One Day They'll Know Your Name

Not knowing their name is bugging me

Before allowing anyone into the Chamber, Harry sent the Animagus revealing spell at each of his friends, making them send him confused looks but he promised to explain when they got there. After he was satisfied, he opened the Chamber, letting everyone go in. He immediately closed the entrance and followed them down. Once they reached the main room, he turned to them.

"Sorry about that at the top. I just found out there's an Animagus here. It's a beetle, but other than that I didn't get a very good look at it. So, just keep an eye out, don't have any sensitive conversations where you don't know for sure a beetle isn't able to get to, and just be careful. We'll need to look up wards to keep out Animagi soon. For now I think we'll be safe enough down here, as long as we keep an eye out for beetles."

Ginny frowned. "Did you get anything about what the beetle looked like, Harry? A flash of a color, a specific shape?"

Harry slowly nodded. "As it passed some torchlight it kinda looked iridescent green. It was flying too fast for me to get a good look at the shape though."

Luna hummed. "Perhaps we should grow some catnip, tansy, and parsley to keep beetles away. Neville? What do you think?"

Neville grinned. "I think I can manage a little herb garden to keep beetles out in our classroom. I wonder if Myrtle would mind some plants in her bathroom...." He trailed off, thinking about the logistics.

Ron grinned, exchanging a glance with Draco. "Careful, Snowflake, you just gave Neville free reign to grow plants in our classroom.

Hermione whacked him over the head before turning to Harry. "I'll handle the wards. Harry, you just focus on staying alive in the next task and having a good break. Hopefully we'll have a good plan for keeping you alive underwater for an hour when we get back. Now. It's late and we have to be getting on the train tomorrow morning, so off to bed, all of you."

Everyone nodded, but Harry hung back, pulling Draco with him. "We'll catch up in a minute, guys," he said, smiling sheepishly. Draco looked at him confused, but stayed back with him.

Hermione rolled her eyes but walked out, followed by a confused Ron, the other three following behind with quick smiles at Harry and Draco.

Draco turned to Harry, clearly still confused, but Harry just threw himself at his best friend. "I missed you," he whispered against the blonde's chest. Draco's arms came up to wrap around Harry to complete the hug, and Draco nodded.

"Yeah. I missed you too. It's not the same without being able to be your partner in class and jump on your bed when you won't wake up in the morning."

"Oi! It's you who won't wake up, I'm the one jumping on your bed!"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Just from the tone Harry knew Draco had his nose in the air and he smiled.

"Oi!" Ron shouted from the next room. "You wanna let us out so we can get back to our dorms?" A second later they heard him yelp and had to suppress laughter.

"Yeah, yeah, we're coming, don't get your wand in a twist!" Harry yelled back, then stayed leaning against Draco for just a second longer before sighing and standing up.

Just as he was about to head to the other room, he suddenly thought of something. Sssalmissssssra? he called.

It took a few minutes, but Salmissra slithered out of Slytherin's mouth and nudged him gently. What isss it, Hatchling? It'sss late and little Hatchlingsss like you and your friendsss ssshould be in bed.

Sssorry, we're headed there now, I jussst wondered, did Sssalazar ever put up wardsss to keep the wizardsss that turn into animalsss out?

My Sssalazar wasss complaining about Rowena and Helga being able to get in when he accidentally left the entranccce open when he and his Godric were down here. They liked to come in asss their animalsss, so he put up the block to keep them out if they were in their animal formsss. I quickly learned to ssstay away when my Sssalazar and his Godric came down here without Rowena and Helga.

Harry scrunched his nose. That was way more information than he needed about his Founder. Ok. Thanksss, Sssalmissssssra. Sssorry if I woke you.

It isss fine, Hatchling. Now. Go to bed! You need your ressst.

Harry grumbled, but headed to the entrance, letting everyone out and sending Draco to the dorms first so they wouldn't be seen together.

********************

The next day the Express left for London, and Harry was ready to see Sirius, Remus, and Regulus. He had been trading letters with them, of course, but he hadn't been able to see them since summer. He really needed one of Siri's bone crushing hugs, Remus' hot chocolate, and Reggie's cuddles.

He practically twitched the whole way home, making Hermione glare at him as he was sitting right next to her, and flew off the train the second they arrived.

Sirius was there with Remus, but it seemed Regulus wasn't with them, which Harry suspected was because not many people knew he was alive yet. He barreled into Sirius, making the man bark out a laugh as he engulfed Harry into a hug.

"Welcome home, Pup. We'll be headed there in a minute, do you want to say goodbye to your friends first?" Sirius asked.

"Yeah, thanks Siri. I'll be back in a minute!" Harry ran off to tell his friends that he'd see them later, then headed back to Sirius and Remus, who held out a piece of cloth.

"Portkeys are safer than side-along Apparition, especially when you might be distracted by other people around you, so we'll be taking this instead. Hold on tight, now," Remus explained when Harry gave him a questioning look.

Harry nodded and stepped in close, giving one last wave to his friends as he was whisked away to land in a pile on the floor of Grimmauld Place.