Chapter 14: The Very Secret Diary Part 2
"I really wish your friend would at least give me a chance." He sighed shaking his head. "I guess I'm asking for too much there." Lizzy frowned, she hated that Draco felt that way. "You just got to give her time. She's really protective over her friends and it'll take her a while till she warms up to you." He gave a sad smile.
"Yeah okay," Lizzy wished there was something she could do to make Annie see that Draco isn't a bad guy. "Don't worry about me," he said with a smile leaning in and placing a loving kiss on her lips.
Lizzy gasped softly feeling him kiss her in public! She wasn't sure what to do at first but soon gave in. Her hand reached forward and cupped his cheek. It was a nice simple kiss. Of course Lizzy didn't realize the eyes staring at them.
"Lizzy?" her eyes widen as she pulled away a rather large blush forming around her face. Fred had seen her. "Uh…Hi Fred." She said softly trying to look anywhere but him. "So you and Malfoy huh?" She wouldn't look at him "Maybe why? Why do you care?" He cringed at her tone.
Fred wanted to be with Lizzy he really did. He was respecting Harry's wishes. He wasn't just pranks he could listen. "I do care, thank you. I just can't believe you would stoop so low to be with Malfoy." Lizzy's heart ached. "Excuse me?" Fred huffed. "I mean I know you're upset with me but seriously? Malfoy?"
"What's wrong with Draco? At least he doesn't toy with my emotions." Lizzy hid her face with her hair, she needed to go away. "Maybe now, but his kind is always terrible in the end." Draco seemed offended. "My kind? My kind is ten times better than anything your family can produce Weasley."
Lizzy wasn't sure what to do. "Fred Weasley…just leave me alone." She snapped glaring at the floor as tears threatened to spill. Just when she thought she had gotten over him, she had finally accepted her feelings toward Draco and was happy just being with him.
But Fred had started to act like he was in charge of her; he was acting like a major buffoon. Lizzy didn't want to get hurt anymore. It almost killed her when Fred had decided that he 'wanted' to be just friends. She thought they had really hit it off.
"You heard her Weasley, leave her alone. She doesn't want to be around you." Fred glared at Draco. He couldn't believe that Lizzy would even go for a git like him. He was an ass and would hurt her. At least Fred thought he was doing something to keep Lizzy safe, safe from himself.
Elizabeth couldn't take it anymore. She just grabbed her stuff and walked away as the two were bickering. She didn't need this. She was supposed to be studying for her classes. "Wait up!" Chester yelled running after her.
The two didn't know each other that well but they were decent friends. "Hey Chester…" she muttered softly walking through the halls. You could still hear the bickering duo from the library. Madam Pince was not pleased to find two students arguing quite loudly in the middle of her library. Taking out her wand she pointed at the two and used a nonverbal spell. Draco jumped shocked to find that his voice was gone.
Fred shared a same look before staring with annoyance at the librarian. He didn't particularly like her. In fact no one did. She was awfully rude. "Now enough out of the both of you! There is no reason for there to be talking in my library now get out both of you!"
Fred huffed sending one last glare at Draco who mimicked his actions. 'Wait until my father hears about this.' He thought distastefully storming down the corridors to the Dungeons.
Fred had stormed all the way back to Gryffindor tower with Annie and George right on his heels. "Wow, didn't think you would go and make Lizzy leave." He blinked shocked. He spun around and noticed Lizzy wasn't with them…or Chester.
"Chester ran after Lizzy after you two started to fight." She explained a frown on her features. She didn't think this would have happened. Fred grabbed hold of her shoulders just trying to speak. He wasn't able to speak. "I think that spell will wear off in a little bit." He shook his head at her words.
Annie was confused. Oh Lizzy. "I don't know where she went, she might be in the dungeons." He nodded and let her go. "Shes probably working with Snape, you know she always goes to the potions room to clean and help him out." He frowned and shook his head.
"No…she did that yesterday. She…" George sighed. "Well doesn't she always go there when she's upset?" Fred left going to see if she was with Snape. He would avoid going anywhere near Snape's office but he was desperate.
He didn't find her with Snape but he did get a distasteful look from said greasy haired, big nosed stick in the mug. "Miss Potter is not here, and you have no reason to be here." He tried to make a noise but that damn charm hasn't worn off yet.
He was stuck just giving a nod leaving the man. Fred had sighed. He felt horrible. He embarrassed Elizabeth in front of everyone because of his jealousy. "I don't know Fred is a good guy," That was Chester's voice!
"Yeah I know he can be but ugh! He's such a pain. I'm tired of this." Chester sighed. Sneaking around the corner he saw the two sitting on the floor talking. Elizabeth's bright red hair covered most of her face but he saw Chesters hand on her shoulder.
"Listen I may not know much about you two but I can tell that something is there." His heart was pacing. "Yeah, there was. I was in love with the guy. I mean whenever we hung out and he just held me I had to stop myself from falling to my knees."
He laughed "That bad huh?" she sighed resting her head on his shoulder. "Yeah…but he doesn't like me like that." He frowned staring down at my Brighteyes. Though her eyes right now didn't seem that bright, they seemed…sad. "But how do you know that?" he asked utterly confused.
What if…what if Chester didn't like Elizabeth. "Because he told me that." Chester looked shocked. "What? That's not possible." She gave off a sad smile staring up at him "He told me that he would rather be friends. Basically a couple hours after he kissed me." he sighed petting her head.
"Well it's not entirely his fault." What was he doing? Lizzy looked up confused staring at him "How so?" he scratched his head looking away "It's really not my place to talk about this. But…" Stop! "But?" he sighed letting his head fall. "Alright listen just talk to your brother about this. If he doesn't explain why Fred doesn't like you I'll tell you okay?"
She nodded slowly. "Alright…?" Fred sighed softly he wouldn't tell her yet…YET?! "Fred? Is that you?" Fred's body stiffened as he saw Alecia walking his way. "I've been looking all over for you Freddy!" I had to go, now.
"Fred?" Chester asked confused. With Elizabeth and Chester staring at him like he was spying on them, then there was Alecia who was running toward him. He did what only a man could do. He ran.
Lizzy's POV:
What the bloody hell was that? "Freddy come back!" I roll my green eyes annoyed. "Can we go for a walk?" he nodded and took me around the school. "What do you want to talk about?" He asked a smile on his lips. "Well how about your family?" he shrugged.
"Alright what would you like to know?"
"Well do you got any siblings?" he smiled and nodded "Yep, I have a little sister, she's eight." I smile and giggle at him "Does she look like you or your dad?" he shrugged. "I don't really know a lot about my dad. And Stella is my adopted little sister. She looks like her real parents I guess."
I frown. Well that's sad. "Well as you already know Harry and I don't know much about our parents." He nodded and poked my scar. "That's because he killed them. My mom always told me that if I ever met you two to tell you that you're welcome at our home whenever you want."
I smile to myself "That's very kind of her but I don't know." He shrugged. "I'm only delivering the message; anyway my mom she's the oldest of her brothers and sisters." I nodded "That's right you have two Aunts and three Uncles right?" he nodded "Yeah, my aunts are fairly young though. They were in their fifth year when I was born."
I was shocked "Wow, so you have your own set of twins in your family too huh?" he laughed at me. "Yeah you could say that." He was silent for a while. "My mom she always says that she wishes I could meet my father, that he would come home."
His dad left them? That's horrible. "She would say that he would bug her around school even though he was younger than her, hell he even was a prankster like the twins. But my mom fell for a guy like him. I guess you could say I'm trying to learn his way of life when he was my age from the twins." He sighed shaking his head.
He didn't seem happy. "You don't want to be a prankster though." I'm just guessing here but it's what it seems like. "Not really. It's not that fun, having to plan out all our attacks, and it sometimes hurts people." I gave off a small smile "Well what do you like to do?" he kicked a small rack away his hands in his pockets. "I like to read. Stella's face always lights up when I would read to her as a baby, and I guess I just like making her happy. It helped my mom out."
He really was a good guy. "Mom was always working at the Ministry with grandpa working long hours." I gave him a kind smile "She sounds amazing." He sighed happily.
"Oh she is. Shes the best. A great cook, always there for others, and she liked to learn new spells. Anything magical she would try to learn."
She sounds like a muggleborn or maybe a half blood. "Was your mom half blood?" he blinked a couple times before laughing "Oh no, we're purebloods. She just loved magic that much." I giggle smiling at him "Well she sounds amazing."
He nodded "She really is." We made it up the stairs to the Gryffindor tower. "I'll see you later Lizzy." I wave and watch him walk away. "He sounds like a nice boy." I smile at the pink lady. "He's a good friend." I smile and shake my head "Mermaid tail." She nodded and the portrait opened letting me enter the tower.
"Hey Lizzy." Annie was sitting with Harry, Hermione, and Ron. "How are you feeling?" I shrugged sitting on the ground beside the fire. "Annie told us that Fred and Malfoy got into a fight?" I glance at her and saw the sad look in her eyes.
"Yeah, I didn't want to stick around so I left." Harry sighed "Why did they even get into a fight?" Hermione asked confused "Annie wasn't telling she said that she would tell us when you got here." I nodded slowly "So?"
Annie took a deep breath "Draco kissed Elizabeth and Fred thought she was kissing him." She lied for me? "He what?!" Harry dropped the diary he had been holding in his hand. "Are you okay Lizzy?" I blink a few times before nodding "I'm okay I was just so shocked." I was pulled into a hug.
"I can't believe he kissed you!" I sighed "It's okay I can take care of Malfoy later. I don't want you guys to do anything or else you might get in trouble." I urged. "But your my little sister. I'm supposed to take care of you." I smile softly.
"I know but I can take care of it this time. Please trust me. If he does it again I'll let you take care of it." He sighed "If I don't listen?" I frown "Then you'll ruin my plan." He nodded "Alright I'll let you do it…for now." I smiled nodding my head.
When everyone went to bed it was just me and Harry in the room. "So find anything out about that diary?" he sighed shaking his head. "None. Nothing at all. But I feel like Riddle is like a really old friend that I forgot about."
I frown that can't be true since Dudley made sure that we didn't have any friends. "Tomorrow we're going to try and find some information on him. You are joining us right?" I nodded my head "Of course I am. Are you daft?" He laughed "Lets get some sleep." I nodded but a thought struck me.
"Hey Harry?" he made a soft 'hmm' sound of acknowledgement. "I was talking with Chester and he said something about how you know why Fred doesn't like me." he cocked his head confused "How would I know, he's missing out because you are a great girl." I sighed and shrug my shoulders and said night to my brother. I tried to sleep. It took a while but I did somehow fall asleep.
The next day around break Harry, Ron, Hermione, and I head over to the trophy room to examine Riddles special award. His trophy was a burnished gold shield that was tucked away in the corner cabinet. It didn't explain why he had been given the trophy, only that we found his name on an old medal of magical merit, and on a list of old head boys. "He sounds like Percy," Ron said wrinkling his nose in disgust. "Perfect, Head Boy…probably top of every class…"
I sighed rolling my eyes. That wasn't a bad thing. "You say that like it's a bad thing," Hermione spoke slightly hurt at his words. Learning and being the best witch to her standards was her goal. She wanted to be the best witch and she basically already was.
The sun began to shine weakly on Hogwarts again. Inside the castle, the mood had grown more hopeful. There hadn't been any more attacks since those of Justin and Nearly Headless Nick. Also Madam Pomfrey was pleased to report that the Mandrakes were becoming moody and secretive, I think that means they were growing out of their childhood.
Harry was thinking that the Heir of Slytherin had lost his or her nerve, it could have been getting riskier and riskier to open the Chamber of Secrets, with the school so alert and suspicious. Maybe the monster whatever it was went back into hibernation.
Ernie Macmillan of Hufflepuff didn't take this cheerfully. He was still convinced that Harry was the guilty one. He would give distasteful looks to anyone who associated with him. I remember hearing him talking to his friends that he had 'given himself away' at the Dueling Club. Then there was the rumor he was starting up that I was helping him out when it came to attacks 'She's always lurking in the dungeons they are working together to destroy all muggleborns!' he had said.
Peeves wasn't helping either. He would pop up in the crowded corridors singing "Oh, Potter, you rotter…" now with a dance routine to match. And finally Lockhart. Don't get me started on Lockhart, he keeps thinking that he was the cause that the attacks have stopped. I happened to have heard him talking to Professor McGonagall when we were lining up for Transfiguration.
"I don't think there'll be any more trouble, Minerva," he said while tapping his nose knowingly and winking. "I think the Chamber has been locked for good this time. The culprit must have know it was only a matter of time before I caught him. Rather sensible to stop now, before I came down hard on him. You know, what the school needs now is a morale-booster. Wash away the memories of last term! I won't say any more just now, but I think I know just the thing…" he had tapped his nose again and strode off.
I hadn't talked to Draco or Fred in a while; I've mostly been focusing on my school work or trying to figure out what was going on with the attacks with Harry. It kept my mind off things and I was happy to be in the loop this time instead of being ignored or forgotten. Annie and I became close too she soon became my other best friend. I now have four. There was Harry (of course), Ron, Hermione, and Annie.
Lockhart's idea of morale-booster became clear at breakfast February fourteenth. I was walking down to breakfast with Annie like usual when I saw the great hall. The walls covered with large, lurid pink flowers. Heart shaped confetti was falling from the pale blue ceiling.
"Whoa…" Annie was shocked. "Yeah…I have a feeling this is Lockharts doing." She nodded in agreement. "Last year is wasn't this bad…it was just less than this!" Walking over to the Gryffindor table Ron was too disgusted with Hermione and her fit of giggles.
The professors looked stony faced. It wasn't a while till Harry joined us. He had Quidditch practice last night so it was okay that he was somewhat late…I think. "What's going on?" Annie looked annoyed by Lockhart's actions. What with his lurid pink robes to match the decorations. He was waving at the moment for everyone to be silent.
"Happy Valentines Day!" He had shouted. "And may I thank the forty six people who have so far sent me cards! Yes, I have taken the liberty to arranging this little surprise for you all, and it doesn't end here!" I held in a groan of annoyance. Why couldn't we just have classes like normal?
He clapped his hands and through the doors to the entrance hall marched a dozen surly looking dwarfs. Not just any dwarfs, however. Lockhart had them all wearing golden wings and carrying harps.
"My friendly, card-carrying cupids!" Lockhart beamed. "They will be roving around the school today delivering your valentines! And the fun doesn't stop here! I'm sure my colleagues will want to enter into the spirit of the occasion! Why not ask Professor Snape to show you how to whip up a Love Potion! And while you're at it, Professor Flitwick knows more about Entrancing Enchantments than any wizard I've ever met, the sly old dog!"
Professor Flitwick buried his face in his hands in embarrassment and Professor Snape was looking as though the first person to ask him for a love potion would be force fed poison. I sighed running my fingers through my hair. "What's the big deal about Valentine's Day anyway. It's just a lovey dovey holiday for card companies." Annie cocked her head confused.
"You do not like Valentine's Day?" I shrugged my shoulders "I like it I just don't see why everything has to be pink." She giggled at me before scarfing down her breakfast. "Please, Hermione, tell me you weren't one of the forty six," Ron basically begged as we left the Great Hall for our first lesson. Instead of answering she was busy looking for her schedule.
All day long, the dwarfs kept barging into classes to deliver Valentines, to the annoyance of the teachers. It was the middle of Defense Against the Dark Arts Lockhart was telling us how much he loved this day, how he wished that everyday could be about love and blegh!
A dwarf came in carrying an envelope. Lockhart was the only teacher who didn't mind the dwarves. "Are you a Izzy Potter!" a small bearded mean dwarf asked making everyone turn to see. "Uh I guess." He tossed the folded parchment on my desk and left.
"Weird." I muttered staring at the letter. "Elizabeth who sent you that?" Oh right. If you got a letter Lockhart wanted to know who sent it and what it said. "Uh…" Flipping it open I saw it was from Fred.
"Just a friend." He nodded "And what does it say? We all want to know right?" there were a few yes, a few no, and a few I don't care. "It just says happy valentine's day. Nothing too big to get worked up over." He sighed dramatically.
"Oh dear don't you worry you'll find yourself a boy to love and show your feelings too. One day you will give your heart to a boy and you will just love the idea of being in love." He said happily. I was so confused. Harry looked murderous.
"Uh…right…" he had to make me so uncomfortable! Seriously why did Fred send me this anyway? There was this weird drawing on the front with two stick figures. The one was holding the others face. And they were both smiling. It said I like your face on the front. What?
Inside I looked at the messy handwriting.
Lizzy,
I know you aren't the biggest Valentine's Day fan, and that you haven't particularly been happy with me. I just wanted to say was your right. You have every right to be mad at me. I acted out of jealousy. Just seeing you with Draco just sort of hurt. I didn't want to hurt you Lizzy; I'd never want to hurt my beautiful little Brighteyes. I know Chester hasn't told you the reason why. I can explain later tonight just the two of us. But I just have to say sorry for my behavior. It was uncalled for. I hope I see you later tonight.
Love, Fred
Should I? I mean he did apologize and I would like to know why he kissed me and left. It wasn't right to lead me on and steal my first kiss and give you the 'I just want to be friends' line. Ugh boys were stupid.
When we were heading to Charms a dwarf caught up to Harry. "Oy, you! 'Arry Potter!" a particularly grim looking dwarf was elbowing people out of the way to get to Harry. I noticed how Harry was blushing madly at the thought of getting a valentine in front of a line of first years, Ginny happened to be with them. He was trying to escape.
Harry only made two paces when the dwarf caught onto him. "I've got a musical message to deliver to 'Arry Potter in person." He was twanging his harp in a threatening sort of way. "Not here," he hissed trying to escape.
"Stay still!" The dwarf grunted, grabbing hold of Harry's bag and pulling him back. "Let me go!" Harry snarled, tugging. It was a tug of war kind of thing till his bag ripped spilling his books, parchment, and quill spilled onto the floor. His ink bottle smashed over everything.
I sighed helping Harry pick everything up. He was in such a hurry to get out of here before the dwarf could sing.
"What's going on here?" Draco's voice drawled out from the other side of the room. Harry was shoving everything into his ripped bag, desperate to get away before Draco could hear probably. "What's all this commotion?" Yay Percy's here too.
Sarcasm.
I held back a laugh as the dwarf grabbed Harry's knees and brought him crashing down to the floor. "Right," he said sitting on his ankles. "Here's your singing valentine:
His eyes are as green as fresh pickled toad,
His hair is as dark as a blackboard.
I wishi he was mine, he's really divine,
The hero who conquered the Dark Lord
I bite my bottom lip as I try to pull Harry free from the heavy dwarf. The laughter was surrounding us. Percy was trying his best to disperse the crowd, some of the students were crying with mirth.
"Off you go, off you go, the bell rang five minutes ago, off to class, now," He said shooing some of the younger students away. "And you, Malfoy…" He had stooped down and snatched something up off the floor.
"Give that back," Harry said quietly. "Wonder what Potter's written in this," Draco was holding up the diary. "Hey that's mine!" I snapped annoyed. "What are you doing with my diary Harry." He blushed confused "W-what?" I sighed walking over to Draco and giving him a small smile.
"Thanks for finding it Draco, I don't know what I'd do if Harry read my Diary." I lean over and place a peck on his cheek snatching the Diary back. He was smiling like an idiot. "Well I'm always here to help Elizabeth." He had a small blush coating his pale cheeks. Looking around he plucked a red rose from one of the decorative walls "A rose for the most beautiful girl I know." I smile and take the rose.
"Thank you Draco," I was still mad at him but at least I could convince him I wasn't mad. "I don't think he liked his valentine." He said loud enough for Ginny to hear. "Well I think you should stop before I get mad at you again." I say sweetly.
His body stiffened with fear. "Alright?" he nodded. I lean over and place a soft kiss on his cheek "Happy Valentine's Day Draco." There was whispering all around. Elizabeth kissed Draco, a Gryffindor and a Slytherin? Not possible.
I walk over to Harry and glare at him "You owe me big time." He nodded in agreement. Harry took the diary and put it back in his bag "Keep better watch at that thing got it." He sighed "I didn't expect it to fall out of my bag."
Wait a second. It was clean. "Harry."
"What?" Ron and Harry started at me. "Let me see the Diary again." He handed me Riddles diary. Looking it over flipping through pages. "It's clean." They nodded and stared at me like I was crazy. "Harry your ink bottle coated everything. Yet look at the diary it's clean!" I whispered urgently. Harry was shocked and Ron still didn't get it.
"Ugh Harry do some tests tonight. I got to see what Fred wants." He nodded we had a plan. "You better tell me what happens alright?" he held out his pinky for me. "Pinky swear." I latch my pinky onto his and sighed.
I found Fred and George in the dormitory singing Ginny's love song to Harry. "Will you two quit teasing your little sister. Honestly boys it's not nice." They laughed at me "Hey Brighteyes, we missed ya!" I smile feeling the two hug me. "I missed you guys too. Get any love letters today?" They scuffed rolling their eyes.
"Yes but we don't have time to read them all. Anyway I need to go talk with a couple of friends you two talk work things out. Fred make her happy. I want her back to being around us again." George stated staring Fred down.
It was quiet for a little bit just the two of us sitting alone. "So…you wanted to tell me something." He nodded and sighed "Alright you see…the reason I said I didn't want to be with you was because Ron and Harry…" I frowned what did those two numb skulls do?
"What about them?" he sighed holding his head in his hands. "Damn it Lizzy stop that. I'm trying to feel awful but when you keep giving me that look I'm feeling happy. I hurt you for crying out loud and you are just making me happy."
I was confused is that a bad thing? "Just tell me what those two idiots did." I snapped. "Look they wanted me to wait a couple of years to ask you out. They didn't want me to hurt you." I scuffed "You are an idiot. If you think you can hurt me by your little fan club or your pranks then you got another thing coming. I'm tougher than I look."
He groaned "Stop acting stupid! You were moping and sad for weeks!" I scuffed "I was not! I was fine. I wasn't perfect to know that my first kiss was from the guy I loved and he just up and breaks my heart because he…" I cover my mouth I said I loved him.
"I need to go." I whisper walking away "Elizabeth!" I felt him spin me around. His lips crashed onto mine. I felt my body go limp in his hold. His kiss felt like a fire was surrounding us. I don't know what to think of it but I'm just in heaven at the moment.
"I love you too." Well this is one way to spend my valentine's day.
Third POV:
Harry was sitting on his bed just staring at the blank pages, not even one page had a trace of ink on it. He pulled out a new bottle out of his bed side cabinet, and hoped this does something. Dipping his quill into it, he dropped a blot onto the first page of the diary.
Eyes wide with shock as the ink shone brightly for a second and then disappear! Reaching over dipping his quill in again writing this time. "My name is Harry Potter." The words on the paper shone momentarily on the page and like the blot vanished.
Except this time oozing back onto the page, in his own ink, came words I never wrote.
Hello, Harry Potter. My name is Tom Riddle. How did you come by my diary?
Those words soon vanished, Harry wasted no time and started to answer the question. "Someone tried to flush it down a toilet." technically it was thrown at Myrtles head but Riddle didn't need to know that.
Lucky that I recorded my memories in some more lasting way than ink. But I always knew that there would be those who would not want this diary read.
"What do you mean?" Harry scrawled, blotting the page in his excitement.
I mean this diary holds memories of terrible things. Things that were covered up. Things that happened at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"That's where I am no," Harry wrote quickly. "I'm at Hogwarts, and horrible stuffs been happening. Do you know anything about the Chamber of Secrets?" his heart was hammering, Riddles reply came quickly, his writing becoming untidier, as though he was hurrying to tell all he knew.
Of course I know about the Chamber of Secrets. In my day, they told us it was a legend, that it did not exist. But this was a lie. In my fifth year, the Chamber was opened and the monster attacked several students, finally killing one. I caught the person who'd opened the Chamber and he was expelled. But the Headmaster, Professor Dippet, ashamed that such a thing had happened at Hogwarts , forbade me to tell the truth. A story was given that the girl had died in a freak accident. They gave me a nice, shiny, engraved trophy for my trouble and warned me to keep my mouth shut. But I knew it could happen again. The monster lived on, and the one who had the power to release it was not imprisoned.
Harry nearly upset his ink bottle in his hurry to write back. "It's happening again now. There have been three attacks and no one seems to know who's behind them. Who was it last time?"
I can show you, if you like
Came Riddles reply.
You don't have to take my word for it. I can take you inside my memory of the night when I caught him.
Harry was hesitant. His quill hovering over the diary as he thought of what Riddle could have meant. How could he be taken inside somebody else's memory? He glanced nervously at the door to the dormitory, which was growing dark. When he looked back at the diary he saw fresh words forming.
Let me show you.
Harry paused for a fraction of a second and then wrote two letters.
The pages of the diary began to blow as though caught in a high wind, stopping halfway through the month of June. Mouth hanging open, Harry saw a little square for June thirteenth seemed to have turned inot a miniscule television screen. His hands trembling slightly, he raised the book to press his eyes against the little window, and before he knew what was happening, he was tilting forward; the window was widening, he felt his body leave his bed, and he was pitched headfirst through the opening in the page, into a whirl of color and shadow.
He felt his feet hit solid ground, and stood, shaking, as the blurred shapes around him came suddenly into focus.
He knew immediately where he was. This circular room with the sleeping portraits was Dumbledore's office, but it wasn't Dumbledore who was sitting behind the desk. A wizened frail looking wizard, balk except for a few wisps of white hair, was reading a letter by candlelight. Harry had never seen this man before.
"I'm sorry," he said shakily. "I didn't mean to butt in…"
But the wizard didn't look up. He continued to read, frowning slightly. Harry drew near to his desk and stammered, "Er…I'll just go, shall I?" Still the wizard ignored him. He didn't seem to even have heard him. Thinking the wizard might be deaf, Harry raised his voice.
"Sorry I disturbed you. I'll go now," He half shouted. Lizzy would have smacked him for that. He just knew it. The wizard folded up the letter with a sigh, stood up, walked past Harry without glancing at him, and went to draw the curtains at his window.
The sky outside was ruby red; it seemed to be sunset. The wizard went back to the desk, sat down, and twiddled his thumbs, watching the door.
Harry looked around the office. No Fawkes the phoenix, no whirring silver contraptions. This was Hogwarts as Riddle had known it, meaning that this unknown wizard was Headmaster, not Dumbledore, and he, Harry, was little more than a phantom, completely invisible to the people of fifty years ago.
There was a knock on the office door.
"Enter," said the old wizard in a feeble voice.
A boy about sixteen entered, taking off his pointed hat. A silver prefect's badge was glinting on his chest. He was much taller than Harry, but he, too, had jet black hair.
"Ah, Riddle," said the headmaster.
"You wanted to see me, Professor Dippet?" Riddled asked looking nervous.
"Sit down," Dippet said. "I've just been reading the letter you sent me."
"Oh," Riddle had said. He sat down, gripping his hands together very tightly.
"My dear boy," Dippet said kindly, "I cannot possibly let you stay at school over the summer. Surely you want to go home for the holidays?"
"No," Riddle said at once. "I'd much rather stay at Hogwarts than go back to that…to that…"
"You live in a Muggle orphanage during the holidays, I believe?" Dippet said curiously.
"Yes, sir," Riddle said reddening slightly.
"You are a Muggle-born?"
"Half-blood, sir, Muggle father, witch mother." He said.
"And are both your parents…?"
"My mother died just after I was born, sir. They told me at the orphanage she lived just long enough to name me- Tom after my father, Marvolo after my grandfather."
Dippet clucked his tongue sympathetically.
"The thing is, Tom," he sighed, "Special arrangements might have been made for you, but in the current circumstances…"
"You mean all these attacks, sir?" as Riddle said that, Harry's heart leapt as he moved closer, scared of missing anything.
"Precisely," the headmaster said. "My dear boy, you must see how foolish it would be of me to allow you to remain at the castle when term ends. Particularly in light of recent tragedy…the death of that poor little girl… you will be safer by far at your orphanage. As a matter of fact, the Ministry of Magic is even now talking about closing the school. We are no nearer locating the er…sourse of all this unpleasantness…"
Riddles eyes had widened.
"Sir- if the person was caught- if it all stopped-"
"What do you mean?" Dippet said with a squeak in his voice, sitting up in his chair. "Riddle, do you mean you know something about these attacks?"
"No, sir," said Riddle quickly.
But Harry was sure it was the same sort of 'no' that he himself had given to Dumbledore.
Dippet sank back in his chair looking faintly disappointed. "You may go Tom…" Riddle slid out his chair and slouched out the room. Harry followed him. Down the moving spiral stair case they went, emerging next to the gargoyle in the darkening corridor. Riddle stopped, and so did Harry, watching him. Harry could tell that Riddle was doing some serious thinking. He was biting his lip, his forehead furrowed.
Then, as though he he suddenly reached a decision, he hurried off, Harry gliding noiselessly behind him. They didn't see another person until they reached the entrance hall, when a tall wizard with long, sweeping auburn hair and a beard called to Riddle from the marble staircase.
"What are you doing, wandering around this late, Tom?" Harry gaped at the wizard. He was none other than a fifty year younger Dumbledore.
"I had to see the headmaster, sir," Riddle said.
"Well, hurry off to bed," Dumbledore said, giving Riddle exactly the kind of penetrating stare Harry knew so well. "Best not to roam the corridors these days. Not since…"
He sighed heavily, bade Riddle goodnight, and strode off. Riddle watched him walk out of sight and then, moving quickly, headed straight down the stone steps to the dungeons, with Harry in hot pursuit.
But to Harry's disappointment, Riddle let him not into a hidden passageway or a secret tunnel but to the very dungeon in which Harry had potions with Snape. The torches hasn't been lit, and when Riddle pushed the door almost closed, Harry could only just see him, standing stock-still by the door , watching the passage outside.
It felt to Harry that they were there for at least an hour. All he could see was the figure of Riddle at the door, staring through the crack, waiting like a statue. And just when Harry had stopped feeling expectant and tense and started wishing he could return to the present, he heard something move beyond the door.
Someone was creeping along the passage. He heard whoever it was pass the dungeon where he and Riddle were hidden. Riddle quiet as a shadow, edged through the door and followed, Harry tiptoed behind him, forgetting that he couldn't be heard.
For perhaps five minutes they followed the footsteps, until Riddle stopped suddenly, his head inclined in the direction of new noises. Harry heard a door creak open, and then someone speaking in a hoarse whisper.
"C'mon…gotta get yeh outta here…C'mon now…in the box…"
There was something familiar about that voice… Riddle suddnely jumped around the corner. Harry stepped out behind him. He could see the dark outline of a huge boy who was crouching in front of an open door, a very large box next to it.
"Evening, Rubeus, " Riddle said sharply.
The boy slammed the door shut and stood up.
"What yer doin' down here, Tom?"
Riddle stepped closer. "It's all over," he said. "I'm going to have to turn you in, Rubeus. They're talking about closing Hogwarts if the attacks don't stop."
"What d'yeh…"
"I don't think you meant to kill anyone. But monsters don't make good pets. I suppose you just let it out for exercise and…"
"It never killed no one!" said the large boy, backing against the closed door. From behind him, Harry could hear a funny rustling and clicking.
"Come on, Rubeus," Riddle said moving yet closer. "The dead girls parents will be here tomorrow. The least Hogwarts can do is make sure that the thing that killed their daughter is slaughtered…"
"It wasn't him!" roared the boy, his voice echoing in the dark passage. "He wouldn'! He never!"
"Stand aside," Riddle said drawing out his wand.
His spell lit the corridor with a sudden flaming light. The door behind the large boy flew open with such a force it knocked him into the opposite wall. And out of it came something that made Harry let out a long, piercing scream unheard by anyone.
A vast, low-slung, hairy body and a tangle of black legs; a gleam of many eyes and a pair of razor sharp pincers, Riddle raised his wand again, but he was too late. The thing bowled him over as it scrambled to his feet, looking after t; he raised his wand, but the huge boy leapt on him, seized his wand and threw it back down yelling, "NOOOOOOOO!"
The scene whirled, the darkness became complete; Harry felt himself falling and, with a crash he landed spread eagled on his four poster in the Gryffindor dormitory, Riddle's diary lying open on his stomach.
Before he had time to regain his breath, the dormitory door opened and Ron came in.
"There you are," he said. Harry sat up. He was sweating and shaking. "What's up?" Ron said looking at him with concern.
"It was Hagrid, Ron. Hagrid opened the Chamber of Secrets fifty years ago."
Well that's it for this chapter thanks everyone for being patient with me! I'm all done moving and I'm all un packed AND I got wifi! Wooo! So I shall get back into my regular schedule in writing and posting maybe once or twice a week I'm not sure yet. Hope you Frizzy fans enjoyed this! : D