Chapter 9

Hogwarts strained from the aftermath of Colin's attack, a cat being attacked was one thing but a student was another thing entirely. Harry saw at meal times that Dumbledore was stressed, his eyes roamed across the students, and as the day passed it only got worse.

Fewer and fewer students lingered in the halls, and when they did it was usually only in large groups. Harry couldn't blame them, but what were they supposed to do if whoever was doing this attacked them.

So when a notice went up in Slytherin common room about a dueling club starting up Harry excitedly gathered his friends, it certainly wouldn't hurt to learn anything new. Perhaps Flitwick was the teacher in charge, if so Harry expected the club would be a massive success.

As he and the other Slytherin's entered the great hall, Harry, Daphne and Tracey slipped off to join their other friends. The exchanged usual greetings, and settled in to wait for the professor. When Gilderoy Lockhart blustered in looking like an over sized peacock Harry groaned, Susan flashed a grin at him and Tracey muttered something about envy.

If he wanted to prance around like a fool he would do it without being an utter disgrace, lucky for Hogwarts he didn't prance around. The fool was exactly that, a fool, and an awful teacher. If Harry learned anything from this he would eat a shoe.

Harry heard a murmur rise up in the crowd, he stopped scowling at Lockhart and his eyes fell on Severus Snape. His head of house prowled slowly behind Lockhart with a dangerous look on his face, Harry felt a smile bloom on his face, at least there would be some amusement.

Harry sent a grin at Susan who had grasped Hannah's hand in concern. Before long the two professors were starting a mock duel, and it ended as soon as Snape's wand moved. The simple disarming charm smashed into Lockhart, and he was sent flying.

Some mumbled discontent rose up but died down when Lockhart rose and bowed, he recovered his wand and set about grouping up students to practice disarming. Harry was surprised the man didn't even look embarrassed, perhaps it was planned… no he wouldn't give the fool that much credit.

Most of the students below fourth year eagerly set about learning the new spell, but the more studious or older students began mock dueling on their own. Harry found himself facing Hannah, he took the customary three strides away then turned. She was ready as she cast a leg locking jinx at him, he side stepped it and cast back a befuddling hex.

She gave him a snort of derision, dodged it and launched a more serious assault. Her wand work was fast and precise, not a single mistake and he had to work to avoid being caught off guard, but the spells she used were really tame. He had a lot more knowledge of harmful spells than he would like, so he dodged some and blocked others.

He cast an 'expelliarmus' at her and she jumped out of the way, her own was flying at him as soon as she landed. His shield charm blocked the spell but broke, so her next two spells hit him, an itching jinx and a tongue tying curse. He hopped around on the spot itching at his chest, while trying to speak around his now bothersome tongue.

Not only had he lost, he must look like a complete fool. Hannah laughed at his plight as she approached, Harry wished he could stop trying to speak, he was blathering out some incoherent nonsense. He saw some of his friends watching with grins, he wanted to hide.

"You're cute when you're embarrassed." Hannah said heavily in a whisper. She cast the counter curse to the itching, Harry was frustrated, he wanted to yell. Her smirk made him swallow heavily, he had seen that smirk before. He saw more than just his friends watching now.

Hannah's blonde curly hair fluttered as she planted a… friendly kiss… on his lips, in front of everyone. Harry barely moved, he could feel those eyes on him, judging him and judging her. He barely noticed she had stopped the tongue tying curse. He shook his head to try and clear his mind, he flapped his tongue around a bit to make sure it was okay.

Susan ran up and congratulated Hannah and the two laughed together, Tracey gave him a grin and a wink. Harry tried to see what Daphne made of it but she was facing away from him, still busy dueling Neville. Harry felt relieved for some reason. He met Jasmine's eye and she gave him a thumbs up, Harry's face burned for a long time that night.

A few small commotions later, Malfoy and Ron Weasley had gotten into a slightly more serious duel, after both were given detentions and docked points. The Weasley twins, not to be out done, had an elaborate 'duel' themselves, mainly mis aiming spells and 'accidentally' hitting the watchers. After the Hall had calmed down and been settled down they made their way back to their common rooms.

The day after that another student had been attacked, Justin Finch-Fletchly, he had been a regular member of Harry's study group, despite being a more reserved boy he was kind and patient with his friends. Harry felt some small amount of rage building at Dumbledore and the other teachers, they were supposed to keep them safe.

Rumors were circulating in the Slytherin common room that Dumbldore was going to be sacked, but Harry knew that would be a mistake. Despite seeming to have done nothing so far, he doubted anyone else could do more.

Not many of his housemates shared the sentiment though, Harry just hoped the people in charge of making that decision were not as useless as their children. Somehow he doubted they were.

Harry was pleasantly surprised when Hannah and Susan both had begun to show more affection in public, he enjoyed it a lot, even if it made him feel awkward. It was just kissing after all. The only person who seemed affected by it was Daphne, Harry knew she thought it should be a private thing, she was raised to respect 'the old ways.'

He wasn't sure if they were being more forward because they wanted him to make a move, or if it was just because fewer and fewer people were around. Either way Harry wasn't about to complain after all Hannah had started to grow bolder and bolder with each passing day, and Susan was getting competitive.

He had caught Hermione and Tracey watching some of their kisses with a flush on their faces, and with a lot of interest. Despite the mood of the school Harry was personally feeling pretty good about things.

It was a week before the end of term when Harry's magical mirror seemingly awoke and got his attention, he was lucky to even be awake, it was really early. He went over to it and it resolved into Jasmine's face. She looked panicked.

"I just got done talking to mum." She said hastily, Harry instantly felt shame flood him, he had forgotten to talk to her since early November. "She said dad's just been taken in at St Mungo's. You need to get dressed, we are heading over there now. Can you get to McGonagall's classroom in ten minutes?"

Harry told her he could, he rushed around his room trying to find some clean casual clothes. He pulled on some muggle clothes and darted out of his room, he got to the transfiguration classroom in no time. Professor McGonagall was sipping her tea while his mum sat next to her, when the door closed behind him she looked up and rushed to hug him.

"What's going on?" He asked.

"I'm not sure, they said he said he was attacked, when I got there they were working on him." She looked like she had gotten little sleep. "There was no one there to answer any questions."

"How long ago was that."

"A few hours ago."

Harry felt his stomach drop, St Mungo's was the best, if anything took a few hours it was very serious. He didn't trust talking so he sat down next to McGonagall, and barely noticed her hand on his shoulder.

A few minutes later his sisters entered, they grabbed mum up in a big hug, and before long there were flooing to St Mungo's. The place was almost empty, so they got through reception in no time, they were taken to the first floor. The sign said it was the Dai Llewellyn Ward for Serious Bites. A chill ran through him, they rushed to a nearly empty ward, his mum found a witch who looked bored. She told them that dad was waiting in room 4, his mum was there in a second.

She stopped as soon as she turned the corner, Harry could see over her shoulder at what made her stop, and his breath caught. His dad lay in a bed with half of his body wrapped in bandages, and the other half covered in burns.

A group of mediwizards bustled around him, casting spells Harry didn't recognize, then he saw his dad move and say something. Then his mother broke out of her trance, the four of them entered the room fully.

His dad actually tried to laugh off his injuries, but clearly even doing that caused him pain. Healer Smethwick told them he had been bitten by a particularly angry dragon, Harry felt his jaw slacken, his dad looked sadly at his mum. The healer continued to say with time he should make a full recovery.

Harry let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding in, Jasmine looked just as relieved, Rosie sobbed lightly but smiled when he pulled her into a hug. His mum sat down next to his dad and looked for somewhere to touch him, but there was no place unburned.

"Yeah, kinda in a bad state." His dad said with a wink to his kids. "Sorry Lily." He gave her a sad smile, Harry felt like he was intruding.

"What the fuck were you doing in a dragon's mouth James?" His mum hissed, sounding a little like a dragon herself. His dad caught that same vibe, as he recoiled from her just a little.

"It's top secret, kids… hint hint." He said with a wink.

"What no! We deserve to know something dad." Jasmine said fiercely.

Harry and Roise protested too, but Jasmine was first and so took the brunt of their fathers miserable look.

"They deserve to know some of it James, better they hear it from you than some rumor." Mum said, James gave her a pleading look, but her glare quelled his protest.

"Fine, I've been teamed up with the department of magical games and sports, since school started, working with a group who are preserving dragons in Romania. Well last night something went wrong and I got in the way of the bugger."

"It's all very hush hush though, so don't spread it around. You weren't supposed to know anything about it, Bones will kill me if it gets out." He laughed and then winced heavily. Healer Smethwick rushed in and assisted him.

Harry and his family watched as the healer unwrapped the bandages on his right side and checked the wounds. There was more than one gasp from the Potters.

It didn't take long for the shock to wear off and they felt more horrified, it was one thing to hear your dad was a dragon's chew toy not too long ago, and another thing completely to see the mediwizards changing bandages and seeing large bite marks all over him. When he got out of hospital Harry knew his dad would be unbearable.

Healer Smethwick claimed bites damage was mostly healed, but he wanted to observe him for a while longer. His dad had already been in the hospital for over a week now, nothing had really changed except he said the pain was better.

He couldn't shake the image out of his head of his dad's wounds. If he had been a few inches taller or shorter he would be very very dead, Harry had never considered his dad might die, not anytime soon at least.

It certainly didn't make returning to Hogwarts any easier, and it completely drove all talk of the Chamber of Secrets out of his or his families mind. His mum hadn't mentioned it once, Harry knew they would have that talk when his dad was released from the hospital.

Harry, Rosie and Jasmine had been back to Hogwarts for the nights, since their mum stayed at the hospital. The kids would have to stay at Hogwarts over the Christmas break, which most of the school was not, due to the outbreak of petrification.

There was a tiny portion of the school population left at school, the only person he knew was Draco Malfoy, most of the others were older students. Harry was happy at least to be able to practice magic, it was usually the worst part of being away from the school. other than missing his friends.

He had sent letters to them, with some gifts, explaining why he had vanished at the end of the term. They had understood and expressed their thanks for their gifts. Harry enjoyed his Christmas even if his dad was wrapped up like a mummy, he thought he had seen Neville in St Mungo's at one point but hadn't been sure.

He had been spending a lot of time with Rosie over the break, Jasmine had spent a lot of time in the library, so he had been working on magic with his baby sister.

"You've got it, the movement and incantation is fine, all I can think is your determination. You need to know you can cast the spell." Harry said one day, they were in an old classroom near the Gryffindor common room. Rosie had failed to cast a disarming charm a few times.

"But I can't cast it though." She pouted a little, she always did when things didn't go her way, he knew his dad couldn't resist that look for long.

"And I can't turn that table into a pig yet, but my magic doesn't know that." He waved his wand and spoke the incantation clearly, envisioning a pig clearly in his mind. Suddenly the table legs turned into pig legs and the table very clearly 'oinked.' He laughed at the absurd image.

Rosie giggled too, she even walked over to pet the table. "The legs still feel like wood." She said, which made Harry scowl, he didn't think it should have gone that bad.

"Conviction and confidence, those will take you further than memorizing wand movements." He demonstrated again with a disarming charm without moving his wand, the chair he had aimed out flew across the room.

"What if I'm not confident though?" She said, sounding very young. Harry blinked, Rosie had always been so full of energy and curiosity, this self doubt was a new thing.

"You will figure it out, today or next year, there's no rush. What I did was get into a few fights. Quick way to learn, if a bit messy." He said. She grinned at him, Harry almost felt sorry for her year mates.

Eventually she had started to get the hang of it, but it was just before the term started up, so Harry would make sure to check up on her progress. When the students came back to school, there were a few notable exceptions. At least twenty students did not return, Harry saw Dumbledore look over the empty seats with a mournful expression.

A few weeks went by without any incident, but it was ruined when two people were attacked on the same day. The Gryffindor ghost and a Ravenclaw prefect. Harry could tell that the mood of the school had shifted very quickly once more.

Within a day of the attacks, teachers walked the students to and from classes, if they weren't in class they were required to be in their common rooms or the great hall. Dumbledore was taking things very seriously.

Harry had seen the elderly wizard investing the places the students had been attacked in between classes. He felt much better knowing Dumbledore was doing what he could, he didn't doubt he had been active before. But seeing was much better.

He had to cancel the study groups, it wasn't worth the risk, and teachers were very strict on students caught wandering around.

A month after the last attack Malfoy had swaggered into the common room with his father in tow, Harry frowned and saw Daphne stiffen and put her book down. His eyes fell on Tracey, she had gotten up and wandered close to the two, she stopped next to Pansy Parkinson and just watched.

Lucius Malfoy had sought out Professor Snape, he loudly explained that Professor Dumbledore had been fired from his position, and that the heads of house were expected to step up into the responsibilities.

Harry's fists clenched hard, the fact that these flouncing blond idiots could actually do that upset him. They were using the commotion to get Dumbledore out of the way, who else could stop the attack.

Then Draco let slip, by accident Harry was sure, that Hagrid had been arrested. Off to Azkaban. Harry pitied the kind hearted giant, Azkaban was no place for someone like Hagrid.

Most of the house took turns congratulating the Malfoy's, Harry watched closely as Yaxley shook Lucius Malfoy's hand, they exchanged words for a little bit longer than necessary. Daphne bumped him, distracting him from the pair.

She shook her head at him. "Too blatant Harry, watch Tracey."

Tracey had taken a fawning posture next to Draco, close enough to both to hear what they said, but she didn't do anything. No one really noticed her, she kept out of the way and mixed in with the others well.

"How long have you two been doing this?" He whispered to Daphne.

"She learned it from her mother, she's a fantastic gossip, and my mother is very good at making use of it. We have learned from the best Harry. It wouldn't hurt for you to learn a little subtlety too." Her grin was charming, but Harry felt there was a dangerous edge to it.

Life at Hogwarts hadn't changed much with Dumbledore gone, although Harry was sure the teachers were even more on edge, they whispered together in passing and patrolled more frequently.

It was after a defense against the dark arts class, Gilderoy Lockhart was boasting about his prowess and skill as usual, that Harry saw Malfoy slip out from the line and duck into a corridor. He knew it was stupid, and foolish, but he followed. He stopped to tie his shoelaces and waved Daphne and Tracey on.

He poked his head around the corner, it was clear, so he walked down it and cast a whispered silencing charm on his feet. He crept down the hall regardless, and found himself in front of the corridor where the message about the Chamber had been written. A flash of red, and it hit him.

Jasmine breathed heavily under her dad's old invisibility cloak, McGonagall had just said Harry had been taken. Into the Chamber.

"I'll tell Lily and James myself, the school has to close, this has gone too far." She said, her voice was thick with anguish. Jasmine had always had an immense respect for McGonagall, but why wasn't she going to do anything. The teachers were all too afraid to do anything without Dumbledore.

Someone had to do something, her little brother wasn't going to be left for a basilisk to feast on. She had an idea where the entrance was, and if she went to a teacher they would stop her, so she had to just go. There was no other choice.

The bathroom was so simple, exactly the same as all the other girl's bathrooms in the school, the only thing different was this bathroom had witnessed a murder long ago. She pitied Myrtle, if things went well today at least Myrtle would have some peace.

It took far too long to find the clue she had been looking for, a small snake in the metal of a tap. It was no wonder how the Chamber had been kept secret for so long. She focused hard on the snake, feeling it with a finger. Trying to convince herself it was real and alive. "Open."

The entire sink system shifted and opened to reveal a large hole, there was little light to go by. Her lumos only gave enough light to see there was some kind of large pipe. She sighed and dropped down the hole.

A stench rocked her, she had to work hard to not vomit at the smell. The place she landed at was damp and cold, there were bones littered around the floor, her steps splashed water up at her. She held her breath as much as she could

Despite that she continued on, picking her way carefully through the mess. Before long she entered a small antichamber, she choked on a gasp as she caught sight of a large pale shape.

She shut her eyes and shuffled against the wall, when she felt wetness on her back she nearly cried out, but it was just dampness on the wall. She tried not to consider what made it so wet down here.

Her eyes fell on the shape once more, it hadn't moved. Jasmine stepped forward, she was careful to keep her eyes down, but she wouldn't hide. Not while her brother needed her.

As she got closer the snake was evidently just skin, it was almost transparent, the skin was still tough however. The size of the basilisk made her mouth go dry, but it was too late to turn back.

She made her way through as quietly as possible, until she came out into a vast hall.

On each side was large stone carvings of vicious looking snakes, each with such detail she could believe they had once been snakes. At the end was a massive statue of a man's head. Below that were two bodies.

She could make out the green in their school robes as she sprinted towards them. The messy hair of her brother was unmistakable, when grabbed him up as soon as she could, he was cold and wet but breathing. He didn't look hurt at all, he could have been sleeping.

The other person was the Malfoy brat, he looked paler than usual, but she didn't waste time worrying about him. She struggled to remember the counter to the stunning spell, she never paid much attention to the defensive side of things.

"Thank you for coming." A peaceful voice said, Jasmine spun while gripping Harry close to her. A tall boy stood leaning against the wall of the Chamber, he was slender and not unattractive, his smile was cold though.

"Who are you?" She asked, she was very sure he wasn't a student, despite his Hogwarts robes. He shifted slightly and she saw his body fade away and return slightly. Was he a ghost? Her wand was ready in her hand.

He chuckled, and walked towards them. His body wavered again, the effect almost made her sick, it was like he wasn't even a real person. "I am Tom Riddle." He paused. His eyes were focused hard on her face for a second, then his smile turned into a smirk.

He pulled a wand out from his robes, and began to play with it. Jasmine felt her mouth go dry, she couldn't be sure this Tom person was even physically there.

"You really ought to be thanking me, you know." His voice was so sweet it had to be mocking.

"Why's that?" She tried to pull Harry away from the boy slightly. His robes were damp and he was already tall enough that she could barely shift him.

"Young Draco wasn't interested in you at all, all he cares about is your brother there. If i hadn't… stepped in, who knows what you would have walked in on."

Jasmine watched Tom, she could tell he was having fun, she had seen enough of it from her dad and the Weasley twins. She had never seen it used this way though, maliciously.

"Draco has learned a great deal, he was worried he couldn't make his father proud if Potter was in his way." He said, imitating Malfoy's petulant tone. "All because he didn't make it into my little club, well as a favour for his aid, I taught him what dear little Harry has been learning."

The smirk was taunting her, his face was handsome, but there was something vile lurking not far below the surface.

"What do you mean?" She spat. If she could keep this boy talking she could figure out a way to get Harry out of here, maybe Draco too.

"When I was in school here, I set up a little group. To uphold the noble tradition of Slytherin." He said mockingly. Jasmine glanced around Salazar Slytherin's hidden Chamber and felt some creeping dread. "Harry was chosen, poor Draco, which is quite the honor, I made very sure no one who wasn't full of potential was chosen."

"These special students learned some powerful spells from me. And in doing so became powerful in their own right. It is nice to know my legacy has survived."

"You're lying. You have no legacy." Jasmine said viciously.

"I would tell you to ask Harry about it, but even if he were awake he couldn't answer you." Tom smiled as though he were talking to someone a little bit simple.

"My brother would never learn anything like that, and not from someone like you."

"He has, trust me. I know what I'm talking about when it comes to the dark arts. Certain things leave a mark." A shiver ran down her spine.

"Who even are you?" She spat angrily.

"In my time at school, those I had specifically chosen would go on to become my Death Eaters."

Jasmine froze. Her wand seemed to ache to be used. Harry felt like a dead weight in her arms.

Tom Riddle smiled down at her.

"Tell me." His voice was commanding and full of anger. "How could you, a mere infant, best Lord Voldemort."

Panic. It welled up inside her. Dumbledore had always said Voldemort wasn't truly dead, she had been expecting it eventually. Not while she was in school though. Some strange shade of Voldemort stood in front of her, the school boy's threatening demeanor changed in her mind now.

"Clearly it was nothing more than dumb luck."

Jasmine's mind clicked into place, she remembered the counter spell. She whispered the cast, as Tom turned away. Harry slowly stirred. He tried to thrash out of her grip but their eyes met, and he calmed slightly.

Jasmine quickly got him on his feet, and began to pull him away, Harry fought off her grip however. He was staring right at Riddle, she felt her insides churn, then she heard what the boy was saying. He was calling out in parseltongue, by the sound of it he was summoning the basilisk.

The giant stone head of Salazar Slytherin opened, and a rushing sound broke their stillness.

Harry turned and tried to look everywhere at once, he could only assume he was in the Chamber of Secrets. Jasmine was trying to hex the boy speaking parseltongue, but as his stream of hisses continued Harry figured it hadn't done much. Jasmine spun, and darted off towards a tunnel beside a large stone snake, she waved for him to follow.

A loud thump helped his feet find some urgency.

Jasmine hissed as he ran past her. "How can we face a basilisk?" Harry stopped dead, he had thought they were in danger…. This was worse than just danger. "Got any plans?" she asked.

"Erm no."

Basilisk's were legendary, what with their killing gaze, unstoppable poison, nearly immortal lifespan. Harry somehow assumed his glasses were not up to the task of keeping him alive.

"First thing is getting its eyes out of the way." Harry said, Jasmine crouched next to him, they were both straining their ears for all their worth. "Can you conjure metal?" Jasmine nodded.

"Try and conjure some and banish it towards the basilisk, I'll blow it up… hopefully. Though we will need to split up a little bit." He said, these tunnels seemed to cover a great distance.

"What about Malfoy?" Jasmine asked.

"I'm not willing to risk either of us for him. We do what we can to survive, right?"

Jasmine reluctantly nodded, Harry cast a silencing charm on his feet and took off, following the curve of the pipes. It seemed like they wrapped around the main chamber many many times.

The basilisk wasn't very fast, but he wouldn't rely on that, they had a reputation for a very good reason. He could hear its hiss approaching where he had left Jasmine, he almost turned back. He had to trust that she wouldn't sit still waiting to die, his sister was far from stupid.

He found the end of the tunnel, it opened up to the main chamber as he had expected. He had to risk a look, see where the basilisk was exactly, and find Jasmine. He kept his eyes low, betting the basilisk wouldn't be at ground level, there was nothing to see. It had to be in one of the tunnels.

Jasmine was nowhere to be seen, although he could hardly see much, Malfoy was lying near the strange boy Harry couldn't make out if he were breathing. He quickly cast around for a glance of Jasmine. He had to move, he didn't want to risk being snuck up on.

A Deafening splash beat at him, the basilisk erupted from a pool of water near the large statue. He heard the great beast sniff the air, he knew no way of masking his scent, but at least he knew where he couldn't look.

A glint of silver flew towards the giant snake, Harry didn't have a chance to think about it, he aimed and fired his exploding charm. A second later a screech filled the chamber, Harry had no idea if his plan had worked but he could tell it hurt the serpent.

Now that he had a second to think, he had no idea how he could check if its eyes were functioning. They needed to do something big, he doubted the scales of an ancient basilisk were vulnerable to much magic. He needed to find Jasmine again.

The serpent flowed towards him, the sound of its weight against the dusty chamber was telling enough. An idea hit him though, he cast a sonorous spell behind him, it must have worked, because the snake's idle hissing was suddenly audible. That should help Jasmine keep away from it too.

Harry ran silently, he knew it didn't matter if he could be heard, it could smell him now. The hissing kept up easily with his run, Harry had to do something quickly before he ran out of time. He found himself running up a steep incline, he doubted the Basilisk would be perturbed by it.

Quite the opposite, it seemed to be getting faster.

The further he ran the darker it got, he almost missed a bend in the path twice, he was starting to get tired. He panted, the path had leveled out into a flat area, there was almost no light however. He ran, after a few steps he ran head first into a wall. his face broke out in agony.

Blood ran down his face. He looked around and the only light he could see was downward.

The hissing grew urgent.

He didn't bother to check, he dove down the gap, and found himself falling into the main chamber. Into the water.

The Basilisk was so close behind him the splash nearly flung him into the stone face. Harry shut his eyes and gasped for breath. Hissing drowned out all noise. The basilisk was very close.

A whooshing sound, then another screech. This time the screech was deafening due to the sonorous charm. Harry clamped his hands over his ears, he had to move however.

His eyes fell on the basilisk, it writhed around not ten feet from him. He ran away, he managed to see a stone snake head flying through the air at the basilisk. He saw Jasmine in the middle of the chamber, completely in the open. He heard another screech and stone shattering.

The basilisk was being smashed by those giant snake heads. Jasmine had the serpent vulnerable, Harry knew this was his only chance. The curse that popped into his head wasn't a pleasant one, it was almost certainly frowned upon.

He had to hurt this beast though, kill if possible, he had to use a powerful spell to manage that. He cast the tearing curse at the tail end of the basilisk, he put everything he could into the spell. It was his first time casting it, he had no idea how potent it was.

Blood fountained up from the tail, Harry saw bone jutting out from the mess of its rear end. The basilisk didn't screech this time, it twitched a few times. Then it stopped.

Harry rushed to his sister, she looked terrified but relieved, Harry could sympathise there. He reached her and found himself laughing in delight, they had survived, they had actually bested a basilisk. His mind was delirious between the fall, the blood loss, and his system pumping full of adrenaline.

The boy who had controlled the basilisk yelled, Harry saw Jasmine approach him.

"You're too late, you would have been better off letting the basilisk kill you." He said nastily. "When I'm done with you, you'll be begging for death."

Harry was expecting him to cast a spell or do something. But the boy just watched them, and shifted his eyes to Malfoy. The boy had a strange spectral look to him, almost as if he were a ghost.

"You've failed again Voldemort." Jasmine said. Harry knew his eyes bulged, he couldn't help it.

"Failed? You have no idea what I have achieved." The boy said with no little rage in his voice.

Jasmine walked to Malfoy, Harry watched as she cast the reviving spell on him. When it failed Voldemort laughed, Harry felt his knees shake.

"It is too late to save him, his life is mine." The sneer took in both Jasmine and Malfoy, Harry watched, this teenage Voldemort was growing more and more solid with every second. Jasmine noticed it too, as she suddenly started rummaging through Malfoy's robes. Until she pulled a plain looking leather bound book out, Harry noticed Vodemort's eyes twitch when she pulled it out.

Jasmine cast spell after spell at the book, but nothing happened.

"Perhaps you might ask your brother for help. After all you saw what his curse did to the basilisk." He offered mockingly.

"Shut up." Jasmine hissed between spells.

"Maybe you could ask him where he learned it." He continued. "Oh yes, that's right, me."

Harry had an idea, there was something here that could destroy anything. Basilisk venom, the most potent venom known to man. And there was a basilisk…

"Very impressive for one so young, he could have a gift for the dark arts."

Harry sent a summoning charm for a basilisk fang. Perhaps it being dead would allow a simple spell to work on it.

"Or maybe it's a gift for killing. Again, I know a lot about both." Voldemort said.

Harry watched as the fang flew through the boy's head, he rushed to catch it, and slammed it into the book. A whining sound like metal being torn burst from the wound. The teenage Voldemort erupted and broke away like glass.

Harry collapsed and tried to forget everything he had just heard. Jasmine flung herself at him, her breathing was ragged and strained. Neither moved for a long time.

A cough from Malfoy made them stir, Harry was hardly happy to see the boy moving, but he didn't deserve to die.

No one talked much as they made their way out of the Chamber. Harry had seen Malfoy gaping at the basilisk corpse, Harry couldn't blame him.

Harry's mind raced, the teenage Voldemort had to have been the heir. Possessing Malfoy and attacking students, and he had said Harry had used one of his spells. Which would mean that he had been…

Jasmine had led them to the Headmasters office, Harry hadn't noticed how far they had traveled, lost in his own thoughts. A gargoyle shifted as they approached, and the door opened of its accord.

The room was full of people. Harry saw a man with his own messy hair, and a woman with flaming red hair. Before he could do anything he was engulfed in a hug. His mum was crying as she patted him, she seemed to be making sure he was there while not letting go.

His dad slowly stood, he was still recovering, but he made his way over and grabbed Jasmine. Rosie's small shape sat next to McGonagall crying in joy, and no doubt in fear a few seconds earlier.

Albus Dumbledore sat at the desk in the center of the room, watching with obvious joy. Harry had just given Rosie a kiss when Dumbledore spoke, the whole room got quiet.

"Harry, Draco… I am delighted to see you safe once more, Jasmine thank you for what you have done." He waved his wand and three chairs appeared. "Please sit, i would very much like to hear what happened today."

"As would I." Harry turned to see Lucius Malfoy sweeping into the room, he rested a hand on Draco's shoulder and gave him a tight smile.

Harry heard his dad mutter a few very suggestive things. He caught him glaring daggers at Lucius Malfoy, his mum put a hand on his leg and gave him a look. Harry would have to ask about that.

"Please, whoever wishes to start." Dumbledore said patiently.

Jasmine took the lead, she mentioned how she had learned about the basilisk, and came to save Harry. When Harry heard that she knew the basilisk was there and she still came to save him he felt a huge rush of respect and gratitude for his sister.

When Jasmine mentioned that the boy had identified himself as Voldemort every adult in the room gasped. Harry saw his parents' shock evident on their face, Dumbledore looked merely hurt.

Harry took over for the fight with the basilisk, making it seem a lot less exciting as he could have. When he mentioned the book, Dumbledore asked to see it immediately. Harry felt Malfoy senior stiffen when Jasmine placed it on the desk, as if he had seen it before.

"I take it, this is where you come into matters Draco?" Dumbledore asked.

Draco nodded. "I wanted to become stronger, I never knew all this would happen."

"Older and wiser wizards have been controlled by Lord Voldemort, Mr Malfoy." For a second Dumbledore's eyes flicked to the elder Malfoy. Harry smiled at the almost joke, he caught Jasmine grin too. "Do not blame yourself, if anything, I should have known better. Forgive me Draco, I wouldn't wish that on anyone."

Malfoy nodded, clearly confused yet relieved.

Much later Harry and his family were alone, tears had been spilled and laughs shared. Harry figured his mum was on the edge of a breakdown, clearly thinking she had lost three members of her family in a few short months.

The news that Voldemort had been behind these events had rocked his family, it had been coming his dad had said, but they clearly were afraid. Jasmine was the least concerned of them all, she had faced the teenage Voldemort down and beaten him after all.

Harry had heard what Voldemort had said about him though, and those words scared him more than the knowledge that he wasn't quite as gone as hoped. He was also very aware of the fact that Jasmine had both heard those same words, and had chosen not to share them.

He had no idea if it was a good thing or not, at least if she said something now he would know it. Better than waiting, after all he wasn't going to offer that information up.

School returned to normal, except for the lack of exams, and the universal relief of students and teachers. Well his friends tried to treat him like a damn pygmy puff for a few days after all that had happened in the Chamber.

But things were good.

AN: This was one of the parts that made me really want to start writing this Fic. I really hope the Riddle bits live up to what I had imagined a year ago. Things will start getting darker from here on out, which is fun. And the pace should slow back down a little, as next school year lots will be happening.

Thank you so much for reading, I hope this one is as exciting for you to read as it was for me to write.