By Ratwoman
September 1992
Harry looked around happily in the Great Hall. He had enjoyed his vacation with his parents, and Sirius and Remus, but he had also been looking forward to meeting his friends again. Harry knew he was quite popular at Hogwarts.
There was just one thing… “Where is Neville?” he asked. Neville had not been on the train, and now he was not at the feast, either.
Hermione looked worried. But then the door to the Great Hall opened and Neville came in, together with an elder woman, who was wearing a ridiculous hat with a vulture on it. Usually Harry would have laughed, but at the Slytherin table, Draco and his friends were almost choking on their laughter. Angrily he glowered at them. “If that Dark-Arts-obsessed piece of shit doesn’t leave Neville alone, I’ll…”
Neville walked over to the Gryffindor table and took a free seat, looking embarrassed. The elder woman went to the Staff table and talked to Dumbledore, before she left.
“What happened?” Hermione asked. “You weren’t on the train?”
Neville blushed. “Something happened… we couldn’t get onto platform 9 and three quarters…. It was blocked in some way…. Granny took her old carriage and we flew here…”
“Really?” Ron asked admiringly. “Dad has a flying car, but a carriage… blimey!”
Seamus, Dean and others had caught interest and were questioning Neville about his travel. Neville carefully gazed at Harry. “Can we talk later?”
“Of course,” Harry nodded. “Oh, by the way, my godfather Sirius has a flying motorbike!” Instantly everyone was asking him questions about it
*
“What’s up, Neville?” Harry asked when he, Ron, Hermione and Neville later were in the Common Room.
Neville nervously bit his lip. “It’s so strange… before the beginning of the new term a house elf named Dobby visited me…”
“What is a house elf?” Hermione asked.
“A lot of rich people have house elves,” Ron explained, “they serve rich people.”
Hermione frowned. “Do they get paid?”
“No,” Harry said, “they don’t want to get paid.”
“You mean they are slaves?” Hermione asked.
“Not exactly,” Harry replied. “Go on Neville.”
“He didn’t tell me who his family was… but he warned me that I’d be in grave danger this year and that I shouldn’t come to school because of it,” Neville said. “I think he also bewitched the entrance to platform nine and three quarters so grandma and I couldn’t get through.”
“You should tell Dumbledore,” Hermione said.
“No,” Neville replied, “I don’t want to look squeamish.”
“By the way,” Harry asked, “what did your grandma say about you facing Quirrel and you-know-who?”
Neville’s eyes lightened up. “Oh she was very proud. She said I grew more and more to be like my dad.” His face darkened. “Though I didn’t really do anything. It was my mum’s spell that protected me…”
“You did!” Hermione said, “if you hadn’t faced him, Voldemort would be back!”
On the train ride they had decided to do their best to fulfill Dumbledore’s request to strenghten Neville’s confidence.
But Neville looked miserable. “You know, everyone seems to expect me to do something great, to be something special. But when they realise that I’m not even very talented at anything, they are all so dissapointed.”
Harry wondered, whether that was the reason Neville was so insecure about himself?
“You never dissapointed me,” Hermione said. “Nah,” Ron added, “last year you surprised me. Positively I mean.”
**
Severus squirmed and writhed as Black, sitting astride on him, pinned his wrists down, but Sirius Black was simply stronger. Sirius grinned down at him, his black mane falling in a wave over his shoulder. “You know, Severus, having sex with you always reminds me on fighting a hippogriff.”
Severus had to laugh about that but caught himself quickly. He was not going to start liking that bastard, not if he could help it. “I thought you’re getting off on it.”
“O, I do get off on it,” Sirius said, leaned down and bit Severus’s shoulder. Severus groaned in pain and lust.
“Harry told me the new DADA teacher is quite a nuisance,” Sirius said.
Severus groaned, this time in frustration and pushed Sirius off him. “You really know how to spoil a mood.”
Sirius Black grinned. “So you and Harry are of one mind for once.”
Severus glared at him. “I only know two people who are more full of themselves than Gilderoy Lockhart. One is James Potter. The other one is lying right next to me in bed.”
“I think I finally know why I put up with you. Why should I want love and affection when I can get hatred instead,” Sirius said dreamily.
“Shut up and fuck me,” Severus replied.
**
Halloween 1992
Severus kept a close eye both on Harry Potter and on Neville Longbottom. Neville of course was important for the whole wizarding world – but so clumsy that Severus wondered how he should survive the school time. Not good that he was friends with Harry Potter. Like his father, Harry seemed to disregard school rules and was quite likely to get the boy who lived into trouble more often than was good for anyone.
Of course, Harry was also Lily’s son, and Severus would rather die than let anything harm the boy. Actually, he’d risk his life for every student at Hogwarts, even though he thought most of them spoilt beyond repair.
So keeping an eye on Potter and Longbottom, Severus Snape noticed at once that none of them had come to the Halloween feast. Just as Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. What were they up to, fighting another troll?
His question was answered soon after the Halloween feast, when there was a commotion in one of the corridors. The students made place when he, Albus and Minerva came close. There was a writing in red letters on the wall. “Enemies of the heir beware. The Chamber of Secrets has been opened”. Beneath it was – Filch’s cat, petrified, hanging from her tail down a nail. Severus swallowed. That did not look like a simple children’s prank.
Filch was wailing that he had found Potter, Longbottom, Weasley and Granger here. Albus ordered the four of them and the teachers to come along. Severus was angry – what had the boys gotten themselves into again?
They entered Lockhart’s office. Severus sneered as he saw several Lockharts in the picture frames hiding from view, their hair in rollers. Maybe not even James Potter and Sirius Black were so full of themselves.
Lockhart lit the candles on his desk and stood back. Albus lay Mrs. Norris on the polished surface and began to examine her, while Lockhart was hovering around, making suggestions.
"She lives,“ Albus finally said and explained that the cat had been petrified – but how and by whom, he did not know.
"If I might speak, Headmaster," Severus said. "Potter and his friends may have simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time, but why were they in the upstairs corridor at all? Why weren’t they at the Halloween feast?"
Harry, Ron, and Hermione all launched into an explanation about a deathday party. Some story that they’d been invited by ghosts...
"And why did you not join the feast afterward?" said Snape. "Why did you go up to that corridor?"
"Because __ because __" Neville Longbottom stammered, clearly hiding something "because we were tired and wanted to go to bed," he said.
"Without any supper?" said Snape doubtfully. "I didn’t think ghosts provided food fit for living people at their parties." If the children just told them what they knew!
"We weren’t hungry," said Ron Weasley loudly as his stomach gave a huge rumble. Snape gazed at Albus. Clearly he must see that the children were not telling the truth. Severus did not really believe them to have opened the Chamber of Secrets, but they must know something!
"Innocent until proven guilty, Severus," Albus said firmly. Then he said that the cat might be brought back to life by a juice made of Mandrakes.
"Of course,“ Lockhart threw in, "I know just the potion...“
"Excuse me," said Snape icily. "But I believe I am the Potions master at this school."
**
"And... and you really didn’t hear that voice?“ Neville asked shyly.
"No,“ Harry, Ron and Hermione shook their head. Neville had been following a voice only he could hear, and they’d been following him, when they’d found Filch’s cat.v "I hope I’m not going mad,“ Neville said.
"Certainly not,“ Hermione said, trying to sound firm. "What did the voice say?“
“Something about killing and maiming,“ Neville said in a small voice.
For a moment Harry wondered if Neville was really going crazy. Then he said: "And what about the Chamber of Secrets?“
**
They found out soon in Binn’s lesson that there was a legend that Salazar Slytherin had hidden a Chamber in the castle, with a monster within, and that only his heir could open it. Now the chamber obviously was open and that monster was set free to kill Muggle-born students. A boy, Colin Creevey, who had always followed Neville around with his camera, was found petrified a few days after Filch’s cat.
Harry, Neville and Ron suspected Malfoy to be Slytherin’s heir. Hermione had an idea how to find out the truth: Polyjuice Potion. But they needed some ingredients from Snape’s storeroom for that.
"What we need," said Hermione briskly, "is a diversion. Then one of us can sneak into Snape’s office and take what we need."
Neville and Ron looked at her nervously, while Harry wondered, whether Snape would risk getting in trouble with his mum by getting him expelled.
"I think I’d better do the actual stealing," Hermione continued in a matter-of-fact tone. "Other than you boys, I’ve got a clean record. So all you need to do is cause enough mayhem to keep Snape busy for five minutes or so."
"I’d better cause mayhem,“ Harry volunteered. "After all, Snape’s friends with my mum, maybe he’d be a bit less... um... strict with me.“ Well, he could still hope.
So thursday afternoon they were in one of the dungeons having Potions. Twenty cauldrons stood steaming between the wooden desks, on which stood brass scales and jars of ingredients. Snape prowled through the fumes, making sarcastic remarks about the Gryffindors’ brewing abilities while the Slytherins sniggered appreciatively.
Harry’s Swelling Solution was far too runny, but he had his mind on more important things. He was waiting for Hermione’s signal, and he hardly listened as Snape paused to sneer at his watery potion. When Snape turned and walked off to bully Neville, Hermione caught Harry’s eye and nodded.
Harry quickly threw some fireworks into Goyle’s cauldron. BANG! The cauldron exploded, disperging Swelling Solution on anyone near Goyle – mostly Slytherins. Arms, legs, noses, lips swelled and pupils yelled and screamed
Through the confusion, Harry saw Hermione slip quietly into Snape’s office. "Silence!" SILENCE!" Snape roared. "Anyone who has been splashed, come here for a Deflating Draft...“ quieter he added "when I find out who did this..."
Harry tried not to laugh as he watched Malfoy hurry forward, his head drooping with the weight of a nose like a small melon. As half the class lumbered up to Snape’s desk, Harry saw Hermione slide back into the dungeons, the front of her robes bulging.
When everyone had taken a swig of antidote and the various swellings had subsided, Snape swept over to Goyle’s cauldron and scooped out the twisted black remains of the firework. There was a sudden hush.
"If I ever find out who threw this," Snape whispered, "I shall make sure that person is expelled." Harry tried to look innocent as Snape mustered him suspiciously.
**
Two days after they had started to brew the Polyjuice Potion, Gilderoy Lockhart started a Dueling Club. Despite his dislike for Snape, Harry grinned when he saw Snape accompanying Lockhart onto the stage that was built in the Great Hall.
"Snape will hex Lockhart into next week,“ he told Ron and Neville, who liked Lockhart as little as he did.
"Let me introduce my assistant, Professor Snape," said Lockhart, smiling broadly. "He tells me he knows a tiny little bit about dueling himself and has sportingly agreed to help me with a short demonstration before we begin. Now, I don’t want any of you youngsters to worry - you’ll still have your Potions master when I’m through with him, never fear!"
"Lockhart’s as good as dead,“ Harry said, watching Snape’s upper lip curling in anger.
Lockhart and Snape turned to face each other and bowed. Then they raised their wands like swords in front of them.
"As you see, we are holding our wands in the accepted combative position," Lockhart told the silent crowd. "On the count of three, we will cast our first spells. Neither of us will be aiming to kill, of course."
"I wouldn’t bet on that," Harry murmured, watching Snape baring his teeth. "One two three "
Both of them swung their wands above their heads and pointed them at their opponent; Snape shouted: "EXPELLIARMUS!" there was a dazzling flash of scarlet light and Lockhart was blasted off his feet. He flew backward off the stage, smashed into the wall, and slid down it to sprawl on the floor.
**
With satisfaction Severus let his wand sink. That was exactly why he had offered Lockhart to "assist“ him in the Dueling Club – to smash that arrogant git into the wall. The Slytherin students cheered, and even some of the children of the other houses seemed to like what they saw.
Lockhart scambered to his feet, looking dishevelled. "That was a Disarming Charm - as you see, I’ve lost my wand - ah, thank you, Miss Brown - yes, an excellent idea to show them that, Professor Snape, but if you don’t mind my sayingso, it was very obvious what you were about to do. If I had wanted to stop you it would have been only too easy - however, I felt it would be instructive to let them see…"
O really? That son of a bitch was trying to cover up that he had just been beaten? With one single spell, by the way. Severus glared darkly at him and Lockhart said: "Enough demonstrating! I’m going to come amongst you now and put you all into pairs. Professor Snape, if you’d like to help me..."
Why not? Snape reached Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. "Weasley, you can partner Finnigan. Mr. Malfoy, come over here. Your partner is Potter. And you, Miss Granger you can partner Miss Bulstrode."
Potter was not a bad dueler, he and Draco Malfoy were almost equal. But soon the hall was full of chaos. What else was to expect from dueling students?
With a "Finite Incantatem“ Severus stopped all hexes before the chaos would engorge the whole school.
"I think I’d better teach you how to block unfriendly spells," said Lockhart, standing flustered in the midst of the hall. "Let’s have a volunteer pair - Longbottom and Finch-Fletchley, how about you..."
"A bad idea, Professor Lockhart," said Severus, "the boy who lives happens to cause devastation with the simplest spells. We’ll be sending what’s left of Finch-Fletchley up to the hospital wing in a matchbox. How about Malfoy and Potter?"
"Excellent idea!" said Lockhart, gesturing Harry and Malfoy into the middle of the hall as the crowd backed away to give them room.
"Now, Harry," said Lockhart. "When Draco points his wand at you, you do this." He raised his own wand, attempted a complicated sort of wiggling action, and dropped it. Severus smirked as Lockhart quickly picked it up, saying, "whoops, my wand is a little overexcited"
Harry looked up nervously at Lockhart and said, "Professor, could you show me that blocking thing again?“
"Don’t worry, Harry,“ Lockhart said, "just do the same as I did...“
"What, drop my wand?“ Harry replied. For once, Severus almost liked the boy. He was quick-witted.
Severus had to admit, Potter and Draco Malfoy were about equally talented. Then Malfoy called "Serpensortia“ and hexed a big snake into the hall, right in front of Harry Potter on the stage.
Well, of course he could’nt allow Harry Potter to be bitten by a snake. "Don’t move, Potter," Severus said. "I’ll get rid of it…"
But then something unexpected happened. Neville Longbottom stepped forward and started talking to the snake – in a hissing, foreign language. Parceltongue.
For a moment, the snake seemed to be about to attack Justin Finch-Fletchley, but then it moved back slightly.
Quickly Severus stepped forward and made the snake vanish. Everyone was looking shocked at Neville Longbottom. Salazar Slytherin, Lord Voldemort – they had been known to speak Parcel. But Neville Longbottom the heir of Slytherin? Ridiculous!
**
Severus drank from the glass of wine, Lucius had offered him. Expensive wine, of course. Currently he was visiting his old friend in his Mansion. Not purely out of friendship, Severus also wanted to find out whether Lucius knew anything about the Chamber of Secrets.
Right now, Lucius was moaning how Hogwarts was going to the dogs because of Albus Dumbledore. "How can you bear having him as your superior, Severus?“
Severus shrugged his shoulders. "The trusting old fool is easy to handle, I think. But I’d rather wish that git Lockhart will fall victim to monster of the Chamber of Secrets. – I hardly see a chance, though, he is a pureblood.“ Severus sneered.
Lucius sniggered. "I bet there was some squib among his ancestors. – Well, I think the Slytherins will be save from whatever was hidden in the Chamber of Secrets, don’t you agree, Severus?“
"Certainly,“ Severus replied.
"But what do I hear? My son no better in dueling than that Potter boy?“ Malfoy looked slightly disgusted. "James Potter married a mudblood, his son really shouldn’t be able to... I’ll have to have a serious talk with Draco... That Potter boy is almost a half-blood.“
Severus smirked. "Sometimes even half-breeds are talented.“
Lucius stopped short, then said: "Yes, even so much that I forget that you used to call yourself "Half-Blood Prince“ at school.“
"Some people say even the Dark Lord is a half-blood,“ Severus said.
"That’s a lie,“ Lucius answered quickly.
"Of course,“ Severus smirked. "Any idea who opened the Chamber of Secrets?“
Lucius shrugged. "The heir of Slytherin, of course. Draco wrote to me that Longbottom boy speaks Parcel.“
Severus laughed. "The boy who constantly falls over his own feet the heir of Slytherin? Yeah, and my dead Muggle father is the king of China.“
**
Harry loved Hogwarts, yet he was jubilant when the Christmas holidays started. He was so looking forward to telling his parents everything he already had told them in letters. And there was one more thing – Malfoy’s father had bought new brooms for everyone in the Slythering Quidditch team, maybe Harry could get his dad to do the same for the Gryffindor team. But better his mum didn’t know about that, she’d disapprove... Harry’s mum was a lot more strict than his dad.
But that was ok, he knew how to persuade his dad to almost everything. This proved when he told him about it. "Can you, maybe, buy everyone in the Gryffindor team a Nimbus 2001? Only to level the chances...“
"Malfoy bought himself into the team,“ James said reasonably. "You don’t need to do that, it’s beneath you.“
"I know,“ Harry said, "after all, I’m the best player in the team. But... it’s just unfair when the Slytherins all have the newest brooms, and Oliver, Fred, George, Angelina have to use the old school brooms. I’d so wish their parents were as rich as mine...“
James smirked. "Lily would say, riches is not everything... Alright, but don’t tell your mum!“
**
New Year’s Eve 1992/1993
James watched Severus on New Year’s Eve. He was standing in a corner, looking bored. Good opportunity to talk to him – if any time could be a good time to talk to Snape.
James swallowed and walked over to him. "Hello Severus,“
"James?“ Severus replied.
James decided to come to the point directly. "The Chamber of Secrets – what do you think about it?“
With an amused sparkle in his eyes Severus answered: "Nice cozy place, why?“
"I’m worried,“ James said, ignoring what he hoped to be a joke. "My son is going to Hogwarts...“
“Legend says, the monster within the Chamber kills students from Muggle families,“ Severus said, "so Harry should be more or less save.“
James looked suspiciously at him: "Sounds like you’re not very worried.“
"I am,“ Severus answered, "I worry mostly for the students with a Muggle background. Harry fortunately is not among them. Then again, he is very talented at getting himself into trouble, so I constantly worry about him.“
"I guess he got that talent from me,“ James said smirking. "Anyway, what are you doing about the Chamber?“
"Anything I can,“ Severus replied.
James wanted to question him further but then Lily joined them together with a coy-looking brunette witch. "May I interrupt?“ Lily asked. "Severus, James, you must meet Daisy Darlington. She is working as a research herbologist in Bulgaria. She tells me she also knows a bit about Potions...“
James smirked. Another attempt of his wife to find Severus a woman. At times like these James felt almost sorry for Severus.
**
Sirius watched Snape with amusement. Lily had introduced him to a brunette witch, and now they were standing together, both silent and looking bored. Sirius wondered what Lily had told her, she looked rather disappointed. Sirius decided to help Snape getting rid of her. He walked over to them and asked Severus: "May I fuck you?“
The witch looked at Sirius with big eyes.
"Why not,“ Severus answered, "after the duelling.“
The witch stiffly moved away.
Severus smirked. "Thank you. Just hope she won’t tell everyone.“
Sirius shrugged. "I don’t care.“ But it was getting awkward to him that after all those years Severus still wanted to keep their affair secret.
**
Harry and his friends excitedly watched the duelling. Especially Ron and Neville were rather fond of it. Along with Harry they cheered for his father, Sirius and Remus... and were dissapointed when Snape turned out to be the winner this year. Well, maybe next year Sirius would win again...
Harry noticed with slight bemusement that Sirius and Snape left at about the same time, but that certainly happened just at random.
During the new year, Harry had other things to worry about. They found soon out, that Draco Malfoy was not the heir of Sytherin. Then Harry found a 50 year old diary that told him, that 50 years ago Hagrid had been convicted to have opened the Chambers. Above all, Hermione got petrified!
**
Severus was worried, too. Some more students got petrified, among them Hermione Granger, a friend of Lily’s son.
But somehow neither he nor Albus got far in their investigations as to who had opened the Chamber of Secrets, who was behind all this. Meanwhile things didn’t get any better, with parents worrying for the safety of their children.
Then a girl got missing: Ginny Weasley. Somehow everything seemed to be happening around that insufferable Harry Potter, didn’t it?
While Severus, Minerva, Flitwick and Prof Sprout were discussing the case, the door opened and in came – Gilderoy Lockhart, beaming: "So sorry - dozed off - what have I missed?"
Just what they needed. Severus stepped forward: "Just the man," he said. "The very man. A girl has been snatched by the monster, Lockhart. Taken into the Chamber of Secrets itself. Your moment has come at last."
Lockhart just stared at him, his smile froze.
"I certainly remember you saying you were sorry you hadn't had a crack at the monster before Hagrid was arrested," said Severus. "Didn't you say that the whole affair had been bungled, and that you should have been given a free rein from the first?"
Lockhart stammered and paled, especially when the other teachers joined in and cheered him on to fight the monster. Lockhart left, saying something about preparing to fight. Severus was sure he was leaving instead.
"Finally we got rid of him,“ Minerva said. "So, what are we doing about Ginny Weasley?“
**
Hours later.
Neville walked nervously through the tunnel. Until recently Ron, Harry and a rather unwilling Lockhart had been with him, but then parts of the tunnel had been blocked by stones broken in by a misled spell of Lockhart. Ron and Harry were doing their best to put away the stones, but Neville felt he couldn’t let Ginny wait so long...
He found a door decorated with snakes. With a fluttering heart Neville spoke Parcel to it and it opened. Breaking out in sweat, he walked through it. Why did always HE have to face the horrors? He was sure, Harry or Hermione would be much better at it.
He came into a great hall, at theend of it was a lake and a huge statue of an old man. Before the lake, Ginny was lying, motionless. Neville knelt down next to her.
"She won't wake," said a soft voice.
Neville jumped and spun around. A tall, black-haired boy was leaning against the nearest pillar, watching. He was strangely blurred around the edges, as though Neville was looking at him through a misted window. "Wh... who are you?“ Neville stammered.
"Tom Riddle,“ the boy said.
"The boy from the diary Harry told me about?“
Tom nodded.
"Are you a ghost?" Neville whispered uncertainly.
"A memory," said Riddle quietly. "Preserved in a diary for fifty years.“
"What d'you mean, she won't wake?" Neville said desperately. "She's not - she's not-"
"She's still alive," said Riddle. "But only just."
Riddle continued to stare at Neville, smiling as if he was laughing about a joke.
"It's very boring, having to listen to the silly little troubles of an eleven-year-old girl," he went on. "But I was patient. I wrote back. I was sympathetic, I was kind. Ginny simply loved me. No one's ever understood me like you, Tom... I'm so glad I've got this diary to confide in... It's like having a friend I can carry around in my pocket..."
Riddle laughed, a high, cold laugh. Neville shuddered.
"It took a very long time for stupid little Ginny to stop trusting her diary," said Riddle. "But she finally became suspicious and tried to dispose of it. That’s were your friend Harry came in... I was disapointed, I had hoped, you would find it. I was so anxious to meet you,“ Riddle was laughing as if that was particularly funny.
"Why did you want to meet me?“ Neville said, seriously frightened by now.
"Well, you see, Ginny told me all about you, Neville," said Riddle. "Your whole fascinating history." His eyes roved over the lightening scar on Neville's forehead, and their expression grew hungrier. "I knew I must find out more about you, talk to you, meet you if I could - Killing Mudbloods doesn't matter to me anymore! For many months now, my new target has been - you."
"You’re the heir of Slytherin!“ Neville realized.
"Finally you got it!“ Riddle said, clappin his hands in mock-applause.
"Well," said Riddle, smiling pleasantly, "how is it that you - a roundfaced oafish boy with hardly any magical talent - managed to defeat the greatest wizard of all time? You of all people! Even your friend Harry would be a more suitable candidate! How did you escape with nothing but a scar, while Lord Voldemort's powers were destroyed?"
There was an odd red gleam in his hungry eyes now.
"Why do you care how I escaped?" said Neville slowly. "Voldemort was after your time..." He so wished Harry was here!
"Voldemort," said Riddle softly, "is my past, present, and future, Neville Longbottom..."
He pulled a wand from his pocket and began to trace it through the air, writing three shimmering words:
TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE
Then he waved the wand once, and the letters of his name rearranged themselves:
I AM LORD VOLDEMORT
Riddle began to laugh again. He laughed so hard that the dark chamber rang with it.
Neville felt a chill go through his bones. "You killed my parents,“ he whispered. "They died to defend me!“ Slowly he raised to his feet.
Riddle mockingly smiled at him. "So it was love that defeated Lord Voldemort? An old protection spell?“ he laughed. "But now you’re alone without protection. You’ll stand no chance against me. That old fool Dumbledore should have better...“
"Dumbledore is not a fool!“ Neville called. Suddenly he was more angry than afraid.
A bird sang. Neville watched with amazement as Dumbledore’s phoenix Fawkes came flying towards him, carrying – the Sorting Hat. With a puzzled frown Neville caught the hat.
"This is what Dumbledore sends his defender! A songbird and an old hat! Do you feel brave, Neville Longbottom? Do you feel safe now?"
Neville stood with his wand drawn, waiting for Riddle to raise his wand. But Riddle's twisted smile was widening again.
"Now, Neville, I'm going to teach you a little lesson. Let's match the powers of Lord Voldemort, Heir of Salazar Slytherin, against famous Neville Longbottom, and the best weapons Dumbledore can give him..."
A rumbling noise at the other side of the lake made Neville jump. Out of the mouth of the huge statue came slithering a huge snake. A basilisk!
Neville started to run. He tried hiding behind a column, but the basilisk was fast. Was this the end? Then Fawkes came to his rescue. Neville saw in the shadows at the wall that Fawkes was blinding the Phoenix. His heart hammering like an amboss he gripped into the hat – and drew out a huge sword.
Neville almost felt like crying. How on earth should he kill a basilisk, even a blind one, with a sword? Then he though of his parents, stepped forward and – the basilisk dived down to bite him, Neville at the same time raised the sword, surprised how light it felt. One hit and the basilisk’s head was rolling on the ground.
But at the same time, he felt a pain in his arm. The basilisk had bitten him. Even it’s tooth was still stuck in his arm. Neville knelt down next to Ginny and drew the tooth out of his arm. He felt dizzy. Had it all been in vain?
"You're dead, Neville Longbottom," said Riddle's voice above him. "Dead. Even Dumbledore's bird knows it. Do you see what he's doing, Longbottom? He's crying." Neville blinked. Fawke's head slid in and out of focus. Thick, pearly tears were trickling down the glossy feathers.
"So ends the famous Neville Logbottom," said Riddle's distant voice. "Alone in the Chamber of Secrets, forsaken by his friends, defeated at last by the Dark Lord he so unwisely challenged.“
But then Neville already felt better.... Hadn’t Hermione once told him that Phoenix tears could heal any wound? And if a basilisk’s tooth was poisonous... Following an impulse, Neville grabbed the diary and pushed the tooth through it.
"NO!“ Riddle called. But too late – the picture of him became thinner, lost ist contours. While Riddle was cursing and screaming his memory just faded away. Ginny sat up, looking around in confusion.
Neville was equally confused. Had he really just won against Lord Voldemort?! Again?
**
"Potter!“ Severus shouted, when Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, a battered looking Neville Longbottom, Ginny Weasley and Gilderoy Lockhart, looking around with a mindless smile, met him in one of the corridors. "Students are suppossed to be in their Common Rooms until...“ Severus stopped looking at Ginny Weasley. "Where did you find her?“
"In the Chamber of Secrets, Sir,“ Harry answered, "that means, not we, Neville...“
"Mr. Weasley, bring your sister, Mr. Longbottom and Prof. Lockhart to the infirmary. Potter, you tell me what happened.“
Harry looked as if he’d rather face the monster of the Chamber on his own. Severus silently listened to Harry’s story, how they wanted to tell Lockhart about their suspicions about the whereabouts of the Chamber. So far, they had acted according to the rules, but when they had forced a teacher to accompany them to the Chamber... Harry told him, how Neville went into the Chamber alone and came back with Ginny. Neville Longbottom obviously had more luck than brains. "You can visit your friends in the infirmary now,“ Severus said icily. He would go and inform the Staff now.
*
Sommer 1993
Severus lay on his bed, bathed in sweat. This had been another mind-blowing orgasm – if there was one thing Black was good at, it was fucking.
Black sat up. "Has Albus already told you who will teach DADA this year?“
Severus nodded. "Remus Lupin,“ he said.
Sirius looked dreamily into thin air. "Maybe I’ll apply for the job one day.“
Severus wondered whether he’d like Black working at Hogwarts. Black was annoying, of course, but he liked sleeping with him.
"Don’t expect me to share quarters with you if you do,“ Severus said drily.
TBC