Brooklyn was able to join his friends on Valentine's Day after a month since he got rid of that diary, feeling relieved that there had been no attacks or blackouts since then.
But with hearing the story of Hagrid being the one getting accused and expelled, he hoped that he could clear Hagrid's name before any more attacks happened.
But when they stepped into the Great Hall, he thought he'd walked through the wrong doors. For everything was covered in lucid pink, and heart confetti fell from the ceiling.
What the heck? Brooklyn thought in disgust, sitting down next to his friends where Ron had the same look on his face and Hermione was overcome with giggles, pointing to the high table.
Brooklyn's mouth fell open as he saw Lockhart, dressed in pink robes, while Snape looked like he had swallowed a large dose of Skele-grow, and Flitwick looking ready to cry.
Lockhart then made a 'grand announcement' about the holiday and introduced strange card carrying Cupids that looked like dwarfs.
They roamed the school, delivering valentines. Brooklyn was cornered by one once and managed to escape before he could say the valentine. Though he wondered who had gone through all that trouble.
He caught up with Harry going to his next class, until a surly, deep voice spoke.
"Oy! You! 'Arry Potter!"
Ugh, not again! Brooklyn thought, growling as he saw another one of those pesky dwarves. He watched as the dwarf went to corner Harry, but Brooklyn grabbed him.
"I wouldn't do it here!" He growled, holding the creature aloft, who struggled and looked at him in annoyance.
"I got to deliver a message to 'Arry Potter." And with that, he managed to jerk out of Brooklyn's hands with surprising strength, and grabbed Harry's bag, resulting into a tug of war.
Riiiipp!
Brooklyn winced as the bag ripped open, all of Harry's stuff spilling out, ink bottles smashing over everything.
Harry and Brooklyn scrambled, trying to pick up everything.
"What's going on here?" came the drawling voice of Draco Malfoy. Brooklyn groaned. Just great! And even Percy showed up.
The dwarf had finally caught Harry, the whole crowd watching.
"Right here's your singing valentine!"
His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad!
His hair is as dark as a blackboard!
I wish he was mine, he's really divine!
The hero who conquered the Dark Lord!
Brooklyn did his best not to laugh as he helped Harry to his feet. But then things got worse.
Draco Malfoy had picked up a small book, the same black book that was flushed down a toilet. Brooklyn felt his own face pale, and his eyes rounded. It-the Diary! But-but how?
"Wonder what Potter's written in this?" drawled Malfoy, while Brooklyn felt himself taking some steps backward. How had Harry found the diary?
Oh, this is bad, bad, bad, bad! I thought it was gone! He thought in panic, legs trembling. Harry noticed.
"Hey, you alright?"
Brooklyn gulped. "I'm sorry, I-I gotta go," he said shakily, quickly getting out of there, almost certain that Malfoy was smirking after him.
Harry stared in worry, but turned back to Malfoy, glaring as he demanded it back.
Brooklyn took a shuddering breath as he leaned against a wall in an empty corridor. His brother had the diary, and this was trouble! That meant everything could be blown, his conversations with Tom Riddle, and he could lose Harry's trust again!
He shut his eyes, trying to calm himself. There had to be another way to destroy that book from hell. Even if it meant stealing it. Yeah, he had to, for Harry's protection. He was the guardian of Hogwarts, wasn't he?
...
The next day, Brooklyn waited for his friends to be gone after he told Harry he was going to lie in for a bit.
After they left, Brooklyn quickly ran into the dormitory, rifling through Harry's belongings, including tearing off the bedsheets, throwing the pillows, etc. Hedwig had been watching from her perch, her eyes wide, wondering what was wrong with her human owner's gargoyle friend.
Grrr, where is it? I gotta find it! Brooklyn shouted silently, feeling himself going slightly overboard as he pulled open drawers out all the way, throwing out its contents and even ripping books open.
As he was about to give up, he spotted the horrid thing lying on the bottom of the trunk. Sighing in relief, he grabbed it and ran. He didn't stop until he found a secluded closet, shutting himself in.
Panting from running, he growled again at the book. You're in so much trouble, Tom Riddle.
It was hard for Brooklyn to sleep, tossing and turning, feeling Tom's sickening voice murmuring in his ears, and scared that Tom had revealed everything he told him to Harry. Brooklyn groaned frustratedly, holding a pillow over his face. All he wanted was to sleep normally again! Why, oh why did he write in the diary?
The next morning dawned another Quidditch match, Hufflepuff Vs. Gryffindor, but Brooklyn didn't have time for Quidditch. He did want to watch the game, but he had to check if Tom had revealed any of the stuff he had said.
He sat on his cot, pulling it out. It was incredible that after it had gotten a dunk in the toilet, it was still dry.
Shaking, Brooklyn took out his quill.
Hi, Tom.
Well, well, so nice to see you again, Brooklyn, after betraying me.
Brooklyn growled, hating this bastard for framing Hagrid, and everything else.
I never betrayed you, you betrayed everybody! And I know of how you brought Hagrid in, saying that you were the savior. But he's never been the heir of Slytherin!
Tom's answer came back, snide and cold.
This is rather amusing, seeing you write in me again after you were ready to throw the diary out of your life. How pathetic.
Stop toying with me, Riddle. Now spill it. Did you blab to my brother about what I have been doing? I will tear you to shreds if you did!
Oh, no. I pretended I never knew what you were, so he wouldn't be suspicious. But it was quite a pleasure talking to Potter. He was most enlightening. I had longed to meet him.
Brooklyn sighed a little in relief that Tom hadn't ratted him out to his brother, though he wondered why Tom really wanted to meet him, almost forgetting about his mission for Hermione. Then more words from Tom appeared.
I hadn't expected Potter to be the next person to open my diary and write to me, though. What if it had been your Mudblood, Granger, or your Weasley friend who picked me up? What would they say about you doing all this?
This scared Brooklyn, trembling at the idea, as quick images of Harry turning his back on him coldly, Ron and Hermione both saying harsh words, then Dumbledore with a sad, disapproving gaze banishing him from Hogwarts grounds forever. Shaking himself, he replied back.
No, they wouldn't chuck me out! I'm sure they would understand what I've been through, because of you! I never wanted to hurt these children or that cat here! You forced me to!
There's no need for you to end up like them, Brooklyn. With you by my side, I can make you strong, think of what the two of us can do together!
Brooklyn gripped his quill tight, that seriously sounded like both a combination of Demona and Voldemort, making him hate Tom all the more as he wrote back.
Uh, let me think, no! No way would I root for anybody like you, Tom Riddle, especially after you've been the one mind controlling me and making me hurt people! This isn't being strong, it's being evil, demented, and a bloody psycho! I shall always stand with my family! Also P.S. my old rival Demona once tried manipulating me like this before, and I will always regret listening to her!
Such a pity, but I admire your noble words. It is curious, however, how did you take back my diary from Potter?
Remembering his mission, Brooklyn wrote back. I stole it from Harry's things, to protect him from you. What did you tell him?
Nothing much, only showed young Potter what had happened those 50 years ago.
Growling, Brooklyn's writing became harsher.
You lied to him about Hagrid being the guilty one, just like when you lied about being my friend! You're a sick bastard!
Such strong language for a noble creature like yourself, Brooklyn. But I did miss you. None of your secrets shall be shown to anybody else other than between you and me.
Brooklyn nodded, his heart feeling relieved that Tom kept his word and never told anybody about their conversations.
I-I guess I should say thank you for not giving me away, even if I still don't trust you.
But then, that feeling came along again, making Brooklyn feel tired pretty fast. He grunted a little, trying to stay awake.
I need you for a couple more tasks, Friend. You may as well call it payment for keeping your secrets, because I still require the use of your body to do it for me.
Fear came into Brooklyn, figuring out what Tom was now trying to do to him. He kept writing the best he could.
Don't do this to me... let me go! Will not... help... with anything!
His writing became slower as Brooklyn struggled to keep himself awake and in control, a yawn forcing itself out of his mouth. But he mustn't sleep, he mustn't, for everybody's sake!
You will, Brooklyn, I think you will help me. But there is one of your friends I would like to meet, and this is a golden opportunity to do so. Miss Granger, maybe? You have mentioned her quite a bit, I remember. She sounds quite nice. I just want to make sure she is okay after the Polyjuice incident...
Brooklyn narrowed his tired eyes, just hearing Tom mention Hermione made him furious.
No you don't! I won't bring my friend into this mess! Leave... her alone... my brother and Ron, will... find out about you... and... and end you for good...
He wrote back, his eyelids drooping even further, the temptation to sleep getting even closer to taking him, scared for Hermione's safety, and wishing even more for his clan to be here. Tom couldn't win if Brooklyn's own life depended on it!
Yes, I know they will, Brooklyn.
What... are you... talking about?
Brooklyn wrote groggily, feeling so warm and sleepy... he couldn't fight against it much longer...
That knowledge is one that only I can know of, Brooklyn, not you. I promise I only want to meet your friend; she won't get harmed. Do what I request of you and Miss Granger will be safe...
That warm feeling finally succumbed over Brooklyn's thoughts, one more yawn coming out, his mind slowly drifting away...
...
It was too late. Brooklyn felt his body getting up from the cot in that misty haze again. He was unable to stop his feet from moving forward across the room, climbing through the portrait hole.
Tom Riddle had once more gained the use of his body, and Brooklyn wondered fearfully what Tom wanted to use him for this time. Thankfully, there weren't many people around because of the Quidditch match, so Hermione was hopefully safe, safe from getting caught in the way of the possessed version of himself.
He walked out of the dormitory with the diary in his hands, through the hallways, and into the same bathroom from the previous two times.
Brooklyn saw his reflection in the mirror, face pale and grey, the eyes not their normal color anymore, rather a terrible blood red, followed with a cruel smirk on his beak like when Coldsteel had been inside his body that one time.
His mouth opened and Tom's voice came out of it, using that evil snake language.
"Open! Come out for me, Oh, mighty serpent of Slytherin!"
The sinks shifted and opened, revealing that terrible black hole, the serpent rising from the depths. It came too close for Brooklyn's comfort, shuddering when he felt those smooth cold scales brush against his skin, slithering out of the bathroom.
I'm not evil, Tom! Stop using me! I can't do this anymore! Brooklyn shouted inwardly, his stiff controlled body shaking.
Tom wouldn't listen, and Brooklyn figured the demon was going to keep playing with his toy, until he no longer needed Brooklyn at all.
His controller began to laugh while he continued to walk and follow the serpent on its journey, still unable to see anything much through the misty haze Tom planted in his vision.
In the laughter, Brooklyn heard screams, and two bodies thudding to the floor, making him gasp silently, wondering what happened, until Tom's invisible hands were placed around his shoulders, and he fell to his knees, seeing Tom's menacing face before him. Brooklyn couldn't escape from his terrible grip and stare, no matter how hard he tried. He felt entranced and trapped by Tom Riddle.
Wake up... See what you have done for me...
...
Brooklyn returned to consciousness and self-awareness, lying on the floor by the library. He grunted slightly, pushing himself to a sitting position, his head ringing, struggling to remember anything, but he was still memoryless, scared that it happened again after a whole peaceful month.
The gargoyle was glad that he was back in control of his body though, thank goodness, since Tom left him, for now.
His relief was short-lived when Brooklyn spotted two unmoving bodies before him, and the ice formed in his stomach again, as he recognized them.
The first was that Ravenclaw girl he accidentally asked where the Slytherin Common room was, her dark hair covering some of her face. But next to her...
It was Hermione, her face was frozen with a terrified expression, lying on her back, and holding a mirror in her hand.
Brooklyn's guilt ridden heart threatened to shatter to pieces, his legs giving away as he sat down near Hermione, using a shaky hand to hold her cold frozen one, his head lowering in shame, cursing, and screaming quietly at Riddle for forcing him to hurt his best friends and manipulating his brain after promising not to hurt any of them! Why was he so stupid to blindly trust Tom again?
Please forgive me, Hermione! It was all Tom! I couldn't stop him! Tom made me hurt you! I'm-I'm sorry!
