Strange Potter

Neville was nervous. The fact Harry had been taken out was terrifying. Harry was unstoppable. His magic was beyond anything on the planet and someone was able to turn him into a statue. 

That was a frightening concept. 

When the castle shook everyone freaked out but Neville and Alice. They both knew there were only two people who could do that. 

Oh someone is in for a world of pain. The boy relaxed a bit. Between Wanda and Harry, he was sure Luna would be saved. She better be.

The blonde was odd but she was a friend. A good person too. She had to be alright.

Any other day that would have been fun.

That was Harry's first reaction after he slid down the hole. The next was the big door that had snakes on it. He stood in front of it waiting, but nothing was happening.

"You wanted me! Here I am!" Open up, you bastard.

Language. Wanda replied.

You've been around Cap too much and I can think what I want.

Suddenly the snakes began to spin and the door opened for him. He carefully stepped in and winced as it closed behind him hard.

"Wow." The inside of the massive underground lair was a sight to see. He stopped when he saw a young girl with red hair laying on the ground. "Ginny?" Cautiously he came down the long path to the girl.

"Harry?"

The voice came from the statue. There he saw Luna tied to the snake's head. "Luna!" He rushed over to her. "Are you okay?"

"You came for me?" She whispered.

"Of course I did." 

Luna had tears as she smiled back but her head was sore. "My head hurts."

"Hey." He held her head and found blood on the back of it. "Just stay awake. I'm getting you out of here."

"That is unlikely Potter." A male voice spoke.

Harry found a young man walking over to him. He had neat hair, clean clothes, and full school robes. Slytherin robes.

Those eyes...I've seen them before. "Who are you?" The younger boy pulled his wand. He had an idea but he wanted to be sure.

"Tom to those who don't value their lives." He had Ginny and Luna's wands in his hands. "I knew you would come. Such a brave Gryffindor."

"Tom? Tom Riddle?"

The specter seemed interested that he had known his last name. "Where did you hear that name?"

"You would be surprised what I know about you Tom."

"Well, aren't you interesting?"

"I make a habit of learning about people who try to kill me and my friends." And murdered my parents you piece of shite.

"Don't tell me this is about the stupid mudblood." Tom laughed. "If anything you should be thankful. Friends are such a weakness. Like the concept of light or dark. There is only power Potter. And those too weak to reach it. There are only these who are useful everyone else is an obstacle to true power."

Harry had to stop himself from blowing up. "You have no idea what power is Tom!" He moved with him as the older boy walked around. "Enough stepping around it. We both know what you call yourself now."

"Already made the connection haven't you?" He stopped with his back to Luna and Ginny.

"I knew when you had Ginny to send me down here. When I saw those eyes just confirmed it." He glared back. "I have nightmares about them once a week. Voldemort."

"Very astute Potter."

"Well you couldn't go around telling everyone you were the son of a rapist and her victim, could you? So you lied and made up one."

Tom glared at the mention of his disgusting parents. "You didn't think I would keep my filthy muggle father's name? No, I fashioned a new one. One everyone would fear to leave their lips when I became the greatest sorcerer in the world!"

"Dr. Strange is the greatest sorcerer in the world!" Harry shouted back.

Tom scuffed. "Oh yes. The Sorcerer Supreme. Ginny here told me about him." He didn't look amused. "I will deal with him once I'm full again. It won't be long."

"Full?"

"Young Ginny is on her last few minutes. Soon I will be reborn."

"Arrogant and self-absorbed. Im starting to think you and Snape are related." Harry scuffed back. "You won't be leaving this chamber I promise you."

"Just a heroic as Ginny told me in those stories."

"Stories?" Harry realized what he was talking about. "Bloody crazy mums." He mumbled. "You know there is an entire group including Doctor Strange waiting outside. Even if you are 'reborn' you won't last two seconds with them."

Tom looked smug. "The Basilisk will clear my path. As they fight I will simply walk out of the school."

"So even it means nothing to you?"

"It's a beast. It lives to serve and should be honored to die defending me."

"Oh, I'm going to enjoy watching you get your ass kicked."

Tom glared back. "I have been waiting for this. Let's test the might of the Boy Who Lived against the Heir of Slytherin!"

Harry pulled off his glasses and the feed cut off. "I fought you last time. This time I'm just going to enjoy the show."

"What are you talking about? There is no one here to save you."

Harry grinned. "You assume a lot, Tommy. You have a Basilisk. I got her." He pointed behind him.

Riddle looked puzzled but spun around to see a woman with red hair behind him. On the other side, a man had Luna in his arms.

"What magic is this?!" Where did they come from?!

Wanda didn't answer her hands glowed and Tom was thrown back. He smashed through a statue and felt his forming body in pain. "Impossible!"

"Harry get behind us," Wanda said. "Strange what is that?" She could tell it was not human. Not fully.

"A mistake." Stephen knew now what had controlled Ginny.

Tom looked at the water and hissed. SS Get them! Kill them all! SS 

The water blasted back as the king snake roared out and charged at Wanda.

"Don't look in its eyes!" Harry shouted in her head.

"What eyes?"

Harry and Strange saw the Basilisk no longer had its dangerous sight. In fact, it had no sight. She had removed its eyes entirely. 

It roared and slammed itself against the ground as it tried to find the woman.

Wanda held up a red shield that its fangs slammed into.

Harry rushed over to Stephen and took Luna as Strange moved to the specter.

Stephen and the teen stared off.

"So you're the famous Supreme."

"And you're the child who thought he could become a god."

"I am a god! Pestis Incendium!" He shot at Stephen and the others.

Wanda held back the Basilisk with one hand while using the other to hold the fire. Stephen cast a large barrier around him and the children as Harry put Luna down with Ginny and covered them both. The Fiendfyre went past them as Harry held on. It was then he saw something next to Ginny. A book?

"Harry...the diary." Luna motioned in a whisper. "He said he was preserved in it."

Harry realized what that was. They had another one right here! He saw Wanda and the snake still fighting as the flames danced around them all.

Wanda let me try to reason with it!

Harry, you feel it like I do. There's no reasoning here.

Harry hated that it was true. Even he wouldn't be able to get through the centuries of what the creature had been told to do. With Tom ordering it to kill it wouldn't stop. Until it was stopped.

Tom broke off the spell as the barrier was undamaged. 

SS Kill them you useless beast!! SS

The Basilisk went in trying to bite anything it could hear or sense. Wanda hit it with red and blasted the huge serpent back. She floated over it and began raining magic down on it.

"Bombarda maxima!" Riddle fired at the three.

Strange's quick hand play crashed the spell into the Mirror Dimension rendering the damage obsolete. "I must admit, even though you are only a child here. I am disappointed. I expect more." He casually dusted off some dirt from his shoulder.

Tom's rage grew, even more, and he fired a killing curse at Stephen only for it to go into a hole out of nowhere. The teen was no match as Stephen countered every spell and fired back one that sent an earth-shaking shock through the chamber. Tom got hit full force and landed in the water.

Wanda had enough. She encompassed the entire fifty-foot snake in her magic. It fought as hissed crying for aid from its master.

The arrogant teen climbed out soaking wet and shouted. SSKill them now!! SS

Wanda looked at Harry. I'm sorry you have to see this.

Harry nodded with a sad look. He knew what was about to happen. 

Her hands twisted and the agony of the large snake was obvious. Then she yanked her hands apart. 

The sickening sound of blood and flesh tearing fills the chamber. A loud thud echoed as the beast fell. Its severed head landed at Stranges feet.

"No! What have you done?!"

Stephen cast. Glowing ropes wrapped around Tom. "It's over."

"Release me!!"

"You are finished. You will not be complete."

"Let me." Wanda landed. Her whole body glowing.

He's mine, Wanda. "Hey, Tom!"

Riddle struggled to turn but saw Harry standing there. Diary in one hand. A Basilisk fang, he had grabbed from the head, in the other. The younger boy stabbed the fang into the book with all his strength.

"No!!" Tom glowed. White light erupted from the hole forming in his chest. Then more and more until he exploded in a flash. "Aha!!!"

Teen Riddle was no more.

Harry pulled the fang out and slipped it into his pocket.

"Basilisk venom? Glad to see you read ahead." Strange complimented.

"I didn't think you wanted me to destroy it fully." Harry handed him the book.

"Clever thinking." Stephen examined the diary. "That makes five."

"Only one left now." Harry realized.

"Gentleman. A hand." Wanda called over by the girls.

Harry rushed to Luna while Wanda was with Ginny.

"Hi. Dr. Strange." Luna said weakly as Harry helped her sit up.

"Hello, Luna." He examined her head. "Possible concussion."

"The other girl is very weak." Wanda held her hand over Ginny. "Her mind... it's a mess."

"Let's get them to their healer."

"How did that book get into her possession?"

"That is the question."

"Dobby?" Harry asked. "This is what he warned us about."

"So this elf's master would be the guilty party," Wanda said.

"For now let's get them to Madam Pomfrey. Then we can discuss the one responsible."

Wanda portaled them to the infirmary holding Ginny, the girl still out cold but alive.

Pomfrey jumped at the sudden appearance but when she saw Harry she grew very angry. "Potter!"

Stephen stepped between them. "Yell later. They need your help."

She saw Ginny and Luna and lost her anger. She had the placed on the beds and began examining them.

"Harry." Luna squeezed his hand. "Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me, friends watch each other's back. Besides they did the heavy lifting. I was just a baited lure."

"He was so evil." Luna was still shocked by how dark that spirit was.

"That sums him up."

Luna had indeed had a concussion, but it was easily treated. She was told she would be staying in the infirmary for the night to be safe.

Ginny was different. Her body was regaining its color and she looked less like a zombie. Stephen and Wanda both believed her mind required help. Poppy agreed to keep her for observation for a few days. Plus to let the girl rest in peace away from the other students.

"You owe me big!" Regulus said. "She was so angry! Like worse than mum after a bad prank mad."

Harry chuckled and pulled the fang out of his pocket. "How about a trophy from a thousand-year-old King Serpent as payment?"

"Wicked!"

"Not happening." Wanda held out her hand for the fang. "After I remove the venom then you can have it."

"I didn't plan on giving it to him right now."

"Hey, I wanted to see it!"

"Deadly venom Reg. Let her handle it for now."

"You two are no fun." He sat next to Luna. "Hey, Luna."

"Hi, Regulus. Where's Motto?"

"Morgan is watching him." He leaned in and whispered. "I knew you would be alright. Between Harry and aunt Wanda, no snake would win."

She gave a soft laugh at that. Regulus began telling her about one of the most recent pranks he tried on Morgan.

Harry and Wanda stepped back as Stephen and Poppy worked.

"I'm sorry we couldn't save the Basilisk. I know you love animals."

"I get it. He had been brainwashed for centuries. Even I couldn't get through to him."

Wanda patted his shoulder and pulled Harry into a hug. "You did very well."

"I called for backup. Just like I promised." He hugged back. It was a wild day. Suddenly his senses acted up. Wanda and he had been joined by the magical connection for years. He knew almost everything about her, but what he felt here was different. Like there was more than the two of them.

It clicked after a few seconds. He looked up at her with his eyes wide. "Wanda?"

She knew what he felt and had a small smile on her face. "I haven't told Remus yet."

Harry's face went wide with a smile and tears he hugged her tight again. 

I have to be nearby when you do.

You just want to watch him faint.

They laughed together. The family was getting bigger soon.

"Mr. Potter!"

The two turned to see Dumbledore and the rest entering the wing.

Wanda was met with a hug from Remus while Harry was again wrapped in his parent's arms. 

"You turned off the stream." Natasha glared slightly.

"I didn't know when the snake would show up so I didn't want everyone watching to end up like me."

"Smart." Remus ruffled his hair.

"Any wounds?" Sirius asked as he checked him over.

"Other than a need for a shower? I'm good."

"I'm glad to see you are well, we need to talk about what happened in the Chamber. If you would accompany me to my office?" Dumbledore asked. 

"Reg?" Sirius called.

"I'll wait here." He looked back at Luna. "So I had this great prank ready. All I needed was the duck and Happy..."

Harry and his family sat in the headmaster's quarters. Strange and Wanda were there as well.

Dumbledore had been told the danger had been defeated and was looking at the book that had been brought back. He looked up at Harry.

"You have put me in a difficult situation." He began. "One you deliberately ignored my words and did exactly what I told you not to. That is grounds for expulsion."

Sirius sat up to defend Harry but Dumbledore held his hand up.

"On the other, you risked yourself and showed great compassion for your friend. It would be pointless to issue punishment since I doubt it would change how you would act in the future."

"You're right. I would do it again." Harry admitted.

Dumbledore nodded but the trained eye saw a hint of a smile. "I am also unable to reward you. It would encourage such acts in the future. As the headmaster, I can not be seen promoting actions." He paused. "Nor could I say that you are one brave and selfless young man who I can only imagine his parents, both of them, are proud of. One I a simple man would be impressed by and honored to say is a student. But these are things a headmaster could not say." His eyes twinkled.

Harry found himself grinning back. 

The doors opened and four people marched in. Fudge, Umbridge, Bones, and for some reason Lucius.

Fudge saw Harry and immediately looked relieved. "Mr. Potter. Thank heavens! I heard you were attacked."

"I got better." Harry shrugged.

"Albus, what is the situation?" Amelia asked. "Where is the Basilisk?"

"Dead," Wanda spoke.

"And the girls?"

"In the care of Madam Pomfrey," Albus replied. "I expect them to make a full recovery with a little time."

Strange looked at the man like he was out of his mind. Miss. Lovegood will but Miss. Weasley will need expert help after the ordeal she went through. He would have to make sure her parents understood that.

Harry saw movement behind Lucius. A small elf moving. "Dobby?"

Lucius glared at the elf when he saw him behind him. "I'll deal with you later."

Dobby shrunk back away from him. Harry's eyes grew furious.

Strange and Harry locked eyes. They didn't need to talk in their heads to know that they had found the culprit.

"So who was responsible?" Lucius asked. "Children were at risk, as a parent we have a right to know."

Dumbledore looked over his glasses. "Voldemort."

Fudge winced at the name but began stammering. "That's ridiculous! The dark lord is dead."

"I have said many times I don't believe that to be the case, but in this matter." Dumbledore held up the book. "This was his possession once. Through it, the victim was forced to do these actions. No different than being under the Imperius." He said the last part looking at Lucius.

"It is a bit different," Strange said. "The Imperius curse takes away a person's will in one strong casting. Some can fight it. This book, however, drains it slowly. The longer the worse it does to whoever uses it."

"And who was the one who did the deeds?"

"I think you know." Harry grabbed the book and slapped it to Malfoys chest. "After you planted it on them."

"Mr. Potter." Fudge spoke loudly. "Lucius is an upstanding member of our society. He would never do such a thing."

"Child sit back down. We have no interest in listening to your lies." Umbridge spoke.

Stephen made a motion to Natasha and Sirius to not do anything just yet. Nat ignored it and rose to the woman.

"Do not call my son a liar," Natasha warned as she stood face-to-face with Umbridge.

It took a lot for Umbridge to calm herself. The audacity of this muggle. "Dearie, Potter is obviously lying. I understand you are too simple to understand."

"Coming from someone who's parents were probably siblings you hardly get to cast accusations on anyone. I know Harry and I know when he is lying. He's not." 

"You dare insult me?!"

"Don't call me simple I won't call you inbred. Now I know why you are so desperate to discard Harrys words. The truth is something you don't want to hear. It might upset your close-minded way you see the world. So why don't you let those of us with more than two brain cells handle this?" Natasha saw the toad woman reach for her wand.

"You know nothing!!"

That was all she got out when Natasha backhanded her to the floor. "Hard to talk down to someone standing over you isn't it?"

Umbridge wand was out. "You dare attack me?! I'm the Undersecretary! I will have you tossed to the dementors!"

Sirius banished her wand away. "It will be a cold day in hell before that happens."

"Enough!!" Dumbledore thundered. "Mr. Potter care to elaborate on your accusations? That is a very damning thing to claim."

"Before school, I received a warning from a little 'birdie' saying something bad was going to happen. Now I know that danger was the one-armed blonde tosser in front of me."

Lucius sneered greater than even Snape. "I don't have time to listen to your delusions Potter." He handed the book back but Harry just glared at him. Rolling his eyes the blonde tossed it to his useless elf.

Harry lost his glare and grinned. "You are as predictable as your son. Dobby open it!"

Dobby was startled but did and his big eyes went even bigger. "Master has given me a glove?" 

"I didn't..." Lucius snapped over to see a glove in the cursed book. All the fingers were folded down except the middle one.

"Dobby is free!!"

"You cost me, my servant!!" Lucius shouted at Harry.

The boy laughed in his face. "No, I freed your slave. I understand someone as daft as you wouldn't see the difference."

Lucius looked ready to strike the boy but Strange and Wanda stood before him now.

"Dobby is this the one you warned me about?" Strange asked.

"Yes. Dr. Strange! Horrible master was bad!!"

"Dumbledore how many students are in this school?"

"Just over a thousand." 

Strange smiled. "Lucius Malfoy, you are under arrest for over 1,000 attempted murders."

"You can't arrest me!"

"I most certainly can. Comes with the title."

"Nobody will take the words of that elf over mine!"

"It's enough for me." Strange shrugged. "It's well documented that I have ways to get the truth out."

"This has gone too far!" Fudge spoke. "I am the minister and I won't listen to these false accusations!"

"Then we take it from the mans own head." Wanda grabbed Lucius's by his hair.

The scream echoed throughout the whole room and into the hallway.

Lucius could do nothing as his shields were ripped to pieces. His mind was completely open.

Above him, Stephen and the others watched as Lucius' memories played. The book, planting in the cauldron, being handed the book from a pale hand, and a voice spoke.

When the time is right. This will cleanse the school of all those who taint our world.

I wait for your word master. Lucius's voice replied.

Wanda kept going over all the memories but one stopped her. It was the talk between Lucius and Greyback.

The blonde fell to the ground shaking and whimpering.

"You...you helped Greyback! Then you killed him!" Wanda floated him in the air.

"Wanda!" Remus grabbed her arm. "Don't. I know what you want to do, but that won't be right. You know it."

Wanda's red eyes showed she was still considering it but Remus was right. This was too quick. She dropped him back to the floor.

"I will be taking him into custody for interrogation. You should schedule a trial for him. As you saw his previous claims of being under the Imperius are under question."

"Dr. Strange I can't allow you to hold him. This is my investigation. He can wait in a holding cell for questioning." Amelia wanted to drown Lucius in Veritaserum but she had to follow proper procedure.

"So he can be released due to his upstanding status? No, he will be my personal guest in my sanctum. Don't worry he will be delivered unharmed. You can have your Unspeakables look him over before if you want."

Amelia didn't want to argue and knew she was not in a position to do so. Strange's status gave him almost limitless power, but his reputation after the war for clearing out the Ministry of Death Eaters had given him a lot of public support. "I see I don't have a choice so I agree to the terms. Several will check him along with a potion master. I can't risk any discrepancies."

"I'm glad we can come to an understanding." Strange opened a portal and Lucius fell through.

"This isn't over," Fudge warned.

"You are right. It's far from over." Wanda's eyes glowed toward him. 

Fudge backed away and Umbridge followed.

"That may have been over the top," Strange said as they rushed out.

"It worked." She shrugged.

"Dr. Strange. Do you truly intend to bring have a trial in the Wizengamot?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes."

"I would recommend that you exercise caution concerning this." The older man picked up the book from the floor.

"It was a dark artifact that is all that needs to be said in the assembly." Strange took the book from him. "But you and I need to have a long talk about this and what it is."

Dumbledore didn't want to have that conversation. Strange was holding a very important secret in his hand. One that could doom the world if it got out.

"Nice trick with the glove." Sirius smiled at Harry. 

"sleight of hands can be just as much fun as magic." Harry laughed back.

"Harry Potter sir! You free Dobby." The elf was jumping around. "You kept your word..." He said through tears.

"I always do." Harry knelt to him. "I help my friends."

Dobby teared up more and blew his nose into his pillowcase.

"So you are Dobby." Natasha knelt to them. "You have an odd way of helping. I don't consider breaking Harry's arm doing that."

Dobby looked uneasy at the muggle. "Dobby is sorry. I was trying to keep him safe!"

"He did mean well mum. Just has an odd way of going about it." Harry said.

"Right." She was still wary of the elf. Mother hen mode was still on. 

"Dobby. I will need to have some words with you concerning your former master." Strange said. "At a later time. For now, I think there are a lot of people who should be told the danger had passed."

Dumbledore stood in front of the assembly. All the students were eager to hear the news about what had happened.

Strange and Wong were down in front with Wanda. Sirius and Alice had stuck around but Natasha took Regulus back home. She didn't want to be around anyone else who she might end up decking to the ground. Since Snape was still employed here it was a good call.

Harry had slipped back in and was asked a lot of questions but he just pointed to the front and told them to listen.

"As I imagine all of you are anxious to hear, the news," Dumbledore spoke. 

"What happened?!"

"Is it true a Weasley was involved?!" Malfoy shouted.

All the Weasleys were in the hospital wing with Ginny and their parents. Harry had been told they wanted to speak with him but Sirius had convinced them to wait until the next day due to excitement.

"I'm glad to see you are so concerned for you fellow students Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore knew the boy wasn't asking like that but it wasn't like Draco would stand up and shout differently. Not to him at least. "The culprit has been identified, for security reasons I can not disclose their names during the investigation."

The crowd listened intently.

"Miss. Weasley and Miss. Lovegood are well and in the hospital wing. Please take care as to asking them any invasive questions to their experiences. Finally, as you have no doubt seen Mr. Potter has been cleared of his petrified state."

"Did you really go down to the chamber?!" Colin wasn't known for his patience.

"Mr. Creevey." Mcgonagall spoke loudly. "Remain silent."

"But what happened to the beast?" Someone shouted.

"The Basilisk is dead." Strange spoke. "The chamber will be examined thoroughly for any other dangers."

"Can we see it?"

"That would be unwise." Wanda said. "I don't want to ruin anyones dinner. I didn't leave it in a very appealing state."

That made the hall begin asking over themselves again as to what that meant. Dumbledore didn't try to get their attention back. 

"What did she mean?" Dean asked Harry.

Harry held up one of the candles and broke it in two as a demonstration.

The whole table looked shocked.

"You are a bloody fool sometimes." Neville laughed as everyone took in what they were told.

"Only sometimes?"

"I was trying to be nice you git."

"Love you too Nev."

The main door opened and everyone turned to see a bushy-haired Gryffindor come in.

Harry's face filled with relief and into a huge smile when their eyes met. Hermione smiled brightly back and ran towards him. He was up to meet her halfway with his own hug.

"You went down there alone?!" She shook her head but the smile was still plastered to her face.

"Hey, it worke..."

"Don't you dare say it!" She said with no malice but laughed and hugged him tightly again.

Harry laughed into the hug. Vanilla? Must be a new shampoo. It's nice.

This boy is too bloody heroic. Facing the evil villain and his monster. He's a real-life fantasy story. He's going to drive me mental doing these things. Hermione thought. 

They remember they were surrounded by their classmates when they heard snickering.

The blushing pair stopped the hug.

"Hey, Hermione," Neville said. "I'm glad you're alright."

"Thank you. I'm glad everyone else is okay." She gave him a small hug too. Not nearly as strong as the one she gave Harry though.

"Hermione." Susan got up and hugged her. "I was worried when I heard."

"I got lucky."

"Very. Rumor is you were saved by a mirror?" Blaise asked.

"Mirrors can be very useful." Hermione was already told the cover story by Helena before she rushed to the Great Hall.

"Great lifesaving tools." Harry chuckled.

"You have to tell me everything." She said in her full bossy voice.

"I have to?" He crossed his arms.

Hermione rolled her eyes but said more kindly. "Will you please tell me?"

He grinned back. "Sure." He saw he had gathered an audience. "Later in the dorm."

The other tables groaned.