The Untold Reborn

Chapter-13 : Freedom and Farewells

After the intense events of the Chamber of Secrets, Harry and Aurelia remained in Dumbledore's office. The room, though comforting in its usual grandeur, felt heavy with the aftermath of the confrontation. The flickering candlelight and the faint smell of old parchment provided a small comfort as they sat together, processing the day's events.

Dumbledore, looking both thoughtful and weary, addressed them with a gentle but firm tone. "I'm glad you both made it through. It's been a long day, and I assume you're eager to rest. Is there anything more you wish to discuss before you return to your respective homes for the holidays?"

Harry and Aurelia shared a glance. Harry took a deep breath and spoke up, "Professor, we were hoping... Could we spend the holidays together? Maybe I could visit Aurelia's place?"

Aurelia nodded in agreement. "It would be nice to have a change of scenery, away from all the recent chaos."

Dumbledore's eyes softened, but his expression remained resolute. "I'm afraid that's not possible. It's important for each of you to return to your homes as planned. You need this time to rest and recover without further disruptions."

Before they could express their disappointment, the door to the office swung open. Lucius Malfoy strode in, his face twisted into a sneer. "Headmaster. Still managing to look so composed after the chaos in the Chamber, I see."

Dumbledore's demeanor didn't change. "Mr. Malfoy. What brings you here?"

Lucius's gaze swept over the room dismissively. "I've come to collect a few things. The Ministry will certainly have much to say about your handling of the situation."

Dumbledore's eyes glinted with a hint of irritation. "The Ministry will address its own concerns. For now, we are focused on moving forward."

Lucius's lip curled in disdain as he turned to leave. "A temporary fix at best. I'm sure we haven't heard the last of this."

As Lucius exited, Harry and Aurelia exchanged a quick, determined glance. They knew they had one final task to complete. They followed Lucius down the corridor, their hearts pounding with anticipation.

"Mr. Malfoy!" Harry called out, catching up to him. He held out the diary with a casual air. "I believe you might have dropped this."

Lucius glanced at the diary with mild disinterest. "Yes, yes, I suppose it is mine." He took it from Harry's outstretched hand, his thoughts already on his next move.

Aurelia stepped forward, her voice calm but insistent. "It's important you take it. We wouldn't want anything to get lost."

Lucius, preoccupied with his thoughts, barely registered the exchange. He stuffed the diary into his robes, inadvertently dropping it on Dobby's hands, who had been waiting in the shadows, watching with keen eyes.

Dobby's gaze widened as he saw the diary and the sock concealed within. "Is this... a sock?" he muttered in awe, his hands trembling as he picked up the diary and discovered the sock hidden inside.

Lucius, still oblivious to the significance, continued walking away. "Get that away from me," he snapped, not realizing the gravity of what he had just handed over.

As Dobby's eyes lit up with realization, he clutched the diary and the sock, his voice breaking with emotion. "Dobby is free! Free at last!"

Lucius's face contorted with rage as he turned to see what had happened. "No! This is unacceptable! How dare you!"

As Lucius stormed off, Harry and Aurelia exchanged relieved smiles. The plan had worked perfectly. They watched as Dobby, now free, beamed with joy.

Returning to the Great Hall, the atmosphere was electric with the excitement of the end-of-term feast. Aurelia was swamped by her fellow Slytherins, who peppered her with questions about her recent adventure. The room buzzed with curiosity and admiration, though not everyone was pleased.

Draco Malfoy, his face set in a scowl, was visibly agitated. "This is ridiculous," he muttered to his friends. "Potter and his lot think they can just walk around like heroes. My father's out, and they're celebrating like they've won a victory."

As the feast came to a close, the students prepared for their journey home. Aurelia, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred, and George all squeezed into one compartment on the Hogwarts Express. Aurelia's Slytherin friends glared at her from the platform as she sat surrounded by Gryffindors.

"Seriously, Aurelia?" Nora Prince said, a hint of annoyance in her voice. "You're with all these Gryffindors? You know they don't exactly like us."

Aurelia shrugged with a small, unbothered smile. "Sometimes it's not just about houses. It's about who you trust."

The compartment was filled with laughter and chatter as they recounted their adventures. Fred leaned back with a grin. "I can't imagine look on Malfoy's face when you handed him that diary. He didn't even realize what was going on!"

George chuckled. "Yeah, and Dobby's reaction was priceless. I'm surprised Lucius didn't notice the sock. That was brilliant."

Ron, snickering, added, "I bet Dobby's just ecstatic. He's probably dancing around in his new freedom."

Harry shrugged, a faint smile on his lips. "Well, it's not like my uncle and aunt would appreciate it. They'd probably be disappointed that I didn't die in the Chamber. They're not exactly the proud type."

Hermione raised an eyebrow, though she couldn't help but smile at Harry's dark humor. "That's a rather grim way to look at it, Harry. But you're right—some people just don't know how to appreciate bravery."

Ginny, leaning in with a mischievous glint in her eye, added, "Imagine their faces if they were here. 'Oh, Harry survived another year and defeated a dark wizard? How boring!'"

Fred and George roared with laughter. "Imagine their reaction if they had to see this," Fred said. "They'd be shaking their heads in disbelief."

Aurelia, sitting comfortably among the Gryffindors, looked at her friends with a mixture of amusement and warmth. "It's nice to have a moment of normalcy, even after everything that happened."

As the train journey continued, the laughter and camaraderie provided a welcome distraction from the weight of recent events. When the train finally pulled into the station, Aurelia's adoptive parents were waiting for her. Aurelia stepped off the train, her heart lifting at the sight of them.

"Mom, Dad," she said, introducing Harry with a mixture of pride and sadness. "This is Harry Potter. Harry, these are my parents."

Harry shook hands with Aurelia's parents, his gratitude evident despite the strain of his situation. "It's nice to meet you," he said, trying to sound upbeat.

Aurelia's mother smiled warmly at Harry. "It's wonderful to finally meet you, Harry. Aurelia's told us so much about you."

Aurelia's father clapped a hand on Harry's shoulder. "We're glad to have you. It's unfortunate about your situation with the Dursleys."

Harry managed a small, grateful smile. "It's not ideal, but I'll manage."

Aurelia's expression softened with concern. "I wish things could be different for you, Harry. It's not fair that you have to go back there."

Harry looked at Aurelia with appreciation. "I know. But having a sister like you makes it a lot easier."

As they said their goodbyes and Aurelia's parents led her away, she felt a pang of sadness but also a deep sense of relief. The year had been tumultuous, but with friends and a place to call home, she felt ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.