"Phoenix tears. . ." said Riddle quietly, staring at Harry's arm. "Of course . . . healing powers . . . I forgot . . ."
He looked into Harry's face. "But it makes no difference. In fact, I prefer it this way. Just you and me, Harry Potter . . . you and me. . . ."
He raised the wand-
Then a high pitched scream rent the Chamber, and the last thing Harry expected to see came. Hermione tumbled down the stone chute, hit Lockhart squarely on the back and went rolling all the way down the Chamber until she hit Ginny and came to a sudden stop. She lay on the ground, groaning and trying to stand.
Riddle looked down. "The mudblood." He spat. "She was too smart for her own good. Pity the basilisk didn't kill her."
"Ovum inaedificum!" Hermione's limp body curled up, as an eggshell encased her fully. Soon, she was naught but a large egg that weakly wobbled. "How tragic to be killed by your friend." Riddle taunted. "Accio toad!"
Neville had just finished his Herbology homework and was feeding Trevor when suddenly, Trevor slipped from his grasp and flew to the portrait hole as if attached to a wire. Neville chased after the toad, cursing the the Weasley twins. Then he realized that the Weasley twins were in detention for Snape. The portrait hole opened, admitting Lavender Brown, who promptly shrieked at the toad flying above her head. Neville hesitated for a moment, then shoved Lavender out of the way and ran after the rogue toad. The chase was on.
And so Neville chased after Trevor, earning a questioning glance from Mrs. Norris. Neville chased Trevor down the stairs, around corridors, and through secret passageways, all the way to the the first floor. Suddenly, Trevor darted around a corner and Neville skidded, his shoes making a screech on the stone floor. Neville barely registered the fact that he was chasing Trevor into a girl's bathroom before Trevor dived into a chute by one of the taps. Neville hesitated for a second, then dived in after his beloved pet.
Riddle needed only to wait a few minutes until Trevor came zooming down, followed by Neville. Riddle hissed in disgust. "Ignorant meddler. Stupefy!" He caught Trevor and set him on the egg. "Petrificus totalus!" Trevor lay on the egg, unable to move. "Ovum incubo!"
The egg rocked and cracked. The crack widened, spilling egg yolk in a puddle. Harry watched the egg, expecting to see Hermione, but instead caught the glimpse of an all-too familiar creature's tail. A basilisk.