Awesome! Makes perfect sense to me. And it makes perfect sense that he tied his magic and life forces to theirs. Thanks for sharing your idea.

A potential reason why he didn't use basilisks as a horocrux is that potentially their bodies are partially imbued with their venom... hey, you never know, it could be :) Or something about basilisks is just inamicable to horocruxes.

Mmmmm.
That was GOOD.
I don't mean to insult anyone (although I probably am) but I wasn't expecting it to be.
Thank you

Fun story, thanks for sharing!

Eh, it was alright. Premise was interesting, though you went overboard with two dozen basilisks rather than one or two.

There were two major problems I had with the story.
First was Harry's self-righteousness and arrogance which reaches its tipping point one third of the way through the story when he starts talking down to his friends, Dumbledore and Sirius during his panic of the Department of Mysteries incident and then he never stops talking down to Dumbledore, Scrimgeour, Bones and the Wizengamot. Its rather off-putting to read about Harry Potter strutting around the ministry like he's Draco Malfoy.
Second was the pacing. If you do the high school English class plot diagram of rising action - climax - resolution you'll find that the climax was one third of the way in, when Harry rushed off to check on Sirius (an incident which happened to have nothing to do with the premise: utilizing basilisks, and more to do with proper utilization of Kreacher - really the story could have been about Kreacher instead and been half as long). After that was just Harry resolving various outstanding issues. The event which should have been the climax of the story, the basilisk invasion of Malfoy manor, culminated in one basilisk idly eating a house elf (just in case) with everything else happening off screen and no spells fired.

Reading your author's note, it seems like you've noted the problem already; if you had ended the story after 8,000 words, the pacing would have been just about right. My suggestion:

Exposition: Harry decides he wants basilisks
Rising action: Harry breeds basilisks, the troubles with Umbridge, clingy friends
Confict: Sirius/Department of Mysteries battle
Climax: Malfoy Manor Basilisk Battle! (Harry just breeds one or two, that way you can actually have a fight, much more exciting, better story that way; maybe one dies or is injured, Harry grieves, get the reader more emotionally invested! Give the basilisk(s) actual names for the reader to latch onto)
Falling Action: Clear Sirius' name, getting the bounties out of the ministry (if you have to) (ignore Horcruxes, ignore Dumbledore)
Conclusion: Harry gets pranked by Sirius, has a nice moment with his friends.

I liked it. :)

Hahahaha Bwahahahaha

This story is so outstanding, I have trouble finding superlatives too express my delight! I especially love Harry's snarky remarks to Dumbledore returning his own words and vague style of 'excessively non-informative speeches'. Well done. Thanks for a fabulous read.

This was super fun :D :D :D I enjoyed this immensely! I'm gonna look at your other stuff, you are incredibly talented.

I loved this thank you well done. I look forward to more of your stories.

Very funny and fun

Thanks for the story. :D

An outstanding story and most enjoyable read.

A good point about Riddle not having a pet Basilisk when Salazar did. Riddle should has mass bred them just to have Dumbledore running around with roosters all day. Although Salazar could get the fluffy pink earmuffs from Herbology to counter that danger.
I like Harry's plan for Myrtle many people would value the peace if she was petrified.

Smart of Harry in how he orders Kreacher. I always liked the elf better than Dobby.

A good line "I don't know who would be more proud, Sirius or Hagrid"

Having a basilisk would be handy for keeping the spiders from joining Riddle or attacking the school. As was pointed out to me why would the spiders join Riddle when he was the one who exiled the spiders in the first place.

An excellent line "you lot all guilt-tripped me into teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts" I have always felt Hermione was very selfish about the DA she wanted to pass her exam for DADA and have the moral high ground of everybody else being taught expect Slytherin. Yet it was Harry who had to do the most work and take the biggest risk when he was told to keep his head down and was in real danger of being expelled. Something Hermione once feared. Harry has good reason to resent the student population given how he has been treated especially in 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th years.

I never liked how pushy and controlling Hermione became as the books went on. I am glad Harry has some privacy and peace. As it is something he is usually denied and I think Harry would do better studying at his own pace without distraction.

Very true about Snape knowing about Harry's life and I am pleased Harry could keep something hidden form the Head of Slytherin. I hope Snape is killed or turned into a statue by stores end he has much to answer for and the bidding war to desecrate or destroy a petrified Snape would be huge.

It's smart of Harry to make use of the Black family library it was a wasted resource in the books. Thanks for the information on Basilisks an important and impressive creature yet little is really known about them.

Well said Remus should feel guilty. Remus is rather thoughtless regarding Harry and Tonks being pregnant at the height of the war. I always thought it was emotional blackmail that Harry was made Godfather to Teddy and had a tie to the UK when the best think for Harry after the war would be to leave the UK and never look back. Given all he has experienced there, his fame and the Ministry.

An excellent line "he had arguably contributed more than all the rest of them combined, having fought Voldemort more than any of them, and having provided the Order with the names of every Death Eater at Voldemort's resurrection (against whom the Order had still not lifted a finger)." and very good point. The Order never seemed very effective to me and given how Sirius was thought guilty by everybody are very fickle when it comes to trust.

It was interesting but not surprising to know even when Harry can protect his mind he is still kept ignorant by the Order.

Hagrid becomes a liability as the books progress asking more and more of Harry's friends. Hagrid's brother dealt with by the basilisks would be for the greater good both Hagrid and Minerva are partly responsible for Harry ending up at the Dursley's.

I hope Harry is always able to speak Parseltongue as I always thought the ability was cool and very overlooked in the books. Given how long Harry had the gift and that he could be related to the Gaunt's via the three brothers and the Hallows. The Potter's might have the gift in their line but are smart enough not to tell anyone.

Portkey use and creation is not often used by Harry even in fics so cheers for that.

Use of Parseltongue passwords makes sense and its something Riddle should have used as he would love showing off Salazar's gift.

A good line "he had long-since ceased to be concerned with the letter (or even the spirit) of the law." Harry is smart to think that way given how dangerous his enemies are Riddle and Dumbledore want him dead and the Ministry might as well depending who is in charge.

I am pleased Harry has self-confidence as the Dursley's and his choice of friends at Hogwart's can leave Harry lacking confidence. Necessity is the best motivator.

It's funny that Hermione does not believe in Divination yet was Harry to believe in the prophecy and that Harry had to kill Riddle. I am very pleased Harry did not explain himself to Hermione.

Harry should have been taught the Patronus messenger spell by the Order it would have been very handy and we know Harry can do it if instructed.

Use of the title "Mister Dumbledore" was a nice touch. I also liked "Snape will never gain my confidence or trust"

Thanks for the "Dark Lord bait" Harry would resent being used as bait and rightly so since the Order does not trust him and Dumbledore has done little to keep Harry safe at school or make life easier for him when people turn against him.

I am so pleased at how Harry spoke to Mr Dumbledore and that Sirius was kept safe.
I can understand why Fudge would fear Dumbledore as he has all the power and influence that matters and the fact he inspires devotion and obedience in his followers would be a worry. Dumbledore never having to explain himself would be a major concern and that nobody but Riddle could use force against him and win.

After 4th year I always thought the blood wards at the Dursley's would be unreliable since Riddle took Harry's blood in the ritual. I think Dumbledore likes keeping Harry unhappy so he will be desperate to leave the muggle world and fight/die for the magical one. If Harry and Sirius fled in 3rd year all of Dumbledore's plans would fall apart.

A good point to mention compensation as Harry does deserve something more than points easily lost, an award Riddle received or an Order of Merlin Wormtail received for dealing with Riddle and his followers. Much is asked of Harry and he has to risk much so he should be compensated.

A bounty is a clever way to motivate the magical population to fight the Death Eater's and support the Ministry. It's smart to petrify the Death Eater's they can't escape and Harry won't have to deal with being called a killer or murderer depending on the mood of the Ministry and people.

I am pleased Harry does not care about the Ministry given how he has been treated and the Ministry run it always seemed odd to me that Harry would end up an Auror.

After 4th and 5th year I think Harry would lose any awe or respect he had for Dumbledore and view his as a threat and obstacle like Riddle.

I enjoyed getting insight into what Scrimgeour thinks of the prophecy. Thank you for giving Harry the sense to ask for immunity as he had power over the Ministry yet did not use it in book 6. I was sure Harry would be sent to Azkaban after he killed Riddle so need immunity, money and a good escape plan. I really like this Harry. Well said about magical Britain and Voldemort deserving each other.

The blood quill and the scar would be a constant reminder the Ministry can't be trusted.

Harry in the garb of Patton talking to his troops is fun to imagine.

Finding out how Draco earned his mark was good to know I never liked him and ending the Malfoy line would be for the greater good. As positive change can't happen in the Ministry while a Malfoy lives. In my opinion.

A good way to explain how Snape could be a Death Eater "whose usefulness outweighed their inferior blood status" Riddle the half blood just must find the pure bloods being marked by him very funny.

I have never read of Nagini being eaten before. What a fantastic power he knows not.

I liked how Harry tested the Ministry and mention of being treated like school children was an especially nice touch as Dumbledore probably did teach most in the room. A valid point about the Death Eater's had Bellatrix and others been killed the second war with Riddle might not have happened or been much easier to win.

An in absentia trial for Sirius Black was a very nice detail to include.

I wonder if Harry's army could kill Fawkes and if he would taste good. I could never work out why Fawkes remained with Albus as the very least the man is a shade of gray he is no light wizard even if the presence of Fawkes makes people think he is.

I don't like Molly for how she treats Sirius and Fleur but it was a good line " it shouldn't be his sole responsibility to clean up their society's mess" unexpected from an Order member.

Snape's loyalty is no surprise. I don't think he loved or was loyal to anyone but himself. A scary thought but Albus and Gellert were close maybe Dumbledore has a think for dark wizards and he lusts after Snape.

A nice insight and twist into the Dark Mark. Riddle's concern is valid being immortal would be no fun if left magically weak.

It was good of Neville to be so considerate of Hedwig and a very nice gift for the Longbottoms.

How splendid I loved how Harry answered Amelia Bones.

A much better explanation for Harry's scar and the connection thank what JKR came up with. I enjoyed Harry using the Headmaster's words against him it's a rare treat for Harry to be in a position of power and win a war of words with the old man.

It was shocking in the 6th film that Snape seemed more upset that Harry had to die than Dumbledore was. I do like how things have worked out in this story. Like Hermione I don't think Dumbledore will be able to cope with being wrong, being told no and unable to face a truth they don't want to see.

An excellent line " It would be hypocritical of us to condemn him for taking the necessary action, when it was our society's inaction that forced him to do so."

Clever of Harry to have a backup plan it's better to be considered formidable by the Ministry and smart thinking to spin events so Harry's bad PR is limited and there is less chance of another Dark Lord

Very nice story.

I do like to read about a Harry that is assertive, is thinking and is using his long forgotten cunning.

I also agree that it was stupid of Riddle to not make his own basilisks.

this is great!
loved your alternate horcrux theory!
also: basilisks FTW ;)

That was fun. I love assertive, borderline Harry. I think it's because of how I'd wield magic myself. You've got a great writing style. I really enjoyed staying up way past my bedtime reading this, but I do wish I would have found it in the morning after I zombied my son to school. I don't know if 3am zombie will end up better or worse than 1am, hopefully won't be too bad. In other words all my complaints about your story are entirely my fault or that it was too good. So hearts n stuff, Imma go pass out