Stormseeker: Borrowed Destiny

Draco's napping again shortly, but I'm wide awake and staring at the ceiling in the hospital wing. It's an incredibly boring thing to be stuck in here with nothing to do, and not even be able to sleep. And I don't want to guzzle another potion to make me sleep, either.

Thankfully, before lunch, Dumbledore comes in to break up the tedium. Well, I'm sure that wasn't his intention. He probably just wants to interrogate me a bit. But that's alright.

"Good morning, Headmaster," I say.

"It's good to see you are well," Dumbledore says, and he casts a privacy charm over us before pulling out the remains of Tom Riddle's diary. "Severus showed me this and told me what happened. Was this the source of our troubles this year?"

"Yes, sir," I say glumly.

"It is good that this was destroyed," Dumbledore says. "Do you have any idea what this is?"

"Tom claimed it was, um... a memory of the one who would become the Dark Lord," I say. "I assumed it was like a portrait or something, but it seemed a lot more powerful and sinister than a mere portrait."

"Indeed," Dumbledore says. "I have a suspicion on what we may be looking at here that might explain how our dear friend Tom managed to survive, but I will need to run some tests and analyses to be certain of it. It would be easier to discern if this diary here were still intact, of course, but it's best that it was destroyed."

"It was a very dangerous magical artifact," I say.

"Quite so," Dumbledore agrees. "Tell me, how did these events come to pass? Who had this diary originally and brought it into the school?"

I sigh. "I don't know precisely how it happened in the last timeline," I say. "There, my house-elf found the diary in a rubbish bin and brought it to me when he failed to vanish it. I wrote in it, and Tom led me to believe that someone had forced him to reveal his secrets, and offered to help me stop the culprit. And this year, I ran across the diary by chance while staying at the Malfoy household. I'm ashamed to say that I was taken in again, tricked, lied to, and used. This was all my fault..."

"You couldn't have known, Lexen," Dumbledore says gently. "Tom can be a very charismatic and persuasive man. He would have told you anything to get you to do what he wanted, and the object may well have had further spells upon it in order to subtly compel you."

"I still killed two people," I say quietly. "I could have avoided this. I could have prevented this. I was trying to stop this. Damn it all, and damn him. I had no idea that this charming Tom Riddle was really the Dark Lord..."

"It's not your fault, Lexen," Dumbledore assures me.

"I could have at least avoided Jennifer's death," I say, rubbing my ears and wiping away the unbidden tears.

"From the sounds of things, you managed to prevent many more deaths that would have otherwise occurred," Dumbledore says. "How many died the last time?"

"Several students. Several teachers. Hogwarts was shut down," I mutter. "That doesn't make it right, though. I don't want anyone to die like that."

"You can't always save everyone, Lexen," Dumbledore says.

"Can't I?" I demand. "Why can't I?"

"Do you intend to prevent any death that occurs anywhere in the world?" Dumbledore asks.

"No," I reply, sighing. "But I intend to try to prevent any children from dying at Hogwarts again. Is that too much to strive for?"

"That is a perfectly reasonable goal," Dumbledore says.

Hermione, Neville, and Luna come to visit us in the hospital wing after classes end for the day. Myrtle drifts along after them, or more like bounces in the air. Hermione casts a privacy spell over us as they get close.

"Are you alright?" Neville asks. "We've been worried about the two of you."

"To think you somehow managed to get sent to the hospital wing after only having been back at school for a day," Hermione says.

"Yeah, I know," I say, chuckling softly. "One would think that this is an improvement over dying, however."

"How many times did you die, Stormseeker?" Hermione asks.

"None," I reply.

"Seriously?" Hermione says, raising an eyebrow.

"Don't ask me how," I say, snorting softly. "I fully expected to die there, from one thing or another."

"Why did you take Draco along, but you didn't tell us what you were doing?" Neville asks.

I rub my eyes. "How much do you know about what happened?" I ask.

"Myrtle filled us in when we heard you were in the hospital wing," Hermione says.

I hadn't intended to tell them everything, but I find I'm not especially upset about that. What's done is done, and I'm sick of secrets. "Thanks, Myrtle," I say. "I didn't really care to go into the full recap again."

Myrtle smiles brightly and spins around in the air. "Happy to help."

"I honestly didn't want anyone else in the Chamber of Secrets while the basilisk was still alive," I say. "Draco insisted on coming along, though, and since he helped me figure things out with it and decipher the password to get inside, I could hardly argue."

"I suppose I can understand that," Hermione says. "Who knows what might have happened if I'd come inside, with me being a Mudblood and all."

"Yeah," I say. "But now it's safe and we know the Parseltongue word to get inside, so we can visit the Chamber of Secrets again whenever we want. I'll show you all around the place later if you want to see it."

"And this is that hidden library you found?" Hermione asks.

I nod. "Hopefully there aren't any books in there that are cursed to kill any Mudbloods that touch them."

Hermione blinks at me. "You might have thought of that before bringing out books and giving them to me," she points out.

"Sorry," I say with a smirk. "I honestly didn't think of that before now."

"I hope there aren't too many nargles down there," Luna comments.

I wake in the evening after eating dinner to find Lockhart looking down at me with a distressingly gleeful expression on his face.

"Lockhart?" I say.

"How are you feeling, Harry?" Lockhart says cordially.

"Still a little sore, but much better," I reply reflexively. Wait, why is Lockhart being so friendly toward me?

"Where is the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets located?" Lockhart asks.

"In the girls' restroom on the first floor," I reply. Why did I just tell him that?

"How do you get in?" Lockhart presses.

"You speak the Parseltongue password to the middle sink," I say. Oh, no. He's dosed me with Veratiserum, hasn't he? Shit.

"What is this password?" Lockhart asks.

I repeat the word in Parseltongue. Where is my wand? I cast about, but I find I can't move.

"Interesting," Lockhart muses. "So, you are a Parselmouth, Potter?"

"No," I reply. "That's the only word in Parseltongue that I know." I'm starting to panic now. I can't let him wrest all of my secrets from me, laying here helplessly. What if he starts asking the wrong questions? "Since you were kind enough to give me Veratiserum, you'll know that I'm being completely truthful when I say that I'm going to kill you, Lockhart."

"I think not," Lockhart says. "Once you're done answering my questions, you won't remember a thing. Now, who else knows about the Chamber of Secrets?"

"Draco, Hermione, Neville, Luna, Snape, Lucius, Dumbledore, Myrtle," I reply. "Good luck Obliviating all of them so you can take credit for this. Do Memory Charms even work on ghosts?"

Lockhart frowns a little. "No matter. I will deal with that myself," Lockhart says. "Now tell me, how did you first enter the Chamber of Secrets?"

"Salazar Slytherin's painting let me inside," I reply. Damn it, that wasn't even in this lifetime.

"Where is Slytherin's portrait located?" Lockhart asks.

"In a hidden room in the Headmaster's tower," I answer.

"How did you ever get Slytherin's own portrait to agree to help you?" Lockhart wonders.

"I told him that I'm a pureblood, and that an infiltrator was trying to steal his secrets," I answer. No good, he's getting too close to dangerous information.

"He believed that a half-blood like you is a pureblood?" Lockhart says.

"I am a pureblood," I reply.

"Your mother was a Muggleborn, as I recall," Lockhart says. "Am I mistaken about that?"

"Lily Potter was not my mother," I say. "Argh. Fucking Veratiserum."

"Oh, really now," Lockhart drawls. "Interesting. Most interesting indeed. Now, who--"

"Flipendo!" snaps Draco, and Lockhart is knocked across another bed. "Finite Incantatem," he says, pointing his wand at me. Suddenly I can move again. "You didn't dose me high enough, you Mudblood bastard."

I reach over and grab my wand. I sit up in bed and point it at Lockhart, and say, "Petrificus Totalus." Lockhart, in the process of getting to his feet again, is held firmly in place. "Thanks, Draco."

"No problem," Draco says. "Where is Madam Pomfrey with all this going on? You'd think she'd have kicked him out by now."

"You'd best go make sure she's alright," I say. "I'll take care of the aforementioned Mudblood bastard."

"Right," Draco says, and heads off to look for her.

"So, Lockhart," I drawl, stepping over the man's prone form. "What do you suppose I should do with you? I should just get it over with and murder you already before Pomfrey gets back in here. But after all you've put me through, I want you to suffer. Mobilicorpus."

I haul Lockhart's floating body out into the corridor, hoping that nobody notices what I'm doing. I can't fit both of us under the invisibility cloak. Well, I'll look less suspicious if I'm wandering around by myself than if I'm hauling Lockhart's frozen body after me. I pull out my invisibility cloak and drape it over Lockhart. With that, I head toward the Forbidden Restroom.

"Potter, what are you doing out of bed?" Snape asks, seeming to loom out of nowhere from around a corner.

"I'm going to go murder Lockhart," I reply. "Gah, fucking Veratiserum..."

"I... see," Snape replies, raising an eyebrow. "While I understand the sentiment, I'm afraid I cannot condone the murder of an active staff member. You should at least wait until the term is over before committing homicide. What did Lockhart do to you?"

"He dosed me with Veratiserum, questioned me about the Chamber of Secrets, and was going to Obliviate me in order to take credit for it himself," I reply. "And I'm certain that he intended to Obliviate anyone else who knew the truth about it, too. Including you, since he also made me list the names of everyone else who knew about it."

"I see," Snape says darkly, eyes narrowing. "And where is Lockhart now?"

"Right behind me," I reply, turning back to poke at where he should be. "Damn it, don't tell me he got away while I was paying attention to you?"

A feeling of dread overcomes me. Lockhart could sneak up behind me from anywhere with that cloak, and I'd never see him coming. He could Obliviate me before I even realized he was there. Fuck.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck," I mutter.

"Language, Potter," Snape says.

"Lockhart has my invisibility cloak," I bark.

"Where did you get an invisibility cloak?" Snape asks.

"Dumbledore gave it to me," I say. "He said it belonged to James Potter."

"I see," Snape says, eyes widening a bit. "And how did Lockhart get it?"

"I was trying to hide him so I could sneak him off to the Chamber of Secrets to murder him without anyone wondering why Lockhart's petrified body was floating through the corridors beside me," I reply. "And have I mentioned that I really hate Veratiserum?"

"I'm rather fond of it, myself," Snape says dryly, shaking his head. "I must notify Dumbledore of events. You, do whatever you want. Do try not to make the situation worse. I realize that may be a bit much to ask, however."

Snape skulks off, leaving me alone in the corridor. I head back to the hospital wing for now. I'm pretty sure Lockhart had dropped his wand when Draco used the Knockback Jinx on him, but it's not laying on the floor now. Why didn't I pick it up when I had the chance? I'm such an idiot. I cast a few random Lightning Curses around the room just to make sure he isn't hiding in here.

Draco and Pomfrey aren't anywhere in sight, so I go off to look for them. I find them in the back. Pomfrey is fast asleep on a bed, and Draco is standing around staring at her blankly. I cast a Revulsion Curse over the door, and hope that Lockhart isn't already in the room waiting to ambush me.

"I can't wake her," Draco says.

"It's a good thing he didn't use as strong a potion on you as he did on her," I say.

"Who?" Draco asks.

"Shit," I mutter. "Fulgoris! Fulgoris! Fulgoris!" I make sure not to hit either of the people I can see in this room, but I fail to hit anything else.

"What are you doing?" Draco asks.

"Making sure Lockhart isn't hiding in here," I reply.

"What's going on?" Draco wonders.

"Draco, do you remember us going down into the Chamber of Secrets?" I ask.

"Of course not," Draco says. "It was Lockhart who discovered the way to get in. He's such an intelligent pureblood, isn't he?"

"Draco, you've been Obliviated," I say, sighing.

"Huh?" Draco says.

"We discovered the Chamber of Secrets," I say. "And Lockhart is a Mudblood fraud who is only good at Obliviation. He's trying to track down anyone who knows the truth so that he can take credit for it himself."

Draco's eyes widen at me. "Seriously?"

"Yes. I'll show you my memories of it in a Pensieve later," I say. "Right now, we've got a state of emergency on our hands here. Lockhart's on the loose, and he's got my invisibility cloak."

Draco goes pale. "Oh, Merlin, that's not good."

"I am so going to fucking kill him when I get my hands on him," I growl. "Come on. We need to warn Storm Army."

"I'll get the Slytherins," Draco says.

"We shouldn't split up," I say. "Let's get the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws, and then head down to the dungeons. Neville and Hermione are especially in danger."

"Alright," Draco says.

We leave the hospital wing and head upstairs to the Gryffindor Tower, alert the entire way for any sign of attack.

"Should I wait outside?" Draco asks.

"It's not safe," I say. "Fortuna Major." The Fat Lady's portrait opens up. "Come on in."

Neville, Dean, and Hermione are clustered at one table doing homework, and we approach. It doesn't take long, however, for the other Gryffindors to notice the unexpected guest.

"What's that bloody Slytherin doing in here?" Ron demands. "Why did you let him in?"

"To keep him safe from Lockhart," I reply. I ignore Ron and turn to my friends. "We need to gather Storm Army. From this moment forth, consider us at war. Lockhart is our enemy. Treat him as such if you see him."

"Stormseeker, what's going on?" Neville asks.

"Lockhart has an invisibility cloak and intends to Obliviate us," I say.

"I'm not going to stand for this," Ron says. "Lockhart is our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. I won't let you and your evil minions commit whatever foul acts you have planned! And what, exactly, do you plan to do if you find Lockhart?"

"I will kill him slowly in the most painful way I can think of," I reply.

"What's gotten into you, Stormseeker?" Hermione asks.

"Veratiserum," I say, snorting softly. "Fucking Lockhart dosed me with it. One of several reasons I'm really, really angry with him at the moment."

"You're on Veratiserum?" Ron says, then laughs. "Oh, that's rich. Potter! How many kills have you made this school year?"

"Two humans, one snake, and a book," I reply, then growl. "Bugger off, Ron."

"Mimble Wimble," Draco says, pointing his wand at Ron. "No more questions from you, Weasel."

"You can't do that!" Seamus exclaims.

"I'm sure there's a perfectly reasonable explanation for this all," Hermione stammers.

"We're wasting time," I say. "Lockhart's a professor. He could just barge into any of our common rooms and attack us before we even realized it. He could slip into our dormitories unnoticed and Obliviate us while we sleep."

"I refuse to believe that our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor is really a threat to the students," Percy Weasley says.

"I really don't care if you believe what I've said under Veratiserum or not," I say darkly. "I need to keep my friends safe. Hermione and Neville are in particular danger. He already Obliviated Draco once."

"Bastard," Draco mutters.

"Let's go, then," Neville says, pulling out his wand and stepping up next to me.

"But..." Hermione says quietly. "He said he killed people... and he's planning to kill Lockhart."

"Considering everything Lockhart has done, I'm surprised it's taken him this long to want to kill Lockhart," Neville says.

"Oh, no," I say. "I've wanted to kill him all year. He's just crossed the line into wanting to kill him immediately now."

"But we would get in trouble," Hermione says.

"Then stay here, if you think you'll be safe here, Hermione," I say. "I'm trying to protect you here. You're my friend, and I don't want anything bad to happen to you. When he shows up to Obliviate you, he might just wipe your mind if everything you've read from those books I brought you, too."

"Alright, I see your point," Hermione says quickly. "I'm with you."

"Me, too," Dean agrees.

"Why did you turn on us, Dean?" Seamus asks.

"Because the Stormseeker is bloody scary," Dean says. "And I'd much rather be with him than against him."

After having spent more time in the common room than I had intended to, the five of us leave the Gryffindor Tower again and make our way to the entrance to Ravenclaw. My friends take up formation around me, wands out and alert, ready to defend against any attack.

We reach the Ravenclaw Tower. I rap the eagle knocker, which asks me, "This thing all things devour: Birds, beasts, trees, flowers; Gnaws iron, bites steel; Grinds hard stones to meal; Slays king, ruins town, And beats high mountain down."

"I don't have time for riddles," I snap.

"Correct, the answer was 'time'," the eagle replies. "You may enter."

"You got lucky," Draco says, smirking as we step inside.

I haven't been to the Ravenclaw common room often, mainly with Luna, but every time I've seen it, it's full of people quietly studying. Tonight is no exception.

"What's going on?" asks one of the Ravenclaw prefects, approaching us.

"We're gathering Storm Army," I reply. "I particularly need to protect Luna. She's in danger."

"I'll let them know you're looking for them," she says. "Wait right here, I'll be back in a moment."

In a moment, Luna comes up to join us, along with Terry Boot and Mandy Brocklehurst. "Hello, Stormseeker," Luna says dreamily. "Are you planning to kill someone?"

"Yes," I reply automatically, then mutter a little. "Damn it, Luna, I'm under Veratiserum here."

"Sorry, Stormseeker," Luna says.

"Wait, who are you going to kill?" Mandy asks in alarm.

"Lockhart," I say.

"Can we help?" Terry says.

"Certainly," I say, grinning.

"I really don't like this," Mandy says.

"Then stay here and do what you please," I say. "I seek to protect my friends from a clear and present enemy. If you don't want my protection, then go along, do whatever you want."

"Fine, I'll do that, then," Mandy says. "Be glad I don't tell the teachers you're planning to murder someone."

"You don't know the situation," Draco says. "Lockhart already Obliviated me!"

Mandy shakes her head, and says, "No, I want no part in this. Go on without me." She turns and heads back for her dorm.

"Alright, let's go," I say. "It's almost curfew and we still need to get down to the Slytherin common room."

We keep alert as we head downstairs for the dungeons. Lockhart hasn't dared to attack such a large group yet, but I don't want to let our guard down, just in case. We make it to the entrance to the Slytherin area, and Draco says, "Vipera. Alright, come in, guys."

"You'd let us in?" Terry asks.

"I've just been in the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw common rooms," Draco says. "If anyone complains, I'll hex them."

We step into the Slytherin common room. This, unsurprisingly, causes something of a stir among the students present at the moment.

"Malfoy, what are you doing bringing outsiders in here again?" says Flint.

"Lockhart Obliviated me!" Draco exclaims.

"He what now?" says one of the prefects.

"Listen up!" I snap, raising my voice to address the room. "Lockhart is a fraud of a Mudblood who is only good at Memory Charms. He intends harm upon me and my friends, and I do not mean to allow him to do anything to us!"

"Why should we listen to you?" demands a seventh year boy.

"Because I'm right, and I'm under Veratiserum, so I can't lie to you right now anyway," I say. I blame the fact that I keep telling everyone that I'm under Veratiserum on the Veratiserum. When is this damned thing going to wear off, anyway?

"You're a Gryffindor, and a half-blood, which is bad enough, but you've dragged more half-bloods and Mudbloods into our sanctuary," says another older boy. "You are a half-blood, aren't you?"

"No," I reply, and then snarl. "Damn it, stop asking me questions."

"Wait, you're a pureblood?" asks a girl.

"Yes," I say. "So far as I know."

"I don't know if that's technically accurate," Hermione says quietly. "It's complicated. But this isn't the place for that line of discussion."

"Leave the Stormseeker alone," Draco says. "He said no questions."

"Stormseeker, are you a dark wizard?" asks another boy.

"Yes," I answer.

"Are you secretly the child of a Dark Lord?" asks another girl.

"Yes," I reply, and then glare. "Stop it! Enough!" I mutter, "Damn it, like I need more rumors."

The sixth year prefect girl points her wand at me and says, "Silencio." She turns to glare at the others. "I think you've all taken quite enough advantage of his state. Run along to bed now."

"But--"

"Go," she demands. The students who had been harassing me grumble and file out of the room. This prefect is the same one who helped us out on several occasions before. I feel a little bad about the fact that I've never caught her name.

Draco says, "Thanks, Gemma."

"No problem," Gemma says, canceling the spell on me. "Now, what are we going to do with you lot? It's past curfew now, and I really ought to escort you back to your own common rooms. What were you intending to do, Harry?"

"I was going to gather Storm Army and take them to the Chamber of Secrets," I reply.

"The Chamber of Secrets?" Gemma says in surprise. "No, forget I asked. But why there?"

"It would be easy to defend against an attack," I say. "And doubtful, although not impossible, that our enemy could get inside in the first place."

"You really think Lockhart is going to attack you?" Gemma asks.

"I have not the least shadow of doubt in my mind that he will attempt to Obliviate me and anyone else who knows about the Chamber of Secrets," I say. "He wants to take credit for finding it himself. Also, he has tried to use Memory Charms to convince everyone that he's a pureblood, not to mention that he's done all sorts of deeds that he really didn't do."

"I see," Gemma says, frowning.

"And, while the number of people who know about the Chamber of Secrets has grown considerably since he forced me to give him a list, I still would rather not allow him to Obliviate anyone else," I say.

"No kidding," Draco says. "He made me think that he's a handsome and intelligent pureblood! When we finally catch him, I want a turn at hexing him."

"Alright, look," Gemma says. "You lot can stay here in the common room for the moment. I'm going to go talk to Professor Snape."

"He already knows about the Lockhart situation," I say. "He went to inform Dumbledore, last I saw."

"Still, I should ask him what to do about you," Gemma says.

"It would be dangerous to go alone," I say. "Let two of my companions accompany you."

"I'm a sixth year, and a prefect," Gemma says. "I'm sure I can handle myself. Besides, he has no reason to think I'm one of your followers, or that I'd know about the Chamber of Secrets." She chuckles softly. "I appreciate the gesture, though."

She heads out of the Slytherin common room. My group spreads out around the room, joined by our Slytherin members. Some of us go to relax, while others diligently take positions guarding the door, just in case.

"Did I hear you right?" Theodore says. "You found the Chamber of Secrets?"

"Yes," I reply.

"Wow," Blaise says. "What's it like?"

"It looks like it hasn't been cleaned since Hogwarts was built," I reply. "But Slytherin's private library is there, and it's a bit nicer in there, although some of the preservation charms are wearing off."

"I still can't believe that bastard Obliviated me," Draco mutters.

"So, what difference does it make if he's a Muggleborn or not?" Dean wonders.

"It's not that," I say. "It's the principle of making everyone believe that you're actually a pureblood when you aren't. Besides, I still say there's no such thing as a 'Muggleborn' anyway."

It doesn't take long for Gemma to return, followed by Snape. "It's bad enough you 'Storm Army' lot have taken over the Slytherin table," Snape says dryly. "But now you're taking over the common room, too? Why don't you just move in, while you're at it? That was sarcasm, not an actual question or invitation."

"Hey, you told me to do whatever I wanted," I say, looking up from where I'm reclining on a cushy sofa. "What did Dumbledore say about Lockhart?"

Snape raises an eyebrow. "What about Lockhart?"

"Weren't you going to tell Dumbledore about the situation with him?" I ask, feeling a growing sense of dread.

"I'm certain that Dumbledore already knows about how Lockhart discovered the Chamber of Secrets," Snape replies.

"Crap, not you too," Draco says, groaning.

"What are you talking about?" Snape asks.

I sigh heavily and sit upright. "Professor, you've been Obliviated," I explain. "You don't remember anything now about how Myrtle came to get you when me and Draco were down in the Chamber of Secrets, and how you helped us?"

"I remember no such thing," Snape says, scowling.

"You were really hard to wake up," Myrtle says, popping into view. "I really had to clamor before you would budge, and when you finally did, I thought you were going to just exorcise me on the spot rather than actually listen to me."

"Why should I believe any of this?" Snape asks.

"Because I'm under Veratiserum," I reply.

"Are you, now?" Snape says, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes," I say, sighing. "You can go right ahead and ask me whatever embarrassing and incriminating questions you want. Everyone else seems to be enjoying doing it."

"That would be abusing my position as your teacher," Snape says dryly. "And it would be beneath me to ask you who your favorite teacher is."

"You are, sir," I reply.

Snape blinks at me, and can't help but ask, "Me? But why? No, no, don't answer that."

"Because you're a complete badass," I reply. "And you're always honest with me. I always know exactly where I stand with you. I enjoy your snarkiness. Also, you are incredibly hot."

Snape glares at me and rolls his eyes. "You did not just say that," Snape says. "I am going to pretend I did not hear that, and give you the Veratiserum antidote now." He pulls out a vial from somewhere and passes it over to me. "Drink that."

I take the antidote gratefully and drink it down. "Thanks," I say.

"Hmm," Luna says thoughtfully. "Maybe it's not blonds after all."

I almost do a spit-take at that. I half choke on the potion, and cough a bit. "Luna," I say. "If you must make comments like that while I'm drinking something, could you at least restrict it to when I'm not drinking a potion, please?"

"Oh, sorry, Stormseeker," Luna says lightly.