Magical Origins
Year 2: The Heir of Slytherin
Harry and Lily said nothing as they walked in the darkness.
"Harry, should we close our eyes if we see the Basilisk?" Lily asks.
"No," Harry said.
"Why?" Lily asks.
"Because we're parselmouths. As such, we're given some protection from the Basilisk. We can't let the Basilisk bite us, though. Its venom has no cure. We should be able to fight it. But make sure you save your strength." Harry said.
"Do you have a plan? We don't have a rooster." Lily said.
"Burn it," Harry said simply.
"Now you're thinking like a Gryffindor," Lily said proudly.
"Don't encourage me," Harry said.
They stop when they notice something up ahead.
"The Basilisk?" Lily said in a whisper.
"No," Harry said, walking forward. "It's skin, basilisk skin. Old as well..." Harry said as he looks at it.
"Snakes do shed their skin. This must be from fifty years ago," Lily said.
"Perhaps," Harry agreed.
Harry walks forward and continues down the path. Lily right behind him.
They said nothing more as they venture forward. They brought their wands out and ready to attack.
"Another door," Lily said as the came face to face with a door with a serpent mouth. There was no handle.
"Focus, imagine it's a snake you're talking to," Harry said slowly.
"Like the time at the zoo, when we first met," Lily said with a small smile.
"Try it," Harry said.
"Open." Lily hissed.
The snake slides back into the door, and the door slowly opens.
They walk inside a large chamber. Statues of Salazar Slytherin's head all over the place. As was water. Water was everywhere. Puddles of it could be seen all over the floor. Harry bends down, feeling the water. This water was dark and damp. It has never seen the sunlight ever.
"Ginny." Lily breathed. Ginny Weasley was lying on her back with her eyes closed.
"Wait," Harry said as Lily attempted to rush to the first year's aid. Harry looks around.
Lily understood what Harry was implying. The Basilisk could be lurking in wait. The duo took careful steps towards Ginny and slowly reach her. Yet nothing came, no sound could be heard.
"Ginny," Lily said as she lifts Ginny's in her arms. Ginny was as white as marble. She was also cold, very cold. Her eyes remained closed, yet she wasn't petrified.
"Wake up, Ginny," Lily said as she tried to shake her awake.
"She won't wake." A voice said to them.
Stepping out of the shadows was a boy with a handsome face and holding Ginny's wand. He had an old symbol of the Slytherin House on his robes.
"Tom Riddle," Lily said.
"Oh, it's you. I was wondering if I would ever see you again. I also see Mister Harry Potter." Tom Riddle said proudly. He sounded pleased with himself.
"What did you do to her?" Lily said.
"Nothing yet, but soon she will be gone, and I will be complete." Tom Riddle said.
"Why are you doing this, you told me that Hagrid…"
Tom Riddle smirks as he looks at her.
"You're the Heir of Slytherin," Harry said slowly.
"You truly are the top of your class. Yes, I Tom Marvolo Riddle am the Heir of Slytherin!" Tom Riddle said.
"Then you're the one behind all these attacks!" Lily said.
"I am. Such a shame none of the mudbloods died. I was really hoping you or that Granger would be my next target. Though I did get Granger, I really wanted you, Mudblood Morris."
Lily's eyes flashed orange in anger.
Lily roars in fury and unleashes a fire flame at Tom Riddle, who just smiled at her. The fire went straight through him, and he looks back at the destructive of the fire. A statue crumbles beneath its power.
"Impressive," Tom Riddle said. "Most impressive. How is it that a mudblood with no name is so powerful?"
"Watch your mouth!" Harry snarled. His silver eyes erupted and flash dangerously.
"Don't like that word. You should, or you're a traitor to the House of Slytherin." Tom Riddle said. "If you're really a traitor to the House of Slytherin, then I'll eliminate you."
"I like to see you try." Harry snaps.
Tom Riddle smiles at the pair.
"I want answers. So many things, sweet Ginny Weasley told me. Especially about you, Harry Potter. Let's have a talk." Tom Riddle said with that creepy dark smile on his face.
"Then start with this one. What did you do to Ginny?" Lily shouted.
"I guess I can understand that. You wish to know. I doubt your mudblood brain would understand the genius behind my spell. You see, I place numerous charms and spells on my diary. Among them were various speels to encourage a sense of friendship, trust, even…" Riddle's eyes seem to have gleamed with delight. "The Leech Curse."
"You didn't," Lily said with her eyes wide.
"That's right, for months now, Ginny Weasley has been writing in my diary. Every time she did, she would feed me her magic and soul. My strength at the time was weak. I could barely do anything. The more she wrote in me, the stronger I got. To test my strength, I decided to get a muggle-born who shared classes with Ginny. The boy was stupid, never realizing that danger lurking in the corridors. I almost had him, then he brought up his camera to take a picture of my beast." Riddle said in anger.
"Creevey," Lily said.
"That's right. The idiot never realized that it was I who convince him to sneak down with Ginny to see Harry Potter. The boy was delighted all the same to speak to the icon of Britain. My strength returning, I decided to attack the Squib's cat and use her to send a message of my return. Poor Ginny never realized what I made her do. Not even when I made her write on the walls or kill that oaf Hagrids roosters. He never realized, half the time… it was I who spoke to him and not Ginny." Tom Riddle said proudly.
Harry and Lily shook with anger.
"It was very boring," Riddle said slowly. "Having to listen to the troubles of an eleven-year-old girl over foolish love." Riddle paused as he looks at Ginny. "But I was patient. I was kind to her. I wrote back, giving her advice and words of wisdom in her classes. I was even sympathetic. To say Ginny loved me was an understatement. She admired me just as much as the Great Harry Potter." He said. This time he opens his mouth and mimics Ginny's voice. "Oh Tom, no one has ever understood me like you… I'm so glad I've got you, Tom, you're like my only friend…. I can take you anywhere with me, Tom." Tom finished and let out a laugh. It was high, cold, and cruel laughter that sends Harry and Lily's hair standing up on their end.
"At first, Ginny had no clue what was going on. She would write so much about it, telling me what she remembered. I told her the stress of the school must be getting to her. Then the attacks caused her to panic. She turned to me for guidance. It was then, I told her to carry with her at all times. That I would… protect her." Tom Riddle's lip curled dangerously as if he enjoyed what he did to Ginny Weasley.
"Then, Ginny begin to suspect what was going on and tried to destroy me. She tried so hard, but she couldn't do it. As if I would let my diary be destroyed so easily. In the end, she tried to flush me down a toilet. Who found my diary, who else other than you, Mudblood Liliana Morris!" Tom said, looking at Lily. Lily grins her teeth dangerous. "However, much of the strength was left in Ginny, and I was left in a fragile state. When you wrote to me, I used the last of my strength to show how I caught that oaf Hagrid. Then, to my delight, somehow you got Harry Potter himself to write in my diary. I was excited, even happy. However, Harry Potter didn't write back to me. Only writing his name, and he vanished only to return me to your mudblood hands." Tom said.
"Then Ginny Weasley saw you with the Diary, and she panicked. She waited till your dorm was empty before she stole it back. The stupid girl. The moment her hands touch my diary, my old strength return and my power over Ginny Weasley dominated her spirit. Before she lost consciousness, I tortured her." Tom Riddle's smile was dark and cruel. As if he was happy with what he did. "I like them broken. It didn't even take me long. She tried to fight back. Even resist me, but she didn't even realize her strength was my own. I know many methods of torture. I pride myself on them." Tom Riddle said calmly.
"You're twisted," Lily said.
"No, I'm the strongest. I will do whatever it takes to stay that way." Tom Riddle snaps.
Harry said nothing. He glares hard at Tom Riddle.
"Enough about that little history of Ginny Weasley and myself. I really want to know about you, Harry Potter."
"What do you want to know?" Harry asks.
"Well, I only know so much about you." Tom Riddle said.
"Really," Harry said.
"Okay, I know nothing almost nothing about you. You're like a mystery, much like myself. But I like to solve mysteries. You may not have realized it Harry Potter, but you and I have much in common."
"I doubt that," Harry said coldly.
"Really, did you know I'm also half-blood like yourself."
"I thought you were muggle-born," Lily mutters.
Tom Riddle's eyes flash dangerous red and fire a curse at Lily. Lily raised a shield, but it passed straight through it.
Lily screams as the curse hit her.
Harry fires a hex at Tom, forcing him to stop the curse.
"My mother was a fool. To bred with a muggle." Tom Riddle said as Lily struggles to get back to her feet. She was panting heavily.
"What was that, why did it go through my shield?" Lily asks.
"The Cruciatus Curse. No magical shield can stop it from harming the one I want. It's one of the three unblockable curses," said Tom Riddle.
"What do you want to know, Riddle?" Harry asks he steps in front of Lily.
"Well, like I stated. We're very similar. Half-bloods, Parselmouths, and powerful. I hear you already can charm witches. I also got witches to do what I want. Breaking them was always fun for me. Perhaps you're more like me than I thought." Tom Riddle said.
Harry says nothing as he glares at Tom Riddle.
"Though what I really want to know is how you were able to defeat the greatest wizard of all time when you were only a baby." Tom Riddle said.
"What's it to you? Voldemort is after your time." Lily said.
"Voldemort is my past, present, and future." Tom Riddle said. He begins to write in the air with Ginny's wand.
Tom Marvolo Riddle
Then, Riddle waves the wand, and the letters rearrange themselves.
I am Lord Voldemort
Harry and Lily look at him in shock.
"Do you see!" Riddle said in an exciting tone of voice. "It's a name I've already been using since my days here at Hogwarts. I wasn't going to keep my filthy muggle name forever. That I, who had the blood of Salazar Slytherin himself, would keep a muggle name. It was insulting. A muggle who abandoned his wife because he found out his wife was a witch. Left me before I was even born. No, I chose a name that all would fear, and all wouldn't deny that I was the greatest sorcerer of all time!" Riddle declared.
"You're not," Lily said with a smile.
"Everyone knows the Greatest Sorcerer of all time is Albus Dumbledore. You have to settle for being second best." Harry said.
Riddle's eyes flash dangerously.
"Dumbledore has been driven out of this school by the mere memory of me!" Riddle hissed.
"He's not as gone as you like to think!" Lily shouted. Riddle opened his mouth but froze.
At that moment, a song could be heard. Everyone turns around to see a beautiful bird flying down with the sorting hat. Lily grabs the sorting hat and looks at it. It wasn't responding.
Riddle laughs. His high cold pitch laughter echoed throughout the chamber.
"This is what Dumbledore sends against the Heir of Slytherin? A songbird and a worn-out hat?"
Harry himself was questioning what Dumbledore was thinking.
"No, let me show you the real power… of the Heir of Slytherin." Riddle said, turning to the most prominent statue. He started hissing, but Harry and Lily understood every word.
"Speak to me, Slytherin, greatest of the Hogwarts four!"
The mouth opens wide. It was getting wider, and then they saw it; a massive serpent head.
The basilisk fell onto the floor with a loud thud as its body was still coming out of the hole. When the tail finally hit the ground, Harry and Lily backed away as they look at a near seventy-foot-long Basilisk. It's head alone was massive in size. At least the size of a statue beside them. The Basilisks stares at them, and they stare back. Backing away the best they could without falling over.
"How are you not dead?" Riddle screech.
"What do you mean?" Harry said with a smirk as he looks at Riddle.
"You, I understand Potter, being a Parselmouth but the Mudblood! How is she not dead!" Riddle shouted.
"I told you, you know nothing about me," Lily said. "Did it never cross your mind that I'm a Parselmouth as well!" Lily said. Riddle's eyes flashed dangerously.
"That's impossible!" Riddle screamed. He turns to the basilisk. "Kill them!" Riddle hissed.
"Lily, now, I need a few seconds," Harry said.
Lily drops the sorting hat and steps forward and releases a blazing fireball from her hand.
The Basilisk roared as the fire covered its entire body. Hearing a clatter at her feet, Lily looks down at the hat and sees a sword sticking out of it. Lily pulls it out.
"No!" Riddle shouted.
"Your basilisk really needs to chill out," Harry said as he slams his hand into the floor. Ice-covered the floor, and suddenly, pikes appeared slamming into the basilisk body from the side. The Basilisk hissed out loud in a roar that was it's last. Then it falls on the ice breaking it before landing on the ground dead.
"What are you two?" Riddle hissed.
Lily spots the diary and runs to it and stands over, holding her newly acquired sword aloft.
"No!" Riddle screamed as he raises Ginny's wand, but it was too late. Lily had stabbed the diary with the sword. Riddle screams so loud the chamber was filled with echoes of his agony. White light erupted from him before he suddenly burst.
Then he was gone. Ginny's wand fell to the floor with a light echo with each it before it remains still. Harry moves forward and picks it up.
The diary was now oozing out ink. Which had to be its own blood.
"Ginny," Lily said as she looks at the youngest Weasley.
Ginny let out a little moan, but she still didn't open her eyes.
"Let's get out of here. The teachers will want to know what happened." Harry said.
"You carry her, my body is still shaking from that curse," Lily said.
Harry said nothing as he grabs Ginny and carries her on his back. Lily grabs the sword, the hat, and the diary. They both walked back through the tunnel, the phoenix leading the way.
They said nothing as they walked through the tunnel. They enter the feeding pit before stopping at the entrance.
"Well, we didn't think this through. How do we get out?" Lily asks.
"Stairs." Harry hissed.
The tunnel slowly turns into a staircase.
"I did not think of that," Lily admitted.
"Gryffindork." Harry teased.
They walk up the stairs and soon reach Moaning Myrtle's Bathroom.
"Where to? Madam Pomfrey?" Lily said.
Fawkes sings a song and flies in the direction of the Great Hall.
"I think he wants us to follow him," Lily said slowly.
"Most of the teachers should be there," Harry said as they followed the path.
Everyone was sitting at their house, the latest attack sent a new wave of fear inside Hogwarts. All four House Heads were trying to keep everyone calm.
That was when everyone turns the source of a beautiful song. They turn to see the doors open, and a beautiful phoenix flies through. What they saw next baffled everyone.
"It's Harry!" A Slytherin shouted.
"Lily!" Gryffindor shouted.
"Ginny!" The Weasley boys shouted.
"Sit down!" Professor McGonagall shouted as everyone tried to jump to their feet.
Harry and Lily walk into the Great Hall, with Harry holding Ginny on his back. She still had not woken up.
"Is Madam Pomfrey here?" Harry asks.
"She's in the hospital wing, why did you not go to her instead?" Professor McGonagall asks.
"The Great Hall was closer," Harry said.
"Professor, Ginny needs help. A Leech Curse has been placed on her." Lily said.
"Say no more," Professor McGonagall, as two Hogwarts Professor whose name Harry did not know, took Ginny from him.
"We've searched the entire school for you two. Where were you two?" Professor McGonagall said in her stern voice.
"That… is an interesting question." A voice said from the Entrance Hall. Everyone turned to see Professor Dumbledore walking into the Great Hall.
The sea of students roared in delight at the sight of the headmaster.
"Everyone, return to your Common Rooms. Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, with me. you too, Mister Potter and Miss Morris." Dumbledore said.
With little choice, the two follow Dumbledore. Harry could see Artemis looking at him with great concern in her eyes.
They walk to Professor McGonagall's office.
"Now, tell me what happened," Dumbledore said in his soft voice.
Lily started first, explaining how she, Hermione, and Ron began to unravel the mystery. That was until Harry interrupted.
"…Not to mention, they broke into the Slytherin Common Room." Harry said when Lily describes how Ron suspected Harry and Malfoy were the culprits.
"What do you mean, Mister Potter?" Professor McGonagall said.
"Granger stole key ingredients from Professor Snape's personal storage for a polyjuice potion," Harry said.
"You said you wouldn't tell!" Lily shouted.
"It's Granger and Weasley's fault. Accusing me of things I didn't do." Harry said.
"I can't believe it." Professor McGonagall said in shock. Snape looks like Christmas has just come early.
"Go on," Dumbledore said softly.
Lily then went on to explain how she heard voices in the wall.
"What do you mean voices, Miss Morris?" Professor McGonagall said.
"er…" Lily said weakly.
"Like myself, Lily is a Parselmouth," Harry said bluntly.
"Must you really!" Lily shouted.
"I've never heard of this before. Normally a Parselmouth ability is genetic. It doesn't just suddenly develop inside someone." Professor McGonagall said softly.
"Well, I also almost got placed in Slytherin because of it," Lily mutters.
"So, you and Mister Potter heard voices. Do your friends Mister Weasley and Miss Granger know?" Dumbledore asks softly.
Lily shakes her head.
"Why?" Dumbledore said.
"If you've seen how Ron reacted when Harry was revealed to be a Parselmouth, then I can only imagine how he'll react to me being one," Lily said.
"Told you to make new friends," Harry said.
"Continue," Dumbledore said.
"Well, I slowly pieced together the mystery. It was Hermione who gave me the final clue." Lily said.
The Professor said nothing as Lily continued explaining the story. After visiting Aragog and learning what happened fifty years ago, guessing that Moaning Myrtle was the victim, how Harry and Lily confronted Lockhart before venturing down in the tunnel.
"Speaking of Lockhart, what happened to him?" Harry asks.
"We found him on the ground with no memory of what happened," Snape said.
"He seemed to be packing in a hurry." Professor McGonagall added.
"That was our fault," Lily said.
"Professor, I think Artemis needs to be seen by a healer," Harry said quickly.
"For what Mister Potter?"
"Well, Lockhart admitted that he's been placing charms to seduce her and even tried to feed her love potions. I suspect he even places memory charms on her." Harry said.
"Most disturbing. One we should have predicted he would do." Dumbledore said softly.
"I'll bring her to Madam Pomfrey immediately." Professor Snape.
"The Heir of Slytherin, who was it?" Professor McGonagall asks.
"It was this diary," Lily said as she places the diary on the table as well as the sword. "It was a person named Tom Riddle, but he told us he went by…"
"Lord Voldemort," Dumbledore said before Lily could say it. Dumbledore picks up the diary. "I should have expected this. Is he gone?"
"Yes, I killed him," Lily said.
"He once again has found a way." Dumbledore murmured as he took the diary, seemingly to himself. He looks at them and smiles. "Very few people know that Lord Voldemort once went by the name Tom Riddle. He was a brilliant boy, much like the two you. Talent, gifted, kind, charming. Became a Prefect in his fifth year then rose to Head Boy. I taught him myself here at Hogwarts. However, I was rather suspicious of him."
"Riddle said that," Lily admitted.
"Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, could you inform your houses that the school will not be closed. That the Heir of Slytherin has been vanquished. That there will be no more attacks." Dumbledore said softly. Both Professors nod their heads and turn to leave.
"Now, Miss Morris, I seem to recall you would be expelled if you broke any more school rules…" Dumbledore said softly. Lily paled greatly. But Dumbledore smiles gently at her. "This shows that sometimes we must eat our own words. Tell me, what did you think of Tom Riddle?"
"He was cold, twisted… evil." Lily said.
"Professor Dumbledore, Riddle said… he and I had a lot in common." Harry said slowly.
"Yes, you do. Both of you are half-bloods. Both orphaned at a young age. For him, he was orphaned nearly after he was born, as his mother died during childbirth. Much like the two of you, he was a brilliant and talented wizard." Dumbledore said softly.
Harry paled considerably at the thought of him becoming the next Dark Lord. Could Weasley see into the future?
"I see you are concerned, Mister Potter. Then let me tell you one thing that's different between you and Tom Riddle." Dumbledore said softly.
Harry and Lily both turn to looks at him carefully.
"Growing up, Tom Riddle didn't have any friends. Not because he was different, it's because he had no desire to have a friend. He remained alone for most of his life, both during Hogwarts and later on in life. You have a great friend in Miss Morris." Dumbledore said softly.
Harry turns to look at Lily as she looks at him.
"You two have an extraordinary relationship," Dumbledore said. "You are friends and defend each other greatly. However, at the same time, you are rivals, seeking to push each other to your limits. That was the original purpose behind the Four Houses. For students to not only befriend each other but also compete with each other. However, tensions between the four houses are great. Perhaps you two will bring peace to the school once again. Everyone could learn from you both." Dumbledore said with a soft smile.
"Now, Miss Morris, you will not be punished. However, I must stress that if you steal from Professor Snape's private storage again, or you, Miss Granger, and Mister Weasley will be expelled. However, in return for your heroism and ending an ordeal throughout the school, you both shall receive Special Awards for Services to the School, and – yes, I believe two hundred points for each of your houses." Dumbledore said with a smile.
"Professor Dumbledore, almost everyone believes I'm the Heir of Slytherin…" Harry began.
"Indeed," Dumbledore said.
"Could you tell them straight. That I had nothing to do with these attacks." Harry asks. He could only imagine what the rumors Ron Weasley was spreading.
"I'll make an announcement to the school," Dumbledore promised.
Harry sighs a relief knowing full well the entire school will be kicking themselves for accusing him of such dark deeds.
The door bursts open, and Lucius Malfoy walks in the office. He wasn't alone. A house-elf was behind him; it was Dobby. Harry grabs the books from the desk and slips off one of his wet socks into the book.
"So, you're back." Lucius breathed. "The board suspended you, and you've come back."
"Indeed, you see when word reached the Board that a girl was taken into the chamber, the rest of the Board believed I was the best choice to tackle the situation. Though the situation was already handled by Mister Potter and Miss Morris. The board will be pleased." Dumbledore said with a smile on his face.
"That's…that's wonderful news. So, the Heir of Slytherin has been caught?" Lucius asks.
"Indeed. Vanquish should be the correct term." Dumbledore said.
"You were the one who gave the diary to Ginny," Harry said slowly.
"What are you talking about, boy?" Lucius hissed. But Harry could see he was worried.
Harry remembers. When Lucius drops Ginny's book back in her cauldron, something else dropped inside of it. A black diary that wasn't hers.
"If this true Lucius, and you've been passing out Lord Voldemort's things, then I trust you know what this means," Dumbledore said in a stern voice. The room seems to have gotten darker, and Lucius visibly flinched at the power Dumbledore was radiating.
"Don't believe, then look for yourself," Harry said as he hands the diary back to Lucius. Lucius grabs it and looks at it. He grabs the sock and drops it. Not realizing what he had done.
Lucius said nothing as he sneers and hands it back to Harry.
"I've never seen it," Lucius said. "and you have no proof of your claims."
"No, but there will be consequences, Lucius. That I can assure you. I would have thought you of all people would know better than to risk your position." Dumbledore said softly.
Lucius stares at Dumbledore before looking at Lily and Harry.
"I shall return to inform the board the deed is done," Lucius said as he turns around and leaves.
"Come, Dobby," Lucius shouted, but Dobby didn't move. He was holding the sock as if it was special to him.
"Master has presented Dobby with clothes," Dobby said.
"What? I did no such thing." Lucius said as he turns back, but to his horror, he sees Dobby holding a sock in his hand.
"Master drops it, and Dobby has caught it. Dobby is free." Dobby said gleefully.
Lucius was furious, with Dumbledore there all he could do was huff and puff before he turns his cloak and disappears down the corridor.
"How can Dobby repay Harry Potter?" Dobby asks.
"We have much to discuss, Dobby. However, the next time you try to warn me, tell me straight ahead. Don't try hurting me." Harry said.
"Don't you have to find a new family?" Lily asks.
"Indeed, miss," Dobby said as he nods his head.
"Try to find a good one," Harry said.
"Dobby would like to stay with Harry Potter," Dobby said.
"Er… okay." Harry said slowly.
Dobby leaps up and hugs Harry Potter. Harry uncomfortably said nothing as Lily looks on with a grin on her face.
