The Cost of Victory

"Perhaps it is better to take them to the hospital wing, Minerva," Professor Flitwick interrupted as the sink sealed shut behind him as Harry closed it with a Parseltongue command.

"What?" McGonagall blinked in confusion as Fawkes disappeared in a flash of flame. "Oh yes, come on, you two. Let's get you to Poppy."

Harry was still feeling dizzy as he limped along. The pain was unbearable now that he had nothing else to focus on. When they reached the hospital wing, they saw that the petrified students had been revived. Daphne was sitting on her bed with her parents by her side, wearing a stony expression on her face.

"Poppy!" cried Flitwick. "We need you here!"

Madam Pomfrey came over and led them over to a bed. The other students were all looking at them, wondering what was going on. Just when she finished scanning Ginny, the doors burst open and they all heard a screech.

" Ginny !" screamed Molly Weasley as she ran towards them, grabbing her daughter in a tight hug. "You - you saved her!"

She turned towards Harry to hug him as well, but a shield materialised in front of her, pushing her back. Molly Weasley's face turned red with anger when she spotted Elizabeth Greengrass with her wand raised.

"Who do you think you are?" she screeched.

"He is not comfortable with strangers hugging him," Elizabeth replied, unfazed. "As for who I am, I'm his future mother-in-law. Now if you would kindly let Madam Pomfrey treat him, it would be greatly appreciated."

Harry smiled gratefully at her. Just then, Sirius, Amelia, two of her Aurors and Dumbledore arrived as well.

"The threat of the Chamber of Secrets has been neutralised," said Harry quietly. Madam Pomfrey hissed next to him as she scanned him.

"What the hell happened down there?" she exclaimed. "You have fractured bones, a concussion, internal bleeding, and trauma to the skull and spine. You have also been poisoned, but I can't tell by what because it has already been neutralised…"

"You were bitten?" yelped Daphne, looking horrified.

"The poison is basilisk venom," said Harry, making people gasp and Dumbledore grimace. "Don't worry; the basilisk is dead."

"You need to be healed!" Madam Pomfrey yelled hysterically. Sirius was looking frantic. "The poison reacts too fast -"

"It has been neutralised, as you said. Fawkes cried into the wound. Here, this was what caused the Chamber of Secrets to open in the first place."

He gave the diary to Dumbledore who looked at it with keen eyes. "It was Voldemort's sixteen-year-old self, Professor," said Harry quietly.

"Brilliant," said Dumbledore softly. He never thought that Tom would make one of his Horcruxes into a weapon such as this. It was quite unconventional. He was beyond happy that a Horcrux had been identified and destroyed. He would most definitely ensure that Harry was rewarded for this. Perhaps an award for special services to the school would suffice?

"I'll need to vanish your clothes, Potter," she said. With a flick of his wand, Harry's uniform vanished and he was lying there in his underwear. "Miss Greengrass, could you please scrub him clean while I heal him? We don't want any residual poison on his skin."

"Of course," Daphne said quickly as she took the sponge from her, carefully wiping his body with it.

"I would like to see the memory of the event, if you would please, Harry," said Dumbledore.

"Later, Albus," Madam Pomfrey snapped, looking annoyed. "He's been through a terrible ordeal and is suffering from magical exhaustion. Potter needs time to heal."

"No, it's alright, Madam Pomfrey," said Harry tiredly. Pointing his wand to his head, he removed the memory just as Dumbledore passed him a phial.

"I know that I was wrong in suspecting you, my boy, but I have to tell you that I am incredibly proud of you," Dumbledore smiled at Harry as he accepted the memory.

"Sirius," he murmured, motioning his godfather to come closer, ignoring the Headmaster. When he did, Harry gripped his locket and a privacy bubble formed around them.

"It was Lucius Malfoy," said Harry quietly. "He was behind it all."

"How can you tell?" asked Sirius sharply.

"See that diary? I recognise it. Lucius placed it in Ginny Weasley's cauldron after he and Arthur Weasley fought in Flourish and Blotts last year. The memory is not clear, but I know what I saw. There was also an incident with his house-elf, Dobby. The elf repeatedly came to warn me about danger at Hogwarts and that I should go home. Lucius was also responsible for Hagrid getting arrested and Dumbledore getting suspended. He planted the diary, I'm sure of it. It belonged to Voldemort and Lucius was one of his high-ranking Death Eaters, wasn't he?"

Sirius' eyes narrowed. "Are you absolutely sure?"

"Positive," said Harry confidently.

"Then I believe I should pay dear Lucius a visit!"

"When you negotiate with him, can you get his elf Dobby freed?" he asked hopefully. "The little guy risked his life to help me and I don't want him killed by Lucius in his anger."

"I'll see what I can do," Sirius replied quietly. "Rest for now, son. I'll be back soon, alright?"

....

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