Disclaimer: This is JK Rowling's sandbox – I just play here.

A/N: I have permision from mhisbuff to continue this story and credit for the Prologue and Chapters 1 and 2 goes to mhistbuff.

Prologue – Never Alone

"Ginny – don't be dead – please don't be dead –"

"Speak to me, Slytherin, greatest of the Hogwarts Four."

"KILL THE BOY! LEAVE THE BIRD! THE BOY IS BEHIND YOU!"

"I'm going to be expelled!" Ginny wept as Harry helped her to her feet. "I've looked forward to coming to Hogwarts ever since B-Bill came and n-now I'll have to leave and – w-what'll Mum and Dad say?"

"It'll okay, Ginny," Harry replied, pulling her into a hug. "It was Riddle's fault. I'll tell Dumbledore, and he won't let anything happen to you."

"B-but what about Hermione and C-Colin? They'll hate me," Ginny asked before taking a shuddering breath.

"It's okay, Ginny," Harry repeated, almost whispering it into her ear. "Even if no one else understands, you'll always have me. I'll never let you be alone."

Ginny sniffed a few times, before hugging Harry once more tightly. A quick burst of song from Fawkes shook them back to life, prompting them to start walking toward the Chamber's entrance. Neither of them noticed the faintly glowing prints of Harry's hands on Ginny's back that faded as they reached the stone door.

Retelling the story of the fight in the Chamber was unpleasant for both Harry and Ginny, but soon enough Ginny was being shuffled out of Dumbledore's office by her parents, with Ron and Lockhart in tow.

"So, Harry, why don't you sit down?" Dumbledore asked, his blue eyes tinkling behind half-moon glasses. "Do you have any questions for me?"

Harry sat down in the armchair recently vacated by Mr. Weasley and collected his thoughts. "Well, Professor, when Riddle was out of the diary, he seemed fascinated by how similar he thought we were. And, well, I guess we are similar – both of our parents are dead, and we both speak Parseltongue, and the Sorting Hat said I would be good in Slytherin. Its just…" Harry trailed off, the effort of talking about his fears suddenly overwhelming.

"I wouldn't worry about that too much, Harry," Dumbledore replied calmly. "I suspect that your ability to speak Parseltongue is a result of Voldemort's failed killing curse. I believe that he unwittingly transferred some of his ability to you that night – something we should be thankful for, because without it Miss Weasley would have most assuredly died in that chamber.

"No, Harry, you do not have anything to worry about. Tom Riddle would never have considered risking himself to save the life of a friend. If I know you as I think I do, you never even considered not rescuing her." Harry nodded at this, so Dumbledore continued. "It is our choices, Harry, not our abilities that define who we are. You have many of the qualities Slytherin would have valued: resourcefulness, determination, and a certain disregard for the rules. Nevertheless, Harry, you are in Gryffindor. Why?"

"Because I asked not to be in Slytherin," said Harry, brightening as he saw what Dumbledore was saying.

"Exactly. You choose to be who you are Harry - never forget that. Now, I should get you to hospital wing before Madam Pomfrey comes for you herself. Unless, of course, you have anything else you need to discuss?"

"Actually, Professor, I was wondering if it would be possible for me to stay at Hogwarts this summer. I promised Ginny I wouldn't abandon her, and, well, my Uncle won't let me use Hedwig. I want to be able to owl her if she needs me." Dumbledore's face fell a little at this.

"I am sorry Harry, but the Board of Governors won't let anyone but the teachers stay here over the summer, and even most of them return to their family homes or take vacations. I wouldn't worry about Miss Weasley too much, Harry; her family will be able to give her any help she needs. Besides, you wouldn't want to stay here anyway. It is important to take a break from school during the summer, Harry, to – what do the muggles say – recharge our batteries.

"Now, off to the hospital wing," Dumbledore said quickly, clapping his hands together. "If you hurry I'm sure you'll be able to escape in time for the feast."

Dumbledore sighed as the door closed behind Harry. That was one crisis averted. Actually, it was better than that - he needed Harry to choose to stand against Voldemort, and Harry's understanding of the similarities between himself and Tom would drive him to differentiate himself in as many was as possible. With a burst of song, Fawkes launched himself from his perch and flew to the elderly headmaster's lap.

"Thank you Fawkes," Dumbledore said, reaching down to pet the phoenix's head. "I don't know what I would have done if I had lost him." Fawkes interrupted with a short trill. "Yes, he is a rather amazing young man, isn't he?"

Dumbledore's quiet musings were interrupted by the door to his office flying open. "Lucius, Cornelius, what can I do for you?" Dumbledore asked, rising to his feet as Fawkes flew back to his perch.

"Thank you, Dumbledore, for coming back to resolve this crisis. I still cannot believe the Board removed you to begin with," Fudge began, holding his bowler hat in his hands.

"Yes, it was, in retrospect, a mistake. The Board thanks you for solving this problem before the school was forced to close," Malfoy interrupted. "But, the perpetrator of these attacks has been caught, yes?"

"Actually, there was no one to catch. It appears that Lord Voldemort managed to enchant this diary to force Ginny Weasley to open the chamber," Dumbledore explained, holding the diary out to Malfoy, who didn't take it. "She has, however, been rescued and is recuperating in the hospital wing."

"But, she is the one responsible for these attacks?" Fudge asked, looking slightly desperate. "I must have someone I can show to the public so they know the school is safe."

"No, Cornelius, she is no more responsible than she would be if she was acting under the imperius curse," Dumbledore countered, his eyes hardening. "I will not let you scapegoat an innocent child. Indeed, I expect that you will be releasing my gamekeeper from Azkaban immediately."

"If I may, Minister," Malfoy interjected, taking Fudge's quick nod as permission. "I think that I, on behalf of the Board, will have to ask Miss Weasley to withdraw from Hogwarts. We cannot expect the students to feel safe in this school with their attacker still walking around the corridors, even if she is ultimately innocent. They will not understand."

"I think you will find, Lucius, that children can understand a great many things when they are explained to them properly," Dumbledore said.

"Absolutely not!" Fudge interrupted. "We will not be explaining anything of the sort. We cannot let it be known that anything belonging to You-Know-Who still exists." Pausing slightly, he continued. "Yes, yes. I think that Lucius's idea is best. Young Miss Weasley will be able to seek a magical education elsewhere and there will be no record of her involvement in this incident. I will quietly release Hagrid and tell everyone that Slytherin's monster –"

"A basilisk," Dumbledore interrupted.

"A b-basilisk, really?" Fudge stuttered, suddenly looking nervous. "We'll say that Slytherin's monster is dead – it is dead?" Fudge continued at Dumbledore's nod. "That way we can reassure the public that Hogwarts is safe without unduly penalizing Miss Weasley."

"I strongly oppose this course of action, Cornelius," Dumbledore stated, his eyes hard.

"I am sorry, Albus, but it is for the best," Fudge said, growing more confident in his plan. "And with the Board's support, there is not much that you can do. Besides, it is better than sending the poor girl to Azkaban."

In the hospital wing, Harry quietly approached Ginny's sleeping form on the bed. He drew close, reaching his hand out slowly toward her shoulder.

"It's okay, Harry. I'm not asleep," she said suddenly, surprising Harry. "I told Madam Pomfrey that I didn't need a sleeping draught – I just need to think a little before I go to sleep."

"I understand," Harry began, before pausing for a moment. "Look, Ginny, I meant what I said in the Chamber. I am here if you need anything. If my uncle locks up Hedwig again this summer, I might not be able to owl you, but I will give you my telephone number before you leave. Your dad can show you how to use one – I told him last summer. I want you to call or owl me if you need anything. I'll come to the Burrow as soon as I can, if your mum will have me."

"Thank you, Harry." Ginny said, smiling softly. "Mum and Dad already told me that they didn't blame me, but they don't really understand what happened. I don't think Mum really wants to understand. She's stopped being worried and is in full smothering-mode. I'm sure she's going to be terrible this summer."

"Well, just know that you can count of me if you need me, even if it is just to complain about your mum." Seeing her yawn, Harry smiled at Ginny. "I'll let you go to sleep. See you tomorrow on the train."

"Good night, Harry. And thank you," Ginny called out, as Harry walked out of the infirmary.

At his desk, Dumbledore rubbed his temples. Despite an hour of discussion he had been unable to sway the Minister from 'his' plan. Lucius had out-maneuvered him and, now, not only was he going to have to ask Molly Weasley to withdraw her daughter from Hogwarts, he was going to be unable to get Lucius removed from the Board of Governors. He wondered briefly who had informed Lucius that Miss Weasley had been recovered safely from the Chamber before stopping himself – that was a problem for another time. He just hoped he would be able to convince Harry that Miss Weasley was doing well. It wouldn't do for him to be worrying about her next year. Well, a summer with his family should push his concern for her well-being to the back of his mind. And, after all, Miss Weasley would heal best with her family regardless.