Long time no see, Hogwarts
When Harley saw the gates of Hogwarts she felt nostalgic. Oh, how many times she had walked through those gates. How many times she called Hogwarts home. But not today. This weren't her Hogwarts, her Hogwarts were destroyed by muggles. Despite this she will help and kill the basilisk that resides in these walls. Determination entered her eyes as she followed Dumbledore and Minerva inside.
It was a lunchtime on a weekend and every student and staff member was in the Great Hall. She could hear the noise from behind the doors. Dumbledore turned to her.
"I will introduce you to the whole school now. You can start investigate after," he paused. "Do you want to have a lunch?"
"No, thank you sir."
Dumbledore nodded and opened the door.
'Well, here goes nothing.'
Everything gone silent when they saw him and Minerva enter, but all eyes fell on Harley.
Her mouth went dry, a memory of the last time everyone in the Great Hall a looked at her came back.
Flashback
"How is everyone?" Harley asked Hermione. The two witches stride through the corridors of Hogwarts together.
"They are scared. The Hospital Wing is full of injured and dying, we had to make emergency hospital in the Great Hall."
"I see. Have any news came while I was on the mission?"
"Muggles have found Ministry of Magic in the France, Russia and USA, they send nukes on them, no one survived."
Harley stopped and closed her eyes. "They were among the last ones standing."
"Yes. British magical folk is the last to exist," Hermione said solemnly.
"How are werewolves doing? And creatures of Forbidden Forest?"
"Werewolves have fled their home and are coming here. Creatures are reaching for our help more and more often. Around half of them are staying permanently on Hogwarts grounds."
"Those muggles are poisoning and hunting us like animals, but are killing themselves in the process. This world will not survive much longer. Once the last magic using being dies this world will end."
Hermione looked at her with wide eyes. "How can you be so sure, Harley? We have to fight. We still have hope. As long as you are alive we have hope, you are our leader, our saviour. You have seen what are muggles planning long before anyone else, your leadership have saved us. You can't just say it's the end!"
"Hermione! You know how I survived the Killing curse, don't you?"
"I...I have my suspicions, but that's not the point here."
"No that's exactly the point. I have become the Master of Death, but when I gave up the title and returned the Hallows to their rightful owner, Lord Death, he gave me the knowledge to keep you alive as long as possible. Lord Death and Lady Magic do not want their children to die, but they cannot interfere more than they already have. This world is doomed, but I will fight and protect you all till my last breath. That is my promise."
With those last words she opened the door to the Great Hall, only to realise they have heard the whole conversation. Some were terrified, some determined to not give up without a good fight.
End of flashback
She blinked away the ghostly faces of her comrades and saw the curious faces of students. They all were so familiar to her. She looked around, there was Fred, oh god, Fred Weasley. She felt like crying. Wait that means. Her eyes scanned the Hufflepuff table and there he was, surrounded by his friends was sitting Cedric Diggory. She put on her Occlumency shields so she won't have a breakdown infront of the whole school body. Non of them died here and it will stay that way if she has any say in it.
Her gaze returned to Gryffindor table to find other redheads. Ginny was between her fellow first-years. Ron was with Hermione and another redhead. Looking closer she recognised her former twin brother. He had air of arrogance around him, worse than Draco when she met for the first time. Looking to Slytherin table she found the blond easily.
After their meeting as kids she send him a letter with help of her parents and he send one back. It was the start of their current friendship. Her impact on him was enough for him to not grow up to be a spoiled brat but his own person, who doesn't hide behind his daddy all the time. He had enough confidence, charm, smarts and interest in political games that he managed to become the Leader of the Slytherin house, earning the title Prince of Slytherin, at the start of his second year. A great achievement in eyes of every pure-blood and every former member of Slytherin House, even his father was proud of him.
Dumbledore stride with long steps to the raised platform Minerva and Harley following. On the platform Minerva continued to her seat, while Dumbledore turned to face the student body, Harley stopped infront of the platform and turned as well. She wasn't fond of the headmaster since she figured out his manipulation and how he destroyed her first life.
"Students, it is my pleasure to announce that we received help from the Rangers. This Ranger was chosen to investigate the attacks and stopped them from happening. I ask you to not interfere with their work and cooperate when asked. Thank you and welcome Ranger to our school."
Harley nodded at the student body, which broke into wishers. She heard quick explanations of who Rangers are for muggle-borns and discussions on what could be behind the attacks if they need a Ranger to deal with it.
Harley turned to the headmaster. "Thank you headmaster for those kind words of welcome, and if you have nothing else to say I will carry out my task," she left the Hall quickly but not fast enough to look like she was running away.
Once on a first floor she stopped and reached to her neck and stroke Hedwig awake. A hiss of pleasure rang followed by Hedwig slithering out of her hiding spot and curling around her wrist.
$What do you need hatchling,$ she asked.
$Find the diary, and observe the child that has it. We need to know how deep is their connection, if we want to separate them. Don't be seen,$ she answered.
Harley put a collar behind Hedwig's head, it had Rangers' symbol and many charms on it. She kneeled and put the hand with Hedwig on the ground. Hedwig left her arm and disappeared under the magic of the collar.
Her next stop was the Room of Requirements. The diadem will be the fourth Horcrux she'll destroy. After an hour of searching she finally had the diadem in her hands. She opened one of the pouches on her belt and pulled out her old thestral plushie. Another memory come to the forefront of her mind.
Flashback
Harley just fell asleep after Dumbledore declared her brother the Boy-Who-Lived. In the dreamscape she saw Lord Death and Lady Magic.
"Mother Magic, Father Death," she greeted.
Lord Death raised her into his arms and hold her one and half year old body carefully.
"Hello, daughter of ours," said Lady Magic as she reached to run her finger through Harley's hair.
"Mother, Father, how come that the soul fragment was eaten by the plushie?"
"It's purpose is to transport Tom Marvelo Riddle's soul fragments into my realm," answered Lord Death.
"Daughter, listen carefully, we have one last quest for you," started Lady Magic. "You have to destroy all Horcruxes and gather the Hallows. Riddle must be in the Realm of the Dead before your sixteenth birthday otherwise this world will end the same way your did. The Hallows must be return to their creator or you will not find peace in this life."
"I will do as you say, I won't let you down Mother Magic, Father Death."
The two entities smiled at her and Lady Magic took her in her arms and hug her.
"We know, daughter," she said into her hair.
Flashback #2
Four year old Harley was climbing a furniture in Sirius' drawing room, her eyes set on Slytherin's Locket in the show-case. It was sheer dumb luck Sirius has yet to clean the ancestral home of Blacks. Now Harley stood on back of a sofa right infront of the case, her thestral plushie was dageling on her belt. She worked her magic to open the lock on the case. After taking a short break she grasped the Locket and took it out of the case. She cheered at her accomplishment, but loud pop next to the sofa made her fall on its cushions.
"What does a filthy half-blood does with master Regulus' Locket?!" a nasty voice screeched.
Harley looked at the house-elf. "I know how to destroy the Horcrux."
Kreacher looked at her in disbelief. "A filthy half-blood know how to finish the task Master Regulus give Kreacher?"
"Yup. See this plushie," Harley showed him the plushie, Kreacher eyed it carefully. "Can you tell me what kind of magic can you feel from it?"
The elf frowned and reached with his magic, instantly he jumped back breathing harshly.
"It feels like death."
Harley grinned. "Exactly. It's a portal to the realm of death and it eats only Horcruxes. Anyone with full soul is safe."
"Little Half-blood will use it to vanquish soul of the man, who killed Kreacher's Master Regulus."
"Yes. Can you make sure no one will hear what I'm doing here, it could get quite loud."
"Of course, Kreacher can do, Kreacher will do," Kreacher snapped his fingers putting up the silencing barrier. "No one will disturb revenge for Master Regulus."
Harley grinned again and moved to the center of the room. She put down the Locket and held her plushie close to it.
$Open,$ she hissed.
The Locket shot open and black mist started to raise, but was soon sucked into the plushie. Both Harley and Kreacher heard terrible screaming of dying man. Kreacher covered his ears and backed into a corner leaving Harley with the Locket alone. Harley couldn't cover her ears because she was holding the plushie with both hands. She could feel one of her eardrums popping and blood rushing out. As soon as the scream started it ended. Harley collapse on the floor completely exhausted. Kreacher was next to her in an instant.
"Little Half-blood did it. The foul thing is gone. Kreacher has finished Master Regulus' request. Little Half-blood needs potions, Kreacher will bring."
The elf disappeared in pop and reappeared in next second. He helped her sit up and drink a Pepperup and General Healing potions. With care he wiped the blood from her ear. Harley smiled at him.
"Thank you Kreacher. I think now you deserve a place on the wall."
A happy gleam entered his eyes.
"Little Half-blood think so?"
"I know Regulus would think so too."
"Kreacher is very happy. If Little Half-blood needs help Kreacher will provide it."
Harley wracked her brain for anything Kreacher could help her with, then it clicked.
"I know about three things I need to do before I leave the Potter family."
"What are they?"
"Destruction of two other Horcruxes and exchanging the Invisibility cloak with a fake one."
"Oh, Kreacher will helps. Kreacher want to see the misery of traitorous Potter and his mudblood whore and their spawn."
"Kreacher, your description may be accurate but I still am a Potter too."
"Kreacher doesn't like Little Half-blood's blood and family but Kreacher likes Little Half-blood. Kreacher thinks Master Regulus would like Little Half-blood."
"Thank you," she thanked him sincerely. "Kreacher, do you have free access to Lestrange's vault."
"Yes, Kreacher haves."
"There is one Horcrux in form of golden goblet, it's a Goblet of Hufflepuff. We will vanquish the soul fragment and return the goblet to the decadents of Hufflepuff. I know a decadent of Slytherin, who will appreciate the Locket. Then we will take a trip to Little Hangleton were the second Horcrux resides. We will need an animal as the Horcrux has a curse upon it, then we can destroy it. Lastly we will exchange the cloak," Harley explained the plan.
"Kreacher understands. When the plan starts?"
"Tomorrow night."
End of flashback
Kreacher is a weird elf but proved to be reliable companion in those escapades. Now it's all up to her as she lost connection to him when she left the Potters and was adopted. It was due to the fact Sirius was no longer her godfather.
Shaking her head she pressed the plushie to the diadem. Soon sludge and smoke were leaving the diadem and entered the plushie. When it stopped Harley pocketed both idioms and left the room. Four down two more to go.
Slowly she made her way to the second floor and to the girls' bathroom to interrogate Moaning Myrtle.
When she left she was ready to smack her head against something hard preferably more than once. That girl was so difficult to talk to, no wonder she had no friends.
"Ranger!"
She groaned to herself when she heard someone calling her. She turned around to see two redheaded boys and one bushy haired girl.
"Hey, do you know what the monster is?" asked Charles.
"Wow, you're short," blurted up Ron.
"Ronald!" scolded Hermione.
Harley was very, very irritated right now.
"Yes, some people are short, no need to shout it in my face," she bit out.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Do you know what the monster is or not?" Charles jumped in arrogantly.
Harley sighed and started to walk away. She needs to caught Draco and question him about happenings around the school.
"Hey, don't ignore me. Do you know who I am?" Charles followed her.
"An annoying brat," she answered.
"Huh. What did you say? Speak English you are in English speaking country," he demanded.
"Charlie, I don't think this is a good idea. Maybe we should go," Hermione reasoned.
"Hush, 'Mione, Charlie deserve to know. After all he is the Boy-Who-Lived, he'll deal with the monster on his own," Ron said.
"Yeah, but you two will help. So, Ranger, tell me what you know," Charles demanded.
"You are interrupting my investigation, please leave," Harley answered.
"What? What did you say!? I am the Boy-Who-Lived, I have the right to know!"
"You don't have the right nor does any other student," replied Harley.
"What?!" he shouts.
"Charlie, it's true. We are students we have no right," said Hermione.
"Shut up, 'Mione, this disrespectful Ranger needs to learn his place."
He drew his wand angrily, but before he could do anything a red light slammed into his chest. Harley was pointing her wand at him, with a flick his wand landed in her free hand.
"The stunner will wear off in a half an hour or so. Take him to Hospital Wing in a meantime. When he cools down tell him his wand is with his Head of House." She left.
Harley found the transfiguration teacher quickly. The woman was heading to the Great Hall for the dinner when they met on a staircase. After quick explanation of what happened Minerva only sighed a long-suffering sigh, took the wand and promised she'll deal with it.
"Professor Dumbledore added a seat for you at the Head table," Minerva informed.
"I think I'll eat with the students. I have an acquaintance here. It will be also good opportunity to question some of the students," Harley responded.
"I see. If I may ask, who are they?"
"Draco Malfoy, a second-year Slytherin."
Minerva stopped walking.
"Mr Malfoy?" she asked shocked. Even she knew about the Slytherin hierarchy and their new prince.
"Yes. We've known each other for some time. Why? Is there a problem?"
"No. I didn't expected it. Not many pure-blood children have friends from different countries."
"I understand where are you coming from."
When they entered the Great Hall they have separated. Minerva continue to the Head table while Harley followed familiar head of blond hair. Draco was sitting in the middle of the table with his back to the wall and was surrounded by members of his inner circle, mostly his pears but there were some older kids here and there. She noticed a seat on his right was left vacant which meant one of two things. First option there isn't someone worth being his right-hand man or he doesn't trust anyone enough to have this position. Or the second option there is a right-hand man just not present in Hogwarts. Slipping into the seat without anyone noticing her was unbelievably easy.
"I think I won our little bet, Draco," she said nonchalantly.
Heads of everyone in near vicinity snapped to her.
"Merlin's beard, how long are you here?" Draco cursed her out.
"Just got here."
"You should wear bell or something."
Harley laughed. "You tried that last summer and it didn't work at all."
"Unfortunately," he muttered into his goblet. He noticed her trying to pick something for a dinner. "You should try Cullen Skink."
"Thanks," Harley took bowl of the soup and few slices of bread.
"What brings you to the house of snakes?" Asked a dark skinned boy.
The interrogation finally begun. She expected nothing less given where she sits and the fact Draco didn't do anything about it.
"An acquaintance of mine," Harley waved in Draco's direction, not fooling anyway.
"Draco, how come you have never told us you know a Ranger?" asked black haired girl on his left.
"You never asked," he answered.
Harley pulled down the cloth from her face and started to eat.
"I'm Blaise Zabini," Zabini held out his hand.
Harley took it. "Pleasure, Heir Zabini. Please, excuse my rudeness, but I would prefer not to tell my name."
"Understandable." He nodded.
"I'm Pansy Parkinson, pleasure to meet you," Pansy introduced herself.
"Pleasure is all mine, Miss Parkinson," she turned to Draco. "About the bet, how much have we bet?"
"Thirty Galleons, I'll give it to you tonight, if you'll come to the Slytherin's common room."
"Understandable." He nodded.
"Which is?" Draco was confused that she started speaking French but played along.
"Where there any killed roosters?"
"Actually there were. Why?"
"I'm sorry, I won't come to the common room tonight but could meet your head of house after dinner?"
"You know what is the monster," it was a statement not a question. The mood turned sour between the two of them
"Only got a hunch. Hopefully it won't be true."
"When are you going on a hunt?"
"After I talk to professor Snape."
"Do you have a will written out?"
Harley pulled out an envelope from her tunic and handed it to Draco.
"Wrote it after I became Ranger."
"When should I start worry?" Draco asked not wanting to see his sister go.
"When Hedwig tries to eat you."
"Don't joke like this," he shoved her playfully.
Harley laughed. "Wish me good luck, brother."
Rest of the dinner was filled with light-hearted banter. Many of Draco's friends and housemates were surprised the resident Prince of Slytherin can be so comfortable around anyone. After the dinner ended Harley caught up with Snape.
"Professor, may I talk to you in private?"
Snape raised an eyebrow at her but nodded. They ended up in his office.
"What is it you want to talk about?"
"I think I have an idea what is attacking the students."
Snape frowned.
"Everyone living that was petrified had seen the thing through something or only it's reflection, given the conditions they were found in. I looked a little more into history as there was similar attacks going on. That time a muggle-born died, her ghost is still here in the bathroom she died in. I interrogate her about her death. She remembers two big, yellow eyes near the sinks and a boy speaking in hissing language. I'm suspecting it was a Parseltongue. I found a snake carved on a nonfunctional sink. After all that I figured out that the monster is probably a snake that can live for a long time, it's eyes can kill on sight and it's reflection only petrify. To confirm my suspicions I asked one of the students if there were any killed roosters."
Snape's expression was clearing with every line.
"You think?" he asked.
"That it's a basilisk." She finished.
"Dear Merlin, we have to tell it to headmaster."
"Not yet. I have to see what's behind the sink and comfirm my suspicions. However, I have to ask you fo something."
"What is it?"
"Phoenix's tears. If it really is a basilisk and I end up encountering it, I want to have at least something against its venom."
"I understand. However, Phoenix's tears aren't found that easily. What for them?"
"If it is the basilisk, I'll do my best to bring you the venom. If not the tears will return to you unused."
"Acceptable," he nodded.
He disappeared in his quarters and returned with small vial of clear liquid. Harley took it.
"Thank you sir."
"Are you heading now?"
"Yes. Please, make sure none of your Slytherins leave their dormitories tonight. Send me a message once you confirm you have all your snakes. And, please, instruct the other Heads to do the same."
Snape nodded again and Harley left.
She waited in Myrtle's bathroom. When the last patronus with message reached her it was already one in the morning. The patronus belonged to Minerva who managed to finally caught the twins and counted all her lions.Taking a deep breath she hissed at the sink.
$Open$
