I don't own Harry Potter.

Chapter Twenty-one

Harry went back to where he left Ron all the while he was supporting Ginny. She was lighter than what he remembered but he might have been stronger this time. He tried to comfort the girl who was crying and mumbling how she was going to be expelled. He stopped before he got to the door that led to where he left Ron.

"Ginny, none of this was your fault. You had no idea what would happen when you wrote in that diary. If you need to talk to someone just let me know because I'll be there for you."

He opened the door and Ron threw himself at his sister. He didn't even notice Fawkes or Gryffindor's sword until Ginny pulled herself out of his arms. She was still crying but Harry seemed to convince her that she wasn't going to be expelled.

They took a few steps before Ron spoke again.

"Umm... Harry where's my wand?"

"I kinda... lost it... in a big puddle... and the Basilisk landed on it. I'm sorry Ron I promise to buy you a new one over the summer."

"What am I supposed to do about my exams? Mum is going to freak when she finds out. There's no way that she is going to let you buy me a new one."

"We should probably get up to the surface before we discuss this. I bet McGonagall is with your parents and my dad. They are panicking just about now."

"Just one question; how are we getting back up the pipe?" asked Ron.

"Fawkes can carry us. He's a phoenix and can bear large loads." Harry grabbed hold of Fawkes tail and Ron; while Ron took hold of Ginny all the while doubting that the great bird could really lift all three of them. However, he was amazed when he felt his feet left the ground.

The flight only took a few minutes because of all the weight they didn't have because they didn't have Lockhart dragging them down.

He wasn't surprised to see that Luna ran to huge them all. He was surprised that he was hugged the longest. He hoped that Luna wasn't developing a crush on him; he wasn't sure that it would be a good idea to get involved with someone when he was five or six years older than them. He knew that he had to wait and see how he felt when he was ready for a relationship, or rather when his friends were ready.

They followed Fawkes to McGonagall's office. Things went pretty much to same as the first in terms of the Weasley parents' reunion with their only daughter. Ginny curled up next to her mum on the couch.

Harry didn't see Sirius, Remus, or Tonks through all the red hair until everything began to settle down. He flung himself into Sirius' arms. He didn't know if they would come right away, but now that he thought about it, that was foolish to believe.

When Sirius let him go, he set the diary and Sorting Hat on Dumbledore's desk but he kept the sword at his side. He felt that as Gryffindor's heir it was rightfully his. Fawkes landed on his shoulder and not on Dumbledore's.

So he started his story. Well an abbreviated version of the last ten months mixed with all that he knew from his first Second Year. He even told them about the Tom Riddles' diary since he knew that it wouldn't get Ginny into any trouble. The Weasleys were confused as to why Tom would enchant the diary. Before Dumbledore could reply, Harry answered for him.

"Tom Riddle was a student here fifty years ago. He became Lord Voldemort by using an anagram," the Weasleys and Sirius were confused, "a word or phrase spelled by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase. Tom Marvolo Riddle, a half-blood, used his name to spell out 'I am Lord Voldemort'. The Headmaster here knew the whole time but seems to have failed to mention that anyone."

Dumbledore just sighed. "It's true. Voldemort was a student here. I just never thought that it was important to tell the Wizarding World who he is. It was more important for him so be defeated. Now, would you please take your daughter to the Hospital Wing? The students will be un-petrified in a few days. I need to speak to the children."

The Weasleys except for Ron left the office. He also sent McGonagall out of the room to tell the kitchens that they should begin to prepare for a feast.

"Mr. Potter (Harry glowered when the Headmaster refused to add Black to his name), Mr. Weasley, and Miss Lovegood, I am deeply impressed with what you did for the school. I give each of you Special Awards Services to the school and two hundred points to Gryffindor."

"I don't want the award. I'll take the points But Voldemort was awarded for the same thing. I don't want it."

"Harry..."

"Don't call me that!" Harry snarled.

"Mr. Potter, Riddles' award will be striped from him."

"What about Hagrid? Will he be allowed to continue his education?"

"Miss Lovegood, Mr. Weasley, I wish to speak to Harry alone. Would you please go down to the Great Hall? I believe Miss Granger and Mr. Longbottom are worried about you." The two left after giving Harry curious glances.

"Mr. Potter, Hagrid was expelled for having an Acromantula hidden in the school." Dumbledore began.

"I have done much worse and not even get a detention for it." He felt a hand on his shoulder. He realized that he was standing. When did that happen?

"Professor," said Sirius, "I'm not sure if I'm going to let Harry come back next year." Tonks and Remus gasped at him. They didn't know that he was thinking of doing that. "Both years he's been here, he's been put into mortal peril. I don't want to see my son hurt."

"Sirius, you can't do that. Harry needs his education."

"And he will get one. Tonks, Remus, and I aren't exactly idiots. We can teach them unless you can come up with a way to protect him. Let's go Harry."

Harry wasn't sure if Sirius was being sincere when he said that he wasn't coming back. But all that was pushed from his mind when he was pushed back into Sirius by Lucius Malfoy. Dobby was at his heals trying to polish his shoes.

"Good evening, Lucius." Dumbledore smiled up at him.

"So! You've come back..." He snarled until Harry interrupted him.

"Yes, I guess the School Governors thought he was best for the job... for the time being."

He ignored the boy like he was ignoring the elf.

"Have you stopped the attacks?" asked Malfoy.

"Yes."

"It was Voldemort." Harry put in again.

Dumbledore went on to say the same speech he did the last time. Harry was bored and was using the time to admire the sword. He only looked up when he heard the door slam again; signaling that Malfoy and Dobby had left. Without a word, he took the diary and ran after Malfoy, pulling a sock off and stuffing the diary into it. He caught up with them quickly.

"Mr. Malfoy I thought that you might like this back."

He jammed the diary into his hand. The plan worked exactly as it had last time. Mr. Malfoy threw the sock and Dobby caught it. But this time he didn't need Dobby to protect him. He pulled out the sword and was surprised too see that it was glowing red.

"I don't think so. A giant snake couldn't kill me, what makes you so sure that you could?" Harry smirked at him. Malfoy put his wand away and left with a billow of a cloak.

Harry sensed Sirius and the others coming up behind him.

"Dad, since Kreacher is getting a bit old, do you think we could hire Dobby? I think it would be a good investment in the future."

"Are you sure Pronglet? Dobby did almost kill you... more than once actually."

"Sirius, you could use the help around the house," Tonks said.

"Fine. But if he almost kills Harry again I'll have to get rid of him."

The four of them went up to Gryffindor Tower to get his stuff. He was stunned to see Hermione was still there while his other friends went to the feast. She quickly pulled him into a hug. Harry was the first to step back but he was still holding her arms.

"Why aren't you in the Great Hall?"

"I couldn't go down there not knowing whether you were ok or not. I so worried about you Harry. I understand why you went without me but I never want you to leave me ever again." She let out a sob.

"Hermione, Dad is pulling me from school early. He said that he might not let me come back next year because I keep getting into trouble."

Hermione rounded on Sirius after the proclamation.

"You have to let him come back. I- we need him here. I mean who else is going to compete with me for top grades in Gryffindor. No, I won't let you take him."

"My decision isn't final yet. If don't let him come back we will arrange something so that you can still see each other. I'm not mean enough to steal him away from his friends. The three of us will go upstairs so you can have a proper goodbye." The three for them (Dobby was already at Grimmauld Place) went upstairs.

"I don't want you to go." Hermione was teary-eyed.

"And you that I do? We will see each other. I'll learn how the Apparate if I have to," Harry joked.

"I'll hold you to that promise." She smiled back hesitantly. "I'm going to miss you Harry. You are the best friend I could ever hope for." She hugged him again. He never wanted to let him go.

"I'll miss you too. Tell the others that I left. I don't think I can face them now." Without thinking, he kissed her cheek. He didn't even realize his family was standing at the foot of the stairs until he heard someone clear their throat.

"How bout we get together with your parents when you get back to London. I haven't seen them since Christmas." Sirius smirked at Harry.

They shrunk his trunk and walked out of Gryffindor Tower. With one last glance back, Harry was gone.

A/N. That's the end of "Return of the Second Chance'. I want to thank all those who have reviewed my story.