Worthy Of Magic

Part 14 - Evolution

Thirty first March Nineteen Ninety Three: Hogwarts

Hogwarts was celebrating. The basilisk was finally dead and it was done thanks to the previous head girl of Hogwarts who was still affectionately known as Head Girl Tonks by many students of the school.

It was Auror trainee Tonks - who along with dozens of Auror trainees, as a desperate move by the Minister, had been sent to Hogwarts - who finally had the sense to question the girl who had died the last time the chamber of secrets had been opened and now haunted the second floor bathroom. Ten minutes of coaxing answers out of the stubborn ghost and three days of hiding out in the bathroom later, Ginny Weasley was caught hissing at a bathroom sink revealing the entrance to Slytherin's chamber.

Only it wasn't easy capturing the girl as Tonks had thought when she laid eyes on her. Tonks had been in a duel for her life. Killing curses were flying like cheering charms at her and it had only been the fact that a eleven year old girl could do only so much magic that saved Tonks life and allowed her to stun the tiny redhead.

Tonks carried the girl to the headmaster's office where the shocking revelation was made. It was an enchanted diary that once belonged to Lord Voldemort that had possessed the girl and unleashed the Basilisk on the castle.

After that it had been a small matter of flooding the Chamber of Secrets, the entrance of which was still open as only a Parselmouth could shut it, with roosters whose crow was fatal to the basilisk.

Head Girl Tonks was made a hero to Hogwarts and scheduled to be awarded the Order of Merlin, Second Class for services rendered to the Magical World. She was also promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in the Auror Corps, the youngest ever to make the rank at the age of eighteen.

To celebrate end of year exams were cancelled and a party was thrown in the Great Hall.

Students smuggled in firewhiskey and butterbeer; mainly by the Weasley twins and professors turned a blind eye except for Professor Snape who was handing out detentions like candy on Halloween.

Dumbledore was loving it all and had decided to retire early. There was only so much excitement he could take with the stress of a missing Harry weighing down on him. Remus had still not made contact and Fawkes had not returned. Dumbledore knew better than to call on the phoenix without reason. For now he had to trust in Remus.

He was walking back to his office when he rounded a corner on the seventh floor and ran into Sybill Trelawney. The Divination professor squawked in surprise and fell on her rear, her big eyes wide with surprise behind her huge round glasses.

The bag she was carrying fell open and bottles of Sherry rolled out.

"Headmaster!" she gasped.

"Didn't see that coming Sybill?" Dumbledore joked merrily.

Trelawney stood up shakily. She was clearly tipsy. "The workings of the inner eye are a mystery even to us seers Albus," she said, reverting to a dreamy self.

"Of course," Dumbledore said solemnly, containing his mirth. "Do you need help getting back to your quarter Sybill? I could call a house elf."

Trelawney went unnaturally still.

"Sybill?"

"The decision will be made when fire streaks across the sky. Two paths will lay before him... one leading to salvation ... the other... devastation. His decision will be made when fire streaks across the sky.... Salvation .... Devastation .... His decision will..."

The seer coughed and her eyes, that had gone misty, turned clear and she blinked in confusion. "Albus?"

Dumbledore was in shock. Trelawney had made another prophecy! One that was as vague as the one before! What decision? Who was she talking about? Please don't let it be Harry!