I DON'T OWN HARRY POTTER OR ANYTHING AFFILIATED WITH IT. I ONLY OWN DEVYN AND HER PARENTS.

Chapter 27

Devyn and Harry stood before Dumbledore, bone-tired and covered in grime.

"First, I want to thank you," Dumbledore said, smiling serenely at them. "You both must have shown me real loyalty down in the Chamber. Nothing but that could have called Fawkes to you."

Devyn smiled and reached up to stroke the beautiful creature sitting on his perch next to Dumbledore.

"Secondly, I sense something is troubling you. Am I right, Harry," Dumbledore continued. Devyn frowned slightly and looked over at Harry, who did indeed look troubled.

Wonder what's bothering him…Devyn thought. She really couldn't imagine what it was; the Basilisk was dead, Ginny was alive and relatively okay (if a little traumatized), they weren't being expelled from the school, they were all alive, and they stopped Voldemort from returning a second time. Life seemed pretty good right now, to be honest, so what was Harry bothered about?

"It's just…you see, sir, I –I couldn't help but notice certain things, certain…certain similarities between Tom Riddle and me," Harry told him. Devyn was really confused now. Aside from both being Parselmouths, and having dark hair, she didn't see any other similarities between Riddle and Harry. That was like comparing a donkey to a unicorn.

"I see," Dumbledore said, looking pensive. "Well, you can speak Parseltongue, Harry. Why?"

It was a good question…Devyn knew she had inherited the trait from her father, but where had Harry gotten it? McGonagall would have mentioned that James or Lily could speak Parseltongue when she explained everything to her about two years ago. Was it really almost two years ago already that that happened?

"Because," Dumbledore answered his own question. "Lord Voldemort can speak Parseltongue. If I'm not mistaken Harry, he transferred some of his powers to you that night he gave you that scar."

"…what?" Devyn said. Dumbledore smiled softly at her and nodded.

"Voldemort transferred some of his powers…to me?" Harry asked, just as dumbfounded as Devyn. Dumbledore nodded again and said, "Not intentionally, but yes."

Devyn blinked. That sounded odd. She didn't know that could even happen between wizards, but then again, Harry was one of a kind. What had happened to him hadn't ever been known before, so it was entirely possible that Voldemort unwittingly gave Harry some of his powers that night, when the thought-to-be-impossible happened.

"So the Sorting Hat was right! I should be in Slytherin," Harry concluded. Devyn narrowed her eyes. How did Harry draw that conclusion from the knowledge that Voldemort transferred some of his powers to him? Just because Voldemort had been a Slytherin? How did that even make sense to him?

"It's true, Harry," Dumbledore conceded. "You possess many of the qualities that Voldemort himself prizes, as does Devyn here. Determination, resourcefulness, and if I may say so, a certain disregard for the rules."

Devyn wondered if she should be worried that she had qualities that Voldemort liked, but then she remembered how tired she was, and found she really didn't care.

"Why then did the Sorting Hat place you both in Gryffindor?" Dumbledore asked them. Devyn was almost asleep on her feet, and her brain wasn't performing at its peak right now, so she didn't answer. Besides, she felt the question was more aimed at Harry.

"Because I – we – asked it to," Harry replied. Dumbledore nodded and said, "Exactly, Harry, exactly. Which makes you different from Voldemort. It is not our abilities that show what we truly are; it is our choices. If you want proof why you belong in Gryffindor, I suggest you look more closely at this."

Devyn shook her head to clear the haziness from it and looked at what Dumbledore was handing Harry; it was the sword.

"Be careful," Dumbledore said. Harry took the sword and Devyn moved closer to examine it. There on the blade, engraved in capital letters was a name – a name that made Devyn smile.

Godric Gryffindor.

She never doubted for a moment that she belonged in Gryffindor, but she was happy that here now was the empirical proof, not only for herself, but for Harry as well.

"Godric Gryffindor," Harry breathed in awe.

Dumbledore smiled and looked at them over the tops of his half-moon glasses and said, "It would take a true Gryffindor to pull that out of the hat," Dumbledore focused on her, and then looked at Harry, "and a true Gryffindor to wield it."

Devyn and Harry grinned at each other but their happy moment was interrupted by the arrival of someone being pushed through the door.

It was the most curious creature Devyn had ever seen. He had large green eyes, a pointed nose, floppy ears that reminded her of a Chihuahua, and was wearing a pillow case for clothes.

"Dobby!" Harry exclaimed. "So this is your master! The family you serve is the Malfoys!"

"Dobby? You're Dobby?" Devyn asked the little creature. She remembered the name from Harry's story about how the House Elf had shown up in his room (and later in the Hospital Wing) to warn him about the Chamber of Secrets being opened, although in much more cryptic terms, and how, when Harry refused to promise not to return to Hogwarts, Dobby promptly destroyed Harry's aunt's bakery masterpiece. This then caused Harry not only to receive a warning from the Ministry of Magic, but also to be confined to his room and have bars put on his window.

Devyn smiled to herself when she remembered what Ron, Fred, and George's response to the window bars had been – she'd been relayed that story as well. It seemed so long ago now that she was so concerned about Harry not replying to any of her letters.

Dobby nodded and said, "Mmhmm…"

He looked up at Malfoy timidly and the blonde man glared down at Dobby and said, "I'll deal with you later."

He must have found out about the warnings Dobby had been giving Harry, which didn't bode well for the timid House Elf at all.

"Out of my way, Potter!" Malfoy snarled, pushing Harry out of the way with his walking stick. Harry then was pushed into Devyn, who did not appreciate this at all. She could have protested angrily at Malfoy, but she was too tired and it wouldn't do any good anyway.

"So, it's true," Malfoy said, looking down at Dumbledore with – was that disdain? "You have returned."

Dumbledore inclined his head and said, "When the governors learned that Arthur Weasley's daughter was taken into the Chamber, they saw fit to summon me back."

"Ridiculous," Malfoy sneered quietly. Dumbledore arched an eyebrow and said, "Curiously, Lucius, several of them were under the impression that you would curse their families, if they did not agree to suspend me in the first place."

You tell him, Dumbledore! Devyn silently cheered him on. Malfoy however felt exactly the opposite.

"How dare you?!" Malfoy said, entirely unconvincingly outraged.

"I beg your pardon?" Dumbledore replied, looking at the angry blonde man.

"My sole concern has always been, and will always be, the welfare of this school, and of course, its students. The culprit has been identified, I presume?"

"Oh, yes," Dumbledore said.

"And?" Malfoy prompted impatiently. "Who was it?"

"Voldemort."

With that one word, Malfoy's demeanor went from smug and snotty to nervous and uncomfortable. Devyn smiled vindictively.

"Ah," was the only reply Malfoy could construct, evidently.

"Only this time," Dumbledore told him. "He chose to act through somebody else, by means of this."

Dumbledore held up the pierced diary and Malfoy looked at it as though he – no, he did! He recognized it. And that's when it hit Devyn: she remembered seeing the diary in Ginny's possession one other time – in Flourish and Blotts, the day that she met Lucius Malfoy.

Malfoy had insulted Mr. Weasley's social standing and grabbed one of Ginny's books, deeming it "tatty" and "second-hand", before dropping it back into her cauldron along with the diary. Malfoy had been the one who ensured the diary fell into Ginny's possession in the first place.

"I see," Malfoy replied, although Devyn almost missed it because of the rushing sound of anger filling her ears.

"Fortunately," Dumbledore informed Malfoy, "our young Mr. Potter and Ms. Murphy discovered it. One hopes that no more of Lord Voldemort's old school things should find their way into innocent hands. The consequences for the one responsible would be severe."

He didn't say so blatantly, but Devyn knew that Dumbledore knew the truth of how the diary came to be in Ginny's possession, as did Malfoy.

"Well," Malfoy said, turning to look at her and Harry. They stared back defiantly. "Let us hope that Mr. Potter and Ms. Murphy will always been around to save the day."

"Don't worry," Harry replied, although it sounded almost like a threat. "We will be."

It seemed after that, Malfoy was done there. He said farewell to Dumbledore and then said, "Come, Dobby. We're leaving."

Evidently, Dobby didn't move quickly enough for Malfoy because he kicked the poor creature right down the stairs that led to Dumbledore's desk. Devyn almost shouted at Malfoy to leave Dobby alone, but a warning look from Dumbledore silenced her.

Malfoy continued to beat Dobby right out the door and down the winding staircase. Harry and Devyn moved back in front of the desk, Harry looking as though he had a bright idea.

"Sir, I wonder if I could have that?" Harry asked. For a moment, Devyn thought he was referring to Gryffindor's sword, but that would have been an astronomically proportioned request – but then she realized that he was talking about the diary.

Dumbledore nodded and Harry took it and dragged Devyn out of Dumbledore's office with him. As they stood on the moving staircase, Harry handed the diary to Devyn and then bent down and started untying his shoe.

"Er, what are you doing, Harry?"

"Doing something that needs to be done," Harry answered. Devyn frowned and then raised an eyebrow when Harry removed his sock and instructed Devyn to open the diary. She opened it and Harry placed the dirty sock within the pages.

"What the -?" Devyn said. "Harry, are you feeling alright?"

"Yes, fine. Just wait. You'll see."

Devyn shrugged and gave the diary back to Harry. As the staircase grinded into place, Harry and Devyn ran after the retreating forms of Malfoy and Dobby.

"Mr. Malfoy!" Harry called out. "Mr. Malfoy!"

Malfoy and Dobby turned around and Harry said, "I have something of yours." He thrust the diary into Malfoy's hand, and he looked down at it angrily and confusedly at the same time.

"Mine?" Malfoy said. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Devyn fought the urge to roll her eyes – who did he think he was fooling?

"Oh, I think you do, sir," Harry replied, amazingly remaining polite while contradicting him. "I think you slipped the diary into Ginny Weasley's cauldron, that day at Diagon Alley."

"You do, do you?" Malfoy said. When neither of them answered, Malfoy glared at them and handed the diary to Dobby, and he leaned in and growled out, "Why don't you prove it?"

They both only glared at him. Malfoy smirked and said, turning around, "Come, Dobby."

But Dobby didn't follow. Harry and Devyn looked at the small creature and Harry said, "Open it."

Dobby looked confused before he cracked the diary open and discovered the sock lying there in the pages. His face went from confused to awe-struck in a matter of seconds. That was when Devyn remembered something Hermione told her about House Elves; they could only be freed from the employment of their masters or mistresses if their master or mistress presented them with clothes.

And just then, Malfoy had unknowingly given Dobby the sock. Dobby was free.

"Dobby?" Malfoy called out from halfway down the hall. He stopped dead when Dobby said, "Master has given Dobby a sock."

"What?" Malfoy hissed. "I didn't give –"

He cut himself off and his expression changed immediately when he turned around and spotted the sock in the diary pages.

"Master has presented Dobby with clothes. Dobby is free!" Dobby said, dropping the diary and clutching the sock in his tiny fist. Devyn couldn't help but beam. Dobby was just too cute, to be honest. Malfoy looked at Harry, who silently lifted up his pants leg slightly, just enough to reveal the absence of a sock on his foot.

"You lost me MY SERVANT!" Malfoy shouted, unsheathing his wand and advancing on them. Harry's face grew slightly concerned as Malfoy did so, but the need for concern was redundant because Dobby stepped in front of Harry and Devyn and said, "You shall not harm Harry Potter or his friend!"

Just as Malfoy said, "AVADA -!" Dobby released his own spell, which sent Malfoy flying down the hallway, landing solidly at the end of it, far away from Harry, Devyn, and Dobby.

Harry and Devyn smiled down at Dobby, who had just crossed his arms and smirked at Malfoy, who was just scrambling to his feet, visibly angered.

"Your parents were meddlesome fools, too," he said to them. "Both of your parents. And mark my words…one day soon, you two are going to meet the same sticky end."

And with that, Malfoy stormed away and Dobby turned to smile up at them, which Devyn returned happily.

"Harry Potter and his friend freed Dobby! How can Dobby ever repay them?" Dobby asked. Devyn smiled and said, "You don't need to repay me, Dobby. Just be happy. Oh, my name is Devyn."

Dobby nodded with a smile and Harry said, "Just promise me something."

"Anything, sir!"

"Never try to save my life again," Harry requested. If anything, Dobby's smile grew tenfold.

At last, at long last, the End of the Year Feast was here. Numerous people were crying and shouting with joy as their friends who had been Petrified were returned to them. Even Filch was in high spirits, since his dear Mrs. Norris was cured completely and back to her old nosy self.

"Hello, Sir Nicholas!" Devyn said, walking toward him, as he was being welcomed back by various students, including Percy Weasley.

Nick turned and looked at her, a smile gracing his features. "Devyn! My dear girl, how are you?"

"I'm brilliant, Sir Nicholas. And yourself? How are you feeling?"

"Indubitably better. Thank you for asking. I have been made aware that it was you and Mr. Potter that discovered me after I had been attacked."

Devyn nodded and Nick said, "Thank you for alerting the teachers to my state of emergency."

"Well…" Devyn was about to tell him that although she and Harry had discovered Nick and Justin, it had been Filch who raised the alarm when he went to retrieve McGonagall, but taking one look at the delighted smile on Nick's face, she decided it wasn't important. "You're welcome, Sir Nicholas."

"Devyn!"

Devyn's attention was drawn from her ghostly friend as she heard Neville's voice call her name. Nick smiled and said, "Your Mr. Longbottom awaits."

Devyn grinned and nodded. "It's good to have you back, Sir Nicholas."

"Thank you, Devyn," Nick said seriously.

Devyn smiled at him once more before going over to join her friends. Seconds later, she heard Neville say, "Guys! It's Hermione!"

Harry, Ron, Devyn's heads all turned in the direction of the door, where Hermione stood grinning at them. They scrambled to their feet just as Hermione came charging at them.

Devyn caught her in a hug before anyone else and nearly lifted her off her feet, happiness inflating in her chest like a balloon. When she released her newly-returned friend, Hermione turned to Harry and hugged him too. She then went to hug Ron, but hesitated, causing an awkward moment between them.

"Uh, er, uh…well, welcome back, Hermione," Ron stuttered as they shook hands. Devyn rolled her eyes at her friends.

"It's good to be back," Hermione said, a bright light shining in her eyes. She looked between them and said, "Congratulations, I can't believe you solved it."

"Well," Harry said, "we had loads of help from you. We couldn't have done it without you."

Ron and Devyn nodded their agreement and Hermione said, "Thanks."

Their conversation was cut short by McGonagall rapping her spoon against her glass and saying, "Can I have your attention please?"

The four of them quickly returned to their seats at the tables and Neville beamed at Hermione, who returned the smile full-force.

Dumbledore stood up and everyone's attention shifted to him. "Before we begin the feast," he announced. "Let us have a round of applause for Professor Sprout, Madam Pomfrey, whose Mandrake juice has been so successfully administered to all who had been Petrified."

The entire Great Hall, including some of the Slytherins, erupted in ecstatic applause and when it died down, Dumbledore continued, "Also, in light of recent events, as a school treat, all exams have been CANCELLED!"

Everyone but Hermione (who mouthed "Oh, no") cheered raucously, glad to be rid of that burden. However, the cheering stopped abruptly as the Great Hall doors banged open and revealed the huge form of Hagrid.

Devyn had never been so happy to see him in her life. "Sorry I'm late," Hagrid said, walking down the aisle between the tables. "The owl that delivered my release papers got all lost and confused. Some ruddy bird called Errol."

Ron's eyes widened at this and he looked at Dumbledore apologetically. Dumbledore, however, only smiled. Devyn and the others turned around when Hagrid stopped in front of them. Devyn smiled unrestrainedly up at her friend.

"I'd just like to say that, uh, if it hadn't been for you, Harry, and Devyn, and Ron, and Hermione o' course…I would, uh, I'd still be you-know-where," he gestured with a hook of his thumb, "so I-I'd just like to say thanks!"

Harry and Devyn looked at each other and they both stood up. Hagrid looked down at them and Devyn said nothing – she merely hugged Hagrid. He chuckled and patted her on the back. Harry, however, said, "There's no Hogwarts without you, Hagrid."

At that point, Harry joined Devyn in her hugging of Hagrid. Hagrid hugged them both and Dumbledore started leading everyone in applause. Soon everyone (except most of the Slytherins) was standing up, giving Hagrid a loud, warm ovation.

Devyn and Harry released Hagrid and stepped back to join the applause and Devyn noticed that Hagrid looked like he might cry.

Soon, a bunch of people had crowded around Hagrid, clambering for a handshake, every one of them cheering happily. Devyn had never seen Hagrid so happy and honored.

Once again, everything was right in Devyn's world again.

"Now, Harry, if those bloody relatives try to stop you from writing us, I'm going to come over there myself, and teach them what for," Devyn said, jokingly but entirely also serious. Harry laughed, as did Ron, Hermione, and Neville.

"I know, Devyn," Harry said, still laughing.

The Hogwarts Express shuddered to a halt in King's Cross Station and they all hopped onto Platform 9 ¾ after retrieving their belongings and they were all immediately descended upon by Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, who had already collected Fred, George, Ginny, and Percy.

Devyn hugged Ginny on first sight and the younger girl returned the hug after a moment's hesitation. When she released Ginny, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were looking down at her with large smiles on their faces.

"I just want to thank you all again for saving Ginny. Really, thank you so much," Mrs. Weasley said after she hugged Ron in greeting. She then turned to the rest of them and hugged them tightly, nearly depriving them all of oxygen.

At that point, Moony came strolling up, whistling nonchalantly, trying to keep the grin off his face to keep the joke running, and Devyn laughed happily when she saw him. Like the last year, although she had just seen him a couple days previously, Devyn felt as though she hadn't seen her godfather in far too long a time.

"Moony!" she called. She ran towards him and jumped into his arms when he opened them to her. He embraced her tightly and lifted her off her feet.

"Oh, it's so good to see you, love," Moony said in her ear. Devyn smiled so broadly her face hurt and she continued to hug her godfather. When they finally released one another, she and Moony walked back over to the Weasleys and Moony greeted them pleasantly.

Once Mrs. Longbottom had made her way over to Neville, they all, as a group, departed from Platform 9 ¾ and reentered the Muggle world. Once they crossed back over, Harry glumly noticed the Dursleys waiting for him. He turned to Devyn, Ron, Hermione, and Neville and hugged them each goodbye.

"Remember what I said, Harry. You better write me or I might show up as Snow and scare the living hell out of them," Devyn told him. Harry grinned and nodded. She winked at him and he waved goodbye to Moony and the Weasleys and Mrs. Longbottom before walking over to the Dursleys.

"They look like a pleasant lot, don't they?" Mr. Weasley commented, although despite his cheery tone, he was being sarcastic. Devyn laughed and said, "You've got no idea, Mr. Weasley."

Ron and Hermione laughed and then Hermione spotted her parents. She too hugged them each goodbye and then waved goodbye to Moony, the Weasleys, and Mrs. Longbottom.

Not long after, the Weasleys departed as well, and then Neville and his grandmother.

"I'll see you soon, Neville," Devyn promised him as she hugged him goodbye.

"Okay," Neville replied. As he and his grandmother walked off, Devyn called, "Bye, Nev!"

Neville turned around and called back, "See ya, Dev!"

Moony chuckled at the two of them and then looked at his now-teenaged goddaughter. She had grown quite a lot over the year, and looked so much older to him.

Merlin, she's growing up fast, Remus thought.

Yeah, she sure is, Remmy, Moony said to him. Remus internally rolled his eyes and thought, Will you go away? The full moon isn't even for another two weeks…

Fine, fine. I'll let you enjoy your time with Devyn.

Thank you.

Remus had shrunk her luggage before they left Platform 9 ¾, and it was now in his pocket, so it wasn't a bother. He put his arm around Devyn's shoulders and she placed her arm around his waist. Moony looked down at her and said, "What do you say we go home?"

Devyn's bright blue eyes became flooded with happiness and relief and she said, "Moony, I thought you'd never ask."

Moony let out a deep laugh as they walked towards the exit of King's Cross Station.

It was good to have her back.

So there it is! The end of "Devyn Murphy: Second Year at Hogwarts"! I can hardly believe that has come. I will be working on the third installment (I can't wait to write that one), but I don't know when I will be getting it posted. I'm entering the final stretch for school right now and I'm going to be pretty busy for awhile. Anyway, thank you for sticking me through this one. Seriously…it means a lot to me.

Thank you again.

- Nathan Lane-Beatles Luvr