A/N- So possibly the second to last chapter. Hoepfully I'll have the last one up today, but if not it'll be up in about two weeks.
Disclaimer- (insert generic message here)
All parties involved in the Chamber research where frustrated. It had been three months since the first attack and no one was able to prove it was anyone. There had already been six more attacks, none fatal yet, and many were considering closing the school. Several parents had pulled there children out, and some students had written home asking to leave. Time was running out.
For Harry and his friends, the research was almost at a dead end. Everything on wizard genealogy was dealing with the major families, the ones Draco eliminated. They were only half way through the section. If only they had a last name.
Hermione, Dumbledore, and Tom were unable to prove it was Daniel because he was always accounted for during the attacks. He never just up and disappeared. Granted, they did not want it to be him, but it would make their search easier if it were he. Little did everyone know, the end was in sight.
Taylor flipped through an old yearbook searching for anyone resembling their DADA teacher. It was long and tedious work and eventually everyone was going to look the same. One picture finally caught his eye though, Marvolo Gaunt. He had the same piercing gaze as Riddle, and they shared a name. Walking in on an argument between Hermione and Tom had proved beneficial.
"Hey guys, look up the name Gaunt," he told the others. Ron summoned all the books with that word, only three, and began searching. They flipped through all the history and finally found a family tree. It was extensive, but finally it gave them what they wanted.
"They are related to Slytherin," Harry admitted excitedly.
"Alright, now is it possible that Riddle could be related to them?" Taylor conducted them.
"Uh, he had a daughter named Merope and a son named… something I can't pronounce," Ron filled in. "So if that Merope person is his mother or grandmother or something then yes he is, and that would make him the heir of Slytherin."
"What happened to her?" Taylor asked quickly. They might have him.
"She married, to whom is unknown, and died," Alexander interpreted. This was unhelpful but they decided to check the history. Luckily, this book updated itself.
"Reportedly crazy… known for being parseltongues… dirt poor… Marvolo and Morfin imprisoned for attacking Ministry officials and a muggle…" Eric scanned.
"That sounds about right," Draco decided. "He told me his mother's family was crazy from inbreeding and he told the class that his uncle and grandfather were slightly evil. Then there is the fact that they all had to ability to talk to snakes which is pretty rare."
"I think we got our man then," Harry concluded. They six ran off, ignoring the warning of Mrs. Pince about leaving books out, and found Lilly Potter.
"Mom, we know who the attacker is," Harry told her.
"We already know to. The ministry are arresting him know," she informed her son.
"Great," he told his friends," all that research for nothing."
"Well at least Riddle's being brought to justice," Ron figured.
"What?" Lilly asked them confused.
"You just said that Professor Riddle was being arrested," Alex told her.
"No, I said the culprit was. Hagrid is the one petrifying people. He was the one who did it last time too. I was surprised though, he seemed so nice," Lilly corrected them. They stared at her open-mouthed.
"That's impossible!" Ron exclaimed.
"But Tom Riddle is the Heir of Slytherin! Hagrid could not have possibly opened the Chamber," Taylor told her semi-calmly.
"I do not know what you are talking about, but I know that Professor Riddle is innocent. The Ministry has proof that it is Hagrid," she finalized and shooed them out.
"What are we going to do now?" Eric asked the group.
"I don't think there is anything we can do," Ron answered.
"No, we could follow him, catch him in the act," Harry decided.
"That's mad!" Taylor told him.
"I like it," Alexander agreed with Harry. And so it was decided, they would follow their teacher. They never got the chance though.
"All students are to return to their common rooms immediately. All staff to the fourth floor corridor," McGonagall's voice filtered the halls. Curiosity got the better of them and they ran to the fourth floor, hiding behind a corner.
"As you all can see," Dumbledore called out to the crowd, "a message has been left. Someone has been taken into the Chamber of Secrets."
"Who?" someone asked.
"Well, we do not know yet, we are waiting for a report," he told them solemnly. "Heads, please return to your houses and find out if anyone is missing and report back to me. Everyone else, search for stray students and make sure they get back to their houses. Unless someone is caught, I fear this may be the end of Hogwarts." The teachers dispersed, but something was off. The way to the dungeons was left and yet Riddle went right. The group of Gryffindors rounded the corner after saying bye to Draco and tried to look innocent, as if they were simply heading up to the tower. However, once they saw their teacher they veered off and followed him. But the next event was unpredictable.
"Tom, I'm going with you," Hermione told her husband. They jumped behind the corner so as not to be seen and listened in amazement. Hermione was in on this too?
"You can't. I need you to cover for me while I take care of this," he refused.
"No, this affects me just as much as it does you! Snape or someone else can take care of the students. I am going with you!" she demanded. Eventually he gave in and they continued on their way.
"Guys, not all of us can go. I think only I should follow them and you guys can go back," Harry decided.
"I'm going with you, just incase you need help," Ron offered.
"They'll notice if all of us are gone, and you guys couldn't make an excuse to save your lives. I'll go back," Taylor said.
"You should go with him as well," Harry told Alexander and Eric.
"We could distract them from your absence," Alexander agreed. Eric simply nodded. "Good luck guys." They split up and Harry and Ron rounded the corner just in time to see the pair duck into a girl's bathroom. With a bit of hesitates, they leaned up against the door to listen. At first, all they heard was odd hissing, followed by grinding masonry.
"Well, this is it," Tom said reluctantly.
"Wow, Harry and Ron had some nerve going down this," Hermione exclaimed quietly. The two first years exchanged stunned glances. What was the likely hood that Hermione would know a Harry and Ron? Moreover, what did she mean by that?
"They were here?" Tom asked in amazement.
"Yeah, you kind of possessed Ron's sister so she'd open it and they rescued her," she explained quickly.
"Oh very nice," Tom said sarcastically. "Well, at least we know this won't be like that."
"Oh Merlin I don't want to do this," then all was silent. Harry cautiously pushed to door open and peered inside.
"Ron, look at this!" Harry gasped at the giant hole in the wall. The two made their way towards it in awe and stared down into the nothingness.
"We aren't going down that are we?" Ron asked afraid.
"I think so," Harry answered. He gathered up the nerve and jumped sliding down the pipe. Suddenly, he got an idea how the snake was getting around, the plumbing. He landed with a thud on a stony and bone-littered floor. He dusted himself off and stepped to the side realizing that Ron was close by. Sure enough, just seconds later Ron skidded to a halt before him.
"That was brilliant!" he told Harry, picking himself up.
"Come on, they went this way," Harry pointed out. They followed the tunnel, and found the Riddles. Harry motioned for them to hide behind a bit of rock that jutted out, but luck was not on their side. Ron's foot hit a loose stone that bounced off the wall loudly. The two professors spun around, wands drawn, and walked over to them
"What are you two doing down here?" Hermione whispered harshly upon recognizing them.
"We were going to ask you the same thing," Harry commented darkly.
"That doesn't concern you. Why did you follow us?" Tom demanded.
"To prove to everyone that you're the real Heir of Slytherin, the one attacking our friends," Harry answered. The adults were speechless.
"How do you know that?" Tom asked weakly.
"It's amazing what you can find in a library," he hinted. Tom swore quietly.
"Well, you can't get out that way, so I guess you'll just have to wait here until we finish," Hermione reasoned.
"No, we came to save whoever is in there, and we are not going to standby and let you kill them," Harry rejected. Ron was turning an unnatural shade of white with fear.
"We aren't going to kill anyone. We came to save them too!" Hermione corrected the boys.
"Prove it," Harry challenged.
"Very well then," Tom agreed angrily and hissed at the snake door. The stone snakes parted as the two halves opened, allowing them in. The four people stepped inside the magnificent room. A narrow stone floor lined with snake statues lead into the main area where there stood a wall-sized statue of Salazar Slytherin. "Welcome everyone to the Chamber of Secrets," Tom joked.
"This is creepy. I don't get why you guys enjoy coming down here," Hermione breathed.
"Oh come on, this is the ultimate guy hangout," Tom told her. "Don't you guys agree?" he asked Harry and Ron. They were too much in shock to say anything. As they approached the statue, they saw a struggling figure attacked to the wall. They ran over and the two adults suddenly stopped when they saw whom it was.
"Daniel!" they cried together.
"Mom get out of here! Dad is behind it all! He made me do it!" he yelled, struggling to get out of the rock strap across his chest that bound him to the wall.
"What, I did not! What are you talking about?" Tom asked his hysterical son.
"I don't know! Somehow you got into my head and made me attack the students!" he screamed back.
"No I would never- I didn't" he denied. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were beyond confused.
"Well if you didn't do it, then who did?" Ron thought aloud.
"Hello Tom," the cold voice greeted him.