A/N: Like my update time? This is what happens when I feel guilty about leaving my readers without a chapter for too long. I try to make up for it with the following chapters.

And because time is of the essence, considering that I can practically hear my macroeconomics revision calling me back, I'm not going to blab as much as I usually do at the beginning of every chapter.

Ernie: Somehow. I. Don't. Think. People. Will. Be. Terribly. Disappointed.

Hrmf. Thank you, Ernie. Kindly keep irrelevant comments to yourself and list those wonderful, wonderful people who keep my morale high through revision time with their thoughtful - and sometimes very funny – reviews.

Ernie: Thanks. Go. To. CharmingStar Winter Blaze. Asian Orchid. Anna. Ori.-

Would just like to say that I hope you didn't hurt yourself my dear Ori, when you dropped your jaw. You did pick it up and put it back in its place, didn't you? Leaving jaws around is a dangerous business. Someone could trip over it.

Ernie: Don't. Interrupt. Cinammon.

I'm sorry, Ernie. :looks ashamed: I couldn't help myself.

Ernie: Thanks. Also. Go. To. Virginia. Sveta89. Frisbee400. CTMalone. And. Finally. Harrypotterfan4eva.

That was lovely. Thank you, Ernie.

Ernie: You. Are. Welcome.

Very touching. Brought a tear to my eye, it did.

Ernie: No. Need. To. Get. Emotional.

I thought it was very sweet, the way you listed them all. Just like an Oscar acceptancespeech.

Ernie: You. Can. Stop. Now.

Fine, fine! I only have one more thing to say to our reviewers and then I'm done. Virginia and Frisbee400 have inspired part of this chapter with their Wyatt comments. After reading them, I realised how right they were and couldn't help not writing the relevant scene. It's not the first time your reviews have helped formulate the story. Keep the suggestions coming and I promise to at least consider them. Oh, and Frisbee400, your channelling of Yoda was down right scary. I now have this image of you as a short green person who speaks funny. Not very flattering.

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There's one more person to thank, before I let you get on with the chapter. You all know who he is, don't you? Yup, it's Nightcrawler, my lovely beta! Thank you Nightcrawler!

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Chapter 23: Conversations

"Morning," said Talia weakly, sitting herself at the Gryffindor table for breakfast.

Her friends exchanged worried looks at her appearance. Talia's eyes lacked the fire that usually blazed in them, and dark circles rimmed them. There was an ashen pallor to her face and even her luxurious hair hung limp.

"Rough night, Tal?" asked Wyatt quietly.

"I didn't get much sleep last night," she admitted.

"Nightmares again?" asked Hermione sympathetically.

Talia nodded mutely.

Not that Talia ever talked about them, but Hermione was a light sleeper. She had woken up many a night since the beginning of the school year, to Talia sneaking out of bed. Hermione knew it was a post-nightmare ritual the other girl had. After the first few times, she even stopped nagging her about being out of bed past curfew.

"Pass the coffee, would you Gin?" Talia asked, hopping to change the topic of conversation. "What type of muffins are those Ron?"

"Blueberry," he announced, cramming the last bit of his, in his mouth. "'ant some?" he offered.

Talia shook her head making a face.

"I never liked blueberries," she said, pouring herself a cup of coffee.

Harry watched with fascinated horror as she ladled the cup with two full spoonfuls of coffee and an equal amount of sugar, poured hot water and mixed it with her spoon before raising it to her lips. There wasn't even any milk in there!

"Do you guys happen to know anyone called Tom Riddle?" she asked, trying to sound casual.

Whatever Talia had expected of her friends' reactions, she certainly hadn't expected them to be quite so extreme!

Ginny choked on her toast and Wyatt had to hit her on the back before she could breathe again.

Ron's mouth hung open in shock. It wasn't a very attractive look for him. Mostly due to the half-masticated egg and bacon that currently resided in his aforementioned wide open mouth.

Hermione had dropped the basket of rolls that she had been offering Talia. There were rolls everywhere, including, but not limited to, under the table.

Harry had been in the process of pouring pumpkin juice in his goblet. He was still, absent-mindedly, pouring pumpkin juice out of the jug, but his goblet had already overflowed, and the juice was spilling all over the table, pooling around Hermione's rolls. Talia, a set expression on her face, rose off her seat, lent over the table, and took the jug away from his unresisting fingers.

"I'll take that as a yes," she said in answer to her own question. "Now, will you please tell me who he is and why the mere mention of him, freaked you all out like it did?"

"How...where...why do you ask?" managed Harry weakly.

"I kind of met him last night," Talia answered quietly, carefully observing the raven haired boy in front of her.

From the sound of indrawn breaths around her, she gathered that wasn't a good thing. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Wyatt throw her a worried look. He was just as confused as she was; probably more so, considering he was still unaware of her little adventure last night.

"What's the big deal?" she asked, mildly irritated by their reactions. "He's a seventh year Slytherin, right? A prefect...what's so strange about that?"

Deep down, she recognised the untruthfulness of her own words. Tom Riddle was most certainly not just another student. That kind of power and evil was anything but ordinary.

Harry, Ron and Hermione exchanged strange looks. Ginny avoided looking at anyone.

"What!" asked Talia once again, getting angry. She could feel Wyatt next to her getting more and more worried.

"Talia," Harry finally answered quietly, "Tom Riddle is the real name of Lord Voldemort."

Talia stared back at them with eyes open wide. She never once looked at her cousin, but she was acutely aware of his presence next to her. It was mildly comforting in a way she couldn't explain, despite his indrawn breath at Harry's revelation.

"No, that can't be right," Talia tried, "Tom Riddle looked our age! Lord Voldemort was in power before you were even born, Harry!"

"Tom Marvolo Riddle is an anagram for 'I am Lord Voldemort', Talia," Hermione explained quietly.

"Tom Riddle was a student in this school," said Harry hoarsely. "He was in Slytherin and, although a half-blood, he's the heir of Salazar Slytherin. When he left Hogwarts he started calling himself Lord Voldemort instead. That's when he gathered followers to him; followers he called Death Eaters.

"In our second year - Ginny's first," he said, sneaking a worried look at the ashen-faced redhead, "something extraordinary happened at Hogwarts. You've read Hogwarts A History, so you know what the Chamber of Secrets is, right?"

Wyatt and Talia looked briefly at each other and gravely nodded.

"The chamber was opened," announced Hermione.

Talia heard Wyatt gasp and felt her own eyes widen even further at the implications of Hermione's words.

Talia made a conscious effort to calm down. She was Talia, Princess of the Underworld. She'd faced worse things than Voldemort before. Hadn't she? Either way she reacted the only way she knew how. A stony mask settled over her features and the shutters behind her big, brown eyes slammed shut, hiding all emotion inside. She had her game face on. Now, she was prepared to hear what else Harry had to say. The Phoenix would then sit down and think through it all coldly, dispassionately, logically. Then, it would all make sense, and she could come up with a plan of action. For now, all she would do was listen.

"Do you guys know what a basilisk is?" continued Harry.

Wyatt nodded while Talia shook her head. She turned to look at her cousin.

"Big snake," he said weakly, "huge snake. Venomous bite, and if it looks at you, you're done for. If one looks at it reflected through a mirror, then instead of being killed instantly, they're petrified. It's in one of my Care of Magical Creatures books, Fantastic Beasts and Where to find them," he answered Talia's questioning look.

"A bit like a Medusa then?"

Hermione nodded.

"Slytherin's basilisk specifically targeted muggleborns," she added.

"And Tom Riddle..." Talia started, then trailed off.

"Like I said earlier Talia, Tom Riddle is the heir of Slytherin, and the Chamber could only have been opened by him," said Harry.

It was a lot to take in, but Talia's mind was already processing the information she'd just heard.

"But Voldemort couldn't have come here in your second year and opened the chamber, Harry! He only got his body back two and a half years ago, you told me that yourself, on the Hogwarts Express. Which means that he was little more than a spirit at the time the Chamber was opened. It had to have been someone else!"

"It's a little complicated, Tal," tried to explain Hermione. "When Voldemort was in his final year here at Hogwarts, when he was still Tom Riddle, he preserved the memory of himself, as he was then, inside a diary. He had by then already found and opened the Chamber, but only managed to escape expulsion by blaming another student for it. Tom Riddle was then forced to close the Chamber. I guess that by preserving himself in the diary, he was hoping for a second chance of opening the chamber and... 'cleansing'...the school from those...those he did not see fit to attend it," she finished softly.

Ron placed a hand comfortingly on her shoulder.

"Hermione was petrified that year," Ron said, more seriously than either of the cousins had ever heard him speak before. "He nearly died doing it," he offered his best friend a small smile, "but Harry defeated the basilisk and the memory of Vol-Voldemort. He saved the school," Ron finished, not without some effort.

Harry smiled at him wanly for finally managing to say Voldemort's name. Hermione squeezed his arm gently for the same reason.

"What did this person who introduced themselves to you as Tom Riddle look like, Talia?" asked Harry.

"He was tall," she said, "about six foot two, I think...black hair, like yours, Harry. Actually, he looked quite a bit like you, now that I think about it, but his eyes were blue, not green."

Harry nodded sombrely.

"Yes, that sounds like Tom Riddle, alright."

"But, how can it be?" asked Ron.

He looked to Hermione for answers, but she just looked at him sadly and shrugged.

"So let me get this straight," started Wyatt, "Are you guys saying that it was Tom Riddle's memory that opened the chamber?" he frowned, "How? He was just a memory, right?"

His friends looked uncomfortable. Ginny seemed close to tears. Talia felt just as confused as Wyatt was.

"A first year student found the diary and the memory of Tom Riddle possessed her. It nearly killed her," said Harry, so softly that Talia and Wyatt had to strain to hear him.

"Who?" Talia asked sensing that some important detail was being omitted.

"Me," answered Ginny softly.

It was the first thing she had said, since Tom Riddle's name had first been mentioned. Harry moved conspicuously closer to her in an unconscious, protective gesture.

"Ginny..." said Talia, immediately sorry for asking.

"It's ok," she said softly, though it clearly wasn't. "It was years ago, and Harry saved me from him."

But everyone still stared at Ginny for a while.

"How exactly did you meet Tom last night?" asked Ginny trying to divert attention from herself for a while.

Talia looked up to see that everyone was indeed staring at her now, so she told them. Not everything of course. She left out the kiss at the end. She didn't think they had to know about that. She watched Harry exchange looks with Ron and Hermione.

"What aren't you telling us, Harry?" Talia demanded.

"You know how at the Platform 9 ¾ I already knew your name before you told me it, Talia?"

She nodded.

"I said it was because I thought you looked like a Talia, but that's silly. Talia isn't really a common name, is it? I lied to you," he said, turning beetroot red.

Talia rolled her eyes.

"I knew that Harry," she said, "I just didn't know why you did it. I still don't. I figured that you'd tell me if and when you felt ready."

Harry smiled then grew serious again.

"I sometimes get these dreams..." he started.

..oo00oo..

"...And then he left, just like you asked him to," Harry finished.

There was silence for a while as all of them thought about everything they'd just heard.

"Is this all true?" demanded Wyatt.

Talia nodded, but wouldn't look at him.

"Why didn't you tell me, Tal!" her cousin cried out, obviously upset.

"It only happened once! I thought I'd dreamt it," Talia said, but she still wouldn't look at him.

"Talia," Harry said seriously, "Voldemort wants something from you. Do you know what that might be and why?"

All everyone around the table could do was look at Talia strangely. She said nothing, simply looked straight into her cup instead, and took another sip. Wyatt next to her was very, very angry. She could feel the anger radiating from him in waves.

"You have to tell Dumbledore, Talia," urged Hermione, and from the looks on the faces of the rest of her friends around her, she knew they felt the same.

It took every ounce of strength she had, not to groan a 'Why me!' out loud.

..oo00oo..

"Talia, wait!"

Talia stopped, but didn't turn round. She knew exactly who her pursuer was, and she wasn't ready to face him yet.

"Don't you think you owe me an explanation first?" the angry blond demanded.

Talia sighed. It didn't seem like she had any choice. Dumbledore would have to wait; this was more important. She turned round.

"You're right, Wyatt. I do owe you an explanation. But the corridor's hardly the best place for it."

She spied the door of an empty classroom and walked towards it. She held the door open for him.

"Coming?"

A sullen Wyatt entered the classroom. Talia took a moment to fortify herself for the long talk ahead, then followed him in.

..oo00oo..

Talia cast the last few silencing and locking charms on the door and, once again, turned round to face her cousin. Wyatt hadn't said a single word throughout this time.

"Trying to make this classroom safer than Gringotts, Tal?"

Talia winced. Wyatt never used sarcasm!

"I couldn't take any chances," she answered grimly. "You'll see why when you hear me out."

Wyatt sighed unhappily and Talia saw the hurt in his eyes.

"Why didn't you tell me, Tal?"

"I never thought to connect what happened in the summer with Voldemort. We hadn't even known he existed then."

"You should've still told me."

"I know. I...we were having so much fun here in the summer! There were so many things to learn and do...I guess I didn't want to believe that something bad could ever happen at Hogwarts. It was a one off. I meant to tell you if it happened again, but it never did. I thought it might have been one of the ghosts playing a nasty prank. Besides, it was... a lot easier to just put it out of my mind."

"What about last night then?"

"Last night...was different. I meant to tell you later today, I did, but the whole thing, it...really bothered me. I couldn't stop myself from asking about Tom Riddle at the breakfast table," she winced. "Looking back, it probably wasn't the smartest thing I could've done, but at least we have some answers now."

"What does Voldemort want with you, Talia? Do you know the guy from...before?" Wyatt asked coldly.

"No! I would've told you if I did."

"Would you?"

"Yes, I would! Come on Wyatt, you know me better than that!"

Wyatt's cold façade deteriorated.

"Yeah I do. I'm sorry, Tal, I just..."

"I know...me too. You're right," she smiled apologetically at him, "there should be no secrets between us." He smiled back warmly.

They didn't hug. The Charmed Ones were a lot for hugging, but it just made Talia uncomfortable and Wyatt knew it. Hugging had never really been a big thing in the Underworld.

"Wyatt...there's more, about last night and...about other things, that I didn't tell the others; or you."

Talia sounded apprehensive and Wyatt immediately looked alert.

"After talking to Snape and then Uncle Leo, when we figured out Dumbledore's agenda, I went to see Father."

The reaction was instantaneous.

"You went to see the Source! Are you mad?"

"He's my father, Wyatt. You know he wouldn't hurt me."

"Please tell me you didn't go in the Underworld to see him?"

Talia said nothing.

"Talia!" her cousin groaned. "Your father wouldn't hurt you, but the rest of them want you dead! Or have you forgotten? Come on, Tal, you know better than that!"

"I was careful! I didn't let anyone see me. And besides, no one in the wizarding world was particularly forthcoming with information, not even Harry and the others. I figured that if we're going to get involved in this war, we could use as much information on Voldemort as possible. And who better to get the dirt on a dark wizard than the Source of All Evil?"

Wyatt sighed in resignation.

"What did you find out then?"

"Not much we didn't know, actually. But Father does think that Voldemort's dangerous. He wouldn't be surprised if he managed to take over the entire wizarding world."

Wyatt appeared startled.

"You mean the wizarding world in Britain."

"No, I mean the entire wizarding world."

Wyatt's eyes widened.

"Wow!"

"Yeah...he's not very happy about it."

"Your father?"

"Yes."

"Why not? Voldemort wins, Evil rules. Shouldn't that make the Source happy?"

"It would make Voldemort too powerful. He already has allies in the Underworld, and without me there to support him, Father's position could potentially be in danger after Voldemort takes over the wizarding world. Father seems to think that it all hinges on whatever happens here in Britain. The way he tells it, Harry and Dumbledore are the only real threat to Voldemort's success. He supports their efforts, but he's not allowed to do anything about it. It would be inconceivable for the Source to support Good over Evil, for whatever reason."

Wyatt rolled his eyes.

"Underworld logic...I'll never get it."

"What you need to understand Wyatt, is that not all Evil is the same. And that Evil always competes with other Evil. The Underworld is all about control, power, and who owns what. It's a dog eat dog world down there."

"Anything else you haven't told me, Tal?"

"Well...I think you better hear the uncensored version of what happened last night."

Wyatt groaned.

"Last night, Tom Riddle tried to err...seduce me, I suppose."

"Now, that, I'm not so sure I had to know," Wyatt grimaced.

"Just hear me out, Wyatt. I didn't tell Harry and the others everything Riddle told me. I think you'd be quite interested in some of it."

..oo00oo..

"...until he used the Underworld mandate."

"The Underworld has a mandate?"

"It's on the Source's coat of arms."

"The Source has a coat of arms!"

Talia looked momentarily annoyed.

"Let's hear it then; the mandate."

"There is no such thing as Good or Evil; only Power and those too weak to seek it."

"I'm sorry I asked."

"Yeah, well, hearing it brought me to my senses. I kneed him where it hurt and he backed off."

Wyatt's grimace of pain was easy to interpret.

"I almost feel sorry for the guy."

"He deserved it! So, anyway, he said..."

..oo00oo..

"Don't you see, Wyatt? Lord Voldemort knows who I am. Has known, or at least suspected, since the summer, now that I think about it! He called me "Princess" both times," she sighed unhappily, "Father was worried this would happen."

Wyatt groaned.

"First we figure out that Dumbledore got us here so we could fight his war for him, and now we find out that Voldemort has some secret, evil plan for you? Bring back the demon attacks, they were safer!"

"Get serious, Wyatt. We have to figure out what Voldemort wants with me."

"Isn't it obvious? What does every demon want with you, Tal?"

"To kill me? So they can collect the bounty Father's put on my head?"

"Those are just the bounty hunters. I'm talking about the seriously Evil, with a capital "E", scary guys."

"Well, some of those want to kill me too!" Talia protested. "It's good for their reputation. And besides, as Princess of All Evil, I wasn't exactly known for making friends down there; especially in the higher ranks of the Underworld. I helped Father stay in power, remember?"

"Now who's fooling around? You know exactly what I mean, Tal. Voldemort doesn't want to kill you; he wants to turn you Evil all over again. He probably wants you to join his ranks and fight his little war, just like Dumbledore wants us too."

Talia sighed, completely deflated. She sunk onto the desk she'd previously just been leaning against.

"Yeah, that's what I thought too. I was kinda hoping you'd come up with a different reason."

"Hey, that's alright," he tried to comfort her. "Let him try. We both know he won't succeed."

"I'm...not so sure about that," Talia admitted hesitantly. "Tom Riddle was pretty convincing last night."

Wyatt threw his hands in the air in exasperation.

"You and men!"

"Well, he was," Talia insisted.

"Tom Riddle is Lord Voldemort, Tal. And Lord Voldemort is the sick bastard who killed Harry's parents. Just keep reminding yourself that and you'll never let yourself be taken in. I know you, remember?"

"First sarcasm and now you're swearing? Aunt Piper's gonna kill me!"

Wyatt grinned and slung a friendly arm around her shoulders.

"Let's go tell Dumbledore about this."

"Do we have to?" she whined.

"You know we do. But you can err... leave out whatever parts make you feel uncomfortable. Frankly, I don't particularly want to hear about Voldemort kissing you again; in ghost form or in Tom Riddle form".

..oo00oo..

"Talia, there you are!" Hermione called.

Talia hid a grimace as she descended the stairs from the Gryffindor girls' dormitory, crossed the Gryffindor common room, and finally reached her friends. She'd been avoiding them all day. Quite the task, considering they attended most of the same classes together.

"Hey guys."

"Where've you been all day? We only saw glimpses of you during classes," Harry said. At least he sounded concerned.

"You didn't even show up for lunch!" Ron added in disbelief.

"I wasn't hungry, and besides, I had to drop off a book at the library."

"Oh," Ron unnecessarily said.

An awkward silence descended upon them. Talia knew what they were dying to ask, but she wasn't going to make it any simpler for them. Instead, she tried to work out who would break under the pressure first. Her money was on Hermione. The girl looked as if she was bursting with the effort not to ask what was on her mind.

"So, Tal, did you go see Dumbledore about what we talked about this morning?"

Yup, it was Hermione alright! Talia hid a smile and decided she owed herself five knuts.

"Yes. Wyatt and I went to see him right after breakfast. You must've noticed I wasn't in Charms." As cruel as it sounded, this little torture was the first fun she'd had all day.

Hermione bit her lip, wanting, but not daring, to ask the other question that was on the tip of her tongue. Luckily, Ron asked it for her.

"So? What happened? What did Dumbledore say?"

There it was, out in the open.

"Not much," answered Talia truthfully. "He just told me to let him know if it happened again."

"Oh," said a disappointed Hermione. For some reason, it annoyed Talia tremendously.

"Look, there's no need to worry about it guys. It doesn't look like there's anything we can do anyway."

And without saying goodbye, Talia moved towards the portrait exit of the Gryffindor common room.

"Tal, where are you going?"

She turned round to see Harry frowning after her. He really did look concerned. She sent him a half-smile.

"For a walk."

"You want me to come with?"

Her tired smile widened.

"Don't worry so much, Harry. You'll get wrinkles."

And with that, she was gone.

..oo00oo..

Talia sighed in relief. She made it! She stood just outside Snape's training room savouring the delicious anticipation that gripped her. It had been a long day, and what she needed right now, was some exercise. The peace of mind that came from physical exertion, from following the harsh training routines her father had taught her. Perhaps if she got tired enough, she'd be able to sleep tonight. Putting her ear to the door, Talia grinned. There were noises coming out of the training room. Snape must be in. A bit of heavy duty sparring with the Potions Master would do wonders for the frustration that had hounded her all day.

Talia pushed the door open. But the grin slipped away from her face when she saw who stood panting in the room.

"What are you doing here?"

..oo00oo..

A/N: I'm not really sorry. I hadn't given you a cliffhanger for quite a while now. Don't forget to review!