CHAPTER 14

The hall was completely packed by eight AM the next morning. The staff was all there as they had about twenty more minutes before the first class began. The massive hall doors swung open with a thud against the wall and walking down the center was Harry Potter with a massive smile on his face.

What got everybody's attention was the very large snake that was right behind him and on top of the snakes back was Hermione Potter reclining on its' back. It was only two seconds later that the hall erupted into pandemonium as students screamed and scampered to get as far away from the snake as they could.

Tessy was liking the delicious smells that came from this room. Tessy moved over to a table that had a platter of bacon in front of a young first year Gryffindor. Tessy wrapped her tongue around the tray contents and began smacking her lips "I haven't had this food in ages and this was my favorite. Sal used to feed it to me all the time."

Hermione chuckled and then stated "Don't be a pig Tessy save some of this for the humans too."

Tessy responded back "Ok, this table is mine and you have three others to choose piggy from." Harry and Hermione snorted in laughter. What surprised the whole hall was the small second year Ravenclaw that began to laugh.

Everyone turned to laugh at her as she walked over to Harry and Hermione and the big snake. She gave a bow to the snake and hissed "Greetings oh great one. But I think you can eat at any table you want."

Tessy looked down at her "I know but I think that would be considered bad manners." The younger girl giggled.

Harry watched her "You are a speaker too?"

The girl responded "Yes. In my home country it is not unusual to find many speakers. We have a closeness with a snakes and their gods and godess." The girl turned to Harry and Hermione "I am Padma Patil and it is nice to meet you both and your little friend here." Padma pointed at Tessy "I have never met a snake that likes bacon."

Hermione jumped down and laughed "I haven't either but Tessy has a few peculiarities about her."

Tessy turned to Hermione "I am not strange… not for a basilisk anyway."

"HARRY POTTER! What in gods name do you think you are doing?" Headmistress McGonagall screamed at him.

Harry turned to Hermione "Why does everyone assume its' me?"

Padma answered in a dead pan tone "Potter I have been here for over two and one half years and the only excitement I have seen involved you all four times." Padma smirked "You killed the headmaster and two professor' in the first four months." Hermione began to roll on the floor in laughter. Harry looked incensed at her.

He turned to Padma "Yes, well ask the laughing hyena there to control HER PET!"

Padma clucked her tongue "Hermione we tried to tell you if you hang around him it would eventually rub off." Hermione began a renewed sense of laughter upon hearing this.

Harry was shaking his head and muttered "It's just not fair I tell you."

Minerva finally maneuvered to stand next to him "Potter quit hissing at me and explain yourself." She said with anger in her voice.

Harry sighed "We found what was petrifying the students and came to show you. Tessy is no longer a danger to the school."

Minerva looked at him and then to the snake before looking at Hermione who had a smile on her face "Headmistress this is my familiar Tessy." Hermione started Hissing "Tessy meet the Headmistress of Hogwarts Minerva.

Tessy turned and hissed "It is nice to meet you." She then stuck her tongue and licked her face. Minerva promptly passed out.

Harry caught her and chuckled before hissing at Tessy "I think the tongue was a little over board Tessy."

Minerva woke up with Harry holding on to her she looked at him and blinked her eyes a couple of times "Did a really big snake just lick me?" Harry almost burst out laughing but held off while he nodded his head.

Minerva stood back up and looked at Hermione "This is your familiar?"

Hermione smiled "As of Last night when I found her wandering the halls."

Minerva looked at her "Before that she was petrifying the students?"

Hermione leaned towards her "Another student was ordering her too. Evidently that student was being possessed by someone named Tom, a student from the forties and fifties."

Minerva looked stumped for many seconds "Does she know which student?"

Hermione hissed "Can you show me the student who controlled you."

Tessy looked around "That one trying to sneak out the door."

Hermione looked and saw Ginny Weasley about to exit the hall. "Ginny stop, you need to come here." Hermione directed her.

Ginny stopped and very slowly turned to look at them. She was looking very sheepish when her whole demeanor changed and she stood straighter. She placed a small smirk on her face and came towards them.

As she approached she started hissing in parsel tongue "Kill them my pet, Kill them all!' Harry, Hermione, and Padma heard her yell out.

Tessy turned to the young girl "You kill them I no longer listen to you. Mione is much nicer and treats me better."

Ginny's face turned with rage "What? I have been your master far longer. You will obey me."

Harry turned to her "I don't think she will now that she knows who you really are."

Ginny's face that had been masked changed it's demeanor and looked so much more evil. She whipped out her wand and began writing in the air which the letters appeared in flames. They spelled Tom Marvolo Riddle.

The new Ginny sneered before she re-arranged them to read I am Lord Voldemort. Everyone in the hall gasped in surprise. This changed Ginny's facial features to show glee at the fear people felt with this name. "Yes, it is me because I have returned. It is nice to know that the mere shadow of myself brings fear to everyone's heart."

Harry looked up and held his hand out and caught Ginny's wand as it sprang from Ginny's hand. The new Ginny looked surprised as this happened. "You won't bring much fear without your wand."

Ginny sneered in defiance but said nothing. Mione stood beside Harry "How did you possess Ginny?"

Tessy spoke up "She usually had a book in her hand when she came to my chamber."

Ginny grew enraged "Traitor! I will kill you slowly for betraying me."

Neville Longbottom came up with Ginny's book bag and handed the Headmistress a brown diary with the name Tom Riddle on it. "She has been writing a lot in this and it was right after she started that she changed. I didn't know how to tell someone." He stated.

Minerva flipped through its' pages and found they were blank. "I can feel something off about this book and it feels dark in nature."

Harry looked at it "It has a very dark aura surrounding it too." Harry looked at Tessy and got an Idea. He hissed at her "Can you bite this with your long fangs?"

Tessy turned and opened her mouth while Harry carefully placed it on her teeth. Ginny became wide eyed and screamed "No!" just as Tessy punctured the book and injected her venom. The book began to bubble out a black oozing liquid from the hole and then Ginny fell to the ground and began to have fits.

A scream began slowly building until it pierced the entire hall with its' noise. Many were holding their ears as Harry, Minerva, Hermione, and Padma watched a green mist leave the book. As it floated up an image of a young man could be seen writhing in pain. He stopped moving when the screaming stopped and the mist dissipated from view."

Padma stood up first "What was that? How can a book possess someone?"

Professor Flitwick looked at Minerva as he walked up and gentle took the book "It is very strong and rare magic. I shall need to have some experts examine this." Minerva nodded her head as she understood his message. "Mr. Potter I take it from you bringing this Basilisk into the main hall she is harmless."

Harry smirked at Tessy "Harmless yes, annoying as all get out sometimes definitely."

Hermione laughed "She can be a handful."