"The Professor with Master and Master's friends is having yellow hair and white white teeth Mister Snoop."
Gilderoy. Gilderoy Lockhart has Potter, Draco, and Ronald in Slytherin's Chamber with a basilisk.
Son of a bitch.
"MINERVA!" Severus yelled, bursting in Minerva's Headmistress office. "POTTER- HE-"
"What happened now?" Minerva cried, shocked by his frantic appearance in her office.
"Potter, Ronald, and Draco have went to try and save Ginevra," Snape said, clutching his wand tightly. "Potter told an elf to tell me that he found the Chamber."
"What?" Minerva gasped, her face losing all color.
"MAVIS!" Severus yelled, having no wish to repeat himself.
The little elf in the green robe appeared instantly.
"How is Mavis helping Mister Snoop?"
Severus saw Minerva smile slightly at the inane name and clenched his jaw. He didn't have time for jokes about house elves and a lack of decorum- four of his students were missing. One likely already dead, and three more rushing to join her.
"Tell Minerva what you told me about Mister Potter."
Mavis looked up at him nervously before nodding slowly.
"'Mister' Potter is taking his orange friend and his blonde friend and the Professor and is going to the Chamber. He is telling Mavis to be telling Mister Snoop that he is not to be worrying because he is keeping his promise."
"What foolish, idiotic, st-" Minerva sighed. "Gilderoy. He took Gilderoy to try and find the Chamber?" She looked down at the elf and spoke in a kind voice, "Did Potter tell you anything else? Anything at all that would help us find him?"
Mavis hesitated long enough that Severus, quite out of his mind with panic, grabbed the elf's robes and shook him slightly.
"DID HE SAY ANYTHING ELSE?"
With a loud crack Severus suddenly found himself blasted to the other side of the office, his back slamming in to the bookshelf.
"He is also telling Mavis that if Mister Snoop is angry at Mavis and tries to hurt him then Mavis is to be defending himself and telling Mister Snoop that Master will be killing him," the elf said with his long index finger waggling angrily in Severus' direction.
Severus stood up and pinched the bridge of his nose, in a futile attempt to stall the migraine he could feel building behind his eyes.
"Apologies, Mavis. I am merely concerned for Mister Potter and his friends, I should not have grabbed you like that."
Mavis watched him shrewdly before nodding.
"Mavis will be telling 'Mister Potter' to not be killing Mister Snoop."
Severus dismissed the elf and turned to Minerva.
"Well?" he demanded.
Minerva sunk down in her seat and rubbed her face wearily.
"I need to call their families," she said. "Inform them that their children are missing. Send the other professors to search for the children."
Severus checked the time and cursed, he had to get back to the potion.
"I will be back in 35 minutes," he told Minerva. "Please inform the other Professor's that Potter has his fathers invisibility cloak and is likely using it."
Minerva looked more alert at that, "James owned an invisibility cloak?"
Severus rolled his eyes. "Yes," he said tersely. "And Potter Junior seems to utilize it for trouble as much as Potter Senior had. I will be back."
Foolish, brash, untrusting, brat, Severus raged on his way down to his lab. 'I promise to find a Professor before I attempt to commit suicide via basilisk' does not mean finding the only Professor in the castle who would not stun you in an attempt to stop you.
Severus checked the potion and began to add the necessary next ingredients, thinking all the while of Potter and the other children attempting to fight a basilisk to avenge Grangers petrification and rescue the youngest Weasley.
He very carefully did not allow the image of Potter, small, scrawny, scrappy Potter, actually standing before a basilisk to enter his mind.
One look at the basilisk will kill him instantly. One bite would carry enough venom to kill him within an hour.
Severus was adding the three drops of the delicate Pluvia Pixie anti-venom when he had what he hoped would be an inspired idea.
He stirred the potion seven times clockwise and twice counterclockwise before placing it on a stasis- he would only need to add the mandrakes and stir once more in two hours and the potion would be complete after simmering for an additional two hours.
"Mavis!" he called once again.
Potter's elf appeared, though this time he remained on the other side of the room from Severus.
Trust Potter to purchase an elf as skittish as he is.
"Mavis," he said kindly. "I need you to take something to Potter for me, can you do that?"
"Master Potter is not calling for Mavis and Mavis is not knowing where Master is," the elf wailed. "Mavis is not telling lies, Mavis is really not knowing where he is."
"I know," Severus said as he grabbed four potions out of his private stores. "But I am hoping he will call for you soon. And when he does- can you bring him these?"
Mavis slowly came closer to Severus and accepted the bottles.
"They are incredibly delicate, expensive, and irreplaceable," he lectured Mavis. "Do not drop them or allow them to break."
"Mavis is understanding," the elf said, placing the bottles in his robe pocket and snapping his fingers. "Mavis is making sure the potions is not falling out of Mavis' pocket."
"Excellent."
Severus thought of the last concert he had went to with Lily, the one where they had drank whiskey pilfered from his father and danced and sang themselves hoarse until nearly sunrise.
"Expecto Patronum."
Severus looked at the small and mischievous fox in front of him and considered what he wanted to say.
"Call for your acquaintance," he said carefully, unsure if Potter had the misfortune to find both the basilisk and the Heir who has been controlling it. "What he gives you- I need you to trust me and take immediately. There is one for each of you that must be taken now. Your friend will be awake in less than four hours- you can be there when she wakes if you allow your acquaintance to bring you to me." He swallowed hard before he added, "Be safe, brat. Come back."
He flicked his wand at the fox and murmured, "Go to Potter, immediately."
He stared at the spot the fox had been for a few moments before Mavis spoke up and jerked him from his thoughts.
"What is Mavis to be doing now?"
Severus cleared his throat and gestured towards his office door.
"Stay with me, I want to know immediately when Potter calls for you."
The elf obediently stayed by Severus' side as he made his way back to Minerva's office. As soon as they entered he saw that in his absence apparently a great many things had happened.
"Severus," Narcissa Malfoy sobbed, immediately throwing herself in his arms. "Where is my son? Where is my Dragon?"
Severus gently patted Narcissa's back and looked over her shoulder to Lucius' pale face as he answered.
"I do not know," he said softly. "But I have high hopes that he will return soon."
"Perhaps you should start from the beginning Severus," Albus said, now seated in the Headmaster's seat with Minerva off to the side comforting a sobbing Molly and Arthur Weasley.
Severus was uncomfortably aware that there was no adult here to sob for Potter.
Come back, brat.
Severus passed Narcissa to Lucius and started from the beginning. He was telling them of Potter's promise to find a Professor if he decided to try and find the basilisk alone, when Mavis disappeared suddenly with a soft crack.
"Where did the elf go?" Lucius demanded, no doubt remembering who the owner of the elf is.
"To perform a miracle, I hope," Severus muttered.
Severus finished informing the others of the rest of the information he had, and listened as Minerva outlined the complete search of the castle.
"We couldn't find them anywhere," she said thickly. "Gilderoy, Harry, Ronald, Draco, and Ginevra- we cannot find them anywhere."
"What do we do now?" Arthur asked quietly, his red rimmed eyes making him appear much older than he had the last time Severus saw him.
"We wait," Albus said gravely.
And so they sat in silence, only broken occasionally by Narcissa's sniffles or Molly's sobs. Severus held on to the hope that Mavis would have only disappeared at Potter's command which had to mean the child was alive.
He kept a close eye on the time, he still had an hour and half before he had to return to the potion when Albus' floo suddenly flared to life.
"Ah, Albus, you received our letter then?" Minister Fudge said, stepping in to the office and wiping floo residue off his pinstriped robes.
"I did not," Albus said with a smile. "I was contacted by Molly and Arthur once they were informed that two of their children are now missing."
Fudge looked uncomfortable as he shifted around.
"Yes, well, it seems as if in light of the recent disappearances that the Board is willing to reinstate you," he said with a cagey look towards Lucius.
Lucius looked towards Severus and frowned. His face had a very 'what can you do?' look to it.
Albus is here and Potter is once again missing, Severus thought irritably. Convenient.
"Perhaps some tea? Or biscuits?" Minerva suggested quietly, only to be ignored by the other seven adults.
Severus stared at the clock.
Come back. Come back. Come back.
CRACK!
"GINNY!" Molly shrieked, looking up at the noisy appearance of Mavis and Ginevra. She flung herself at the teary girl and they held on to each other, sobbing and wailing.
"Where is-"
Lucius' question went unanswered as Mavis disappeared again.
"Ginny- where are the boys?" Minerva asked softly.
"I- I d-don't know, I'm s-sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry" the girl cried, clearly too distraught to answer.
"Calm yourself Minerva," Albus said calmly. "Allow them a moment."
Fudge and Lucius both looked as if they were prepared to drag the girl to interrogation, though Narcissa held her breath, staring hard at the spot Mavis had disappeared at.
CRACK!
Mavis barely released Draco and Ronald before disappearing again.
"Dragon!" Narcissa cried, latching on to her son and holding him tightly.
"Where's Harry?" Ronald asked, attempting to look around the office despite being suffocated by his father.
"We were hoping you would know," Fudge said. "Where-"
CRACK!
Mavis appeared again, holding the arm of Potter who was drenched in blood and holding... a fucking sword.
"Move, now," Severus ordered Minerva, who was attempting to grab the child.
"What were you thinking you unforgivable moron?" Severus hissed as he spelled the blood off Potter, attempting to find the source of the blood.
"Killed it," Potter whispered, sounding dazed. "Dead. Tell Mione."
Severus looked up to Potter's eyes to determine his brain function and instead saw his green eyes flutter as he promptly fainted.
"Mavis, my potions kit, quickly," Severus barked, unaware of the now ten sets of eyes locked on him and Potter.
"Severus-"
"Shut up," Severus snarled at Albus, kneeling down beside Potter. "Shut up or leave," he said, caring not at all that it was Albus' office he was currently in.
He spelled Potter's robes off him and blanched at what he saw. There was a puncture wound the size of Potter's fist in his upper arm.
"Vulnera Sanentur," Severus murmured, tracing his wand over the wound. The blood flow slowed so Severus cleared the blood off the boys arm and intoned it again. "Vulnera Sanentur". The skin was knitting itself together as Mavis appeared, thrusting the potion kit in Severus' lap.
Now that the wound had closed, leaving a horrible scar, Severus grabbed a blood replenished from the bag and spelled it directly in to Potter's stomach.
He sighed and sat back on his heels. Potter's chest was rising evenly, his cheeks were regaining color. He would live.
"What happened?" he demanded, speaking directly to Draco.
"We weren't there," Draco said. "The tunnel collapsed, we got separated and Harry went alone. Ron and I tried to shift the rocks but we barely made a dent when Mavis came and grabbed us."
"Is he okay?" Ronald asked quietly. "He's- he's gonna be fine, right?"
Severus checked Potter's vitals and nodded shortly.
"He will be fine."
He looked up at the boys, both who appeared shaken but uninjured.
"What happened before the tunnel collapsed and separated you?"
"Where is Gilderoy?" Minerva asked.
Ronald looked at Draco and Severus saw the slightest twitch of his lips. Whatever the boy was about to say- it was undoubtedly a lie.
"He went with Harry to find the basilisk," Draco answered quickly in his stead. "I don't know where he is now."
"What were you thinking Dragon?" Narcissa said. "Why would you risk your life like-"
"We were saving Ginny!" Ronald interrupted, defending his friend. "We had to save my sister and Harry was the only one who could get in the Chamber."
"Perhaps we should wake Mister Potter and allow him to explain, as this seems to be centered around him," Albus suggested.
Severus grimaced but agreed. Potter was stable and was likely only still out due to the adrenaline shock.
"Renneverate," Severus said, pointing his wand at Potters chest.
Potter's eyes fluttered behind his glasses before he gasped and sat upright.
"We did it," he said fiercely. "Where's-" He looked around and saw the number of people staring at him.
"Oh," he said softly, struggling to rise to his feet. "Hello."
Severus snorted and conjured a chair.
"Sit," he said shortly. "And speak."
"Harry, lad, what in Merlin's name happened here?" Fudge asked, coming to Potter's side the moment he sat.
Potter gave him a shy (fake) smile.
"Here's what happened..."
The entire room, save a sniffling Ginevra, listened silently as Potter spun his tale. Severus nearly gripped Potter's arm multiple times when the child described his fight with the basilisk.
"And I would have died, but Mavis showed up when I called him, gave me the potion," Potter paused and looked up at Severus. "Good thinking on the anti-venom," he said seriously. "I'd be dead without it, right? I owe you."
"One of us must use our brain," Severus said stiffly, glancing at the time and seeing he had twenty minutes before he had to go complete the final step of the potion brewing in his lab. "You owe me nothing."
"We'll see," Potter muttered, brushing off both Severus' insult and his insistence that Potter owed him nothing for supplying the potion. "So anyway, when I knew it was close to me I just started slashing where I hoped it's eyes were and it bit me but I got it's eyes. So I opened mine and bam," he clapped his hands together. "Drove the sword right through its mouth."
"What happened to the book that was possessing Miss Weasley?" Albus asked, an intense look in his eyes.
Potter grimaced at the Headmaster as he dug through his trouser pocket and pulled out a destroyed black diary.
"Shoved the fang in it, didn't I?" Potter said. "That ghost thing was laughing at me, saying me and Ginny were both going to be dead soon, he didn't know I took that potion. And he said he was 'preserved in the book' so I figured, hey maybe if I break the book then he won't be preserved anymore, right? And it worked."
"May I see that?" Albus reached out for the book which Potter tossed to him.
Severus, who had looked up from Potter to watch the book go across the room, caught the slightest twitch in Lucius' hand that was holding his cane. He looked at his friend and saw a flash of recognition in his eyes.
No. He wouldn't have.
Potter followed Severus' line of sight and narrowed his own eyes at Lucius before finishing his tale.
"I told Mavis to take Ginny to Snape," he said. "And then I told him to grab Ron and Draco and take them to Snape too." Potter grinned, clearly pleased with himself. "And then I called for him again and poof, here I am."
"What about Lockhart?" Fudge asked.
"It was awful," Potter sighed, instantly appearing morose. "Lockhart tried to help me, it was really brave of him, but the basilisk bit him and we didn't have the potions yet-" Potter looked down at the ground and whispered hoarsely, "and he died. I couldn't save him."
Molly whimpered, clutching her children tighter to her chest, but Severus eyed Potter closely. The child had hated Lockhart. Said before he wished he was dead. And Lockhart was a coward- he certainly wouldn't have risked his life for Potter's.
Whatever had truly happened, Potter was lying now.
"I will return momentarily," Severus said. He looked up at Lucius, who nodded jerkily. "Potter stay here with Lucius and Narcissa. I will be but a moment."
Severus used Albus' floo, not caring to politely ask permission before using it, and floo'd directly to his lab.
He added the mandrakes and thought of Potter's story. Gilderoy volunteering to assist the boys, the tunnel collapsing, Potter facing the ghost of the Dark Lord that had possessed Ginevra Weasley, and the child killing a basilisk with a sword from an undetermined origin.
It was madness. Utter madness. And for the most part- Severus believed it. Potter was a magnet for insanity and chaos.
He checked the potion and was pleased to see that it merely needed to simmer under stasis for two hours and the children in the Hospital Wing would be revived.
And Severus, thankfully, would not die at the hands of his own impulsive vow.
He returned to Albus' office and saw that it was now marginally less clustered with the absence of Minerva, Fudge, and the Weasley's.
"Guess what sir?" Potter said immediately with a broad smile. "Slytherin will win the House Cup for sure. Ron, Draco, and I each got 100 points to Slytherin, McGonagall awarded them herself."
"Wonderful," Severus said drily. "And what of Ginevra Weasley?" he asked with a pointed look at Albus.
Albus gave him a soft smile, his blue eyes twinkling once again.
"This has been a terrible ordeal for her. Miss Weasley and her parents are discussing her continued enrollment here, the poor girl has been traumatized. There will be no punishment. Older and wiser wizards than she have been hoodwinked by Lord Voldemort."
"She's in the Hospital Wing now with her parents and Ron," Potter said, rolling his eyes where Albus could not see him. "And Minister Fudge is releasing Hagrid. And McGonagall is calling for a feast. AND," Potter grinned at Draco, who returned the smile with his grey eyes sparkling nearly as much as Albus', "We get awards. Minister Fudge ordered it himself."
"Which has apparently led you to believe that you are not grounded for the rest of your life," Severus said stiffly. "And perhaps in the afterlife as well- I believe your mother would take over at that point."
Potter scoffed, "Dumbledore said my parents would be proud of me."
"Did he?" Severus gave Albus a cool look.
Fostering a hero complex with praises on behalf of his deceased parents.
"Regardless, I believe you and Draco require a thorough examination before attending any feasts in your honor," he said, rolling his eyes at Potter.
"Yes sir," Potter said, jumping to his feet and grabbing the sword beside him. "Let's go."
Severus was surprised at Potters willingness to be examined until the five of them exited the Headmasters office, with Albus' praises being entirely ignored, and Potter immediately looked up at him.
"I'm fine and I'm not getting an exam," he said shortly.
"You were bitten by a basilisk and nearly died," Severus said harshly. "You are not fine."
Potter shrugged, "And then you fixed me. So I'm fine."
Severus groaned while Narcissa laughed lightly.
"Teenage boys are a delight," she whispered.
"Merlin save me," Severus murmured.
"If Harry got bit by a basilisk and isn't getting an exam then I'm not either," Draco said as they approached the Hospital Wing.
"Yes you are," Narcissa said fiercely. "You will get an exam and we will discuss why you do not follow your friends to go fight a murderous basilisk."
Draco pouted but nodded obediently.
"Yes mother," he muttered, shooting an angry look towards Potter.
"Hey I tried to tell you to stay," Potter said lightly. "But nooo, you wanted to go."
Draco's glare increased as Narcissa's hand on his shoulder tightened.
"Someone had to make sure you didn't burn down the school," he hissed.
"D'you think I could have?" Potter asked him seriously. "I was thinking in the Chamber, 'I wish I knew how to make those cursed flames because there's no way a basilisk would survive them'."
"Neither would you," Severus pointed out. "And if you ever attempt to summon 'cursed flames' then I will-" Severus struggled to think of an appropriate consequence. "I will have you in detention for the remainder of your education," he finished quite tamely once he realized Potter was impervious to most threats.
Potter gave him a crooked grin and shrugged.
"I'll keep that in mind."
Lucius chuckled lightly, clearly amused by Potter's antics.
"Oh, Mister Malfoy, can I talk to you for a minute?" Potter asked outside the Hospital Wing. He gave a pointed glance at Narcissa and Draco before adding, "Privately?"
"Certainly," Lucius said. "Draco, Cissa, I will meet you inside?"
Draco, quite out of character for the Malfoy Heir, betrayed his own shock as he hugged his father tightly.
"Good luck with that one," Narcissa whispered as she gave Severus a hug of his own. "That child has more power than common sense."
Severus snorted again, that was a mild way to describe Potter.
Potter waited silently as Narcissa and Draco entered the Hospital Wing before flicking his hand and placing a golden dome around the three of them.
"You did this," Potter said quietly, turning directly to Lucius. "You planted that book in Weasley's cauldron, didn't you?"
Lucius held his empty hand up in a gesture of surrender.
"Of course not," he said. "I would-"
"Don't lie," Potter hissed, his green eyes flashing darkly. "I saw your face. That was your book, wasn't it?"
Lucius swallowed hard and immediately changed tactics.
"I was merely trying to purge myself of ties to the Dark Lord," he protested. "I told you I wanted to be on your side."
"This is your fault!" Potter yelled, apparently the dome was sound proof. "Your fault I was expelled! Your fault Mione is in the hospital! Your fault."
"I didn't know what would happen," Lucius said. "I swear it, I didn't know."
Potter stalked right up to Lucius' face and snatched his wand from his unresisting hand and held it tightly in the hand that was not currently clutching a bloody sword.
"I could kill you," he said quietly. "I should."
"I can help you," Lucius said. "You have the power and I have the connections. I can help you to be great, I know the right people. Potter- allow me to be your ally. You don't want to kill me. You aren't a killer."
Severus closed his eyes at that. Potter had already killed someone who wronged him, at just possibly ten years old, he doubted the child would hesitate to do it again.
"You're wrong," Potter whispered. "I killed Lockhart. He's dead."
Oh shit.
Severus opened his eyes and watched as Potter taunted Lucius. Lucius shot him a frantic look that Severus sadly shook his head at. The man had dug his own grave here, Severus would try and prevent Potter from killing him, though judging from the look on Potter's face he didn't think that was the goal.
He hoped.
"P-Potter, think about it," Lucius sputtered. "Draco- my son- he needs me."
Potter smiled at that- a cold and hardened smile that made Severus shiver.
"Draco is the only reason I don't kill you now," Potter said. "But that means you owe me- the rest of your life. You want to be my ally?" He laughed in Lucius' face. "I won't do you any favors. You can be on my side or you can die here-" Potter pointed Lucius' own wand in his chest. "Decide, now."
"Yes," Lucius said immediately. "I'll help you. I'll be on your side. You won't owe me any favors."
"Swear it," Potter said. "Swear that you won't betray me the next time Voldemort tries to come back. Swear that you'll never do something like this again. NOW!" he yelled when Lucius hesitated.
Severus watched in muted shock as Lucius swore an oath of loyalty to Potter.
In all of the madness of the day, watching his closest friend become his wards first follower was perhaps the maddest.
Potter dispelled the dome the moment Lucius finished. He thrust his wand back at him and curled his lip, "Get away from me," he snarled.
Lucius immediately moved inside the Hospital Wing with his wife and child.
"Pot- Harry-" Severus said softly. "Are you-" he faltered as he tried to determine the child's current mental state. "How are you?"
Potter shook his head and looked up from the Hospital Wing door.
"Bit tired," he said lightly. "When will Mione be awake?"
Severus checked the time, "90 minutes," he said. "Just enough time for you to come allow me to examine you and tell me the rest of your much edited story."
Potter gave him a bright smile, his eyes crinkling in amusement.
"You know me better than anyone," he said.
Severus sighed and looked up at the ceiling.
"It may be a sign of my impending descent in to madness," he said.
Potter merely laughed as he followed alongside him to the dungeons, shouldering the sword against himself.
"I would like you to begin with where you managed to obtain a sword of that value," Severus said the moment he closed and warded his office door behind them.
"Mister Malfoy gave it to me," Potter said, sitting down in his accustomed seat in front of Severus' desk. "But hold on- MAVIS!" he yelled.
"Master Potter!" the elf cried, appearing immediately. "Master Potter is okay!"
"Mavis, you're brilliant," Potter praised the teary elf as Severus sat. "I would have died without you. I owe you, whatever you want, just name it, okay?"
Mavis' hands pulled at his robe nervously.
"Anything Mavis is wanting?" he asked.
"Say it first before I agree," Potter clarified.
Mavis sighed and glanced around warily before leaning towards Potter.
"Mavis is wanting to stay with Master Potter when he leaves," he whispered. "Mavis is not wanting to stay here while Master is gone." Mavis glanced at Severus before tacking on, "And Mavis is wanting Master Potter to not be killing Mister Snoop as he was scared for Master."
Potter immediately turned an accusatory look towards Severus.
"Did you hurt Mavis?" he scowled.
"I shook him," Severus admitted. "Though it is your fault as you allowed your elf to inform me that you had taken off to kill a basilisk."
Potter glared at him for a moment before turning a much softer face towards the elf.
"Mavis, I have gold," Potter said softly. "Loads of it. I could buy you anything you wanted. You saved my life. Don't you want something different? Something just for you?"
Mavis shook his head, "Mavis saved Masters life and now Mavis is wanting to stay with Master. Mavis is not liking being here while Master is gone."
Potter looked up at Severus, who grimaced and lifted one shoulder in acquiescence.
"Er, so if I let you stay with me at our house this summer then we're even? I won't owe you anything?"
Mavis nodded eagerly at Potter. "That is Mavis' wish."
Potter laughed, "Wish granted then."
Mavis squealed and hugged Potter's leg tightly before abruptly jumping away from him.
"Apologies Master Potter, Mavis is being too excited. Mavis must return now and make sure all Masters favorite foods are being made for the feast!"
Mavis gave them each a bow and then disappeared back to the kitchens.
"What the fuck?" Potter laughed. "Mavis is insane."
Severus sighed at Potter's incessant crude language.
"Speaking of insanity," he said tightly. "I believe you were about to enthrall me with the truth before we go revive Miss Granger."
"Oh yeah," Potter said. "Okay so Malfoy sent me the sword, right? And it's mine now..."
Severus cast a diagnostic charm on Potter as he spoke and listened to what he believed was a more truthful version of events.
"You cast an Unforgiveable on Gilderoy?" he interrupted at one point. "What on Earth were you thinking?"
He was unsurprised at the truth behind Gilderoy's 'adventures'. The man was an idiot when he was a student and Severus knew he had not gotten better with age.
Potter shrugged, entirely unrepentant. "I was thinking you said I needed a Professor and I didn't really wanna use Draco as bait and Lockhart was a creep. So," he spread his hands, "I made him come."
Severus grimaced, "Continue."
Potter told him of finding the chamber opening and sliding down the chute. Severus was slightly jealous that three second year boys were able to see the legendary chamber built by their houses founder.
"And then Lockhart said 'We can work together! Think of the fame! The riches!'" Potter snorted. "As if I need more fame or money, ya know? And he said 'you won't kill me', so I did. Sliced the sword right through his neck," he said patting the sword gently. "And then Ron was kinda freaking out."
Severus himself was 'kinda freaking out', he could only imagine how Ronald had felt in that moment.
"And then?" he asked.
"I made Draco and Ron make Unbreakable Vows," Potter said easily. "Told them what to say so if they try and change the story later they'll die, won't they?"
"And that wouldn't bother you?" he asked, shaken at the easy way Potter described this all.
Potter looked up quizzically at him.
"Would it bother me if one of my friends tried to get me arrested for killing a guy who was going to kill Draco? Yeaaah," he drawled slowly. "Would it bother me if they died before they were able to get me in a lot of trouble? Probably not. Meant they weren't really my friend after all, were they?"
Times like this Severus deeply regretted teaching Potter Occlumency. He would give quite a bit to be able to see inside the child's mind and understand his thought processes.
"Tried to kill Draco and you," he corrected him lightly.
Potter looked askance at him, "What's that matter?"
"It matters a great deal," Severus sighed. "Harry he was going to kill you. He had the sword on your throat."
Potter shrugged and glanced away from Severus for a moment while he seemed to sort his thoughts.
"I thought I would feel bad," he said quietly. "Like- well, ya know," he muttered, his cheeks now red with needless shame. "But it was different, right? Before it was just a lousy Muggle who hurt me, I was stronger and more special and I didn't have to hurt him. But... but Lockhart was going to kill Draco, he said it himself. So I protected him, and I don't feel bad." He looked up at Severus and chewed his lower lip before whispering, "Does that make me a monster?"
Potter values Draco's life above his own. If Lockhart had merely been a threat to him, he wouldn't blink. But since the man posed a threat to his friend, he had to die.
"You are not a monster," Severus assured him. "You saved Draco and Ginevra both by your actions. Gilderoy would have killed them." He leaned forward to try and drill his next point in to the child's stubborn head. "But you also saved yourself. If someone is threatening your life, it does not make you a monster to defend yourself. Your life matters just as much as Draco's."
Potter just frowned and chewed his lip.
Severus sighed, "We will rehash why your life is incredibly valuable and important another time, shall we? Why don't you continue."
"Okay," Potter said slowly. "Then I was trying to bury Lockhart, in case anyone wanted to go down to the Chamber later, and I accidentally collapsed the whole part tunnel. I didn't wanna try and move the rocks with magic in case I collapsed more and buried us all down there-"
"Perhaps if you bothered to learn proper spells, incantations, and wand movements then you would be able to use your magic in a more precise and controlled matter," he suggested.
Potter waved his hand, showing his disdain at the very idea.
"No. Anyway- so I told them I'd go alone and then Ron was freaking out again. Said I didn't understand families and that I should save Ginny even if it meant I couldn't kill the basilisk." Potter looked up at him, his face appearing scandalized. "Can you believe that sir? So I told him, 'you hurt my feelings'-"
Severus interrupted again, "You told your friend that he hurt your feelings?"
That would be an undeniable step forward if Potter had not killed a man ten minutes before saying it, Severus thought.
"Yep," Potter said. "Told him he hurt my feelings and so he needed to make it up to me."
That sounds more like Potter.
"Please continue," he sighed, summoning a pain relieving potion.
Potter smirked knowingly at him as he continued. He told him of entering the chamber and coming face to face with the spirit of a sixteen year old Tom Riddle. He described taunting him with the mispronunciation of his name, something he apparently utilized on Miss Chang of Ravenclaw with excellent results. He also described his amusement when Riddle asked if Albus was the greatest wizard Potter knew.
"I laughed, didn't I? Told him I meant me of course."
Severus imagined that James Potter somewhere was smiling at the arrogance he passed along to his son. Potter was powerful, more than any other Severus had ever encountered, but Potter had no control.
"I told Timmy we should be partners, you know? Work together. But he said for him to live, Ginny had to die." Potter sighed mournfully, "And I promised Ron I'd save her."
"You made the right choice," Severus assured him. "Ginevra was an innocent child while Riddle likely would have killed you the instant he could."
"Yeah, maybe..." Potter blinked in the distance a few times before looking back up at Severus. "And the rest is what you already heard. I killed the snake, stabbed the diary, and Ginny woke up. Oh! Wait!" Potter reached in his pocket and pulled out a single white fang that was the length and width of Severus' forearm.
"I got this too!" he said, waving the fang in the air. "It's wicked right? Can you believe it was in my arm?"
"Yes," Severus said, his throat feeling unnaturally tight at the sight of the fang. "You will have a terrible scar from it unfortunately."
Potter looked down at his arm and shrugged, "Be a cooler story than the others, right? Which sounds better- I got bit by a basilisk that I killed or my Uncle slammed my face in a mirror until it shattered and cut my face open?" he asked, gesturing lightly towards the scar that decorates the right side of his face.
Severus had to quickly clear his mind of that image before he decided to go use Potter's sword on Vernon Dursley.
"What happened when you woke Ginevra?" he asked instead, hoping to distract himself from his now murderous thoughts.
"I was going to kill Ginny, I wanted to," Potter confessed quietly. "It was her fault Mione was attacked, wasn't it? She stole that book, broke my stuff, and said I was the monster when really it was her all along."
"Why didn't you?" Severus asked.
Potter sighed and looked up at the ceiling.
"Ron said I didn't understand 'family stuff', and I-I don't. I dont have a family, do I? I don't know why he'd wanna save Ginny or why her Mum wasn't furious it was her fault the chamber opened in the first place. But..." Potter turned his face towards him with an almost desperate expression. "I didn't want to be the monster she accused me of being."
Severus smiled softly down at him, despite feeling quite torn inside that Potter sounded so forlorn as he said 'I don't have a family'.
"You did very well," he praised him. "Ginevra is an imbecile, and she wronged you quite terribly, but she was also a vulnerable girl being possessed by the spirit of the Dark Lord. It was good you spared her life."
Potter nodded and gave him a weak half-smile, "Plus now she owes me. Told her that the second she woke up, didn't I? I said, 'you might hate me but I saved your life, twice, so you owe me.' I didn't tell her that I was going to kill her, just that I'd saved her twice. And she was crying and saying 'thank you, thank you.' I think most of the Weasley's owe me favors now."
"That was quite Slytherin of you," Severus said, his lips twitching in amusement. "Though I believe Ronalds brother, Charles Weasley, is a dragon tamer in Romania, so he may be more difficult to earn a favor from."
Potter gave him a crooked smile, "Dragons, huh? Brill."
"If I discover you have attempted to bring a dragon to our home I will feed you to it, brat."
Potter shrugged and glanced again at the clock.
"Twenty minutes," he said, practically vibrating with excitement now. "Do you think Mione will forgive me sir? I killed the basilisk, so she won't be mad, right?"
Pitiful.
"Harry, Miss Granger would have forgiven you even without you risking your life to kill the basilisk," he said softly. "You did not need to put your life on the line in order to earn her forgiveness."
"You're wrong," Potter said. "I didn't want to kill it before and it attacked Mione. I couldn't just say 'I'm sorry' because words don't mean anything, do they? People lie all the time. But now she'll see that I'm sorry, right?"
Severus tried to choose his words carefully. Potter was not wrong, but he was not right either.
"You could have apologized, then in the future listened more carefully to her, which would prove your apology through actions. This-" he gestured towards the sword by Potter and the fang now placed on his desk, "was entirely unnecessary."
Potter grimaced and turned his attention to the clock, as if willing it to move more quickly.
"Why did you spare Lucius?" Severus asked. "I am glad that you did, of course, but I had worried that you were going to attempt to kill him."
Potter snorted, still watching the clock.
"I wouldn't have 'attempted' anything," he muttered. "But I think it's better if you give people a second chance."
Severus found himself once again surprised and pleased with Potter and was about to tell him so when the brat added-
"Especially if they owe you now."
Severus had once wondered if Potter was too broken to ever process things in an emotionally healthy way and now he feared that he was correct. Sparing someone's life in order to tie them to you? It was cold, cunning, and a much loved move by Albus and the Dark Lord both.
Though, Albus would never have cut a man's throat open to save his friends life and the Dark Lord would never have risked his life in vengeance for a friend.
Perhaps Potter is twisted nearly to the breaking point, without actually being broken.
Severus considered him in silence for a few minutes before he asked the last question that was on his mind.
"Why did you require Unbreakable Vows from Draco, Ronald, and Lucius but have yet to request one from me?"
Potter looked surprised at his question. He glanced away from the clock towards Severus and his brows were furrowed down.
"I don't need you to make a vow," he said simply. "I trust you."