Chapter 23
It took a lot of letters and begging on the two way mirror but Harry managed to convince his parents to agree in letting him stay at Hogwarts for Christmas. His dad made Remus promise to keep an eye on him but didn’t Remus always do that? Draco, Blaise, Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy and Tracey all had the same success except for Millicent who wanted to go home and look after her sick grandmother. It would have been a perfect Christmas at Hogwarts if Pansy hadn’t let it slip to Daphne that they were all staying.
The first year had an obsession with the second years and Harry was sick of it. She followed them around at lunch and after classes, she interrupted their conversations to then only say something stupid, and when Harry was sitting in the common room she would sit on top of him even though there are many more spaces.
But Pansy loved her like a sister so everyone dealt with it.
“What do you normally do for Christmas, Harry?” Daphne asked at dinner. It was the night before everyone was leaving for the holidays and Dumbledore had prepared a big goodbye feast.
“I usually spend it with my family, we open presents and have a Christmas Eve dinner with all our friends.” Then to be polite he asked, “What about you?”
“My parents are always so busy all the time so I hang around my younger sister Astoria. She is so annoying, you’ll hate her when you meet her next year, I just had to get away from her this Christmas, you know?”
Harry didn’t know but he nodded in understanding and went back to eating.
To Harrys surprise, Ronald Weasley, Neville Longbottom and Hermione were all staying behind as well. Hermione had seen him the next morning when everyone was saying their goodbyes and getting on the carriages and told him. She said they were all staying to get into good study habits, as if Harry was going to believe that. He had grown up with the two boys and knew Ron better than Ron knew himself, that boy would never say no to his mothers cooking to get better ‘study habits’. Of course, Harry nodded along and walked back to the castle with Hermione, listening to her talk about the colour coded binders she asked her parents to send her for Christmas.
"Goodness, Harry,” Hermione sighed, “we haven’t talked in so long, I’ve missed you as a study partner. Morgana knows Ron and Neville haven’t studied for anything their whole lives.”
Harry laughed and patted her shoulder pityingly. “Exams aren’t until next year, we can get back to our library study sessions then, yeah?”
Hermione rolled her eyes but agreed. “Don’t tell Ron, he’s been wining about our friendship since first year.”
“He’s just jealous.”
“I think he fears for me.”
Harry frowned and looked at the girl. “What for? I won’t let anyone hurt you or- or call you the ‘m’ word or-“
“He thinks you’re truly the Heir of Slytherin.” She shouted out. “And I honestly think he may be right, you were parading about it a few weeks ago and every muggleborn whose possibly annoyed you is now petrified in the infirmary. I hate to think this way, Harry, believe me, I love that you’re my friend and I really shouldn’t go along with what everyone is saying but I saw you talk to a snake and-“ she sighed and dropped her head in defeat “I see no other explanation. You fit the criteria perfectly, except maybe your heritage for actually being related to Salazar Slytherin.”
Harry stood silently, not trusting himself to speak. Hermione stood looking scared like she thinks he’s gonna kill her. Which was ridiculous, did she doubt his loyalty to their friendship that much? He walked towards her slowly and scratched his head awkwardly.
“So the thing is,” he started, “no one knows if I’m actually the heir to Slytherin or not. Not even I know, which sounds silly but I’m just as confused as you are, honestly.”
Hermione gaped before crossing her arms crossly. “So you don’t actually know if you’re the one responsible for having the school almost close?”
“Exactly.”
“Well, you’re in a pickle then.” She snorted.
Harry breathe out a laugh and was pulled into a big hug.
“We’ll sort this out. Besides, I’m glad you have supportive friends, even though they’re a bit on the dramatic side.”
Harry laughed loudly and buried his head in her frizzy hair which reminded him of Mary, which reminded him of Remus, which reminded him that he needed to see the man. He was the first adult Harry had told about the voices and now the whole school seemed to know due to Millicent’s big mouth. He would know about it, he must.
“Hey, I have to go. It’s been great to see you but maybe I can sit with you at lunch, or if you want you can sit with me.” Harry said quickly.
“Sounds good, Harry!” Hermione called out when Harry started walking away. He waved and sprinted to the castle.
Remus was still in his office packing a trunk. He looked up when Harry came in and opened his arms for a hug. “Hey, Harry, I thought you’d be saying goodbye to your friends.”
“They’ve left already and most of them are staying here.”
“Well it’s always lovely to have you visit.” Remus smiled, gesturing to a cushioned chair. “Your mum and dad are disappointed you’re not coming home and Sirius had a riot.”
“What about the others?” Harry laughed.
Remus put a hand on his chest and shook his head sadly. “Are all beside themselves, if you can imagine.”
Harry giggled and stood up to help his godfather finish packing. “How long are you on holidays for?” He asked.
“As long as the students, but I’m coming back three days earlier to get myself mentally prepared as I do every year.”
“You know Ron and Neville are staying here too?”
Remus looked up with a frown. “I didn’t, that’s odd. The Weasleys stayed last Christmas as well, Charlie was in Romania and Arthur and Molly wanted to visit him.”
“I almost forgot about Charlie.” Harry joked. “Like I almost forgot about the Weasley sweater Molly used to make me.”
Remus chuckled. “Ah yes, was a final stab in the chest when you didn’t get one last year.”
“Yeah.” Harry muttered, swiping his finger on the wooden desk.
“I predict you didn’t just come in here to say goodbye to your favourite teacher?”
Harry took a deep breath and shook his head. “There may be another itty bitty reason I’m here.”
“Care to tell me?” Remus smirked when Harry didn’t say anything.
“Er… right.” Harry cleared his throat. “I think you know why I could hear the voices, the ones I came cry…er… confused to you about.”
Remus nodded slowly. “You are right to think that, but I’m not one hundred percent sure my theory is right.”
“Just tell me, please, anything you have to say could help.” He begged.
“If you’re sure, Harry.” Remus sat down on the edge of his desk and looked intently at Harry. “I think you may be closer to Voldemort than you think.”
“What do you mean?”
“What I mean is, when he tried to kill you all those years ago he may have put a piece of his soul into you.”
Harry blinked. “What does that mean?”
“I’m about to tell you something you can never tell anyone, anyone, okay?” Remus said, leaning closer, Harry nodded. “Regulus, Sirius’s brother, had a plan to destroy all of Voldemorts horcruxes which are these objects Voldemort used to split his soul, meaning he can only truly die when all the horcruxes have been destroyed. Hence why he lived after he tried to kill you, just because his body died, doesn’t mean his soul did. Are you understanding so far?”
Harry nodded.
“Right, so one of the numerous ways to create a horcrux is cold-blooded murder, and when Voldemort tried to kill you, the spell backfired and killed his body instead. Somehow, accidentally, a piece of his soul and powers went into you that night. I think this is the reason you can hear the voices and talk to snakes.” Remus smiled lightly and gestured to Harrys body. “You’re a horcrux.”
Harry blinked.
“What?”
“Now I know this is a lot to take in right now, and I’m sorry for telling you this when you’re so young but I think you have a right to know without waiting until you’re older.”
“Basically, I’m Voldemort?” Harry asked.
Remus quirked an eyebrow. “You are not Voldemort, Harry, you’re still yourself but with some added… skills.”
“Skills like talking to snakes.” Harry exasperated. “Do my parents know?”
“No. Bu-“
“Then how do you know if they don’t?”
“I overheard Regulus telling Sirius what he was trying to do and I put two and two together.” He shrugged.
Harry laughed breathlessly, kind of hysterically. “Is this why I’m in Slytherin? Because of him?”
“I don’t know, Harry.” Remus sighed tiredly.
Harry ran up to his godfather and took him by the shoulders. “Am I a dark wizard, Moony?”
“Of course not.” Remus said firmly. “You are the Harry Potter you were born to be and we could not be prouder of you. You may be more powerful than your friends or be better at dark spells but no one will force you into dark magic, Harry, that is a choice. A choice you can make when you’re older but I promise you, your scar or whosever soul is intwined with yours will never change who you are. Do you understand?”
“I think so.” Harry muttered.
“This is a lot to take in on the last day of school, I’m sorry for that.” Remus said softly. “You can come home for the holidays if you want, you can apparate with me.”
As much as Harry would prefer the comfort of his own home and not the mystery of the chamber he had to do this. “Thanks for the offer but I need to stay here.”
They said their goodbyes and Harry ran off to the Slytherin Common Room and up to his dorm where he locked himself in his bed and quietly sobbed.
——
Christmas Day had arrived and Harry was awoken by Pansy tickling his nose with an owl feather.
“Good morning sleeping beauty, presents are here!” She sang when they all got up.
They ran down the stairs to see the common room decorated in paper chains, holly on the walls and a gorgeously large tree flourishing with presents underneath.
“Oh wow.” Harry gaped, grabbing the first present he saw with his name on it. His family must have sent him stuff overnight.
His presents were all marvellous. He got a broom cleaning set from his parents, a box of chocolates that tasted like his favourite dessert from Sirius and Remus, a knitted green and silver sweater from Marlene along with a small music box that could fit in one of the pockets in the sweater from Dorcas. Peter gifted him a box of homemade treacle tart Harry shared with his friends and Mary sent him skin care products with a card saying he’ll be thanking her next year when he hits puberty.
His friends gave him familiar gifts like quidditch books, sweaters and sweets. Except for Pansy who gave him his own grandfathers hair products.
“I’ve never seen you bring them to school so I thought I’d help you out!” She said.
Harry groaned. “That’s because they don’t work on my hair!”
“Oh," she pouted, "why didn’t you say anything?”
At breakfast Hermione shyly came over to sit with Harry, enough students were staying here for Christmas that Dumbledore left the tables as they were. Hedwig flew in with another small package and nibbled fondly at his ear.
“Haven’t seen you in a while, pretty girl.” Harry giggled when she ruffled her head into his neck, he petted her softly and gave her some oats from his porridge.
He opened the present at the table to see it was from Kurt. He had sent him a box of a dozen Reeses puffs along with a comic book called Batman and Robin. Harry had sent him a present two days before, not knowing how long it would take to get to him.
“What’s this?” Draco asked, opening the comic book and grimacing.
“Just another present.” Harry shrugged.
Pansy wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. “From whom? Don’t be so secretive, Harry dear.”
Before Harry could make up another lie, Hermione reached over and grabbed the book from Draco to take a look. “I have a cousin whose obsessed with these, I didn’t know you were friends with muggles, Harry.”
“Oh don’t look so worried.” Harrys said at the distressed looks on his friends faces. “This comic book isn’t going to explode or something.”
Pansy hummed but went back to her breakfast, still looking suspicious. “Okay, keep your secrets, Harry.”
They finished up quickly, there were only two teachers at the staff table being Professors Sprout and McGonagall who took little notice in the students leaving. Harry had felt Ron and Neville staring daggers into his head the whole of breakfast and as he walked out of the Great Hall and he had a feeling he was the reason the Gryffindors were staying here. Hermione made him promise they will meet in the library some time and that was the last he interacted with her for most of the holidays.
Back in the dorm, Blaise took out simple map of the whole school. He had stuck pieces of parchment together and lightly outlined the basic structure of Hogwarts.
“It’s not much but it’s the best I could come up with in such short notice.”
“This is more than enough, thanks Blaise.” Harry thanked.
Harry hadn’t told anyone what Remus had told him on the last day of term. It was haunting his mind, honestly, but then again, most things are. Like right now, he knew Salazar Slytherin wouldn’t just put his chamber in a random classroom he thought no one would use, nor would be just put it plainly under ground, it was somewhere, but somewhere just wasn’t coming to anyones minds.
“The Basilisk lives in the chamber, yeah?” Blaise thought aloud.
“Lived, since it’s petrifying students now.” said Goyle.
Dracos eyes widened and he pulled their large friend into a hug. “Gregory you bloody genius!”
Goyle made a confused noise before asking. “I’m sure you’re right, but why?”
“It’s traveling through the pipes, the pipes! That’s how it’s been getting around the school and why the victims are always surrounded by water.”
“Genius.” Harry muttered. “And I’ve been hearing the voices in the walls, that must have been why! It all fits!”
Tracey had brought a library book with her and was reading it. “But here it states that when someone looks into the eyes of a basilisk, they die. The victims have only been petrified so…”
“They haven’t looked at it?” Crabbe added uselessly.
“But they have to have somehow looked at it in order to be so affected.”
“They did look at it though.” Blaise said. “But not directly. Remember, Ernie said Justin Finch-Fletchley was behind Nearly Headless Nick and Collin probably had his camera in front of his eyes, that kid always does.”
“What about Mrs Norris?” Crabbe asked.
“The water, I bet. There was a huge puddle right where she was hung, remember?” Harry answered.
“Bloody hell.” Draco muttered, looking at the ceiling.
Pansy put her hands on her hips. “That didn’t solve anything, where’s the chamber?”
“Somewhere that’s connected with pipes.” Blaise said.
“Like a bathroom?” Tracey suggested.
“Exactly like a bathroom.”
Then there was silence before Draco asked. “But there’s so many to choose from, which one would it be?”
Pansy and Tracey looked at each other in a moment of realisation. “The girls lavatories on the second floor, it’s always wet and miserable, since it’s Moaning Myrtles bathroom. I’ve only been once and it was because I absolutely had too, let me tell yo-“ then Pansy was interrupted by Goyle.
“Does anyone know how long Myrtle has been in there?”
“Don’t know, but she was moaning the halls when my father went to school here so I’d say a long time.” Draco said.
Blaise tapped his chin. “Do you think she was killed by the basilisk when the chamber was last opened?”
Tracey put her book back in her bag and put it on her shoulder. “There’s one way to find out.”
Strangely enough, Moaning Myrtle wasn’t the only miserable thing in the bathrooms with the Slytherins came barging in. On the floor was Ron, Neville and Hermione all surrounding a cauldron that Hermione was in the midst of stirring something into.The trio whipped their heads around in shock and Ron visibly paled.
“What are you doing in here?” He sneered, standing up.
“We should be asking you the same,” Draco spat, “sniffing around the girls toilets won’t make you any less of a rat.”
“Get. Out.” Ron threatened. He fisted his hands together, seeming to forget he had a wand. Hermione and Neville stood up too, Neville went to stand beside Ron whereas Hermione frowned slightly from the side.
“We need to use the bathroom, so please get lost before we make you.” Pansy said nicely although she twirled her wand around her fingers.
“We- we were here first.” Neville stammered.
“And once we’re done here, you can go back to your boy scouts, so get out.” Harry demanded.
“Or what?” Ron sassed. “You gonna kill me too.”
“Don’t test me.” Harry growled.
“Let’s just go, we can use the common room.” Hermione took the boys by the elbows and dragged them out of the bathrooms, she had taken the cauldron and all the other little bits that had littered the floor.
“Bye, Harry.” She called. Harry only waved.
“Ugh, those dickwads make me want to murder people.” Draco grumbled.
Pansy patted his shoulder. “You don’t have the heart to murder people, Dray.”
“Yeah I do, if father can do it, so can I.”
“You cried when I took the last muffin your mother made when we were six, sorry if that doesn’t make me think you give off killer energy.”
Draco scowled and it looked like a fight was about to happen so Harry told them to keep looking for anything so they’d shut up.
Then, a high pitched squeal came from one of the stalls and a ghost flew out. She was squat with a very glum face that was surrounded by soggy brown hair and thick glasses. She stopped her squealing when she saw the group.
“No boys in the bathroom! Get. Out!” She screamed miserably, pointing towards the door.
“Myrtle,” Tracey said slowly. “we have some questions to ask you, can you help us?”
“What questions?” She wailed. “Why don’t you ever shut up, Myrtle? Why do you keep flooding the toilets, Myrtle? Why are you watching me bathe, Myrtle? Why Myrtle? Why Myrtle? Why? Why? Why?” Then with a loud wail she hurtled back into the toilet she just came from with a destructive splash.
They all looked at one another in major confusion. “Right.” Tracey sighed.
Harry looked with Blaise around the basins together. Harry stopped at one of the sinks that looked like any other ordinary sink. And then Harry saw it, scratched on one side of one of the copper taps was a tiny snake. He attempted to turn it on but nothing happened.
“Oh that tap never works.” Pansy said when she came over.
This caught everyones attention and they all came running over. Harry showed them the scratched in snake and tried to turn the tap on again.
“Harry,” Blaise muttered, “say something in Parseltongue.”
“I’ll try.” Harry thought hard. The only times he’d ever managed to speak Parseltongue were when he’d been faced with a real snake. He stared hard at the tiny engraving, trying to imagine it was real.
“Open up.”
He looked at Blaise who shook his head. “That was English, mate.”
Harry looked back at the snake, willing himself to believe it was alive. If he moved his head, the candlelight made it look as though it were moving.
“Open up,” he said again.
Except that the words weren’t what he heard; a strange hissing had escaped him, and at once the tap glowed with a brilliant white light and began to spin. Next second, the sink began to move, the sink, in fact, sank, right out of sight, leaving a large pipe exposed, a pipe wide enough for a man to slide into. He heard his friends all gasp and he made up his mind on what he was going to do.
"I’m going in there.”
“Are you mental?” Draco accused. “This is not some children playground, you could die.”
“Well I never said you had to come, did I?” Harry replied.
“You’re not pushing me away, I’m coming too.” Pansy said bravely.
“Me too.” said Blaise.
“Count us in.” Crabbe volleyed for him and Goyle.
Tracey sighed but smiled. “I can’t miss this.”
They all looked at Draco who was looking at them like they were sociopaths. “Now I feel like a sissy if I don’t come along.” He grumbled, Harry wrapped an arm around his shoulders as a thank you.
“Okay, I’ll go first and if you don’t hear a reply when I reach the bottom then don’t follow.” He lowered himself into the pipe before swinging himself down.
It felt like a slimy, dark, greasy slide, it was certainly big enough to carry a fully grown basilisk around the school. He saw pipes veer off in different directions but luckily he stayed on this one. He twisted and turned and knew he was travelling deeper down the school, even more below than his beloved dungeons.
Then, when he thought his journey would never end, he reached the end. The pipe splayed out and he skidded along a wet damp floor of dark stone in a tunnel big enough to stand in. He was about to shout very loudly to tell his friends it was safe when Pansy, Blaise, Crabbe, Goyle, Tracey and Draco came tumbling behind him. They landed on a huge heap where Harry had just gotten up and shook out their clothes.
“Goodness, that was a rush!” Pansy said breathlessly.
“I thought I told you guys to wait for my signal, I could have landed into the basilisks mouth for all you knew.” Harry shouted.
“You were gone for a while and if one of us go down, we all go down together.” Blaise said simply.
Harry didn’t have the energy to tell them off so he just waved his hand hopelessly to get them to follow him down the tunnel. They each got out their wands and casted ’Lumos’ which gave them light, though the tunnel was so dark they could only see little distance ahead.
“We must be miles under the school.” Tracy commented.
“Can we just admire how petty Salazar Slytherin was to build this whole underground chamber because he had a fight with Godric Gryffindor.” Draco said lightly.
Blaise chuckled. “If that was a house trait I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“Remember,” Harry said, he was walking slightly ahead and he looked behind him every 20 minutes to remind them. “any sign of movement, close your eyes right away.”
They walked in silence for most of the time, someone making a comment or a joke now and then to lighten the tense atmosphere. It wasn’t until Blaise stepped on a rabbit skull that made everyone scream bloody murder that they noticed the floor was becoming more littered with small animal bones the deeper they ventured.
“What in the name of Merlin is that?” Goyle whimpered, pointing to a large object in front of them.
They all froze, trying to figure out if it was the snake or something else. It was huge and curved but wasn’t moving at all.
Very slowly, Harry held his wand up higher and creeped closer to get a better look. The light slid over it to reveal the skin of a very large reptile. It was a poisonous green colour that curled around the tunnel floor, Harry predicted it to be 20 feet long.
“Goodness.” said Tracey shakily.
Draco touched it and glided his hand along the skin. “This is so bloody cool.”
“Snape would worship us if we brought back some of this skin, it’s a key ingredient for lots of dark potions.” Blaise said, touching it lightly.
“We can get some on the way out.” Harry said impatiently.
After a bit more whining, they followed Harry down the turning tunnel, it just didn’t seem to stop. The others were starting to complain when they turned down one last bend and saw a solid wall ahead, on it were two carved serpents that were entwined, their eyes set as large emeralds. Although Harry knew they were just carved into stone, the glinting emeralds made them feel alive.
“I think I speak Parseltongue again.” He commented. They all nodded encouragingly.
“Open.” Harry hissed.
The serpents parted as the wall cracked open, the halves slid smoothly out of sight. Harry gave his friends a shaky smile and they walked inside.
They had walked into a very long, dimly lit chamber. Towering pillars were on either side of them with entwined serpents like the ones on the entrance. The room had a greenish glow to it and it was so cold, Harry could see his breath. They walked deeper inside and no one made a sound so they could listen for anything. Most importantly, the basilisk.
On the other side of the chamber, was a statue of an elderly mans face carved out of stone. He had a long face with a beard and moustache that swirled around his face. Harry had seen his portrait in the Common Room daily, it was Salazar Slytherin himself.
“Someone was bit vain.” Harry muttered to himself.
“Now this,” Draco said grandly, looking at the statue, “this is what I aspire to when I’m older.”
“I thought Salazar was petty before, but this takes the cake.” Pansy teased, kicking the beard lightly.
“Focus, please.” Harry urged.
“Right, sorry Harry.”
They explored a tunnel that went through a wall and didn’t find anything. It seems the Chamber of Secrets was completely empty.
“Does this mean we literally just came down here for nothing?” Pansy snapped, putting her hands on her hips.
“Maybe the basilisk is in the school at the moment.” Harry joked lightly, it didn’t help.
“We came down here to put a stop to letting it roam the school!” Blaise screeched. “Now it’s going to come back down here, unsatisfied that it didn’t kill any students and it’s going to eat us.”
“I can talk to it.” Harry said. “I’ll make it stop.”
“Only the Heir of Slytherin can control the basilisk, Harry.” Tracey sighed.
Harry grunted with dissatisfaction. He touched his lightning scar and tried to think of something. “We won’t know until I try.”
“So we’re just gonna sit here until our immediate death arrives?” Draco asked, looking very unenthused.
“Exactly!” Harry brightened, he sat down on a dry spot against the wall and patted on the ground next to him for his friends.
“Or if you truly are the Heir of Slytherin, why not call it here now?” Goyle suggested.
Harry blinked. “But I may not be.”
“You told me yourself you don’t know if you are or not, so what’s the harm?”
Harry pushed himself off the ground and closed his eyes before saying. “Come here.” In the hissing voice that came from him.
Nothing happened.
“Was that English?” He whispered loudly when nothing happened.
“No. Try again, mate.” Blaise replied.
“Come here now!” Harry shouted as loudly as his Parseltongue could allow him.
A rumble came from Salazars stone face, his mouth opened wider to make a large black hole. Something was stirring from inside the tunnel, and it was slithering out from its depths.
“Keep your eyes closed.” Harry shouted, he couldn’t check to see if they had listened but he prayed they had.
A heavy thud landed on the floor, Harry felt the whole chamber shudder and he knew what had appeared, through very slitted eyes, he could just see the blurring outline of a giant serpent uncoiling itself from Slytherins mouth.
He heard its heavy body start slithering towards the group, gliding across the damp floor. Harry didn’t know if it was being controlled by the heir just on its own accord but it didn’t stop him screaming.
“Stop!”
It turned silent and the basilisk had stopped moving. It was moving frustratingly, like it didn’t understand why it stopped, and Harry had no idea either.
“Turn your head away from us.” Harry demanded. The basilisk followed his order because when he squinted his eyes open, it’s head was turned towards Slytherins head.
“You can open your eyes.” Harry told the others in English, they opened their eyes but refused to look at the snake.
“Talk to me.” said Harry to the basilisk. “How am I controlling you? I’m not the Heir of Slytherin.”
“You appear to be, little boy.” The basilisk replied, hissing and poking its tongue out threateningly.
Harry cleared his throat. “Who is the true Heir of Slytherin? Who has been controlling you this whole time?”
“A little orange girl with a diary.” It said smoothly.
Harry frowned and looked to his friends. “Do we know any girls with orange hair and a diary?”
“Doesn’t Weasley have a sister? She has orange hair, surely.” Tracey asked. Harry only shrugged and went back to the basilisk, it was impossible for Ginny to be the heir, just impossible.
“I have come down here to ask you to stop attacking students, you’ve done enough harm.”
“My master orders me to do so, I don’t know who you are, little boy, but you have no power over me.” The basilisk roared.
“I have power over you now.” Harry smirked.
This made the basilisk roar again but it didn’t turn to look at them.
“Leave this school, leave this chamber.” Harry ordered. “The Forbidden Forest can be yours but you aren’t allowed back in Hogwarts again.”
“I will not be told what to do!”
“Leave!” Harry bellowed with all his might. The basilisk didn’t retort and slithered back into Salazars mouth, instead of coiling back up like it was doing when the mouth first opened, it continued down the tunnel until it was consumed by darkness and the mouth closed again.
“Bloody hell.” Goyle gasped. “Harry, what did you do?”
“I don’t know honestly, that was easier than I expected.” Harry laughed breathlessly.
He was then bombarded with hugs and his friends pulled each other tightly together.
“Why did you let it get away?” Draco asked when they separated.
“You think I could’ve killed that thing?” Harry snorted. “It’s in the forbidden forest now, surrounded by other animals to eat and away from the school. It shouldn’t be back any time soon.”
Draco grinned heartily and pulled Harry into another hug.
“Brilliant, just brilliant.”
Draco pulled away first and linked his elbow with Harrys. “Now how do we get out of here?”
Before the group left, Blaise made sure to get a large piece of the basilisks shedded skin for Professor Snape and they went back the way they came. It was much less scary their second time round and knowing they weren’t about to ran in with a giant serpent.
They reached the pipe slide they came down in and didn’t really know where to go from there. Harry tried to climb his way back up but it was too steep and slimy and he landed back on his butt on the cold wet floor. There didn’t seem to be any secret staircases or elevators Salazar Slytherin kindly put in and everyone was sure they’d be left here to die.
It wasn’t until they all sat down that Tracey had noticed a button underneath the pipe, she pressed it and all of a sudden she was suctioned back up with a loud scream. No one saw her press the button at first so it was pretty confusing.
“Where the fuck did she go?” Blaise swore.
Draco found the button second and went zooming up after her and soon the group of seven were all safely back in Moaning Myrtles bathroom.
“I was wondering what was taking you so long.” Myrtle said. “The girl who usually goes down there is always much quicker.”
“What girl, Myrtle?” Harry asked.
Luckily for them, Myrtle seemed happy to talk. “Oh I forget her name but she’s a first year and cries in here with me sometimes, she’s just as misunderstood as me.” Myrtle sighed sadly.
“Do you remember what she looks like?” Pansy demanded. “Does she have orange hair and carries a diary?”
“Oh that’s as good a description as I would give.” Myrtle praised. “Her last name is the same as the orange haired boy whose been making a potion in here for the last month-“
“Weasley!” Draco and Harry said at the same time. Harry sounded excited whereas Draco spat it out.
“So it is Ginny.” Tracey grinned.
“I’m not sure how that’s possible, Ginny is from the least Slytherin bearing family I know.” Harry frowned.
“I’m more disappointed, a Weasley is the Heir of Slytherin, a bloody joke it all is.” Draco scowled as they walked out of the bathroom.
“We’ll have to ask the older Weasel if his sister stayed behind for Christmas.” said Blaise.
“Eww.” Harry groaned.
Finding Ron was easy since Hermione said they’d be in the Gryffindor Common Room, and that was where they still were. Harry made his friends go back to the Slytherin Common Room except for Tracey, the nicest out of them all towards others, he didn’t want to scare anyone off.
He did have to scream Rons name and yell at the Fat Lady to go get him, making them wait 10 minutes before a grumpy Weasley stormed out.
“What do you want?”
“Is Ginny here for Christmas?” Harry asked quickly.
Ron narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “Why do you want to know?”
“It’s important, trust me.”
“Too bad, I don’t trust you.” He started turning back into his common room.
“Please, Ron.” Harry begged, grabbing his elbow. “It’s important that I talk to her, you know I won’t do anything… cunning to her or whatever Slytherin trait you don’t like about me.”
Ron looked at him for a bit longer sighing and promising to get her. “But if you do anything nasty, I’ll know it was you.” Ginny came out a moment later with Neville, Hermione and Ron behind her like a protection squad.
“H-hi Harry.” She squeaked.
“Ginny.” Harry smiled back. “Er…this is Tracey, my friend.” Tracey waved. “And we have some questions to ask you… privately.” He looked at the three second years behind her and Hermione once again took charge and dragged the boys with force back inside.
“Is everything alright?” Ginny asked worryingly.
Harry looked at Tracey then back at Ginny. “Is it true you’re the heir of Slytherin?”
Ginny froze. “Wh-what? That’s ridiculous, Harry, I would- I would never-“
“It’s okay, Ginny, we know.” Tracey smiled warmly. “The basilisk has been stopped and the Chamber of Secrets has been closed again, but we need to know if you’re responsible for opening it.”
“But,” Ginny said shakily, “Tom said only he could control the basilisk, I don’t understand.”
“Ginny, who is Tom?” Harry demanded.
Ginny didn’t answer but looked back at the Fat Lady hopefully.
“You can tell us, Ginny.” said Tracey. “We won’t tell anyone.”
“Not even Dumbledore? Or my mother?”
“We swear.”
Ginny took a deep breath and reached into her woollen cardigan pocket, she then pulled out a battered old diary and handed it to Harry.
“I’ve been meaning to throw it away, he- he’s taking me apart, he knows everything about me, ever since I found it with my school books on summer vacation but all he’s wanted was you, Harry. And now you tell me the basilisk is gone and the chamber has been closed and now-“ Ginny wiped her teary eyes, “he may still be powerful.”
“Who is Tom?” Tracey asked again.
“He’s in the diary, or maybe he is the diary, I’m not sure but-“ Ginny sobbed and her hands, “oh Harry, he made me do everything. He made me write on the walls in blood and strangle the roosters and how I don’t know what I’ve done and what I haven’t.” Then she fell to ground, heart wrenching sobs shattering her body.
Harry knelt next to her and stroked her back. “It’s okay, Ginny, this wasn’t your fault, you did the right thing giving the diary to me.” He had no idea she was strangling roosters but he decided not to comment.
She looked up at him through her fingers, looking more horrified than ever. “You’ve taken what is most valuable to Tom. Don’t get dragged into his mind games, Harry.”
Tracey seemed to think they had enough information, she thanked Ginny and pulled Harry to his feet before dragging him back to the dungeons. Instead of turning into the Slytherin Common Room, she dragged them to Professor Snape’s office.
“Tracey, we’re going the wrong way.” Harry stressed when she knocked loudly on his door.
“I think this is the perfect way to go actually.”
Snape opened the door with a deep scowl which only deepened when he saw the students.
“What do you want, you’re on holidays for Salazars sake.” He grumbled, but let them in anyway.
Tracey didn’t sit down when Harry did but remained standing and placed the diary Ginny gave them on the desk. “We want to give you this.”
Did we? Harry thought. He guessed they forgot to discuss this part of the plan.
Snape looked curiously at the book. He picked it up with only his fingertips and opened the first page hesitantly, looking at something on the page, he slammed it shut.
“Where did you get this?” He demanded.
“A private source, sir.” Harry replied, not willing to give Ginny away.
“Do you know the dangers this diary causes?” Snape asked slowly.
Both shook their heads but Tracey talked. “We know it belonged to someone named Tom, but that’s all we were told.”
“Plus, it can possess someone to do stuff they wouldn’t normally do.” Harry added. “Like strangling roosters.”
“Like strangling roosters.” Snape repeated, turning even more pale if that was possible. “Thank you for giving this to me, I must take it to Dumbledore at once.”
Harry looked worriedly at Tracey who was fiddling nervously with her fingers. “Will you find out who gave this to us?”
Snape shook his head. “No, we respect our students privacy, unless it wasn’t a student who gave this to you.” They shook their heads again. “Alright, You two are free to go about your break as you please, just don’t do anything stupid.”
He stood at his open office door and waited until they exited before it slammed shut behind him.
“Erm… tell Dumbledore Tracey and I gave you the diary, but not how we got it.” Harry told the professor.
Snape quirked an eyebrow but nodded. “As you wish, Dumbledore will be thankful for your help.”
They sleepily returned to their common room and ignored the protests and questions their friends were flying at them before ganging up together and jumping on top of them all, causing the heap to fall to the floor.
——
Dumbledore was, in fact, so grateful for their help that he gave Harry and Tracey 200 points for Slytherin each. Harry had half the mind to tell the headmaster they also closed the chamber of secrets and took care of the basilisk but he didn’t want to sound like he was bragging.
His parents were informed of his act and they begged him to come to their New Years Eve celebration instead of staying at school. Harry agreed and spent two days at home before going back to school with Remus to help his godfather get ready for school again.
The new term started with a delicious welcome back feast, however, the change in the student body was noticeable. Although a large portion of the students had returned back to school, a lot of others, mostly muggleborns and halfbloods, were not there. Harry wanted to shout from the astronomy tower that no one had to be afraid anymore, but he hoped the staff would notice the lack of petrifications and blood writing on the walls and get the students to come back. Ginny surprisingly bounced back and looked much healthier and happier than before, she pulled Harry into a hug in front of everyone in the Great Hall and thanked him for saving her.
In Herbology, Professor Sprout cancelled a majority of their classes because she was making concoctions from the mandrake plants to help Collin Creevey, Justine Finch-Fletchley and Nearly Headless Nick recover. It wasn’t until spring, early March, that the potions were ready and the boys were brought back to health.
Harry almost ran up to hug them himself when he saw the three of them walk into the Great Hall one breakfast morning but he knew better. Ernie and his Hufflepuff friends still glared at Harry from across corridors and in classrooms, but he quickly learnt to ignore them.
Blaise had anonymously given Professor Snape the piece of basilisk skin they had found in the chamber. Harry had the idea that Snape knew it was them but didn’t say anything. It was apparently as dangerous as the basilisk venom when mixed with the right ingredients and Snape allowed a private lesson for just the Slytherin second years to make the Death Potion. He told them it was a secret recipe he got from an American magical congressman that he had always wanted to recreate but didn’t have the right ingredients. Merlin knows why Snape was teaching this to 12 year olds but it was fun.
Nearing the end of the year, everyone still had exams. Hermione forced Harry to study with her 9 hours a week and although her cue-cards and adamant quizzes annoyed the daylight out of him, Harry walked out of every exam feeling more and more confident. They promised to write to one another the moment they got their results back.
Daphne was groaning to everyone when July 1st was coming closer and closer, saying how much she didn’t want her sister to come to school and annoy her every chance she got. Pansy always said Astoria was much nicer and more even-tempered than her sister so Harry was looking forward to it.
Plus, they had to choose their third year elective classes! Harry had written to his father about this and his dad swore to him up and down, left and right to do divination, saying it was the funniest and easiest subject he ever chose to do. Harry just went along with it and wrote down divination and care for magical creatures, he had always loved animals. As well as doing quidditch next year and the core subjects, his electives looked pretty nice. Draco, Blaise, Crabbe and Goyle were also doing care for magical creatures and Pansy and Tracey were doing divination so Harry wasn’t alone in either class. His mum had suggested he do ancient runes like she did, saying it was the most interesting class she had chosen, besides potions of course, Harry ignored that one. Remus wasn’t offended Harry didn’t choose Arithmancy and instead said care for magical creatures was his top favourite and that he only did Arithmancy to prove to Dorcas that he could, becoming a teacher for the subject was a complete accident, but he loved his job anyway.
Slytherin won the House Cup and the Quidditch Cup at the end of the year. Harry had three more games and they smashed every single one. His family made it to each game and his family and his friends seemed to have a competition of who could cheer Harry on the loudest, this was a fair fight as Goyle could bellow louder than anyone and Remus is both a teacher and was a commentator for quidditch games back when he was at school.
The year ended quickly after all that happened in the chamber of secrets and for that, Harry was grateful.