Chapter 3 - Where Harry Landed Up
For a minute, it seemed Harry couldn't open his eyes no matter how hard he tried. All he could hear was the steady trickle of water from somewhere. He lay like that till he heard a soft, feminine moan.
He tried opening his eyes again, and this time they opened. His vision was blurry because his glasses were cracked, so he took his wand out and muttered a spell that Hermione had used so many times on him.
His vision instantly clearing, he found that he was lying down on a wet, dirty cement surface. He got up unsteadily and looked around. His heart beating thunderously, he saw the tall, noble countenance of Salazar Slytherin looking on sternly, with the body of a huge snake lying down at what would have been his feet.
Then it struck him : He was at the Chamber of Secrets, he had just fought the basilisk tooth and nail, and now he was lying injured. Or was he? Pulling up his sleeve where he remembered the snake had bit him last time, he saw nothing. That meant he had also been healed. He heard another soft, female cry.
He looked down, and for the first time he noticed the hunched form of Ginny Weasley on the floor of the Chamber. For some reason she was crying.
Remembering that last time Ginny was terrified that she was going to be expelled, Harry said nothing ; but instead picked her up slowly, gently telling her that she couldn't be blamed for what had happened.
But to his surprise, Ginny shook her head firmly, and clung to him tighter.
'What's wrong then Ginny?' he asked, frowning.
'It's-It's- Oh, Harry, it's just that you're so brave! I can't believe you would go through all of that for me! You were awake after you killed the basilisk and then that, that ph-phoenix creature healed you, but instead of getting better, you fell! I thought it had poisoned you or something! I was so worried that-'
Harry snorted. Fawkes, poisoning him? How dumb was that? He opened his mouth to say just that, but then stopped himself in the nick of time. He made up his mind that he would treat the Weasleys' the same way he always did, he would only be significantly different with Hermione. Besides, Ginny was unconscious when Fawkes blinded the basilisk and gave him the hat to pull out the sword.
'I'm all right, Ginny, he's gone,' Harry replied, and as he said it, he understood what Jenny meant by ''returning to a moment when the first significant step had just been taken''. The first Horcrux, the first obstacle in the long, winding and ultimately unsuccessful journey he had trodden upon, had just been destroyed. But just to play it safe, he decided to confirm it.
'Ginny, what were the things you heard and felt before you woke up?' Harry asked cautiously.
'Um..I felt kind-kind of released and I heard screams in the back of my head. And then when the last scream stopped, I woke up,' Ginny said quietly.
Harry heaved a huge sigh of relief when he heard Ginny's words. The Horcrux had been destroyed, and now there was one more waiting at Hogwarts, ready-to-destroy.
'You're not developing a fever are you Harry, I don't know anything about big sixty-foot snakes, but I'm sure they're poisonous,' Ginny said, bringing her hand to Harry's forehead, feeling it, while not taking her eyes off Harry's.
'No---you're fine, my hero,' she said softly, her fingers trailing down Harry's dirt-stained face, finally cupping his chin.
Harry quickly moved away trying to make light of the situation. He would not allow any woman to touch him like that, not Ginny, not Cho. Only Hermione, if she was willing to, would be allowed to do as she pleased with him. He felt himself stirring at the way those last words sounded in his mind. He frowned thoughtfully. He had a seventeen-year old mind in his twelve-year old body, and apparently he had the seventeen-year old hormones too.
'Harry...?' Ginny said, shaking him from his thoughts.
'I'm sorry Ginny. I have to tell you now, I don't want to hurt you, but nothing can happen between us. I just think of you as Ron's sister, and by extension, my little sister,' Harry said, quickly wanting to destroy this disastrous mistake he had made in his last lifetime.
'Harry, I didn't mean it that way, I was really just thankful,' Ginny lied, fighting to prevent the tears that were pooling in her eyes.
'Okay then, as long as we're on the same page then,' Harry said, relieved. Anyway, the last time, Ginny just had a crush on him at this stage. She had never acted on it.
'Where is Fawkes anyway?' Harry asked, looking around the chamber. He walked towards the basilisk and took a look at its fangs.
'I don't know, I thought it would be able to get us out of this place,' Ginny said, staring after him wistfully.
Harry didn't say anything in response, his mind was working furiously. The corpse was too fresh and wet and bloody, he really didn't fancy plucking off any of its teeth right now. Even though it was useful for destroying something as important as Voldemort's soul fragments, he really didn't favour being a basilisk's dentist, with or without wand. He would have to wait for it to dry. Which meant he would have to come back later.
Which also brought him to another predicament. Would he able to come back? Did he know Parselmouth? The answer to that depended on whether he was still a Horcrux or not. He had his old personality and mind, but not body. Which meant he was only physically changed. That should mean that the Horcrux in him was destroyed. All the same he had to be sure.
'Serpensortia!' he said, pointing his wand, and then he immediately regretted it. No altering the status of life and death for any living thing, Harry thought. Which meant that he had to vanish this snake quickly.
He tried talking to it. He hissed in every way he could, till the snake simply ignored him and slithered away.
He quickly aimed a small stone at it, hitting it on its tail. The snake stopped and hissed furiously at him. It was a common garden snake, and that boded well for him. If his spell had given rise to an anaconda, there would be no escape.
Harry pointed his wand and vanished it without further ado.
This meant he wasn't a Horcrux anymore. He remembered what Ron did last time to get into the chamber. Grinning broadly at the idea of seeing everyone safe and sound again, he mindlessly transfigured another stone into a broomstick and walked away, looking for Ginny.
He found her at the entrance, where she was being hugged by a relieved Ron.
'Thanks for saving her, Harry,' Ron said gratefully as they hugged.
'No problem mate,' Harry replied, as he showed them the broomstick they could escape on.
'You found a broomstick there?' Ron asked.
'No, I just transfigured a stone I found,' Harry said, guiding them to the hole they had come from.
Both Ron and Ginny's jaws dropped to the floor. They stared at him, Ron in envy and Ginny in awe.
'You transfigured it?!' Ron said, after a shocked moment of silence, 'That's a sixth or seventh year level transfiguration!'
'Ron, relax, I was just kidding. I found it in the other side of the chamber,' he gestured, while making another mental note to himself. His magical potential now easily crossed that of any student in Hogwarts, and he would have to cut down on everything except the normal stuff he was taught in school.
'Oh,' they said together and Ron added, 'You scared me there mate! For a moment I thought you were turning into Hermione.'
'Is there anything wrong with acting more like Hermione? She's the smartest person we know,' Harry snapped out, unable to stop himself.
Ginny glared at him for a moment and then cleared her throat. Ron had a surprisingly thoughtful expression on his face, something that was rare in itself.
'No, of course not, come on, let's get going,' Ron quickly said, wondering when Harry had gotten so defensive of Hermione. He felt a slight pang of bitterness hit him at that thought.
Shrugging it off, he took the broom in his hands and turned to Harry and Ginny.
'Think we can do this all in one trip guys?' Ron asked.
'Yeah, we can manage,' Harry said.
'Okay then, Ginny, you're in the middle. Harry, you're the best flier among us, so you take the front,' Ron said.
They got on the broom and it started very violently, nearly throwing them off. Ginny immediately found an excuse to throw her arms around Harry.
She sighed softly as her head went against his back. Only a little sister to him, was she? She would show him...
*
They dismounted in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom and quickly ran out, so as not to be disturbed by the infuriating ghost. They ran to Dumbledore's office, causing disapproving stares from nearly every portrait they passed.
Harry knocked twice and then went in, Ron and Ginny behind him. Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk and for Harry, this was much more refreshing than anything he had experienced in a long time. Hogwarts with Professor Albus Dumbledore. This was how it was supposed to be.
He took a long time appreciating the fact that Dumbledore was still hale and hearty as he looked at the ancient, knowing face of his headmaster ; the gold rimmed half-moon spectacles and his ever-knowing twinkling blue eyes.
Dumbledore got up and Harry noticed that he wanted to say something. He cleared his throat softly and Mrs. Weasley finally loosened her grip on her daughter. Dumbledore offered everyone a lemon drop. Harry smiled. Dumbledore always did this before discussing the matter at hand. Both of Dumbledore's hands were whole and unblemished and Harry watched as Dumbledore popped the candy into his mouth as everyone refused.
Harry listened almost disinterestedly as Ron recounted the tale of everything they had figured out, how they went into Myrtle's bathroom, how the Memory Charm backfired on Lockhart, which caused Harry to shout in shock.
'SIR! Lockhart! We forgot him there! Ron, can you believe it?' Harry asked.
'Glad to see you've been keeping up with the story, Harry,' Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling madly.
'After you went in there, I was clearing some of those rocks and he wandered off. I-I kind of... forgot about him and then the broomstick you gave us at the end barely fit three people, so..' Ron trailed off, guiltily.
'A broomstick?' Dumbledore said, now sitting up and looking directly at Ron. 'Where did the broomstick come from?'
Ron went to the entrance and brought the broom he had kept there to Dumbledore. 'Sir, Harry found one in the chamber and we flew back up on it,' Ron said, handing Dumbledore the broom.
'Hmm, interesting things can indeed be found in the chamber, can't they Mr. Potter?' Dumbledore muttered, surveying Harry over the top of his half-moon spectacles.
'Yes, Professor,' Harry said firmly, and then quickly averted his eyes from his headmaster's.
Dumbledore half grinned, half frowned for a moment before proclaiming that there would be no punishment for Ginny, as she had been hoodwinked by a very powerful wizard.
'And now Molly, Arthur, if you would kindly escort your daughter to wherever she pleases? I'm sure that no one will say anything if you want to spend the rest of the day with her.'
'Of course, Albus, thank you,' Molly said, and then hugged Harry as hard as she could. 'And thank you, Harry! You saved my baby! Thank you so much,' she said, now on the verge of tears.
'Thank you again, Harry,' Ginny said, in what she hoped would be a cute, innocent voice, before hugging him briefly.
Harry stiffened and quickly broke the hug. 'You're welcome, Ginny,' was all he said, before turning to the Weasley patriarch. Arthur patted him on the back and thanked him quietly. The three of them turned to leave.
'Oh and Harry? We'll let you know about staying at our house this summer, okay?' Mrs. Weasley said, while Ginny beamed.
'All tight, thanks Mrs. Weasley,' Harry said, and they left.
Which left him, Ron and Dumbledore.
'Mr. Weasley, if you would take these papers to the Owlery. Any owl will take it. I believe we need our gamekeeper back,' Dumbledore said, handing over a sheaf of papers tied together with a ribbon that seemed to have the official Ministry logo incised all over it.
Ron looked at Harry for a moment before taking the papers and departing from the office.
'So, Harry, I seemed to remember that I said I would expel you or your friends if I found any more evidence of rule breaking?' Dumbledore asked, raising his eyebrows.
'Yes Professor,' Harry muttered tonelessly ; he knew he would be getting four hundred points instead.
'Well, I'll have to eat my words, and only this once,' Dumbledore said, a smile slowly unfurling on his wizened face. 'I propose to give two hundred points to all three of you. You, Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger. In addition to Special Awards for Services to the School to both you and Miss Granger,' Dumbledore finished.
'Thank you sir,' Harry said. He thought he would have to fake a look of surprise and excitement but found that he didn't need to. Dumbledore had changed his reward significantly this time and Harry wondered why. Already there were a few changes. Lockhart had been left behind. The phoenix had disappeared. Only three, but they had happened in a span of fifteen minutes. How many more things would change?
Dumbledore brought him out of his musings. 'Ah, I see young Lucius has just entered the gates to come and greet me. I want to be spared from that pleasure, so, Harry, I think it best we leave.'
'Leave?' Harry repeated.
'Yes, I think you should go back to your common room and have some rest if you desire it. BY all means, avoid the main corridor if you wish to avoid Mr. Malfoy. Take one of the many shortcuts you surely know of. I shall go and bring back our poor Defense Professor.'
Harry grinned and made his way to the door along with Dumbledore.
'Sir, aren't you going with Fawkes?' Harry asked, when he saw the golden bird still perched in his cage.
'No, Harry, I think it will be his burning day soon, and besides, I would love to test out this enchanting broomstick that you have brought me. Fascinating that it would appear there in the chamber of all places, isn't it Harry?' Dumbledore asked, peering intently at Harry again.
'Hmm, pretty cool Professor,' Harry replied and quickly made his way away from Dumbledore to avoid any other fascination expressed by the latter over the broomstick.
'Good evening, Professor,' Harry said, and left, completely intent on taking the main corridor that led to the front doors of Hogwarts. He took out one of his socks and stuffed it in between the diary of Tom Riddle. As expected, he walked into the arrogant, sneering form of Lucius Malfoy, a cowering and truly terrified Dobby walking behind him.
'Mr. Malfoy,' Harry said crisply, inclining his head in a mock show of respect.
'Mr. Potter,' he sneered, looking down at him with adeptly disguised loathing.
'This is the vermin that serves me. Its name is Dobby,' he said, kicking Dobby hard on his back and Dobby rolled a few times, before stopping and gasping painfully.
'Get back here to your master, Dobby!' Lucius hissed. 'At once!'
Crying softly, Dobby limped over to him.
'You did not come at once as I commanded. Punish yourself!' Lucius spat, his eyes filled with a cold contempt as he watched Dobby willingly oblige.
Dobby started banging his head on the floor repeatedly, before Lucius placed one foot on his head and looked at Harry.
'This is how they are meant to be, Mr. Potter. Their only purpose in their pitiable excuse for a life is to serve us,' he finished aristocratically.
'Lovely,' Harry said, sarcasm oozing from his tone. 'I would hate to pretend to you that I am enjoying this conversation, or disgusting display of undeserved power as I prefer to call it, but I came here for a reason. I didn't come here to exchange pleasantries with a member of Voldemort's inner circle, I just came here to give you this,' he said coolly, thrusting the diary into his hand.
'What the-?' Lucius snarled, both at Harry's accusation and his action. 'A diary?' he asked, holding it up, before tossing it to Dobby.
'That was your return gift for being a faithful dog to Voldemort all along, wasn't it?' Harry asked, still maintaining his pleasant charade in spite of himself.
'How dare you, Potter?' Lucius snarled furiously, before turning to Dobby.
'Dobby,' he commanded, 'Show the young man what can happen to him when I am angered!'
He turned to Harry again. 'People have gone out of their way to anger me before. But after they do so the first time, they go out of their way to please me. You're just another one of the many fools I'll be stepping on, Potter,' he hissed, menace never leaving his eyes.
'You've been watching too many dramatic movies, Mr. Malfoy,' Harry said, still smiling, knowing that would anger the older Malfoy even further. 'Too many action movies with a lot of trashy dialogue. You must not be getting any action from your wife if you do that in your free time, do you?' Harry said.
Lucius roared this time and took out his wand. 'Dobby!' he shouted, now aiming another kick at Dobby's head. It connected and Dobby fell to the floor, bleeding. Lucius stood on him and hissed, 'I thought I told you to take care of him? Are you going to continue to let him insult your Master or are you going to do something about it?'
'Why don't you pick on someone your own size and you do something about it, fuckweed?' Harry said, anger now creeping into his tone. 'Dobby, open the book,' Harry said loudly.
Dobby, who was struggling to breathe under his Master's full weight, opened the book with a quivering hand and gasped at what he saw.
'Now Lucius, be a good Death Eater and get the fuck off of my friend,' Harry snapped, wondering if it was a good idea to provoke Lucius in the first place as his anger was reaching dangerously uncontrollable levels.
Lucius didn't have time to do so as he was expelled violently across the length of the corridor with one flick of Dobby's wrist.
Snarling, he took one hard look at Dobby, before walking to Harry. Dobby instantly placed himself in between them, but Lucius spat on him.
'I'm not harming his worthless hide, you fool,' Lucius hissed, before looking Harry dead in the eye.
'Your filthy parents were meddlesome fools too. And what happened to them? They were begging for mercy when he killed them. You'll meet the same sticky end as them one of these days, Potter. I assure you of it,' he whispered dangerously.
'You've scared me, Mr. Malfoy, sir,' Harry stammered, sarcasm again dripping from his tone, 'What am I supposed to do to avoid a sticky death? Should I fall at your feet and vow to lick Voldemort's snakey arse as faithfully as you have?' he said, sticking his tongue out and hissing.
Lucius said nothing but pushed him roughly out of the way and walked down the corridor briskly.
'Dumbledore's waiting in his office for your visit!' Harry hollered out. 'The password is Purebloods are gay!'
'I hope you're happy, Dobby,' Harry said gently, kneeling down so that he was at level with Dobby.
'Thank you so much, Harry Potter sir, I always knew of your greatness, your power, your bravery, your kindness, but now I's seen them all, sir! Thank you!' he cried before hugging Harry very tightly.
'Dobby, I consider you a friend and that's why I did that for you. It's because you're a good person, no matter what people like Malfoy think,' Harry said seriously.
Dobby burst out into even more tears at this, and Harry heard none of his mutterings except a few words like 'Harry Potter sir', 'noble', 'so kind' strung in between.
'Dobby,' Harry said seriously, 'Would you like to work for me?'
Dobby pulled away from him and looked at him with wide eyes for a moment, as if unable to believe it.
'Master is willing to hire Dobby?' Dobby asked softly.
'Yes, I am, Dobby. But I have a few conditions that you must follow at all times during your tenure.'
'Name them, Harry Potter sir!' Dobby squealed in joy, 'I shall serve my new, great master to the fullest. I shall not fail to please my new mast-'
'Wait Dobby,' Harry said, holding a finger up to silence him. 'I am quite sure you will carry out your duties admirably. I have no doubt about that. My conditions are different. The first one is, you will accept wages and sick leaves and all other benefits a normal person does. The second is, you'll call me Harry and not Master or sir. The third : You are never, ever to punish yourself even if you have made a mistake somewhere. Is that clear?'
'Yes! Master Harry Potter sir, thank you for hiring Dobby! Master will not regret it, I promise. I-'
'Dobby, the second condition?' Harry reminded.
'Oh, I am sorry, I shouldn't have-' he proceeded to bang his head on the ground a good five times on the ground, but Harry stopped him in time.
'Dobby, the third condition?' Harry asked, humour in his tone.
Dobby grinned shamefully and then hugged Harry again. Harry was brought to tears, not by Dobby's show of gratitude, but by what Dobby had done in another lifetime. He remembered as the little elf cast away all fear and entered his former master's home to save them all. He remembered as the knife went straight through Dobby, effectively impaling him.
'How much wages is I to be getting mast-Harry?' Dobby asked.
'Hermione Granger will decide that,' Harry said, thinking fondly of his beautiful, now thirteen-year old lover. 'Dobby, are the Mandrakes ready?'
'I is not sure, Harry. But I is wanting to meet some of my elf friends in the kitchens. Can I take Master's permission to visit them and then find out about the Mandrakey's? Dobby asked, bowing low.
'No problem, Dobby,' Harry said almost absentmindedly, thinking that he would visit the Hospital Wing to see Hermione for the first time.
'Thank you, Master,' Dobby said respectfully, and vanished. Harry shook his head in amusement. Getting Dobby to stop calling him Master would be really difficult.
He decided to proceed to the Hospital Wing immediately. He felt his nerves tighten as he walked along the sparsely-occupied corridors of Hogwarts. He was going to see Hermione and he had no idea what he was going to do or say. However, he was stopped on his way by a familiar voice.
'Where are you going, Harry?'
AN - Hope you liked this one and please review to tell me what you think..
The next chapter is 'Plans for the Summer'. Harry goes to Hermione and reacts to her awakening. Two young Weasley's aren't too happy about it.....