"If you look a Basilisk in the eye, you will die instantly," Harry explained. "Hermione brilliantly figured out what it was, so she was using a mirror to look around corners."
"There was a creature running around the school that kills by just looking at people?"
"Yes," Hermione replied hesitantly. "We didn't know it at the time. All we knew was people were getting petrified," She explained about the warnings from the 'Heir of Slytherin'. "As Harry said, I figured out what it was, but before I told anyone I had to make sure."
"And where were you when she was going to the library?" Richard asked Harry in an accusing tone.
"She went to the library to look it up right before a Quidditch match," Harry explained. "I...I..."
"He had no reason suspect I would be in danger," Hermione interjected. "If he had, Harry would have been there. Now..." She tapped her head with a finger. "He would know."
"If you'd just kissed him in that first year..." Miranda said playfully.
"I'm sure my father would have loved that," Hermione stopped when she realized she'd said that out loud. "Sorry, Miranda again."
"That Goddess? What was she saying?"
"Well she originally wanted us to become soulmates in our first year."
"But...she wanted you married when you were eleven and twelve?"
"Well...we were destined to be together so... would it really have mattered when it started?" Hermione asked.
A hand on Richard's arm from Jean stopped the response that was about to occur. "Why don't we continue with the story of this snake creature."
"Of course. As I said, I'd gone to the library and when I did confirm what it was, and that it could kill with just a glance, I started using mirrors to look around corners."
"So if it killed with a glance, how did you end up being petrified?"
"Unfortunately, what she didn't know was that if you look at the reflection of its eyes, you'll be turned to stone or petrified," Harry explained. "Well Dumbledore did, or at least knew what it was but none of the rest of us did."
Hermione's head snap around to look at her husband. "What do you mean Dumbledore knew what it was?"
"I told you about it remember?" Harry said. "When Colin Creevey was petrified…wait I didn't get to tell you because you told me McGonagall had already told you."
"She did," Hermione replied. "But what does Colin being petrified have to do with Dumbledore?"
"That night Dumbledore said something like 'it means the Chamber has indeed been opened again', when McGonagall asked him what it meant that Colin's film had been melted," Harry explained. "If he didn't know what kind of creature was in the Chamber, how did he know what it would do to a camera?"
Hermione's eyes were wide now as she realized the danger Dumbledore had subjected the students to. Especially once he had been forced out of the school. "Why? I mean even with Professors escorting us from class to class, it could still have killed people."
"I don't know, but maybe he was afraid someone else, like the Ministry, would discover the Chamber first and he thought a Horcrux might have been there? But that's just a guess."
"And this Headmaster or that witch didn't bother telling us? You were in danger for months and we didn't hear anything? Nor when you were...were petrified?" Mr. Granger stated in obvious anger.
"Dear, it's the past," Jean said to her husband, "and will do no good to bring it up now."
"Sir, I…I promise that I'll let you know if anything…well if anything happens like that again," Harry said.
"Still…" Richard started and then after seeing the look in Harry's eyes he stopped and nodded at the young man. "Fine, but as I said earlier I expect you to protect Hermione."
"He'll be protecting me as much as I'm protecting him," Hermione insisted.
"Now what did you say this snake was again?" Jean asked to prevent the continuation of the 'protection' argument from escalating.
"A Basilisk," Hermione replied with a glance at her mother. "I wished I had a picture of one to show you...wait," She turned to Winky. "Winky there is a book in the Hogwart's library called…"
"I've got a better idea," Harry said as he stopped his wife. "In fact maybe we can continue this tomorrow?"
"You're thinking of the Pensieve aren't you?" Hermione asked.
"I think it will help tell the story," Harry confirmed. "What we take as normal really needs to be seen, don't you think?"
"True."
"We'll be seeing Madam Bones tomorrow and can ask her if we can borrow it." Harry continued.
"What about tonight? I'm sure Dobby can get you to the Ministry."
"I might be seen and definitely don't want that, besides she'll need it for the trials tomorrow I'm sure," Harry said.
"True," Hermione turned to her parents and explained. "There is a device we might be able to get for tomorrow evening that will help us explain what has happened in the last few years much better. Can you wait until then?"
"What will this thing do?"
"It's a magical device that actually shows memories," Hermione said. "You can see exactly what we experienced."
"Well in that case, I think we can wait," Jean said and her husband agreed.
....
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