Chambers and secrets
December 27th, 1980
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
This was hell, that’s the only thought Ginny Potter could think as she laid in the bed that had been prepared for her by the Hogwarts house elves. Her children, along with her nieces and nephews were in the same room as her after it had been magically expanded. The decision had been made to bring everyone who had seen the time travelers to Hogwarts as it was more secure and had the space for the extra people; not that it was an easy decision for the mother of four (yes, she counts Teddy) to go along with considering her history with the historic school. She had avoided dinner in the Great hall due to the memories of Fred’s body laying beside Tonks and Remus’s body before Harry’s short trip to the afterlife.
As she rolled over for the umpteenth time, she decided to confront the demon that was truly hurting her ability to sleep. Quietly, she slipped out of bed and through the door and began the solitary journey to the second-floor bathroom. While she and Harry had visited the bathroom during the initial phase of their relationship, it was different now that the basilisk inside of it was alive. The biggest concern Ginny had was whether she’d run into Myrtle tonight; after all, the kids were asleep like logs.
Before she knew it, Ginny found herself quietly entering the bathroom that had haunted her nightmares for the last 27-years. With great trepidation, she went over to the tap that hadn’t worked for nearly a millennium and stared at it. Fortunately for her, Myrtle was elsewhere in the castle tonight and she could do this undisturbed. “I was wondering if I’d see you here tonight, Gin.” Or not.
“It’s hard to believe that it’s alive again,” Her eyes were focused on the snakes engraved into the tap with a haunted look. “After all we went through down there, it’s still alive.”
“It’s not still alive in your time, or mine Gin.” Harry stepped out of the shadows, “It’s gone…we killed it and we destroyed Riddle’s diary in the process.” She snorted at that because she fully understood how important the destruction of that diary was to the war effort…even if the Harry in front of her didn’t realize it yet. As Ginny continued to stare at the tap, she didn’t notice Harry approach her until he gently placed his hand on her arm and squeezed it. “Yah know, part of me wants to go down there and take care of the ruddy thing. Bu-“
“Hermione would tear into you for interfering with time?”
Harry snorted at that, “Actually I was more concerned about what Riddle would do to you the first time he got you into the Chamber and realized that his pet was dead.”
“So we let time continue so you can get rid of the diary,” She whispered softly. The two of them locked eyes and it was clear that both of them understood the diaries importance to history. There was no further words that needed to be said on the subject as Harry firmly grabbed her elbow and began to guide them out of the bathroom and back to the guest quarters. Neither of them expected to get any sleep that night, and neither of them noticed the grey tabby at that followed them in the shadows. As they neared their destination, Harry screamed out in pain and clutched at his scar before he collapsed to the stone floor; the tabby hauled ass down the corridor in the direction of the Hospital Wing as Ginny caught him to prevent him from getting to hurt.
Inside the guest quarters, the teens were awakened to two sets of agonized screams.
Voldemort was seated at the head of a long table surrounded by his inner circle. His hands were pursed together, and his lips were in a thin white line. The news that his spy had just delivered was most troubling indeed, the appearance of multiple copies of the Potter child along with his children was a great cause for concern. It greatly angered him that the child of the prophecy was a half-blood, that he would lose to someone that was also a half-blood. In fact, he was downright furious.
The witches and wizards gathered around the table flinched as their master lost control of his magic in a fit of rage. But no one dared moved as they didn’t want to be singled out for the cruciatis. “This is most disturbing news you have brought me Wormtail.”
“I-I-I know my Lord.” Wormtail’s eyes darted from his master to the floor as he began to sweat. “B-B-But I-I-I figured it was something you out to know as soon as I could tell you.”
“Stop your cowering,” He practically hissed. “You’ve done me a great service tonight, Lord Voldemort is most grateful. You’re free to go, Wormtail.” The balding man rapidly scurried from the room. Once the door slammed shut he turned to Rudolphus. “And how is your mission going?”
The eldest Lestrange brother refused to look his master in the eye, “CRUCIO!”
The 12-year-old Harry Potter came too surrounded by his own vomit as the 12-year-old Ron looked at him in panic. Ron’s older copy, and the older Hermione barged into the room with their wands drawn but dropped them down as soon as they saw the results of Harry’s nightmare. Hermione quickly came over to clean him up as Ron went to comfort his younger self before he headed over to Harry. “Hey pintsized mate,” Hermione swatted at him while the smaller Harry smiled feebly. “What did you see?”
“It was this man, he was at a table full of people in black cloaks…” Hermione froze, and Ron paled, which caused Harry to stop speaking. Before he could resume, the door burst open as Lily Evans Potter charged in with a worried look on her face. Hermione intercepted her before she could crowd Harry…she whispered into the redheaded woman’s ear; which was the wrong thing to do as Lily’s face rapidly reddened as she reached for her wand; the younger witch tightened her hold on Harry’s mother so that she couldn’t do anything rash.
Before the situation could escalate anymore, they heard Ginny struggling with the older Harry as they stumbled into the common room. James and Sirius were rapidly at her side as the next gen kids came hustling out with confused looks on their face. If the situation hadn’t been so tense, it would have been humorous. The 12-year-old Harry leaned on the elder Ron as they made their way into the room as well; both copies of Harry locked eyes before the 17-year-old one spoke. “He knows.”
“What do you mean?” Sirius looked at his older godson confused.
“Voldemort knows we’re here.” Ginny paled and slumped to the floor, her breath became uneven as she worked to fight off a panic attack.
“How?” This came from James, his face was ashen and his hand ruffled his already messy raven hair.
“Scabbers.” Was the response, but it came not from Harry, but from 17-year-old Ron.
“What the bloody hell does my pet rat have to do with You-know-who finding out we’re here?” 12-year-old Ron looked at his older self with a look of loathing on his face. There was no immediate answer from any of the older people who know. Evans looked like she was about to say something, but she was cut off by a slight cough from behind her. That’s when the room noticed that the Headmaster and Minerva McGonagall were standing at the door; Minerva had a look of complete and utter disbelief on her face as she faced a room full of Potters.
“I believe that is a valid question Mr. Weasley.” Dumbldore looked at the elder copies of Ron and Harry, along with Hermione. Neither of them looked the Headmaster in the eye. “I would also like to know how you know that Voldemort is aware of your presence.”
It was 17-year-old Harry that spoke up, “Voldemort and I (he gestured to his 12-year-old self) have a connection of sorts,” James Fleamont paled while his future kids stood there with a slack jawed look on their faces. “When he’s feeling really strong emotions the connection activates and I can see what he sees.”
“HARRY!” Hermione hissed at him, “Dumbledore wanted you to close that connection with Occulemency. I thought you were still practicing it.” When he shook his head, she growled in frustration before she opened her mouth to speak. But she was cut off by an irate redheaded witch.
“Sod off, Granger. Occulemency isn’t going to help him.” Ginny slowly stood from the floor as she eyed her future sister-in-law.
“And how do you know that? Dumb-“
“Because Harry’s is a ruddy Horcrux.” The words had left her mouth before she realized what she was saying. Her hand went up to her mouth in horror at the secret she let slip while the elder Ron, Harry, and Hermione all paled. Ginny thought she heard Hermione mutter under her breath, ”That makes so much sense.” But before a conversation could truly get started around this revelation, Sirius Black let a heart wrenching scream as he collapsed to his knees openly sobbing.