Harry wouldn't have agreed so readily if he'd realized what he was walking into in the Headmaster's office. First Luna and her father had leapt into each other's arms and cried about almost losing each other. Harry was fine with that until they both grabbed Harry and pulled him in too. All that touching and crying really made him uncomfortable.
It wasn't until they released him that he realized the Headmaster had several people in the office already. Professors McGonagall and Flitwick were there. An older witch with a monocle was introduced as Madam Bones, head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. With her was a wizard with hair as wild as Hermione's. He was introduced as the Head Auror Rufus Scrimgeour. A pair of his Aurors stood unobtrusively against the wall next to the Floo but never spoke.
Also in the office was a blond haired man with a snake handled cane he instantly knew to be Draco's father. While the little ponce never attempted to attack Harry or his friends again, he'd remained a constant low-level annoyance all year. His favourite topic being his father and how powerful he was. Professor Dumbledore introduced Mr Malfoy as being a representative of the school's Board of Governors.
'Looks like the little rat wasn't lying about that,' Harry thought.
The biggest surprise was the presence of Professor Lockhart sitting on a plain wooden stool with his hands clasped in front of him in a pair of odd looking handcuffs. The usually well groomed and dressed man looked rather dishevelled and miserable starring glumly at the floor.
"Professor?" Harry asked questioningly towards Dumbledore.
"Ah, yes Mr Potter! Thank you for resolving the case of Miss Lovegood's disappearance. Obviously, the addition to the wall writing was someone's example of a tasteless prank." The professor peered over his half-moon glasses and seemed to try to pass Harry a message.
"Um, I guess so, professor." The Headmaster didn't seem to want to hear the whole story in front of these people. Since the group included Draco's father, Harry was willing to play along.
"Well boy, who was it?" Lucius Malfoy demanded. "Who did this 'prank'?"
"He's gone now, sir," Harry replied in a very polite tone. "It was some old man that claimed he'd been a student here once. He said he was trying to make the school look bad."
"And who was this man?" Madam Bones asked.
"Riddle," Harry answered. "Tom Riddle" Harry noticed Mr Malfoy's slight flinch when Voldemort's true name was mentioned. Dumbledore merely nodded as though confirming something he already knew.
Madam Bones turned to her Head Auror, saying, "Rufus, get an alert out for one Tom Riddle and have the school archives searched for any background on him."
Scrimgeour nodded. "We should pass it on to the continent too. He could easily be out of Britain by now." Bones nodded her agreement and the Head Auror left followed by his two Aurors and the still manacled Lockhart.
"Professor McGonagall?" Harry asked with a glance towards the Floo. His Head of House understood the glance.
"Professor Lockhart was found engaging in a… injudicious and illegal activity when we were locking down the school. He will no longer be your Defence instructor." Harry realized that was all she was going to tell him. Later he would hear about the two Sixth year girls drugged on Lust potions found in his personal quarters. These particular potions left the victim with complete memories of the event but thinking they were a particularly vivid dream.
"Excuse me, Professor Dumbledore," Mr Lovegood interrupted, "but I would like to take Luna home for a few days."
"Of course," Dumbledore agreed. "I am sure Professor Flitwick would be happy to take you both to Ravenclaw Tower so your daughter may collect her things."
Mr Lovegood acknowledged this with a smile. He then turned to Harry. "Mr Potter, I owe you a debt that can never be repaid. After losing her mother, the thought of losing my Luna as well…" The man's voice trailed off as if the thought was too much to complete.
"I understand," Harry said. "I wouldn't want anyone else to lose all of their family."
The Lovegoods left with Professor Flitwick. Then Mr Malfoy stood to leave.
"I shall take my leave, Albus. I expect a complete report of tonight's events to be provided to the Board within the week."
"Of course, Lucius."
The elder Malfoy gave a short, almost mocking, bow before turning and leaving the room.
"Professor," Harry asked, "may I be excused? It's been a long night."
"Of course my dear boy," Dumbledore allowed with a wave. "We shall talk in the morning when you have recovered your strength."
"Do you need assistance getting back to our tower?" McGonagall asked.
Harry declined, "No, professor. I should be fine."
As soon as Harry cleared the office door, he started running through the dark, empty Hogwarts hallways. He managed to catch up to Mr Malfoy in the Entrance Hall.
"Mr Malfoy, I found something you left here," Harry said causing Malfoy to whirl about.
"Something of mine, boy?" Malfoy hissed. "Well, give it to me and be quick about it!"
"Actually, it isn't really yours. You just gave it to someone to bring here. Actually it was Tom's."
"I had nothing to do with that!" Malfoy denied. "And I will take you for all the Potters are worth if you ever try to say otherwise!"
Harry smiled wolfishly. "Oh I don't need to take you to court, Mr Malfoy. See Tom was a bit angry with you and went off a bit on how you gave his diary to the wrong witch. He was really unhappy with you.
"I've heard Voldemort was never very forgiving of the servants that failed him. What would he say over the loss of this?" Harry held up the unblemished backside of the diary.
"Give that here, boy!" Malfoy demanded as he lunged for the diary. Harry was relatively weak but he still had something to give. The backhanded blow knocked the larger wizard to the ground and left four teeth scattered on the floor.
"Wow, that is two more than your son lost," Harry commented.
"I will see in you prison for this!" Malfoy threatened as he rose up.
Harry smirked. "You are going to testify that a twelve year-old beat you down with one hit? My think how the press will handle that." Malfoy glared impotently as Harry smiled.
"I have a deal to offer," Harry said. "The diary for something of yours. Dobby the house-elf."
"Dobby?" Malfoy spat. "That worthless cringing nothing? He was my mother's and always incompetent. Deal, Potter! Now give me the diary!"
"Dobby first."
"Dobby!"
A small pop and then "Master calls Dobby?"
"Here take it!" A small handkerchief was thrust out. "I free you. Never return to the Malfoy Manor!"
Dobby took the small cloth with a trembling hand. "Master free Dobby?" he asked in a wondering voice. Dobby turned to see Harry standing there. "Great Harry Potter! Harry Potter makes bad old master free Dobby!"
Malfoy sneered. "Now, the diary! Give it here, boy!"
Harry tossed the diary over to the elder wizard. The blonde wizard caught it but something felt off. He turned it over and saw the hole left from the basilisk's fang.
"You tricked me, Potter!" he roared while drawing his wand from the cane.
"You shall not harm Harry Potter!" Dobby proclaimed. The little elf threw his hands forward and a magical force pulsed out. It smashed into the surprised wizard and sent him flying out the front doors of the school. The doors then swung shut with a solid thud.
...
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