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Corvus	By : LadyFreak Category: Harry Potter AU/AR > General Views: 23963 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 7
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor to I make any money from this story. These characters are JKR's, I just play with them.

Chapter List
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Disclaimer: I don't, and never will, own Harry Potter. All plots and characters belong to J.K. Rowling and company.

::Parseltongue::

:/:Telapathic Parseltongue:/:

/mind-to-mind with Huginn/

'thoughts'

"Normal Speech"

(41) Aftermath

"Oh my!" Madam Pomfrey yelled soon as they all entered into the Hospital Wing. "Set her on this bed, Mr. Lestrange. What happened?"

Corvus had Morag floo for his mother and Healer before he replied. "I'm pretty sure the Headmaster will be here soon Madame, I'd rather only tell the tale once."

The nurse nodded and returned to her scanning of the still pale girl. She was still alive, Corvus knew that much. He could see the rise and fall of her chest, though it was a bit shaky. The glimmer of amusement he caught on her face earlier made him confident that she would be fine.

Morag sat on a hospital bed and relaxed. She watched as Madame Pomfrey examined the young redhead, with an interested look on her face. It made Corvus wonder if his friend wanted to be a healer.

It was only three minutes later that the floo flared green quickly. Bellatrix Lestrange came out, then Healer Jones.

The Healer gave both Corvus and Morag a quick exam and registered them both as healthy, but exhausted. He gave each of them a stamina potion so that they could get through explanations without falling asleep.

Another couple of minutes went by before Dumbledore and his entourage came through.

The Weasley's ran to their daughter, but were stopped with a shield by Pomfrey. "Truly. Would you like me to treat her or not!" The witch yelled annoyed.

"Mr. Potter has told us what happened in that chamber, my boy," came Dumbledore's voice.

Corvus looked at the Headmaster with a raised brow "Really?" he replied, voiced tinged with disbelief. "I'd love to hear his version of events. Would he be willing to take veritaserum to validate his story? Or perhaps he'd like to give penseive memories? I'd like to see that."

Potter paled at that, while Bellatrix went to the floo.

Moments later, Amelia Bones came through with two aurors. "What has happened here?"

"I was about to tell of tonight's events. I'm not sure what Potter told Dumbledore and the Professors as I was bringing the injured Miss Weasley to the infirmary. After last year, I'm not in a rush to trust what was said." Corvus said easily.

"I have no idea what has gone on in this school tonight, but I will find out," she said, slightly annoyed., "Albus, I will be using the usual classroom."

The old man clearly did not want that, but moved out of the way so she could walk past. Corvus was confused by 'the usual classroom', but followed her along with Morag, Potter, and Ronald Weasley.

Once they entered the classroom, all four sat in chairs and waited for the interrogation. Dumbledore, James Potter, Arthur Weasley, Professor Flitwick, Bellatrix Lestrange and Severus Snape also followed.

"I want a rundown of what has gone on this evening." the woman began, pulling out an ever-ink quill and a pad of paper. "What did Mr. Lestrange mean by 'tonights events'. And why was he bringing her to the infirmary?"

The group seemed to be gathering their thoughts (or making up stories in the case of Charles Potter). Before anyone could tell a lie, Severus Snape spoke up. "Madam, if I may?" he asked. After receiving a nod, he continued. "Earlier this evening a message appeared on a wall outside the second floor girl's bathroom. This is the same bathroom that warned 'The Chamber of Secrets has opened. Enemies of the Heir beware' last October."

"And what was the message this time?" she prompted.

Looking up at his godfather, Corvus realized the man had become lost in thought- not doubt about all that had happened that fateful night. He put a hand on the man's arm and received a small smile as their eyes met.

Severus turned back to Madam Bones an continued, "I apologize, Madam Bones. This time, the message read 'Their skeletons will lie in the Chamber forever.'" The woman gasped and brought a hand to her mouth. The potions master nodded, "It was indeed a fearfl message. Once all the heads of Houses were made aware of it, all students were called back to their House common rooms. It was then that we realized that Misses MacDougal and Weasley were the only two unaccounted for.

"The professors all met and tried to come up with a solution, when the ghost, Myrtle, came and told us about students that kidnapped another student and a teacher. She brought us to the bathroom that had the message, where we found Ms. Cho Chang waiting near the sinks."

Before Madam Bones could ask, Professor Flitwick spoke up, "She refused to answer any questions and is sleeping in a bed in the infirmary right now."

At the woman's nod, Severus continued, "We of course attempted to question the girl, but as Professor Flitwick mentioned she refused to speak. We were in another meeting when Charles Potter came to the Headmaster's office to tell his tale."

The head of the DMLE nodded, then looked around the room. She faced Morag and gave a supportive smile, "Okay, Miss MacDougal. Do you feel up to discussing the evening?"

"There isn't much to tell, Madame," the young Ravenclaw replied respectfully. "I was in the loo after dinner washing my hands, when Ginevra Weasley walked in. It didn't seem like her though... it was odd."

"What do you mean, Miss?"

Morag frowned in thought, "Her movements seemed sort of jerky and her eyes were glazed over." Madame Bones nodded and signaled for her to continue. "She grabbed my arm roughly. I was surprised she had such a strong grip. I tried, but I couldn't get away. I was dragged to the third floor girl's bathroom where she cast 'petrificus'. Then I watched her write a message on the wall before levitating me into the bathroom.

"She hissed at the sink and we ended up in the chamber. She cast 'stupefy' at me and the next thing I remember was Corvus waking me up and telling me to wait at a pile of rocks for him to return."

Madam Bones scratched at her pad, the looked around the room again. Her eyes landed on Charles Potter, but she didn't smile. "Alright, Mr. Potter. I will give you the benefit of the doubt. What did you tell Headmaster Dumbledore."

There was no hesitation as the boy began running a quick tale about what he said to the Headmaster. "I told him me and Ron heard Lestrange talking to a snake," he said smugly. "Then we followed him into Moaning Myrtle's bathroom and into the Chamber. He tried to obliviate us, but I shielded and it rebounded onto Lockhart. I ran through, followed by Lestrange who woke up MacDougal. I then grabbed Ginny. Once we were out, Lestrange grabbed Ginny from me and headed back up the tunnel."

The woman didn't even make a mark on her paper before turning to Corvus, "Mr. Lestrange?"

"I will admit here and now that I can talk to snakes, I am a parselmouth. I would appreciate if it stayed within this room as I know what people think of those with my talent. Though I know with present company, that wish will be ignored." Madame Bones narrowed her eyes at the group assembled. "My familiar, a young basilisk named Véurr, had been tracking the monster since early October. At that point, I told Lucius Malfoy and Severus Snape of what I had learned.

At her questioning look, Severus spoke up, "I'm not sure about Lucius, but I did tell Dumbledore of what had been discovered. He said he would look into it."

Madam Bones nodded as she finished scratching some lines on her pad. Without looking up, she waved Corvus on, "It was an ancient Basilisk," he continued, "who was ill in the mind. It is because my familiar was the same species as what was attacking that I was sent to Azkaban with no questions or trial."

Snorts of disbelief echoed from the Potters, but Corvus ignored them. "Anyway, Véurr came to me tonight and told me that two students had been taken. I ran out just in time to hear the second announcement that told students to go to their common rooms. I arrived within the time limit and met up with Professor Flitwick." Madame Bones looked at the Professor who nodded his head in agreement.

"I ended up falling asleep in the common room, waiting for word on my friend. I woke around eleven or so to whispering. Ronald Weasley and Charlie Potter were in the Ravens Common room. I asked why they were there when I heard a noise from behind me. I turned to see Cho Chang standing there, then I was hit in the head."

Corvus continued telling his story, only leaving out his retrieval of the bow and the discussion with the portrait of Lord Slytherin. "What time is it anyway?" he asked the group. Multiple people cast tempus and he saw it was just after 130 in the morning.

When Madame Bones moved onto Ron, he shook his head in the negative. "I will need a statement, Mr. Weasley," she said sternly. "We have two very different tales."

"If it helps, Madame, I am willing to take veritaserum, give pensieve memories, or allow a legilimens to assess my memory of tonight."

"Would you be willing to do the same, Mr. Potter?"

The boy was pale, but still nodded his head slowly. Corvus raised a brow at that. "Professor Flitwick, could you call an elf to bring in a couple of unbreakable vials and a pensieve?"

The Raven Head of House nodded his agreement and did as asked. When the charms professor returned, Corvus gave the vials to Madame Bones and stood before her. The Head of the DMLE slowly moved her wand to his templed and nodded her head. Corvus started the memory at the tower when he was with Hedwig and went up to Véurr destroying the diary. He then nodded again and showed his climbing to the top of the tunnel entrance and shooting Shasa.

Once the memory was in the vial, Madame Bones looked it over, trying to find any visual discrepancy. Finding none, she moved over to Potter who was pale.

He stood before her and closed his eyes. The memory that came out was dark gray and jerky instead of the smooth silvery substance that came from Corvus. The woman didn't bother taking the whole thing, releasing it instead and allowing the boy to absorb it.

All those present in the room looked at Potter with disbelief on their faces. "From sight alone, that memory has been altered." The head of the DMLE said gravely, a tinge of fury in her voice. "I do not appreciate being lied to, Mr. Potter. After last year, you do not want to get on the wrong side of the Board again, do you?"

"N-no ma'am," he said, paling again.

"Good. Now how about you tell the truth."

And he did. He told her that he had found the black diary and that it had written back to him. He explained how it pulled him into a memory that showed Riddle cornering Hagrid. He told her about Hermione's discovery about the fact that the monster was a Basilisk and how it was traveling. Then how they put the pieces together with Myrtle and the incidents occurring at the bathroom.

When he told about getting Cho to help, both Flitwick and Corvus stiffened. It wasn't completely unknown for a student to betray another, whether for money or material possessions- books in the case of Cho Chang, but it was rare for it to happen in Ravenclaw.

"I'm disappointed that you felt the need to lie to me, my boy," came Dumbledore's grave voice. Corvus was sure it was only he, Severus, and his mother who noticed the old man was more angry than upset.

But Charlie Potter looked at the floor, upset. "I'm sorry Professor. I wasn't thinking about it. I just wanted to save Ginny and when I realized Lestrange could speak parseltongue I knew we had to get his help."

"Then why not ask me?" Corvus spoke up, annoyed and truly wanting the answer. He also wanted to cut off anyone's sympathy for the spoiled prat. "One of my best friends was also taken and I would not have had a problem. Even if she wasn't taken I probably would have helped you at least get into the chamber. But instead you choose to kidnap me, and in the process spread discord through my own House! Also if you wanted to save her so much you could have moved the rocks when they fell instead of waiting for me to return!"

Nothing more was said until they began to part, though Corvus did see a very disappointed look shot at both Charlie and Ron from Arthur Weasley.

Before the red headed patriarch left the room, he pulled Corvus aside, "Though I know it was not by your choice, I do want to thank your for saving my Ginny's life. She is my baby and I don't know how our family would heal if something were to happen to her, so thank you."

They shook hands and the older wizard left, leaving the younger gaping after him. He was soon broke out of that by the sound of the Headmaster's voice.

"Mr. Lestrange. I would like for you to lead us into the chamber."

Corvus turned the statement over in his mind before replying. "What for Headmaster?" he asked, looking at the head of the DMLE who also looked perplexed.

"The Basilisk, my boy. We cannot leave it down there."

"Have any laws changed in the past year? Something I may have missed while catching up with my studies?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. He left out his improper imprisonment, though it was suggested. When the adults looked confused, he continued, "If not, then why would I just hand over the body of an Ancient Basilisk which I had just defeated? Right of Conquest, Headmaster."

"Mr. Lestrange, you are a parselmouth and as such you are the only one who can-"

"Yes, I am a parselmoth and the only one that can get into the chamber, and until I have possession of my conquest I will not be leading any person down there." Corvus said, cutting the Headmaster off. He looked at the man and decided to get his rant about the darkness of his ability out of the way with witnesses. "You know I am a parselmouth, big deal. It's something you have been digging for since the year started. Never mind that I saved your students from a Runespoor or the Ancient Basilisk." He ignored Madam Bones' exclamation of 'Runespoor!' and continued on. "The only thing in your mind is that I can speak with snakes. Have you even done your research old man? Did you know that the strongest healing spells are cast in the tongue of the snakes?"

The group surrounding them looked interested in what was said, minus the Potters and Dumbledore of course. The old man didn't even acknowledge that he had said anything! "That basilisk has been in this school-" he tried again, but was cut off.

"I don't care how long the serpent has been here! I know you were told about it in October and now suddenly you want to act on it? I did not kill that snake for glory or to save you. I did not kill him for you. You knew there was a basilisk in this school and did nothing, instead leaving it up to three twelve year olds to figure out your mystery. I killed that snake because it was requested of me. He was old and losing his mind. He wanted peace, and by his request, I granted it. Shasa is mine by right of conquest. No one will touch or desecrate his remains. I will take care of them on my own time and with appropriate supervision." (3)

"Then I will-"

"You will not Headmaster," this time the interruption came from Madame Bones. Dumbledore jumped, obviously having forgotten that she was there. "That is quite enough of bullying your students Dumbledore. I will send a delegation of Aurors with Mr. Lestrange. He can choose a member of the faculty to also accompany him, should he so choose.

"It was insensitive of you to push this, after the boy had just escaped with his life. And you are well aware of our wizarding laws. The snake is his by conquest. Do not think of arguing against that."

"Madam Bones, I would like to meet with you privately to schedule a time to go down to the Chamber."

The woman nodded, though a bit of surprise flickered through her eyes. She quickly waved everyone off. She cast secrecy spells on the door. "I don't trust that old man," she muttered.

"Madame, there are memories missing from what I gave you. I didn't know if you would be viewing them immediately and there were things I did not want the Headmaster to see."

"Well it appears that we no longer need these memories," she said, handing the vial back to Corvus who absorbed the memories. "I would appreciate if you shared the full story with me. I would also like to see the Chamber with you to retrieve that diary."

Corvus nodded his head, "The reason you had to take memories twice, once the Diary was destoroyed Shasa begged for death. I sent Véurr into the tunnel to find a portrait. When she returned saying she had found it, I went in.

"Turns out there was a portrait of Salazar Slytherin in those tunnels, but someone had silenced him. He could do nothing as his familiar slowly lost his mind. I was able to cancel out the charm with parselmagic. He told me he agreed with Shasa's desire and told me how to fulfill it in the least painful way.

"I was able to call the bow of Ravenclaw to me," Madame Bones gasped at this revelation. Corvus nodded, "I shot her through the head with that bow."

"Does that mean you are..."

"I am the Heir of Ravenclaw. It is why I am in this school even with the poor treatment I get."

Madame Bones removed her monocle and rubbed her eyes. "You told the most important parts of the night. Anything spoken with the portrait was more personal than related to the events that transpired regarding the kidnapping of Misses Weasley and MacDougal. When we go into the Chamber, I believe it will be you, Me, and Professor Snape?"

"Yes, Ma'am"

"Good. We will do it tomorrow night. Meet us in the entrance hall at 10 this evening."

"Thank you Madame," Corvus said with a bow. The Head Auror dropped her wards and Corvus headed out to see Severus about the appointment. He knew the man would appreciate getting to see the Chamber. Corvus would even give him some of the Basilisk to experiment with, but only with a promise to not use it for nefarious potions as he had a promise to keep with Salazar.

(1) Anything recognizable comes from Chamber of Secrets by JKR

(2) Again, I used Google Translate to get the Latin.

(3) Believe it or not, this entire year started with this monologue by Corvus.

A/N: So what did you think about this chapter? Dumbledore's reactions, Madam Bones' character, Corvus reactions?

So, though I do read my reviews, I've realized I have neglected answering questions, so i will start that again. I won't be backtracking that much, so i apologize if I miss yours.

chester: Is it bad that i need to go back and re-read my own story to see the dynamic? i think the problem Corvus has is that she essentially shoves her knowledge in your face, but sells herself short. She is essentially selling herself to Dumbledore. Allowing herself to be used by Potter and Weasley, for whatever reason the old man gave her. She will need to get away from Potter/Weasley if she wants any positive relationship with Corvus. I write it as the muse decides, but right now, I don't see any 'friendship' in their future. Hermione's character is fun to play with because it's very easy to put her into a bashing story, but also easy to keep as a friend. Only time will tell how she will fit with 'Corvus'

ficwriter2002: wow, thank you! your comment made my day!

bt15:I'm very sorry i stopped updating so regularly. I hope you are still reading!

Everyone else. I LOVE YOU! Some of my readers can be quite evil and vindictive i must say (i have requests for people getting kissed, wands snapped, Weasley or Potter dying in the chamber... wow lol) I still love you all though!

I appreciate you sticking with me through my crazy updating schedule. Year 2 is almost at an end. Year 3 will most likely be posted as a separate tale though.... it's in the works and will not be posted yet. Hopefully by time I finish posting year 2, I will have something worth posting online.
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Corvus