Pensieve Peril

Both Rose and Oz walked quickly towards the headmasters office as dawn was breaking in the school. As they both arrived at the familiar gargoyle statue the staircase up to the headmasters office presented itself to them as if it was waiting for them.

'I wonder if its just that old man up there... Since there's been a death I wouldn't be surprised if...'.

As Oz started to theorise who else could be up there a sinister grin slowly grew on his face.

'If he's come then this situation may just become that much more fun'.

Oz lead Rose up the staircase looking back occasionally to make sure the girl was okay. He had to hand it to her considering all she'd been through she was still holding on just so she could right her wrongs and explain herself.

"When you've helped up here Rose. Take yourself to the hospital ward".

Hearing Oz's kind-hearted comment she nodded with a smile as she continued on after him. Eventually the two found themselves at the door to Dumbledore's office. As the approached the door, the duo could hear a conversation from within.

"A death has happened at your school Albus! If you don't find the cause of death for this student within the week then not only will the school have to close down but you will find yourself in Azkaban along with that half-giant".

From within Oz could hear an all too familiar ministers voice chiding the headmaster of Hogwarts. Hearing Albus get chewed out Oz debated for a second to let him be for a bit longer however as he activated his eyes to sense the auras in the room he noticed another person in there as well. Seeing this aura Oz's face morphed into a smile as he chuckled to himself.

'This is now sure to be fun...'.

Oz turned to Rose who was stood behind him and asked her to stay just outside of the office for now. When Rose asked why Oz told her that the reason would become apparent soon. As she tucked herself away out of sight just beyond the door, Oz swung the door open and walked on in. Dumbledore looked up from his desk and gave Oz a wry smile as he walked in. Fudge looked at Oz in annoyance for a split second before realising who he was.

"If it isn't the descendant of Merlin himself! Did you catch wind that I had arrived at the school and wanted to have a chat?".

Oz ignored the shamelessness of the minister of magic as he walked into the room. Looking over to the other side of the minister he confirmed the presence of a man he really wanted to meet. That man seemed to look at Oz in extreme anger as he walked in.

"Not quite minister. I'm here in regards to the situation transpiring in Hogwarts at the moment. I believe I've managed to find who opened the chamber of secrets and in turn I've also killed the beast that dwelled within".

Dumbledore stood up from his seat as a be-fuddled Fudge looked at Oz in confusion at his comments. Lucius on the other hand kept up his calm persona however Oz could see a small bead of sweat falling down the side of his face.

"Please do tell us Oz what you've gone through...".

Oz went on to explain all the events that happened since he ran off after seeing the message about the chamber of secrets being opened. He mentioned that he found the chamber, infiltrated it and killed the beast that was within. Fudge listened to Oz's story in slight awe yet held a face of scepticism, Dumbledore however looked at Oz knowingly. Oz guessed that the old man probably had an idea where the chamber was and what was in it already. Lucius looked at Oz still keeping his cold glare and was the first to speak after he was done.

"So you're telling me that a boy in his third year managed to infiltrate the legendary chamber of secrets and kill the beast within... all in one night? You may be the descendant of a legendary wizard boy but doesn't your story seem a bit too far-fetched?".

Oz allowed Lucius to speak his mind as Fudge nodded along to Lucius queries.

"I'd like this situation sorted as quickly as possible Oz however claiming that you've killed the beast already is something I also find hard to grasp...".

Listening the both of the befuddled fools Oz gave a knowing look to Dumbledore who returned it with a slight grin. Walking up to the desk he placed one of the biggest basilisk fangs he had.

"Is this proof enough that I've slain a beast in the school?".

Lucius and Fudge looked at the fang in shock as Oz brought it out. To maximise the shock factor of it Oz brought out the biggest fang he had harvested which was enough to sit on the entirety of Dumbledore's desk.

"Merlin's beard... You really have defeated something grand Oz..."

Lucius snorted as Fudge gave his comments.

"Aren't you forgetting something Cornelius? There's a possibility that this boy just bought this fang from someone as a means to sway us in the wrong direction. As a matter of fact I wouldn't be surprised if he himself was the one who opened the chamber and is now trying to cover his tracks playing the hero".

Fudge leaned back from looking at the fang and collected himself. Dumbledore in the meanwhile kept his whimsical look as he studied the fang now placed on his desk. Oz looked at both of the ministry officials with a sigh.

"I understand that this wouldn't be enough... However I have with me the person who actually did open the chamber".

Dumbledore lifted his head at this point giving Oz a look of curiosity.

"Oh? Well please bring her in Oz".

Walking back to the entrance of the office, Oz ushered Rose in after him. Due to her nature of being a social recluse for these last couple years her head seemed to gravitate to looking down at the floor as she entered an area with a lot of people.

"This here is Rose. When I went into the chamber I found her lying down there with a certain book in her hand. She claims that a book caused her to open the chamber by ensnaring her with dark magic".

Dumbledore stroked his beard as his interest changed to the book Oz was on about.

"Do you still have this book on you Oz?".

Reaching into his pouch Oz took out the destroyed diary and chucked it onto the desk. As the diary flew in the air Oz saw Lucius's expression flash with anger. Fudge looked on a this whole exchange completely cluelessly though. As the diary landed on the desk Dumbledore looked at it intently and looked up at both Fudge and Lucius.

"This diary Oz has brought us is indeed enchanting with a dark magic...".

After giving his opinion on the diary, Dumbledore turned to Rose who was stood to Oz's side with her head down. Putting on his signature grandfatherly smile, something he didn't show Oz anymore. he called out to her.

"You're Rose correct? Do you mind telling us where you got this diary".

Hearing that she was being called on, Rose lifted her head slowly to look at the headmaster. Taking one look to the side she saw the minister and a tall white haired man. As her gaze landed on the white haired man she froze.

"I-It's you! You gave me that damn diary back in diagon alley!".

Fudge and Dumbledore's necks snapped to Lucius waiting for his reply. Lucius kept on a calm expression as he replied back.

"I have no idea what you're talking about girl".

Rose started to look visibly angry as she turned back to Dumbledore.

"Headmaster you have to believe me! He was the one who gave me the diary back in diagon alley. When I got separated from my group in the alley he approached me and gave me the diary saying it was a 'donation for the less fortunate'".

Dumbledore kept his calm guise as he stroked his beard looking at the girl in front of him. He took one look at Lucius and Fudge, the latter of whom seemed to be completely out of the loop at this point. Lucius reacted violently to the girls claims.

"Why would I give a little girl something when I don't even know them?! If this is your eye-witness Oz then you may as well just admit that everything you've said were lies".

Oz looked at everyone in the room with a light smile, a smile that indicated that he had the situation completely under control. Looking towards Dumbledore, Oz began to speak.

"Albus. I believe there is one way we can solve this cleanly".

As he spoke to Dumbledore he pointed his gaze towards a certain cabinet to the side of the room. Dumbledore matching his gaze realised exactly what Oz was getting at. Standing up from his desk he walked over to the cabinet under the gaze of Fudge and Lucius.

"Cornelius, Lucius, I believe the both of you know what the pensieve is correct? With this device you can take out memories from a person and have them played back. I usually use this device to keep my mind organised due to my old age however for a situation such as this its perfect".

Throwing the pensieve over to his desk, it levitated slowly and stopped on the desk under the gaze of Fudge and Lucius. Lucius started to look visibly shaken as this tool was brought out. With the pensieve displayed Dumbledore walked over to Rose at Oz's side.

"Rose. If you could recall the memory of you receiving the diary then I should be able to extract it for all of us to see".

Rose nodded shyly as she closed her eyes and recalled that memory as best she could. Dumbledore placed his wand on her temple as he channelled magic power. The second Oz saw this he calmly activated his eyes to see if the old goat would pull anything else besides just a memory extraction. Surprisingly it seemed Dumbledore was keeping true to his words and only extracting a single memory.

As the memory extracted Dumbledore took it over to the pensieve and dropped it into it. As it floated down into the water of the pensieve a scene started to present itself to everyone present. Oz took himself up to the desk and huddled around the pensieve with Dumbledore, Fudge and Lucius. As the water started to show a picture it started with a girl in an alley walking quietly.

"How did I get myself into a mess like this...".

The girl looked lost as she looked up and down the alley with saddened eyes. Walking quickly she took every twist and turn but it seemed she couldn't find a way out. Eventually though she seemed to find the right direction as she rushed on through. In her rush though she bumped into a tall wizard.

"Ah! I-I'm sorry sir...".

The man took his hood off revealing his face. As his face was revealed Fudge and Dumbledore's gazes became grave. Lucius on the side seemed to be visibly distressed as well but Oz kept his senses trained on him in case he tried anything.

Lucius within the vision looked at the girl who knocked into him with scorn. The girl seemed visibly distressed as Lucius looked as if he was about to do something. Lucius's gaze seemed to wonder looking at her tattered school clothes and eventually landed on her cauldron that was empty. A light flashed in his eyes as he took out a certain book.

"A poor girl like you shouldn't be running around this sort of place... Here, a donation for the less fortunate".

As the book slipped into the cauldron Lucius ran off quickly in the vision leaving behind a befuddled Rose. She looked at the book for a second before running off towards the exit of knock turn alley. At that point the memory ended.

Dumbledore and Fudge both lifted their heads from the vision looking at Lucius. Lucius looked at the two with a bead of sweat dropping down his face. Oz in the meantime looked at the whole situation with a calm smile on his face.

It seemed Lucius wouldn't have a calm day.