PREVIOUSLY:
{….. At the statue's feet there appeared to be a slumped figure. "Ginny!" Harry cried out, after he had moved forward far enough to catch a glimpse of her red hair.
Harry's voice reverberated loudly throughout the chamber, and yet the figure did not move. Worry once again spurring him forward, Harry raced towards Ginny, before coming to a halt before her. She did not look good. Her skin dramatically contrasted against her fiery red hair, pale in comparison. "Ginny?" Harry called to no avail. "Ginny, wake up." …..]
CHAPTER TWO: Chrissy, Wake Up!
Not only did Ginny not look good, but her lack of response also indicated that something was wrong with her. Dropping to his knees, Harry reached over to give the girl's shoulder a shake. "Ginny, please wake up. Ron is waiting for us." Harry urged, as he moved carefully to pull her into his arms. The rise and fall of her chest were barely noticeable as he tried to figure out how to maneuver her over his shoulder.
"Once we meet back up with him, we will be out of here in no time. You'll see." Harry assured the unconscious Ginny, buckling under her weight as he hefted her over his shoulder and tried to stand up. Struggling to stand up quickly proved to be an error, however. Harry wobbled unsteadily and knelt back down to adjust her position. "Then we'll bring you up to see Madam Pomfrey, and she'll have you fixed up in no time." He continued, finally managing to rise to a standing position. "Just hold on a bit longer."
"I wouldn't bother with her, if I were you." A calm voice called out, causing Harry to spin around so quickly that he almost dropped Ginny in the process. From behind him now the voice continued. "She's as good as dead already."
There was something about that voice that sounded familiar. Although he couldn't fathom who the voice could possibly belong to; he was somehow unsurprised by the person that suddenly appeared before him. "Tom Riddle?"
Tom Riddle smirked. "You really would be better leaving her here, Harry Potter." He simpered, as he started to circle Potter. "After all, bringing back a corpse would hardly do you any favors. Although it would present an interesting picture for the world to see. Just imagine." He said, snatching a lock of Ginny's red hair between two fingers. "The savior of the wizarding world returning from the depths of Salazar Slytherin's chamber carrying the corpse of his best friend's sister in his arms. The press would go wild."
"They wouldn't think that Riddle." Harry retorted, spinning around to face Riddle once he had let go of Ginny's hair. "Because she isn't going to die."
"How foolish of you to believe that."
"I am not being foolish, Riddle. If we work together, we will be able to get her out of here quickly. Then we will be able to get her the nurse in no time." Harry stated hopefully, sending Tom a sheepish smile. "You're a prefect, so it should be no trouble for you to help us out."
"No."
"What do you mean no?" Grumbled Harry distractedly, hurryingly adjusting his grip on Ginny as she began to slip out his arms. "It would only take a moment of your time. Please." Harry pleaded, while shooting Tom a sheepish look. "Please Tom, give me a hand; she's heavy."
"Why would I do that, when I need her here?"
"When you need her here?" Harry parroted. Giving Tom a once over to see if he was being serious. "Why would you need her here? I need to get her out of here." Finished Harry, shooting Tom Riddle a confused look.
Riddle met his gaze with a curious look that Harry could not interpret. Like he was an object that he wanted to capture and rip open. To be perfectly frank, that look he was receiving reminded him eerily of Aunt Marge's dog Ripper; before it had chased him up a tree. "Tom? Could you please help me with her; before the basilisk comes."
"She won't come until she's called." Smirked Riddle. "Why don't we talk instead?"
