The Final Reckoning

Chapter Twenty-One: Back to the Chamber

Harry couldn't have asked for better weather for the Quidditch try-outs on Saturday afternoon, and to his immense relief, Ron had been true to his word and had, in his words, 'begged and pleaded with Dumbledore' to make one exception to his training, in order that he could participate in the try-outs.

'I threw out the "it's for Harry's sake" card,' said Ron, as he pulled on his old Quidditch gloves. He and Harry were dressing in the changing rooms near the pitch.

'I swear, Harry, you could probably ask Dumbledore for a pet dragon and I think the old man would give it to you.'

'It's the guilt,' said Harry, a bit harshly. 'He feels bad because I'm the bloody Chosen One.'

'That's not the only reason and you know it,' said Ron sharply, giving Harry a pointed look.

Harry met Ron's blue gaze and let out a breath.

'You're right, it's not,' he said, feeling a weight in his chest.

'Hey, are you two decent in there?' Ginny called.

'Yeah, come in, Gin,' Ron called back, and Ginny came inside.

She gave Harry a warm smile and Harry suddenly noticed just how small she looked in all the Quidditch gear. All of her gear was used or second hand; she was using Katie Bell's leg guards, which Ginny had clearly shortened to fit over her smaller, shorter legs; her trousers had belonged to Alicia Spinnet, and they, too, had been shortened. Her gloves and arm guards were a size too large and the leather was cracking. The entire ensemble gave Ginny a look of vulnerability, that was belied by her neatly braided hair and the determined look on her freckled face.

Wow. She even looks fantastic in a beat up old Quidditch uniform.

'You two ready?' she asked.

'Yeah,' said Harry. 'Did you get a look at the prospects?'

'Well,' said Ginny, not sounding too enthused, 'the Creeveys are back. Colin wants to try for Beater and Dennis wants the Chaser spot. There's a third year girl called Lizzie something who wants Chaser, too.'

'Lizzie Towler,' said Ron.

'A couple of fifth year boys--I can't remember their names--up for Beater as well,' said Ginny. 'A lot of girls out there, though. Lavender's here.'

'Lavender?' said Ron and Harry together.

'She's trying out?' said Ron incredulously.

'No way, are you kidding?' said Ginny. 'And break one of her nails? Nah, she's just here for Parvati and Seamus.'

'What's that?' said a male voice. 'Are you talkin' about me, Weasley?'

Seamus Finnigan entered the changing room, dressed and holding his broom, followed by Parvati Patil, who was dressed in brand new, highly polished gear and looked devastating.

Focus, Potter. Good lord, this is a try-out, this is not the time to be checking out your team-mates!

Parvati flashed him a brilliant smile.

'Ready, Harry?' she asked.

'Yeah,' said Harry, feeling his neck get a bit hot. He gestured for the team to gather round him. 'Er, right. So we've got two spots this year for sure but I was thinking it might be wise to have some reserve spots, too.'

'Why?' Seamus asked.

Harry gave Ron and Ginny a look; they knew why.

'Just in case,' said Harry, turning his eyes to Seamus. Seamus might not know about the prophecy but he knew enough of Harry's history with Voldemort to understand, and for once, he simply nodded and said nothing.

'So,' Harry went on, 'I want one reservist for every position--that means six positions total. The reservists don't have to be brilliant, they just have to show they can fly decently and have some potential to improve. Hopefully we won't need them, anyway. Sound good so far?'

The other team-mates nodded, and Harry continued. 'Speaking of reservists, I'm going to ask one of you to volunteer to help them out if they need it, with flying or passing or whatever. I'd do it myself but--'

'Seamus and I will do it,' said Parvati at once. 'You've got enough on your plate, Harry.' And she put a leather-clad hand on his arm and smiled warmly.

'Right,' said Harry, not sure if she was flirting or just being friendly. Part of him hoped she was flirting. 'So, let's get out there and see who fits.'

Seamus, Ron and Parvati headed out first, leaving Ginny and Harry, briefly, alone.

'Well, well,' said Ginny. 'How about Parvati?'

Harry blushed. 'What about her?'

'Harry, are you blind?' said Ginny. 'She was flirting with you like nobody's business.'

'Was she?' Harry said, trying to sound non-committal. 'Well, er, that's nice but...but I have a date with Daphne tomorrow.'

'You have a date with Daphne,' said Ginny. 'You're not her boyfriend.'

'What's that mean?' Harry asked, as he opened the trunk of Quidditch balls to check their condition.

'I'm just saying, have fun, Harry,' she said, and Harry caught a note of...something in her voice. 'Lots of girls seem to be really interested in you this year.'

'Bollocks,' said Harry, and he was really blushing now and felt distinctly uncomfortable. In part because of how he felt about Ginny--his attraction for her hadn't waned at all--but also because...he wasn't sure he liked hearing from her that he should be pursuing girls left and right.

'Grab that side, would you?' Harry asked, indicating the end of the trunk.

'It's true,' she said, picking up her end of the ball trunk. 'Everyone knows you're single now, Harry. Lots of girls are happy about that.'

'Yeah, well, those "lots of girls" probably like The Boy Who Lived, not me,' said Harry bitterly.

'Not all of them,' said Ginny, in a very soft voice. Harry stopped and looked at her, and saw that her face was sad, but she was smiling. He looked into her eyes for a long moment and felt something pinching in his chest, a small ache.

'I know, Gin,' he said, and he smiled sadly back at her.

I feel the same way.

If Voldemort hadn't...if she didn't hurt, if she didn't feel actual pain every time she touched me...

She nodded, and he said, 'Let's do this try-out, okay?'

'Yeah, let's,' she said, and they started out of the changing rooms and headed onto the pitch.

The try-outs went well, all told. Initially Harry's mind kept drifting to Ginny, but very quickly he became focused on the task at hand.

The turn-out was better than he expected, Harry had to admit. About fifteen hopefuls had shown up, including the Creeveys, Lizzie Towler, and...

'Dean,' said Harry, a bit surprised to see Dean Thomas. 'You're here as well? I didn't know you could play.'

'I got into it over the summer,' said Dean, shrugging. 'Went to visit Seamus and we did a lot of flying. Figured I'd go for Beater.'

'Cool,' said Harry. 'Well, good luck. See you up there in a bit.'

The try-outs began.

Harry quickly eliminated three younger students, a second year boy and two fourth year girls, from the contention; they all flew so badly that one of them nearly fell off her broom twice.

The Creeveys, however, had greatly improved. Colin put in an impressive showing as a Beater. His aim was still off from time to time and he was a bit on the small side for a Beater--even now at sixteen Colin was a slight, small boy--but he had developed a good eye for spotting the Bludgers early and he was handling his broom--a Cleansweep Twelve--very well. Nobody else came close to matching Colin for the Beater spot, and Harry made a mental note to add Colin Creevey to the team.

Colin's brother Dennis flew for Chaser and he was pretty good, but then Harry had him fly for Seeker, and he was even better.

Reserve Seeker, definitely, Harry thought. Dennis was even smaller than Colin but his eye was even sharper--he was able to spot the Snitch quickly and he flew quite well. The Creeveys had clearly been practicing.

Then it was Dean's turn. Dean looked nervous, and Harry noticed he'd been stealing looks at Colin frequently; Dean knew he'd have to fly and hit the Bludgers better than Colin to win the Beater spot.

The moment Dean took to the air, though, Harry knew Dean wasn't going to be a Beater. He flew very well, and was especially good at making tight, quick turns on his broom, which was a Nimbus 2001. But his aim with the bat was ghastly, and his hands were so big that he alternately fumbled with the bat and nearly dropped it, or, when he went to hit a Bludger, it wound up smacking his fingers instead.

Harry called a time-out and flew over to Dean.

'Sorry,' he said glumly. 'I guess I suck at this.'

'No, you don't,' said Harry. 'Your flying is good, and you have a good eye, too.'

'But...'

'Beater's not your bag,' said Harry gently. 'But hang out. I want to try you as a Keeper.'

'What about Ron?'

'This is a reserve spot,' said Harry. 'Interested?'

'Sure,' said Dean, shrugging, and he nodded to Harry before heading back down to the pitch.

Several more hopefuls gave it their best effort, but after Colin, none of the Beater prospects came close--none of them even showing enough potential to be a reserve player--and the only excellent Chaser was Lizzie Towler, who Harry vaguely remembered was Kenneth Towler's kid sister. Dean tried as Keeper and did pretty well--well enough to be a reserve Keeper, anyway. A fourth-year girl called Natalie MacDonald proved to be a decent Chaser and Harry decided to add her on as a reserve.

The try-outs ended; the team-mates headed to the Gryffindor tent to discuss the new players--everyone agreed on Harry's choices--and then headed to the showers.

Harry took his time; he suddenly felt very tired from the rigours of the try-outs, but he was restless as well.

He shut off the shower, grabbed his towel, and dried himself off quickly. He was just pulling on his trousers when he heard movement behind him.

He snatched up his wand from the nearby bench and whirled round, pointing it at the intruder.

It was Parvati.

'Jesus!' Harry breathed. 'Parvati!'

'Sorry,' she said quickly.

'You shouldn't sneak up on me,' he said, suddenly feeling a bit exposed and becoming very aware that he didn't have a shirt on.

'You're right,' she said. 'Sorry. Good reflexes, though.'

Harry swallowed and felt heat creeping up his neck. 'Yeah, well...I'm a Seeker.'

She walked slowly towards him, her hips swaying. She had showered and changed out of her Quidditch things and was wearing form-fitting jeans and a rather snug, pale violet jumper.

'Er...' said Harry, wondering just what she was doing, why she was looking at him the way she was. He wanted to grab his own jumper and yank it on but he couldn't seem to move.

'Can I...help you, Parvati?' he said, his voice sounding very fluttery in his ears.

'I just wanted to ask you something,' she said, looking up at him through her thick, dark eyelashes.

'Really?' said Harry, and now she was much too close, and...Merlin!...her eyes were skipping over his chest, then back up to his face.

'Hogsmeade weekend is in three weeks,' she said. 'Want to go with me?'

Harry blinked. 'What?'

'Hogsmeade weekend,' said Parvati. 'Do you want to go--'

'Oh,' said Harry, and he bit his lip. 'Er, you're...you're not still sore at me for being a bad date at the Yule Ball?'

She laughed, and it wasn't her usual giggle, it was low and throaty.

'Good lord, Harry, that was three years ago,' she said. 'We were just stupid kids. But you've...grown up since then, I think.' She looked him up and down again.

Harry laughed nervously. 'I...I like to think so.'

Oh, she is far, far too close now. She smells...is that...what is that scent?

Gardenias. Mmm...

'Anyway,' Parvati went on, and she ran a hand through her thick black hair, which was loose and looked like black silk hanging down her back, 'do you want to go?'

'Okay,' said Harry weakly. He felt like she'd put a spell on him. Maybe she had, maybe that's why he couldn't move, couldn't breathe too well, couldn't think...

'Great!' she said, smiling widely, showing off brilliantly white, even teeth. 'I should go, I have to meet Lavender, we're working on a big project for Divination. But...let's plan on meeting after breakfast on Hogsmeade day, okay?'

'Sure,' said Harry, and before he really knew what was happening, she pressed a kiss on his lips.

It was quick and very chaste, considering the way she'd been ogling him just now, and immediately afterward she giggled--her real giggle--and hurried out of the boys' changing room, her hair--and her hips--swinging.

Harry stared after her, blinking.

What the hell did I just do?

You agreed to go on a date with Parvati Patil.

Yeah, but what about Ginny?

What about Ginny? You can't be with her, you know why, she can't even touch you without it hurting her, do you really want to do that to her? She pushed you away, anyway. Do you want that again, after Susan?

No. No, I don't. I like Ginny but...

But you can't go out with her. You'll just have to be friends with her. Better that than nothing.

Yeah, but...what about Daphne?

What about her? You have a date with her tomorrow, but she's not your girlfriend.

Yeah, but--

What's the problem? Parvati's gorgeous and she asked you out and you said yes. Daphne has nothing to do with this.

But what if I want to go out with Daphne again? What if I decide I want to go with her to Hogsmeade?

You'll just have to find a way to deal with that, then. Come on, man, it's not every day you have two beautiful girls throwing themselves at you.

How do I know they don't just want me because I'm...I'm...'Famous bloody Harry Potter?'

Who cares?

Yeah, but...wait, this is all wrong! I can't date two girls at the same time, that's just...that's just...

Really, really cool.

I'm a whore.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Harry managed to avoid Parvati for the rest of the day, and in any case, as dinner passed and midnight drew closer, it was easy enough to put his girl troubles out of his mind and concentrate on the Chamber.

Where would the safe be? he wondered. It occurred to him that perhaps he ought to have asked Dumbledore more specifically about the exact location of the vault.

And then something else occurred to him. Supposed Dumbledore had put up enchantments to protect the safe? Enchantments like those that had guarded the Philosopher's Stone? He didn't fancy having to go wrestle with Devil's Snare or go through another life-sized wizard chess match. He thought back to first year, when Ron had allowed the black queen to take his knight, how the stone figure had smashed him in the head and knocked him to the ground, leaving him still, motionless on the black and white board. Harry shuddered.

No, he definitely didn't want anything like that to happen again.

He had half a mind to hurry to Dumbledore's office to ask him just such a question, but suddenly it was nearly midnight, and Harry knew he wouldn't have time to go see Dumbledore and make it back to the common room on time.

Dammit! Why didn't I think of asking before?

It's not like you haven't had other things on your mind this week.

That was certainly true. On top of everything--classes, Quidditch, Ginny, Daphne, and now Parvati--he'd been trying to stay on top of his connection to Voldemort. Now that Ron was no longer bunking in the dormitory, Harry realized--with no small amount of shame--that he needed somebody else there to help him in case the visions came again and made him sick. Harry had approached Neville earlier that week and, with a very red face, had asked Neville if he wouldn't mind...dealing with Harry in such circumstances, and Neville had said 'Sure, I'll do that, Harry.'

Nothing more was said, and nothing needed to be said, and Harry was immensely grateful to Neville for his discretion and understanding. Harry had then gone to Ron about the whole issue and while Ron put on a good show of being relieved--and Harry knew that he at least partly was--Ron nonetheless looked a bit uneasy. Harry had pressed him on what was wrong, and Ron confessed, very haltingly, that he felt like he was letting Harry down, not being there.

'Don't be a prat, Ron,' Harry had said. 'If anyone hasn't let me down, ever, it's you.'

Ron had blushed and Harry suddenly realized what he'd said, and they both nodded.

'Anyway, you've got your Head Boy stuff,' Harry had mumbled. 'Don't worry about it.'

And then they'd mumbled a few more things that Harry couldn't remember and shook hands.

But for all this, Neville hadn't had to deal with Harry at all this week, because Voldemort was, once again, silent. Harry had tried to use his Legilimens skills but he wasn't getting anything. Voldemort's silence always made Harry more nervous even than his happiness or anger--silence meant that Voldemort was planning something, and it was usually something big, if last year was anything to go on.

At least now the book is destroyed, Harry thought. He can't use it again...unless...he didn't copy down that potion and spell did he?

No. He didn't. I don't know how I know this but...I just do. He makes mistakes that way--he gets overconfident and he forgets little details. Sort of like I do sometimes.

Harry made a mental note to file that bit of information away in his mind and tell Hermione to add it to the list. Another potential weakness in the Dark Lord that might be explored, exploited.

The chiming of the clock yanked Harry away from his thoughts of Voldemort. It was midnight.

It was time to go back down into the Chamber.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'I still can't believe the entrance to the Chamber is here,' said Hermione, her voice tinged with amusement and disbelief.

Harry folded up the Invisibility Cloak and tucked it under his arm.

'At least it's not through a toilet,' Ron pointed out. He glanced at Ginny, who was rubbing her arms. 'You okay, Gin?'

'Yes,' said Ginny, a bit harshly. 'That's the tenth time you've asked me that, Ron.'

'Sorry,' said Ron defensively.

'You're sure you want to do this, Ginny?' Harry asked gently, touching her arm just briefly. He felt a rush of heat through his fingertips and felt it: her emotions, flooding his mind. She was scared. No, she was terrified. But she was also angry and determined.

She might be the bravest girl I've ever met.

'I'm sure,' she said softly, and Harry removed his hand from her arm, hoping he hadn't caused her any physical discomfort by touching her.

'It's okay,' she said. 'I've been using the Pensieve. It helps.'

'Ooh,' said a hollow female voice suddenly, and the four of them whirled round. It was Moaning Myrtle.

'What are you all doing here?' she asked suspiciously.

'Hi, Myrtle,' said Harry quickly, striving to sound friendly. The last thing they needed was for her to start blubbering. Or worse, to start blabbing to others.

'Hi, Harry,' she said, and Harry was quite sure if ghosts could blush, Myrtle had just done so. 'I've missed you.'

'Er, me too,' said Harry, forcing a grin. 'Listen, we just have some stuff to pick up--'

'Down there?' said Myrtle, her eyes wide.

'Yeah, down there,' said Harry. 'We're sorry to disturb you, we'll just hurry along and get out of your way--'

'You mean...you don't want to stay and talk to me?' Myrtle asked, and Harry groaned inwardly when he saw her pearly lower lip begin to tremble.

Harry exchanged desperate looks with Ron and Hermione.

'W-we can't, Myrtle,' said Hermione quickly in a very conciliatory voice. 'You see, we're on an errand for Dumbledore, and it's very important that we work quickly.'

'What sort of errand?' said Myrtle.

'We...can't tell you,' said Hermione.

That was the wrong thing to say.

'Why not?' Myrtle keened. 'Nobody ever tells me anything! It's not fair!'

'Myrtle, shush!' Harry hissed desperately. 'Look, we'll...we'll tell you, okay?'

'Harry!' Hermione hissed.

Harry ignored her and focused on Myrtle. 'You have to swear to keep it a secret, though.'

Myrtle's demeanour changed again--it was amazing, really, how she could go from sobbing to cooing to laughing in a matter of a few seconds--and she floated right up to Harry.

'Oooh,' she said gleefully. 'A secret! I can keep a secret.'

'I'll bet you can,' Ron muttered under his breath, but Myrtle wasn't listening to him.

'Okay,' said Harry, coming up with the first lie he could think of. 'We have to go down there because...because there's a vault with some stuff in it that belongs to Dumbledore.'

Well, it wasn't a total lie.

'What sort of stuff?' she asked.

'We don't know,' said Harry truthfully. 'Not yet.'

'Will you tell me once you find out?' Myrtle asked, twirling back and forth and smiling flirtatiously.

Great bloody hell, now I've got the ghost of a dead girl flirting with me!

'That depends,' said Harry, easing into his story. 'We might not be able to get that safe open, and if that happens, we'll just have to drag it back up here, and we won't know at all. But...if we do find out we'll tell you.'

'OOOOH!' Myrtle shrieked happily, and Harry quickly shushed her. She had the grace to look embarrassed.

'Sorry,' she said, and then she lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. 'I won't say a word, Harry. Your secret is safe with me.'

'Good,' said Harry.

'After all,' Myrtle went on, 'I never said a word about her going down there, did I?' And she pointed at Ginny.

Ginny blanched.

Dammit! Nice going, Myrtle. Stupid bitch. If you weren't a ghost I might...

'You knew about that?' said Ron angrily.

'And you never said anything?' said Harry.

'You never asked,' said Myrtle primly. 'That's the problem! Nobody ever talks to me!' She started to bawl.

Harry and Ron gaped at her, but Ginny stepped forward.

'Listen, Myrtle, can you do us a favour,' she said, keeping her voice even as colour slowly returned to her cheeks. 'Can you stand guard for us?'

'What?' said Myrtle, and she stopped crying at once.

'Yeah,' said Ginny. 'We need someone to be a look-out, in case Filch comes along.'

'Ooh, I'd love that!' said Myrtle, clapping her hands.

'I thought you would,' said Ginny dryly. 'Listen, we'll need you to hang out outside this bathroom, okay? And if you see Filch, create a diversion.'

'What sort of a diversion?' said Myrtle.

'I'm sure you'll think of something,' said Ginny. 'Something really, really clever.'

'Of course I will!' said Myrtle, puffing up her chest with pride, and she gave a happy cackle and started to float out of the bathroom, but then she turned and gave Ron a beaming smile.

'I hope you'll come back to the prefects' bathroom, Ronald.' She giggled and floated away.

Ron's ears went red and he looked away. 'Not in this lifetime,' he muttered, ignoring Hermione's questioning look.

'Let's go,' said Ginny tightly as she exited the cubicle.

Hermione, however, was looking at Ron.

'Why did she want you to visit the prefects' bathroom?' she asked.

'No reason,' said Ron stupidly.

'Ron--'

'Myrtle caught him bathing last winter,' said Harry at once. 'She likes hanging out in there and spying on people.'

'Thanks, Harry, for that reminder,' said Ron.

'Myrtle saw you naked?' said Ginny, looking both amused and disgusted.

'Just my bum, thank you!' said Ron, and he was so red now his head looked like a giant tomato.

'Your cute, freckled bum,' said Harry, grinning. 'That's how she described it, I think.'

'Hey, she saw you naked, too!' Ron snapped.

'Really?' said Ginny. 'I hadn't heard this.'

'Forget it,' said Harry quickly. 'We need to get down there.'

'Why didn't you tell me about Myrtle?' Hermione asked Ron.

'Because it was embarrassing and disturbing, okay?' said Ron. 'And we'd just started going out and I didn't think you'd want to hear about my naked arse yet.'

'That's lovely, Ron,' said Ginny, rolling her eyes.

'Okay,' said Hermione, not paying attention to Ginny. 'I understand.' She smiled and to Harry's great surprise, she seemed to accept this explanation (which sounded perfectly logical to Harry, anyway--who wouldn't be disturbed at being spied on in the nude by Moaning Myrtle?)

'Let's get this over with, shall we?' Ron suggested. He headed over to a corner of the bathroom and picked up a pile of something that looked very old and dusty.

'Rope?' said Harry. 'We're using rope to climb out?'

'Unless you have a better idea,' said Ron. 'Dumbledore gave it to me when I went to talk to him this morning. He said it's better than it looks.'

'If you say so,' said Harry doubtfully, but Ron was already tying one end of the rope to the pedestal of a nearby sink.

'Do you remember how to open the door?' Hermione asked.

'I think so,' said Harry. 'I haven't spoken Parseltongue in a while, I could be rusty at it.'

He looked for the snake on the tap and found it; he brushed his fingers across it.

'Okay,' he said, stepping back and taking a deep breath. 'Here goes.'

He closed his eyes for a moment, and then opened them, picturing a snake in his mind. The basilisk, sixty feet long and monstrous and hissing...

'Open.'

He heard the word leave his lips, knew what it meant, and yet the hissing sounded strange in his ears, but a moment later there was a loud clang and the sinks began to slide apart.

'Step back,' he said to Hermione, who was gazing at the proceedings in awe.

Ron guided Hermione backwards, pulling the rope back with him so that it didn't get caught on anything, and finally, the Chamber was open.

Again.

Harry approached the edge of the huge pipe, and there was nothing but blackness.

'Looks the same,' he said dryly. Beside him, Ginny stared down the hole, her eyes fixed. A muscle in her jaw was working.

'Okay,' said Ron. 'I think instead of just jumping down there we should try to climb down. Can everyone do that?'

Ginny and Harry nodded and Hermione gave a shrug.

'I'll try,' she said, a bit sheepishly.

'I'll help you, love,' said Ron, and he pitched the free end of the rope down the hole.

Nobody said a word for a long moment.

Finally, Ron spoke.

'I hope whatever your parents left behind is good stuff, Harry,' he said, with a glance at Ginny.

'Me, too,' said Harry, smiling grimly at him, then at Ginny and Hermione.

'I'll go first,' said Ron. 'Girls in the middle and Harry can bring up the rear.'

He picked up the rope and lowered himself over the edge, and when he was halfway in darkness he looked up and instructed Hermione to follow. She bit her lip and grabbed onto the rope, and it took a good minute or so for her to get herself over the edge.

As her bushy hair faded into the darkness, Ginny looked at Harry for a moment before taking up the rope and leaping gracefully over the side.

Harry picked up the rope, and his last thought before he swung his legs over the edge of the hole was that he hoped Ginny knew what she was getting herself into.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'Well,' said Ron, looking round the bottom of the pit. 'Looks like somebody cleaned up the place a bit.'

'Are you serious?' said Hermione. 'It's filthy down here.' She brushed impatiently at some dirt that had attached itself to her robes.

'Believe me, Hermione, this is an improvement,' said Harry. 'At least there aren't any animal skeletons lying around.'

'Or giant snake skins,' said Ron, as they started toward the opening of the Chamber. He muttered 'Lumos' under his breath and his wand-tip lit up, and Ginny and Hermione followed suit.

'Or idiot Defence professors,' said Harry, lighting his wand along the others. 'I wonder if Lockhart remembers who he is yet?'

They all laughed for a moment, and then seemed to remember where they were, and they started down the long tunnel leading to the doorway of the Chamber. Now and again rats would skitter along, and Hermione, in particular, would jump.

'I can't believe you ever had a rat as a pet, Ron,' she muttered, dodging yet another squeaking rat.

'He wasn't really a rat,' said Ron. 'Oh, wait, yeah, he was.'

'Here it is,' said Harry, noticing the round, vaulted door with the snakes decorating it. 'I hope this works.'

He stood in front of the door and concentrated for a moment, and then said 'Open.'

A clang broke the silence of the tunnel, and an iron snake slithered round in a circle as the others slid back, unlocking the door one bolt at a time.

Finally, the heavy door swung open.

'Well,' said Harry, 'this is it. I'll go first.'

'I've got the rear,' said Ron. Ginny and Hermione rolled their eyes but didn't protest the constant 'girls in the middle' thing.

Harry climbed through the doorway and then down the small ladder and turned, and sucked in his breath.

The Chamber was empty, but the sculpture at the far end of Salazar Slytherin, with its gaping mouth, was still there. Harry shuddered. Even if no basilisk came out of it, it was unsettling.

He heard a heavy breath behind him and turned to see Ginny. She was pale and looked nervous.

'You don't have to do this,' said Harry.

'Yeah, I do,' said Ginny. Ron and Hermione came down the ladder, and Hermione squeaked when she saw the Slytherin statue.

'Sorry,' she said, her voice echoing in the Chamber. 'This place is...ghastly.'

'Come on,' said Harry. 'Let's split up and look around. I want to find this safe and get the hell out of here.'

'Are you sure we should split up?' Ron asked, glancing nervously at Ginny.

'Ron--'

'We'll go in pairs, then,' said Harry. 'Come on, Ginny.'

She gave him a look, but followed him to the right, while Ron and Hermione headed to the left.

He and Ginny explored the many tunnels, and it was fortunate for them that they all led back into the chamber itself, else they would have gotten lost. For the life of him he couldn't imagine where this safe or vault might be.

An hour passed in fruitless, silent searching, and Harry only grew frustrated and tired as a result. He was just about to call it quits and gather the others when he heard Ron calling to him.

'What?' Harry asked, as he and Ginny jogged to the centre of the Chamber.

'I think Hermione found something,' Ron said. 'Come on.'

He gestured for them to follow, and they did, round the front of the Slytherin statue. Hermione was standing there looking down into the pool of green, brackish water.

'Down there,' she said uneasily. 'It looks like...like something.'

Harry strained his eyes, leaning over the edge of the pool. The pool was not as deep as he'd originally thought. Of course, the last time he was in here he was too busy running from the basilisk to give the depth of the pool any notice.

He saw it almost at once; a black, rectangular shape. It was metal, judging by the way the edges of it had corroded with rust, but he didn't see any knobs or doors on it.

'It's a box of some kind,' he said. 'Do you reckon?'

'Only one way to find out,' Ron quipped. 'Let's levitate it, yeah?'

He and Ron both used a Levitation Charm, but the box proved so heavy that Hermione added her own. It was only when the box was lifted out of the pool and set carefully onto the solid stone floor that Harry noticed Ginny had been silent for a good few minutes.

He turned his attention away from the dripping black box to look at Ginny.

She was white and trembling and staring at the floor just a few feet from where Harry stood.

'Ginny?' Harry said, and he rushed to her side.

'What?' Ron said sharply, his head snapping up. 'Shit, Ginny.' He and Hermione hurried to join Harry.

'What's wrong?' Harry asked.

'Just...just...' she whispered, 'that's where...that's where I fell...when...when he brought me down here and...and...'

'We shouldn't have brought her down here,' said Ron grimly.

'Ginny, it's okay,' said Harry, ignoring Ron. 'He's gone, he can't hurt you.'

'Let's get out of here, please,' said Hermione.

Ginny was shaking now, badly, and she looked up at them with huge, scared brown eyes.

'I knew what he wanted from me,' she whispered. 'That last time, I knew...he wanted my soul, he said he needed it...and I went...I couldn't...stop myself. And...and he started to...to take me away...to take my soul out of my body and I couldn't stop him...'

'Ginny--' Ron began.

'It didn't hurt, Ron,' said Ginny, and she started to cry. 'He was killing me...and it didn't hurt, and I didn't care...I just wanted...I don't know what I wanted, I didn't want him to leave...' She broke down, and Ron pulled her into his arms and held her.

'Shh, it's okay, Ginny,' he murmured.

Harry felt his heart ache. She shouldn't be down here. He never should have agreed to let her come. He should have Stunned her first.

Ron pulled back from his sister and wiped the tears from her face.

'We're leaving right now, okay?' he said, gripping her shoulders. 'You never have to come back here. You never have to see this place again.'

Ginny nodded, looking small and vulnerable.

'Let's go,' Ron said firmly; he put an arm around Ginny's shoulders and he, Harry and Hermione levitated the heavy box out of the Chamber. The four of them headed back to the entrance of the Chamber, and the only sounds that echoed through the narrow corridors were their footsteps and Ron's soothing words to his sister as she struggled to hold herself together.

But Harry's mind was screaming, with all the hatred for Voldemort he had ever felt.