Chapter 8

Harry had his wand raised a light on the end of it as he made his way down into the Chamber, he looked back and was rather proud to see that although many of them looked scared there was also a determination to conquer their fears shining in their eyes.

He frowned to himself, now that he was continuously using his magic through his wand with the Wand-Lighting Charm it felt oddly wrong. Like he was forcing his magic into the piece of wood. Before when he pulled magic from his core to his wand, the magic seemed to focus more in the wand than in his arm which was why wandless magic was so much harder, now though it seed to focus more in his arm instead and it made using his wand feel almost uncomfortable. He would ask Hermione about it later he decided.

As they reached the bottom of the stairs many people made faces of disgusted towards the dead rats and other animals on the floor, Harry just smirked finding it somewhat amusing. Frowning suddenly he realised that the Chamber may have been more than a bit dirty and grimy for their base and he relayed that through the bond.

Daphne frowned in thought for a moment before an idea struck her. "Dobby!" She called out to open air and everyone turned to look at her just as the House Elf himself appeared with a small Pop!. "You is calling Dobby, Mrs Greenygrass!"

Her eye twitched at the mistake in her surname before looking at him. "Yes Dobby, you see we need this place clean do you think you will be able to do that?"

He looked around and nodded excitedly, his ears flapping, happy that he would be able to help the Great Harry Potter's bonded mate. Everyone watched in surprise as the Elf began to Vanish the skeletons under their feet and clean the walls with Cleaning Charms.

Padma frowned. "How was a House Elf able to get in here?"

Hermione opened her mouth to answer then shut it as she had no idea. Turning to Dobby who was making quick work of his job she said. "Dobby how were you able to get in here?"

Dobby turned around and blinked as everyone looked at him. "When the Great Harry Potter beat the bad snake man in the Secretsy Chamber he took ownership of the Chamber's Wards and since Dobby is Master Harry's Elf he can come and go in the places Master owns." Then Dobby realised that he had said something he shouldn't have and put his hands over his mouth.

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "Master?"

Dobby nodded and said. "Mrs Grangy does not know that House Elves are requiring bond with Wizards to live."

Hermione looked stricken ass he realised all the time she spent on SPEW was for nothing. Harry hugged her and addressed Dobby. "Does that mean you are bonded to me then?"

Dobby nodded and said. "Dobby is sorry he didn't tell Master Harry. He will punish himself if Master commands it."

Harry shook his head. "No its fine just carry on with your work."

Dobby nodded, happy that his Master had forgiven him and restarted his work with renewed vigour.

Blasie piped up. "Well that was interesting but how about you show us the Chamber and I can find out why Greengrass invited us here."

Harry nodded and lead everyone out of the room and along the passageway as Dobby worked his magic behind them cleaning the place up. The blocked passageway looked like it might have been a problem if Katie and Leanne hadn't Transfigured it into an arch which Dobby reinforced with his magic.

Everyone gaped at the Basilisk skin and Harry's comment about the real one being bigger did nothing to alleviate their fear.

They arrived at the door to the Chamber itself and many of them looked fascinated at the intricate door, most of all the Slytherin's and Ravenclaws along with Hermione, though all thought the mechanism to open it was rather cool.

Hary looked back and gaped, causing everyone to turn around and make nosies of surprise. they had really underestimated Dobby it seemed, for what was once a dark grimy slightly collapsed corridor was now a well lit passageway with clean shinning walls.

Blaise commented. "That Elf sure works fast." That created a chuckle from almost all the group. Harry turned around and walked through the large vault like door with everyone clambering though behind him.

The Chamber looked exactly the same as before with the water filled sides and the row of snake statues lining the sides. At the end was the pool with the great carved face of Salazar Slytherin with the carcass of the Basilisk obscuring the bottom of it, forming a wall of solid green.

As Harry walked towards the carcass he looked back when he couldn't hear the sound of anyone following him. Everyone was stood there in shock their eyes locked on the carcass of the Basilisk.

He chuckled causing them to snap out of their shock and look at him. "It's quite alright its most certainly dead."

Suddenly he was bombarded by two blond haired missiles and one brown haired one. Hermione said with tears in her eyes. "Harry, y-you said it was a-a big snake that is not big, that's enormous, gigantic just something else than big!"

Justin and Colin looked at each other and realised just how lucky they were that they managed to get away from that monster and everyone there gained a new level of appreciation of what Harry Potter was capable of doing when he put his mind to it.

All of them approached the Basilisk or began to look around the Chamber. No one commented on why Hermione, Daphne and Gabrielle were clinging to Harry.

Blaise looked at Harry in wonder and gulped. "Y-You mean to say you faced that at twelve."

He just shrugged and nodded and Blaise made a small whimpering sound.

After his bonded had reassured themselves that Harry was actually alive he called everyone back over to him. They quickly gathered in front of him.

Taking a deep breath Harry said. "Alright most of you know why we are here but some of you won't. Over the summer I found out some things that changed my view towards Dumbledore and some of the Weasley's mainly the youngest two Ron and Ginny. Both of them were spies for Dumbledore who ahd spent the entire time since that fateful Halloween night manipulating me to become a martyr for his cause."

This caused the Slytherin's and Neville to gasp whilst Luna lost her dreamy look as her eyes sharpened on Harry. Everyone else having already heard the story didn't react beyond the grim looks they wore. He continued.

"Beyond that I realised that Dumbledore's way of fighting the war wasn't working. He is more worried about redeeming the Death Eaters than actually fighting a war and the Order end up being more of a hindrance thanks to their philosophy of only stunning their enemies, something we found that in the Department of Mysteries didn't work. The Ministry on the other hand is even worse thanks to the fact that Death Eaters have heavily infiltrated the place and the general corruption a the top layers of the Ministry means the Death Eaters can just buy their way out of prison. So what I am trying to say is that I am going to create my own side. Everyone outside of the Slytherins, Neville, Luna and Gabrielle have already joined, so what do you say are you in?"

Neville looked shocked whilst Luna stare bore into Harry. Blaise and Tracy looked thoughtful.

Blaise said. "Why should we join you over Dumbledore or the Ministry, I'll admit I hate the Dark Lord but why should we join you instead of them?" Tracy seemed to be nodding in agreement.

Harry looked thoughtful for a second before deciding to trust them.

"Before my parents died there was a prophecy made that said The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies.... So in the end it is going to be me or him, Dumbledore quite literally cant defeat Voldemort only I can."

This was news to everyone in the group and it just reaffirmed the belief of those who had already joined him that they had made the right choice. Blaise, Luna and Tracy looked thoughtful whislt Neiville had gone pale as he realised something.

Seeing his pale face Harry nodded causing him to gulp. Secretly Neville was happy that it wasn't his job to kill the Dark Lord. Harry had helped him in the DA and he had advanced in leaps since Harry took him under his wing. Facing Bellatrix the women responsible for hurting his parents had been both terrifying and yet oddly exactly what he needed. She was no longer some far off phantom that haunted his nightmares for what she had done to his parents, now she was solid, she was real, someone he could finally get his revenge on. It certainly helped when his Gran looked at him with pride after she had heard the full story of what happened.

Gathering huis courage he stepped forward. "You helped me in the DA and I fought alongside you at the Ministry, I am not abandoning you now. I'm in, I'll stand with you to whatever end."

Many of them were surprised at Neville's statement but alt he Storm Mages nodded in respect for his bravery and loyalty causing him to blush slightly but he still stood tall and looked Harry straight in the eye.

Harry was touched by his words and nodded solemnly. "Thank you Neville."

Luna stepped forward. "You were the only ones who didn't call me Loony Harry, you helped me greatly last year and now I have friends I can trust to watch my back. I'll help you."

Tracy and Blasie looked around at the group before looking at Daphne who nodded to them in encouragement. Taking a deep breath Blaise looked at Tracy who nodded in agreement before he addressed Harry. "Alright Potter we are taking a gamble here. Daphne seems to trust you and I respect her judgment and if you are correct then you are the only one who can take down that bastard. I can't believe I'm doing this, but we're in."

Daphne grinned and Harry nodded. "Welcome then to the Storm Mages."

Everyone grinned back at him and Susan asked. "So how are we going to train?"

"Well this week we are going to clear out the Chamber and crate a space for our Base next week we start for real. I have based the training off of Auror and Hit-Wizard training along with some of the stuff I have personally picked up over time or gathered. Dobby can get us books from the Black Library and copy books from the Restricted Section in the Library giving us access to all the knowledge we need."

Susan nodded and Harry clapped his hands. "Alright, if everyone sets about using Cleaning charms we should be able to get this place ready."

Everyone moved away and began to clean the place knowing they would be spending quite an bit of time down here.

Hermione beamed at him. "You know you are rather suited to leadership Harry. I'm proud of you."

He blushed slightly and then an idea came to him and he grinned before he turned and said. "Dobby!"

The House Elf appeared bouncing on the balls of his feet and said. "Master Harry called Dobby!"

"Hello Dobby, could you do me a favour?"

Nodding Dobby said. "Anything for Harry Potter Sir!"

"Could you talk to Hermione, Daphne and Gabrielle, they will tell you a list of things to find. Would you be able to go out and find them and bring them back to the Chamber?"

Dobby nodded. "Dobby can do that."

Harry smiled. "You should be able to get more of the mundane stuff from scrapheap or disposal centres. A few Repairing and Cleaning Charms and they'll be like new anything else you can buy using the money from my Vault."

Dobby nodded understanding his Masters command.

Turning to his bonded Harry said. "Make a list of anything we will need down here for our Base and then give it to Dobby and he can bring it back here."

They nodded and Harry left them to their own devices, leaving the girls to talk to the excitable Elf. He decided that the main area needed expanding so he set about destroying the snake statues with Reductor Curses then vanishing the rubble. Almost everyone had stopped to watch him at work demolishing the statues. Next he moved onto the water at the edge of the Chamber.

Closing his eyes he pulled on the deep reserves of magic at the bottom of his Core and he forced it through his arm which if he had been watching was being covered by a black colour with red lines running up his arm and into his arm.

Slowly he began to Transfigure the water into stone ignoring the uncomfortable sensation of using his wand and the sudden urge for his bond mates blood. Wait, Where did that come from?!

He tried to ignore it and pushed his concentration into performing the magic. When he felt the last bit of water turn to rock he opened his eyes completely unaware that they had changed from green to red only for them to return back to normal a second later. Frowning to himself he wondered where the sudden lust for blood came from.

Deciding it was something else he would tell Hermione about it latter, if anyone could figure out what was going on with him it was her.

Moving over to the other side of the Chamber he repeated the feat of magic completely oblivious that he had performed a bit of Transfiguration that perhaps only Albus Dumbledore would be capable of. He could feel the same lust for blood and uncomfortable sensation in his wand. He came tot he conclusion that it was when he used a large amount of magic would he get that blood lust and he could feel deep inside him that the Twelve Beings in his Core would get restless when the blood lust started. Deciding he definitely needed to tell his bond mates about it later he stepped back and admired his work.

The Chamber seemed to have almost expanded twice in size and now seemed exceedingly spacious for everything he needed. He blinked when he realised that everyone was staring at him.

Hannah gaped at him. "Tha-That was amazing not even Professor McGonagall could do that!"

Harry tilted his head to the side in confusion.

Hermione chuckled a small smile playing on her lips. "Don't worry about it Harry you just did another impossible thing."

Harry just shrugged and motioned for everyone to get back to work. Harry moved back to his bond mates who had a massive pile of assorted objects in front of them.

"So what have you got?"

Daphne looked over. "Well we got Dobby to bring everything from materials to build a Duelling Ring to Carpets. So we should be fine."

Harry just shook his head in amazement of just how efficient the little guy was. House Elves were awesome! Or maybe it was just Dobby, oh well it didn't matter. Go House Elves!

It took them a few hours but they had managed to clean out the Chamber and make it ready. On one side was a row of Bookcases that were filled with the non-cursed books in the Black Library along with copied versions of the volumes in the restricted section of the Library at Hogwarts. Next to the Library section were benches with Caldrons on them and a rack of Potion Ingredients Dobby had bought from Diagon Alley. On the other side of the Chamber was a raised Duelling Ring for practice. There were torches lighting up the area and chairs, table and rugs near the Library section for relaxation. In the space where the pool and the statue of Salazar face had once been had been removed and had a massive map of the United Kingdom on it, with key locations like Diagon Alley and the Ministry of Magic marked on it. Finally the carcass of the Basilisk had been removed by Dobby who would ask assistance from other Elves to render it down, the Blood, Internal Organs and Venom would be either sold for a pretty penny or kept for Potions Ingredients whilst the Skin would be sent to an Armourer in Diagon Alley to be made into armour as Basalisk Hide was famous for being some of the most magic resistant material on the planet.

Everyone stood back and looked over the room, feeling rather proud with their work. Dennis was bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet and grinned. "Its like the Bat Cave!"

All the Muggleborn or Muggle raised snorted whilst the Purebloods just looked confused.

Hermione reached into her school bag that she had brought with her and took out golden necklaces with an image of a Phoenix holding a lightning bolt in its claws with two wands crossing behind it. She handed them out to the group and explained. "These are like the emblems from the DA except more advanced. We will use them to send messages, emergency summons and arrange meetings. Wear them at all time. They also have a Notice-Me-Not Charm carved into them so others won't notice them."

Everyone nodded and admired the necklaces before putting them on. Everyone thought he design was rather cool and they felt a strange sense of pride wearing them.

Harry blinked and said. "So is that our symbol then?"

Hermione paused for a moment then nodded.

Harry grinned and turned his wand to face the Chamber. Transfiguring some rocks left over he turned them into banners with their symbol on it and hung them on the ceiling causing everyone to puff their chests in pride. Their Headquarters was complete and they felt like they were a part of something big and it filled them with an odd sense of pride.

Harry summoned Dobby who was bouncing in front of him. Addressing the group he said. "If any of you need to come down here find a secluded area away from other people or paintings and summon Dobby he will bring you down here as it is the easiest way until I can make Portkeys."

Everyone nodded and began to leave with the help of the rather batty Elf after thanking Harry. Finally it was just him and his bond mates left in the Chamber.

He slumped his shoulders and let out a deep sigh.

Gabrielle asked. "'Arry what iz wrong?"

He looked at her and his other bond mates and began to describe the odd sensation he got with his wand and how uncomfortable it felt to use and the strange lust for blood he developed when he used too much magic.

Both Daphne and Gabrielle had their brows furrowed whiklst Hermione looked pensive. Harry knew that look anywhere. It meant Mione had an idea but wasn't sure if she should share it or not.

Looking at her he said. "Hermione do you have any ideas?"

She seemed startled as he had interrupted her thought process and then she looked up at him with a serious expression on her face and a strange look in her eye.

"Do you trust me Harry?"

Nodding with barely any hesitation. "You know I do Mione."

Nodding her head she approached him and stopped when she stood right in front of him She said slightly nervously. "I have a hypothesis about what is happening to you. I asked Katie to buy some books for me at Flourish and Blotts and I would like to see if I am right. If I am it will tell us what happened to you."

He licked his lips and took a deep breath, deciding to trust the girl who had been with him through thick and then he nodded.

A serious look back on her face she looked around before saying. No we can't try it here to little space. Dobby!"

The Elf popped up and she addressed him. "Dobby can you take us to the Forbidden Forest?"

He nodded and grabbed hold of her before popping away. He then returned for Harry, Gabrielle and Daphne.

harry blinked as he looked around, it was near dusk and they were in a clearing of the Forbidden Forest and Harry could see the glittering castle in the distance with its lights casting a soft glow against the sky

Turning back to Hermione he said. "Alright now that we are out here what do you want me to do?"

"Close your eyes and channel your magic through your body when you start to feel the lust for blood open your eyes and just go with your instincts, it will either prove me right or I'll have go back to research."

Nodding he did so, Moving his magic from his Core he slowly felt it travel though his body and into his arm and the familiar lust for blood began to cloud his mind. Dimly he felt his teeth begin to sharpen in his mouth. As the Golden Beast he had felt in his Core earlier began to get restless.

He heard Hermione say. "Now Harry open your eyes."

Opening his eyes which were no longer there familiar green colour but a powerful red, similar but different from Voldemort's. They locked onto Hermione in front of him and widened in shock. She had unbuttoned the top buttons of her shirt and exposed her neck. Her soft, smooth beautiful neck. Almost as if he was drawn to it he moved forward and embraced her, his head in front of her neck.

Driven by overwhelming instincts he opened his mouth and his oversized incisors bit into her neck. He revelled in the taste of her blood as she let out a moan as blood ran down her neck and both Gabrielle and Daphne blushed as they felt the pleasure through the bond. As Harry drank the blood he could feel the Golden Beast in his Core begin to calm and submit to him.

Harry removed his fangs from her neck and let out a roar as his right arm turned black and red glowing lines appeared along it. Yellow bolts of Lightning crackled around him and Harry felt the Golden Beast burst from his Core and the Lightning surrounding him exploded upwards condensing into a twenty meter long Lion like Beast.

It's body was a dark yellow whilst its mane and tail were made of bright crackling lightning. It had three bright glowing red eyes and the great Beast seemed to exert a pressure on its surroundings as it stood there in the air before opening its mouth.

"ROAR!"

The very air itself seemed to vibrate as it let out an ear slitting roar.

As the Beast finally stopped its roar it took one last imperious look at its surrounding then seemed to dissipate leaving the four standing in the clearing in a state of shock. It was Harry who snapped out of his revelry first. "What the hell was that!?"

Hermione looked around and then said. "Later, lets get out of here before the Proffesors show up. That roar will have awoken the entire castle!"

Daphne still mildly dazed said. "She's right lets get out of here."

They summoned Dobby and soon all four of them had vanished leaving an empty clearing just as the Professors appeared on brooms their wands razed for combat.

Minerva McGonagall had been in her office at her desk putting the final touches on her lesson plans for the first term when she felt the magic in the air change, frowning she looked up. She caught sight of the glow coming from the window and she turned to see what it was.

She was so surprised by what she saw she dropped her Quill in shock. For floating above the Forbidden Forest was a majestic looking golden lion. She saw the beast open its mouth and let out an ear splitting roar causing her cat instincts from her Animagus form to go haywire as they told her to either flee in terror or bow and submit.

As the roar that had rattled her windows ended the Beast seemed to dissipate into golden light. Shakily she got to her feet and grabbed her broom and headed to the window. She saw other professors including the Headmaster throwing their windows open and getting on brooms and flying to investigate. She got on her own broom and flew through the air to join them.

Arriving in the clearing near enough at the same time as the other Professors she gasped as she felt the shear amount of magic permeating the air, it was almost suffocating in volume.

Landing near the Headmaster who had his wand out and was waving it about, muttering under his breath, she shouted in a panicked voice. "Albus do you have nay idea what that was?!"

Looking over and seeing his four Head of Houses with their wands out looking panicked he frowned and said. "No my dear I'm afraid I don't but whatever it was it seems to have disappeared. Their is nothing you can do here go back to the school and make sure all the students are safe."

The four nodded shakily and got on their brooms and headed back to the castle whilst Dumbledore continued to stand their. Was that Beast a message from Tom? Or was it something else? What was it there for? What did it want?

Ahhh! He hated guessing, it was his job to be vague and have all the answers but their was just too much magic in the air to do any investigation and he couldn't pick up a wand signature. Whatever that was, it was either from the forest, an unknown Creature or done wandlessly by a Wizard.

Sighing he got back on his broom and headed back to the Castle, there was nothing he could do and now he had to calm down the castles inhabitants. He would investigate more in the morning.