The Gryffindor Legacy

" Here snakey, snakey," hissed Harry, holding the sword in both hands. The basilisk heard him and struck blindly, its mouth wide open. Taking his chance, Harry plunged the sword deep into the snake's mouth all the way to the hilt. It pierced the snake's brain, killing it instantly. With a hiss, the basilisk rolled over and crashed on the floor, bringing him with it.

When Harry crashed on the floor painfully, he noticed something. A fang was stuck to his forearm below his elbow. He didn't even have the strength to stand up. White hot pain was spreading throughout his body. Tears began to well in his eyes as realised that he was going to die.

"Tsk, tsk," Riddle clicked his tongue as he walked closer, a smirk on his lips. "Oh, how sad. Are you in pain? Do you feel lightheaded? Is there anything I can do?" He laughed softly. "You'll be dead in seconds, Harry Potter. Remember now that this is what happens to those who oppose Lord Voldemort. Say that to your dear Mudblood mother when you see her. No one can stop me from conquering the world - not even the precious Boy-Who-Lived…"

But he felt better. What was happening? Harry looked down and saw that Fawkes was crying into the wound. Thick tears were falling on the skin where the fang had pierced him, healing him. Phoenix tears!

"Get away, bird!" snarled Riddle. Harry's eyes caught sight of the diary several feet away. Wandlessly summoning it, he took the basilisk fang in his hand and plunged it into the pages.

"NO!" screamed Riddle, but that as the last thing he said before there was a scream from the diary. Ink poured out of it like blood as Riddle vanished after withering and screaming, and suddenly, the Chamber was silent.

"Thank you, Fawkes," said Harry softly as he stroked the beautiful feathers of the phoenix. "I owe you my life. I really was reckless coming down here alone, but thank you for having my back."

Fawkes trilled happily, but Harry smirked slightly. "This still doesn't change anything, though. I still hate your companion."

The magical bird trilled again, apparently not expecting anything else. Harry limped forward towards the basilisk. He removed the sword that was nested in the mouth. He held it up against the light and his eyes widened. On the blade, just below the hit were the words -

GODRIC GRYFFINDOR

"Y-You gave me the sword?" Harry whispered, addressing the Sorting Hat. "I know of my family history. You had the sword all along? Generations of Potters have been searching for it for centuries and Godric had hidden it right under our noses?"

"When Geraldine Gryffindor and Alan Potter had a son, Godric was in a dilemma," the Sorting Hat replied. "He didn't know whether to pass on the Gryffindor family titles and fortune to his grandchild, not sure if his descendants would be worthy of it. However, he finally decided that he would test them, and that his treasures would only pass on to a child of the Potter family who embodied what Hogwarts represented."

The Hat continued, "The only way for any Potter to claim the Gryffindor title and fortune, as you know, is to find his legendary sword. That much is known to the Potters, considering they have been searching for it for the last thousand years; but what you didn't know was that it wasn't a game of hide and seek. Godric entrusted me with the sword and told me to present it to someone of his blood who I felt was worthy. I have sorted generations of Potters into all four Houses of Hogwarts. Many of them were exceptional, but I waited. Today, however, I present the sword to you. You embody the true heritage of Hogwarts - bravery, loyalty, intelligence and ambition. You truly believed that Salazar could not have been evil, and that was what made me finally choose you. You are unique, Harry Potter. I have never encountered anyone like you before. You are truly worthy of bearing Godric's family name. Welcome back, Lord Gryffindor."

A sheen of golden light formed on the surface of the sword and Harry felt an aura wash over him. Golden light enveloped him and after a few seconds, the magic seeped into his skin as a ring appeared on his left ring finger. It was a large ruby placed on a gold band with a lion on it. He had gained the Gryffindor title; something which his ancestors had been trying for centuries.

"Thank you, Hat," said Harry sincerely.

"I am merely doing my job," said the Hat. A few seconds later, Harry heard a groan. He turned to his left and saw Ginny Weasley waking up. His face became impassive again. He tried to ignore it, but couldn't help but be annoyed with the girl. She was a pureblood; shouldn't she know that a diary such as that was dangerous? While he could admit that she was just a naïve eleven-year-old girl, he couldn't help but feel that if she hadn't been so stupid, all of this could have been avoided.

Ignoring the babbling girl and supremely unbothered by her distress, Harry picked up the Sorting Hat and sword and magically attached them to his belt. Delicately grasping Fawkes' feathers with one hand while taking Weasley's hand with the other, they escaped the Chamber through the pipes. When they emerged, they saw Professors McGonagall and Flitwick there, with their wands raised.

"Oh, thank Mother Magic you're all right!" said McGonagall shakily. "We were informed by Myrtle that you went into the Chamber, Potter, and we were trying to come after you, but the wards wouldn't budge. Come on, your godfather and Miss Weasley's parents and are in the Headmaster's office."

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