A/n Sorry about the wait! Okay, so last chapter. I fear this is going to be sad and one of the character's is going to die. Actually two I guess. So thank you to everyone who reviewed. I was just as nervous if not more so when I started this and all the positive feedback meant so much to me. –Hands you all cookies- Thanks again!

Disclaimer- Just borrowing a few characters for a bit of fun.

"No, no… THAT'S A LIE!" Daniel cried out, tears pouring down his face. "You couldn't've."

"And yet, notice that he does not deny it," Voldemort pointed out manipulatively. "They lied to you, both of them, so what makes you think you can trust them?"

"Don't listen to him! We didn't want to hurt you," Hermione explained desperately.

"Oh yes, he doesn't look hurt at all," the spirit replied sarcastically. "Now Daniel, I want you to reconsider my offer. I'm offering you power, greatness and have I ever lied to you before?" he cooed.

"Well, no but… I don't know," Daniel's resolve weakened.

"But they make me sound like a monster don't they? However, they have lied to you before. What makes you think they aren't lying now, that they are jealous?" Voldemort pressed.

"Daniel don't you believe him!" Tom spoke firmly for the first time since this ordeal began. "I know the corrupt view of power he has and believe me, it's not worth it! Destroying lives and separating families is not power; it's cruel and sick. Yes, I opened the chamber and ended up killing a girl and the guilt has never left. But I'm proud of that guilt, because it lets me know that I am capable of human emotion. If you go with him, you won't feel guilt or compassion and you'll be something less than human, a monster. Don't let that be your fate!" Daniel looked from his father to the ghostly figure beside him as if weighing their trustworthiness.

"You know Voldie, you do make a mean offer. It's rather tempting," he finally spoke. The rest of the occupants looked crestfallen, but he wasn't done. "Nevertheless, I've never been one to trust strangers easily so I'm afraid I'm going to take my father's word over your's. Good luck finding another person to corrupt." A sigh of relief filled the chamber. Even Harry and Ron knew a major disaster had just avoided.

"Very well then, say good bye," he decided and pulled out the boy's wand. The Killing Curse was on his lips when a jet of red light flew through the spirit. The snake like form of Voldemort turned, livid, to find Tom with his wand drawn.

"Don't you dare touch my son," he warned dangerously. A sick and twisted smile darkened the spirit's face as he approached

"Or perhaps, you'd like to go first Tom?" he asked mockingly. He advanced on his maker who backed away, trying to think of what to do. Hermione, Ron, and Harry looked between them helplessly. Thankfully, Daniel had a bit of experience with this evil spirit and knew its weakness.

"MARVOLO!" he hissed loudly. The giant snake erupted from the pool of water in front of the statue. The Basilisk noticed the threat against his former master and friend and lunged at the serpent-like creature. Marvolo convulsed as Voldemort molded with his mind. Using the moment of confusion, Hermione broke her son free of the stone restraint and ushered the students towards the exit. Daniel stayed back with his father to finish off their enemy.

The Basilisk became alert signaling that its death also meant Voldemort's. Father and son raised their wands but where knocked off their feet by a well-aimed hit with its tail. While Tom hit the far wall rendering him unconscious, Daniel managed to hang on enough to land, rather ungracefully, on top of the stone head. He righted himself and saw the serpent advancing on Hermione. He gathered all the hate he could muster and sent the fatal green curse towards the snake. Whether he saw it coming, or through animal instinct, Voldemort ripped itself away from Marvolo and dived towards Ron, who had leapt in front of Hermione. Marvolo dropped to the floor and allowed the curse a clean shot at Ron's chest. The first year boy fell to the ground dead. (Much crying)

No one moved or spoke. Hermione hollowly moved to her fallen friend and knelt beside him, holding his head in her lap as she had in another lifetime. Violent sobs wracked her body. Harry walked up beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder for support, as much for himself as for her.

Daniel fell to his hands and knees in disbelief. He had killed him. He, Daniel Thomas Riddle, was a murder, no better than that monster. Disgust and self-hatred welled-up inside him and for a minute, he considered jumping off the statue. However, his father's speech echoed in his mind. He was not that bad. Pulling himself weakly up, he clamored down the statue and revived Tom.

"Wha… what happened?" he asked, surveying the morbid scene.

"I killed him dad, the red head, I killed him," Daniel whispered in disgust. Knowing how he felt, Tom stood up and strongly embraced his son. "I didn't mean to though… it was an accident," Daniel cried.

"Of course you didn't… I know you never would," Tom tried to comfort him, but he knew it was useless. Whether for minutes, hours, or a lifetime they stood there, no one knew, but finally Hermione spoke.

"W-we should take h-him up. H-his parents need t-t-to know," Hermione gasped. She tried to pick Ron up, but she was too weak and slumped down. Everyone helped pick her and their fallen comrade, each feeling responsible for the tragedy.

"How are we getting out of here?" Harry asked realizing that they had slid down here.

"Back door, this way," Tom answered emptily. They all exited the chamber and started up the staircase.

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They made it to the Hospital Wing without running into anyone for which they were grateful. They laid Ron down on a bed carefully while Madame Pomfrey rushed over thinking someone was hurt. She gasped in shock and looked at the group for answers but realizing she was not going to get them, went and flooed the Headmaster. Dumbledore stepped out of the grate and approached the miserable group.

"What happened?" he asked quietly.

"My Killing Curse hit him," Daniel accused himself. Dumbledore stared at the young man in shock. Harry realized this and piped up. He knew the young professor had not meant to hurt his friend and was going to defend him.

"An evil spirit was possessing a giant snake and Professor Riddle tried to hit the snake but the spirit jumped from it to Ron and so the snake fell down and the curse hit Ron instead. He did not mean to and you can't send him to Azkaban!" Harry explained firmly. Dumbledore nodded in understanding and assured him that no one was going to Azkaban.

"Damn it!" Tom yelled suddenly, falling into a chair and covering his face in his hands.

"Tom?" Hermione questioned.

"Why does my life always have to hurt someone?" he asked her. "All I've ever done was hurt people. I just can't win. Either I become a monster and kill thousands or I change and still take your friend's life. I just can't win!"

"Oh Tom, it's not your fault. You didn't know this was going to happen. Don't beat yourself up about this," Hermione comforted him as she hugged her husband.

"You shouldn't have come back Hermione. You just should have let me become Voldemort and die," he told her. She slapped him firmly across the face.

"Tom Marvolo Riddle, don't you ever talk like that again," she demanded. "You gave so many people a life for this. Now don't you ever think that!" He smiled weakly, but obviously it meant a lot to him.

"That didn't make any sense," Daniel commented, having listened to their little exchange. Just then the Molly and Arthur ran into the room.

"Tell you both later," Hermione mouthed to Harry and Danny. They glanced at each other and with a shrug, went to condole the grieving parents.

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"So, that thing was actually you in another dimension?" Daniel asked Tom weirdly. They'd just been told about Tom and Hermione's past.

"And you killed my parents, tried to kill me, and my friends on multiple occasions?" Harry continued.

"Well, yes, dang, that sounds really harsh," Tom commented in realization.

"Told you changing was a drastic improvement," Hermione pointed out. He nodded thoughtfully.

"You were beat by a baby!" Daniel laughed. His father, one of the most powerful wizards ever was sort of killed by a one year old. That was too good.

"That was Lily's fault," he mumbled irritably.

"So we were friends at one point?" Harry asked Hermione. She nodded in affirmation. "It's strange, R-Ron and I both felt like we knew you, both of you actually," he told them.

"Well, you did, you just didn't know it," Hermione assured him.

"You know, that's just creepy. My mother should be younger than I am right now," Daniel mused.

"Yeah, that's just not right," Harry agreed. The group laughed a bit, taking comfort from one another. Nothing would heal the pain of loosing Ron, but together they would make it.