Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Harry Potter. Characters and main plot are property of J.K. Rowling. However, in this story the main plot will be manipulated to fit my imagination.
A True Heart of Darkness: Chapter Four
Into the Chamber: To Rule, or To Save?
"Hermione this can't be happening. I know that this has something to do with that blasted diary. It is the only thing that connects Ginny to the Chamber. We have to go in there and get her back. For Fred and George at the very least." Harry turned to Hermione to see her looking at the group of teachers gathered in the hall. The bloody message of the Heir written on the wall.
"Harry we can use Lockhart to get in. We know where the chamber is and you can speak the language to get in. We can use him to either feed the beast inside, or to just give as an excuse to the teachers as to why we went to the chamber. Plus I know you want to get him back for the Quidditch incident." She grinned at the dark look in his eyes.
"Its that damn elf's fault, I know he wanted to save me from who knows what, but I know that his masters must be wealthy for what he wears. The elves here wear rags while he wears a nice shirt and pant, but I'll deal with that one later. Anyway, I agree lets get to Lockhart's room and get him." Harry gave the bloody message on the wall one more look before turning away. The two then fled silently down the corridor to make their way to the third floor. They had to make sure that the teachers didn't hear or follow them. Harry had grown over the summer and now he and Hermione did not fit as well under the invisibility cloak. The two made their way to the third floor to Lockhart's office and waited till the professor entered the room. Once they saw him run in they burst into Lockhart's office to see him packing his things in a rush.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here? The great Gildaroy Lockhart running away from his chance at heroism." Harry said in monotone giving the professor a look of disgust. Lockhart turned around with a panic filled face.
"Well young boy when I signed up for the job it did not include this! Trust me no one feels worse than I do, but I am not fit for the job!" he yelled as he stumbled around to continue packing his office.
Hermione huffed at the man, while Harry talked on.
"So all the great things you did were nothing? Fakes and lies, because if your running away from a Basilisk I can't see you facing a Banshee or Vampire." He sneered at the clearly frightened man. Though at the insults Lockhart stopped his packing and faced Harry with a red face. He puffed out his chest and said in a haughty voice.
"Do you really think I would sell books if people didn't think I had done all those things? I have hundreds of fans and women who throw themselves at me. I made sure I was there when it happened and took what would benefit me. Though over the years I have gotten quite good at memory charms, which I am sorry to say…" However, Lockhart never got to complete his sentence, because as he reached for his wand Harry shot it into Hermione's hand. Lockhart looked between the two of them stuttering in shock.
"Do you really believe that I would allow you to use magic on me without my permission again, I don't make the same mistake twice professor." He said with distain. He pulled a wicked grin as he circled the terrified teacher as if looking at helpless prey.
"However, Professor Lockhart you do have some use and thankfully we know how to get into the chamber and its current location." Harry turned to walk out the door and beckoned him with a wave of his hand.
"Come along" Hermione smirked and the three made their way to the chamber. As Harry led the way to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom he made sure to put Lockhart between the two teen wizards to shut off any escape the spineless man could make. He spoke to Professor Lockhart as they made their way down a corridor.
"Not to worry Professor, Hermione and I have a full proof plan to save Ginny from the Chamber. You should be glad we included you that way you might be able to have a truthful triumph to your name." He grinned as they entered the girls' bathroom. The ghost of Moaning Myrtle greeted Harry as they entered, waving at him and smiling a sly grin.
"Harry! Oh I have missed you Harry, why haven't you come and visited me again? You promised when I said I would keep your secret use of my bathroom." She whined. 'I was hoping she would forget that' Harry thought as he remembered the time he and Hermione had used the bathroom to make potions to help interrogate some possible students on being the Heir of Slytherin, Verituserum being one of them.
"I'm sorry Myrtle I've been busy trying to clear my name. I'm here now, but I have to do something important. Could you give us some privacy, we won't be long. Plus I never truly thanked you for your help earlier. I'll make sure to come back later to do that properly" Harry said with a charming smile and wink. Myrtle became flustered and then took her leave down one of the old drainpipes, but not after wailing in what appeared to be happiness.
"Hermione remind me to find a way to make her stay here more comfortable. Really, traveling through the pipes does not sound pleasurable in the slightest. I think we could find a way to make her more like the other Hogwarts ghosts." Hermione nodded and made a mental note to research the subject.
Harry strode up to a certain sink from the cluster in the middle of the bathroom. He felt along the curve for the engraved serpent and then with a smirk took a step back.
"Open." He said, though to Hermione and Lockhart, they only heard a mixture of hisses. Hermione tried not to gape in awe as the sinks began to move apart from each other. Once they finished their shifting the sinks revealed a hidden hole gaping below into complete darkness. Harry turned to the now extremely pale professor and ushered him forward. However when Lockhart made no attempt to move Harry frowned and went to grab the professor's arm, dragging him toward the sink.
"Now to play your part professor. Please jump on down into the chamber," said Harry with a fake smile.
"Boy are you insane! Why would I go down there? If you are so interested in getting to the chamber, go in yourself." He turned to make his getaway but was blocked by Hermione pointing her wand at him.
"Well professor you see we know how to get in, we believe we know what creature lies inside, but we do not know where it is at the present moment. Nor do we know just how deep this hole is. That is why we have you. We would rather have you go and check it for us than risk ourselves. We have learned from the Slytherins a bit about self-preservation." Hermione said as she pushed him slowly to the chamber's entrance, the wand a valid threat. Before he knew what hit him Lockhart fell backward into the chamber, screaming like a little girl.
"He is quite pathetic isn't he?" Hermione asked as they heard Lockhart complaining about the harsh landing below. Harry sighed before gesturing to Hermione.
"Ladies First." She glared at him before jumping into the hole, Harry following right after her.
They slid through the hole like a slide, weaving and dropping at sudden points. It felt like the muggle rollercoasters the two knew of. Harry actually quite enjoyed the ride; it felt like flying with a hint of uncertainty. Well, other than the fact it smelled like dead rotting filth. As they reached the end of the pipe, both teens cast a cushioning charm to soften their landing. Lockhart was still dusting his cloak off to try and get rid of the rancid smell and grime. Harry saw a large tunnel to their left that looked to have some sort of rock leading through it. He walked over to it and ran his fingers across the hard-edged surface. He looked to Hermione with a nod, who took the back behind Lockhart and they made their way through the large tunnel.
"What is this? It looks like a giant snake!" Lockhart exclaimed as he shook in fear.
"It's a snake skin professor, though it must be quite large to leave this behind. About fifty feet long I believe. Don't worry I have a theory on how to beat it" Harry countered. Though before he could take another step the professor collapsed in a faint. Harry sighed and then went to kick the professor and he let out a yelp, but managed to grab hold of Hermione's wand and shove her to the side. She fell into some rocks right beside Harry with a muffled cry of pain. Lockhart then pointed her wand at Harry who had been momentarily distracted, trying to catch his friend.
"Sorry Mister Potter, but I am not going to be fed to a snake just to save some little school brats. I'll let everyone know just how hard it was. How you two lost your minds at the sight of the girl's dead body. How I didn't make it in time to save her, but killed the beast and sealed the chamber. I will be the hero once again. Say goodbye to your memories. Obliviate!" He yelled as light shot from the wand. Harry raised his hand and yelled a counter spell, which created a giant shield in front of them. The spell hit the shield, rebounding to hit Lockhart right in the chest. Harry huffed in annoyance before turning back around to check on Hermione.
"I'm fine Harry the blasted fool just caught me by surprise." She said as she dusted her clothes off.
"Please by more careful with him Hermione, I do not want you getting hurt down here." He then took a step to head deeper into the chamber. However, Hermione's voice stopped his advance
"Harry I think it would be a good idea if I stayed behind with him. Make sure he doesn't wonder off. Go on, I think you'd be the safest to go into the chamber. After all I am a muggleborn and its sent to attack us. I'll keep this one from being stupid. Who knows how much of his memory got erased from the rebound," She cast a protective charm around herself and Lockhart.
"Be careful Hermione. If you hear something that does not sound like footsteps close your eyes and cast as many shield charms as possible. Be safe, and keep him quiet." She nodded and Harry then took his leave, delving farther into the tunnel.
Deeper down into the chamber Harry came upon a large circular door that had large snakes covering the front. Each one intertwined with another to make it seem like there was not even a door present. 'I can see why no one else has been able to get in. You need to keep speaking Parseltounge to get through every door' He thought as he once again asked the door to open in the language of snakes. The door creaked open as the various stone snakes moved to allow him passage through the large entrance. The snakes crawled to for a circle and the door creaked open. Harry lit his wand and took tentative steps inside. Lights lit the chamber immediately and Harry saw large stone snake heads line the way to a huge stone head. It looked like a powerful man with blowing hair and hard eyes. It was made completely of stone and the bottom was obscured by water, which looked deep. With closer inspection Harry saw the small body of Ginny just in front of the water. He rushed to her side and checked for a pulse. It was weak, but there.
"She won't wake, not till its done." Harry turned to his left to see a young man coming towards him. He looked pale, a little transparent, and at first The Boy Who Lived believed he was a ghost. Then he saw the boys eyes flash red and a grin fill his face.
"Care to elaborate on that Mister…" The unknown boy's grin grew wider.
"Riddle, Tom Riddle. I am sure you have read my diary Harry Potter." He pointed to the book in Ginny's hands. Harry took it and could feel the dark magic crawling all over it. He could hear a faint voice in the back of his mind as he held the book. As if the book was alive, had a soul. He laied it next to Ginny, giving the teen his full attention.
"How are you here? This journal is fifty years old, and I know you're not a ghost. You're too present, to clear. Lastly, what did you do to Ginevera Weasley?" Harry asked him with a harsh look, making sure his wand was still held firmly in his hand. The Riddle boy continued to grin as he walked around Harry.
"Currently I am only a memory, held captive in this diary for fifty years. When I was given to little Ginny here I immediately grew close to her. I allowed her to pour her secrets into me, and pour a little of myself back. Soon I was able to control her. I brought her down here, had her open the chamber, and release the monster into the school." Harry took his pause as a chance to ask, "Why muggleborns?" Young Riddle only laughed a cruelly.
"Why because he loves them so much. The Headmaster. Always putting Muggles and Mudbloods before the safety and benefit of the Wizarding World, preposterous and ridiculous. The old fool needed to be shown that he cannot control everything and that he is not always in charge." He said with a grim face before turning to face the large statue head.
"Unfortunately, now that you have seen me, and will obviously tell the old coot, you must be disposed of. Too bad though, I would have loved to get to know you better; after all you are the great Harry Potter." Riddle held up his hands and began to speak in hisses and spitting noises, but Harry understood.
"Come and Protect the Heir, Intruders! Kill those of tainted blood. Kill those against the Heir! Rise, oh Great Serpent!" He called to the statue. Immediately, where the mouth would be, a great opening appeared and Harry could hear the hissing coming from inside. Harry grasped his wand tightly and turned running.
"Go and Run Potter! The Basilisk can still kill you without you having to look in its eyes!" Riddle laughed as Harry hid behind a snakehead. He could hear the slithering of its large body. Harry cast a shield charm and then covered his eyes. As he felt the tounge of the Basilisk hit him he yelled in Parseltounge.
"Leave me alone! Kill the fake, kill the ghost of the Heir!" He yelled, hoping that the snake would obey him if not only be distracted enough for him to get away. He then felt the snake leave and go back. Harry opened his eyes to see the Basilisk hissing angrily at the image of Tom Riddle.
"What? Stop! No!" He yelled casting an Incendio to the snake's eyes. The large serpent gave a yell and thrashed around in pain. Tom Riddle in his fury took Ginny's wand, and killed the Basilisk, causing it to fall beside the dying Ginny. The carcass of the great snake was aflame in what appeared to be dark fire, leaving only its skeleton behind. Harry took this chance to run to Ginny, grab the diary and try to light it a-flame to destroy the connection. Though the light would not burn the book, but disappear in moments. Riddle laughed at his determination.
"Nice try, but I made sure it was impossible to destroy my diary Potter!" Harry cursed as he looked for something to destroy it. His gaze fell to the dead Basilisk beside him. 'That's right, they have poison in their fangs. It's worth a try!' Harry thought as he took hold of a fang. He pulled it loose with a triumphant look as he heard Riddle gasp.
"Don't, don't you dare!" he raised the stolen wand to attack as Harry brought the Basilisk fang down onto the diary. As he stabbed the fang into the diary he heard the semi-ghost Riddle scream in agony. Harry repeatedly stabbed the diary till he saw the teen burst into flame. Before he disappeared Tom Riddle yelled, "Dumbledore!" and disappeared. Harry sighed, dropped the fang and went to check Ginny. After shaking her a few times and calling her name, she came around and grasped him in a tight hug.
"Harry I'm so sorry! I tried to resist him, but he overpowered me. I promise I never told him about you, except your name and famous. Thank you Harry." She said as she laid back and closed her eyes in relief. Harry smiled at the silly girl and picked her up.
"Don't worry Ginny I got you." He said as he turned to exit the chamber. He knew Hermione would be able to come up with why Riddle was so obsessed with destroying Dumbledore and scaring him. And finding out exactly who he was.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~HPDM~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry was currently sitting in Dumbledore's office, explaining the story that he and Hermione had made while coming back up from the chamber. He told Dumbledore about how he defeated the Basilisk with magic, and used a fang to destroy the diary of Lord Voldemort's younger self, which he had learned when he returned to Hermione. She had recognized the name Tom Riddle and had found his true identity while they were researching one day in the library. He made sure to leave out the part of how He had turned the snake on its master and how he had destroyed Lockhart's memory. He needed Dumbledore to think he was still the little boy that needed to be coddled. His plan was going perfectly till Lucius Malfoy turned up with Dobby. While the two men argued about how Harry was always there and Dumbledore coming back to be Headmaster again; Harry saw Dobby gesture to let him know it was Lucius who had planted the diary. After the Headmaster and Lord Malfoy finished their talking Harry chased after the later.
"Lord Malfoy, wait!" He yelled after the man retreating form. Dobby cowered behind Lucius afraid of what Harry would do. Lucius sneered at the young boy, but was relieved to see him instead of the Headmaster.
"Next time you wish to complete the Dark Lord's requests, be more subtle about it. Instead of tossing it in her cauldron in a book shop full of witnesses." The man was getting more infuriated by the moment. This child was criticizing his tactic and it was rude! He was about to express his anger when the boy gave him a silencing look.
"I have better tactics and a way to get you prey that is not protected or associated with me. I can help you next time Mr. Malfoy, but only if you ask it of me." To say that Lucius was surprised was an understatement. He was thanking his pureblood upbringing for letting him keep his jaw from falling. The fact that the poster boy of good was extending his help to none other than himself. Harry had seen that the man was at a loss for words and smirked at his choice in allies. Harry raised his hand in offering, hoping Lord Malfoy would take his way. Once Lucius had gotten his head around the situation he took his hand and grasped Harry's tightly in agreement.
"Let me know when you are in need of the Malfoy's mister Potter, we are here." He said and Harry grinned. Then before he could get away Harry called out to him again.
"I'm sorry Lucius, but in the game we are playing I need a Wizard's Oath that you will remain loyal to me whether or not I choose the Dark Lord's side in the coming war." He smirked at the bewildered man.
"I have my own way of knowing what the future holds for me Lord Malfoy, but the oath is needed none the less I am afraid." The elder man nodded his head and then turned to face the young teen.
"I Lucius Malfoy pledge my family, my magic, and my allegiance to the boy before me currently known as Harry James Potter. I promise to never leave his side and do only to benefit him." He bowed slightly to Harry to show how he is now in his allegiance.
"I Accept." Harry said as a bright light filled the corridor. The two men bowed to each other and Lucius said before he took his leave.
"Let me know whenever you need of us Mister Potter." Harry smirked and chuckled.
"I have one request Lord Malfoy." Lucius nodded his head in a silent request to continue.
"Never let your house elf try to save my life again." He said with amusement in his voice. Lucius smiled a small genuine smile.
"Of coarse, good day Mister Potter." And with that the elder Malfoy took his leave. He felt he had made the correct decision in his pledge. Though now he needed to have a long conversation with his wife and Severus. A change was in store.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~END CHAPTER~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thank you all for reading! I'm so excited to get this story going. Let me know what you think in comments, I love to hear from you all. I like that you all enjoy Hermione being on Harry's side here. I've always read bashings about her, but I thought making her a little Slytherin would be more interesting. Third year will start with my main plot coming more into play so stay tuned and enjoy! A major twist is on the horizon I'll try to put up a chapter every week or two so keep reading!
Kakeru