"I really am sorry for scaring you," he whispered again. "And for running off into danger without telling you. I don't act impulsive on purpose, I promise." He paused. "I love you."
Her eyes had lost their rage and she gave him a genuine smile. Her hands lingered in his hair, brushing it away from his eyes and scraping her manicured, sharp nails gently against his scalp. The terror he'd felt down in the Chamber faded under her comforting gesture. Not even her angry words meant anything to him. Mama was here and he felt warm and safe. His head angled deeper into her touch. She sat down on the edge of his bed with a long, exhausted sigh. He grabbed her free hand with both of his and they existed there, in mutual comfort for a moment or an eternity.
She cleared her throat. "You'll have to tell me all about the fight once I don't feel like yelling at you anymore. It's a very impressive feat to slay such a beast. I'm very proud. But! Never, ever again are you to go anywhere near basilisk venom of fiendfyre or anything else that can kill you, is that clear?"
"Yes mama. I'm sorry."
"Good. Enough dramatics then. I'm certain Dumbledore will have many questions. Tell him you found the diary and it led you into the Chamber. You tricked the basilisk into biting and eating it, and then you killed the snake. Er, how did you kill the snake? No. No, I can't think about it yet. Since you're such a big boy who doesn't need his mama, I'm sure you'll come up with something to tell him."
"Yes mama."
She hesitated, her hand stopped its soothing motion through his hair. "I should return to the Restoration Potion, it's in a sensitive phase."
"I understand."
"Nothing hurts? You're alright?"
"I feel good as new. Fawkes cried on me, I'm fully healed I swear."
"Right, well. I'd better go." Her fingers began to card through his hair once more. "I'm serious about that Quidditch ban. You'll study and have absolutely no fun whatsoever for the rest of term. No dessert, either!"
"Yes mama."
"All your free time can be spent thinking about the stupidity of your actions, is that clear?"
"Yup."
She looked over at Dumbledore who had been slowly inching his way across the infirmary ever since the yelling had stopped, trying to look casual.
"Do you want me to stay while you deal with the meddling old man?"
"No, no. I'll be alright. You can go back to the potion."
"Very well." She removed her hand once more and stood. Her final look was full of forbidden emotion, gentle and caring before it closed off into its usual mild annoyance. "Let me know if you need anything." She gave a curt nod to Dumbledore and left, not turning back.
"Harry, my boy! I trust you are feeling better?" His eyes twinkled and smiled. It was bizarre how chill the old man seemed to be about several of his students nearly dying. He could at least be a quarter as upset as mama and Mrs. Weasley were, not that Harry wanted to suffer through any more emotion for the day.
"Yeah, fine. Thanks to Fawkes, I'm all healed up. Thanks for your help," he said sarcastically. Dumbledore had conveniently only turned up the moment the two exhausted children had clamored back through the pipe into the bathroom, after all.
"Ah, think nothing of it, my boy! I am glad my friend could be of assistance to you. Now, if you don't mind, why don't you tell me the circumstances that led to yourself and Mr. Weasley battling a basilisk inside the Chamber."
Luckily it was very easy to lie to the old man, and Harry spun a tale of finding the diary, running into Ginny, tricking the snake into eating its master, and running around for their lives until Fawkes showed up and he stabbed it. Dumbledore looked upset that the diary had been consumed but accepted their brave tale with a pat on the head and 100 points to Gryffindor.
That night, the Headmaster announced that the Heir had been found and the Chamber's Monster had been killed. A week and a half after that, those who had been petrified were revived.
Harry, Ron, and Luna, alongside a group of parents and other students, hovered outside the infirmary's doors waiting for the good news.
Alabasandria finally opened the door and let everyone inside. The petrified students were all awake but groggy. A horde of St. Mungo's healers scurried around the room, finishing up last-minute tests. They watched as Hermione stood on shaking legs, her face pale and sweating from overexertion. Still, she shot them all a wide, happy grin and waved as she was urged to sit back down. The three kids hung back for a moment as Hermione was pulled into a sobbing hug by her parents. Harry watched Colin Creevy talk animatedly to his family, looking entirely unconcerned that he'd been unconscious half the school year while Mr. Filch was hysterical, his voice murmuring to his cat in high-pitched cooing about his precious princess being okay.
Her parents were eventually soothed and stepped aside to speak with the healers. When the children approached her bedside, Hermione pulled them all into a hug, including Harry without hesitation.
"Oh I'm so glad you've solved it! You'll have to tell me everything. I don't suppose any of you took notes for me. I'm behind on so much homework!" Ron and Harry shared a fond look before Luna saved them by assuring Hermione she could use hers.
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