N.B.
I was given a challenge. I accepted it. I did not write this seriously at all, so don't take it that way. If you do take it seriously, and somehow get offended, I'm sorry.
This story is Harry/Basilisk, safe for the whole family (with the exception of certain violent images). That being the case, there are clearly spoilers for Chamber of Secrets. If you disagree with anything I've said thus far, then you probably shouldn't read any further.
Sacrificial Love
The beast was just what Harry needed, and it seemed to understand that. Harry watched the Basilisk silently. "I don't want to do this," he said softly, guilt in his eyes. "It's enough that you know what has to be done."
Ignoring his words, the Basilisk leaned forward and nudged him affectionately in the shoulder. There was a low rumble, and time stilled. "It's all right," Harry felt the Basilisk speak to him. "It's all right. It's because I love you." Harry's grip tightened around the Sword of Gryffindor. He wanted to shout that it wasn't fair, yet there wasn't much time.
"Do it," the Basilisk hissed, lowering his head. "You must. Quickly!"
Harry's vision blurred, and he angrily brushed the tears from his eyes. "I love you!" he shouted painfully, raising the sword. The Basilisk's eyes glimmered. The great beast looked peaceful.
With one stroke, it was over.
Tom looked on in fear as Harry leaned forward and pried the great beast's mouth open, careful to not let his bare skin be scratched. "Stop this!" the fiend called out, raising Harry's wand. "This wasn't how it was supposed to be!"
"Shut up! Just shut up!" Harry cried out angrily, wrenching one of the Basilisk's fangs out. "I loved him! He meant the world to me! And now he's gone!" The sword was gripped in one hand, and the fang was in his other.
"I will avenge him! I swear it on my life!" Harry spat out, rising to his feet.
A great screech filled the room, and Fawkes flew out from the shadows, ramming straight into Tom. The ghastly memory dropped the boy's wand. "No!" it cried as it fell back with a sickening splatter of water.
Harry rushed forward to where Ginny lay, unconscious, dropping the sword and picking up the cursed diary. "This is the end, Tom!" Harry called out.
Tom squirmed and rolled onto his stomach, crawling—scrambling—toward Harry. "No! No!" Many curses flew out of his mouth that Harry did not even recognize.
Suddenly, time stilled again. Harry knew what he had to do. In his mind, he saw the Basilisk's last smile, and he rammed the poisoned fang into the diary.
"Noooo!" It was a nasty, guttural scream, and the image of Tom disappeared. Ink splattered out of the diary like blood, bubbling forth from the pages. And then, it was done.
The diary and the fang fell from his hands, and Harry fell to his knees, sobbing. "I'm sorry," he said. "I'm so, so very sorry." Though he knew the Basilisk understood and had loved him just as much, the young boy couldn't help but feel as if a part of his heart had been torn out.
