Severus Snape paced nervously in his office. All of the staff had been sent off for the day, per the Dark Lord's command. Why, he truly had no idea, but a sinking feeling settled low in his stomach. Perhaps he had angered his master somehow and now he was to be punished. Perhaps the Dark Lord had found a new Headmaster. Was there a problem with his running of the school?

A flash of green flames in the fireplace broke his dark thoughts and his breath caught in his throat. Out stepped his Lord, Nagini wrapped around the man's shoulders, a confident smirk upon Voldemort's pale face. Severus rushed around his desk and fell to one knee.

"Rise Severus," the Dark Lord commanded, "Have you done what I asked?"

Severus nodded immediately. "Of course My Lord. All of the staff has been sent away and the ghosts have been confined in a classroom on the third floor. There shall be no distractions for whatever business you wish to conduct." He resisted the urge to bite his lip.

The Dark Lord tilted his head to one side and gestured toward the fireplace. Severus looked on nervously and wondered what painful fate the evil wizard had in store for him. Imagine his surprise when the floo flared brightly and a small figure came tumbling out covered in ash. The small form coughed once and then twice. Severus leaned in closer to get a better look.

"I told you to keep your eyes closed and you won't get so disoriented," the Dark Lord admonished. "And for Merlin's sake, don't open your mouth." With a wave of his wand all of the ash was banished away, leaving a small boy in its wake. The child looked up at him with bright green eyes behind large glasses.

Severus couldn't help but gasp. "Harry Potter."

"Headmaster Snape," the child greeted hesitantly, offering him a small bow and a shy smile.

"I should have known that introductions wouldn't be necessary," Voldemort commented idly.

"This is quite an honor, My Lord." Severus knew that no one had seen the Potter boy in the flesh since the night of his disappearance from Godric's Hollow. Even Lucius Malfoy, one of the Dark Lord's most trusted servants, had not been allowed to meet the boy.

The other man nodded curtly while Nagini unwound herself and slithered off across the office. "Why don't you explore a bit with Nagini," he suggested to the child, "While I have a talk with Severus."

Harry followed the large snake without hesitation. It was his first time away from home and he wanted to experience everything he could. Nagini lead him to a wall full of portraits and he chuckled as they all waved merrily from their frames.

"Why, is that Harry Potter I see before me?" An old man with the long white beard asked while adjusting a pair of half-moon spectacles.

Harry nodded shyly. "You're Dumbledore, aren't you? Voldemort's told me all about you. He said you were a very powerful wizard when you were alive."

The wizard smiled wide, blue eyes twinkling. "Did he truly say that? Well, that is something. May I ask how you two are getting along? It has been such a long time since I've had any news of you."

Harry gave him a confused look. "We're getting along fine. We're the best of friends you know?" He puffed out his chest a bit at that, taking pride in his relationship with the most powerful wizard in the world. A strong hand dropped on his shoulder and he smiled up at the Dark Lord.

"Hello Tom," Dumbledore greeted the Dark Lord with a smile. "I see you and young Harry are doing just fine."

"Of course," Voldemort replied with a smirk. "Come along Harry, I want to give you a quick tour of the school before we go to the Chamber."

"Voldemort's taking me to see the basilisk," Harry informed the portraits happily.

"My goodness!" The old wizard exclaimed. "Do be careful!"

"Voldemort will keep me safe," Harry stated fiercely.

The trek through the castle took longer then expected. Harry wanted to see everything and Voldemort seemed pleased to show him. A grand hall with a ceiling that reflected the sky had him 'oohing' and 'aahing' in amazement. The different common rooms were also interesting and Harry was itching to spend more time in the library, which Voldemort promised he could do another day.

"The Chamber of Secrets is in a girl's bathroom?" Harry questioned, giving the Dark Lord a confused look.

"No, but the entrance is. I know its odd, but I assume it wasn't a lavatory when Slytherin constructed it."

Harry pushed open the ancient wooden door and hesitantly entered, the Dark Lord giving him a little shove to urge him on. The room looked particularly dilapidated and he was beginning to wonder whether Voldemort had only been kidding about the Chamber and the basilisk. He scanned the stalls in dismay.

"Is it under one of the toilets?"

"Of course not," Voldemort chuckled. "It's right under here." He gestured to the sinks. "I only need to say the password." He opened his mouth to speak the word in Parseltongue that would open the tunnel but Nagini hissed first.

"Open."

Harry's jaw dropped as the sinks began to move apart, revealing a large hole. Voldemort gave Nagini a dark look, clearly unhappy that the snake had interrupted him and ruined the surprise.

"How do we get down?" Harry asked, a bit of fear in his small voice.

Voldemort scooped the boy up and held him close. "We slide of course," he stated simply and then jumped.

The Dark Lord couldn't decide what was more amusing, the high-pitched squeals coming from his young friend or the vice-like grip on his shoulders and middle as Harry held on for dear life. A bark of laughter escaped him as they tumbled and rolled.

"Wow!" Harry exclaimed as Voldemort placed him on the ground. He rocked dizzily and fought to catch his breath. "Can we do that again?"

Another bark of laughter echoed through the dark tunnels. A moment later there was an angry hiss as Nagini came to the end of the slide. The giant snake looked extremely perturbed by the hard landing and only stopped complaining when Harry hugged and patted her consolingly.

"The Chamber's straight down this tunnel," Voldemort stated, gesturing to the left. "It's not far so it shouldn't take long."

The trio made its way through the dirt and puddles of water. Harry's excitement seemed to be affecting the other two more than either realized. Nagini twitched nervously and Voldemort fidgeted with his wand. As the chamber door grew near, Harry suddenly reached out and grasped the Dark Lord's large hand with very small one. It was his way of telling the man that he was ready.

"Would you like to do the honors?" Voldemort asked his familiar.

"Just get on with it," the snake hissed in agitation.

"Open." The locks immediately disengaged and the door opened wide. "Welcome to the Chamber of Secrets Harry, and that," he gestured to the large basilisk sleeping toward the other end of the chamber, "is Ethelinda."

Harry's whole body was shaking. "A real basilisk," he whispered in awe.

"Perhaps you should speak to the beast before bringing the boy inside," suggested Nagini.

Voldemort shook his head. "I can control her." Nagini hissed her disapproval before remaining silent.

"Keep your eyes closed until I tell you to open them," he commanded.

"I hate closing my eyes," Harry complained, but closed them anyway.

"I know, but you're not immune to the basilisk's stare as I am so I need to make sure she understands that she cannot use her death gaze while you are with me."

Harry nodded in understanding and kept a firm grip on the Dark Lord's hand, as he was lead across the Chamber. The sound of Nagini slithering close by did much to calm his nerves and he reached out blindly to pat the snake.

"Master," Ethelinda greeted, slowly opening her large red eyes, "You have returned."

Voldemort tilted his head to one side. "Greetings Ethelinda. Yes, I have returned and brought a guest. He is not immune to your gaze, as I am, so you will need to use your non-fatal gaze."

"Of course," the large snake replied and its eyes instantly went from a bright red to a dull green.

"You can open your eyes now Harry."

Harry did so with much trepidation, carefully squinting one eye open and then the other. He blinked once, and then twice, staring in awed wonder at the gigantic basilisk. Ethelinda was looking at him curiously and for the millionth time in his young life he wished that he could speak Parseltongue.

"Hello," Harry greeted cheerfully and Voldemort immediately translated. "It's a pleasure to meet you." The basilisk hissed, its tone neutral.

"She says hello," Voldemort stated, "And…"

"And what?" Harry questioned curiously.

Voldemort's brow furrowed in confusion. "She says that your voice is green like your eyes."

Harry's face scrunched up as he contemplated that. "What color is your voice?" He waited patiently as the older wizard hissed the question to the gigantic snake.

"She says my voice is gray." His eyes widened as the basilisk hissed another comment. "She says she's never seen a human with a green voice, only gray. When you speak it's confusing to her."

"What do you think it means?" Harry asked, watching as the basilisk's eyes remained fixed on the area in front of his mouth.

Voldemort shook his head. "I don't know. It's been said that magical beasts have different ways of sensing things around them, much different then normal animals apparently."

Harry shuffled his feet. "Do you think it means there's something wrong with me? Or wrong with my magic?"

"Of course not," Voldemort admonished, "If anything it merely makes you more unique then I originally thought."

The basilisk hissed for a long time and Harry waited patiently for the older wizard to translate. But Voldemort didn't translate right away; instead he paused, a queer expression appearing on his normally stoic visage. Harry tugged at the man's hand to get his attention.

"What did she say?" He questioned.

"O…she said," Voldemort stuttered, "She said she's very pleased to meet you. Would you like to see her fangs?" Harry nodded excitedly.

The next few hours were spent relieving Harry's curiosity of all things basilisk related. He touched the snake's fangs, rubbed her scales and almost climbed in her mouth before Voldemort put a stop to that. But as much fun as it was to visit Hogwarts and meet a real basilisk, Harry nearly sighed in relief when it was time to return home.

"Did you enjoy your birthday Harry?" The Dark Lord asked as they walked toward the Headmaster's office.

Harry nodded eagerly. "Yes, very much so. Thank you."

Voldemort's mouth quirked up on one corner, almost into a grin but not quite. "Perhaps we will have to plan another trip soon."

"Why?" Harry asked in confusion. "It won't be my birthday again for a year."

The older wizard chuckled at that. "There's no reason we have to wait for your birthday to plan a trip somewhere."

"Could we go to Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley?"

The Dark Lord's brow furrowed slightly. "I suppose we might be able to with the proper preparation."

Harry glanced up at him, eyes narrowed slyly. "I won't let you forget you said that."

"Of course you won't," he replied knowingly.

Back at the house they enjoyed a bit of cake before it was time for Harry to retire for the evening. The day's excitement had tuckered him out more than usual and he barely put up a protest when Miss Fallow insisted he go to bed early. Nagini followed Voldemort as the man retired to his own bedroom for the night.

"You lied to Harry, didn't you? You didn't tell him what Ethelinda said."

Voldemort hissed angrily. "And what should I have told him? What could I tell him that wouldn't scare him?"

"She boy is missing a piece of his soul," Nagini continued, "What does it mean, do you think?"

"She also said the world 'bends to him', whatever that means. Who knows what any of it means," he shrugged, "Magical creatures have odd ideas. They see things that are not normally seen, feel things that are not normally felt…"

"You are afraid." It was not a question, but a statement of fact.

He nodded. "Of course I am. I knew the boy was special when I took him from his crib as a babe, but I had no idea he would be so important to the workings of the world."

A loud snort escaped the snake. "You mean important to the workings of you, don't you? Harry has become your world."

"And I his," he responded, no anger in his voice, only acceptance. "My goals and aspirations seem petty and useless next to Harry. He's just a child, yet he's captured my imagination more than power or even the promise of victory. It frightens me and excites me at the same time."

"There is much to fear in giving a piece of oneself away," Nagini stated knowingly.

"You love him too."

"Of course."

"But why?"

Nagini managed a snake-like version of a shrug. "It seems to be right." At Voldemort's confused look she attempted to explain. "My feelings for the boy are like hunting rats or using my poison against an enemy."

"Instinctual?" He asked and the snake nodded in return. "Yes, I think it is the same for me. The first time I held him close to me, it was like the first time I held my wand or stepped through the doors of Hogwarts…as if I was exactly where I was supposed to be, doing exactly what I was supposed to do."

"But Ethelinda's words…she said a piece is missing. What can it mean?"

"It means nothing," Voldemort growled. "Merely cryptic messages from a senile beast." Nagini looked doubtful but knew to remain silent.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I just want to thank everyone for the kind reviews. I am glad that so many people are enjoying this story. Do not worry, I will never abandon any of my stories. It may, at times, take me longer to update, but I will finish them all.

I'm writing this little promise because many of the stories that I have been enjoying have not been updated in a very, very long while and some seem to have been abandoned altogether. This makes me very angry and frustrated. It's upsetting to read a story that will never be finished, like watching half a movie or tv show...just plain frustrating.

To all those authors that continue to write fanfiction, I salute you. Keep up the good writing!