Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or his magical world.

-------------------Chapter 19: Down to the Chamber

Harry hardly had time to react to the chaos that broke out be fore him. One minute everyone was merry and dancing, the next spells shot through the air as Death Eaters stormed in on them. Harry shot a stunner at the back of a particularly large Death Eater as his eyes racked the Great Hall. Hermoine was herding the younger students to safety, while nearby Ron was dueling with a tall, slender Death Eater. All the teachers were dueling, as were many of the sixth and seventh year students. Yet, there were two students Harry could not see: Ginny and Malfoy.

Harry was very worried; he had seen them moments before that attack, dancing with each other. Just that thought make his blood boil as he petrified the Death Eater that had cornered Neville Longbottom.

"Thanks, Harry," said Neville as he wiped blood from a gash on his arm.

"Have you seen Ginny?"

Neville shook his head. "Malfoy was with her last I saw."

Harry pulled Neville down to duck a Cruticous. "Neville, do me a favor and find her. Make sure she is alright."

"Okay, but there is Malfoy."

Harry looked over to see Malfoy running over to him. Also, out of the corner of his eyes he saw Colin running over in a furry. It was almost in slow motion that he saw Colin tackle Malfoy, them both landing in a pile not far from Harry and Neville. It was only a matter of seconds before Colin had his wand at Malfoy's throat.

"What did you do with her?" Colin demanded as Harry and Neville hurried over.

"I—" started Malfoy.

"What's going on?" demanded Harry.

"He betrayed Ginny! She trusted him and he sold her to Voldemort!"

Harry glared down at Malfoy. "If anything happens to her your are dead, actually, either way you are dead, understood?" he said with a dangerous venom.

"Yes. I am so sorry," said Malfoy somberly to the air around him.

"Neville, you stay here. It looks like we are winning," said Harry. "Now, Malfoy, where is she?"

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As he led Creevy and Potter down the corridor to the girl's restroom, Draco felt more emotions running through his head than he deemed possible. He had heard Creevy explain to Potter how, he, Draco, had been dancing with Ginny and then had started to force himself upon her. She had pushed him away and he revealed himself to be none other but Tom Riddle.

As they arrived in the bathroom, Draco caught a look on Potter's face that could not be described as anything but bad. "I don't know where they went, but they went through some passage by that sink."

"The Chamber of Secrets," whispered Harry.

"Crap," muttered Colin.

"What? How can we get in there then? I doubt either of you are the heir of Slytherin."

"No, but I can open it," said Harry, hissing at the sink. The sink opened into a large pipe going straight down.

"I'll go first," said Draco, terrified that something horrible had happened to Ginny. Then again, she was with Voldemort, of course, something terrible had happened to her.

"You're volunteering? You'll probably try to escape us once you get to the bottom. You'll want to save your own ass."

"Listen, I care about her just as much as you do."

"Right, that is why you betrayed her trust and made her worst fears come true?"

"I made a mistake. I know you won't believe me, but I care about Ginny."

"You're right, I don't believe you. I'll go first, then you and then Colin."

Draco sighed as Harry jumped down the pipe and then followed after him. How he did hate Potter. He was telling the truth; he really cared about Ginny. He had just been a stupid bastard and let his upbringing and cowardice blind him into denying what he really felt. He had ended up making the worst mistake of his life and Ginny was going to pay dearly for it. Guilt surged through Draco's veins faster than he was sliding down the pipe.

He landed with things crunching under him. Another look gave him a sight of the bones of small animals under him. Colin landed right after him. Up ahead there was giant skin; it looked like it belonged to a snake. The Basilisk. Draco remembered back to when he had interrogated Colin Creevy.

He, Harry and Creevy walked quietly through the dank tunnel. They came upon an archway decorated by snakes. Through it was a dark, yet magnificent, chamber, the Chamber of Secrets. As they clung to the shadows, Draco made out figures at the other end of the Chamber. They snuck closer and closer, trying to go unnoticed, but trying to get audibility.

"Struggling will not help you, my dear," said a cold voice. Draco recognized it as the voice of Voldemort, but it came from a handsome young man with dark hair and bright blue eyes. Voldemort had regained his youth.

"What do you want from me?" spat Ginny, who was currently being held by a very large Death Eater. Preparing a potion was a second Death Eater, who Draco recognized as his father.

"It is rather what I don't want from you. Anyway, first you are to secure my youth, which you have partially done already. I took a particular pleasure in that part."

"Your a bloody bastard, you know that?"

Voldemort just laughed his high cold laugh that chilled everyone to the bone. Except Ginny, it seemed, was unaffected. She continued to glare at him from her capture's arms.

"I also have a proposition for you. Keep in mind that there is not just anyone that I would offer this to. You are already mine, but I would like to offer you more. You are too precious and too powerful to be wasted. Become my second. Every lord needs his lady. Become the Dark Lady."

Draco held his breath, as did Potter and Creevy beside him. He feared any possibility of what might come next.

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"Become the Dark Lady," Voldemort, or Tom, said to her.

Ginny looked at him, inquiringly. She had lost all her defenses. He would laugh at her anger and there was no way she could escape, so Ginny had few things left in her head. Ginny threw back her head and laughed, although most would have thought it stupid to laugh at the Dark Lord.

"Are you serious? 'The Dark Lady?' That is the most horrible title I have ever heard!"

Tom glared at her, but Ginny just smiled back sweetly. His glare didn't last for long; it turned into a twisted smirk. He walked over to her and traced his finger along her cheek. She shuddered.

"Just as I thought, " he whispered. " You will be mine, no matter what you choose. This is a guarantee of that." Tom pulled up the sleeve on her robe, revealing the serpent tattoo. "This is the mark of those who are truly mine. You can fight me, but you will never escape, for in your heart you know you love me. You know that I am the only one that can deliver you from a damned life. You know I am the only one that you have and ever will desire."

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A/N: Well that would be Chapter 19. It leaves it a bit hanging doesn't it? I am sorry about that;that was really horrible of me.I didn't realizethat it did thatwhen I was writing it, but it is too late now. I am also sorry to say that I will not be able to update for probably about three weeks. Anyway, thank you to everyone for reading and a super big thank you to my reviewers: ice princess grl, louey31, AngeliqueCollins, SonMina, and Apathetically Interested!

----Perplexity