Still unable to snap out of her trance, Tom led her towards the
statue. Really feeling the chill now, Amy couldn't help but shiver.
"Cold, are we?" Tom's voice was as cold as the room. "Well, you won't have to worry for much longer," he said with a devilish grin. "You'll be taken care of soon."
Deep in her mind, somewhere towards the back, Amy felt a prick of anger. Who was this kid to think that he could control her? With all of her might, she tried to surge enough energy to break away from the force of his stare, but she couldn't do it. Helpless, she listened as Tom explained.
"This room was built by the great Salazar Slytherin thousands of years ago. He built it and made it the home of a great, deadly serpent which brought death to those who looked it in the eye. He did this in knowing that one day, his true heir would return to the castle, and open the chamber, to rid the school of all those not fit for studying magic. In other words, Mudbloods." A strange sort of grin crept over his face. "But that's not my purpose here today, Amy. My purpose is to lure Harry Potter here with you as my bait. I know Harry has feelings for you, Amy, and that he will do anything to save you. So now, we just have to sit and wait for him to arrive."
The Chamber of Secrets. Amy's mind rang with alarm. Somewhere, she had heard that phrase before. It was in her second year. A deadly serpent, that would be a basilisk. Putting two and two together, Amy came up with four and put her mind to work at resisting his spell over her. While she did so, Tom continued with his story.
"As you may have realized, Amy, I'm not the boy you think I am. In reality, I am a memory who lived fifty years ago and attended this very school. I cast a spell upon myself to return to this time frame to lure Harry Potter into my clutches."
"What do you want with Harry?" Amy muttered, finally able to speak some of her own words. "What did he ever do to you?"
Paying no attention to the fact that she had broken through his spell, Tom replied, "Potter deserves to die. After what happened with the Dark Lord, how Potter destroyed his powers, he definitely deserves to be punished. And I'm the one who's going to take care of that."
"And this concerns you, why?" Amy's voice was stronger now as she was able to pull herself out of the spell more and more. It was like emerging from deep waters and being able to breathe again.
"Everything that has to do with Voldemort concerns me," replied Tom, his smile growing wider. "You see, Amy, I am Voldemort."
Suddenly it all clicked in Amy's mind. Tom Riddle. The heir of Slytherin. Opened the Chamber fifty years ago. Something to do with Hagrid. The heir of Slytherin! The heir of Slytherin and Voldemort were one! But surely, that meant that Tom was a Parselmouth, didn't it?
"You're right, Amy," said Tom, as if he were reading her thoughts. "The look on your face says you've put it all together. I am Voldemort. I am the heir of Slytherin. And I do speak Parseltongue," he added with a snicker. "Just like your friend, Harry Potter. Harry Potter knows all about the Chamber of Secrets. McGonagall told him in his second year. He knows how to find it and how to get here. I expect he'll be along soon."
Amy's heart was racing. Boy, would Harry hate her now. First, she had blown him off for Tom Riddle, who she assumed was a normal boy. Then she discovers that she had blown Harry off for his enemy, Voldemort. This was going to go over well.
"So why me?" Amy asked, to keep Tom busy until Harry got there. "What did you want with me?"
"I told you, Amy, you were my bait. You were the whole reason for Harry coming down here." He stopped for a moment and a glinting look came into his eyes. "But I think I found another reason." He stepped towards her. "You see, Amy, you're family is famous-powerful. Not unlike myself. If we were together for eternity, we could make things happen, you and I."
"I'm not thinking so, Tom. Sorry."
"Oh, but you don't have a choice, Amy. You and I can be together forever. Our souls, our minds, our lives." He waved his wand high above his head. "We could have a child, Amy. And our child, given the powers of us both, could rule the world when we're both gone."
Before Amy had time to protest, Tom raised his wand and aimed it at Amy's middle. A jet of yellow light burst forth and Amy felt herself go limp. She collapsed on the ground and Tom knelt at her side. Touching her stomach lightly, he said, "Our child, Amy. Our child will do wonderful things." Standing again, he went back to watching the tunnel for Harry.
Amy felt as if someone had kicked the life out of her. This night was just getting better and better. Now, she not only fraternised with the enemy, but she was carrying his child. People everywhere would hate her. If they didn't already.
Looking up at the ladder that led into the tunnel above, Amy prayed for Harry to hurry. Surely her friends were missing her by now. Hermione knew that she would be with Tom. Wasn't that enough for them to put everything together, given the knowledge they had learned about the Chamber of Secrets in the past?
Almost as if he had heard her pleas, Harry appeared at the top of the ladder, looking somewhat mystified. Slowly he climbed down and started towards Tom. "You," he said, quietly.
Undaunted, Tom replied, "Yes, Harry. Me. I wondered how long it would take you to figure it out."
"You gave hints," said Harry, still trying to piece everything together. "It wasn't that difficult." He looked at Amy, who was standing no more than five feet behind Tom, clutching her stomach. Tom followed his gaze and that same wicked smile spread across his face.
"Yes, Harry, Amy is here. She is not hurt. But she is with child."
Harry looked at him. "With child?" Looking back and forth between Tom and Amy, Harry looked as if he couldn't decide whether to run or stay. When he looked at Tom, images of his parents filled his mind. This was the boy that killed his parents. He felt a surge of anger flow through his body.
Glancing at Amy, seeing the hurt on her face, he had a difficult time deciding whether or not she had any part in getting pregnant with Tom's child. Her eyes were red and he could see tears forming in them. Deciding to throw all caution to the wind, he turned back towards Tom and aimed his wand at him.
Instantly, as if he could predict what Harry was about to do, Tom had his wand at the ready. They aimed them at each other and before Tom could even move to cast a spell, Harry cried, "Accio!" and Tom's wand flew out of his hands and to Harry, rendering Tom utterly defenceless.
"You have my wand, Potter," he sneered, "but I still have the basilisk." Spinning on his heels, he faced the great statue and began to snarl in the same tone that Amy heard him use earlier. He held his hand towards the statue, waiting for the basilisk to appear, but nothing of the sort happened. When he spun back around, Harry was grinning.
"You've forgotten, Tom. Indeed, a basilisk can live many years. But not forever." He raised his own wand again, having tossed Tom's to Amy, who was still standing on the sidelines. "Recendo Inverte!" Harry pronounced and Tom's figure began to flicker. Amy watched in horror as Tom continued to flicker and faded out of sight. Amy felt a sharp stabbing pain in her abdomen, which lasted no more than five seconds.
Running to Harry's side, Amy fell to the ground and began sobbing. "I'm so sorry, Harry," she said. "I'm really sorry."
Harry brought her to her feet and smiled. "We all make mistakes," he said, putting on a brave front. Walking to the place where Tom Riddle stood no more than twenty seconds ago, he said, "And he just made too many."
"What happened to him?"
Harry looked up. "He was a memory. That's why you never saw him eat or drink."
"But he seemed so real!"
"I know." Harry looked back to the ground. "I knew I knew the name Tom Riddle from somewhere, but I just couldn't figure out where. Then it hit me: the end of our fourth year, when Voldemort rose again. The name on the tombstone from which they took the bone was Tom Riddle."
"But Tom Riddle-he was a-Harry I'm really confused."
"That Tom Riddle," he motioned to the spot where Tom had been standing, "was Tom Riddle, Junior. His father was a Muggle and his mother, who was a witch, named him after his father, shortly before she died. Tom Riddle, Senior was from whom Wormtail took the bone to make Voldemort rise again. It was his father."
"He didn't tell me much about his family, but he never told me that," Amy said quietly, her eyes cast downwards. "I never knew. I never knew that he was the Dark Lord. I never knew what hell he caused for everyone. I just never knew."
"What do you say we get out of here?" Harry asked, taking her hand, but Amy pulled away.
"Don't you understand, Harry? I can't go back! How can I go back and tell everyone that I'm pregnant with Voldemort's child? They'll hate me even more than they already do. I'll be an outcast, running from the Ministry, for they will surely want a hand in it all. I can't do that, Harry, I just can't."
To her surprise, Harry was smiling. "You're forgetting, too, Amy. When Tom faded out of sight, so did his memory and existence. He was never here! Therefore, you are not pregnant with his child."
Tears shining in her eyes, Amy tried to look happy about this news, but she knew she wouldn't truly believe it until she heard it from Madam Pomfrey. As she followed Harry out of the Chamber of Secrets, she looked behind her and sighed. Magic was a funny thing. It could help you immensely, or burden you to no end. It was both exciting and scary. It was both happy and sad. It did so many things to you that you felt like you were spinning around in circles in the air. But Amy, for once, didn't feel dizzy any longer.
"Cold, are we?" Tom's voice was as cold as the room. "Well, you won't have to worry for much longer," he said with a devilish grin. "You'll be taken care of soon."
Deep in her mind, somewhere towards the back, Amy felt a prick of anger. Who was this kid to think that he could control her? With all of her might, she tried to surge enough energy to break away from the force of his stare, but she couldn't do it. Helpless, she listened as Tom explained.
"This room was built by the great Salazar Slytherin thousands of years ago. He built it and made it the home of a great, deadly serpent which brought death to those who looked it in the eye. He did this in knowing that one day, his true heir would return to the castle, and open the chamber, to rid the school of all those not fit for studying magic. In other words, Mudbloods." A strange sort of grin crept over his face. "But that's not my purpose here today, Amy. My purpose is to lure Harry Potter here with you as my bait. I know Harry has feelings for you, Amy, and that he will do anything to save you. So now, we just have to sit and wait for him to arrive."
The Chamber of Secrets. Amy's mind rang with alarm. Somewhere, she had heard that phrase before. It was in her second year. A deadly serpent, that would be a basilisk. Putting two and two together, Amy came up with four and put her mind to work at resisting his spell over her. While she did so, Tom continued with his story.
"As you may have realized, Amy, I'm not the boy you think I am. In reality, I am a memory who lived fifty years ago and attended this very school. I cast a spell upon myself to return to this time frame to lure Harry Potter into my clutches."
"What do you want with Harry?" Amy muttered, finally able to speak some of her own words. "What did he ever do to you?"
Paying no attention to the fact that she had broken through his spell, Tom replied, "Potter deserves to die. After what happened with the Dark Lord, how Potter destroyed his powers, he definitely deserves to be punished. And I'm the one who's going to take care of that."
"And this concerns you, why?" Amy's voice was stronger now as she was able to pull herself out of the spell more and more. It was like emerging from deep waters and being able to breathe again.
"Everything that has to do with Voldemort concerns me," replied Tom, his smile growing wider. "You see, Amy, I am Voldemort."
Suddenly it all clicked in Amy's mind. Tom Riddle. The heir of Slytherin. Opened the Chamber fifty years ago. Something to do with Hagrid. The heir of Slytherin! The heir of Slytherin and Voldemort were one! But surely, that meant that Tom was a Parselmouth, didn't it?
"You're right, Amy," said Tom, as if he were reading her thoughts. "The look on your face says you've put it all together. I am Voldemort. I am the heir of Slytherin. And I do speak Parseltongue," he added with a snicker. "Just like your friend, Harry Potter. Harry Potter knows all about the Chamber of Secrets. McGonagall told him in his second year. He knows how to find it and how to get here. I expect he'll be along soon."
Amy's heart was racing. Boy, would Harry hate her now. First, she had blown him off for Tom Riddle, who she assumed was a normal boy. Then she discovers that she had blown Harry off for his enemy, Voldemort. This was going to go over well.
"So why me?" Amy asked, to keep Tom busy until Harry got there. "What did you want with me?"
"I told you, Amy, you were my bait. You were the whole reason for Harry coming down here." He stopped for a moment and a glinting look came into his eyes. "But I think I found another reason." He stepped towards her. "You see, Amy, you're family is famous-powerful. Not unlike myself. If we were together for eternity, we could make things happen, you and I."
"I'm not thinking so, Tom. Sorry."
"Oh, but you don't have a choice, Amy. You and I can be together forever. Our souls, our minds, our lives." He waved his wand high above his head. "We could have a child, Amy. And our child, given the powers of us both, could rule the world when we're both gone."
Before Amy had time to protest, Tom raised his wand and aimed it at Amy's middle. A jet of yellow light burst forth and Amy felt herself go limp. She collapsed on the ground and Tom knelt at her side. Touching her stomach lightly, he said, "Our child, Amy. Our child will do wonderful things." Standing again, he went back to watching the tunnel for Harry.
Amy felt as if someone had kicked the life out of her. This night was just getting better and better. Now, she not only fraternised with the enemy, but she was carrying his child. People everywhere would hate her. If they didn't already.
Looking up at the ladder that led into the tunnel above, Amy prayed for Harry to hurry. Surely her friends were missing her by now. Hermione knew that she would be with Tom. Wasn't that enough for them to put everything together, given the knowledge they had learned about the Chamber of Secrets in the past?
Almost as if he had heard her pleas, Harry appeared at the top of the ladder, looking somewhat mystified. Slowly he climbed down and started towards Tom. "You," he said, quietly.
Undaunted, Tom replied, "Yes, Harry. Me. I wondered how long it would take you to figure it out."
"You gave hints," said Harry, still trying to piece everything together. "It wasn't that difficult." He looked at Amy, who was standing no more than five feet behind Tom, clutching her stomach. Tom followed his gaze and that same wicked smile spread across his face.
"Yes, Harry, Amy is here. She is not hurt. But she is with child."
Harry looked at him. "With child?" Looking back and forth between Tom and Amy, Harry looked as if he couldn't decide whether to run or stay. When he looked at Tom, images of his parents filled his mind. This was the boy that killed his parents. He felt a surge of anger flow through his body.
Glancing at Amy, seeing the hurt on her face, he had a difficult time deciding whether or not she had any part in getting pregnant with Tom's child. Her eyes were red and he could see tears forming in them. Deciding to throw all caution to the wind, he turned back towards Tom and aimed his wand at him.
Instantly, as if he could predict what Harry was about to do, Tom had his wand at the ready. They aimed them at each other and before Tom could even move to cast a spell, Harry cried, "Accio!" and Tom's wand flew out of his hands and to Harry, rendering Tom utterly defenceless.
"You have my wand, Potter," he sneered, "but I still have the basilisk." Spinning on his heels, he faced the great statue and began to snarl in the same tone that Amy heard him use earlier. He held his hand towards the statue, waiting for the basilisk to appear, but nothing of the sort happened. When he spun back around, Harry was grinning.
"You've forgotten, Tom. Indeed, a basilisk can live many years. But not forever." He raised his own wand again, having tossed Tom's to Amy, who was still standing on the sidelines. "Recendo Inverte!" Harry pronounced and Tom's figure began to flicker. Amy watched in horror as Tom continued to flicker and faded out of sight. Amy felt a sharp stabbing pain in her abdomen, which lasted no more than five seconds.
Running to Harry's side, Amy fell to the ground and began sobbing. "I'm so sorry, Harry," she said. "I'm really sorry."
Harry brought her to her feet and smiled. "We all make mistakes," he said, putting on a brave front. Walking to the place where Tom Riddle stood no more than twenty seconds ago, he said, "And he just made too many."
"What happened to him?"
Harry looked up. "He was a memory. That's why you never saw him eat or drink."
"But he seemed so real!"
"I know." Harry looked back to the ground. "I knew I knew the name Tom Riddle from somewhere, but I just couldn't figure out where. Then it hit me: the end of our fourth year, when Voldemort rose again. The name on the tombstone from which they took the bone was Tom Riddle."
"But Tom Riddle-he was a-Harry I'm really confused."
"That Tom Riddle," he motioned to the spot where Tom had been standing, "was Tom Riddle, Junior. His father was a Muggle and his mother, who was a witch, named him after his father, shortly before she died. Tom Riddle, Senior was from whom Wormtail took the bone to make Voldemort rise again. It was his father."
"He didn't tell me much about his family, but he never told me that," Amy said quietly, her eyes cast downwards. "I never knew. I never knew that he was the Dark Lord. I never knew what hell he caused for everyone. I just never knew."
"What do you say we get out of here?" Harry asked, taking her hand, but Amy pulled away.
"Don't you understand, Harry? I can't go back! How can I go back and tell everyone that I'm pregnant with Voldemort's child? They'll hate me even more than they already do. I'll be an outcast, running from the Ministry, for they will surely want a hand in it all. I can't do that, Harry, I just can't."
To her surprise, Harry was smiling. "You're forgetting, too, Amy. When Tom faded out of sight, so did his memory and existence. He was never here! Therefore, you are not pregnant with his child."
Tears shining in her eyes, Amy tried to look happy about this news, but she knew she wouldn't truly believe it until she heard it from Madam Pomfrey. As she followed Harry out of the Chamber of Secrets, she looked behind her and sighed. Magic was a funny thing. It could help you immensely, or burden you to no end. It was both exciting and scary. It was both happy and sad. It did so many things to you that you felt like you were spinning around in circles in the air. But Amy, for once, didn't feel dizzy any longer.