SO SORRY I MADE A MISTAKE...this is half two of the climax. I appear to have posted chapter 20 then realized i skipped 19. I, thoroughly embarrassed, apologize for the confusion, and here is the second half. The first half is right before this, called 'The Hiding Place.'

Malfoy Against Malfoy

Mr. Malfoy turned with the sound. "I got reinforcements," Draco gulped softly. The other two slowly stood. Harry still clutched the Sorting Hat. Bella had her wand out now.

"O, how nice," Mr. Malfoy sneered. "They're halfbloods. Now watch…I hope this makes something sinister!" He snickered, not noticing Bella slowly move forward as he stared gloatingly at the egg…

"I wonder how the dark lord knew we had a half blood under our roof. I bet it was him who told the other purebloods…" He sighed heavily. "He's coming back. I had feared this-But he must not know-I have to make him a gift. But also because I raised a half blood—I need to give the dark lord a present, to let him know I'm sorry, that if only I had known—Well, this is how I am going to make up to him."

Bella stopped short, staring. "Dad?" she choked. He winced, but looked down at her. "Were you really ash-shamed of me? Were you h-happy to g-give me up?"

Mr. Malfoy saw her eyes brim. "Yes…" he said slowly. Chest heaving, Bella took a shaky step back. Harry put his arm around her. "You were too kind," Mr. Malfoy drawled. "Too considerate to those who are lowly. You never would have been fit for my plans for you. You were going to be powerful, but you were never adopting the manner you should have. You never knew your place, unlike Draco…"

There was a grim, shocked silence. Bella turned her head into Harry's shoulder, so nobody would see her cry.

"That's mean!" Harry shouted. They could now hear her sob. He curled his arms protectively around her. Draco was too scared to move to console her.

"How awful," Hermione whimpered. Caly softly agreed.

"Oi," Draco said angrily. He wrenched up the courage and hugged Bella. "She was part of the family!"

"Exactly. Was," Mr. Malfoy said quietly.

Bella put the side of her head on Harry's shoulder. Now looking behind him, sniffling, she took out her wand and freed the other girls. Mr. Malfoy sighed, annoyed, as they got up.

"Well," he growled at Eustace. "We can't just let them go, do something!" Eustace fumbled with his wand.

"They have to stop you," Eustace growled. Mr. Malfoy glowered at him, hand raised.

"The egg is hatching!" Hermione gasped.

There were cracks in the egg. Trevor croaked solemnly.

Mr. Malfoy whirled around and ordered, "Draco, I would take Avery out of here. Go back outside. Your mum and miss Nightshade are waiting for you."

"Why?" Draco squeaked.

"You never disobey me, now go!"

"What about Hermione?" Harry challenged. He turned to Hermione as Mr. Malfoy opened his mouth. "Whatever!—Draco, take her too!"

"I'm staying!" Hermione shouted.

"We need help! Maybe Mrs. Malfoy can come through the shield," Bella cried.

"O," Hermione muttered. She snatched Caly's arm and dragged her through. "We stayed behind in the tunnel in case the others needed help," she reminded Caly softly. The girls ran off.

"Should we be concerned?" Eustace squeaked.

"No," Mr. Malfoy drawled. "They can't get far. Draco! Why are you still here?"

"Uh," the pale and scared Draco managed.

"Go! Protect the Avery girl!" Mr. Malfoy roared. Whimpering, Draco scrambled out of the room. He turned in the tunnel entrance and stared back. For all his obedience, this was something new in the history of magic. He couldn't miss it.

They all watched…

The egg shell splintered, scattering on the floor. A blue something was curled up on the pillar. It glittered like ice in the pale light of the fireball up by the ceiling. Eustace slowly approached and snatched Trevor off the scaly mass. The blue something had white spines in a line along its back.

"Did it work?" Draco squeaked.

At the sound of his words, the blue thing untwisted, hissing. It opened its mouth wide. Fangs gleamed. Its breath they could see, it was so cold.

It slid off, fluid like water.

They panicked as they looked at it. They stepped and pressed themselves against the walls, their hearts beating fast beyond what was comfortable. They didn't want to be in the same room as it.

"It's so cute!" Bella squealed. Everybody jumped and glanced around, but they couldn't see her. The icey thing cocked its head in her direction, sniffing.

"It worked!" Mr. Malfoy grinned. "Excellent!" He crouched and held out his hand for it. "Come here, I hatched you."

"Do you have any idea what you just made?" Harry gasped.

"I think it's a basilisk," Eustace whispered. "I-it's like three feet long already—do you really want to give that to the dark lord?"

"I bet it's powerful," Mr. Malfoy muttered, grinning, letting the snake tentatively sniff his hand.

"Bella," Draco whimpered. "You should get away…"

"No, get Hermione and Caly away!" Harry said, pale but trying to remain calm. "They can get the others!"

They heard the girls scramble behind Draco, getting fainter and fainter.

Harry slowly came forward from against the wall. So did Eustace. Both had their wands out. Mr. Malfoy was crooning to the basilisk, apparently trying to get it to like him.

"I'm your master now," he said softly. "Come on! Don't be shy."

"It's a girl," Bella announced.

"How do you know?" Mr. Malfoy sneered, eyes not leaving the icey snake.

Bella tapped Harry and Draco's shoulders. "You guys make sure the others are ok."

"We're not leaving you here!" Harry said indignantly.

The basilisk reared a bit, her head off the floor. Mr. Malfoy gently placed his shaking hand on her head. He slowly ran his fingers over the spines on her back. "There we go," he purred. "Good girl. I'm gonna be a good master, ok?"

She reared more, hissing a bit.

"What are we supposed to do?" Harry whispered.

"Get Mr. Malfoy away from the basilisk, and get her to me," Bella said softly.

"To you?" Draco whispered in fear.

"I'm the one who knows the spell for tying up," Bella said. Rocks and dust made light footprints as she approached the baby, then stopped. "Uh dad?" she squeaked. "That hissing doesn't sound very nice."

"I think she's purring," Mr. Malfoy said imperiously.

"She's not! Dad!" Bella and Draco shouted.

Mr. Malfoy jumped away just in time. The basilisk had snapped at his hand. He scrambled against the wall.

"Come here," Bella said gently. The snake turned her head, hissing softly. Bella (probably) raised her wand.

"Why?" Harry groaned, then found himself gasping as Draco ran forward.

"Don't hurt her!" Draco shouted. He scooped the basilisk off the ground.

"DRACO!" Bella screamed. Mr. Malfoy, who reacted like he had been struck by lightning, ran forward. He jammed his hands underneath the writhing snake.

"She's so cold," Draco whimpered as he turned in a circle.

"Hold still!" Mr. Malfoy grunted, turning as well.

"To me!" Bella cried. "Accio basilisk!" but she still hadn't gotten that far.

"What?" the others said.

"To me, she said!" Draco shouted.

The baby was now snapping at his ears. Draco screamed. Bella didn't know what to do. She couldn't tie the snake up when she was around Draco. She shouldn't get hurt, or her mum would be sad. Eustace lunged and also got his hands under the writhing mass of baby snake. She pulled tighter. Draco wailed.

"He's mine!" the baby hissed. "Pale hair boy is mine!"

"Get off," Harry grunted.

"Not my son," Mr. Malfoy said through gritted teeth, wriggling to get his hand out from under the coiled mass. He had to try something else.

She squeezed tighter. Draco began to choke. Bella screamed.

"I just thought he was cute," the basilisk sulked, then slid off.

Draco fell to his knees, sobbing. Mr. Malfoy wrapped his arms around his son, wary eye on the basilisk.

"Help him Harry," Bella ordered, footprints appearing slowly towards the baby snake. "Make him feel better."

"How?" Harry said frantically. It was the only thing he could think of—he knelt by Draco and also put his arms around him. Draco clung to Harry. "It'll be ok, don't fret. Come on, the basilisk didn't get you, it's ok…" he said softly, while thinking, BLIMEY the things I'd do for my sister!

Bella approached the basilisk, her skirts audibly shuffling as she crouched. "I'm going to call you Carmel," she decided. She raised her wand, the tying up spell in mind.

Eustace crept forward. Slowly, he gently put his hands around Carmel's head to keep it in place, and sooth her, stroking her. Bella got halfway through the spell before shrieking. Carmel had lashed out with her sharp tail. Eustace reeled, blood flying from his face. He crumbled against the wall. He groaned, a hand up to his eye.

"My eye," he moaned.

Bella tripped over Carmel on her way to Eustace.

"Poor thing!" she cried. "It was a brilliant idea, don't get me wrong," she said softly. She scrambled up, wiping off dust from a few now visible cuts. "Oi, we're gonna try to find help for you, ok?"

"BELLA!" Harry screamed behind her.

Bella's skirts loudly whirled around. Carmel loomed at her chest height, growling threateningly in her throat. She hissed.

"I'm sorry," Bella tried.

"Bella," Mr. Malfoy sighed. "I already told you when you were six that you should NEVER pretend to talk to things! It's annoying!"

"Sorry!" Bella cried. "It's fun—"

"BELLA!" Draco howled.

Carmel launched forward. They heard Bella slam into the back wall, nearly avoiding the basilisk. Harry scrambled up and ran to her.

"Dad, do something!" Draco pleaded, then shrieked as the snake nearly bit Bella again.

Mr. Malfoy saw Carmel ready again. "Avoid it—to the left—"

Faster than they could say anything more, Carmel had her fangs around something solid. Bella's blood began to appear as it dripped. She screamed heart-wrenchingly.

Harry suddenly remembered the Sorting Hat he had clutched all this time. Why had McGonagall given it to him? Not knowing what else to do, he shoved his hand in. Mr. Malfoy zapped Carmel, who hissed. Had there been something left in it?

His flailing fingers found something cold. He snatched at it—and drew a silver sword with rubies in its hilt.

"Wait, what?" he muttered. He glanced at Carmel. Mr. Malfoy was grunting as he endeavored to unlatch the basilisk's jaws. Bella howled. Harry raised the sword.

Carmel released, slithering back, head reared. Harry prepared to strike. Did he want to hit a baby snake? But she had just bitten his sister!

Draco swiftly ran, and crouched by Bella. "It's gonna be ok," he crooned, taking several tries before running a finger through her hair. He pointed a shaky wand at Carmel.

"You leave her," Carmel hissed, advancing.

"Go away," Draco whimpered. He jumped up after kissing Bella's head.

"Out of way!" Harry gasped, lunging with the sword. Draco dove to the side. Carmel was too fast—she was out of Harry's way. She was now basically on top of Bella. She opened her mouth wide, fangs inches from Bella's face should be.

"You don't know what you're capable of!" Bella howled in fear.

"I don't care if you're a half blood, Bella!" Mr. Malfoy roared, wand flashing in a circle. "I'll still save you!" Fire spun from the wand, circling him, then ensnared Carmel around the neck. She flew to the other side of the cave, burnt and howling in pain.

Bella lay, seemingly still. "Did you just change your mind?" she managed.

Carmel flailed, not at all used to the heat. The fire crackled around her in a circle. She shrieked an unearthly shriek. She cringed with every spark that pummeled her poor body.

Mr. Malfoy sighed, wincing. "I-I, yes, I was ashamed of you, but I-I can't exactly let you die…"

"Baby Carmel!" Bella wailed. "She doesn't like it—save baby Carmel!"

"Carmel bit you," Mr. Malfoy said seriously, crouching to be at Bella's height, feeling for her head. "You're going to die unless you get help."

"Save baby Carmel," Bella whimpered, crying.

"Fine," Mr. Malfoy sighed. He went over to the other side, ordering "Draco! You take Bella out of here to your mum," as he doused the fire. Carmel lay still. Slowly, he picked her up.

At first, nothing happened. He hesitantly draped her around his shoulders.

"What are you going to do with her?" Harry said coldly, sword pointed at Carmel.

"I'm taking her to her new master," Mr. Malfoy drawled.

"Can I have her?" Draco asked. His dad scowled.

"No," he snapped. "I told you to take Bella away!"

"I'll do that," Harry said quickly, handing the sword to Draco.

"Bella's supposed to tie up that snake," Draco hissed.

"She can't," Harry said, hauling her up. "We can't risk it!" He half dragged, half carried her closer to the tunnel entrance as best he could. Now he wished Draco could take her. The other boy was taller and stronger.

"Give up that snake!" Draco shouted. "Please?"

"No," Mr. Malfoy growled. "You do not talk to your father like that!"

"Your plot almost killed Bella!" Draco bellowed, swinging the sword in the general direction of his dad. Mr. Malfoy stepped back, even though it wouldn't have hit him. Carmel slid off his shoulders onto the floor. They heard ominous crunching as she hit it.

"Bella!" Draco called over his shoulder. He knew Bella well enough to know that she raised her wand, ready.

The basilisk suddenly flared to life. Roaring, she snapped Mr. Malfoy's leg. The Malfoys screamed. Mr. Malfoy fell heavily. Eustace reached to his side, but didn't know where his wand was—Carmel bit Mr. Malfoy again. Roaring in rage and fear, Draco swung at her. She dodged and sunk her fangs in his father's arm. Bella was yelling, but nobody could hear in the screaming.

Draco growled at the snake, bent on killing her. He raised the sword.

Bella and Harry were now in the tunnel entrance. She had her wand up, one arm clinging to the side of the exit so Harry wouldn't go farther. "We can't leave Draco to fend her off," she muttered, then shouted "CARMEL!"

Carmel turned, finally stopping. Bella shouted the spell. Carmel wriggled in the black rope that now entangled her.

Panting, Draco dropped the sword and knelt by his unmoving father.

"Dad," he whimpered, shaking him slightly. "Daddy!" His heart stopped and a sob burst from him-

Moaning, Mr. Malfoy shifted.

Eustace, seeing his chance, finally scrambled up. "I'm getting help," he croaked. He stuffed Trevor in his pocket, and hobbled out the tunnel. Harry moved aside for him.

"Daddy?" Bella called tentatively into the silence.

"He's alive," Draco managed.

There were hurried footsteps: Hermione came into sight. "They're coming."

She whirled around as a shout of 'Finally I got the shield down!' and heavier people came running. Mrs. Malfoy hurled in before Anwen.

Her eyes roved the scene. "What haaaaAAAAHH!" she gasped in horror when she saw her husband and slowly fell to her knees. "Lucius," she whimpered. "What—what—" She crawled over. Draco clung to his mum. The fear in his eyes—she didn't ever want to see that fear again.

"I'm getting the others," Anwen said quickly. "We can't disaparate in here—take everyone outside."

Draco and his mum hefted Mr. Malfoy with care. Mrs. Malfoy levitated him gently, crooning to him that they were going to make sure he was ok. Anwen flew out of the tunnel before they even got there.

Eustace was already outside. Anwen disaparated. She appeared on the front lawn of Hogwarts. She ran to the doors, and threw one open when she got to it. She found the others sitting there still, chatting nervously. The adults (which now included Dumbledore) stood at her sudden, and wild panic.

"The others are left there," she panted. "the Hiding Place. Too many children. Mr. Malfoy hurt."

McGonagall and Snape strode out the doors without a word. The children left behind looked beyond nervous…

They appeared on the shores of Shadow's Haven. Harry was already out with Bella, who had taken off her ring. Anwen took them both, then disappeared. Snape took Hermione and Caly. Eustace disappeared himself. Dumbledore helped McGonagall with the Malfoys.

They all appeared on the front lawn of Hogwarts. "Someone go back for Carmel, she's the baby basilisk and she's hurt," Bella whimpered. Snape let go of the girls and disaparated.

"HAGRID!" Eustace called. He turned to tearstained Mrs. Malfoy. "He'll take him to the hospital wing where there is ready aid. It's safer than apparateing with him again. We don't want to splinch him."

She nodded faintly, letting the half giant who lumbered over to take her husband away. Hopefully no one would see them. Draco followed, tugging his mum along. Anwen had already rushed in with Bella, Harry trailing after her. Eustace let Dumbledore help him walk; it was hard to see with only one eye.