Chapter 14:

There was another attack…on Justin, the kid that Harry had saved…although everyone thought he was the one that attacked him, being found right with him, along with Nearly Headless Nick. Some of Harry's friends made jokes about his being the Heir of Slytherin, while most of the students seemed completely terrified of him, which only seemed to put him in a bad mood. I sighed and went along with the days, still confusing about losing a whole month…along with myself being a snake-speaker.

I woke on Christmas morning, feeling drained and tired, even though I went to bed early and slept the entire night. I just didn't feel like myself anymore, it was beyond confusing these days…ever since I fell asleep in that corner. I opened the few presents I got, it was the usual stuff, a book from an old schoolmate, Dumbledore had gotten me a beautiful picture of me in my young years, it also had Lily in it, her smile was bright and it made me miss her dearly. Another photo fell out and I saw James, Remus, Sirius, and Peter smiling at me.

I placed the pictures by the couch, where I spent most of my days lately. I took my dinner in my room, not feeling well enough to go to the grand hall. I just felt so tired all the time, it was like I was zapped of all my energy. I stayed that way for a while, at least it seemed like a long time, although I never noticed that it was such a long time. It turns out that I became a hermit in my room until I heard a message about students returning to the common rooms and the teachers to the staff room.

I made my way there, feeling tired and achy, I guess I was out of practice about everything. I waited for Dumbledore to show up, but he never did, instead McGonagall took the lead and explained what had happened. She came over to me after a moment and explained everything that I had missed, Dumbledore being forced to leave, Hagrid taken to prison, more attacks, now Ginny Weasley was taken by the creature. I was in utter shock as Lockhart appeared and all the teachers turned on him, telling him that he was the one that was going to go get Ginny.

They all filed out one by one, I dragged myself out of my chair, sleep wanting to take over, but my mind was wide awake, thoughts racing and worries flying about. This was a young girl, she was a first-year, barely even begun to live her life, she couldn't be killed by this beast, whatever it was. I paced the halls, searching for a clue, a hint, anything that would help that girl, Ron's little sister, Harry's friend…I owed Harry that…to make up for my father killing his parents, who were my friends.

I heard movement down a side hall and glanced around to see Lockhart walking with Harry and Ron. I went to say something, but I froze up for no reason, unable to speak or even move. I thought for a moment that the monster had petrified me, but I wouldn't be able to think or anything…would I? I shook my head, released from my state and saw they were gone, disappeared somewhere. I ran down the hall, trying to figure out where they could have possibly gone. I heard a noise after an hour of searching and saw a phoenix flying around, then landed right in front of a out of order bathroom.

I rushed over and then opened the door as the bird continued to peck at it. It flew in, directly down a tunnel that couldn't have been there always, someone would have noticed, but I followed the bird, curious to know what it was doing and why it was carrying the sorting hat. It led me through these tunnels, rocks, around a cave in, which had me worried, was someone stuck there? I thought about it later, when we were coming out, I would check. I ran after the bird, feeling my body become lighter, it was as if I was getting stronger, getting my power back after all the time not using it.

We stopped at this door, it was covered in snakes and I stared for a moment, then decided I would try to say something in snake-language, maybe it was a key or something. "Open!" I said, but it sounded like my normal speech, and the snakes didn't move. I took a breath and stared at one snake, seeing it moving, searching for a meal, it's next prey, it was powerful, just like me. "Open!" I repeated, but my voice changed into this hissing tone that made me realize that I was actually able to speak to snakes…just like Harry.

The door opened and the phoenix flew on in, making me snap out of my thoughts and rush after it. It disappeared, leaving me behind and I looked around, trying to catch a glimpse of the bright colors of it, yet nothing. I sighed and searched around, trying to find anything that could help me. Then I heard it, the voices, the hissing…it was filling the air and making me get chills. "Fawkes. You were fantastic, Fawkes…" I heard Harry's weak voice come to me, I was close to him, but couldn't see him. I followed the path I was on, trying to run and listen at the same time.

"So ends the famous Harry Potter. Alone in the Chamber of Secrets, forsaken by his friends, defeated at last…" the voice trailed off, but it sounded familiar, maybe it was another student or someone. I broke out of the tunnel I was running in, just in time to see a figure standing over another, seeing a wand and Fawkes was flying down to the person on the ground, who I realized was Harry. The bird dropped something as I ran out, running as fast as I could. The person noticed me and his eyes met mine and I nearly fell over, completely and utterly shocked at what I was staring at.

"You…" I breathed and he mimicked my words, speaking at the same time, completely focused on each other. Harry took that moment to grab a sharp object and stab a book in his lap. Everything happened very fast, there was screaming, ink was flowing out of the book almost like blood, then there was a flash of light and the person was gone. My body unfroze and I rushed over to Harry, who was rushing over to Ginny, who apparently was just waking up. I walked over to them as he explained to her what was going on. They noticed me after a moment and I just stared at Harry, he was truly Lily and James's son, he was so like them.

"Professor Ice?" "Phoebe." I corrected him automatically, feeling it was time to tell him the truth, after what just happened, he deserved it. I helped them both up and gave the girl a look, "We are getting out of here." was all I said, feeling I needed to be alone with Harry to tell him, I still needed to figure out what I just saw. We made our way back, taking Harry's lead and he led us back to Ron, who was stuck in the cave in. we found our way out and I saw Lockhart sitting on the ground, asking if we lived here.

Ron explained that a memory charm backfired and he has no idea who he was. We had no way of getting up the long tunnel we came down, until Fawkes swooped down over and over, acting like he wanted us to grab him. I remembered reading about Phoenixes and took his legs, making Ginny hold onto my shoulders and the others holding onto her and each other. The entrance was closing as soon as our feet were back on the ground, a ghost girl was talking to Harry.

We followed Harry to Dumbledore's office and Ginny's family swamped them, hugging and crying and talking all at once. I met Dumbledore's eyes and he must have seen fear or shock or something in them because he nodded and began to explain about the Dark Lord enchanting the diary when he was a teenager at school here and Ginny finding it, becoming under his spell. I sighed and slipped off to the side, unable to get the guilt out of my head, somehow I figured this was my fault. After more talking, Dumbledore told the Weasley's to take Ginny to the nurse, then professor to get a feast ready.

Ron was leaving, taking Lockhart to the nurse as well when Harry and I were the only ones left. They spoke, but I could feel Dumbledore's eyes on me every once in a while. He told Harry that Voldemort put a little of himself inside Harry when he attacked him as a baby. I was just as shocked as Harry, but Dumbledore continued on, saying that they were similar, but also very different, but his eyes were boring into mine, as if he was really speaking to me. I shook my head slowly, trying to get him to learn that I was just like my father, pure evil.

He was just about to let Harry leave, but Malfoy's dad came in with a house elf trialing behind him, looking fearful and worried. He spoke for a while, about the things that had happened and who was to blame, Harry was quick to stand up to him, saying that he had given the diary to Ginny when they met in a bookstore. He denied everything, saying that it was crazy, then quickly left, giving me a quick glance before leaving with his elf. Harry asked for the diary, saying he wanted to return it to Malfoy and Dumbledore gave it to him, letting him leave.

I walked over and sank into a chair, staring at Dumbledore. "I saw him…" I admitted and he nodded, saying he could tell by looking at me. "Sir…he looked a lot like me, is that how you knew I was his daughter, I was frozen with fear at seeing him, I wasn't scared of him, I was scared for him. It doesn't make sense, I could've stopped him, he was attacking Harry, but I did nothing. I'm just as bad as he is! I saw myself in his eyes, he was me! Harry will be able to know now, my father killed his parents!" "They were your friends too, remember? You are not him, do not worry, it changes nothing." "But-"

"Phoebe, you were an amazing student, you are a wonderful teacher, you are nothing like that man you saw, please believe me." I left myself nodding and sighing, feeling completely tired and feeling not like myself again, my surge of power was gone now. We spoke for a little longer, then he insisted that I come to the feast, saying I was looking pale and needed a good meal. I followed him, feeling like I just wanted to please him again, make him believe in my goodness some more. The feast was a blast, everyone was in pjs, and it lasted all night, seeming to never end, Hagrid came back, Lockhart wasn't coming back, Exams were cancelled and the house cup went to Harry's house.

I couldn't get Harry alone for the longest time, leaving me with my thoughts on what I could possibly tell him to make him not hate me. Finally on the last day of school, I saw him and his group heading for the train, I caught up with them and made them stop. "Harry, I need to speak with you please." I said and everyone seemed shocked, after all I wasn't known for my niceness. He nodded and motioned for the others to go on ahead. He turned and waited for me to say something, but my mind was blank.

"Are you alright?" I shook my head and nodded. "Yes, just thinking." "So you know we can both talk to snakes, that's why we heard the voice." I nodded and conjured a bench, letting him sit and I sat beside him. "That's not what I need to say." "Then what?" "Do you know the guy we saw in the Chamber?" "Tom Riddle…otherwise known as Voldemort." I nodded and he waited for me to speak. "What I am going to tell you is something I have never spoken to another person, except Dumbledore. I must ask that you give your oath that you will never speak of this to anyone, I mean, not a soul."

He nodded, his eyes showing his interest and curious, the same spark I saw in James's eyes so many times. I took a deep breath, ready to tell him what was going to ruin his life and make him hate me forever. "Do you see a familiarly about that guy and me?" he cocked his head to the side, staring at me, then shrugged. "I'm not sure…why?" "Remember, you have given your oath to never speak about this. I also want you to remember that our past is all messed up, everyone's and family isn't always the greatest." he nodded, smiling, saying that his family hated him and were awful.

"Okay, well I was coming to help you when I saw that guy…it was as if I was staring into a mirror." "I don't understand." "Harry, I went to school with your parents, they were my friends and I cared for them deeply, when I heard they were killed by Voldemort, my heart broken again and again, it has never healed." "You say his name without worry or fear, why?" "Because…Voldemort is my father…" his eyes went wide and he jumped off the bench, putting distance between us. I stood up, holding up my hands. "Harry, please, I'm not like him, I never want to be like him." "You said you were my parents friends, why didn't you warn them…stop him! Did something!" I went to explain and he continued to back away. "Just stay away from me! You're no friend of theirs!" then he turned and took off running, leaving me staring after him, feeling completely useless.