Chapter 176: Chapter 176: "Aftermath in the Headmaster's Office"
As Harry and Sirius emerged from the Chamber of Secrets, their robes still damp from the underground passages, they rushed Evelyn Rosier to the hospital wing. The corridors were eerily quiet, their footsteps echoing off the stone walls. When they burst through the infirmary doors, Madam Pomfrey's eyes widened in shock, her hand flying to her mouth.
"Merlin's beard!" she exclaimed, hurrying over to them. "Is that Miss Rosier? Did you two actually venture into the Chamber of Secrets to save her?" Her voice was a mixture of awe and concern as she quickly assessed the unconscious girl.
Sirius nodded grimly, gently laying Rosier on the nearest bed. "She's been through quite an ordeal, Poppy," he said, his voice low and serious. "I'm afraid it's a case of long-term dark possession."
Madam Pomfrey gasped, her experienced hands already moving to examine Evelyn. "Possession? But how-."
"It's a sensitive matter with many secrets involved," Sirius interrupted. "We'll explain everything to Dumbledore. For now, please treat her for the effects of dark possession. Dumbledore can fill you in on the details later."
As they left the hospital wing, Harry turned to Sirius. "Padfoot, after Madam Pomfrey's done, could you take Rosier to Cordelia? I want to make sure there are no lasting effects from the Horcrux."
Sirius nodded, "Good thinking, pup. I'll make sure she gets the best care."
On their way to Dumbledore's office, Harry broached a delicate subject. "Sirius, about telling Dumbledore..."
"You're wondering if we should reveal everything about the Horcrux?" Sirius guessed.
Harry nodded. "We can be truthful about tonight's events, including the Horcrux, but I think we should keep our prior knowledge about Voldemort creating Horcruxes and the other destroyed Horcrux to ourselves. It could jeopardize the Black family's neutrality."
Sirius considered this for a moment before agreeing. "You're right, Harry. No need to paint a target on our backs if this somehow leaks. The fewer people who know about our involvement with the other Horcruxes, the better. We'll stick to the facts of tonight's events only."
As they approached the gargoyle guarding Dumbledore's office, Sirius gave the password, and they ascended the moving spiral staircase. When they entered the circular office, they were surprised to find the Headmaster wasn't alone. The Golden Trio - Charles, Ron, and Hermione - were there, looking both excited and anxious.
"Charley!" Sirius exclaimed, breaking into a grin. "It's been too long! You were a baby when I last saw you." His eyes softened with a mix of nostalgia and regret.
Charles beamed back. "Are you Sirius Black? Padfoot? I've heard so much about you from Uncle Moony! Why haven't I seen you in the past?"
Sirius chuckled, though there was a hint of sadness in his eyes. "Adult business, I'm afraid. You kids need not worry about all that complicated stuff."
Charles persisted, his curiosity evident. "My parents and Moony always say the same thing. Never mind that now - Sirius, are you the Auror the Ministry sent to handle this Chamber of Secrets incident?"
As Sirius nodded in confirmation, Charles could barely contain his excitement. He launched into an animated explanation, words tumbling out in a rush. "You're just in time! We've found the Chamber of Secrets! We were just telling Professor Dumbledore all about it-"
Sirius held up a hand, his expression a mix of amusement and pride. "I'm impressed you managed to figure it out, truly I am. But I'm afraid we've beaten you to the punch this time. The girl's been rescued and the Heir defeated. Madam Pomfrey is tending to her right now in the hospital wing. No adventure for you kiddos this time, but excellent work all the same."
The room fell silent for a moment before erupting in questions. Dumbledore, Harry noticed, looked immensely relieved. The twinkle in his blue eyes was brighter than it had been in weeks, clearly happy that the trouble had been resolved. Harry knew the Headmaster had taken quite a hit to his reputation for not keeping Hogwarts safe under his watch.
Hermione, looking crestfallen, asked, "But how did you find it so quickly? It took us ages of research and we even had to beg Moaning Myrtle before we finally got the information we needed about the Chamber of Secrets from her."
Sirius, with a hint of mischief in his eyes, simply pointed at Harry, who had been quietly observing the exchange, content to be an audience to the unfolding scene. Hermione's face fell further, knowing from Harry's reputation and grades that he was better than her. But she didn't give up. Harry just had a few more years in the wizarding world than her. She was determined to surpass him eventually.
"What about the Basilisk?" Charles asked eagerly, his eyes wide with a mix of fear and excitement. "Did you fight it? How big was it?"
"We didn't actually confront it," Sirius explained, his tone becoming more serious. "We managed to outwit the Heir and defeat him before he could summon the beast. The Basilisk remains a problem to be dealt with, but the immediate threat has been neutralized."
Seeing the children's undiminished curiosity, Sirius added gravely, "There are some highly sensitive matters involved in this incident that we can't discuss openly, especially not with children. Albus, perhaps we could speak more privately?"
Dumbledore nodded sagely, turning to the Golden Trio. "Children, I must ask you to return to your dormitory now. It's quite late, and I'm sure your housemates are wondering where you are."
Charles immediately protested, his voice tinged with desperation. "But Grandpa, I've been involved in this from the start! I need to know what's happening. Please, can't I stay?"
Dumbledore considered the boy for a long moment, his blue eyes twinkling with something that might have been approval. After what seemed like an eternity, he nodded. "Very well, Charley. You've shown that you can keep a secret, and you are... uniquely involved in these matters. You may stay. However, you two friends will have to leave and no secretly telling them everything later."
Harry felt a twinge of unease at this decision. He knew that Charles, lacking any form of Occlumency shields, was essentially an open book to any skilled Legilimens. However, given that the matter wasn't of utmost secrecy and there weren't many accomplished Legilimens in Britain, he decided not to intervene.
As Ron and Hermione reluctantly left the office, casting longing looks over their shoulders, Sirius began to recount the night's events in detail. Charles listened with rapt attention, occasionally interjecting with questions that Sirius answered as best he could without revealing too much.
When Sirius mentioned the Horcrux, Dumbledore's eyes widened almost imperceptibly behind his half-moon spectacles. The usual twinkle in his eyes dimmed, replaced by a grave seriousness that seemed to age him considerably.
"A Horcrux," Dumbledore said, his voice barely above a whisper. "This confirms my worst fears. Voldemort is indeed still tethered to the world of the living." He turned to Charles, who looked confused and on the verge of asking a question. "Charles, I must insist that you do not ask what a Horcrux is. It is a form of magic so dark, so evil, that you are not yet old enough to bear that knowledge."
Harry, seeing an opportunity to move the conversation along, reached into his robes and produced the destroyed diary. He handed it to Dumbledore, who examined it closely, his long fingers tracing over the name 'T.M. Riddle' embossed on the cover. Thanks to the method Harry had used to destroy it, the book appeared largely intact, with no visible holes or damage.
"What should we do about the Basilisk, Albus?" Sirius asked, bringing the focus back to the immediate threat. "I can contact Amelia, and we can assemble a team of our best Aurors to deal with it."
Dumbledore shook his head, a determined glint in his eye. "That won't be necessary, Sirius. Once the students have been safely evacuated tomorrow, I will deal with the creature myself."
Charles, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, suddenly spoke up. "Professor, can I come with you? I can help open the entrance to the Chamber. I'm a Parselmouth, remember?"
Dumbledore regarded Charles for a long moment before nodding slowly. "You may accompany me to the entrance, Charles. However, I will only allow you as far as the main hall Sirius described. After that, Fawkes will take you to safety. It's far too dangerous for you to be present during the confrontation with the Basilisk."
As Harry and Sirius, their work for the night done, prepared to take their leave, the office door suddenly swung open. The unexpected visitor who stepped into the room made the temperature seem to drop several degrees.
Lucius Malfoy, resplendent in his black robes and radiating an aura of barely concealed contempt, surveyed the room with cold grey eyes. His gaze lingered on Harry and Sirius with particular disdain before settling on Dumbledore.
"Ah, Dumbledore," Malfoy drawled, his voice smooth as silk but laced with venom. "I see I'm interrupting quite the gathering. How... convenient."
Chapter 177: Chapter 177: "The Diary, The Elf, and The Arrest"
The tension in Dumbledore's office escalated as Lucius Malfoy strode in, his presence commanding attention. Harry and Sirius, who had been about to leave, paused, their curiosity piqued by this unexpected arrival. They were eager to discover the purpose behind Malfoy's late-night visit.
Trailing behind Malfoy, heavily bandaged and cowering, was Dobby the house-elf. It was Harry's first time seeing the lovable yet troublesome little guy in person. Interestingly, Dobby's large eyes were fixed solely on Charles, not even sparing a glance for Harry.
Dumbledore rose from his chair, his face a mask of calm. "What brings you here at this late hour, Lucius?" he inquired, his tone neutral.
A smirk played on Malfoy's lips as he produced a roll of parchment from his robes. "The Board of Governors has reached a decision, Dumbledore," he announced with barely concealed triumph. "In light of recent events, they feel you've lost your touch. This is an Order of Suspension."
A tense silence blanketed the room, broken only by Dumbledore's measured response. "How did you manage to persuade the board to sign this suspension order, Lucius? Your influence isn't what it used to be. If I recall correctly, it was I who facilitated your reinstatement on the board after your dismissal."
Lucius's eyes narrowed. "That was a deal, Dumbledore. I owe you nothing. Besides, I didn't need to exert any influence. The recent events at the school were sufficient motivation for them to sign the order."
As he finished speaking, Lucius shot a venomous glare at Sirius. It was clear that he blamed Sirius and Arcturus Black for his diminished political clout. Sirius, for his part, responded with a mocking smile and a few childish faces, which only served to further irritate Malfoy.
Without a word, Dumbledore took the papers and tossed them into the fireplace. The parchment quickly turned to ash.
"How dare you!" Lucius sputtered, his face reddening with anger. "This blatant disregard for the Board's orders will have severe repercussions!"
Dumbledore remained unperturbed. "I think not, Lucius," he replied calmly. "You see, before your arrival, I was contacted by the other eleven governors. They informed me that you had coerced them into signing the order a few days ago. However, yesterday's incident with Miss Rosier has made them reconsider. They've rescinded the suspension order, believing that I am, after all, the best person to handle this situation. They shared some rather disturbing stories, Lucius. Several of them claimed that you threatened to curse their families if they didn't agree to suspend me."
Malfoy's already pale complexion turned ashen, though his eyes still blazed with fury. "So," he sneered, trying to regain his composure, "have you put an end to these attacks? Have you apprehended the culprit?"
"We have," Dumbledore confirmed, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Well?" Malfoy demanded sharply. "Who is it?"
"The same individual as before, Lucius," Dumbledore replied. "However, this time, Lord Voldemort was working through an intermediary. By means of this diary." He held up the small black book, watching Malfoy's reaction intently.
For Harry, it felt like watching a scene from the Harry Potter movies. He marveled at how, despite the numerous changes he had made, this important moment still unfolded in much the same way.
As this thought crossed his mind, Harry's attention was drawn to Charles, who appeared to be communicating through gestures with Dobby. Remembering the scene where Dobby gains his freedom, Harry found himself hoping that Charles will find a way to replicate that moment. Being close to Mira, Harry had a soft spot for house-elves and wished to see Dobby liberated from the Malfoys' service.
Dumbledore's voice brought Harry's focus back to the conversation. "It seems to be a significant artifact of Voldemort's. Do you have any idea how it found its way into the school, Lucius? One would think an item of such importance would be kept under lock and key. It's curious how it ended up at Hogwarts, in the hands of a vulnerable young girl."
"I see..." Malfoy responded slowly, his face growing even paler.
Dumbledore continued, his tone deceptively casual. "Let us hope Lord Voldemort never returns. If he does, and discovers that his precious diary was destroyed due to the carelessness of a trusted follower, his wrath would be terrible indeed. Enough, perhaps, to drive someone to madness through torture."
The implications of his actions seemed to dawn on Malfoy, fear flashing across his features. The others in the room watched this shift in Malfoy's demeanor with barely concealed satisfaction. Sirius, too, now understood Malfoy's role in bringing the Horcrux into Hogwarts.
Suddenly, Charles broke the tense silence. "Don't you want to know how that diary got into Hogwarts, Mr. Malfoy?"
Lucius rounded on him, his voice sharp. "How should I know how the book got into Hogwarts?"
"Because you gave it to her," Charles accused. "I heard from your son that you donated school books to Evelyn Rosier this year. Did you slip the diary in with them?"
Malfoy's hands clenched and unclenched, his composure slipping. "Prove it," he hissed.
"Oh, no one will be able to do that," Dumbledore interjected, smiling at Harry. "Not now that Riddle has vanished from the book. However, Lucius, I would advise you to consider how you might explain to your master the loss of something so precious to him. Good luck. You'll need it."
"We're leaving, Dobby!" Malfoy snarled, yanking open the door. As the elf hurried towards him, Malfoy viciously kicked him through the doorway. The sound of Dobby's pained squeals echoed down the corridor.
As the tension in the room began to dissipate, Charles's gaze fell upon the diary on Dumbledore's desk. "Professor," he said hesitantly, "may I have that diary?"
Dumbledore regarded Charles curiously over his half-moon spectacles. "And why, may I ask, do you want it, Charles?"
"I... I just need to do something with it. I'll return it soon," Charles replied, his voice growing more confident.
After a moment's consideration, Dumbledore nodded. "Very well, Charles. But do be careful with it."
Charles quickly grabbed the diary, stuffed it into one of his socks, and dashed out of the office without another word.
Harry, anticipating what was about to unfold, turned to Sirius. "You might want to follow him. I have a feeling something interesting is about to happen."
Sirius raised an eyebrow but nodded, hurrying after Charles.
In the corridor outside, Sirius caught up with Charles just as the boy reached Lucius Malfoy. "Mr. Malfoy," Charles gasped, skidding to a halt, "I've got something for you." He thrust the smelly sock into Lucius Malfoy's hand.
"What the-?" Malfoy ripped the sock off the diary, tossed it aside, and then glared furiously at Charles. "You can laugh now, Charles Potter, but your days are numbered. You'll meet a sticky end," he said softly.
Turning to leave, he barked, "Come, Dobby. I said, come!"
But Dobby didn't move. He was holding up Charles's sock, staring at it in wonder. "Master has given Dobby a sock," the elf said in amazement. "Master gave it to Dobby."
"What's that?" Malfoy spat. "What did you say?"
"Dobby has got a sock," Dobby repeated in disbelief. "Master threw it, and Dobby caught it, and Dobby - Dobby is free."
Lucius Malfoy stood frozen, staring at the elf. Then, in a flash of rage, he drew his wand and pointed it at Charles. "You've lost me my servant, boy! Avada-"
Sirius had his wand out, ready to save Charles. But Dobby was quicker.
"You shall not harm Charley Potter!" he cried, snapping his fingers. A burst of magic sent Malfoy flying backwards.
As Malfoy scrambled to his feet, searching for his wand, Sirius stepped forward, his own wand at the ready. "That's enough, Lucius," he said, his voice cold as ice. "Threatening a student? Attempting to use an Unforgivable? I'm afraid I'll have to place you under arrest."
Malfoy's face drained of color as he realized the gravity of his situation. With a flick of his wand, Sirius conjured magical restraints.
"Let's return to the headmaster's office," Sirius declared. "I'm sure he'll authorize the special use of his Floo to get you behind bars."
Turning to Charles, Sirius added, "That was incredibly brave and incredibly foolish, Charles. Never do that again."
Charles grinned sheepishly. "I couldn't let him get away with it. And... well, I wanted to help Dobby escape the horrible treatment he was enduring at the Malfoys'."
Sirius chuckled, ruffling Charles's hair. "Come on, let's get back to Dumbledore's office. Harry, are you coming?"
Harry shook his head. "No, I've had enough excitement for one night. Time to get some well-deserved sleep. Let me know what happens later."
Sirius dragged Malfoy away, accompanied by Charles and an ecstatic Dobby. Harry hoped Malfoy would indeed be sent to Azkaban. Reducing the number of Voldemort's lieutenants before his inevitable return could only be beneficial. A part of him worried that Dumbledore might fall back on his tendency to give second chances and allow Malfoy to walk free.
With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Harry made his way out of the corridor towards the grand staircases. However, as he stepped onto the moving stairs, he didn't go towards Ravenclaw Tower where his dormitory was located. Instead, he chose a different path, one that led to a different part of the castle. The night, it seemed, was far from over for him.
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