Devil of A Wizard

Chapter 23

Chapter 23: Freedom

The first thing that everyone did after returning to the castle was to have Ginny sent to the Hospital Wing to get treated by Madame Pomfrey. After Ginny's health was okayed, Pomfrey went to work on giving the Mandrake Draught to every petrified victim of the Serpent of Slytherin. Before they could see the results, Harry and Ron were taken up to Dumbledore's office with Charlie right behind them. The three of them stood right in front of Dumbledore's desk while Lucifer was standing beside the headmaster. Fawkes was back on his golden pedestal as they explained everything to both of them. "So, you're telling us that this book was the reason for causing all this damage," Dumbledore asked in a serious tone as he held up the damaged diary.

"Yes, sir," Harry said to the elderly wizard, not looking into his eyes.

"And that you decided to go into the chamber and fight off the Basilisk when I specifically said not to," Lucifer chimed as his tone sounded angry as he held the fangs from the giant snake, then snapped his fingers to teleport them somewhere else.

"Yes, sir," Harry and Ron said as they looked down at the desk.

"I hope you three know that you have broken more than a dozen school rules in only just the past few hours," Dumbledore said in his serious tone.

"Yes, sir," Harry, Ron, and Charlie said in unison.

"You two have enough evidence to have you expelled," Dumbledore said once more. "Which is why I have come to a decision. It is only fitting that both of you and Ms. Magne..." Dumbledore said in a serious tone as the three of them were ready for the worst. "...will receive special awards in service to the school," he said in his much more grandfatherly voice. The three of them looked up at both men as Dumbledore gave a grandfatherly smile and Lucifer showed his sharp grin.

"We got you good, didn't we," Lucifer laughed.

"So we're not expelled," Ron asked happily.

"No. It's only right that you and the Magne siblings found out the location of the Chamber. By doing this, not only have you rescued a student and found the real culprit, but also saved the school from closing down," Dumbledore said to the red-haired boy. "Now, if you don't mind, Mr. Weasley, I would like you to have an owl deliver these papers. I believe we want our gamekeeper back. After that, you may go to bed," Dumbledore told Ron who nodded and had these papers sent to release Hagrid. After Ron walked out the door, Dumbledore turned to both Harry and Charlie while looking at the Prince of Hell. "First, I would like to thank you, Harry. You must have shown me real loyalty down in the Chamber. Nothing but that could have called Fawkes to you."

"Thank you, sir. I only showed it because it was the truth. You are the most powerful wizard I know," Harry told Dumbledore. "However, the most powerful being I know is my father. Then again, I do debate that since I feel like Mom can beat him," he said which made Charlie giggle and made the King of Hell turn red in the face.

"He doesn't need to know that, Harry. I mean, I could beat your mother if I wanted to. I choose not to," Lucifer said as he coughed in his hand as the color started to fade. "But it seems that something is troubling you, son. What is it?"

"I feel like it's not over yet. That Voldemort is still out there plotting his next move," Harry admitted. "The memory of Tom Riddle said that he'd live again, but how? Why?"

"Hmm... well, you're not wrong. His soul didn't pass into Hell," Lucifer admitted before picking up the diary. "I feel like it has to do with this book somehow. There's so much to the Wizarding World that even I don't know everything."

"Like why I can speak Parseltongue," Harry questioned.

"That's actually because of something your mother did when we took you in," Lucifer said as he put the diary down. "She removed a part of Voldemort from you, freeing you from potential influence. However, it left you with some lingering effects, such as the ability to talk with snakes such as Samael here," the Devil said as the Hell Snake slithered onto his shoulders.