26. Not without a fight
The interior of the trapdoor was damp and dark. Flickers of flames were visible from torches perched on multiple corridors. Most likely enchanted flames, considering the damp nature of the place.
Ron had gotten off the broom, while Harry had stuck to his standing position.
Puddles of water were spread across the chamber and drips of water could be heard falling. It gave the place an ominous feeling. At the center of the chamber was Ginny, flat on her back. Her skin was pale and her breathing labored. Ron was quick to get to her side and try to rouse her up.
Idly, Harry noticed that their professor was sprawled next to her, looking just as bad.
"You should have not followed me down here." From a column, a handsome older teen walked towards them. He had a look of great self-confidence bordering arrogant. "What did you hope to accomplish here?"
Ron glared and shouted at him, "What did you do to my sister!?" Ron pulled out his wand and pointed it at the teenager.
It seemed to amuse him more than anything. "Put away your wand Weasley, you'll only hurt yourself. As for your pathetic little sister, well she should've known better than to write in an artifact of unknown origin. Pure blood indeed."
Harry had to hold onto Ron to stop him from reacting at the taunt.
"Ah, but where are my manners? It is only polite for you to know the organizer of your demise. I am Tom Riddle. But you know me as the great and powerful Lord Voldemort."
Fear gripped Ron's form while Harry felt more alarm. "What do you want, Riddle?"
"Want, Potter? My ambition is boundless and I shall sate it. Die, boy!" Riddle began to hiss in the serpent's tongue. It was a call to attack.
Harry shot to the left, grabbing Ron and Ginny as he went, just in time to avoid a lunge from a giant snake. Its mouth was far larger than all three students combined.
"Ron, there's a book somewhere here, you have to destroy it. I'll distract the snake."
"Right, mate. Give it a good one for me."
When Harry dropped him back to the ground, he tucked Ginny aside and prepared to look for the book.
Harry was in the snake's sight. He nearly slammed his broomstick into the ground as he dodged another lunge from the beast. Slime rubbed against his hair and made him shiver. The boy made sure not to look directly at the beast, from what he understood from its ramblings, the snake's eyes had some ability. It was most likely petrification. If he became stone, the beast would crush his form.
An idea struck the boy as he saw the puddles. Directing the broom towards them, he pulled his spell book and chanted, "It is not down on any map; true places rarely are. (Aqua Conveyance)." Diving into the water, there was a great splash, seconds later, Harry burst from a puddle to the creature's side.
But he wasn't alone.
Following his entry, Cerastes too erupted from the confines of the puddle. "Boy you've brought a great boon to this one. You, shall fall basilisk."
"You dare intrude in my master's lair. You shall pay for this folly with your life", the basilisk hissed in outrage.
"I spit on your master and his lineage. Come you misshapen worm."
Cerastes slammed his horns against the skull of the basilisk. Unforgiving, the basilisk caught the eye of the horned snake. It roared in laughter, "Your lowly ability will have no place here. Feel the sting of the true king of serpents."
Again Cerastes struck, his jaw unhinged as though it planned to devour the basilisk whole. Resistance was great as the basilisk rocked its head upwards to deter the bite.
Harry pulled Joyeuse from his book and went to give aid.
Ron had his wand pointed to Riddle's form as he slowly tried to sneak to the book. Just as he crept unto it, the book exploded into pages. The pages converged onto Lockhart's form and wrapped him from head to toe. Slowly and rigidly the now covered body laughed at Ron. Tom Riddle's original formed had dispersed.
"You fail Weasley. Now you will join your friend in his demise."
Ron froze as the pages around Riddle's fingers sharpened to a point. But Ron stood tall and narrowed his eyes. He wouldn't leave his sister or his best mate behind! Both combatants turned when they heard the cry of a bird. Above them was the headmaster's phoenix. In its beak was the Sorting Hat. It dropped it in Ron's hands.
"What am I doing to with this, you daft bird." Riddle didn't wait and made a slash at him. Pulling from the depths of the hat, he blocked the blow with a full sword. On the sides it read 'Godric Gryffindor.' "I take back anything bad I said about you." With gusto he locked blades with Riddle. Despite being covered in paper, Riddle's body held firm against the blade. Though his effort was great, Ron didn't have the upper body strength to push Riddle back.
Harry then came in and slammed his broom right into Riddle's form as Ron jumped out of the way. "Not sorry", Harry said. In an attempt to put down the basilisk, he went for the eyes, but the basilisk had been expecting him. Swift as the wind, the basilisk turned from his adversary and attacked Harry again.
Harry wasn't so fortunate this time. Despite his movements, poison dripping fangs made a gash at his side and threw him on the ground. Harry felt his body burn. The distraction gave Cerastes the opportunity to bite into the basilisk's neck and kill it.
Seeing the end of his snake, Riddle hissed, "This is not over, Potter! My might will not be deterred." In a flash of light, Riddle, with Lockhart's body, disappeared.
Seeing Harry bleeding on the ground, Ron ran to his side, "Harry! Hold up, we'll get some help for you soon." Ron was in a panic, until the book by Harry's side lit up.
Two orbs, red and blue, spun around Harry's body. They then levitated over Harry's heart, before entering his chest. Ron's friend shined brightly before Harry's side healed up. Relief washed over Ron as Harry opened his eyes.
