minnie about this," Harry decided moments later. "I'm the only one who can get into the chamber, I'm sure of it. You need someone who can speak Parseltongue to open it. It's the only thing that makes sense. Dumbledore would have found it, otherwise."
"Alright, let's go," Ron seemed relieved at the plan of getting adults involved. "A great big dirty snake roaming through the pipes… what if it came up through the toilets when you're sat on it or something?! Bloody hell."
As they began to head for Minerva's office, however, they heard her voice magically pulsing through the halls. All students were to stop what they were doing and go to their common rooms as of immediately. Harry could hear thinly veiled concern in her voice and with a mutual nod of understanding from Ron, the two somehow managed to hide in the staff room. Looking back, Harry couldn't be sure how the two had been able to get into the room without being noticed as it quickly filled with the Professors, each looking exhausted and stressed.
Squished in one of the storage cupboards, Harry had to stop Ron from collapsing when they heard Ginny had been taken into the chamber!
Lockhart told some bold claim on knowing the location of the chamber and that he would gather some supplies before venturing to save the girl. As soon as he hurried from the room, McGonagall held back an exasperated scoff/sob as the teachers broke out into nervous conversation on how, when, who…
Harry couldn't hold himself back anymore.
He burst out of the closet. "Aunt Minnie, we know where the chamber is!" Harry exclaimed, Ron still shaking and looking sick behind Harry's smaller frame. All the staff looked shocked at their sudden appearance.
"Harry, what are you-" Minerva began, but Harry cut her off.
"Aunt Minnie, we know where the chamber is, what's in there, all of it," Harry reiterated, desperation in his voice. "And with Ginny now taken…"
"We have to save her! It's a basilisk!" Ron burst out; his breaking voice shrill with panic.
There was a collective gasp of shock as Minerva's face aged a few decades in seconds. "Explain everything."
Harry quickly told the listening Professors about everything minus the very illegal Polyjuice Potion, finishing with the theory on how Harry was the only one who could go down to the Chamber.
"No, absolutely not," Minerva said firmly. She had broken out in a clammy sweat.
"Aunt Minnie, it has to be me. The reason Professor Dumbledore could never find it is because it's a snake, and only a Parseltongue can get in. I'm the only one here, and we don't have time to find another," Harry implored, trying to ignore how scared he felt. "The heir has Ginny; we can't waste any more time." Harry could see the conflicting emotions flickering on her face. "Please!"
Snape stepped forward, placing a hand on Minerva's shoulder.
"Whilst I agree that this is not the best idea, Minerva, Mr. Potter…" he paused, as if he wanted to vomit with what he was about to say, "is right. There is only one way to get in there, and we need him."
"A Basilisk is incredibly dangerous and could kill you in seconds. If we're going to send anyone down there, we need someone who can handle it," Professor Flitwick piped up.
"I will go," Severus offered. Harry and Ron stared at him. "I am an expert in the Dark Arts, and I will be able to assist Mr. Potter down there."
"I'll go as well," Flitwick added. "I'm not the Charms Master for nothing."
Minerva looked between her colleagues, then back at Harry.
"Harry, you listen to Severus and Fillius when they tell you something. If they tell you to hide, you hide. If they tell you to run, then you run, do you understand?" Minerva said firmly. "Don't do anything foolish."
Harry nodded, stomach churning.
"I'm going too," Ron stated, steely determination in his voice. "That's my sister down there, and I won't let you leave me behind."
"He can back me up if we have to run, Aunt Minnie," Harry broke in before any of the adults could protest. Minerva clearly fought against the idea, but eventually gave a single nod.
"Where is the chamber, Potter?" Snape demanded, taking charge.
"The second-floor girl's bathroom. We think that the girl who died last time was Moaning Myrtle, and she's still there."
Snape turned to look at Flitwick and they nodded at each other. Magic began to crackle around the two adults the four of them raced from the staff room. The corridors were already drained of students despite it being close to dinner time and the group witnessed Lockhart fleeing out of the castle with a hastily packed suitcase floating behind him. He was rapidly swallowed up by the light of the setting sun.
"Good riddance," Flitwick scoffed as they continued their sprint to the unused bathroom.
When they got there, Snape locked the door with a flourish of his wand. "Myrtle!" he called out. "Show yourself at once!"
"Oh, it's you. What do you want?" the ghostly girl asked bitterly, appearing from behind one of the dirty mirrors to glare at the males.
"To ask you how you died," Harry replied, heart hammering inside his chest.
Myrtle's morose expression became more and more animated as she explained what had happened the day she had died. Bullying, crying, finding refuse in the bathroom, then hissing noises, glowing eyes… the last two things happening from the direction of the stone sinks. The group began to inspect them and that's when Harry saw a small snake symbol on the tap.
After Harry ordered it to open and the plumping widening to reveal a tunnel, Snape led the way down the surprisingly smooth stone slide with Flitwick making the landing softer for all of them. Uneven ground crunched under their feet and Harry looked around the area with disgust. There were a lot of bones of various sizes and a long, discarded snakeskin.
"Oh Merlin," Flitwick gasped, looking at it. "The creature must be really long by now."
"It must have been here since the founding of the school," Snape stated, also looking awed. The Potions professor gripped his wand tighter. "Which way?"
"Over here, there's an archway," Ron exclaimed, pointing with a shaking hand. He looked like he was going to be sick and was violently trembling as they stepped over the collection of bones.
The four of them quickly went down the stone corridor to reach a large, circular door with a metal snake barring the way. Its eyes looked strangely alive.
"Once we go in, we have to keep going," Flitwick warned the group. "Are you sure about this, Mr. Potter? You can always open this up and you and Mr Weasley can return to safety."
"We're coming with you, Professor," Harry replied, Ron making a croaking noise of agreement by Harry's side. He took a breath and commanded the door to open in Parseltongue. They all watched, unblinking, as the metal snake slithered in complicated circles. Moments later, a heavy clunk sounded, and the door creaked open to admit them into the heart of the Chamber of Secrets. Snape took the lead, with Harry and Ron behind him, and Flitwick bringing up the rear.
As they entered further into the chamber, Harry felt a cold chill break over his body as he looked cautiously around. It was dimly lit, no doubt with residual magic, with a thin layer of water splashing with each of their steps. They were surrounded by large statues lining each side of walls, with one of an old man up ahead, – "Salazar Slytherin himself," Flitwick muttered - in front of a large, circular area. As they stepped forward, Ron suddenly ran ahead to a small, red headed figure lying on the ground. He threw himself down next to the body of his younger sister, frantic hands feeling her cold body as he shook her.
"Gin? Ginny, it's me, Ron. Wake up," he begged as clumsy hands went to the pulse point in her neck. The way his shoulders slumped in relief moments later filled Harry with echoed relief as the two Professors began to wave diagnostic wands over the 1st year's form.
"She won't wake up," a different, yet familiar voice said. Harry went to stand behind Ron, eyes widening as Tom Riddle walked out from behind one of the nearby pillars.
"Tom?" Harry inquired, confused. "But you're-"
"Stay away from him," Snape interrupted, him and Flitwick darting in front of the three students with their wands out. "How are you here?"
"Do I know you?" Tom asked casually, head tilted to the side and an arrogant smile playing at his lips.
Snape glared at the young man with pure venom in his eyes.
"Professor?" Ron squeaked, his body shielding Ginny's.
"That is Voldemort when he was a child," Snape explained, not taking his dark, flashing eyes off the person in front of them.
Harry looked back at the handsome young man with growing shock and disgust. "No wonder Ron said you sounded like a slimy bastard," Harry said bitterly. "What the actual hell?"
"What have you done with the girl?" Flitwick demanded.
"That's not something you need to worry about. She will soon be dead, and I will be fully alive again. You will all die down here today, along with the rest of the Mudbloods tainting this school," Riddle smirked, looking at his clean nails with an infuriatingly smug expression. "I will defeat the old fool Dumbledore, when he returns to find his precious students massacred."
"You wish!" Harry yelled from behind his professors. "He's a stronger, braver and better man than you'll ever be."
"Foolish child," Riddle scoffed, but before he could say anything else, a loud bird's cry rang out. The five saw Dumbledore's Phoenix, Fawkes, flying rapidly towards them. Sharp talons clutched at the ragged, familiar form of the school's sorting hat. The flame-coloured bird, the size of a swan, landed gracefully next to Harry and dropped the hat by his feet.
Riddle began to laugh, the cruel sound contrasting from the handsome face. "You think this is going to help? A sorting hat, two students and two professors? I, the greatest wizard who ever lived? No, Harry Potter and co, you will die here," Riddle exclaimed before turning to the statue of Slytherin and hissing something in terrifying Parseltongue.
Harry barely had time to cry out for all of them to run before the mouth of the giant stone face fell open and the impossibly giant snake came out with a thunderous thud.
With a warning cry and a flash of fire, Fawkes flew up and attacked the Basilisk, pecking out the giant snake's eyes. The basilisk hissed in agony, throwing its head back and forth to try and get away from the persistent phoenix to no avail. Thick blood splashed on the watery ground and in the snake's thrashing, it slammed the bird against the hard stone and Fawkes fell with a shriek.
Flitwick began to fire several curses at the blinded snake. Snape threw a healing spell towards the magical bird before helping his colleague.
Ron, still cradling his unconscious sister, tried to throw an eat slugs curse at the calm looking Tom Riddle but the younger Voldemort casually stepped out of the way, not even bothering with the 12-year-old.
"We need to get Ginny out of here," Harry yelled to Ron over the noises of the battle. As Ron struggled to pick up the dead weight of his sister, Harry stepped forward to help but glinted from the corner of his eye and he paused. Something was poking out of the sodden sorting hat. Curious, Harry quickly reached down and pulled out a long, gleaming sword. It looked heavy, but Harry was able to lift it easily and he gaped at the weapon, deadly sharp and encrusted with rubies the colour of blood.
His attention was ripped back to the present when Snape yelled at Harry to move. Riddle had begun to speak to the snake, directing it to Harry. The thing moved swiftly, opening dripping fangs as it lunged. Without thinking, Harry swung the sword upwards, cutting through the roof of its massive mouth and piercing the creature's brain. Blood spewed out as the basilisk jerked away, spasming before it crashed down dead. It all happened in seconds.
"Potter!" Flitwick exclaimed racing over to him, blood falling into his eyes from a graze on his forehead. "By Merlin, you've been bitten!"
Snape hurriedly rushed over as Riddle roared in rage at seeing his pet dead. Ears ringing, Harry looked down at the giant fang embedded in his forearm, numbly recognising that it should hurt a lot more than it did.
"I… I'm sorry professors," Harry stammered, beginning to feel woozy. Snape harshly pulled the fang from Harry's arm and threw it to the side as Flitwick tried to cast a few healing charms at the oozing, bloody wound.
"You were… brave, Potter," Snape said, his face looking grave at the unsuccessful attempts Flitwick had at closing the injury. Flitwick was sweating, body shaking at the effort of his spells.
Riddle's contorted yell of rage turned into maniacal laughter at the failed healing spells. "My basilisk may be dead but no matter," Riddle shrieked, eyes flashing madly. "Not long to go until little Miss Ginny will be dead, and I will fully return!"
Harry tried to glare at the figure through blurring vision, but it was getting harder to see, to breath, to stand…
"Potter has less than a minute before he dies," Riddle pointed out gleefully. "The only one to ever thwart the Dark Lord lies dying at your feet!"
Flitwick leaned back, shaking his head in defeat as Harry's legs gave out and the Gryffindor collapsed to the ground. A soft chirp rang through the Chamber, and he dragged his heavy head to look towards the only flash of colour in the dim dungeon; the gold and red of the phoenix, who had flown to the group and landed next to him.
"You were brilliant, Fawkes," Harry complimented, his words beginning to slur. "I was just too slow," he added with a wave of acid rolling up to his mouth. He swallowed, lips going numb. "Tell Sirius I love him?"
Fawkes let out another calming cry and something wet touched his bite. Within seconds, Harry began to feel connected with his body again, his vision clearing, and the skin around the wound starting to close when all else had failed.
"Phoenix tears, Potter, can heal anything," Snape told the shocked students, sounding relieved as he turned to Riddle. He held out his wand, pointing it at the figure. "Now, surrender!"
"You will all die at the hands of Lord Voldemort," Riddle snarled, reaching into his robes and pulling out Ginny's wand.
Harry saw the diary on the floor and grabbed the discarded fang that had gone into his arm. "Not today," Harry shouted, a sudden idea blooming in his brain. He thrust the fang into the diary several times. Riddle began to scream in pain, his body breaking down into beams of light. With a cry of triumph, Harry slammed the fang into the blood and ink covered diary one last time and Riddle exploded in a pillar of light. As he did, Ginny shot up, gasping for breath.
"You did it, Potter," Flitwick exclaimed in relief, as Ron pulled Ginny into a desperate hug.
Ginny cried as she explained she had been behind the attacks after she had begun writing in the diary. She had tried to get rid of it in Myrtle's bathroom, but Harry found it instead.
"It isn't your fault, Ginny," Harry said softly, heart feeling for the traumatised girl.
"Miss Weasley, Mr. Potter is right. You are not to blame for this, You Know Who is. The fact that he has an artifact so evil to mimic him so…" The Charms professor shuddered. "Are you all alright? Can you walk? Come, let's get out of this dreadful place."
"How?" Ron asked, arms still tight around his sister. He didn't care about the dirty tears streaming down his face.
Fawkes let out another cry as he began to beat his wings, holding out his legs.
"Fawkes can carry immensely heavy loads!" Harry remembered, quoting what Dumbledore told him about the phoenix months prior.
Everyone held onto one another, with Snape connecting them by a magical cord and the group were flown from the grimy, dim chamber back to the familiar, comforting warmth of the entrance hall.
Dumbledore and Minerva were already waiting with Sirius, who looked ashen and angry. Beside them, looking close to breaking, was Molly and Arthur.
The group landed on the ground in a tangle of limbs. The phoenix cawed in apology as he landed on Dumbledore's waiting arm.
"HARRY!" Sirius cried out, just as Molly and Arthur ran to Ginny, scooping her into their arms.
Minerva joined in the hug with Harry as Snape and Flitwick began to explain what had happened.
"Harry killed a Basilisk?" Sirius echoed numbly, his eyes widening as his arms tightening around his godson. "You killed one?!"
Dumbledore was beaming behind his bushy beard, his spare hand smoothing down his Familiar's ruffled feathers.
"What the four of you have done today is nothing short of heroic. Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, you will both be getting Awards for Services to the school, and I think two hundred points each for Gryffindor," Dumbledore told them.
"I agree whole heartedly with what Albus has just said," someone claimed from behind the headmaster. It was then that Harry noticed Cornelius Fudge was standing there, pale and staring at the group with amazement in his eyes. "I can't believe such a fearsome beast was here the whole time," Fudge spoke in disbelief. "You were very brave, Harry, and it's an absolute pleasure to meet you at long last."
"Thank you Minister," Harry answered. "I couldn't have done any of this without Ron and our friend Hermione, though."
"I think you, your friend Ron, and Professor's Snape and Flitwick each deserve more than a simple school award," Fudge announced, puffing up his chest. "As Minister for Magic, I will make sure each of you are given the Order of Merlin, First Class, for this."
"First class?" Sirius, Molly and Arthur repeated simultaneously before looking at the boys with pride.
"What is that?" Harry asked, confused at the shocked, delighted expressions.
Sirius chuckled breathlessly. "It's the highest award in the wizarding world, like a knighthood in the muggle world. No child has ever been given it before."
"No child has ever done what these two have, with the Professor's. All of you have done a great service to our world," Fudge pointed out. He shook Ron's hand, followed by Harry's. "This is one for the history books –"
"Cornelius, if you will excuse me, I need to speak to my students in private," Dumbledore broke in, politely but firmly. "I have a lot of paperwork to catch up on as well as the reinstatement of my grounds keeper."
"Oh. Oh, of course. I'll make sure Hagrid is returned immediately, and I owe him a great apology. I never imagined that this was the case, and I… I should never have taken him," Fudge mumbled apologetically. "Just, after the last time..."
"I will speak to Hagrid when he returns," Dumbledore reassured the shorter man. "I'm sure it goes without saying that this should be kept out of the press," he added as the Minister began to leave. Fudge paused before nodding in agreement.
"Minerva, if you can take the Weasley's to the Medical Wing, as well as Severus and Fillius, I'd like you all to get some rest and a check-up by Poppy."
"Of course," Minerva agreed, smiling proudly at Harry and Ron. "Don't keep them too long, Albus. My Lions will need a check over as well."
In Dumbledore's office, Sirius finally let go off Harry but stayed within arms' reach. He looked like he wanted to cry and laugh at the same time.
"First, Harry, I want to thank you. Nothing but an exceptional display of loyalty could have called Fawkes to you. That makes this old man very proud of you," Dumbledore started, leaning back in his chair with a smile. Fawkes chirped his agreement from his porch.
"How did this happen, Albus?" Sirius asked, his eyes scanning Harry and lingering on his wounds. "I thought the school was safe."
"It isn't the headmaster's fault. Voldemort kept a diary when he was here and somehow was able to use it to possess Ginny, sap her power or something," Harry explained, retrieving the ruined book from the pocket of his robes.
"I never imagined something like this could exist," Sirius said, frowning as he studied the destroyed leather-bound diary. "Let alone a Basilisk… that thing must have been ancient. Harry, part of me wants to be angry at you for taking such a risk, but I can't help being proud of you instead. You are so very brave, and if your parents were here, they'd be as proud of you as I am," Sirius turned to his godson, looking like he wanted to grab the pre-teen in his arms again. His eyes were glassy.
At that moment, the door to Dumbledore's office slammed open. "What in the ever loving name of a floppy wanted dementor boggerer?" one of the portraits cried out as Lucius Malfoy stormed in. Hunched behind him was none other than Dobby!
"So, it is true. You have returned, after you were suspended," Malfoy announced, ignoring Harry and Sirius as he glared at the headmaster with disdain.
Dumbledore simply smiled from behind his desk.
"Once Ginny Weasley was taken, the governors all wrote to me, asking me to return as of immediately." Dumbledore idly tidied his long beard. "Some of the members seemed to be under the impression that you would curse them if they hadn't agreed to suspend me in the first place," he added, sounding amused.
"Preposterous!" Lucius immediately denied.
"Wouldn't put it past you, Malfoy," Sirius said bitterly.
Lucius scowled at him, and then back at Dumbledore. "Did you catch the perpetrator?"
"We did. It was the same person as last time; Lord Voldemort! But this time he was working through this diary, and poor Ginny Weasley," Dumbledore replied. He indicated to the useless book. "Curious that one of Voldemort's old school possessions ended up here, wouldn't you say?"
While Lucius spluttered about insinuations, Harry noticed the small form of Dobby acting most peculiarly. The house elf was pointing to the diary, then to Lucius before quietly hitting his own head. In that moment, Dobby's warning before school even started made sense. Lucius had planted the diary. "I'll always stop Voldemort, and whatever idiot follows him," Harry growled through clenched teeth.
Disgusted and with his power over the situation quickly evaporating, Lucius made a quick jibe at the rudeness of the current students before turning to leave the office. A cry from the house elf as he was kicked out of the door made Harry wince. He wished he could help the poor elf…
That's when the idea struck him. Not even 10 minutes later, Harry had tricked Lucius into giving Dobby a sock and the house elf was free. Malfoy senior hobbled away in humiliation.
"Harry Potter has saved Dobby," Dobby said tearfully as his old Master disappeared.
Harry knelt down and embraced the house elf in a hug. "You always deserved better," Harry told him with a smile. "Just… next time you try to save my life, don't be so cryptic about it, okay? Most of this could have been avoided…"
"Of course, Harry Potter, sir. Dobby will never forget Harry Potter's kindness," Dobby promised. "I will tell Harry Potter everything from now on."
"Well, now you don't have to be subjected to his abuse anymore, what will you do with yourself?".
"Dobby will explore, Harry Potter, and maybe find paid work," Dobby stated with a nod of his head, large ears flapping with the movement. "We house elves like the purpose it gives us, see."
Harry smiled. "Anyone will be lucky to have you work for them, Dobby. If you want, I can speak to my uncle and see if he'll hire you?".
The house elf grinned back. "Dobby would like that."
The two returned to Dumbledore's office. The Headmaster did not seem surprised to see Dobby without his Master but Sirius glanced between Harry and the house elf as the 12-year-old explained what had transpired.
"How much would you like as payment, Dobby?" Sirius asked as soon as the tale was done. "I'll gladly employ you."
"Thank you, Sirius Black, sir," Dobby gushed, his yellow eye filling with grateful tears.
The remaining time of the year went well, with Hermione and the others being un-petrified with the help of a Mandrake Potion, Gryffindor winning the house cup for the second year running, and Hagrid receiving a round of applause when he finally returned to the school. On top of that, Cornelius Fudge had come and presented, in front of the school, Harry, Ron, Professor Flitwick and Professor Snape with their Order of Merlin, First Class awards.
Ginny was allowed home early due to nightmares, and Hermione scrambled to catch up with any missed schoolwork. For a while, the victims of Petrification were almost treated like celebrities, and Harry could only give Hermione a sympathetic smile when she was delayed from class again to recount how she discovered the creature behind the terror was a basilisk.
Ron bathed in the attention and later confessed to Harry and Hermione that he believed he would never amount to anything; his older brothers having achieved so many things before him. "It's like, I feel like I'm my own person now," Ron explained. "I'm not just, I don't know, the youngest Weasley brother. I'm now Ron Weasley."
Harry nodded, the truth about wanting to be Lily on the tip of his tongue.
He also had to put up with renewed interest in his status as the Boy Who Lived, and new rumours quickly followed about him being Immortal after Voldemort's attack as a baby. Minerva uncharacteristically laughed until her hat fell off when Harry told her.
Much to Hermione's displeasure, the end of school exams were cancelled due to the trauma of the year and for the final few weeks of term, the students enjoyed their unexpected free time in various ways.
Before long, it was time to leave the Castle for summer holidays. Harry smiled when he saw his uncle Sirius waiting for him at King's Cross Station with Dobby by his side, dressed in a cleaner pillowcase.
"Mr Harry Potter, sir, it's an honour to see you again!"
"You too, Dobby." He spotted something out of the corner of his eyes. "Excuse me for a moment," he said as he turned to see a tired, frail looking Ginny hiding behind her parents. "Hey, Ginny?"
She struggled to keep her eyes on him, looking ashamed and guilty. "Y-yes?"
"If you ever want to talk, just owl me, okay? No judgement or anything," Harry told her. "And if you want, you can borrow my notes from first year to make sure you have everything you need."
Ginny shrunk in herself. "Thanks…"
On the way back home, Sirius clapped Harry on the shoulder. "She'll get there, Harry. She's lucky to have a friend like you. I can't help but notice that she is a red head, though…"
Harry remembered when Sirius told him the Potter males liked female with red hair, and blushed. "Sirius! She's… I'm… that isn't how it is, at all! She's my best friend's younger sister!"
Sirius laughed, ruffling Harry's hair. "I'm just teasing you, kiddo." He gently pulled at Harry's locks. "What do you say about a haircut? I can't believe how quickly your hair has grown over the last two months."
"Actually… I think I want to grow it out a bit more," Harry said. "You used to have long hair, right?"
"Right. So long as you're going for a more ruggedly lion mane than a prim and proper Malfoy look," Sirius warned him. "I may have to disown you if that ever happened."
"Mr Sirius shouldn't say such things!" Dobby gasped in distress. "Mr Harry Potter –"
"- will always have a home with me," Sirius interrupted, rolling his eyes with a smile. "You should know this by now, Dobby."
Harry grinned at the scene, wondering what crazy things were going to happen over the next 6 weeks.
