"We're going to be in so much trouble," Hermione muttered as she followed Neville and Harry out of the Chamber.

"Dumbledore will sort this out," Harry said confidently.

"How?" asked Neville. "He's not Headmaster anymore."

"Dunno, but he'll find a way," said Harry. "He always does." Truthfully, he wasn't sure how either, but the man had figured it out in his previous timeline and surely could do so again. The sequence of events hadn't been that different, had they?

The three students reached the end of the corridor, where Harry, Neville and Lupin had arrived some time earlier. "How are we getting out of here?" Hermione asked, eyeing the near-vertical pipe they'd entered from.

"I hoped one of you might have an idea," Neville muttered. "This is where I got stuck the last time."

"Too bad Dumbledore's not Headmaster anymore," Harry sighed. "He could've summoned house-elves to transport us out."

"I'll pass on that idea," Neville grimaced. "A mad house-elf has been trying to kill me all year!"

"Who, Dobby?" Harry grinned. "He means well. We'll have to find a way to free him from the Malfoys sometime."

"He belongs to the Malfoys?" Neville yelped, looking shocked.

"Is now really the time?" Hermione groaned.

"Right," said Harry, looking up at the pipe. "Well, Tom used to come down here, and he must have had a way out. Maybe you can ask it in Parseltongue for a ladder or something?"

"Worth a try," Neville shrugged. After a few failed attempts, he finally managed to let out a convincing-sounding hiss towards the pipe. At once, a door materialized out of nowhere in the wall ahead of them.

"Well, that's more convenient than a ladder," Harry muttered, pushing the door open. It let out into the back of one of the stalls in the same girls' bathroom they'd entered the Chamber from. Thank goodness no one uses this place, Harry thought as he stepped out over the toilet and onto the tile floor. This would be a difficult one to explain given my reputation…

Harry led the way out of the bathroom and headed for the Headmistress' office, Neville and Hermione close behind him. "D'you think Dumbledore will be reinstated, now that the basilisk has been killed?" Neville wondered aloud.

"Of course he will!" Hermione said confidently. "He rescued us."

"Yeah, probably," Harry agreed. Though privately, he wasn't so sure. Lucius Malfoy still had an axe to grind with him, and as Fudge suggested, the Wizengamot weren't likely to back Dumbledore up after what happened to the children of three prominent pure-bloods. Four, Harry reminded himself, as Dahlia had also been added to the victims' list, and his own father wasn't likely to take that lightly.

"Hey, you three!" a voice rang out across the corridor. Percy Weasley strode purposefully towards them, prefect badge gleaming self-importantly upon his breast. "You're supposed to be in your common rooms!"

"We're going to see McGonagall," said Harry dismissively.

"She's engaged with the Minister at the moment," said Percy. "Now, if you'll please come with me—"

"I said we're going to McGonagall," Harry snapped, growing impatient. "You're welcome to come along if you wish." And he pressed onward, ignoring Percy's splutters of protest and empty threats of docked House points. After facing a basilisk, a werewolf, and the manifestation of Lord Voldemort in a single night, Percy Weasley didn't faze him all that much.

They reached the staircase guarded by the stone gargoyle without further incident. "Password?" the gargoyle growled menacingly.

"We've just come from the Chamber of Secrets," Harry announced loudly. "And Dumbledore's asked us to report to the Headmistress. We'd like to go up, please."

The gargoyle stared stoically at Harry for a moment, then stood and shifted aside to let them through. Harry took the steps three at a time, entering the office without knocking.

"Professor McGonagall—" he began, but he was interrupted by a smothering hug from his mother.

"Oh, Harry!" Lily sobbed. "You're alright...but oh, my dear, your sister...I fear the worst…"

"Mum, get off!" Harry muttered, extricating himself from her grasp. James and Lily were looking at him with haunted eyes, undoubtedly believing their youngest child was dead. "Dahlia's fine. Well, she's at St. Mungo's, but she should be okay."

"Son, take a seat," James said shakily, putting a hand on Harry's shoulder. "You don't know what you're saying...you're clearly in shock…"

"I'm not!" Harry protested, shaking free of his grasp. "Didn't you hear? Dahlia's with Dumbledore! And Lupin, too, but he's not looking so good—"

"The poor boy's stark raving mad!" another voice scoffed; Harry turned to see Cornelius Fudge sipping tea in an armchair off to one side. "Control your son, Potter!"

"He's not mad!" Neville piped up.

"Harry's telling the truth!" Hermione added fervently.

The three second-years then began rattling off their own accounts of what happened, as the Potters, Fudge, and McGonagall watched on in bewilderment. After a minute of incoherent rambling, McGonagall raised her hand to silence them.

"I fail to understand why you three are out of your common rooms," she said snippily. "But perhaps you'd all best see Madam Pomfrey, who can provide you all Calming Draughts until you settle down—"

But McGonagall was suddenly interrupted by a blinding flash of light and a rush of phoenix fire. Everyone was forced to shield their eyes, and when they opened them again, Albus Dumbledore was standing in the center of the room, Fawkes perched on his shoulder.

"Your daughter is going to be alright, Mr. and Mrs. Potter," he said placidly, a tired smile on his face. "Remus Lupin is in critical condition, but the Healers are working on him as we speak."

There was a brief moment of stunned silence as everyone took in these words. Then, it was the four adults' turn to speak incoherently over one another:

"You have Dahlia?"

"What's happened to our daughter?"

"What is the meaning of this, Albus?"

This continued until Fawkes gave a loud, irritated squawk that shut everyone up. "Your daughter was taken into the Chamber of Secrets this afternoon," Dumbledore explained calmly. "But your son, along with Professor Lupin and Mr. Longbottom here, staged a rescue mission, and the monster was slain."

"You...you went into the Chamber of Secrets?" James said, staring aghast at his son. "That was incredibly reckless of you..."

"Dahlia was in danger!" Harry defended himself. "And Uncle Remus was with me!"

"I told you to stay out of trouble!" Lily groaned.

"And I told you I would lay down my life for my sister," said Harry.

"He saved my life too, Mrs. Potter," Hermione said uncertainly. "I would have been killed if he hadn't come back for me."

"He saved me too," Neville said shakily. "The basilisk would have gotten us if not for his quick thinking."

"It would appear Mr. Potter's actions saved several lives tonight," Dumbledore remarked. "A full accounting of events is in order, but first, I must insist the Potters visit St. Mungo's to be with their daughter. And if Professor Lupin has any next-of-kin, they ought to be notified as well."

"We'll go straight away," said James, and he and Lily made to stand up.

"Just one minute here!" Fudge spluttered, forgotten in the corner. "No one's going anywhere until we sort this business out! I mean, a basilisk on school grounds? Another student injured, and now a professor mortally wounded? And let's not forget that you are trespassing on these grounds, Albus!"

"I am here on the invitation of the Headmistress," Dumbledore said calmly. "Isn't that right, Minerva?"

"It is," McGonagall nodded. "Albus sent a missive requesting permission to enter the grounds, and I gave it to him."

"On what basis?"

"The lives of two students and a professor," McGonagall snapped at him. "Actually, four students, it would seem. Why were you two in the Chamber tonight, Longbottom and Granger?"

"I came once I heard Hermione was in danger," Neville said.

"And how did she come to be in danger?" McGonagall pressed. All eyes turned to Hermione, who fidgeted slightly on the spot.

"It was my fault," she muttered quietly. "I wrote in the diary. I was possessed and forced to kidnap Dahlia Potter. I would've been killed too if Harry and Neville didn't come for me."

"Oho!" Fudge said, springing to his feet. "We have a confession! So you're the one that's been attacking your pure-blood classmates!"

"Peace, Cornelius," Dumbledore said. "Miss Granger was not acting of her own accord. She was possessed by a malevolent entity, contained within a cursed diary." And he held up Tom Riddle's diary, which looked wholly intact and entirely innocent.

"So this is the infamous diary you've been prattling on about," Fudge muttered, snatching the tiny booklet from Dumbledore's hand. "Can you demonstrate how it works?"

"The curse has been destroyed," Dumbledore explained. "The entity within it has been purged, so that only the vessel remains. It is harmless now."

"Well, how convenient!" Fudge guffawed. "The evidence has been destroyed then, has it? And I suppose you'll find a way to blame You-Know-Who for all this nonsense, eh, Albus?"

"That is indeed correct, Cornelius," Dumbledore nodded. "Though in this case, it was a manifestation of his younger self, as a troubled teen intent on preserving his warped legacy in the school."

"Enough!" Fudge roared; he dropped his teacup, which spilled hot liquid all over the carpeted floor. "I won't listen to these conspiracy theories any longer! You are no longer the Headmaster of this school, and at this rate, I'll see to it that you lose your position on the Wizengamot as well!"

"But—but sir," Hermione said, her voice very quiet now, "Dumbledore saved us…"

"And you," Fudge said, rounding on Hermione, who shrunk at his bluster. "I think a lot of people will be glad to know that the culprit of this saga has been caught at long last. Auror Potter, please take her into custody."

"You cannot be serious," said James. "She's a twelve-year-old girl, Minister."

"Thirteen," Hermione squeaked quietly, but no one heard her.

"And she's responsible for the attacks on Weasley, Greengrass, and your own daughter!" Fudge retorted. "The pure-blood families have been clamoring for justice for months now, and they will have it."

"Be reasonable, Cornelius," Dumbledore said softly. "Miss Granger here is not the issue, and you know it—"

"Why are you still here, Albus?" Fudge seethed. "I do not take orders from you! The only person here who follows orders is Potter, and I've just given him one. Take her to the Ministry for sentencing, now!"

There was a tense silence as Hermione trembled quietly with fear. Harry took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"I will take her to Amelia," James eventually sighed. "She is, of course, entitled to a trial and representation."

"So be it," Fudge snapped. "Get her out of my sight."

Harry could not believe his ears. Hermione was being arrested? It was obvious that Fudge simply needed a scapegoat after the slew of attacks, and she was the most convenient person to throw to the wolves. A Muggle-born with no allies in the magical world would surely be an easy mark. He'd long known Fudge to be inept and corrupt, but he never imagined him to be so despicably evil.

"I'll meet you at St. Mungo's as soon as I can," James said to his wife. "Go to Dahlia. And send word to Sirius about Remus; he'll want to be there too."

"I will," Lily nodded, and she gave her husband a deep kiss. James extended a hand to Hermione, who hesitantly took it, and he guided her to the fireplace. Moments later, they had stepped through and disappeared, en route to the Ministry.

"I take it the girl will be expelled, Minerva?" Fudge inquired, turning to McGonagall.

McGonagall straightened, having spent most of this meeting shrinking in her seat. "I will await the results of her trial," she said shortly. "Meanwhile, she is innocent until proven guilty."

"Hmph," Fudge huffed. "Just know that this will reflect poorly on your record when the Board of Governors meets to discuss staffing this summer."

"I eagerly await their decision," McGonagall deadpanned.

"On that note, I'd best report to Lucius," said Fudge, grabbing his bowler hat and cane. "Oh, and I'll be keeping this diary, Albus."

Dumbledore bristled at this. "I'd like to hold onto it, for research purposes," he said.

"This is evidence in the case against the Granger girl!" said Fudge. "Unless you'd like to add evidence tampering to your growing list of charges, and sabotage her trial as well?"

Malfoy will make sure that diary is never seen again, Harry thought with despair. He was stunned at how poorly things were going, after the initial euphoria of getting everyone out of the Chamber alive. But he could do nothing but watch as Fudge pocketed the diary, then strode forward through the fireplace. You have a master too, Fudge; you're just too stupid to realize it, Harry thought bitterly.

"What happens now, Albus?" asked McGonagall as soon as Fudge was gone.

"I'll see what I can do for Miss Granger," Dumbledore sighed tiredly. "The Wizengamot may be thirsty for blood, but surely they'll see through this blatant attempt to pass blame onto an innocent party. Though if James could speak with Lord Greengrass, who has been rather vocal lately—"

"I'll ask him," Lily nodded.

"I suggest you two see Madam Pomfrey straight away," Dumbledore said, addressing Harry and Neville. "Just as a precaution, considering what you were up against tonight."

"I'd like to see my sister," Harry said adamantly.

"Dear, you should get some rest," Lily said softly, caressing her son's cheek. "You've done enough already. We'll send for you if anything changes."

"But I'm fine!" Harry protested. Though as he said this, he realized he was swaying lightly on his feet, and was starting to feel dizzy. The constant adrenaline rush of the evening was catching up to him, and he had to admit he was feeling completely drained.

"Go with Neville, Harry," said Dumbledore, patting him on the back. "You have much to be proud of for your actions tonight. Now rest, and continue the fight tomorrow."

Harry nodded, swallowing a small knot in his throat at these words. He'd considered himself at-odds with Dumbledore since entering this timeline, but he still respected the man enough that his words meant a lot in that moment.

Neville ended up having to half-carry Harry up to the Hospital Wing, as he was too tired to stand on his own two feet. Madam Pomfrey assigned them both to beds and hustled off to fetch sleeping potions for them, but Harry was already fast asleep by the time she returned.

When Harry awoke, he felt groggy and heavy in his bed, with no sense of time or space. After reaching for his glasses on the bedside table, he noticed that he was surrounded by flowers and cards from well-wishers – it seemed that news of his actions had reached the student body. He'd never cared for the adoration of his peers in his last timeline, but it felt good now to know that he was no longer the pariah of Hogwarts.

He heard a rustling sound to his left, and turned to see Madam Pomfrey seated behind her desk, sipping tea and reading the morning Prophet. "What day is today?" he asked in a croaky voice.

Madam Pomfrey got up to tend to him at once. "You've been out two and a half days," she said. "It's Monday."

"My sister?" Harry asked hopefully.

"Is doing just fine," she said, and Harry exhaled with relief. "Your parents came to check on you, but I convinced them to let you sleep."

"I see," Harry nodded. "D'you think I could read that when you're done?"

Madam Pomfrey considered this a moment, then handed him her copy of the Prophet. "Same rubbish as usual, anyway," she muttered, tottering off to her office.

Harry flattened the paper and scanned the front page. What he saw immediately appalled him:

TRIAL SET FOR PERPETRATOR OF HOGWARTS ATTACKS

by Rita Skeeter, The Daily Prophet

"The wizarding world has been abuzz with excitement following Minister Fudge's announcement that the person behind Hogwarts attacks has finally been captured. The Prophet has obtained special permission to reveal that the attacker was 13-year-old Hermione Granger, a Muggle-born student at Hogwarts.

'It's a shocking and unfortunate truth,' said Fudge in a press conference Sunday evening. 'Miss Granger was jealous of her more talented and well-off pure-blooded classmates and decided to sow chaos and discord in the school. We hate to see someone so young enter the justice system but, well, such crimes cannot go unpunished.'

Miss Granger will be tried before the Wizengamot later this month. Members of the court expressed shock at the identity of the perpetrator, but many praised Fudge for his swift action. 'The Minister has done a great service to Hogwarts and the wizarding world as a whole,' said Lucius Malfoy, Wizengamot member and member of the Board of Governors for Hogwarts. 'Such a dangerous and deranged individual could have disrupted our way of life, and I'm glad to see that she was unsuccessful in her efforts to tear our families apart.'

'It's a shame to see the state of affairs at our once-great institution,' added Corban Yaxley, another prominent Wizengamot member. 'Thank goodness that crock Albus Dumbledore is no longer in charge over there. We need strong, capable leadership to ensure the safety of our children and the future of our kind.'

Dumbledore was famously sacked from his post as Headmaster earlier this year. He was succeeded by Minerva McGonagall, though sources say her tenure will be temporary as the Board of Governors discusses a replacement. For more on Dumbledore's many scandals and controversies, see pg. 9."

Harry tossed the paper across the room in disgust. It was worse than he feared: Hermione was being thrown to the wolves, and she didn't appear to have anyone in her corner defending her. He had to find his father and attempt to talk reason into him – surely someone could stop this madness from proceeding!

Harry requested to leave the Hospital Wing at once, but Madam Pomfrey insisted on holding him for much of the afternoon to conduct more useless tests. After enduring several long, agonizing hours in bed, dutifully drinking potions and watching as Pomfrey waved her wand over him performing diagnostics, Harry was finally discharged.

Harry headed straight for the Great Hall – it was getting dark, and he was feeling rather hungry. The students were eating dinner when he arrived, but an odd hush fell over the room as he entered. Soon the whispering began as people took notice of him and began to gossip. But Harry had no eyes or ears for any of them. He marched straight up to the Head Table to speak to McGonagall.

"I'd like to go to St. Mungo's to see my family," he announced.

"Good evening, Potter," said McGonagall. "Glad to see you're alright. Your parents have sent word that your sister and Professor Lupin are both doing well, and they will send for you later this week."

"Later this week?" Harry repeated, crestfallen.

"There is quite a lot happening outside these castle walls at the moment, Mr. Potter," said McGonagall, sounding quite tired. "It's best you keep your head down for a few days. Your father in particular is stretched thin between his Auror duties, his family problems, and his attempts to help Miss Granger."

Harry felt a swell of pride in his father at this. It seemed that James Potter was doing the right thing after all, and wouldn't let a teenage girl get sent to Azkaban without putting up a fight first. "Thank you, Professor," Harry said with a small bow.

"You're very welcome," McGonagall nodded back, giving him a sad smile. "Five points to Ravenclaw for your patience." It was a small gesture, but Harry appreciated the token of appreciation all the same.

Harry was bombarded with questions as soon as he rejoined his Ravenclaw classmates. He gave them an abridged version of events to satisfy their curiosities, then requested some privacy. Thankfully, they gave it to him, out of respect for his sister no doubt.

What followed was one of the strangest weeks at Hogwarts Harry could recall. All of his friends and relatives were absent – Luna, Ron and Daphne remained Petrified, Dahlia and Lupin were at St. Mungo's, Hermione was in custody, and Neville had been pulled out of school by his grandmother. Professor Flitwick was pulling double-duty in Charms and DADA lessons, while Transfiguration lessons were outright canceled because McGonagall was too busy dealing with the Ministry and her Headmistress duties to teach them.

Harry felt a bit like he was floating through the days, not really existing in his body. It was all so surreal: Hogwarts was still Hogwarts, but everything was just a little bit off. The entire school was still on-edge; the threat of the Chamber was gone, but nobody knew exactly why, as the only official explanation was the cock-and-bull story about Hermione that everyone knew was bogus.

Harry never thought he would admit it, but he missed Dumbledore as Headmaster. He'd been wary of the man during this new timeline, but he missed his strong, decisive leadership right about now. The man always knew how to address the students to make a situation seem okay, and while McGonagall was a good teacher, she lacked that quality to rally students together in tough times. Her tight-lipped approach was only further driving confusion and disarray among the student body.

It wasn't until Friday afternoon that Harry was finally called out of class to McGonagall's office, where she ushered him through the Floo to meet his mother in the lobby of St. Mungo's. "Sorry you couldn't come sooner," said Lily, embracing her son in a tight hug. "It's been madness ever since you came out of that Chamber."

"How's Dahlia?" asked Harry.

"She's going to be just fine," Lily beamed. "She's alert, and healthy, and asking about you."

"That's good," Harry sighed with relief. "And Uncle Remus?"

Lily's smile faltered slightly at this. "He's stable," she said cryptically. "They're still conducting a lot of tests. He's drawn quite a lot of attention in recent days."

"Why's that?" asked Harry.

"It's a long story," Lily sighed, beckoning Harry to follow her towards the stairwell. Harry could only hope that story involved a full recovery for his favorite teacher, mentor, and surrogate uncle.

Lily guided Harry down the hall to Dahlia's room, where a large number of flowers and cards had been laid outside the door. "Well-wishes from her classmates," Lily explained. "McGonagall had already announced her...tragedy to the school before she was rescued."

Harry could only imagine what his parents must have gone through for those hours in between Dahlia's capture and the revelation that she was alive. The grief of losing their youngest child must have been unbearable. He squeezed his mother's arm reassuringly, then pushed open the door to enter the room.

Dahlia was propped up in her bed, talking with the Healer performing diagnostic spells over her body. When she saw Harry enter, her eyes dropped to her lap and shameful tears rose to her eyes.

"I'm s-sorry, Harry," she muttered. "I lied to you all year. It was me who had the diary—"

"I know," Harry said, dropping into a chair by her side and clasping his sister's hand. "Ginny told me everything."

"I was horrible to you," Dahlia moaned, her teary emerald eyes pleading him for understanding. "I let people think you were some kind of freak...all because I was ashamed by what I was doing with the diary…"

"I forgive you," said Harry. "It was Tom Riddle making you do those things. I don't blame you for what happened."

That sent Dahlia over the edge, bursting into sobs and launching herself at her brother to hug him. This also set off half a dozen instruments beside the bed, and the Healer gently pulled Dahlia back into a prone position.

"It isn't fair what's happening to Hermione Granger," Dahlia sniffed. "Mum told me yesterday. She's being punished for something I am also guilty of."

"Your father is working closely with Madam Bones to make sure nothing happens to her," Lily reassured Dahlia. "Miss Granger will be exonerated, I'm sure of it."

Harry wished he shared her optimism. He'd been following the story in the Prophet over the past week, and it seemed that most of the public wanted Hermione to be harshly punished for her crimes. The full story of the diary, of course, was not common knowledge, and the reporting made it seem like she knowingly and deliberately targeted pure-blood students out of spite.

Harry spent the next few hours at Dahlia's side, reassuring her that he did not in fact hate her and that he was grateful she was alive. She grilled him for information about how he dealt with Tom, but Harry was vague with his answers, simply saying that Dumbledore got rid of him. He noted that she sounded a bit disappointed that Tom was gone – he must have done a real number on her mind, acting as a close confidant and friend to her at the start of the year.

Eventually a Healer entered and informed them that Dahlia needed to rest. Harry hugged his sister goodbye, then followed his mother out into the hall. "I'm going to meet your father at the Ministry," said Lily. "Shall I escort you back to the Floo?"

"I can find my own way," said Harry. "I'd like to see Uncle Remus first."

Lily frowned a little at this. "Alright," she eventually sighed. "But be warned: it's a bit hectic up there at the moment, and they might not let you in."

Harry wondered what this could possibly mean. The whole situation around Lupin had perplexed him: why was his case not as cut-and-dry as Dahlia's? Was he going to recover, or not? He was soon to find out one way or another, as he bid his mother farewell and headed for the stairwell.

Harry stepped out onto the Dai Llewellyn Ward and was nearly bowled over by a Healer running down the hall. There was a great deal of commotion on this ward, with nurses, Healers and what looked like reporters crowding around one particular room. As Harry approached, he realized with horror that it was Lupin's room.

Are basilisk wounds so rare that they've all come to get a glimpse themselves? Harry wondered. He pushed his way through the crowd towards the door, where he was stopped by an Auror.

"No visitors," the man said gruffly.

"But...but he's practically family!" Harry protested. "My name's Harry Potter."

"Potter?" the Auror repeated, arching an eyebrow. "Alright, just you then. Everyone else back!"

The Auror opened the door for Harry to slip through, struggling to contain the mass of people trying to enter themselves or get a glimpse. Harry was afraid of what he'd find inside – what kind of state must Lupin be in to warrant such attention?

But to his surprise (and relief), Lupin was sitting upright atop his bed, chatting merrily with the Healer conducting tests on his exposed shoulder. When he saw Harry, a wide grin spread across his face.

"Harry, my boy!" Lupin laughed. "Glad to see you in one piece."

"You as well," Harry said, sinking into an empty chair and marveling at Lupin. He looked better than Harry had ever seen him – his skin was clear and blemish-free, and even some of his scarring seemed to have lessened. His arm looked completely normal, aside from two bright-red spots near the shoulder where the basilisk fangs had pierced him.

"Dahlia's doing alright, then?" Lupin asked. "And Hermione, and Neville?"

"All fine, thanks to you," Harry nodded. "Though Hermione's still being held at the Ministry."

"Yeah, I read about that in the Prophet," Lupin muttered. "Despicable, what Fudge has done to that poor girl."

"My dad and Amelia Bones are working to see her free," Harry said. "But Uncle Remus...how are you? I mean...I thought you were dead for sure…"

"I very nearly was," Lupin chuckled. "They tell me I'm only the fifth documented case of a basilisk bite this century, and I'm the first to survive it."

"Bloody hell," Harry breathed. He had been the one in Lupin's position in his original timeline, and never realized the absurd odds against his survival.

"But that's only the smaller of two miracles," Lupin beamed. "Do you know what today is?"

Harry frowned, unsure what he was getting at. Then, it dawned on him. "Tonight's the full moon!" Harry gasped. "Have they given you Wolfsbane? Do they have a place for you to transform safely?"

"No and no," Lupin grinned. "Because there's no need."

"What do you mean?" Harry frowned.

"Turns out I'm no longer a werewolf," said Lupin. "According to the Healers, the basilisk venom progressed so deeply into my system that it eradicated the condition."

"Never seen anything like it," muttered the Healer on duty. "Healers are traveling from across the world to study his case."

"Has a werewolf ever been cured before?" Harry asked.

"Never," Lupin shook his head. "And I'm not surprised, since no Healer worth their salt would ever experiment with basilisk venom as a medicinal tool."

"The phoenix tears are also a rarity," said the Healer. "The bird cannot be coerced into donating their tears; they must be willingly given. Their healing properties are well-documented, but they are prohibitively expensive due to their scarcity."

"So this can't be used as a treatment for other werewolves?" asked Harry.

"Oh, I imagine people will try," said Lupin. "Once word of this gets out, there will be plenty of werewolves desperate enough to undergo unregulated treatments using basilisk venom that will likely kill them."

"But that's still brilliant news, Uncle Remus!" Harry smiled. "How does it feel to not have that hanging over your head every month?"

"It's a relief like you could never understand," said Lupin. "Knowing that I'm no longer a danger to those around me...that I don't have to hide who I am from people anymore...I've never felt so liberated."

Harry moved forward to embrace Lupin in a hug. "Sorry for putting you in a tough position the other night," he muttered. "I was a bit of a prat to you."

"Don't be," said Lupin, ruffling Harry's hair. "You did brilliantly in that Chamber. I told you to leave me and save the others, and that's what you did. I couldn't be prouder of you."

The Healer ushered Harry out of the room soon after, with Lupin promising that he would return to the castle before the end of term. Harry slipped out of Lupin's room and maneuvered through the crowd still trying to get a peek inside. He was halfway to the stairwell when a familiar, sing-song voice called out after him.

"Harry! Yoo-hoo, Harry!" Harry turned to see Rita Skeeter hustling over to him. "How have you been, dear?"

"Fine," Harry said neutrally, glancing around to see if anyone could overhear them, but everyone on the ward was too preoccupied with Lupin's door to notice them.

"I never got the chance to thank you for the Lockhart scoop," Rita beamed at him. "What a windfall that was! I was able to milk four months' worth of articles about him alone."

"Congratulations," Harry deadpanned. "Seems we both got what we wanted out of the arrangement."

"Yes indeed," said Rita. "By the way, how's your 'uncle' doing? I hear he's made quite the miraculous recovery, but they're remaining tight-lipped about what happened."

"Sorry, can't help you there," Harry said, moving to walk past Rita. "You can wait for the official announcement with everyone else."

"Oh, don't be like that!" Rita chuckled, grabbing Harry's arm. "We had a good thing going! Why spoil the fun now?"

It took all of Harry's self-control to not wrench his arm free of Rita's grip and give her a mouthful for her audacity. But then he had an idea. "Alright, Miss Skeeter, I'll give you your scoop," he said. "But I need something in return from you."

Rita's smile faltered slightly, but returned almost at once. "But of course!" she said, releasing Harry's arm to dig into her purse. "Looking for some Zonko's spending money? I have a few Galleons I can spare—"

"I don't want gold," Harry said. "I need you to write an article explaining that Hermione Granger is innocent."

Rita's pleasant demeanor evaporated at once. "The Muggle-born girl who attacked those pure-bloods at Hogwarts?" she said. "That's been quite the scandal, you know. Lots of prominent families want her in Azkaban for it."

"I know," Harry nodded. "That's why you have to change people's minds. I can provide details the public doesn't know to bolster her case."

Rita regarded Harry with a look of mild disdain, but she eventually huffed in apparent resignation. "Will that be all you need?" she sighed.

"No, actually," said Harry. "I also need you to convince people that Dumbledore should be reinstated as Hogwarts Headmaster."

Rita looked like she had just smelled something foul. "The Prophet has been dragging Albus Dumbledore's name through the mud for years," she groaned. "Such an about-face would be big news."

"Exactly," Harry nodded. "Again, I'll give you the details people don't know. Many students would have lost their lives this year without him."

Rita shook her head in disbelief. "I could lose my job for this," she muttered. "Lucius Malfoy is good friends with our editor, and he's wanted Dumbledore out for years."

"You'll figure something out," Harry shrugged. "And need I remind you why we struck our deal in the first place? It's not as if you have a choice."

"Still holding that over my head, eh, dearie?" Rita grumbled. She leaned in close to Harry, cold fury etched in her normally-pleasant expression. "Very well, you'll have your articles. But believe you me, if I'm sacked for it, I'll make it my life's mission to destroy your family's reputation."

"Understood," Harry said coolly, unfazed by her empty threats. "Now, here's what happened to Remus Lupin…"

Progress was slow, but Hogwarts felt like it was slowly healing as the term drew to a close. The Mandrakes finally matured and allowed Luna, Ron, and Daphne (along with Calvin the Kneazle) to be de-Petrified. The three students received a raucous reception upon their return to the Great Hall, and Harry ran up to embrace all three in a hug. No one's taking the fall for my mistakes ever again, he thought to himself.

Lupin rejoined the staff soon after, drawing an even more enthusiastic reception from the student body. He'd proven quite popular during his short stint as DADA professor, and most everyone (aside from the dark sect of Slytherins) loved him. He also drew significant attention as a subject of gossip; Rita Skeeter's article had dropped spilling the truth of his miraculous recovery from his werewolf affliction. Lupin politely declined questions about it from students once he resumed classes, but Harry could tell the man was happier than he'd ever seen him.

But two pieces of business remained: Hermione was still in custody, and Dumbledore remained on the outs with McGonagall poised to join him. Harry anxiously watched the Prophet, waiting for Rita to uphold her end of the bargain. What if she simply ignored his request? Was she calling his bluff, unwilling to risk her reputation in the face of blackmail from a pre-teen? Harry was fully prepared to go through with exposing her, but much preferred to keep using her as a mouthpiece to enact change.

Luckily, the response came with just a week left in the school year. Harry unfolded his copy of the Prophet over breakfast and stared at the headline in disbelief:

NEW DETAILS IN GRANGER CASE CAST DOUBT ON MINISTRY'S VERSION OF EVENTS

by Rita Skeeter, The Daily Prophet

"The Prophet has obtained new information in the ongoing case against Hermione Granger that could affect her guilty status ahead of her pending Wizengamot trial. These revelations may in fact point to Miss Granger being not a perpetrator, but a victim in the attacks that plagued Hogwarts School for much of the past school year.

According to sources close to the school, Miss Granger was possessed by a cursed diary that was smuggled into the school by an unknown source. This diary was the vessel that drove the holder to commit these heinous acts against fellow students. Furthermore, Miss Granger has an alibi that absolves her of at least two of the attacks, casting doubt on her involvement in the others.

The Ministry's attempts to portray Miss Granger's motives as malicious also ring hollow when confronted with the facts. Sources tell the Prophet that she is close friends with several pure-blood students, including Harry Potter, son of the Auror James Potter; Neville Longbottom, the Boy Who Lives; and most notably Ronald Weasley, one of the victims of her alleged attacks.

'I thought it seemed strange that she would attack my son,' admits Arthur Weasley, father of Ronald and head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office. 'She visited our home last summer and got on with our family quite well. We all loved her like a daughter and didn't understand why the Ministry blamed her for the attacks.'

'Both of my daughters have had nothing but kind things to say about Miss Granger,' adds Ramesh Patil, Wizengamot member and father of two Hogwarts students. 'She was uncommonly bright and got along well with pure-bloods and Muggle-borns alike. I seriously doubt she would be malicious enough to carry out these attacks.'

Information regarding the mythical 'Chamber of Secrets' has been scarce, but sources indicate that the threat was eradicated by none other than Albus Dumbledore, former Headmaster of the school. Our sources indicate that Dumbledore staged a rescue mission to rescue Miss Granger, along with three other underage Hogwarts students who were lured by the diary.

One such student (who prefers to remain anonymous) credits Dumbledore fully with their survival – 'We would have been killed for certain if he wasn't there,' says the second-year. 'I'd heard he was a powerful wizard, but seeing him in action made me realize why they call him Britain's Protector.'

The Prophet calls on Minister Fudge to bring forth evidence of Miss Granger's involvement in the plot, and to explain why Dumbledore was removed from his post. We especially wish to verify the existence of the diary, which eyewitnesses claim to have seen in Fudge's possession before departing from Hogwarts earlier this month. Surely such an important piece of evidence would be made readily available to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement!"

Harry smirked as he read the last paragraph, which had been his idea. He was nearly certain that Lucius Malfoy would reclaim the diary and hide it far from prying eyes, so the public call for its re-emergence could reflect poorly on Fudge. Let's see who's guilty of evidence tampering after all, he thought smugly.

Harry was concerned about what the backlash to Rita's article might be. Would Fudge march into the Daily Prophet's office and demand a retraction? Would Rita lose her job, and make good on her promise to ruin the Potter family name? It was a tremendous risk Harry was taking, and while it was well worth it for Hermione's sake, he spent that day in agony, hoping that the worst wasn't unfolding outside the castle walls.

But to his delight, the following morning's Prophet only bolstered his case. People were coming out of the woodwork left and right to defend Dumbledore and criticize Fudge for prosecuting a teenage girl. For the rest of that week, there was an outpouring of support for the former Headmaster that Harry never thought possible in the Prophet. And the cherry on top came when Dale Greengrass publicly called for Hermione's release, making it clear that he did not blame her for his daughter's attack. Looks like Dad managed to get through to him, Harry thought with relief.

He was also happy to see that the diary was becoming a sticking point in the media, as reporters demanded Fudge to release it to the public. This forced a sheepish Minister to admit that it had been "misplaced", which was exactly what Harry hoped would happen. Lucius Malfoy may have been able to cover his tracks this time, but Harry would be damn sure to take advantage of the situation however else he could.

On the final Tuesday of term, the Prophet reported that all charges had been dropped against Hermione due to lack of evidence, and that Albus Dumbledore had been reinstated as Hogwarts Headmaster, effectively immediately. The two arrived at the Great Hall together that evening during dinner, eliciting a raucous round of applause from all but the Slytherin table. Harry was the first up to greet Hermione, who looked shaken but alright, and she hugged him tightly, whispering "thanks" in his ear.

The final few days of term felt like a celebration now that all the pieces were back in place as they should be. Harry received top marks in all of his classes (aside from History of Magic, which he could live with), and his fellow Ravenclaws no longer treated him like a leper. Things were finally going Harry's way for once, and he was sad to see the term ending now that Hogwarts was no longer a constant source of stress on his psyche.

Before Harry knew it, the Closing Feast had arrived, and the Great Hall was packed with students eager to bid farewell to another year at Hogwarts. Once the meal had been eaten, Dumbledore stood to give an address to the students.

"Another eventful year!" he beamed. "I know it was at times challenging and frightening for many of you, but by sticking together and persevering, we all made it through intact.

"Before we say farewell, we have a few last-minute points of business!" Dumbledore continued. "First, on behalf of the entire staff, I would like to thank Professor Lupin for his services this term, and wish him well in his retirement. Best of luck, Professor."

"What?!" Harry yelped in shock; and he was not the only one. This was apparently news to the entire student body, who had no idea that Lupin would not be returning next year. Harry stood and searched out Lupin at the Head Table, but he was nowhere to be seen – perhaps he was avoiding the difficult situation by skipping the Feast entirely

"We also have a House Cup to hand out!" Dumbledore continued, overriding the hubbub. "The current standings see Gryffindor in fourth place with 311 points, Hufflepuff in third with 374 points, Ravenclaw in second with 453 points, and Slytherin in first place with 481." The Slytherins cheered raucously at this; Harry glared at Draco Malfoy, who looked particularly smug. You're lucky our last Quidditch match was canceled, Harry grumbled to himself. That Cup should have been ours…

"However, a few last-minute points must be added!" Dumbledore said. "First, to Mr. Neville Longbottom, for demonstrating remarkable bravery, cunning and nerve when disaster struck our school, I award him thirty points."

The Slytherins once again cheered at this, patting Neville appreciatively on the back. Just adding insult to injury, Harry thought miserably – of course Dumbledore would show bias towards the Boy Who Lived…

"Secondly, to the victims of this year's terrible events," Dumbledore said, "I award twenty points apiece, for refusing the bend the knee to tyranny and surviving a most tragic fate. Give a hand for Luna Lovegood, Ronald Weasley, Daphne Greengrass, Dahlia Potter, and of course, Hermione Granger." The room applauded politely as a smattering of gems dropped into each of the four giant hourglasses, with Ravenclaw earning a double boost.

"And finally," said Dumbledore, "to Mr. Harry Potter, for showing uncommon skill, poise and selflessness in the face of terrible danger, as well as a knack for uncovering the truth to the world...I award him forty points."

The Ravenclaw table exploded with applause at this. Harry sat there, dumbfounded, as his classmates patted him on the back and cheered wildly. He had just won them the House Cup! Dumbledore waved his wand, and the neutral banners around the Hall turned to blue and bronze to commemorate their victory.

But Harry had eyes only for Dumbledore. The Headmaster gave him a small nod of appreciation, and Harry could've sworn he winked as well. Uncovering the truth to the world...did Dumbledore somehow know he was behind Rita Skeeter's article? Perhaps this was his way of thanking Harry for restoring his position as Headmaster.

Harry made a beeline for the exit as soon as the feast was adjourned. He headed not for Ravenclaw Tower, but to Lupin's office, barging in without knocking. Lupin was in the process of packing his belongings, and looked up at the new arrival with a smile.

"Harry!" Lupin greeted him. "Don't you have packing to do?"

"You're leaving?" Harry demanded. "Why?"

Lupin sighed at this; clearly he'd been anticipating this conversation. "Teaching you lot has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life," he said. "But right now, I have an opportunity to do something I never thought I'd be able to do."

"What's that?" Harry asked.

"Live," Lupin smiled. "I've been given a second chance, Harry. Being freed of my affliction opens so many doors for me, and I no longer have to carry that stigma around with me. I want to see the world and experience the side of life I never thought I'd get to have. The life your Uncle Sirius has enjoyed, for instance."

"So you're quitting teaching to become a playboy millionaire?" Harry asked. When he put it that way, he honestly couldn't blame the man – who wouldn't choose that alternative? "How are you going to afford it all?"

"Easy," Lupin smirked, holding up two vials of putrid green liquid. "Dumbledore let me harvest the basilisk, considering I was the one to kill it. These two vials alone should last me nearly a lifetime...I'm told Snape was livid when he found out!"

He and Harry shared an appreciative chuckle at this. Snape wasn't nearly as unpleasant and awful in this timeline as in the last, but Harry still didn't mind seeing him knocked down a peg or two.

"Well, we're gonna miss you," Harry smiled sadly. "You were the best teacher we've ever had."

"I won't be disappearing from your life forever," Lupin assured him. "Just for a little while. I want to cast my net out into open waters and see what I can haul in."

"I'm happy for you, Uncle Remus," said Harry, moving forward to give him a hug. "If anything, I'm jealous."

"I'll try to save some of the beautiful women for you," Lupin chuckled. "Besides, I'm sure your Uncle Sirius will be upset if my future wife outshines his." That elicited another hearty laugh from both of them.

Harry returned to his dorm that night with mixed emotions. Somehow, everything had worked out better than expected – the basilisk was dead, the diary was neutralized, and nobody had died. Better yet, Lupin had come out of it all better than he started, with newfound wealth and (more importantly) a new lease on life. Still, it was bittersweet, as he knew he wouldn't see his Uncle Remus again for a long time and they'd have to make do with a new DADA professor for his third year.

He also worried about the potential fallout from his latest gambit in the Prophet. Would Fudge figure out he was behind the recent whisper campaign against him? Would Malfoy seek vengeance for Harry foiling the diary plot? Meanwhile, Voldemort was still out there somewhere, and Harry felt no closer to eradicating him from the planet than when he started.

But he would deal with all of that when it came. For now, he would appreciate the people around him and try to live his new life to the fullest.