When Harry woke up, he wasn't at Hogwarts. No, he was at St. Mungo's. The first thing he did when he got up was try and find a way back to Hogwarts. He got fifteen feet out the door before he got stunned in the back and sent back to his room.
Andromeda came to visit twenty minutes later and calmed him down, assuring him that after he had fainted no one else was attacked by Slytherin's monster. Which was a very small relife for Harry.
It was also pointless to go back to Hogwarts as break had begun two days ago, Harry had been asleep for a week. Apparently his mind had been exhausted and demanded a break, Harry waggered it was the stress….and guilt.
Andy tried to get him to open up, but he shut her down. She didn't understand...and if Harry had it his way she would never have too.
He understood exactly what had happened. He was horrified and riddled with guilt all at the same time.
He had let him manipulate him...Tom Riddle...Voldemort. He knew...he knew all along what Harry wanted, and Harry listened to him, trusted him. If Tom Riddle really was Voldemort, then the diary which he had lost was now in the hands of some poor child, being mind controlled by Riddle into killing people.
It was all Harry's fault, everything. If he had given the damn cursed diary to Andy the day he learned what it was...all of this…
But it wasn't too late, no one had died yet and whoever now had the diary was still alive. Harry was going to make sure they stayed that way.
When he got free from his prison that was released from the hospital, he went home to the Tonks. Andy and Ted were busy all Christmas, Ted was working on a case for a news story in London while Andy was helping an old friend with a project, she didn't tell what.
Even Tonks was busy, her final exams were coming in April and the girl really wanted to pass. And Harry, being the ever loving boy he was, offered to help.
"Illegal in France, England and Belgium, but not in Germany," Harry quizzed.
"Ah...Berulian brain slug!"
"Correct. Counter to the blood freezing curse?"
"Torotia morbius!"
"It's Mobius, no 'r' is pronounced."
"Damn! Fine, next!"
"The perfect way to disguise amongst muggles?"
"Long coat and scarf, have a muggle repelling charm applied on your clothes as well."
"Correct! And that's nine out of ten!" Harry smiled, slamming her book of questions down and grinning, "pretty good Pinkie."
"Nine out of ten isn't perfect Harry, again," Tonks demanded with a focus she usually reserved for anything other than studies.
"Pinkie I'm exhausted and you're running yourself ragged," Harry sighed, "a break will do us both good."
Tonks seemed to consider it before she sighed and nodded, "yeah….I guess. Alright then boy-who-faints, what do you want to do?"
"Merlin, I hate that nickname," Harry whispered in annoyance.
Tonks grinned, ruffling his hair, "yeah well, get used to it cause that ain't going to change! But really, we should do something fun! Mum and dad aren't coming back till night, let's go for a walk or something!"
Harry shook his head, "no, thanks. But...Tonks, I could use your help with something."
"Okay, shoot."
"I'm curious, how do you track an item of dark magic?"
Immediately Tonks knew something was up, "Harry, what's wrong?"
The boy tried to put up a tough face, he really did. But Tonks was the first person he ever trusted in his life...and she couldn't help him...no one could. So the Slytherin broke down, finally relaxing after months of isolating himself, he broke down and told her everything.
A few minutes later:
"So...you think the diary of you-know-who is responsible for all that's happening?" Tonks asked, obviously having a tough time believing Harry.
"Tonks I know it sounds crazy, believe me, I do. But I'm telling you the truth, Voldemort copied his memories into this book, and whatever he made wants out. He's going to try and possess whoever is writing in the damn diary and scare the rest of the students away. I have to do something, it's….it's my fault Tonks."
"Harry, you can't say that-"
"-Bullshit I can't!" Harry snapped back "it's my fault and you know it!..But I'm going to make it right, so either you help me, or leave me alone."
Harry stood up to leave, when Tonks called out, "wait! I….fine...I think you're a little bonkers, but fine. I'm sure whatever the thing in Hogwarts that's causing all of this can't be a basilisk, I mean, someone would have noticed by now if it was. But if you're serious about a dark object being in the school I suppose there's no harm in showing you how to detect it."
Harry didn't like the fact she still didn't believe him, but it didn't matter. She promised to show him how and that's all that counts. He would solve this mystery himself, because clearly he wasn't going to get any help from the adults in his life.
January 4th:
When the students of Hogwarts saw Harry Potter climb back into the Express after Christmas hols, they swore the boy was going mad. He was carrying with him five roosters in cages, all levitating behind him like an armed escort.
Andromeda and Ted tried to convince Harry to leave the birds, but the boy refused to budge on the matter, even going as far as to yell at the two to mind their own business.
Harry walked down the compartments, he reached into his robes and pulled out a small circular mirror that shined silver, not reflecting anything back, but displaying vague shadowy figures in it.
It was a foe-glass, a gift Harry got for himself on Christmas. It would show shadows, meant to represent the enemies the user possessed. The closer they were, the clearer the image would be, and what was Tom Riddle if not Harry's enemy?
So he searched, for two hours he went up and down the train, looking at the mirror, trying nearly every single person in there. A few obvious enemies came, like Draco and half of Slytherin, but then there were also people like Zacaria Smith, who apparently disliked Harry very much.
In the end, Harry ended up with a huge list of suspects, none of whom looked possessed. Harry finally gave up, deciding to find a compartment to rest in. To his surprise, the last compartment in the train was filled with Daphne, Delphi and Tracey, all of whom carried with them a rooster in a cage. Delphi's looked like a royal hen, black and dignified as it stood at attention, Daphne's was red with golden highlights, currently asleep and Tracye's...well, it wasn't a rooster.
"Davis, you do know that's a chicken, not a rooster right?" Harry raised an eyebrow.
The girl blinked, turning to the bird she was carrying around. Delphi and Daphne looked like they were trying to hold in their laughter when she finally cried out, "Merlin's beard!"
Delphi looked over and nodded, "Potter...five is a bit much don't you think?"
"It's a thousand year old snake Malfoy, I'm not taking any chances," Harry hissed back as he noted the other girls' birds as well, "I'm surprised you all decided to bring one as well."
"We did some solid investigation Potter, it would be stupid to ignore the findings," Daphne simply replied.
"I'm guessing your parents didn't believe any of you?" Harry asked as he sat down, trusting these girls enough to not try and kill him.
"I did….father didn't seem too bothered," Delphi narrowed her eyes, a sense of annoyance passing through her.
"Mine didn't believe me, I had to sneak a rooster out," Daphne snorted.
"Same," Tracey nodded before frowning at the bird, "though now I understand I got it for only five sickles. Bloody farmers."
Just then the doors to the compartment were opened once more as this time Hermione came in, three roosters with her, all stuffed in an extra large pen.
Harry couldn't help but smile, "great minds think alike I suppose."
Hermione's smile could have illuminated the darkest dungeons, she sat down with them and they all caught up on what the others had done over the holidays. Harry kept his plans on finding the diary a secret, explaining that he spent most of his time learning new spells to protect himself, which was technically true.
When they reached Hogwarts, it was time for the feast. Hermione wished them well and left, while Harry joined the other Slytherin's for dinner.
"So Potter, what's with the cock?" an older seventh year Slytherin asked, much to the laughter of his friends.
"Girls, you realise how silly you look with those damn things don't you?" asked a fourth year girl with more makeup on her face than brains between her ears.
"Well, they are at that age, but I think they misunderstood what kind of cock they need," Flint snorted.
"Shut your bloody mouth Flint!" Draco cried out.
"Or what you blonde poof?" Flint snorted, ever since Draco lost the match against Gryffindor, he's been on Flint's shit list.
"Draco, sit down," Delphi said finally.
"But-"
"-I know...sit brother," Delphi nodded. The male heir sighed and did as he was told. The cold faced Slytherin beauty then turned to the rest of the older years, all of whom laughed at them and spoke a few soft words which everyone heard, "when you're all lying paralyzed on a hospital bed, we will be standing over you and laughing. Everyday. And if you die? Well then we'll laugh then too and be sure to leave you a rooster on your gravestone, just in case."
And with that very short threat, Delphi Malfoy ignored the rest of their insults or comebacks, not even acknowledging them in the slightest. All the second years were huddled together, Delphi was their leader by default after all.
And for the first time, Harry was included in that list. While he didn't follow her like the rest of them, he was on her side this time and so dinner didn't feel as if he was in a war zone.
It was….a pleasant feeling. One he didn't want to risk a second time. He would still be eating in the kitchens thank you very much.
The next day Harry approached the second floor girl's washroom and placed a bird perch at the entrance. He then charmed the bird with a couple of proximity sensors, just in case, and a few protection charms. This way, if the loo really was the entrance to the legendary chamber, the heir wouldn't risk bringing the basilisk out without killing the rooster first, which Harry would find out happened the moment it does.
Flinch was obviously not happy about it, and threatened to tell Dumbledore. Harry encouraged the man to do so and to his dismay, Dumbledore sided with Harry. The man allowed Harry to keep the bird, he even had the brilliant idea to add a few more protective charms onto the bird personally, in the end, not even a professor at the school could remove or harm that bird.
Harry could only hope that they had done enough...for what was coming next.
February 14th:
If someone ever killed Gilderoy Lockhart, Harry was sure he would spend every galleon in his trust vault to insure said person never went to prison for the crime.
The month Harry spent after Christmas holidays was one of great stress. People were still nervous about students dropping like flies and since none of them believed the findings of four Slytherins and one nerdy Gryffindor.
It was hard enough to be taken seriously in class when they insisted on bringing their pet roosters everywhere, it was harder when the professors themselves worked against them.
Lockhart was always a problem, Harry talking to ignore him for most of the class, only finishing his homework, what little he gave, and reading his own notes on the dueling books he found in the Room of Requirement.
McGonagall however soon became the second most annoying teacher Harry ever had. The woman ignored him wholy in her class, barely acknowledging him less than she did before. He was dead to her and she acted like it.
It was a tense time indeed and Harry could forgive Lockhart in trying to lighten the mood as he did, but the truth was Lockhart had a skill in being annoying and it shined through on Valentine's day.
Lockhart had hired dwarves wearing golden wings and carrying silver harps, dubbed them his card-carrying cupids and unleashed them upon the school student body.
It was a plague, it was as if the powers that be decided that a god-forsaken basilisk wasn't enough of a hurdle and decided to send these little monsters to make this year more difficult than it already was.
All day those things barged into classes, delivering letters and poems to students. The older kids had a blast, the boys proud at every letter they got, showing off to their friends before reading it in secret. The girls however were different, if the letter was from a boy that interested them they would accept it, if not, the letter would be shredded and turned into confetti.
Harry was lucky enough to have been spared the embarrassment, not even his allies were so lucky.
In Charms, in the middle of Flitwick's lecture no less, over half a dozen barged in and began taking over. The class was shared with the Gryffindors and Harry watched in amusement as the dwarves began to turn the class apart.
Daphne had gotten three letters, she had brunt them without bothering to look at the name. Tracy had gotten two, the girl burnt one but kept the other, giggling to herself when she read the name.
Delphi had gotten six. The girl looked the names over and Harry could see her fingers tremble with anger.
"Anyone good Malfoy?" Harry asked with an amused smile.
"Sod off Potter," she burnt them all immediately, "I see you didn't get any. Mr. Popular aren't you? What's wrong Potter? Aren't as charming as you think you are?"
"I didn't set out to be charming Malfoy, I don't give a damn about school girls. I already have someone I love," Harry snorted, turning away in annoyance.
"Oh, so Potty does have someone," Draco started from the desk behind, "who is it Potter? Is it one of the birds you keep around?"
"Are you referring to your sister and her friends or the roosters?" Harry snorted. Daphne and Delphi looked amused while Draco looked like someone had just shoved a lump of coal under his shirt.
And then, the unthinkable suddenly happened. A dwarf stopped before Harry, burping in his face, "you 'Harry Potter?"
Harry drew his wand, "turn and leave."
"No can do kid. It's me job."
"Mr. Potter!" Flitwick cried out, "put away your wand! Violence isn't the way to solve every matter dear boy!"
"But-," but before Harry could say anything more, the dwarf exploded into song.
"His eyes are as green as fresh pickled toad,
His hair is red with black lines of coal.
I wish he was mine, he's really divine,
The hero who conquered the Dark Lord."
Harry had his jaw hanging open. Delphi smirked and leaned in, "oh Harry, you divine thing. Look at me you toad eyed lover you."
"Potter I must say, your hair is dark and...dusty," Daphne snorted.
"Harry, you got a crush!" the ever blunt Tracey Davis cried out.
"Alright' next one," the dwarf cleared his throat as he took out another card from his backpack. Before Harry even had a chance to stop him he began again;
"Harry Potter, the grim faced hero,
Everyone's saviour and still so sad,
Let me hold you, dry your tries
People always try to drive you mad,
My love is all I have,
Elope with me, be my man.
Slytherin or Gryffindor, I don't care,
Be mine and I will be in your care."
"Here you go, it also came as a written letter," the dwarf grumbled as he and the others then began to walk away.
The moment the doors shut behind them, Harry let out a loud cry of disbelief, "what the hell was that?!"
"Five points from Slytherin Mr. Potter!" Flitwick cried out, before smiling sly, "and might I say, you're turning into quite the ladies man. But best to wait until next year before the whole courting part yes? Now, let's get back to the lesson."
Harry couldn't focus, his mind split by the idea that not just one, but two girls had sent him love poems. He had never, ever, in his life ever been a target of...affection. Lust, yes, especially when he hides as a girl on the streets, but never...love.
At the end of the class Harry was walking with the other Slytherins, his mind numb. He held out the written letter of the second poem in his hands and couldn't help but wonder who it was that wrote this. They left no name, nothing.
He read it again and again, the words were...deep, if he was to say. The way she, or at least he hoped it was a she, described him, it was almost as if she knew him. Understood him. Cared for him. Like….she loved him.
But who could ever love him? So many secrets, so many mistakes. The only one who could, who knew everything important about himself and his life, was Tonks...but every day that past the feeling of love he once felt started to fade and now….now he just doesn't know anymore.
He kept looking at the card, the words dancing before him, when suddenly, he noticed something. The words...every beginning word in the poem...when taken away, it spelt something.
H...E...L...P...M...E...S...B…
Help me SB.
Help...it was a cry for help! Harry became rooted in his place as he looked at the initials. S.B. Who did he know with those initials? Who...Susan...Susan Bones!
"Susan!" Harry cried out as he took off, running towards where he knew the Hufflepuff common room was located.
"Potter! Where are you going?!" Delphi cried out, only to have HArry ignore her entirely.
"He probably figured out who sent it to him," Daphne replied with a shrug, "I'm guessing it was Susan Bones."
"Wait, Susan Bones?" Tracy asked, "how do you figure that?"
Daphne rolled her eyes, shaking her head in disbelief, "the girl has a crush on him a mile wide Tracye, honestly I taught you to be more observant of the people around you didn't I?"
While Tracey and Daphne began to argue, Delphi looked at Harry's running form. 'It wasn't just a stupid crush, no, Potter looked like it was something more pressing...' Delphi though before turning to her friends, "you two go ahead, I'll catch up."
"Where are you going?" Daphne asked.
"Washroom," Delphi replied, following behind Harry.
Harry spotted Hannah and Zack as soon as he came down the Hufflepuff corridor, "Davis! Smith!"
"Harry?" Hannah blinked, "what's gotten your feather's in a ruff?"
"Susan, where is she?" Harry demanded, panting lightly.
"Sue? Why do you want to know?" Hannah asked.
Harry held up the letter he got, "I know she sent this to me, where is she Hannah?"
"Oh...how did," Hannah sighed, "look, Harry, don't take it too personally, she's...she just thought you looked lonely is all."
"Hannah, I don't have time to explain, where is, Susan?" Harry stressed.
"She said she was going to the washroom," Tracey replied, only to have Harry run away again the moment she was finished. She tried to call him back, but he refused to listen.
Harry made it to the second floor girl's bathroom and ran inside, "Susan?! Susan?!" He began throwing open stalls, finding all of them empty.
Just then the door opened up, Harry drew his wand only to have Delphi walk in, looking confused, "what's going on Potter?"
HArry lowered hsi wand, "no time to explain. I need to find Susan."
"What? Why?"
"The letter, it wasn't a love poem," HArry said, taking it out.
"Ah, yes it was," Delphi snorted, "there aren't many ways you can interrupt 'Be mine and I will be in your care' Potter. So a girl likes you, it isn't the end of the world."
"Not what I mean Delphi," Harry pushed the note into her hands and pointed at the first words on every line, "see?"
"Help...me...oh Morgana...it has to be a coincidence right?" Delphi asked.
"No chance. It's too specific, plus it's a shit poem. No, the point of the message was to get the cry for help across. Susan is in trouble...she's been taken to the chamber."
"What? How?!" Delphi cried out, "Daphne and I have been basically living at this place since we got back! We even took a page out of your book and hung up a rooster by the sink! See-" Delphi turned to the sink, a cage was on the top of the sink, only instead of a alive and well rooster, the bird was mangled and with a broken neck.
"Oh shit," Harry hissed, "Tom must have taken her down already...we need to go, there's no telling what a few more minutes will do for her chances!"
"Tom? Who's Tom?!" Harry ignored her, going to the sink to check for a secret lever or such, "Potter! Potter stop ignoring me!"
"Tom Riddle!" Harry snapped back, "he's the one who opened the Chamber fifty years ago, Dumbledore thinks! And he's back! And it's my fault!"
The bathroom was silent. Harry placed his hands on either side of the sink and hung his head in shame. Delphi was quiet, waiting for him to explain.
"I found… a diary," Harry began, "in it was the mind of a man named Tom Riddle. He was...the one who opened the Chamber fifty years ago. The diary is sentient and if you aren't careful, it can take over you...make you angry, make you do things you never would….I lost it, or rather Tom made me lose it, before Halloween...I didn't realise what I had done until it was too late."
"How did Bones get this diary?" Delphi asked.
Harry shrugged, "I don't know...one day it was there, deep under my clothes and books at the bottom of my trunk. The next it….it was gone. I searched everywhere for it and I….I didn't realise just who I was dealing with..."
"Who?" Daphne asked, "Potter….who is Tom Riddle?"
"Tom Riddle...is the real name of Voldemort," Harry looked up, meeting her eyes, "and I let him manipulate me without even knowing it. And because of my carelessness two children are paralyzed and Susan might be doing as we speak and I can't do anything!"
Harry punched the mirror, shattering it. His knuckles were sliced open, but with a little metamorphing, they healed before blood was even split.
"V-V….the Dark Lord is the heir of Slytherin?" Delphi whispered, "he...he's supposed to be here? Somewhere right now?"
"Yes and I...I can't stop him," Harry looked at his morphed reflection, feeling as ugly on the inside as his reflection did.
"Excuse me," Delphi and Harry turned to see Moaning Myrtle floating above them, "I couldn't help but overhear your situation. Are you really trying to stop that...thing?"
Harry saw a chance and he took it, nodding, "yes, I am."
"Oh," the ghost looked at the sink, "well...I didn't see anything, by the time I came whoever was here was gone...but I did see that sink slowly sliding back," she pointed at the one Harry was standing over.
Delphi and Harry looked at it, and underneath the faucet Harry noticed the crest of Slytherin etched into the tap.
"This...this is the entrance," Harry realised, "passed it a dozen times, but didn't even think...Myrtle, can you tell us anything? Anything else?"
"Well...I did hear this strange language, but I couldn't really make out what it was," the ghost sighed, "sorry."
"Parseltongue," Delphi relaised, "he was a parselmouth...like me."
Harry turned to Delphi, "go to Dumbledore and bring him here. I'll save Susan and deal with Tom."
"What about the basilisk?!" Delphi cried out.
Harry pointed at the four rooster cages he had levitating behind him, "don't worry, I got it covered."
"No….you are not going in there Potter! It's suicide!"
"With all due respect Malfoy, I don't need your permission."
"But you do need me to open this for you," Daphne spat back, "or did you forget it requires a parselmouth to open it?"
At this point, Harry was once again at an impasse. He didn't have a choice though, he had to reveal his true skills. He turned to the sink and imagined a giant snake curled up ready to jump at him.
With the mental image in mind, Harry opened his mouth and almost like riding a bike, words from a different language came running out, "open."
Daphne looked like she had gotten slapped, and Harry stepped back as the sink came forward revealing a giant hole behind it, going down a giant drop that was covered with shadows.
"Y-you're a parselmouth?" Delphi turned to Harry.
"You and I aren't different Malfoy," Harry told the girl, "you and I both value our personal freedom more than anything else….I respect that about you, I really do. But...Tom, Susan, they are my responsibility and every second we waste up here, Susan is one second away from death. Go call Dumbledore...I can handle it until he comes."
"I-I can't," Delphi admitted with fear in her eyes, they were glued to the deep pit that was starting at her, "he's not here….he's been summoned to the ministry."
"What? Why?!" Harry cried out.
"My father, he said that today was going to be a special day and he needed Dumbledore with him," Delphi admitted, "he...he said he was going to remove Dumbledore from his position as Headmaster!"
"Today?! How?! Why?! I-I….no, it can't be a coincidence. Voldemort must have planned this, sending your father a letter or...Susan's aunt is the head of the DMLE, she must have told Susan. Damn it!"
"What now?"
Harry turned to the pit, "I'm still going after her...get the other professors Malfoy, bring them here as soon as you can."
"But I-" Harry didn't bother listening to her next words, jumping headfirst into the pit. His belly began sliding down the tunnel, as he did he wondered just how he became so...stupid. Less than two years ago he would not have cared, he would have just left like any sane person would when facing a dangerous situation.
He would have gone back to the Tonks, stayed there until someone else figured this whole thing out. But now? Now he was acting like a goddamn Gryffindor. He was charging into an unknown battlefield, off to face possibly the most dangerous Dark Lord in history and a monster that can kill with one look.
So why was he grinning? Why did he not just feel brave but also determined? Why was it that the only thought in his mind was to find Tom Riddle, save Susan Bones and kill that damn snake?
Was this….guilt? Guilt for not destroying that diary before hand? Guilt for letting Susan get possessed? Maybe….maybe it would have best if he had just burnt it down. But what's done was done and Harry hated feeling guilt.
The end of the tunnel leads to the rocky and bone covered floor of a cavern. Harry ignited his wand tip with a lumos and looked around. He saw a large scaly wall to one side, for a second he thought it was the basilisk and moved to close his eyes, only to realise it was actually covered with dust and eaten away in certain areas.
Harry looked the skin over, it was nearly sixty feet long. Harry couldn't help but feel...scared. Shit scared. This was what he was fighting? He still had five alive and well roosters though, so at least that's something.
He walked further ahead, the cavern getting smaller and smaller until it ended at a giant circular metal vault door with snakes designed on the front. Harry hissed it to open and on the other side was the grand Chamber of Secrets.
Chamber wasn't the right word. No, rather the warehouse of Secrets would have been more apt. It was huge, big as the Great Hall if not slightly bigger. The walkway from the vault opening leads to a platform surrounded by water that leads down into sewer tunnels on the side.
As Harry walked down the walkway, he found himself surrounded by statues of giant snakes, all looking down at him, ready to strike. A little ahead Harry spotted a giant white statue of an old balding man with a long beard, and before said statue, was the short form of a red haired child, standing before it with her wand out and a diary in one hand.
"I knew I couldn't keep you away for long," the figure hissed in parseltongue, "stupid child...clever in sending that coded message, I allowed it as a sort of final parting gift for you to remember your greatest mistake. But it seemed I shouldn't have been so merciful."
"Voldemort," Harry replied, wand already out, "has anyone ever told you how stupid a name you have?"
"Hehe, not to my face, no," a male voice came from Susan Bones mouth as she turned, her warm brown pools of honey replaced by blood red irises that burnt into Harry's soul. She smiled, bowing, "Harry, it is good to finally meet you face to face...so to speak. Do not worry though,soon, I shall have a proper body, then we can truly meet."
"Get out of her Tom," Harry rolled his wand, "you know what I can do….you trained me."
At the mention of the training, Susan eye, or rather Tom's eye, twitched. "Ah yes….that. I must admit, when you first said your parents died by my hand, I thought your family were just some small plebs I had killed during my reign. I had planned on making you a tool I could use and use well, that was why I trained you...but...when I came into young Susan's possession here I understood just who you were...my vanquisher, the boy-who-lived."
"Imperio!" Harry cried out.
Susan's body twitched as suddenly she began to shake violently, Harry feared the worst as he released the spell immediately. Slowly, Susan began to chuckle, "smart boy. But, when two wills fight over one body, it is the vessel that is damaged. Did I not tell you that when teaching the imperius?"
"No, you were a lousy teacher," Harry hissed.
"Hm, or you are a bad student..." Susan smiled, none of the ushal warmth came through however, just a cold condescending glare.
"What's the plan Tom?" Harry asked, "use the basilisk to kill everyone and walk out a new man?"
"In a few words...yes," Susan smiled, "if life was a chess game Harry, who do you think the king would represent?"
"The most valuable player...you and Dumbledore. That is what this all is to you two isn't it? One giant chess match with us at the pawns," Harry snarled.
"Oh don't talk like that Harry, no, you don't believe in any of that sentimental nonsense, you're above that. I know you. You know that in this world there are only two kind of people, those with power..."
"And those without….so? Am I right?"
"No...we are the most powerful players, yes, you are right. But Dumbledore and I aren't the kings of this match, we are the queens. The strongest and most versatile players on the board. The king, well, there is only ever one king on this board Harry and that are the children of the wizarding world. Because if you have the children, then you possess the future of the world.
"Ideas can die Harry, I can die, though I have taken steps against that I assure you. But ideas, that is how one wins. Just see how the idea of fear is lingering in their hearts even now. Afraid to say my name...the rats. Scum of the Earth, weaklings," with each name, Susan's face twisted into forms HArry knew she would never make.
"Harry," Tom continued, "join me...come with me. You and I both know your talents are wasted here. I could train you...make you stronger than you can ever be."
"You killed my parents Riddle," Harry hissed.
"No, not me," Tom raised a warning hand, "remember I am a memory of Tom Riddle before he became the Voldemort you know. If you join me, then together we can destroy the shade of my former self and bring the wizarding world into a new century. None of the blood supremacy that Voldemort preached, none of the overwhelming tolerance that Dumbledore practises...something new Harry...and we can do it together."
Harry snorted, "you know something?" Susan raised an eyebrow, "I faced you once before...last year in fact...and you gave a much more compelling argument last time. Bombarda!"
Tom flicked the oncoming spell away, hissing, "stupid child, fine! Die in here as you will! Your corpse will be the stepping stone to my ascension! I will do what my older self could not!"
Harry didn't know what spell it was, Tom cast it wordlessly. All Harry knew was that one second he was standing and the next he was on his ass and the several rooster cages levitating behind had been blasted away, the roosters inside turned into dust.
The world was bright, his ears were ringing, his head spinning. Slowly the brightness dimmed down and Harry found he could see again. He looked around desperately for his wand, finding it ten feet from him.
He grabbed it and got up, just in time to listen to Tom finish crying out in parseltongue, "Speak to me, Slytherin, greatest of the Hogwarts four!"
The statue's mouth began to open and HArry knew Tom had brought out the big guns. But Harry was ready, he had all of christmas to prepare for this very moment after all. After the incident with Quirrell, being over prepared didn't seem like a bad thing at all.
Harry dug into his pocket and pulled out a curved mirror with the back covered with lead and the front reflective smooth. Harry threw the mirror forward as fast as he could, just as he saw the very tip of the Basilisk's nose exit the statue's mouth.
"Engorgio!" Harry cried out, casting the enlargement charm, hitting the mirror just as it came crashing into the basilisk!
"Clever," Tom whispered as he flicked Susan's wand, the glass mirror shattered, "turning the basilisk's own gaze against it, but you are not fighting just it Harry, but also me."
"Shit!" Harry cursed as he bolted, heading towards one of the many pipes leading out of the chamber, he needed to get the snake away from the Tom.
"And where do you think you're going?" Tom once more nonverbally sent out a spell, hitting the nearest pipe and causing the entrance to close up, "I know every inch of this chamber Harry! There is nowhere you can hide!"
"Bombarda!" Harry cried out, the wall exploded, revealing the pipeline on the other side. Harry charged in, just as he heard something gigantic hit the stone floor of the chamber with a meaty echo.
"Get the boy! Eat him! Kill him!" Tom hissed.
Harry ran into the tunnel, he turned to see a shadow approach and quickly turned away, resolved to not looking back. He drew his wand and began transfiguring the inside of the tunnel as he ran past, forming large spikes to come bursting out of the ground, a way to stop the snake.
Harry ran, his footsteps echoing off the water and the stone. There was a loud crash, Harry didn't need to look back to know the basilisk was cruising through the spikes HArry had made like it was nothing.
Harry kept running, until he was at the end. The pipe was blocked by a grill gate and beyond it, the tunnel was slowly narrowing. Harry could hear the snake crawl faster, hissing in delight.
"FOOD!"
"Bombarda!" Harry cried out as he blasted the gate apart. He then lept in, shrunk his body with his innate abilities until he was half his normal size and crawled in, just as a loud crashed collided into the narrowed pipe's wall with a tremor that shook the hole Harry was crawling through.
The boy pantsed, his clothes were being pulled back as the dirty chamber water crashed against his stomach. He turned around to see the maw of the basilisk open and trying to get in, failing due to the size difference.
BOOM! BOOM!
It hit again and again, hissing dangerously, it's tough seeping in, it felt Harry's foot and coiled around it, trying to drag him out.
"Diffindo!" Harry hissed, firing the cutting curse at the tongue. The fleshy substance was sliced with a wet splash.
"OW!" the snake cried out in pain.
Harry looked at the snake's open mouth and saw opportunity, leveling his wand at the snake's mouth, "Imperio!"
What came next, felt like a battle against a tank. Every time Harry used the spell, his will warped and swallowed whatever animal he encountered. It wasn't even a challenge, it just happened. Now, for the first time ever, a will came that not only matched but exceeded Harry's.
"Hunger, hate," the basilisk hissed, trying to pull itself away from Harry's grip, shaking its head.
Harry closed his eyes and reached into his robes, reaching into the last ace he had up his sleeve. He pulled out a small marble statue of a rooster he had stuck underneath his robes and pointed his wand at it, enlarging it as quickly as he could.
"Kill!"
"Revaverto!" Harry cried out, causing the marble to transform back into its original form, a full grown brown feathered rooster that started to ruffle it's feather's and try and break free.
"Pacuck!" the rooster cried out in terror.
"Luminous Maxima!" Harry cried as the tip of his wand exploded like the morning sun.
The basilisk hissed and moved away, flinching form the sudden light, while the rooster looked on, mistaking it for the sun itself, took in a deep breath and did what came natural to it. It began to cry.
"Cock-a-doodle-doo!"
"NO!" the basilisk hissed, crying out in pain.
"Cock-a-doodle-doo! Cock-a-doodle-doo!" the narrow tunnel amplifying the sound a hundred times over.
The screaming became louder and louder until finally, it stopped. Harry was panting, his breath sporadic. He heard the sound of the rooster crowing over and over again, trying to break free, he immediately turned off the light.
For several seconds, Harry didn't move. He stayed still and waited, the sound of his own breathing and the roosters plucking were the only sounds in the pipe. And then, he slowly pulled himself out of the pipe and dropped down.
He kept his eyes shut, having no clue if the basilisk's eyes were active even in its death. He moved and immediately felt something large before him. He reached out carefully, slowly, and when the tips of his fingers touched scales, he pulled his hand back quickly as if he had touched hot water.
He reached down again and touched the scales once more, moving down slowly till his fingers brushed through a long sharp bone shard. It's fangs. He needed to make sure it was safe to open his eyes, so Harry moved to where he figured the eyes would be and raised the rooster in his hand up.
"Puc-" the rooster's cry died halfway as suddenly it's frantic movements to try and escape stopped. Harry gulped, the eyes still worked, he was face to face with death itself and the only thing stopping it was the thin piece of skin covering his eyes.
Harry dropped the dead rooster down and slowly reached down, his hands touching scale, the feeling now familiar to him. He moved side to side and then up and down, until his finger reached the edge of the snake's eyes.
He touched the surface and it felt...cold, dead cold. The hair on his arms began to rise up, he could...feel it, just before him. The eyes of death held magic within them. He didn't know how much but….they were dangerous.
Harry moved, walking away, sliding past the dead basilisk's corpse until he didn't feel it's humongous body next to him anymore. He reached a dead end and turned, seeing only the tail end of the snake. He gulped, he couldn't believe it...a legendary creature...and all it took was a keen mind and a second year transfiguration spell.
Harry began to walk back to the main chamber, following the light back into the main chamber. He had his wand at the ready as he walked in, finding Tom in Susan's body looked more shocked than ever before.
"You….you really killed it?" Tom's voice cracked, a bit of Susan's came out, "you killed a basilisk? How? I destroyed all those damn birds!"
"You really underestimate me Tom," Harry spat, standing exactly forty feet away, at a reasonably safe distance, "I was put into Slytherin for a reason you know."
"Ah...I see, you must have had another plan in place. Another one of those mirrors or another bird...no matter, you will still die here and now," Tom drew up Susan's wand and in a sudden motion, a fury of spells began flying out.
Harry couldn't only jump away in fright as the spells barely missed hitting him. He fired off a blood boiling curse before he realised just who he was targeting. Lucky for him, it seemed Tom had a reason to keep Susan's body intact as he promptly flicked the curse away.
"Now now Harry, you might want to be careful, after all, this is poor Susan's body that I'm temporarily borrowing," Tom chuckled as more spells began to rain down on Harry.
Harry kept moving, managing to finally get behind one of the snake statues, getting him to catch his breath. He couldn't hurt Susan, he would need to go for more non lethal spells, so with that in mind, the moment Tom's barrage stopped Harry slipped out and began firing back.
For a second, Tom looked stunned, the sheer quantity of spells coming at him surprised the Dark Lord as not even his best fighters showed such venom in combat. But Harry Potter did. The boy's spells were powerful and aimed near perfectly. Tom saw his eyes shimer, looking kaleidoscopic, immediately the man knew something wasn't right, such eyes, they weren't natural.
But he didn't have much time to debate the reason behind this all as Harry refused to let up. He refused to let Tom catch a break as in between dodging and weaving his way through Tom's own curses and spells, Harry's attacks didn't stop, they kept going and going.
But they were futile, pointless even. Stunning spells and schoolyard hexes didn't even touch the Dark Lord. Riddle soon found his amusement at Harry's skills warning, it was like a circus act that had gotten old. And the Dark Lord responded in kind as he began firing at the boy with increased speed and deadlier spells.
Harry jumped, skipped and leaped away as best he could, but against the Dark Lord there was no reprieve or mercy. There was no rest, the only thing Harry was granted, were spells meant to kill and curses meant to maim.
And then, Tom got in a curse that wasn't targeted at Harry, but at the ground of which the boy stood on. And in a sudden spray of stone and rubble, the entire ground before Harry blew up throwing him into the air, he waved his wand before him to form a shield, but it was blown apart as he flew onto his back, rolling away.
"It is such a shame Harry," Susan smiled, this time it seemed almost….pitiful, "if you had just helped me...I would have given you the vengeance you so desired….I would have held my older self down while you killed him. I would have let you rule by my side, a loyal enforcer to my will...but you will die here, goodbye… Harry Potter."
Tom raised Susan Bones' wand as he spat, "Avada Ke-"
"Expelliarmus!" came the sudden cry as a blast of red flew across the chamber and almost hit Tom right in the head, if it wasn't for a last minute doge from the Dark Lord to be.
Harry looked around from where the spell came, and couldn't believe his eyes as Delphi Malfoy stepped into the chamber, the metal door open behind her. Her bone white wand in hand and a look of fear and determination on her face.
"Malfoy?" Harry gaped.
"Get back Potter!" Delphi cried out as she threw up several curses at Tom, several of which were lethal.
"No! It's still Susan in there Malfoy!" Harry cried out as he sent a stunner at Riddle, only for the Dark Lord to deflect it with a sneer.
"So you want to what? Tickle him to death?!" Malfoy cried out in annoyance as she sent stunners, doing her best to dodge his attacks. She and Harry slowly flowed into a symphony of spell fire, send wave after wave at the Dark Lord.
Harry motioned Delphi over as they hid behind two stone statues lining the walkway, using them for cover as they fired off spells whenever they could.
"Where's Dumbledore?!" Harry cried out as he sent a stunner, narrowly missing Tom's head.
"I-I couldn't get him," Delphi hissed, "apparently my father has him in a closed room meeting with the Minister!"
"No offence Malfoy, but fuck your father!" Harry sneered, "what about another professor?!"
"Do you bloody well think I had time for that?! I didn't know if you were dead already Potter! I'm all you have to deal with!"
"Oh this is just great, just bloody great!"
BOOM!
Harry had to duck as the head of his statue blew apart into sand, "now, children, you really should give me the attention I deserve! All this talking could get you killed!"
"Fuck off!" Harry jumped out, banishing the dust into Voldemort's eyes, blinding the possessing spirit in the process. Harry jumped to the statue Delphi was hiding behind, just as Riddle banished the smoke and began firing curses strong enough to blow up the stone chamber upon impact.
"You have a sodding plan Potter? Because I don't plan on dying today!" Delphi hissed as she and Harry flinched every time an explosion came close to their hiding spot.
"The diary," Harry said, looking over and activating his telescopic eyes, spotting the edges of Tom's diary peeking out of Susan's robes, "it's a conduit, we take that and I think he'll stop possessing her."
"Like hell we are! What are we supposed to do? Jump into his effing spell fire?! It's like trying to fight through dragon fire with a wooden shield!"
She was right, Harry was afraid to admit it, but she was absolutely right. They were going to die if they tried to fight him head on. Harry however couldn't' think of any other way out of this, he had no plan for this, he didn't think Tom would ever be this strong. And then, like an answer from heaven, a melodus cry cut through the spell fire, drawing the eyes of all the wand wavers in the chamber.
Flying out through air, clutching something in its talons was Fawkes. The phoenix cried out once more, dropping the item down before diving at Tom, much to the wizards surprise.
"Bloody bird!" he hissed, firing off spells that the legendary familiar. Fawkes however wasn't just some bird, it was a figure from legend for a reason. It doged weaved and dropped through the spell fire like it was nothing, scratching at Susan's wand, annoying Tom, not doing any real damage.
"Get the diary!" Harry cried out as he dashed for the item Fawkes dropped. He picked it up, maybe it was a weapon, something from Dumbledore's collection that could help him, something powerful, something…..that wasn't a stupid bloody hat!
"Motherfucker!" Harry cried out, holding up the battered sorting hat in his hands, "what the hell am I supposed to do with you?!"
"Accio!" Delphi Malfoy cried out. Riddle was so distracted by Fawkes, he didn't even notice the diary flying out of Susan's robes and into the girl's hand until it was too late. "Potter!" Delphi cried out, holding the book up.
"Shit, fuck this!" Harry threw the hat aside and drew his wand, "toss it!" Delphi threw the diary into the air, Harry leveled his wand at the book and hissed out, "Inferdomeda!"
BOOM!
And explosion of fire and ash hit the book like a train, covering it in smoke. It was a spell Harry learnt from the Room of Requirement, something used to break down steel and high powerful warding charms.
Harry smirked, the diary should be nothing more than paper now. But to his and Delphi's shock, the diary fell down from the cloud of ash and dust, unharmed, not even it's covering having a single scratch on it.
"Mh..Mahaha!" Riddle broke into laughter, "did you think I would ever leave something so important as way back into the mortal realm so...poorly guarded?! Did you think you could really just burn the book and be done with me?! I'm Voldemort boy, nothing can end me!"
Delphi and Harry looked at each other, each looking for answers in the other's eyes. But they found none. Harry didn't know what to do, his mind panicking. His occumency was failing, fear was setting in. The only way to kill Tom was to throw the diary, without that… .no...there was another way wasn't there?
Harry looked to Susan Bones, he could see it now, the way her body was slowly growing thinner by the moment. Tom was feeding off her...she was going to die. But the moment she did, Tom would be alive...and when he was, then Harry could kill him, use the imperius on him, maybe even trick him towards the basilisk and use it's still active eyes to….that's it!
"Venom," Harry whispered, remembering one simple thing. Basilisk venom was the most potent poison in the world, able to turn anything, magical or muggle into nothing but slough. "Accio!" he cried out, summoning the book into his hand, "Malfoy! Come with me!"
"What now?!" Delphi cried out, only to have Harry ignore him and run off, the girl rolled her eyes but charged behind the boy as they entered the tunnels once more.
"Enough of this. Get away from my sight bird!" Tom hissed as he sent a curse to blast the phoenix aside. He then looked around the chamber, spotting Harry and Delphi running away, he narrowed his eyes and followed behind.
Tom was right on their heels, pacing himself as Harry and Delphi ran in, going as fast as they could. "W-what are we looking for?" Delphi asked, panting due to her lack of physical fitness.
"Basilisk venom! It's our only shot!" Harry cried out as he spotted the end of the basilisk tail just up head, "don't look at it Delphi, it's eyes still can kill even if it's dead!"
"Wait, is that it?! Porter, how bloody big if that snake!" Delphi cried out in absolute horror.
"Avada Kedavra!" came Riddle's harsh voice, Delphi and Harry ducked, just in time to avoid getting hit by the killing curse as it sailed over their heads and collided into the basilisk hide.
"Go, I'll hold him off as long as I can!" Delphi cried out as she turned around and began firing spells. Harry couldn't believe Delphi MAlfoy would ever be so...noble. He wondered why, but he pushed the question for another time as he charged ahead, shimming his way back to the front of the snake, closing his eyes just in case.
"You are foolish child," came the snide voice of Lord Voldemort as he sent spell after spell at Delphi Riddle, pushing her back, knocking her to the floor with ease, "and now, you shall die. I heard your father was a loyal servant of mine, it's a pity you don't follow his example."
Delphi Malfoy looked up, she knew this would might as well be the end, she snarled, raising her wand once more in the sign of sure death, "I would rather spend a short life as a free woman than I would a day as a slave to you or anyone else."
Riddle rolled his eyes, shaking his head, he raised Susan Bones wand once more, the tip glowing green, Delphi closed her eyes, ready for the hit, when suddenly, Tom Riddle spoke again, "...Child...that wand… where did you get that wand?"
Harry reached down and felt the scales slowly move down to bone, he had reached the fangs. He took his wand out and cast an anti-cutting charm on his hand, he then reached out and with great effort, plucked the fang out of the basilisk's mouth.
"It's a family heirloom," Delphi hissed, "why do you care?"
"Expeliums," Riddle hissed, the spell hitting Delphi in the hand, blasting her back into the pipe wall as Riddle snatched the flying wand in his own fingers. He then observed the wand, carefully with a keen eye, "impossible..."
Harry placed the diary on top of the basilisk and raised the fang, bringing it down with fury.
"You….what is your name?" Tom asked.
"I'm Delphi Malfoy," Delphi hissed, "and I am not your slave."
"No...you are not a Malfoy...and you most certainly are not my slave….you are….you are my-ARGH!" Riddle cried out, dropping Susan's and Delphi's wands. He fell to his knees and held his stomach, throwing his head back and crying out in pain.
"Potter!" Riddle cried out as Harry rushed back, his eyes now open and in his now ink covered hands. He looked at the diary with a fang sticking out of it's pages in the boy's hands, the smug look in his face.
"You did not win," Riddle sputtered as the red that took over Susan Bones eyes slowly died away, "you didn't do anything...you will die Harry Potter, one way or another..."
"But I killed you," Harry spat back, "you might just be a memory of when you were a child, but I still did it...I, killed, you," Harry threw the book down, "and when the real you comes for me? When the real Dark Lord brings the fight….I'll end him too Riddle...I'm just sad you won't be there to see it."
And to Harry's surprise, Riddle smirked. He looked to Delphi and replied, "oh no Potter...you won't...in the end...a Riddle will be your end."
And then like a doll with its strings cut off, Susan's body hit the ground, unmoving, the last of Tom Riddle's soul vanishing from her body.
"Next time Potter," Delphi sighed, pulling herself to the pipe wall and sighing, "we call fuckign Dumbledore?"
"Sure, next time," Harry sighed, dropping down next to the girl, leaning his head back as the adrenaline drained from his body, "and it's Harry….call me Harry."
Delphi looked over, a raised eyebrow, "we friends now Potter?"
"You saved my life Malfoy...I think the least I can do is let me call you by my proper name," Harry smirked, "never had someone do that for me before...always been the one saving others..."
"Yeah well, don't' get used to it, I don't plan on pulling your arse out of the fire every time you go and do something so effing stupid," Delphi hissed, "fuck Potter, you just killed V-V...ah, the Dark Lord, you just killed him...not the real him sure but….damn it Potter, I'm beginning to think there's something to you other than an anti-social depressing stick in the mud."
"And you aren't too bad yourself Malfoy," Harry smirked, "shame I can't say the same about your brother."
"Leave him out of it Potter."
"Yes ma'am..."
Delphi couldn't help but get a smile on her face as she looked over at the boy by her side and left something in her click. She didn't understand what, but the feeling was like...a small bomb. For a second, Delphi feared it was some curse the Dark Lord left her as a parting gift, but she realised soon that it was just an emotion...one she couldn't seem to describe to herself.
"Still can't believe you killed that bloody thing," Delphi whispered, looking at the snake, "bloody..amazing."
"What was that Malfoy? Did you just call me bloody amazing?"
"Bite me Potter," Delphi spat causing Harry to laugh hard.
Silence came down between the two once more, the two parselmouths sat side by side as the dead corpse of a basilisk was just before them.
"What did you think he meant when he said a Riddle will always be my end?" Harry suddenly asked, breaking Delphi out of her deep thinking.
"I don't know...maybe he has another diaries out there like this one?" Delphi wagered.
"If he has...that would be a clever thing to do," Harry whispered, "it can't just be a charm...much too powerful for that. Has to be something dangerous and deadly for such a result in return...I guess you're right, the chances of him having more of these things is very much real...damn it, this isn't over is it?"
"Please, you would be foolish to think otherwise...Potter," Harry looked at her, she sighed, "Harry," the name foreign in her tongue, "were you serious? About killing him?"
Harry's eyes hardened, "yes, I was."
"For revenge?"
"Yes."
"I see….you realise that's extremely foolish right?"
"Yes...but I'm not going to stop… why are you asking?"
"It's just...if you are...if he does come back, somehow then I...I suppose I'm trying to say that you can expect help from me should it ever come down to it."
"Why? I understand you desire freedom Malfoy, but surely it would be easier if you just stayed out of it all. Maybe go abroad and stay there until it all settles."
"For how long?" Delphi replied back, "months? Years? Decades? Centuries? And what if you don't win? What if you die? Think he's just going to stop at Britain? No Harry...we'll all be in danger. Running from the fight...it's never been who I was. So if it's a fight for the right to live free or as a slave to a mad man...I'll be on your side."
Harry smiled, "thanks Malfoy."
"For Merlin's sake you tosser, call me Delphi, I just saved your ass and you saved mine. And you keep calling me Malfoy and I'll expect to see my brother down here sometime soon," Delphi snorted back.
Harry nodded, "got it, Delphi...still think I'm amazing?"
"Shut up before I animate that thing's corpse and have it eat you alive."
Just then, a moan came out of Susan Bones mouth as slowly the girl began to move. Harry drew his wand and summoned Delphi's and Susan's, handing both to the girl besides him. They stood up and readied their wands, just in case Riddle was still there, and to Harry's great relief, Susan Bones opened her eyes with brown orbs looking up instead of red.
"H-Harry? Is that you?"
"Susan, thank Merlin," Harry whispered as he put his wand away and helped the girl to her feet, "are you okay? What's the last thing you remember?"
"I, I," she rubbed her head, a look of confusion coming up before her eyes suddenly grew wide. She grabbed Harry by the collar, pulling him close, "Harry! The diary! You have to destroy it! There's a maniac named Tom Riddle in it and he's the heir of Slytherin!"
"Relax Bones, we know," Delphi hissed, lowering her wand, she kicked the diary across the ground before Susan, "it's been dealt with already, so relax."
"I-I...you did?" Susan asked in awe.
Delphi shrugged, "it was mostly Potter, with my invaluable assistance."
Harry ignored the way the girl went back to call him by his surname and instead held Susan stand, "we should get going, the less time we spend here the better I think."
"Agreed," Delphi nodded as she bent down and picked up Susan's wand, "come on, can you walk Bones?"
"Y-yes, I think I can," she replied weakly.
"Lean on me, I'll help you up," Harry replied, offering his shoulder to the girl who gladly took it for support, much to Delphi's annoyance as the girl twitched his nose.
"Where are we?" Susan asked as they began to move.
"Chamber of Secrets," Harry replied.
"Wait, what?!" Susan cried out.
"Yup, and that's a basilisk," Delphi pointed over her shoulder.
Susan turned and her eyes grew wide, "what?!"
"Don't worry, it's dead," Harry shrugged.
"How?!"
"With a rooster."
"What?!"
They made their way to the main chamber, just as Fawkes flew past them, looking down and nodding in approval. It thrilled, singing proudly as it dropped down on Delphi's shoulder, biting her ear playfully, causing even then stoic Slytherin to break a smile.
"T-this is amazing," Susan whispered as she looked around the chamber, awe and terror filling her eyes. She turned to Harry, "how did you know?"
Harry smiled, "I got your message...lovely poem by the way."
"Y-you did?" Susan's face turned to the same shade as her hair as she blushed up a storm.
"It was a good letter to be honest," Harry couldn't help but smile, "but the bit about eloping was a bit too much."
"I-I couldn't think of a word with 'E' that was romantic," Susan whispered.
They walked past the chamber, Harry stopped before the raggedy old house hat on the ground before them. He looked at it and to his surprise saw a glimmer of silver coming from inside. Curious, he excused himself from Susan and grabbed the hat quickly, feeling a sudden weight inside.
Harry reached inside and felt something solid come around his hand. "What is it Potter?" Delphi asked. Inreponce Harry pulled a long silver sword out of the hat, the length many times that of its container.
"Holy shit," Harry whispered as he held the sword upright, letting the dim Chamber lights strike the blade. It was a magnificent, silver handle with a ruby on it's hilt butt of the handle and it's crossguard. And etched onto the blade's spine was the name 'Godric Gryffindor'.
"Bloody hell," Delphi whispered as the girls came over to observe the blade as well, "it's the freaking sword of Gryffindor."
"Would have been bloody useful against the basilisk," Harry whispered as he looked at Fawkes, "next time, a little earlier yes?" The phoenix thrilled, as if amused by Harry's comment.
"Harry, do you think….do you think you're a descendant of Gryffindor?" Susan whispered, "is that why the sword came to you?"
"I...I don't know," Harry whispered.
"Maybe that's why you and the Dark Lord are enemies," Delphi replied, "he's the heir of Slytherin, this whole year has been proof of that. If you are the descendant of Gryffindor then...maybe it's destiny you two fight..."
"Damn destiny," Harry whispered, "he killed my parents, the bastard's going to pay, I may be a descendant of Gryffindor...but I'm also a Slytherin. A sword's bloody useless against magic."
"Don't be too sure," Susan whispered back, "there are stories of what that blade can do Harry. Some say when he used to in battle, Godric Gryffindor never lost."
Harry turned to the blade once more, noting it's shine, "I doubt Dumbledore will let me keep it."
"The bastard can sod off," Delphi hissed, "had the Dark Lord right under his very nose and didn't notice. Keep the damn blade, it came to you didn't it? It means it's yours."
Harry looked at the blade, he turned to Susan, the girl nodding meekly, she needed help, the longer he took the more danger she was in. So he decided, placing the blade into the ground, driving it deep into the stone ground.
"If I need it...I know where to find it," Harry explained, "but right now we need to get Susan to Pomfrey."
"Agreed, though that drop is going to be hard to get up with three people, we'll need to be careful," Delphi said, scratching her chin in thought. Just then, Fawkes cried out, drawing all their attention to it. Delphi turned to Harry, "or..."
One minute later:
Harry, Delphi and Susan let go of Fawkes' tail feather just as they reached the second floor washroom, flying out the hole and landing on the ground.
"Are you okay Susan?" Harry asked, helping her find her feet.
"I'm fine, really," Susan replied with a warm smile.
"Close," Delphi hissed, closing the entrance behind her, "from now on the entrance to this damn thing stays between us three, agreed?"
Harry and Susan nodded, "agreed."
Just then the door to the bathroom was thrown open as Dumbledore rushed in followed by Snape and McGonagall, all with their wands drawn, all looking stark white with fear Dumbledore saw Harry and the others and gawked, "H-Harry? W-what happened?"
"Tom Riddle came back as a ghost, possessed Susan and tried to kill her," Harry replied as he threw the diary with the basilisk fang still in its pages onto the floor. He turned to McGonagall and narrowed his eyes, "also, that giant fang right there? It belongs to a basilisk...bitch."
The three professors looked on in utter disbelief, not sure what to say or do.
Two months later:
Susan was taken to St. Mungos the moment her aunt found out what had happened. The woman was furious, livid even. Being the head of law enforcement for the whole country gave the woman some degree of power.
The whole week Harry and Delphi were brought interviewed with questions upon questions by aurors on duty, the newspapers began covering it great detail and once it slipped out that the Chamber of Secrets was involved, everyone was on it.
By the near end of April, Amelia Bones had Albus Dumbledore brought to court on charges for being an irresponsible headmaster and while the man got away scott free, due to his friendship with the Minister, he was still put through some humiliation.
However Hogwarts itself soon became a pit of annoyance for Harry himself as everyone began to pester him and Delphi for details. While they remained silent on the issue people kept insisting. But Harry realised how great of an advantage the Chamber was, he would be stupid to give it's location away.
Even Hermione kept pestering him, but after Harry explained to her just how dangerous it was, lying about the way to get there, she understood and left it alone.
Tonight however, Harry planned on visiting the chamber once more. He had ordered a special potions harvesting kit from Knockturn alley. It wasn't easy, it was expensive, but it had finally arrived just yesterday. Harry had spent the whole of Saturday morning reading himself and tonight, he was going back down to the chamber to harvest the basilisk.
After defeating the monster Harry began to read up a little more on the snake, and while most of what he read scared the shit out of him, on time making him literally vomit out of fear, it told him that the sale of basilisk parts was very useful. Plus, those eyes were still down there, still active.
So Harry made his way to the second floor girl's bathroom, made sure Myrtle wasn't around, and opened the chamber sink once more. He used a light-weight charm on himself and jumped down, floating to the bottom, closing the sink as he sank.
He soon found himself back to the chamber, the Sword of Gryffindor right where he left it. He walked past the sword and into the tunnels where he killed the basilisk, finding it still intact, not smelling of rot as it's inat magic preserved it perfectly.
Harry felt disgusted at what he was about to do, but it was needed. He read all the books on harvesting ingredients, he was sure to make plenty of mistakes, but with this much surplus of material, he could afford one or two.
He took out his work gloves and put them on, cast the bubble head charm on his head and took out the scalpel he had on had to cut through muscle tendons. The first organ he was going for was obviously the eyes.
He once again closed his eyes and moved, using his sense of touch, muffled though it was, to make her way to the head. He then felt the eye and began his work, carefully, using a spell to make the eye smaller by two inches, allow Harry to reach into the skull and cut the nerve ending with his scalpel.
He then did this with the other eye and reached into his supply bag. It was magically enchanted to be ever expanding, again, expensive, but worth it. He took them out two giant glass jars filled with preservation potions that were covered all around with black insulated leather.
Harry carefully dropped one eye into each jar before closing it shut. He tapped the lid and activated the password charm he would require, "Petunia Dursley," he set it in parseltongue, which apparently he could do.
With the other jar he had his uncle's name as a password. Even if by chance Voldemort got his hands on these jars, he wouldn't be able to open them, he didn't know the Dursleys and even if he did he would never think Harry would use their names given their….history.
Harry put the eyes away and took out another marble statue of a rooster from his robes. He transformed it back into a living rooster and made it face the now empty eye sockets of the basilisk.
The truth was, no one knew why the basilisk's eyes were deadly, if it was the eyes itself or the sockets. But to Harry's relife, it seemed it was the eyes as the rooster was alive and well. With that done, Harry finally opened his eyes and saw for the first time the monstrocity he had killed.
It was...frightening. It was horrific. The snake's angular face was covered with deadly green scales, on its head sat a crown of horns, earning the snake's title of 'King of Snakes'. It's row of teeth were many, Harry could see the place where he plucked out the fang he stabbed the diary with, blood and venom clogging up the gums.
With a sigh, Harry began his assignment, starting with the fangs, being extra careful to remove each one and then the venom sacks inside. He then drew his wand and took out a long piece of rpe from his pocket, enlarging it and with a simple enough spell, had it tied around the basilisk' entire body.
He then levitated the rope and with it, the basilisk, and brough the snake to the main chamber. While the snake might be magic resistant due to its hide, the rope around it was not. Once he brought it to the main chamber Harry transfigured the walls of the chamber into strategically placed hooks and with a little effort, he was able to have a basilisk hanging over his head, strung up like a sheep about to be sheared.
Harry began first by skinning the snake, pulling it's thick hide off, it might have been resistant to magic, but the enchanted tools Harry bought made it easier. It still took over four hours to finish skinning it, constant breaks and a short nap allowed Harry to stay refreshed.
Harry was sure by now it is sunday morning, but lucky for him, his status as a reclusive still applied, no one, not even Hermione, would expect to see him today.
Next came the internal organs. It was difficult to figure out the nitty gritty parts, the only diagram of a basilisk's autonomy was from a hundred year old book by some lad named Newt Scamander, but it was still inaccurate. So while figured it all out the best he could, he made adjustments to the handwritten notes he had made from Scamander's book, correcting any mistakes, could be useful.
Half the items Harry failed to recognize, most of it though he managed to store away properly without significant damage. But some, sadly, were ruined as Harry cut into the organ and muscles, ruining the ingredient.
Soon Harry was reaching towards the bottom of the sixty foot long snake and reached upon the reproductive area of the snake's body. It was a surprise for Harry when the boy cut past all the muscle there to discover a huge sack of eggs come swinging down to smack him in the face.
"Damn it!" Harry cried out as he smacked dead in the face, his nose cracking as a spray of blood flew out hitting the eggs. He moved away quickly, rubbing his nose in pain as the bubble head charm popped, making Harry take a deep breath of the pungent smell now present in the chamber.
He ran to the edge of the chamber and emptied his guts outside. He fixed his nose with an epskey, reapplied the bubble-head charm and walked back in, rubbing his stomach, after this, he was going to need a very, very long bath.
He looked at the egg sacks hanging like fruits from the snakes body and carefully studied them. According to Scamander, the eggs of a basilisk is something to both cherished and feared. On one hand, they were the babies of a legendary magical creature, on the other hand, said magical creature was the most deadly thing on the face of this planet.
Harry didn't know what to make of the egg sac, in his mind, they were all better off dead, less ammunition for Voldemort to use against him...but with that being said, the idea of having a basilisk as a familiar did enchant Harry a little, he wouldn't lie. But he had no idea how to lay a basilisk egg and according to the book by Scamander, it was illegal to share such knowledge as well.
So without any choice, Harry pointed his wand at the eggs and blasted them all apart. They splattered across the chamber floor, several tiny worms like things came flying out, covered in pus and things Harry didn't even wish to think about.
He was about ready to burn them all into nothing when suddenly, he heard something cry out. It was a pathetic cry, the cry a kicked puppy would make. He walked over and looked down, and there, beneath a large egg shell, curled up and crying was a baby snake no bigger than Harry's palm.
It was a dirty blue with green spots here and there, it's body was small and subtle, two horns on its head, not a crown for sure. It was such….a pathetic thing. But one, Harry was sure it would be deadly, one day, it would be full grown and even if he himself raised it it could be made to turn on him, he was sure Voldemort would find a way.
The best thing to do would be to kill it. Yes, he would have to kill it. Harry leveled his wand at the snake and got ready to fire the strongest cutting charm he knew. He couldn't afford to let it live...he...he would not let such a dangerous thing to live.
And just as the first syllables of the curse came to his lips, Harry stopped and wondered...was this what Voldemort did to him?
There were paralleles to be sure, Harry in this case being Voldemort and the baby before him himself. But Harry didn't kill the snake for no reason, no, he was defending himself. The monster was loyal only to Voldemort, to Slytherin, Harry was protecting himself….but this? A child?
If Harry did this...he would be no better than Tom Riddle. He would be a monster.
'But what if when it grows up and it begins to kill for food? You will be responsible for all those deaths,' a voice in his head cried out.
But Harry still couldn't bring himself to do it. He couldn't...he couldn't kill something so helpless. It was different before, when he couldn't see them, when he thought they were all dead or unborn, but now he couldn't...the snake was alive, breathing...innocent.
'It's an animal, all it knows how to kill and hurt others.'
There was a choice Harry had to make...one he knew that would change him for the rest of his life...and unfortunately for him, he had already made it. All that was left to see, was the consequences of his actions.
Hello, sorry it took some time to update, work and blah blah blah. Compliments, please, I'm a shallow shallow man and need the validation of strangers to feel special.