Author's Notes: This is the last chapter, folks. I truly hope you've enjoyed your adventure with me.

Having liked what you've seen so far, I hope you'll decide to read how Slytherin!Harry handles his next year of Hogwarts in Harry and the Barking Rook.

As usual, I appreciate all reviews, PMs, favorites, and follows that have been bestowed to me.

Once Ginny and Harry passed into the cavern, Harry told the snakes on the stone doors to close behind him. They did so with a soft hiss.

After a few minutes' progress up the tunnel, Harry came to the rock fall and noticed a nicely Transfigured pathway running straight through it. He ducked down and went through first. Deciding it was safe, he helped Ginny step through.

When they made it through, Harry noticed they were standing at the bottom of the pipe he'd used to enter this place. He wondered how they were going to go back up it when a red-and-gold plumed bird trilled musically at him. Both Ginny and Harry turned to look at the crying Fawkes. The headmaster was right; his phoenix really did have quite a beautiful plumage when he was neither too old nor too young.

However, the phoenix was perched on something quite invisible. Its tears were soaking into something Harry couldn't see.

Harry ventured a guess as to who the bird resting on. "Professor Snape?"

"Professor Snape's here?" Ginny squeaked, looking appalled.

"Are you all right, sir?"

"What do you think?" A disembodied voice said sharply, "I just singlehandedly killed a legendary, highly venomous creature notoriously immune to magic unless mortally wounded. One does not simply walk away without injury."

In the faint light from the still-active Lighting Spell on Harry's wand, there was a long, thin-bladed sword propped on the ground slick with blood and with a handle encrusted with emeralds and wrought into the shape of a snake.

Curious, Harry waved his wand towards the empty air. "Finite Incantatem."

Color and shape and form manifested like a kaleidoscope before rearranging into a familiar form. Professor Snape's face was waxy and sickly pale. His robes were torn, but since they were black Harry couldn't see any blood on them. However, a ratty black hat was clutched in his right hand.

"Why've you got the Sorting Hat?" Ginny asked with some confusion.

"For a magic trick," Harry's guardian hissed out. Professor Snape stood up slowly, brushing his mostly soggy robes free of rock dust and crumbly bone.

Beside Harry, Ginny went stiff with fear.

Professor Snape looked down his nose at Ginny and Harry with his most intimidating look. "Let this be a lesson to the both of you. Don't trust objects that write or talk back."

"Y-y-yes, s-sir," Ginny said tremulously.

Having dealt with Snape's wrath on plenty of occasions, Harry didn't feel the slightest bit afraid. "Why did no one else follow us?"

"Because only fools willingly walk into a place known to inhabit basilisks," Professor Snape snapped as he leaned over and grabbed the sword by its handle with his left hand. He thrust the Hat at Ginny. "Hold this."

"O-okay…" She gingerly took it and looked at the hat. "Hello."

"Ginny Weasley, hello," it turned slightly in her hands, "and is that Harry Potter?"

"Sod off, you crusty turd," Harry said crossly.

"Definitely Slytherin."

"Shut up!"

"What?" Ginny asked confused.

"It's not important," Harry told her with a firm tone.

"Harry Potter greatly desired to not be placed among Slytherins when I Sorted him last year," the Sorting Hat said to her solemnly.

"Blabbermouth, it's none of her business," Harry directed at the cursed thing.

"However," the hat continued as if he hadn't heard, "had the Founders still been alive, I'd bet a bag of Kneazles that the question of Harry Potter's placement would have incited a duel between Salazar and Godric."

"I think I would have taken my chances with them instead of you."

"And the same outcome would have resulted, since Salazar Slytherin nearly always won a duel. Not many students have the right qualities for his house and, most importantly… You're a Parselmouth."

"Oh, come off it! Now you're just prejudiced!"

Ginny looked at Harry as she clutched the brim of the hat. "I… I think it's great you're in Slytherin."

Harry stopped and looked at her like she'd lost her marbles. "Excuse me?"

"You're living proof that Slytherins aren't all bad," she replied. "Sometimes they just appear to be." She looked over towards Snape's dark form with the brilliant phoenix still perched on his black-robed shoulder. "I don't think this year would have gone much differently had you been placed in Gryffindor. At least in Slytherin you have friends who won't desert you."

Harry looked at her. He didn't agree with her assessment of Slytherins because quite frankly he had yet to meet a Slytherin like him. He sighed heavily and looked towards the pipe. "Professor Snape, how are we leaving?"

The sword was wrapped in black binding and had been slung over the adult's left shoulder; the professor's black eyes flicked towards the bird still perched calmly on his shoulder.

Harry very nearly slapped himself. "Oh. Right." Holstering his wand, he thrust his hand to Ginny.

"What? But that bird can't carry all of us…"

"Phoenixes are special. Fawkes will be able to take all of us," Harry answered. "You do trust me, don't you?"

She hesitantly took his hand and then gripped it firmly. It was still cold. "I do."

"How touching." Snape offered a hand to Harry, who took it easily with his free hand. Ginny refused to look at Harry as her entire face had turned scarlet.

When Professor Snape took the Phoenix's tail feathers, a strange lightness spread all over Harry's whole body. In the next second, in a rush of wings and feathers, the three of them were flying upward through the curvy pipe.

Ginny giggled in relief, most likely, and Harry couldn't help smiling as the chill air whipped through his hair. Before he stopped enjoying the ride, it was over—the three of them landed on their feet on the wet floor of Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.

The sink slid slowly back into place behind them.

Professor Flitwick was staring at them wide-eyed.

"Severus!" Madam Pomfrey exclaimed. "Did your anti-venin work?"

"Fresh Phoenix Tears," he said grimly, taking her wand arm when she had begun to check his vitals to direct it towards Harry and Ginny. "Tend after the children, Poppy."

Madam Pomfrey immediately went to Ginny first, checking her over.

"My goodness!" Professor Flitwick said. "You two gave us a scare."

Harry gave him a grin, feeling rather well now that he was out of the darkness.

"You're alive?" Myrtle moaned pitifully.

"There's no need to sound disappointed," Harry told her as he wiped his glasses free of slime.

"Well, my offer still stands, Harry. Any time you want to die…" The ghost giggled, a finger pressed to her lips as she twisted her body with excitement.

Harry gave her a look. "I like being not-dead, so please stop offering a place in your toilet."

"Oh, that's disgusting," Ginny said to Myrtle. "You can't have thought Harry would actually move in with you?"

The ghost blushed silver and scowled. "Don't be jealous that I've spoken to him more than you have!" The room was becoming very frosty.

"Oh dear," Professor Flitwick said as ice began to form on the walls.

"Orkezein Excathedra!" Snape's voice was a booming echo in the chamber and a bright light shot out from his wand.

Moaning Myrtle let out a shriek and was thrown backwards through the north wall of the bathroom. The room immediately warmed up, water splashing down the sides of the walls as the ice melted.

"Thank you, sir," Harry said. His guardian said nothing as he watched Madam Pomfrey continue to fuss over Ginny.

"Drink this and this," Madam Pomfrey was ordering to Ginny, who did so without hesitation. "Now, Professor Flitwick will take you to visit your parents in Professor McGonagall's office. They've been worried sick about you."

Ginny looked to Harry. He gave her an encouraging smile and nodded towards the door. "I'm sure your brothers missed you too."

Eyes filled with tears, she lunged towards him. He backpedaled a little, but relaxed when she only wrapped arms around him in a tight hug. "Thank you, Harry."

He stood there uncomfortably, and then she pulled away.

"Young Harry is right. Your family will be very happy to see you return to them unharmed," Professor Flitwick said reassuringly, "This way, this way."

Ginny gave Harry one long look before silently following Professor Flitwick out of the bathroom.

"Let's see if you've damaged yourself any worse." Madam Pomfrey stood in front of him and magically checked him over as she'd done with Ginny. "You're not any worse for wear, thank goodness. Thanks to the prior care I gave you, your magical core is on its way to smooth recovery. I must insist that you have a full meal and a good night's rest."

"Yes, Madam Pomfrey," Harry said obediently.

Then the Healer gave him a very firm frown. "Next time you require medical aid, you'll find it much more difficult to leave the infirmary, Harry."

Harry gaped at her. "But if I hadn't, Ginny would have died!"

"This is for your own safety." Her tone was very stern.

"You can't just lock me up."

"Good heavens, child. My Healing Art will not harm you, only heal if you allow it. You must think of your health. I am most concerned about you because at the rate you're going you'll burn out your magical core before you become of Age. Unless you want to be a Squib?"

"No," Harry said glumly.

"Your guardian," Madam Pomfrey nodded towards Professor Snape, "has already given me permission to enact measures to prevent any future escape attempts while you are under my care."

Harry's teeth clicked when he closed his mouth. He glowered at his guardian, who did not seem to care.

"Do you remember the explicit warning I gave you if you broke any more school rules?" Professor Snape looked at him coldly.

"But I saved the day!"

"No, I did," his guardian countered through clenched teeth. "If I hadn't followed you, a sixteen-year-old Dark Lord could have murdered you, tortured and then possessed you, or trapped your soul inside the journal while he wore your body like a set of robes."

"…That… that happens?"

"Does the Tale of Urman ring any bells in that empty head of yours?"

"Yes," Harry said quietly. That was a Dark tale about a book collector who switched places with his favorite book.

An uncomfortable silence fell between them. Harry wondered if there was a bit of truth in all the Magical Fairy Tales…

"Well, it's about time to administer a second dose of Mandrake Restorative Draught to those who've been Petrified," Madam Pomfrey said. "Take care of yourselves." She narrowed her eyes at Professor Snape in particular.

He looked impassively back.

Then she turned and left from the bathroom.

Harry took a deep breath of relief, happy that he didn't have to stay in the infirmary after his latest misadventure.

"Did you ask the Sorting Hat to place you in Gryffindor?" His Head of House asked suddenly. Harry was not used to the lack of noise in the haunted girl's bathroom; he could hear something dripping somewhere.

"Er… well, no. Nobody told me I could do that."

Snape gestured to the door. "Professor Dumbledore will likely see the rescue of Ginevra Weasley as cause to celebrate." He cast a Cleaning Charm and then a Refreshening Charm over the both of them, and then a Drying Charm on himself. Harry didn't know where the Potions Master had the magical stamina after killing a basilisk.

They walked down the empty corridor in silence until Harry asked, "Where'd you get the sword?" The snakes cast into the guard had been unsettling him with their winking emerald eyes. Harry could not seem to stop looking at the handle.

"It's an epee that once belonged to Salazar Slytherin."

"Where'd you get it?"

The Slytherin Head of House did not look as if he might answer, but then said, "I pulled it out of the Sorting Hat."

"So the magic trick…" Harry tried very hard not to giggle and ended up laughing.

Severus Snape looked very irked by Harry's reaction.

Having walked some distance through Hogwarts, they stopped in front of a familiar gargoyle.

"Sour smarties," Snape snapped out.

The statue jumped back, and they entered the room with the rotating stairway. At the top, Professor Snape went straight, walking through the door that was already open to the headmaster's office.

Lucius Malfoy and Professor Dumbledore turned and looked at them. "Good evening, Severus, Harry," the headmaster said pleasantly from his seat behind his desk.

Harry saw Dobby the house-elf cowering behind Draco's father, a stained rag in his hand. Red-hot fury burned straight through him. He glared up at Snape. He'd lied to him! As Draco's godfather, Snape would have known that Dobby belonged to the Malfoy family!

"As I was saying before I was interrupted," Mr. Malfoy sent a scathing look at the both of them and then turned back to the headmaster. "I'm surprised you'd dare to return when the governors suspended you."

"I will explain it once again, Lucius," the headmaster smiled serenely, "The other eleven governors contacted me today about how Arthur Weasley's daughter had been kidnapped. They, of course, re-instated me at once. They seemed to think that I was the best man for the job." Professor Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "Curiously… Several of them seemed to think that you had threatened to curse their families if they didn't agree to suspend me in the first place."

Anger momentarily halted, Harry's eyebrows lifted straight up. That hardly seemed like something a Malfoy would do, considering Draco's father could be put to trial for that if Dumbledore chose to press charges.

Mr. Malfoy's pale face grew even paler, but his eyes narrowed to slits of fury. "How dare you!"

"I beg your pardon?"

He paced closer towards Professor Dumbledore. "My sole concern has always been and will always be the welfare of this school. And of course, it's students," he looked towards Harry.

Harry could not feel an ounce of sincerity from the man, and neither could Snape if the way he crossed his arms over his chest was any indication.

"You have identified the culprit then, I presume?" Mr. Malfoy sneered.

"We have," Dumbledore said with a smile.

"It was Harry Potter after all?" Draco's father seemed to relish the idea. "The Boy Who Lived was not the hero everyone was expecting…?"

"No, Lucius, though I find it illuminating that you would think that Harry would choose to do such terrible things, such as set a basilisk upon others."

Unblinking, Mr. Malfoy did not seem to like that news.

"Severus…? Would you care to present the evidence of Lord Voldemort's hand in this?"

Professor Snape stepped forward, holding up Riddle's diary which had a very large hole through the center. Harry wondered where the fang had gone. "The Dark Lord was acting through Ginevra Weasley, by means of this diary."

"I see," said Mr. Malfoy, who appeared to be surprised.

While the other two professors were gazing at Draco's father intensely, Harry was looking at Dobby. His large eyes fixed meaningfully on Harry. He kept pointing at the diary, and then at Mr. Malfoy, and then hit himself hard on the head each time he pointed at the other two.

"It was a clever plan by whoever passed the diary to her," the headmaster said in a level voice. "Because if Harry hadn't discovered this book, why—Ginny Weasley might have taken all the blame. No one would have been able to prove she hadn't acted of her own free will."

Lucius Malfoy's hand tightened on his cane, while his face went completely blank. Harry tried to keep the frown off his face as Dobby continued to pantomime at him.

"What might have happened then…?" Professor Dumbledore continued, "The Weasleys are one of the most prominent pureblood families. Arthur Weasley and his Muggle Protection Act would have certainly failed if his daughter was discovered attacking and killing Muggle-borns… Very fortunate that the diary was discovered…"

Mr. Malfoy said stiffly, "Very fortunate."

And still, Dobby continued, until Harry figured out what he'd been trying to tell him. He nodded very slightly at Dobby who began to twist his ears in punishment. "Don't you want to know how Ginny got hold of that diary, professors?"

Snape shifted beside him, and Harry could feel his black stare boring into the side of his skull.

Lucius Malfoy shot Harry a sharp look, which reminded Harry that Draco's father had been a suspected supporter of Voldemort. Instead of getting frightened, it bolstered his confidence. "Mr. Malfoy gave it to her at Flourish and Blotts."

Draco's father snorted derisively, while his hand on his cane clenched and unclenched. "As if I had any hand in this. Simply preposterous."

"Yes, you did," Harry said firmly, letting the confidence shine through his aura. "You picked up Ginny's old Transfigurations book from her cauldron and slipped the diary behind it while you were insulting the Weasleys that Wednesday afternoon."

"Prove it," Mr. Malfoy hissed.

"I hardly think it wise to challenge the boy's memory. If his accusations proved true, you would find the Ministry much less accommodating to you," Professor Snape said.

"Now Severus, no need to state the obvious. I'm sure that Lucius never meant to hand out any of Lord Voldemort's old school things…" The headmaster's eyes twinkled. "But if any more of them find their way into innocent hands, I think the consequences for the one responsible would be severe…"

Lucius Malfoy's right hand twitched as if he longed to hex the both of them. "Well, let us hope that Harry Potter will always be around to save the day."

Harry met his gaze steadily. "I will be."

Mr. Malfoy's lip twitched, and then Harry was thwacked by the back of his head. "Oi!" He looked up at his guardian with a confused expression.

"You will not," Snape growled.

"But—!"

"I would listen to your legal guardian, Potter. He is, after all, looking after your best interests… Dumbledore, Severus…" After nodding towards each of them, Mr. Malfoy haughtily turned to his house-elf. "Come, Dobby! We're leaving."

When Dobby didn't move fast enough, the house-elf was kicked down the stairs, and when he didn't get back on his feet quick enough he was kicked again, and each time he let out a shriek of pain. Mr. Malfoy strolled through Dumbledore's open office door. Harry stared after them. How could anyone ignore that?

"Is that the last of our problems with the Chamber of Secrets, Severus?"

"There's an entire nest of basilisks down there. I say brick up the Girls' Second Floor bathroom and be done with it."

Seeing that the adults were not going to do anything about it, a thought flashed through Harry's mind. "Professor Dumbledore," he said hurriedly, "I wonder if I could have that?"

"Certainly, Harry," the headmaster said calmly and then handed the ruined journal over.

Before Harry could rush out, Snape's hand grabbed him by the shoulder. "Don't be stupid."

"I won't! I'll be careful, honest." Harry met Snape's dark eyes. The grip on his shoulder loosened and Harry pulled away, dashing out the office. He could still hear Dobby's squeals. While the staircase carried him downward, Harry toed off his loose shoe, pulled off his worn out sock with a hole in the end, and stuffed the sock between the pages of the ruined diary.

After sliding his foot back into his soggy shoe, Harry chased the pained cries down the dark corridor.

He caught them at the top of the stairs right outside Hogwarts' front door.

"Mr. Malfoy," Harry gasped, skidding to a halt. "I have something of yours—" He forced the diary into Lucius Malfoy's hand.

Draco's father looked at the battered and ruined diary and snorted. "Mine? How absurd." He shoved the diary towards Dobby. "Now if you've come to lambast me with those false accusations of Dumbledore's, I shall warn that you are playing with fire, boy. Be careful that you don't get burned." Lucius Malfoy began to take more steps downstairs.

"Sorry, sir," Harry said mockingly. "But I think most people couldn't help feeling angry at someone who had a hand in endangering their life."

"Endangering you?" Piercing grey eyes, utterly devoid of empathy, were menacing as they met Harry's. "My dear boy, why in the world would I threaten the Boy-Who-Lived?"

"Because you're a Death Eater who wiggled out of trouble, aren't you?" Harry accused.

Pale, thin lips smiled cruelly. "Oh, you poor, delusional creature. It's little wonder that Severus covets you so when you're so pitifully naïve." He turned to go, not in the least intimidated. "Come, Dobby."

Dobby stared at Draco's father defiantly.

"I said, come."

Yet, Dobby didn't move. In his left hand, he clutched Harry's tired old sock, like it was worth something priceless. "Master has given Dobby a sock," the house-elf said with wonder.

Mr. Malfoy spun around. "What? I didn't give—" He stopped when he saw the open diary in Dobby's right hand and the sock in the other. He stood frozen, staring.

"Master has presented Dobby with clothes…. Dobby… Dobby is free."

The adult's steely grey eyes were now heated with suspicion.

With a grin, Harry lifted his robes and trouser leg to show off the ankle with no sock on it.

"You've lost me my servant!" Lucius Malfoy screamed with explosive fury, yanking his wand from his cane handle. He whipped it towards Harry, while Harry fumbled for his wand.

Dobby stood in front of Harry and raised his hand, shouting, "You shall not harm Harry Potter!"

As Mr. Malfoy had been mid-spell, there was a loud bang, and he was thrown backward down the stairs. He landed on the muddy ground at the bottom but recovered quickly, his face livid.

Harry tried not to laugh and looked down at Dobby to regain his composure.

Dobby raised a long, threatening finger. "You shall go now," he said fiercely. "You shall not touch Harry Potter."

By the way he was acting, Lucius Malfoy had no choice. Harry had never seen anybody so furious with him before. "Mark my words, Potter. One day soon… you are going to meet the same sticky end as your parents. They were meddlesome fools, too." With one last incensed stare at the pair of them, Mr. Malfoy swung his cloak about him and marched down the grassy slope in front of Hogwarts. His long platinum blond hair had fallen out of its green ribbon.

That must mean that Harry would never be invited back to the Malfoy Manor. Draco would be terribly disappointed.

Once his former master was out of sight, Dobby turned his giant, googly eyes on Harry and his mouth split into a wide, toothy smile. "Harry Potter freed Dobby. Harry Potter set Dobby free!" He repeated as if he couldn't believe it. "How can Dobby ever repay Harry Potter?"

Hesitant to refuse the thankful house-elf out of hand, Harry looked at Dobby. Wasn't this how Snape had gotten Nanua? But Harry wouldn't ask that of the house-elf nor did he want to put the idea into Dobby's head. "Er, I don't know. What would you like to do for me?"

"Dobby with his freedom would serve Harry Potter for the rest of his days," Dobby said solemnly.

"That doesn't sound like much fun. I was hoping you would want to do something that you enjoy."

Dobby washed his hands over Harry's sock nervously and then twisted an ear. "Dobby would very much like to serve a Wizarding family… one that would not threaten and punish Dobby five times a day…" His floppy ears added to the overall impression that the house-elf was depressed. "But if Harry Potter does not find Dobby good enough… Dobby understands."

"No, no. It's fine. If you want to, I guess that's alright…" Harry rubbed the back of his neck, feeling sheepish. "You'll have to go to number thirty-seven on Spinner's End in Cokeworth. I don't think students are allowed to have house-elves here. And I really don't want you to try to save my life again if it means you'll try to grievously injure me in the process."

Dobby threw his arms around Harry's middle and hugged him. "Harry Potter is greater by far than Dobby knew!" He sobbed out.

Harry patted the house-elf delicately on the head.

After what felt like a long, awkward moment to Harry, Dobby pulled away reluctantly. "Farewell, Master Potter! Dobby will make sure your place of residence is well-cleaned!" He shrilly proclaimed. With a loud crack, the house-elf disappeared before Harry could correct Dobby's choice of address.

Letting out a relieved sigh, Harry still felt grotty from his trip to the Chamber of Secrets despite the charms Professor Snape had cast on him. He was down a sock, but it had been lost to a good cause. He re-entered the Entrance Hall.

Inside, Harry saw a wall of students in pajamas in front of the Great Hall as if they had been expecting him.

As soon as the students saw him, they cheered loudly and boisterously. Hermione ran towards him throwing her arms about him, "You saved Ginny!"

Shyness settled onto Harry like a heavy cloak. He'd missed his best friend very much. He nodded, not trusting his words. The crowd settled down, wondering what they were going to talk about. No doubt they believed Harry had been dating her until Christmastime.

"Oh, Harry. I'm sorry I ever doubted you!"

"It's okay. Loads of people did." Harry wondered how long she was going to hang around his neck, while he stood there awkwardly. Hermione obviously favored vanilla shampoo.

"I'm sorry…" She whispered.

Somebody whistled. Then somebody else yelled, "The destined pairing of Granger and Potter is back to life! Hooray!"

The watching crowd laughed and jeered.

Flustered, a blushing Hermione jerked back from Harry and adjusted her bushy long hair. "Who was that little creature hugging you earlier?"

"Er, Dobby. He's the house-elf who wanted me to leave Hogwarts. I freed him from the Malfoy family… they'd been abusing him, you see." Harry noticed that there were students everywhere in the hallway, trying to listen in on their conversation.

"Oh!" She said as if everything made sense.

"Well, we of the Pleasant Pals never doubted Harry!" The Weasley twins caroused as they hung around each other's necks in outlandish bright red onesies. "Where's our hug?" George asked petulantly, a giant blue 'G' on his chest.

"Yeah, I think your most loyal fans deserve that much!" Fred chipped in with a similarly colored 'F' situated like George's.

Harry wasn't sure how to respond to them. Whenever he did, the Weasley brothers always reacted unpredictably and he had never really liked that.

"You should find your places within the Great Hall," Professor Snape's voice sniped.

"Run for your lives! It's Sir Snivellus Snape!" George yelled.

Harry's eyebrows raised sharply, and he stepped back from them. The irate expression on Professor Snape's face said it all.

"Oh, I think he heard you George," came the other twin's mocking sympathetic tone.

"All students, return to your House tables before I give you detention where you will be pickling fresh newt's eyes for the remainder of the school year. Potter, remain where you are," his guardian said harshly.

The corridor immediately cleared itself except for the four of them. Harry could hardly believe that the Weasley twins were so fool-hardy.

"Twenty points from Gryffindor for your audacity to insult a professor of Hogwarts," Snape said to them as if he'd expected them to stay in defiance.

"It hardly matters since we've already lost the House Cup," George said flippantly.

"Yeah, I don't know what your problem is," Fred said dismissively.

"We would've thought you'd be happy—"

"—that our hero and daring champion—"

"—Parselmouth Potter—"

"—practically won the House Cup for Slytherin—"

"—with the two hundred points Dumbledore gave him—"

"For saving our sister's life," they finally said together.

Harry's jaw nearly dropped to the floor. That was a great sum of house points.

"I hardly think your Head of House would feel as you do should your house place last this year," Snape said in a threatening manner.

The two Weasleys exchanged a look. Fred yawned. George yawned back. Fred yawned again. George did in like.

Harry's jaw suddenly opened, and he took a deep breath.

"Hah! We got you, Harry!" With a spate of cackles, they ran back into the Great Hall.

Harry yawned once again. He licked his lips and rubbed his eyes. He almost didn't want to go eat. He was itchy and tired. "What was that about?"

"Autonomous reflex," Snape said curtly.

Harry frowned. "I didn't see you yawn."

His guardian gave him a flat look.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Harry asked.

"Muffliato," Professor Snape cast and then gave Harry a long-suffering look. "This summer is not going to be a relaxing one for you. It has become extremely obvious to me that you have much to learn. After everything I have attempted to impart on you, you still chose to run headlong into danger and within an hour of escaping that death-trap you managed to taunt one of the most prominent figures of the Wizarding world into casting the Killing Curse upon you. Once again, blind, dumb luck is the only reason you are standing here right now."

Harry stared. "I didn't—he—and Dobby protected me," the words stuttered.

"Elf Magic has no defense against the Killing Curse."

"Then... how...?"

The irritated look on Snape's face darkened considerably. "Am I to believe that you are so dense to think I wouldn't pursue you as you chased after a magically, politically, and financially powerful wizard, when I am too familiar of your habit of running directly into potentially lethal situations?"

Harry's mouth opened to protest, but then his cheeks colored and his head dropped in shame. "I'm sorry, sir."

"Lucius would not have attacked had you not revealed your bare ankle to him," Snape said unrelenting in his impromptu lecture. "He would have known all the same what you had done, similar to how we know that he'd deliberately given Ginevra Weasley the Dark Lord's old diary. Yet, you decided to taunt him judiciously." Snape looked down his nose at Harry. "Your unfortunate error of judgment was the flawed presumption that he would not murder you outright within Hogwarts."

The spots of color on Harry's cheeks disappeared as he felt queasy. He wondered if there was something fundamentally wrong with him.

"I do not believe you have a death wish, but I find myself at a loss as to what to do with you besides educate you to the fullest of my capability."

"I understand, sir," Harry said roughly.

Professor Snape flicked his wand and the Silencing ward dropped. "Go eat something." The tall man turned and headed through the doors.

It seemed that directive was Professor Snape's fallback dismissal. Harry waited a moment until his Head of House had entered the Great Hall, before he followed after. Harry looked around, hardly believing his eyes that he was the only one not wearing pajamas. His table cheered once they saw him. After all, the Slytherin hourglass had been Enlarged to hold the great number of emeralds that had fallen into it.

"Professor Snape told us what happened, but I can hardly believe it!" Theodore said. "I should have told him about the journal when you first picked it up."

Harry shrugged lightly, taking a bite of the slab of steak that had appeared before him. The rest of the table was filled with sweets.

He noticed Draco Malfoy was looking rather sourly in his direction farther down the table. "What's his problem?"

"The headmaster's back," Sally-Anne piped in. "And there's a rumor that his father is about to be sacked as a school governor."

"And he was a mite upset when Professor Snape told us after you'd been entered into Madam Pomfrey's care that you absolutely were not and had never been the Heir of Slytherin," Greengrass added.

"Wish you'd all had taken my word to begin with. Don't you think I would have told you if I was?" Harry said to his year-mates.

"The thought had certainly crossed my mind," Parkinson said. "But it was very exciting to pretend that it was true, wasn't it?"

When Harry looked disgusted, they all laughed.

The celebration lasted all through the night. Famished from his misadventures, Harry feasted heavily. Sir Nicholas floated across the room greeting everyone and even gave Harry a sharp nod. Ronald Weasley came not long after and thanked Harry for saving his sister's life. Then, Justin Finch-Fletchley had wrung his hands while he apologized for suspecting him, and there seemed no love lost by Colin Creevey who immediately took Harry's photo with a fancier, brand-new camera and grinned at him with his normal 'Hello, Harry!' chirp. Harry tried to offer the five Galleons he owed Creevey but the boy wouldn't take it.

Harry might have been annoyed by all the attention if he hadn't just spent the entire year being the unofficial Hogwarts Pariah. Smiling and back-patting attention was much better than suspicious glares and fearful whispers. The Bloody Baron even seemed to be in higher spirits than was normal for him.

Around half-past three in the morning, the Great Hall doors opened. "Sorry, I'm late," Hagrid said as he strolled down the center of the room towards the High Table. "The owl that delivered my release papers got all lost an' confused. Some ruddy bird called Errol."

Harry swung his head towards the Gryffindor table. Ronald Weasley looked quite upset… or alarmed, Harry wasn't sure which one it was. The Slytherin grinned.

Hagrid stopped at the Slytherin table. "And I'd like to say that if it hadn't bin fer yeh, 'Arry… I would… still be you-know-where…" Hagrid's voice broke a little and his eyes looked a little wild and frightened. "So I'd just like to say thanks," Hagrid finished roughly.

Harry looked at Theodore who lifted an eyebrow. Harry stood up. "There's no Hogwarts without you, Hagrid." When Hagrid's eyes got all watery, Harry hugged him right around the middle like Dobby had done to him earlier.

Someone began to clap, and before Harry quite knew it most of the professors were clapping. He stepped back and clapped for Hagrid, not wanting to steal his thunder. The Slytherin table stood up and clapped behind Harry, causing him to grin even more. Soon the entire Great Hall was clapping madly and whistling.

Hagrid clapped his hands to his stomach. "I'm jus'…" He pointed towards the High Table and bobbed his head.

"Sure, go on," Harry said, and Hagrid went. Harry sat back down next to Theodore and Sally-Anne.

Professor Dumbledore stood at that moment, raising his hands for silence. "I would like to begin by saying: Welcome back, Hagrid."

Hagrid let out a cheer next to Professor Snape and toasted the air.

"Now, let us remember the reason for our celebration. Let's hear a round of applause for Professor Sprout, Professor Snape, and Madam Pomfrey, whose Mandrake Restorative Draught has been so successfully administered to all who had been Petrified."

The Great Hall exploded with cheers and thunderous applause. Dumbledore waved his hand down and nodded lightly. "Also in light of recent events, as a school treat all exams have been canceled."

Harry's eyes shot up to his guardian. The last part had Professor Snape scowling. The Professor of Potions shot an annoyed look towards Professor Dumbledore, who smiled merrily back. Then, Snape caught Harry staring and narrowed his eyes at him. Harry grinned and ducked his head down.

"Lastly, it is with great sorrow to announce that Professor Lockhart will be unable to return next year, owing to the fact that he has lost all of his memory due to an unfortunate accident."

While only Hagrid cheered at the news at the High Table, not a single teacher looked unhappy to hear the news. Harry himself was over-the-clouds happy about it and didn't miss the satisfied smirk on Snape's face.

"What happened to Lockhart?" Harry asked his year-mates. Parkinson, Davis, and Bulstrode looked rather unhappy by the question.

"As the rumor mill puts it," Sally-Anne said, "upon hearing that his sister was in mortal danger, Ronald Weasley snuck out of the Gryffindor dormitories and into the staff room. He overheard the teachers talking and deliberating over what they should do when Professor McGonagall suddenly suggested that Lockhart be the one to go take care of the situation. The idiot had been telling all of them that he'd known all along where the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets was and only needed the one reason to prove it."

Harry snorted, chomping on his last bit of steak.

"So, Weasley went to go tell the professor what he'd already found out about the Chamber of Secrets in the hopes that the professor would lead him there… only to find out that the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was a lying coward and a cheating fraud."

Harry had to admit that Ron really did have his heart in the right place.

"Not wanting to be exposed, Lockhart began to cast a Memory charm when Weasley had a lucky break and successfully cast a Disarming charm—"

"A Memory charm?" Harry asked her curiously.

The Slytherins looked at him like he was daft.

"Oh that's right, Professor Flitwick won't cover that until our fifth year," Greengrass said dismissing Harry's ignorance. "It's a charm that alters one's memory. Apparently, that was how Lockhart was never caught as a fraud; he would alter a person's memory whenever they confronted him, and well, usually he addled their brains instead."

"So how did Lockhart's memory meet an unfortunate accident?" Harry asked them.

"Lockhart was obviously desperate enough to snatch Weasley's wand right out of his hand!" Theodore laughed in his dramatic retelling. "And wouldn't you know? Lockhart's Memory charm meant for the Weasley rebounded back onto him!"

Harry chortled. "So, Lockhart's a dimwit now?"

"What a pity…" Greengrass didn't look sad at all as she smirked at Parkinson. "He was beginning to grow on me."

"Don't need to rub it in," Parkinson grumbled. "He fooled a lot of others too."

"Professor Snape did warn you," Sally-Anne quipped at Parkinson, who scowled to be reminded.

"Only stay-at-home witches were fooled," Theodore casually added.

The girls swatted at Theodore, who grinned wider and waggled his eyebrows at them. There was a pause and then Greengrass spat out, "Don't be rude!"

"Aw, come now, I was only having a bit of fun, spoilsport."

"You compared them to witches old enough to be their mums," Harry countered between bites of his dessert.

Theodore grinned. "Then they shouldn't take me so seriously. Besides, I think I might prefer older women."

Harry gave him an incredulous look.

"Theo, you haven't even stubble yet," Sally-Anne scoffed.

Theodore winked at Harry. "Some people know who they like even before they realize it themselves."

Shrugging off Theodore's odd statement, Harry thought ahead to the summer break when term would be over in two months. He was going to miss visiting his Slytherin friends then. He had a feeling that Snape was formulating a summer curriculum to keep his instinct and wits sharp against another likely attack by Voldemort in the future. He breathed out. Well, he supposed, it was better than dying prematurely.

Easter break passed smoothly. Without final exams to study for, classes were a breeze, and no one hardly noticed when there were no Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons. In the second weekend of May, Harry caught the snitch in the the Slytherin match against Hufflepuff; Unless the Gryffindors won against the Ravenclaws with a great number of points, the Quidditch Cup all but belonged to the Slytherins.

The last weeks of the final term passed in a haze of blazing sunshine. Hogwarts was back to normal with only a few differences. With Lockhart gone and the basilisk defeated, Harry had become the most popular student in Hogwarts. Other than the PP's PP, several other fan clubs had started. One by Colin Creevey was called the Potterhead Fan Club. For the most part, Harry treated his fellow students cordially, even as he avoided getting pulled into spontaneous photo-taking and autograph sessions. The fact that he hadn't killed the basilisk didn't make it into the 'official' unofficial story of his heroic rescue of Ginny Weasley; even though he tried to set the story straight, nobody believed him when he told them that Professor Snape was the real hero. Even his housemates thought he was being overly humble to the point of silliness.

Meanwhile, Professor Snape had created a special testing session for fifth- and seventh-year Slytherin students—and any other students from the other Houses who seemed anxious about missing them—to take their O.W.L.S and N.E.W.T.S. Being a second year, Harry didn't have to worry about those yet, but they seemed important.

Nobody groaned about having to take them.

Word spread fast through Slytherin when the rumor that Lucius Malfoy would be sacked as a school governor for Hogwarts became reality. Draco had been acting resentful and sulky the entire remainder of the school term and hardly even bothered to greet Harry in the morning. It was a far cry from the time when Draco had called Harry 'your Grace' whenever they had a private moment together.

Too soon, it was time to journey back to London on the Hogwarts Express. Professor Snape would pick Harry up at Platform nine-and-three-quarters and take him to Cokeworth. Harry wondered what loose ends his guardian had to finish at Hogwarts that made it logical for Harry to take the train ride home. He supposed a normal twelve-year-old would have thought that the adult was allowing him an extra half day with his friends before spending the entire summer learning. Then immediately Harry chuckled at himself. Knowing his guardian, Harry thought it was likely both reasons at once.

Harry took a compartment with Theodore, Sally-Anne, Greengrass, Davis, Parkinson, and Bulstrode. It was quite crowded, but Harry didn't mind it. He was enjoying the last moments with his fellow Slytherins until next September. Bulstrode's nose was stuck in the book Harry had given her for Christmas called The New Well-Tempered Sentence: A Punctuation Handbook for the Innocent, the Eager, and the Doomed by Karen Elizabeth Gordon.

Everyone else made the most of the hours they had left to perform magic before summer holiday. Harry transfigured a button on his shirt into a beetle and back again, while Theodore enjoyed casting Featherlight charms on the remaining Chocolate Frogs he had just unwrapped. The other girls were spelling each other to spout gibberish or foreign-sounding phrases with a Babbling Curse.

When they finally disembarked at King's Cross, Harry's guardian waited patiently behind the rows of excited parents helping their children with their things.

Harry bid his friends a final farewell and dragged his trunk with Hedwig in her owl cage towards Snape. "Hullo."

Snape nodded slightly and then peered over Harry's head.

Harry turned to see Lucius Malfoy escorting his son down the platform towards the only exit. "Draco's given me the cold shoulder ever since Dobby was freed," Harry said.

"You duped his father into releasing his personal house-elf. It's paramount to killing a family's dog," Snape said dryly. "I would have rather you hadn't made an enemy of Lucius Malfoy."

"Is it because he's…?" Harry murmured, aware of their not-so-private setting.

"Prideful and cruel with a hunger for power only matched by the longevity of his grudges?" His guardian filled in coolly.

"No… because he's a supporter of…" Harry darted his eyes towards the exit.

Snape's lips thinned. "We will talk more at length once we're at Spinner's End."

"Yes, sir."

His guardian pointed his wand at the trunk and luggage. The items hopped onto an empty trolley beside him.

Together they walked through the gateway to the Muggle World…

~*The End*~

Preview of Harry and the Barking Rook

"What if… he's an Animagus?" Theodore's hesitant voice filled the silent, dark dormitory, airing the secret Harry had hidden from everyone for the better part of the year.

"If he was," Harry began, "Why would he stay in Azkaban for twelve years if he could leave any time he wanted?" It was a question that had haunted Harry all year. If Black were guilty, he wouldn't have stayed... But why would someone who was innocent stay?

"Perhaps… he felt remorse for what he'd done. Maybe he felt he deserved Azkaban…"

"Then why did he leave?"

"…Maybe he felt he'd served long enough…?"

"What if…" Harry trailed off.

"What?" Theodore prompted in a hushed whisper.

"It's barmy."

"Spit it out," Draco's acidic voice whipped out from the bed to Harry's left. "I might as well hear it now that I'm awake."

"What if he'd heard the news that I was taken away by the Dursleys and adopted by Snape…?"

"And if Black's an Animagus and your legal godfather… yes, it would make sense why he would try to attack Snape in Hogsmeade," Draco finished the thought for him. "Snape's between him and you."