The Basilisk's Shadow

Albus Dumbledore awoke Christmas morning to find a usual pile of gifts placed in his office, with a chuckle, and the slight shaking of his head, he began his early morning routine before sitting down to address the wrapped presents.

Coworkers would give him clothing or various oddities that he would find enjoyable.

Politicians would send bribes of money or objects of great value, which would usually be donated to charities.

Just as he was about to open one from the Weasley family, a hand-knit sweater he suspected, his gaze fell upon a package addressed from a certain student.

To Headmaster Albus Dumbledore,

I was unsure what you might enjoy for the Holidays so I went with something I have often seen you enjoy during our visits. Please enjoy responsibly.

Harry Potter

After carefully opening the package Albus' eyes shone with glee, it was a rather large sized container of assorted Muggle candies.

...

To my favorite Auror,

May it keep you warm on these cold days.

Harry

P.S. If you are ever feeling lonely feel free to sop by the Slytherin common room.

Tonks shook her head with a laugh, before unwrapping the rather large fur lined coat. More than a few times she had made her patrols outside of the castle, and this promised to be quite useful for those awful occasions.

It was rather amusing to, once again, have a massive pile of gifts waiting for him in the common room. Hedwig's had been 'delivered' the previous night while Luna was trying to think up something different since her original plan had been shot down.

With a gentle sigh the boy set about his task, Draco's had been a rather large piece of parchment with dozens of designs on them, further noting that when he found one that he enjoyed the Malfoy heir would have it emblazoned on any future clothing as his official seal.

Blaise and Nott had both gone with various clothing or books, along with the remainder of those who didn't know him as well.

Neville's gift had been a rather old framed document, one specifying an alliance between the House of Longbottom and the House of Potter from centuries prior.

Pansy had gotten him something much like the previous year… except for the fact that instead of just one mildly scandalous picture it was more than a dozen… and they were all quite revealing.

Aurora Sinistra had given him a book on stargazing, with a note to visit her sometime.

Surprisingly Tonks had even purchased a small bag of candy for him.

Finally Dumbledore had sent him a book on the Potter family and their history.

....

"Merry Christmas Hermione…" the bushy-haired girl whispered to herself as she sat in an empty classroom. Originally it had been the girl's dorm, but Lavender Brown had been there, and quite frankly she was tired of listening to the girl swoon over Ron Weasley.

She had gone down to their common rooms next, hoping that she could simply read in silence… but even there the bookworm found no solace as a few nasty remarks from Dean and Seamus, two of Ron's friends, had her wanting to leave almost immediately.

Thus she sat… alone once again, but this time it was different. There were no gifts to open, no songs being sung nearby, it was just…

Empty

The Witch fought back the tears that threatened to pour from her eyes. The would not cry over something so silly. Perhaps she could go to the library and find a few books to read there?

Turning to leave she froze in place, there before her was a single package wrapped in colorful paper, like the ones her parents would always give her.

But how?

She hadn't left the room, and no one had entered. The choice of area had been a last minute one… Glancing around to ensure she was alone, and not crazy, the Gryffindor slowly stepped forward, before seeing the tag.

To Miss Eyre

Merry Christmas

Mr. Rochester

He had purchased her a gift… something even her parents had apparently skipped out on. The young girl gently tore apart the wrapping paper, her eyes widening and shining with tears of happiness moments later.

It was a book, one she knew to be rather rare and expensive if she recalled correctly. She had wanted to read it all summer after seeing it in Diagon Alley, but simply could not afford the object.

Had he been watching her there too? Had he seen and 'marked' her so early on?

The thought both worried… and excited her.

...

"Did you hear the rumors?"

"Yeah, someone died last night, I guess they are going to shut the school down."

"That is horrible!"

"Better than being killed at least!"

Harry Potter frowned, he had been more than willing to wait and see if the adults could finally handle a problem by themselves but it appeared he had miscalculated for once. If the school was shut down he would be stuck back in that shit hole orphanage with nothing to do but try and stop himself from murdering everyone around him.

That would not do. Add onto this that if lives truly were in danger he might end up having to start from scratch if one of those he had been 'working on' was caught. Not a huge loss for the most part but a small part of him had to admit that he was enjoying both Luna and Hermione's company. If one of them were to die he would be quite upset… would which undoubtedly lead to further casualties, this time by his own hand.

Something would have to be done, and unfortunately it might mean even more attention on him.

...

Albus Dumbledore stood in the Medical Wing, feeling older than he had in years. Their luck had finally ran out, a student had been found… dead. He had already been informed that an official inquiry was to be held in a mere half an hour, and that he was required to attend.

The problem this posed was that he would be forced out of the school, where he was needed to protect the students. Luckily Amelia had intervened and was sending additional Aurors, and that the students would be evacuated.

Unfortunately, neither of these two events were scheduled until mid afternoon… the following day. This meant there would be a window where neither he, nor additional assistance would be available. Perhaps their luck could come back for just twenty four hours? Perhaps no one else would suffer a similar fate…

The aged Wizard stared down at the body of the twelve year old boy one last time, before wiping away the tears forming at his eyes and slowly making his way towards a nearby Floo system. The only good that had come from this tragedy was that they now knew what was the cause. Snake skin had been found nearby allowing for identification that it was indeed a Basilisk.

...

A Basilisk, a bloody freaking Basilisk.

Nymphadora Tonks swore once more as she crept along the abandoned hallways, terror surrounding her heart. Sure they now knew what monster prowled Hogwarts… but without Dumbledore the Auror had little hopes of defeating the creature. She still had to try though, maybe she would get lucky?

A hissing sound from a corridor on her right had the metamorphmagus throwing herself behind a column in defense. Glancing around the obstacle she caught sight of the massive body that slithered towards her before ducking back.

She was going to die.

Sinking to the floor, despair crept over the Auror as tears began to flow down her face. Her first assignment and she was either going to be killed by the monster's gaze… or eaten by it.

Why… why her? Why did she have to die here? Why couldn't a more experienced Auror been put on the case, someone older, someone who had more time to live their life and enjoy things before being snuffed out.

But no, it had to be her, and now she was going to be murdered in this cold, godforsaken hallway.

Alone

As the slithering became louder, and her own heart rate picked up the Auror let out a few last minute prayers, apologizing to her mother for everything she would be putting the woman through with her death. A moment later the snake head came within view, but luckily, or unluckily depending on how one might see it, the eyes were facing away. Not for long though as it turned towards her and…

The eyes of the creature suddenly turned pitch black, before exploding violently, earning what Tonks could only assume was a hiss of agony as the massive snake flailed about.

Then… footsteps. Slow and methodical as if it was too much of a hassle to run.

Looking up from her seated position Tonks caught sight of raven-black hair, of emerald-green eyes, and of a calm demeanor. Harry Potter walked into her view, glanced over at her with an emotionless expression, before turning back to the Basilisk.

"Oh my my my… quite a big one aren't you."

Before any response could be had, a hand made of pure darkness ripped forward from the shadows on the ground, slamming into the creature and pushing it across the hallway into a nearby wall, where the stone crumbled and groaned in protest of the blow.

"How unfortunate, I thought something your size would be stronger… what a pity."

It was almost… detached, the way he spoke. Analytical and cold, like a surgeon performing an autopsy.

"Over here now, let us try one more test shall we? Let us see if you can actually manage to draw blood on me."

Peeking from around the column Tonks gasped in horror as the monster surged forward, and snapped into the boy's form, guided only by sound.

Then the chuckle echoed through the dark hall.

"How… disappointing."

Lifting one hand, as apparently the fangs had failed to even puncture through his clothing, the boy-who-lived snapped his fingers and the snake was burned alive from the inside out.

....

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