Dudley hesitated before running. He darted forward, scooping the prone form of Luna Lovegood into his arms and turned to run just as a thick, dark-green shape burst forth. He looked directly ahead as he ran. Dean was in the lead with Ron closely behind. Lockhart had seemed momentarily frozen in place before turning to run too.
"Conjunctivitus spells, now!" Ron shouted.
Dudley didn't look around. He aimed his wand over his shoulder and aimlessly shouted "conjunctivitis!"
Dean had fired one too while looking at the ground. Ron had covered his eyes and fired off his own spell. Lockhart had just kept running.
There was a squeal of pain from behind them. Somehow, at least one of the spells had found its mark.
Tom Riddle was hissing instructions furiously. Dudley, being overweight already was further hampered by carrying Luna. Suddenly, ahead of him, Lockhart slipped and fell to the floor. Dudley tried to dodge past him, his leg catching Lockhart's own and he too fell to the floor. Luna fell to the floor hard.
There was a scraping sound and Dudley could sense the presence of something coming rapidly behind him. He cried out in fear, fumbling for his wand. This was it. He was going to die.
"O … Oblivate!" A voice cried out suddenly, cutting through the darkness like a knife.
It was Lockhart. His wand was in his hand, outstretched, pointing upwards. One hand was pressed tightly over his face. There was a rush of energy and the giant black mass behind them halted.
Further down the tunnel, he could faintly hear Riddle hissing instructions, but the shape—Dudley could just see a thick, scaled green body through his very-narrowed eyes, was almost motionless, swaying to and fro as if confused.
"Come on, Dudley. Run!" Lockhart cried.
Dudley scrambled to his feet. He grabbed Luna and ran after Lockhart. He had no idea what Lockhart had done, but it seemed to have addled the snake's brains. He risked a glance behind him and the snake was slithering around in a confused manner, sniffing the walls and the floor.
They reached the first doorway to find it shattered and Ron and Dean waiting for them.
"What …" Dudley began, looking at the pile of rubble.
"Dean … bludgeoning hex," Ron gasped breathlessly. "Are you …"
"Don't stand there, move!" Lockhart ordered. "That thing could come back at any moment."
"He's right, come on!" Dean led the way down the tunnel. Ron hung back to help Dudley with Luna.
"Stand aside!" Lockhart shouted when they were halfway down the passage.
Dudley and Ron quickly pressed themselves to the side of the tunnel as Lockhart shouted wildly. "Fumos!"
A cloud of thick black smoke erupted out of Lockhart's wand, engulfing them all.
"That should stop him," Lockhart said, confidently. He sounded a bit more like his usual self.
"Yeah … but … we can't see either," Ron coughed.
The smoke got into their eyes and into their mouths and into their nostrils. They ran blindly through Lockhart's cloud of smoke and emerged, coughing and spluttering, in the first chamber.
Waiting for them, much to Dudley's surprise were Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagal and Professor Snape.
Dean was in the middle of telling the three what had happened. Dumbledore looked up when they emerged. He looked calm but imposing. Dudley felt himself start to relax. Nothing would happen to them now that Dumbledore was here.
Snape was standing next to him, wand raised, gazing down the passage where they had come from. McGonagall had darted forward to help Dudley and Ron with Luna.
"Mr. Thomas was telling me there is a basilisk?" Dumbledore said, sharply but calmly.
"I've delayed it, Professor," Lockhart said, stepping forward. "But it's still alive."
Dumbledore's eyebrows raised and he looked at Lockhart for a long second before nodding.
"Minerva, escort them out of the Chamber. Have Gilderoy take Ms. Lovegood to the hospital wing immediately. Then escort Mr. Dursley, Thomas and Weasley to my office. Severus, come with me."
Without another word and with his wand raised, Dumbledore ran down the tunnel with Professor Snape following close behind.
"Come on," McGonagall said, sharply. She waved her hand, conjuring a rope ladder which snaked out of the pipe leading to Myrtle's bathroom.
"Thomas, you first. Dursley, keep hold of Lovegood. Gilderoy, assist him."
From further down the tunnel, back the way they had come, they came a sharp retort like a gunshot.
Wordlessly, the all scrambled to obey McGonagall's instructions.
