Reliving the Past, Present, and Future

Chapter 21

"What are we doing here, Teddy?" asked Harry, looking around the familiar girl's bathroom warily. 

Teddy had very suddenly pulled him and Ron aside during lunch (something Ron had tried to protest against) to have a conversation in the meeting room only to do side-along apparition for the first time very suddenly. It had taken he and Ron a few minutes to adjust from their bodies being squeezed through a small tube.

Teddy had been staring at the sinks of the girl's bathroom bemused while they recovered. 

"In your seventh year," started Teddy, turning around to finally face them. "You, Ron, and Hermione embark on a treacherous journey to destroy Voldemort."

Ron gave a yelp at the name and turned very pale. 

Harry looked at Teddy with alarm. Hermione and Ron had come with him? 

"I'm doing this a bit out of order," said Teddy, attempting a wry smile but achieving only a grimace. "I will explain everything more in-depth tonight before I leave... But we need to enter the Chamber of Secrets for some basilisk fangs."

"What?" said Ron, looking between Teddy and Harry bewildered. "You've gone mad."

"The basilisk is dead. It's completely safe," assured Teddy, though he was only basing this off of what his Aunt Hermione had told him a few months ago. 

"Ron," said Teddy, turning serious. "There is an extremely important task you must do. Like your bravery in saving the stone from Vol...You-Know-Who in your first year, I'm asking again for your Gryffindor courage."

"Me?" said Ron, weakly, glancing at Harry. "What about Harry?"

"Harry is going to open the Chamber," explained Teddy, feigning patience. "And he was there when you did this task in the future."

"What is this task?" asked Harry, slightly annoyed though he knew it wasn't just.

"I'll explain once we're in the Chamber. It'll make more sense then," said Teddy, though this was partially a lie. He was worried Ron would try to run away if he told him now rather than in the Chamber.

Harry looked over at Ron who seemed to be trying to look unafraid. 

Ron gave a curt nod, having never felt so important. He was shocked to find out he played an important role in the future to defeat You-Know-Who. 

"Harry, if you please," said Teddy, his expression softening. 

Harry took a deep breath, never expecting to be opening the Chamber of Secrets again. "Open."

And just as it did in their second year at Hogwarts, the sinks parted revealing the black hole leading to the Chamber. 

"Guess we can't make Lockhart go first," joked Ron weakly, eyeing the hole apprehensively. 

Harry plucked up his courage after one more glance at Teddy and descended first into the pipe followed by an anxious Ron and curious Teddy. 

"It's still here," said Ron, still very pale as he eyed the large snake skin. 

"Wicked!" said Teddy in awe much to Harry's amusement. 

Harry continued to lead the way and Ron quickly caught up to him. "You trust him?" Ron asked quietly, shivering at the cold. 

Harry nodded and continued the rest of the way before finally reaching the ornate door of serpents.

"Will be my first time in the Chamber," said Ron nervously. "You sure it's dead?"