Dearest Harry - Eileen's Story

Hi all, I am posting and running before the Internet goes down again. I am back from my travels and RL has settled again for a week or two. There'll be another chapter later.

Thanks Claudia for being so wonderful!

Chapter Forty.


The next few weeks passed rapidly and things moved on yet again. They were at Hogwarts of course because of the Horcruxes, they were hidden here. Helga’s cup had been easy to find in the end, but they had waited until Harry was recovered enough to destroy it - no one else had enough power it seemed, although they did try - and destroy it he did.

Eileen came up with the idea of forming a magical circle to help Ginny during the destruction of the Horcruxes. Each of the participants in the circle lent Ginny magical strength, so that this time when Riddle was summoned from the Horcrux she did not collapse. Riddle grew stronger much more quickly but the circle, with Helga’s cup placed carefully in the centre prevented him from leaving or damaging anyone and Harry dispatched him rapidly with a simple Dissolvo. The cup was then taken by Harry to the massive furnace that heated Hogwarts. He had been aided and abetted by an ecstatic Dobby in his quest to dispose of the artefact and together they had unceremoniously tossed the cup into the raging heat, destroying it forever.

The wand proved harder to deal with. Bill Weasley had taken several days to track down the Grey Lady who had proved most elusive. In the end she would talk only to one person, the last female descendent of her line, Luna Lovegood. The Grey Lady apparently knew that a descendent existed, but not who she was. It took several days and a great deal of research to find out that it was Luna. Ollivander, it seemed, was Luna’s great uncle as he was her mother’s uncle. He and Luna were the last of Rowena Ravenclaw’s descendents - something that neither of them had realised - and Luna as the youngest of the two was the last of the house of Ravenclaw.

Rowena told the elfin girl where the wand was hidden and then they had spent several hours discussing all manner of things that Luna refused to reveal to anyone. Not even to Hermione, who had as usual ended up doing much of the research into the Luna’s family tree as neither Ollivander, nor Luna’s father had had any idea of her links to such an illustrious ancestor.

According to Rowena the wand had been hidden by Riddle in the Chamber of Secrets, although the Grey Lady had known that the dark wizard had entered a hidden place, she had not known where the wand was inside the chamber, or even that the hidden place was a chamber as there was some sort of barrier erected at the entrance which she could not pass. Severus heard Hermione tell Harry that she thought that explained why Moaning Myrtle had never followed him and Ron on their horrible adventure in second year.

Albus had promised that he would seal the Chamber, but for some reason he had not done this, so no spells were needed, no magic, to open the chamber one just needed parseltongue it seemed, just as it had always been. Severus wondered whether Albus had guessed that the chamber would one day be needed again. Not much seemed to get past the old man after all. Harry had been compliant enough about going into the chamber but had appeared reluctant to lead everyone with him and Severus was unsure about why, until he had discovered that the entrance to the hidden passageway was in the bathroom where he had once discovered Draco covered in blood, wounded by a spell that he himself had created, and Harry had used without thought. For the first time in a long time, Harry had not been able to meet Severus’ eye.

He just stood there in the bathroom with his head down, looking ashamed. Draco obviously realised how Harry was feeling because he gently squeezed his hand and whispered. “It’s okay Harry, It was in the past, no permanent damage was done. I was going to cast an unforgivable on you, we were both to blame, we were stupid then.”

Severus had felt somewhat overwhelmed, watching these boys who had once hated each other become a team. Supporting each other more and more as the days went on. Harry leaned on Draco, Draco leaned on Harry and somehow they got through whatever needed getting through.

It made him wonder about himself and Remus. He had finally started calling the other man that, in his own head at least. Severus knew that he loved Remus, had always loved Remus, but in the last few weeks the werewolf had ignored him, avoided him. Finding Remus like that in the graveyard, thinking that he had died, that had terrified Severus, made him realise his feelings. He had just not been ready to have that discussion with the other man, not then. But watching the boys, who had done some pretty dreadful things to each other, see them forgive whatever the other had done, to grow closer, to be forever sneaking off for some ‘time alone’. It made Severus feel a little bit humble. Maybe he would talk to Remus soon, when he came for his wolfsbane perhaps?
Harry was standing near the ornate sinks in the bathroom, gazing intently at the serpent shaped taps, he slowly began to raise his wand. He still seemed a bit jumpy and was looking around as if searching for someone.

“Don’t worry Harry, she isn’t here.” Hermione said, “I blocked the pipes that come into the bathroom and put up wards. Not for good, just to keep her out for now. She’ll be able to come back later when we are finished.”

Harry looked hugely relieved at Hermione’s words, and Severus was confused until he realised that she was talking about the ghost again, Moaning Myrtle. Was Harry worried about her for some reason? Did he think that she would tell everyone what had happened the term before? Of course, Harry was horrified by what had happened to Draco wasn’t he? And to think Severus had once thought that Harry didn’t care when he was obviously weighed down by guilt.

There was quite a crowd in the bathroom and it was not that big a space. Most of the Weasleys were there, Hermione, Luna, Neville Longbottom, Draco, Narcissa, Eileen and even Lucius, who could still not seem to be able to perform magic, but who had, true to his words of a few weeks before, done his very best to help and support them all. Poppy was also present in case anyone needed medical assistance and Minerva, because it was now her school after all. Moody, Kingsley, Severus himself and Remus crammed in to the tiny room. Whilst the werewolf glanced at Severus from time to time he did not come over. Severus had been avoiding him so determinedly since that day at the Ministry that it seemed that he had finally got the message that Severus didn’t want to speak to him, ever. Which was quite a shame after all, because just lately Severus had realised that he did want to talk.

But he wasn’t thinking about it now. Not now when Harry needed him. Later, another time, he’d deal with it then.

“It’s alright Hermione, you can let Myrtle come back you know. It wasn’t her fault, what happened. I just wanted to tell everyone myself, those that didn’t know. What I did…”

His voice cracked slightly on the last word.

“You did nothing Harry! Nothing that I wouldn’t have done to you back then anyway!”

Draco squeezed Harry’s hand again and turned to speak to the other people gathered around.

“What this daft prat is trying to say is that he and I had a fight here once and that he hexed me and he hurt me, but only because he was faster than I was, and better!” Draco lifted his chin, when he said this, it had been hard for him in the past to admit that Harry might be better at some things than he was but he was saying it now, and staring defiantly at his father as he did so. Draco had grown up, matured and Severus thought that he was going to be a rather fine man after all.

He was still petulant sometimes, he still cared far too much about his appearance. But he was a great support to Harry and Lucius and Narcissa, he was more stoic about being a werewolf, he tried really hard to be charming to Hermione and Ron and he had never said a word about the fact that he was back at Hogwarts, even though it was obviously very difficult for him. Dumbledore’s portrait had not yet woken, so he had not had to face the old headmaster at least, but there was evidence of Draco’s folly at every turn, around every corner if you knew where to look.

“Harry holds on to too much guilt if you ask me!” Draco continued. “He blames himself for things that were not really his fault and he needs to give it up. The past is over Harry you have to let it go and move on, we have all done things we regret, nobody more than me. But what is done is done, and I am sorry, but I’ll try to make good from now on.”

He was looking at Harry as he spoke, their eyes locked on each other. Draco was apologising for his own deeds too, in front of all these people.

For a moment nobody spoke. Most of the people there could have no idea what Draco was talking about but they were obviously caught up in the solemnity of the moment.

“Look laddie, I haven’t got all day you know, I have things I have to do. Can we no get on with this?” Moody said grumpily, he was getting irate with all the lack of action.

The spell that they had all seemed to be under for a second or two was broken and every one started bustling about. Then Harry lifted his wand and staring hard at the taps, which were still shaped just like a serpent, he began to speak.

Several people in the room gasped. Parseltongue might not be evil in itself but it had been used that way all too often in the past, and the revulsion that many people seemed to feel was almost ingrained. Severus had heard Voldemort use parseltongue to instruct Nagini, to torture, to punish. Even Severus couldn’t help it; he shivered when he heard Harry’s words. Unfortunately Harry seemed all too aware of the reactions of those squeezed into the room with them, he faltered a bit, but Eileen smiled at him and reached out and squeezed his shoulder.

But Harry had said enough; the space beneath the sink was slowly opening up to reveal an entrance, a way through to the hidden chamber. Bill and Kingsley moved forward and started to incant a spell. They were building steps and in no time at all a stone staircase that went down, down into the dark shadows.

Slowly, one by one they descended, following Ron, who quite happily led the way, and after passing along a winding tunnel, past several rock falls and dark passageways they entered the Chamber of Secrets. Severus had never been down here and was quite eager to see Salazar’s inner sanctum. Ron and Harry had described what they would find at the bottom of the entrance so it had been decided that Bill and Kingsley would go first, shore up the fallen rocks and make the way easier for them all and then let Ron take over, once it was safe

Harry did not seem that bothered about getting to the chamber, but he had been there before after all. Most of the others were awed to be entering somewhere that had been constructed by one of the founders so very long ago and barely entered since. Ginny seemed terrified. Even though the destruction of the last Horcrux had gone so well, she obviously had very bad memories of the chamber because she was sobbing softly to herself as they descended and clutching at her father. Not all the time, just every so often, her eyes were wide and she started occasionally at sudden noises or unexpected echoes. Arthur had his arm around her and he was whispering gently, holding her hand, encouraging her. Promising not to leave her alone.

Ron kept up a running commentary as they moved in a little scattered group through the tunnel. Here was where the rock fall had been, here was where Gilderoy Lockhart had tried to hex them.

Molly tutted loudly at that, muttering about what a dreadful man Lockhart had been. Severus seemed to remember that Molly had once raved about the ‘dreadful man’ and how wonderful he was. He thought that Molly’s problem was that she made up her mind too quickly about things and then refused to change her opinion until she truly realised that she had been wrong. It was a typically Gryffindor way of behaving and Severus thought that it explained a lot really. Then of course once her opinion had changed she became fiercely loyal to the new view. Her latest crusade was Harry, she seemed to feel that she had a lot to make up to him – which Severus quite agreed with, and she kept gushing all over him. Harry was totally bewildered and stuck close to his gran whenever Molly was around. Severus suspected that the Weasley Matriarch was a little scared of Eileen

Finally Ron stopped speaking for a moment and then just said simply and rather loudly, his voice echoing round the chamber that he had just entered.

“Fucking hell Harry! I never fucking knew.”

It was Severus’ turn to enter the chamber now and he felt his own jaw drop. There lying in front of them, perfectly preserved, seeming to be only asleep, was the Basilisk. Severus had known that that was what was in the walls, that it was this creature that had threatened Ginny Weasley, had petrified the students in Harry’s second year because Albus had told him. But to finally see it? It was huge, monstrous, unbelievably large and terrifying, even dead like this, mostly harmless and yet Harry had killed it when he had been just twelve years old.

As more and more people poured into the chamber they too seemed to share his reaction, How could they not? If people had been somewhat awed by Harry before how much more so would they be after seeing this? The creature was enormous, it could not have been killed by a twelve-year-old child, it was simply not possible, and yet it had been, it had been beaten, by Harry.

Finally Harry came through the tunnel and into the chamber; he was following Draco still talking to him. They were discussing the possibility of going flying later. Draco was particularly on edge today as tonight was a full moon, so Harry it seemed was trying to take his mind off things.

But then Draco arrived, and like everyone else, his jaw dropped too. “Oh Merlin!”
Draco said stopping short so that Harry bumped into him. Harry looked around him, seemingly mystified as to why everyone was staring, but then his eyes too alighted on the creature.

“Oh, it’s still here then? I thought it might have decayed or something.” He put his head on one side and stared hard at the Basilisk, then quite seriously asked - “Hmmm it looks a lot smaller than it did when I was twelve, it can’t have shrunk can it?”



They spent a lot of time fruitlessly looking for Rowena’s wand. Trying to imagine where Voldemort might have hidden it, finally Harry sat down beside Luna with a groan. Luna had given up some time ago and had taken to watching Severus with his self appointed task of harvesting the treasure of potions ingredients that the Basilisk offered. Harry however had climbed all over the chamber, searched the hidden passageways and the statues which were littered about the room but to no avail, no-one had had any luck at all.

“I’m fed up with this.” Harry said, I don’t know where the heck the bloody thing might be.” Severus looked over at his nephew rather wryly.

“It is here somewhere you know Harry. We’ll keep looking, the Grey Lady said it is in the chamber so it must be.”

Severus was not actively looking himself, he was as happy as he had ever been, he could hardly contain his excitement. To have such a wonderful potions opportunity as a perfectly preserved Basilisk was an opportunity that Severus had never thought to have. He could barely contain his glee. In fact he could not understand why he hadn’t insisted on returning to the chamber years ago, although of course that would have meant asking Harry for help, Severus would never have been able to bring himself to do.

He had drafted the Weasley twins to help him dissect and preserve the creature. Once it had been cut into, once he had started to dismember it, it would deteriorate rapidly so he was working as quickly as he could. The twins were proving very able as helpers. Severus had never liked them as children, but then he didn’t like children much anyway. He had however always admired their intellect. They were and had always been very bright and right now, with the bare minimum of instruction they were making his job a whole lot easier, even if they did clown about far too much in Severus’ opinion.

Of course it helped that they wanted a share of the creature, it would be immensely useful as ingredients in a myriad of potions and products after all.

“Can I help?” Harry said, “I am getting really fed up with searching and I might be at least able to do something useful for you?” Severus found himself strangely reluctant to accept Harry’s assistance. He and Harry had never got on in potions, which Severus now felt was entirely his fault, but they were doing fine right now and he wanted to keep it that way. So he was quite relieved when Harry had seated himself on a small pile of rocks and began chatting away about this and that. He really didn’t want the boy to do much else.

“What will you do with the skin then Severus?” the boy asked as Severus gently pealed away a thick layer of scales and subterraneous fat.

“I do not know Harry.” Severus replied, “but I do know that Basilisk skin is the strongest material known to wizarding kind. I even have to use a special knife to cut it. This knife is very rare, almost impossible to obtain, any tool used to cut through Basilisk skin has to contain diamond, and elfish diamond at that. Nothing else will work.”

“How come Gryffindor’s sword pierced it then?” Harry asked

Severus regarded him. “It was remarkable that you used that sword, Harry. Because I do not think that anything else would have been successful. Nothing could have gone through the skin in the way that the sword did. It was goblin made, and infused with elfish diamond.”

“ Nothing else can even tarnish this flesh, not even death.” Severus could not help reverently rubbing his hand along the animal’s flank “That is why the flesh beneath has been so perfectly preserved, well until now at least!”

He splayed his fingers on the multifaceted rump and began to rub the skin, ponderingly, brushing the scales with his thumb. “It has more uses than I could possibly say.”

“And the scales are such beautiful colours, Harry,” Luna said, “look at them reflecting the light!”

“Hmmm!” said Harry sounding somewhat petulant. “But I have to do something useful, this is no use! I wish I could just Accio Rowena’s wand and be done with it!”

He stuck out his hand as he spoke and a moment later something came whooshing through the air to settle with a thwap in Harry’s hand.

It was the missing wand.

Severus’ jaw dropped again. That too should not have been possible. Surely the Dark Lord had put wards on the wretched thing? Maybe he had thought that no-one would ever go looking for the wand down here? Maybe he had warded it? Maybe those wards just didn’t apply to Harry?

Whatever the explanation, the Horcrux was in Harry’s possession, Harry was beaming, delighted by his luck and then with whoop of joy he announced his discovery and rushed off to destroy this artefact too.

Once Severus and the twins, now aided by Luna, had finished harvesting the Basilisk, the members of the Order who had followed them down here stood in a circle, once again they held hands lending Ginny magical strength whilst, as if it sensed her presence, the shadowy form of yet one more part of Voldemort’s soul began to appear from the wand. The object in question lay in the centre of the circle, looking somewhat innocuous, even as it began to glow with an ethereal green light. The newly emerged figure in their midst grew more and more opaque until he was almost solid. The handsome young man that had once been Tom Riddle looked around at them all, puzzled, then he smiled charmingly and looked as though he was about to speak, but no words came, not from him anyway. The words came instead from Harry, and it was just one word after all. “Dissolvo” the shade of Riddle opened its mouth as if to scream, but nothing came out, not one sound, instead the figure began to fade.

Ginny screamed. Her knees began to buckle and Arthur broke the circle as he reached out to catch his daughter. Severus felt rather than heard Harry cast Incendio. Eileen told him later that as soon as the circle was broken, Riddle had begun to solidify again. But Harry’s spell, his very strong spell caused both the figure and the wand to burst into startling blue flame, which sprang from the wand like a fireball and sent Harry crashing backwards into the wall with the force of the explosion, only to land in a heap, unconscious once again.