A Different Train Ride

The shocking words that the Traveler had spoken caused those in the carriage to look at him in amazement – except, perhaps, Albus Dumbledore who's reaction was mostly a widening of his eyes.

Amelia finally had to ask, "And how will you do that?"

"Make sure the several soul anchors he left around are cleaned or destroyed of course," was Harry's placid reply, "including that Diary which Ginny just gave you."

Even though the carriage had arrived, none made any effort to exit, trying to sort out exactly what was being said.

After about five minutes though, the conversation was over. Upon exiting the carriage they found an incensed Severus Snape waiting. Curious, Dumbledore asked, "Severus? What is it?"

The sneering man looked at the Traveler and said, "I have a report that my student, Mr. Malfoy, has been being abused by this man. And I want it stopped."

The Traveler looked at Severus Snape in shock, noticing a smirking Draco in the background. "Professor Snape, your student is lying to you. You can perform a legilemens spell?" Taken aback, the Head of Slytherin nodded. "I will open my shields and allow you to see the two interactions I have had with him." He glanced over to Amelia. "I am giving authorization for this, so no need to claim he is performing an illegal spell."

Amelia nodded suspiciously but watched like a hawk.

"Go ahead. But if you try to look for anything else, my shields will fry you – fair warning."

Severus Snape took his wand and, looking directly at the man's eyes, performed the spell.

Harry felt the intrusion and pushed the memories toward it, allowing the man to inspect them. He noticed that there was an effort to ensure that this was not a false memory, altered in any way. After a moment, he felt the mental presence withdraw.

Severus looked at the man and said, "I see." He looked at Draco and said, "Go to Great Hall. We will speak after the Feast." Draco quickly withdrew, recognizing the note of disapproval in the man's voice.

Curious, Harry said, "That's it? No apology? No admittance that you might have been wrong?"

Stiffly, Snape replied, "I must support my Slytherins."

Casually putting up a privacy spell (he didn't really need to get into this can of worms with Molly and the head of the DMLE listening, Harry addressed the man before him."

"Yeah. Even when they are wrong." Snape looked incensed. "Your godson has been lying to you. Consider this: A boy with two friends makes every effort to accost at every chance another boy. Th first boy is a child of privilege, taught that whatever he wants is his for the taking, coddled by his parents. The other grew up in a cupboard under the stairs, treated as a freak by his muggle guardians because Petunia Dursley has never gotten over her jealousy of her sister. This second boy has grown up with second hand clothing, never allowed to eat as much as he might like or need, even if he wasn't starved. In other words, abused mentally if not physically, and treated like rubbish. It's a shock that he's not a broken-down wreck because of it. And of course, this child of privilege is backed up fully by the staff and the child who grew up poorly is admonished for being in the wrong every time when he was often only protecting himself or responding to this boy of privilege."

Getting right up in the Potion Master's face, the Traveler asked with quiet intensity, "Now which of these boys in this scenario is more like James Potter and which is more like Severus Snape?" Snape was taken aback by that.

"And then of course, you treat the second boy's friends horribly for being associated with him. A boy who grew up poor with a family with too many mouths to feed, a boy who grew up with his family thinking him a squib and trying to force the magic out of him by regularly endangering his life, and a little girl bullied by her peers and without friends because she is smarter than all the kids around her. Congratulations, Mr. Snape. You have become exactly what James Potter was to you: A bully. And you have ensured your godson will be the same."

At that, Snape's expression broke. You had to be familiar with him, but anyone who knew the man would recognize a look of horror. It was as if the man had never honestly correlated the information as it had been presented.

"Yeah. So you might do well to actually look and listen before you ensure your godson is becomes like your most hated rival." Harry then casually took down the privacy spell.

It took Snape a moment before he gathered himself but he finally said, "I will take it under advisement."

Harry shook his head.

As the man started turning away, he said, "Wait!"

He turned to Amelia. "Are you going to arrest the man I mentioned?"

She nodded. "Right away."

"You might not want to do it in front of the students. Might I suggest asking for the Potions Professor's aid? He might be a bastard but he's effective at showing what he wants to be seen."

Amelia was curious and Snape was looking blank. Harry said to the man, "The DMLE is arresting Lockhart as a fraud and for attacking others to steal their memories. We don't want this done in front of the entire hall. We need you to inform the man, in your most sneering and disapproving fashion, that the Headmaster requires his advice in a matter of his expertise. We need him to expect nothing until he walks out that door."

Snape looked at the Headmaster who nodded gravely. The Potions Master nodded in acknowledgement and did as he was asked.

Very soon, Lockhart enthusiastically exited the hall, ready to be the showman that he was. Instead of being asked for advice, he was met with a stupefy and was cuffed.

Amelia said, "We'll be going now. Inform the students that there was an issue with Lockhart and a new Professor will arrive tomorrow. I'll send Peacegood as early as possible, likely with funds provided by the fraud for the students to purchase proper textbooks. He'll either pay or I'll add another ten years in Azkaban."

"Thank you, Amelia."

With that, the Ministry employees (plus Molly) retreated with Lockhart and Pettigrew locked in his animagus form. It would be a long night for them.

Harry was invited to eat at the Staff table. He casually transfigured his clothes into robes and took the offer.

Harry could barely contain his smirk when it was announced that due to circumstances beyond their control, Lockhart would not be available and that the new Defense professor would be arriving soon. Otherwise, the Feast was uneventful.

Except retrieving the Diadem (Dumbledore and McGonagall were amazed at the Room of Requirement) and getting the two horcruxes locked down, nothing else much happened and Harry was provided a room in the castle.

Over the next two days, Harry retrieved the Ring and checked in on the Ministry. Sirius had been retrieved and was being kept secretly, Madam Bones ensuring that no one blabbed. Peter Pettigrew and Gilderoy Lockhart were also being kept hidden.

Dolores Umbridge was not apparently, yet, a senior employee in this Ministry and thus Harry's greatest worry was for naught. That toad had the greatest ability to throw progress and law and order away of anyone he had ever met.

The trials were scheduled for 1:00 on Friday and Ron, Percy, and Harry were going. Harry was going because it was his Godfather and the two Weasleys were going because the rat had belonged to them. Amelia had no plans on calling them, but they had to be there regardless. The boys sat with Molly Weasley.

The first trial was for Gilderoy Lockhart.

There was much crying of denial and upset, especially by the female members of the Wizengamot, but when the accusations, the testimonies, and the Veritaserum-verified truths came out, Lockhart barely kept his life.

Witches could be quite vindictive.

The second trial was of an illegal animagus found to be hiding as a pet in a Pureblood home. The Purebloods were incensed by the idea, even before the name was given. When the name was given, it produced shocked silence.

After testimony that the man had been caught and turned over by his sons by Arthur Weasley, he was questioned with Veritaserum and his true allegiances were laid bare. The questioning included how he had framed Sirius Black and caused the deaths that he was imprisoned for.

Fudge was nearly apoplectic at such a mistake by the Ministry being brought out this way. Amelia had a quiet word (suggested by the Traveler) commenting on how honest Fudge would look for correcting mistakes by a previous administration.

He clung to that desperately as the day went forward.

Sirius Black was also anticlimactic. The Wizengamot already had heard testimony on how he had been framed and his testimony bore out his innocence. The Wizengamot was touched by Harry Potter, not commonly seen outside of Hogwarts, meeting his Godfather for the first time since he was a baby right after the man was acquitted.

Harry's heartfelt thanks to the Ministry for fixing this terrible injustice (another suggestion by the Traveler) caused the pale Fudge to finally start showing signs of life again.

It also prevented the man from making disparaging comments about the verdicts or claiming it was all a mistake. There was a reason why most Harry Potters were almost sorted into Slytherin.

The Traveler had not told Dumbledore about the Ring – he didn't want any mistakes. With only his alternate knowing where it was hidden, Harry ensured that the Headmaster wouldn't learn of it until the horcrux was destroyed. The Traveler also told Harry about the Locket in Sirius' home.

Friday evening, the night after the trials, the Traveler had a meeting with Albus Dumbledore, as well as the Heads of House.

Dumbledore looked at his guest. "You asked to meet with us."

"Yes. Besides taking care of the various bits that old Voldy left around," Severus Snape was startled at that description and a bit surly – the idea of such disrespect even if he had no desire to see the Dark Lord resurrected sat poorly with him, "there is one thing that probably should be taken care of here at Hogwarts."

"And what is that?" the Headmaster asked with a twinkle in his eyes.

"The thousand-year old basilisk that lives underneath the school in Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets." The Traveler was very blasé about it, watching for the reactions.

Sprout and Flitwick were wide-eyed, Snape was shocked, and McGonagall was incensed. She stood up and said, "There's are thousand year old deadly creature in Hogwarts and you're telling us about thisnow?" The Headmaster was speechless.

The Traveler almost grinned. Good old Minne. "Yes. Honestly, it's the first chance I've had. In most universes, that Diary possesses Ginny to reopen the chamber. My alternates almost universally have to kill it because it needs a parseltongue to reach the Chamber. There's nothing that any of you can do – it will be up to me and my young alternate to take care of."

McGonagall was even more angry. She started losing her ability to control her accent. "Y' Cannae be takin woon o' m' cubs down t' the bowels o' this place to b' facin' no monster noo. It just ain right!"

Severus Snape was in agreement. "I cannot see how such a mediocre wizard as Mr. Potter could be of any help."

Harry was amused by McGonagall and annoyed with Snape. "Sorry, folks. That's fate. If we don't take care of it, it's left for those less ready to do later on. While he's young, he's the only other parseltongue we've got. And I honestly think I will need his help."

Dumbledore asked, "And how will you defeat this great snake?"

Harry pulled the book he had put aside to him and put it in front of the Headmaster. Dumbledore read the passage and only said, "I see." He sat back thoughtfully.

"Now, I plan to have a few goblins from Gringotts come with us to render it once its dead and to provide backup as needed, but I don't believe we shall have any issues."

Dumbledore sighed and then spoke to his deputy. "I'm afraid I will have to allow this. There is no other way to take care of the issue and only the two Potters can do anything about it. Please go and retrieve Mr. Potter."

Despite the protest of McGonagall, the two Harry Potters met early on Saturday morning with a phalanx of Goblins at the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.

Also present were the Heads of House, though they would remain at the top. The goblins would remain in the outer chamber after ensuring the stability of the tunnel. Harry and Harry carried cages with roosters in them, covered.

Everyone watched in fascination as the Traveler opened the path and asked for stairs. The goblins were quite impressed with the system and considered employing such a mechanism in the bank for some of the more … private records and treasures of the Goblin Nation.

As expected, there were many bones at the bottom and there was an unstable tunnel. After the goblins finished, they were lead to the outer chamber which held the "small" shed skin – the goblins were impressed.

Soon, the two Potters entered and the game was afoot.

"Okay. I'm going to call the basilisk. I'll try to reason with it first but I want you behind one of these columns. If the snake refuses to listen, take the covers off and perform a lumos. That should cause them to crow."

Harry nodded.

The Traveler moved to the statute and moved to the upper ledge where he had first confronted the snake. Ensuring he had visual coverage, he called out, "**Speak to me, Greatest of the Founding Four!**"

The statute opened and a snake's voice could be heard. "**Who disturbs my rest? Has Master returned?**" The Basilisk slowly came out of the statute.

"**Great Serpant, my name is Harry Potter. I have come to parley with you.**"

Whatever Harry wanted, it was not to be: The basilisk became angry and it had no desire to listen. "**FALSE MASTER! None may command me but my master and his line! Come out and face me for committing such effontry!**"

The Traveler sighed. He called out loudly, "NOW HARRY!"

The younger Harry heard and did as he was asked. He snatched back the covers and cast the spell. The roosters cried out.

However, there was a problem: Nothing happened to the snake. "**What is that light? Is there prey there?**" The snake quickly moved toward the light.

Harry Traveler cried out, "BUGGERING FUCKING SHIT! RUN! It didn't work!"

Even as he retreated, the boy called back, "What do you mean?"

"The damn Basilisk didn't die no matter what that book said! We have to get out of here!" He pulled his two wands and quickly descended, working on getting to Harry to get him out.

For the first time in a very long time, the Traveler's good sense deserted him or he would have remembered his own abilities. The shock of the roosters not working had make him very worried.

The smaller version of Harry had run back and was thinking a mile a minute. He had read the passage and it should have worked! Why didn't it work? He heard the basilisk taking care of the roosters behind him even as he tried to hide up the side tunnels.

"**That was a small taste. Now where is my other prey?**"

At that moment the worst thing in the world happened to the Traveler: Not paying attention, he did not see the stone on the ground and he ignobly tripped, his wands flying out of his hands. With wide eyes he watched them fly away and glanced up – right into the gaze of the Basilisk. Harry Traveler was not immune.

Also at that moment, the younger Harry had a revelation. What was it about a rooster's crow? It happened at dawn. Maybe it wasn't the crow but the sunlight! He knew that spell – Hermione had forced him to learn it as it was in their books.

With as much power as he could draw too him, Harry Potter screwed his eyes closed and cast the strongest sunlight spell he could. His voice reverberated around the Chamber: "LUMOS SOLEN!"

Harry heard the cry of the basilisk, even as he kept his eyes closed. "**NO! THE LIGHT HURTS!**" At that the great Basilisk screamed as the sunlight entered its eyes and fried its brain. The Basilisk was a creature created with certain magics and sunlight was the direct counter to those magics. After a few moments of thrashing about, the great beast was overcome and it died in great agony.

Harry looked and saw the body of his alternate. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Not knowing what to do, he turned and ran to the entrance to get the goblins – maybe they could help! He didn't see the body of the Lone Traveler burst into flames behind him.

The goblins were presented with quite a view as they entered the chamber. The great beast was right in the middle of the chamber, it's agonizing death apparent in how it was lying.

Expecting to see a dead human, they (and Harry) were surprised to see the flames where the body should be. They approached even as the flames died.

Harry was confused. "What the hell happened?"

Before the goblin in charge could answer, all noticed the movement in the ashes. The goblin quickly moved to sift and all were surprised to find the small bird there.

"Apparently, Mr. Potter, your older alternate is a phoenix animagus. When a phoenix dies, it is reborn in the ashes and quickly grows to full size within 24 hours. Take the bird and watch him for a day, he will be back to normal tomorrow." The goblin in charge motioned to one of his crew who retrieved the two wands that had been dropped. That goblin handed these to Harry. "These are his wands, watch over them as well and return them to him tomorrow."

Harry nodded even as he inspected the small bird he had taken up in his hands. That this was his alternate was amazing.

"Now, what happened?"

The goblins were mighty impressed when Harry finished explaining. "Your alternate is a respected figure in the annals of our Nation – we thought him unique. Apparently he isn't as unique as we supposed. You have our respect, Mr. Potter. You used your mind to defeat a much larger opponent as all good warriors often have to do."

Harry blushed at that.

"Now, you should report back to your Headmaster while we retrieve the corpse. When you exit the stairs, return the path to a smooth tunnel if you will."

They could portkey the beast directly from the Chamber, but wanted to show it off as a way of advertising – they wanted to get the best prices possible as they sold the beast as they were to receive 7 ½ percent of the profit.

Harry agreed and quickly left the chamber, not wanting to see whatever the goblins did. The goblins waited until they were sure the human was gone before looking at each other and laughing uproariously.

They might respect Marak Illumian but the sight of even a respected human suffering a mishap due to his own actions was very amusing.

Harry finished the laborious climb up the stairs and, as asked, returned it to a tunnel. The Heads were all waiting, sitting upon chairs that the Headmaster had conjured. "Well, Mr. Potter?" McGonagall asked.

Harry sighed and said, "It's dead. But there was a problem."

The Headmaster asked. "A problem?"

Harry nodded. "The older me got killed."

The hubbub was very loud, except the Headmaster who was curious. "Why are you holding your stomach?" This caused the room to shut up.

Harry moved his hands and the adults could all see the small chick in Harry's hands. "Apparently he's a phoenix animagus." Harry put the small bird on the countertop next to one of the sinks. Harry then went on to explain what had happened in full detail.

The adults all looked at the small bird in amazement. They were interrupted by two birds who flew in to the room. Harry was surprised when he saw Hegwig fly in and land next to the small bird. Hedwig inspected it and then seemed to nudge it until it was right next to her, under her wing.

The other bird was a great red and gold thing, apparently another phoenix. It landed on another surface and looked at the small bird. It began to trill, a very lovely sound to the listening humans. The owl seemed to bark back at the other phoenix as though in counterpoint.

Dumbledore's eyes widened a bit. "Well, apparently your own owl has decided to be nursemaid. And my old friend Fawkes here," he caressed the head of the singing bird, "has decided to provide a bit of comfort."