As always, this isn't my world, I'm just borrowing it for a bit. Please read and review!
Harry had detention with Professor Lockhart, and when he didn't show up to dinner Ron, Hermione, and I decided it was best to go looking for him. Turning a corner, we almost came crashing into him.
"Harry! Are you alright? We didn't see you come to dinner, so we came looking for you." Hermione explained.
Harry, appearing flustered and trying to listen to something, hastily explained, "Yeah, Lockhart lost track of time when signing his fan mail. Did you guys hear talking?"
Looking at each other, we shook our heads. "Harry, when you say talking, what do you mean?" I asked.
"I swear I heard a voice, but it sounded like it was coming from the walls. I could have sworn -" Harry cut off mid-sentence, "There! Do you hear it? It's saying kill!"
Harry took off following this mysterious voice, and we followed right behind him. There aren't many reasons for someone to hear a voice, even in the wizarding world. The only reasons I could think of would be someone was putting voices into Harry's mind using Legilimency, Harry was losing his mind, or Harry was in fact hearing something that the rest of us couldn't. However, that would be incredibly rare, and extremely concerning. As we were running through the corridors, we noticed there was water on the floor, and an eerily amount of spiders going in a straight line on the floor.
"I've never seen spiders do that before. Have any of you?" I asked.
"No, that's really really strange." Harry stepped closer to watch.
"I don't like spiders." Ron cowered away. Hermione did not look impressed.
While they were watching the spiders, I noticed an odd reflection in the water, I looked up and gasped. The three of them turned around, and their eyes went wide.
"The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the heir, beware." I read.
"Oh no! Look! It's Mrs. Norris, Filch's cat." Harry stepped closer once again to get a good look at Mrs. Norris, and to see what had happened. Unfortunately, the halls began to fill with students leaving dinner and heading towards their common rooms. Even more unfortunate, the Slytherins were a part of the group of students. Of course, Draco was one of the students to shoulder his way to the front.
He read, "Enemies of the heir beware. You'll be next, mudbloods." He sneered directly at Hermione. I narrowed my eyes and stepped forward to confront him when Filch came bustling through.
"What is going on here? Potter, what are you doing? Mrs. Norris? That's my cat!" Filch started accosting Harry, saying it was him that did it. Dumbledore, who had just appeared, reassured Filch that she was just petrified, even though he didn't know how, and sent the rest of the students to bed. Again, Filch just accused Harry. Harry was denying it, when Snape interrupted and said he couldn't help but notice that Harry was missing from the feast that night. Still angry about Draco, and completely over all the Slytherins, I snapped.
"Oh come off it! Of course you would blame Harry. For whatever reason you hate him, and are constantly trying to blame and belittle him. Some professor you are. Just as cowardly and cruel as the rest of the snakes. Harry had detention, which is why he wasn't at the feast. Maybe you should try asking next time." Snape had turned red, and I realized coming down from my moment of rage, that I had just really messed up. Snape had ignored me for the most part, but I had just put a giant target on my back. I cringed, expecting to get loads of points taken away, and at least a week of detentions, but thank Merlin Dumbledore spoke next.
"While maybe a bit extreme, Miss Nott did make a good point. Harry, with whom did you serve detention?"
"I can answer that! Harry was with me, helping me write to my fans. I held him late, which is completely my fault for not paying attention. I do wish I had walked with Mr. Potter. I know just the thing that would have spared Mrs. Norris." Lockhart boasted.
"Very well. The four of you, head back to your common room, now."
With that, we all left before anyone could get into trouble. Harry had asked if he should have told them he heard a voice, and we all agreed absolutely not. It wasn't a good thing to be hearing voices, even in the wizarding world. That night, I couldn't help but struggle to fall asleep. I was hoping this year would be a bit more normal, but between what was going on with Harry, and Draco being a bigot, I knew it wasn't going to happen. I knew Draco was being terrible, and I really didn't want anything to do with him when he was being like that, but I also couldn't help but remember the Draco of my childhood. The sweet boy that always paid attention to me, and who helped patch me up when I fell down. The boy who, when laying down in the grass enjoying a summer day, told me I was his best friend, and he would love me forever. It was hard to come to terms with the fact that I don't think the Draco of my childhood was coming back to me.
The next day in Transfiguration was when the Chamber of Secrets was brought back up. Of course, it was Hermione who asked.
"Professor, I was hoping you would tell us more about the Chamber of Secrets?"
"Very well. Hogwarts was founded over 1,000 year ago by the four most powerful witches and wizards of the time. Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin. Three of the founders coexisted quite harmoniously. The fourth, however, did not. Salazar Slytherin wished to be more selective of those admitted to Hogwarts. He believed that learning should be kept within all magic families. In other words, purebloods. When he was unable to convince the others, he decided to leave the school. Now, according to legend, before he left, Slytherin created a hidden chamber within the school, known as the Chamber of Secrets. Before he left, he was said to have sealed it, until the time came that his own true heir would return to the school. The heir alone would be able to open the Chamber, and unleash the horror within. By doing so, purge the school of all those who, in Slytherin's view, were unworthy of studying magic."
"Muggleborns." Hermione whispered.
"The school has been searched many times, and no such chamber has been found."
"Professor, what exactly is supposed to be in the Chamber, according to legend?" Hermione asked again.
"The Chamber is said to host something that only the heir of Slytherin can control. It is said to be home of a monster." McGonagall finished.
After class was released, we walked and discussed what we had just found out. Determining if what legend was said to be true, the Chamber had really been opened, and the heir had returned to Hogwarts. Of course that led to asking who the heir could possibly be.
"Well let's see. Who do we know that thinks all Muggleborns are scum?" Ron asked sarcastically.
"You're talking about Malfoy?" Hermione asked.
"Of course! You heard what he said. You'll be next mudbloods." Ron finished.
"I don't think it is Malfoy, regardless of what he said." I cut in.
"Ana, think about it. His entire family has been in Slytherin for centuries!" Harry exclaimed.
I hadn't told them how close I was to the Malfoy family, or Draco in particular. I really didn't want to disclose that even now, but I wasn't sure what to say to convince them otherwise.
"So what? My family was the same way until I was sorted into Gryffindor. Which means with that reasoning it could just as well be my brother, and I can tell you it isn't Theo, there's no way. So that doesn't necessarily mean Malfoy is either."
"I bet Crabbe and Goyle must know! I wonder if we could trick them into telling?" Ron asked.
"Even they aren't that thick, but that reminds me. There may be another way. It is increasingly difficult, and mind you we'd be breaking about 50 school rules. It'll be dangerous, very dangerous." Hermione offered.
Heading to the library, Hermione found the book she was looking for.
"Here it is! The Polyjuice Potion. Properly brewed, the Polyjuice potion allows oneself to transform temporarily into the physical form of another."
"So we could actually become Crabbe and Goyle? Malfoy would tell us anything." Ron asked.
"Exactly, but it's tricky. I've never seen a more complicated potion, and it'll take about a month to make."
Harry's eyes went wide with panic. "A month, Hermione? If Malfoy is the heir of Slytherin, he could attack loads of muggleborns by then."
"I know, but it's all we've got."
"Well Hermione, we better get to working on it then, hmm?" I said with a grin. She smiled back and nodded.
Hermione and I took turns taking Harry's invisibility cloak to nick the ingredients from Snape's supply. We had talked about where the best place to set up would be. We needed somewhere no one would want to go, so we wouldn't be interrupted.
"Hermione, what about the second floor girls bathroom?" I asked.
"Ana, you know we can't! That's where Moaning Myrtle is." Hermione answered, shaking her head.
"I know that, which is precisely why I suggested it. No one goes in there because no one wants to deal with Myrtle. Which means no one would bother us, and we wouldn't even need to try and hide the cauldron!"
"Do you really think she'd let us be, and not say anything?"
"Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to ask her now would it?" With that, we started making our way to the bathroom. I had never personally met Myrtle, as I did my best to stay away, but that didn't mean I hadn't heard about her. She's always getting emotional, and loud, and can be difficult. But I think she could be lonely, and maybe would want to talk to some girls.
As Hermione and I walked into the bathroom, it was silent. She whispered, "Where is she? I didn't think she left."
Before I could answer, the stall door banged open and out came a swooping translucent girl. "Oh yes! Poor Myrtle! Doomed to be stuck in the same place she died. A bathroom!" She wailed.
Hermione looked a bit panicked, and not knowing really what to say to her, I started with, "Hello Myrtle. My name is Ana, and this is Hermione. We weren't trying to offend you! We actually wanted to come speak with you."
Her wailing stopped immediately, and she looked at us questioningly. "You two came here to purposefully talk to me. Why?"
"We did. We actually need your help Myrtle. There's some terrible things going on in the school right now, and we're trying to help stop it. I don't know if you've heard, but the Chamber of Secrets has been opened again. There was writing on the wall saying 'Enemies of the heir, beware' and we think people are in trouble." As I was talking, I saw her eyes widen just a bit, but otherwise she didn't look interested. I looked to Hermione to help get our point across.
"Myrtle, we need a place where we can brew a potion without being interrupted, because we are trying to rule someone out from being the heir. He was being nasty and made a comment about muggleborns being next. I'm a muggleborn, Myrtle, and I want to be safe in school, along with all the other muggleborns. We just wanted to ask your permission to brew here in privacy. It takes a while, so we could always chat with you in the meantime?" Hermione finished hopefully.
"Do either of you have anything interesting to talk about? I don't want to be bored to death, again."
"We could fill you in on our theories of who could be doing this?" Hermione smiled brightly.
"That's the best you can do?" Myrtle scoffed, unimpressed. Knowing we needed to give her something better, and desperately needing this space, I had an idea. While I didn't want to disclose my childhood to anyone, if there was a person I trusted to tell it would be Hermione. My history was pretty juicy.
"Well, I'm the first Nott to ever be sorted anywhere other than Slytherin. Even my twin brother was sorted into Slytherin. Which means by doing what we are doing, I'm pretty much betraying all of the families we grew up with. Especially since the boy we are investigating was my best friend growing up." As soon as I finished, Hermione whirled around to face me.
"Are you joking? Ana there is no way that's true! He's foul and downright horrible! Plus, that would mean you actually spent time with him, and he was bearable enough to do so. Which is impossible. He insults us all the time!"
"No, I'm not joking unfortunately. Really I didn't plan on telling anyone that I was friends with Draco before. I mean, could you picture Harry and Ron's faces? Ron already thinks I'm the worst, and being friends with Draco would only solidify that in his mind. Harry would probably second guess everything I've done, and side with Ron. I'd lose their friendship!"
Myrtle cut in, "Ooh, so you're betraying your first friend, and hiding things from your new ones. That sounds interesting. Count me in! You can use my lavatory for as long as you want, but you have to keep me filled in on all the gory details." She cackled and flew back into her toilet.
"Ana, do you really think that? That Harry wouldn't be your friend any more?" Hermione asked.
"Look Hermione. I want to say no, that Harry wouldn't so easily write off our friendship, but you know how they feel about Draco. Ron especially, and he wouldn't make it easy to be around. He already says I'm a snake in the lion's den, and Harry and Ron are super close. Plus, history shows I'm easy to forget." I mumbled that last part, hoping Hermione wouldn't acknowledge it.
"Well what does that mean? Easy to forget."
"Draco wasn't just a best friend, he was my everything at one point. I didn't have a great childhood before Hogwarts, and I don't want to go into detail so please don't ask. I never fit in. I was always too outspoken, and never did what I was told. So most kids, even Theo, didn't spend too much time with me. The only person I ever hung out with was Draco. I told him everything, as did he to me. I know more about him than anyone, except maybe his mother. But when things got a bit difficult, and we couldn't hang out anymore, he didn't even try to reach out to me. He wouldn't talk to me on the train here, and now he hates me because I'm in Gryffindor. The one person, Hermione, who I thought would always be with me wrote me off. So why wouldn't Harry? Especially when Myrtle was right. I'm technically hiding a major part of me. It could be considered lying, and friends are supposed to be honest with each other."
"Ana, Draco Malfoy is the biggest idiot I've ever met. Anyone who gets to know you, and I mean actually gets to know you, would know how great you are. You didn't care that my parents are muggles, even though I know you grew up in a prejudiced household, and you put up with me even though I am a bit of a know it all. You weren't scared to be my friend even when no one else was, and you've defended me again and again. Malfoy is a coward, but you're in Gryffindor now, and we're way too stubborn to let our friends go that easy. No matter what happens, you've still got me." Shooting Hermione a watery smile, I cleared my throat and changed the subject to our schedules and how we were going to split brewing the potion. I'll admit, it is definitely going to be way easier with two people versus if it was only one of us.
The month waiting for the potion to be done took forever to go by, but working with Hermione made the time pass by rather quickly, and to my surprise talking to Myrtle helped too. She wasn't so bad once you got to know her, and as long as you were okay with gossiping. Hermione and I came up with a plan on who we were going to get hair from for our potion. Hermione decided on Millicent Bulstrode, and actually got hers when they were dueling. I was getting Pansy Parkinson's in potions. I could handle the few insults she threw my way when I "accidentally" bumped into her. It was perfect that Parkinson found herself in detention for the next few nights, leading right into the night the potion would be done.
Finally, the night was here that we were going to drink the Polyjuice potion. Meeting in the bathroom, we all had our hair ready to add to the already disgusting looking concoction in the cauldron. Taking it at the same time, it hit Hermione first, and then Ron, and it seemed like Harry and I felt it at the same time. We gripped the sink as an intense burning sensation took over our bodies. Watching your body warp to look like another was bizarre, but thankfully it didn't take too long. Ron came out of the bathroom stall that he had run into, looking exactly like Crabbe, and where Harry was standing now stood Gregory Goyle. Looking into the mirror, I saw Parkinson staring back at me.
"Merlin, this is horrifying!" I exclaimed.
"Bloody hell, this is scary. Although we still sound the same." Ron, or rather Crabbe, said.
"We'll have to practice changing our voices before we get to Slytherin's common room. Hermione, are you okay? Are you coming out?" Harry asked.
"Erm, no. Something didn't sit right with me. You three go on before the potion runs out. I'll be fine!"
Harry, Ron, and I all glanced at each other and agreed it would be better off if we go. Promising Hermione we'd be safe, and we'd come back and tell her everything, the three of us took off towards the Slytherin Common rooms. I was leading the way, as I knew exactly where they were, when we were stopped by Percy Weasley right before the entrance.
"What are you doing here?" Ron asked, forgetting he didn't look like himself.
"I am a Prefect doing my rounds, as I'm allowed to be out right now. However, what are you three doing wandering about?"
Before we could answer, Draco came sauntering down the hall. "There you are! Pansy, what are you doing with these two?"
"I was asking the same question, Malfoy, and had yet to get an answer." Percy interjected.
"They're in our hallway, Weasley. They've made it back, so it isn't your worry. Come along now." Draco sneered at Percy, and gestured for us to follow him.
"Again, Pans, what are you doing with them? You don't like spending any amount of time with them. We've all heard you whine."
"Oh Draco, I skipped out of detention just for a bit and found these two bumbling about. I figured they wouldn't be able to find the way back so I'd escort them. You can't leave anything up to these two idiots." Using my best impersonation, I flicked my hair back and smiled sickenly sweet.
"Give it a break. What were you two doing?" Draco had asked as we walked through the door to the common room. While Harry and Ron were answering Draco, I took the opportunity to look around. This was what my life would have looked like if I was sorted into Slytherin. Harry and Ron took the couch, which left me with the chair Draco was sitting on the arm of. Remembering to sit proper, like the good little pureblood I was, I once again got lost in thought. I could picture this. Draco and I sitting on the chair how we are now, but turned and talking quietly to each other. This was the closest I had been to him in a long time, and when he made a smart comment, I had to resist the urge to elbow him like I used to. Tuning back into the conversation happening in front of me, Draco didn't appear to know much. It certainly wasn't him, but he did say his dad was in school when this happened last. He started talking badly about Dumbledore and Harry, and the boys were losing their cool. My eyes widened because I could see they were starting to change back, little by little. I looked at myself in the reflection and I wasn't changing yet.
"Boys. I think it is time you left. Weren't you mumbling on the way here about sneaking back out and trying to find the kitchens?" I cut into the conversation suddenly, and for the first time, causing Draco to look at me funny. Harry and Ron glanced at each other, and saw they were changing back, so making excuses they ran out of the door, leaving me to find a way to escape but also leaving me alone with Draco.
"Honestly, those two only think about food. It's ridiculous." Draco scoffed.
"Truly. Well, I better attempt to go back to detention before anyone notices me missing. The last thing I need is another idiot to give me more detention." Standing up and smoothly my skirt, I tried to discreetly leave as fast as possible.
"It'll probably be too late by the time you go back. I wouldn't even worry about it. Plus, we never got to finish our conversation from earlier."
"I don't know which one you mean, but I really must be going." Making my way passed him, he grabbed my arm and spun me around.
Glowering, Draco said, "You know exactly which one I'm talking about. I heard you trying to convince Daphne and Millie to help you blow up Ana's potion, so don't lie to me Parkinson. I don't care what you do to the other Gryffindorks, but she is off limits. I don't know how many times I have to tell you."
I didn't even have to act shocked when I questioned, "I don't understand. She's a blood traitor, and your father-"
Cutting me off, he grasped my arm slightly harder to where it hurt a bit, "I. Don't. Care. She's off limits, and I don't have to explain myself to you. If my father hears about this Parkinson, I will ruin you. So I recommend you keep your mouth shut. Are we clear?" I saw his eyes go from near slits, turning questioning as he looked toward my hairline. While Parkinson and I had about the same color of hair, our styles were very different, and she had a much larger forehead than myself. Knowing I had to leave as soon as possible, I yanked my arm out of his grasp.
"Understood." I ran. Out of the Slytherin common room, all the way back to the second floor bathroom where Harry and Ron were waiting for me.
"Ana! It's been so long I thought you were a goner. Are you okay?" Harry asked.
"Fine. I'm fine. I just couldn't make it look suspicious. Where's Hermione?"
"I'm still in here."
"Come out please. We've got a lot to go over." Harry was impatient, I could tell. Myrtle came flying out laughing.
"Oh she looks terrible." She giggled and flew away.
"Hermione, come on. What is going on?" I asked gently. I could hear her sigh and the stall lock clicked. When the door opened, we all gasped. Hermione looked like a cat/human hybrid.
"Do you remember when I said it was important to get human hair? It must have been cat hair I plucked off of Bulstrodes robes." I told the boys to go back to the common room, and that I would take Hermione to the hospital wing. If only I knew then that this wouldn't be the first time our plans for the year went amiss.
Everyone thought Harry was the heir of Slytherin and was terrified of him, there were more attacks on muggleborns, and then Lucius Malfoy got Hagrid arrested. Harry had Tom Riddle's diary, and there was something unsettling about it. I didn't know what it was, but I never wanted to be near it. But the worst part was when Hermione was attacked.I was going to go with her, but I ended up in detention with Snape, because of a mysterious potions accident, which of course I was blamed for. Nevermind the fact that I was bloody great at potions. Top three in the class in fact. I felt so guilty, and spent the rest of my time helping Harry and Ron figure out what was going on in the castle. Harry and Ron had gotten back from their trip to see Aragog, and met me after my detention to explain what they learned while walking to visit Hermione. We were discussing all of the attacks, when Harry put his hand around Hermione's. He had felt something. Pulling out a piece of paper, we found our clue.
"This says something about a basilisk." Harry read, and I gasped.
"Do you know what it is?" Ron questioned.
"Yes. It makes so much sense! The basilisk is a giant bloody snake. Perfect for Slytherin. It's extremely deadly. One look in its eyes and you're dead, not to mention the venom in its fangs which is also extremely deadly."
"And look! Spiders flee before it. It all makes sense!" Harry yelled.
"But how come no one has died?" Asked Ron.
"Because no one looked it in the eyes. Not directly." I whispered quietly.
Harry caught on and continued, "There was water on the floor that night when we found Mrs. Norris. I bet she saw the basilisk's reflection. Colin saw through his Camera, and Justin looked through Nearly Headless Nick. Nick took the full blast, but he's a ghost so he can't die again!"
"Hermione had the mirror." I continued for him, "She probably found out it was the basilisk and was using it to check around corners. We need to tell someone. Now." We all agreed, but as we were headed out, an announcement was made for all students to go to their dormitories at once, and the professors needed to meet in a hallway, which was right around the corner from us. Obviously, we hid and waited to see what was going on. There was another attack, and the basilisk took a girl into the Chamber. When we found out it was Ginny Weasley, I know all our stomachs sank. The students were going to be sent home, as it was no longer safe, and Lockhart was in charge of finding and killing the monster. As the staff left, we read what was on the wall. In blood it read, "Her skeleton will lie in the chamber forever."
"We've got to tell Lockhart what we know. We've got to help with what we can!" We raced towards his office, and when we got there we saw he was packing.
"Are you going somewhere?" Harry asked.
"Yes, yes. Rather unavoidable. It's an emergency, and I really must be going." Lockhart stuttered out.
"What about my sister?" Ron yelled at him, completely justified in my opinion.
"Ah, yes. Quite unfortunate. I'm truly sorry, but I must be going."
"You're a coward. You're supposed to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor! All those things you've written about!" Harry was yelling at him, and Ron was turning red. Lockhart was explaining how you can twist words, and he didn't actually do all those things, but I was watching him explain memory charms, and he was slowly going towards his wand. I whipped mine out and pointed it at him, stopping the three of them mid sentence.
"I recommend slowly pulling your hand away from your wand, Lockhart. You won't be doing anything to us. In fact, I think I'll go ahead and hold onto that for you." I whispered accio, and his wand came flying into my waiting hand.
"Now, be a good little professor and get moving. You're coming with us." The boys looked at me questioning but I had an idea. I went to see Myrtle. While Harry and Ron had their wands pointed at Lockhart, I called for Myrtle.
"Oh hi Harry." Myrtle giggled. "And Ana. What brings you here?"
"Myrtle, do you remember talking with me about how you died, and how it was so sudden, but you heard a boy talking? When you went out to look, what happened?" I asked already having an idea.
"I saw great big yellow eyes over there." She pointed.I walked over to the area she said, and got to looking at the sinks. They all looked identical, but one had an engraving. When I looked closer, I saw it was a snake.
"I think we found it. I think we found the entrance of the Chamber of Secrets. Harry, say something in parseltongue."
Harry came over and said something. The sinks began to slide and the ground opened up to show a hole. They all came to look. Lockhart had said something about a wonderful job, and tried to run, but the boys caught him. Harry made him go first, just in case. After we all made it, we looked around. Stepping on bones and seeing a giant snake shed, it was clear the basilisk was active.
"Remember, if you hear movement, close your eyes." Harry reminded.
As we stepped in closer, Lockhart suddenly grabbed Ron's wand right out of his hands, and shoved. Ron fell into Harry and I, and Lockhart immediately tried to cast a memory charm. However, with Ron's wand broken, it rebounded. Due to the force in which Lockhart was thrown backward, the ceiling began to cave in. Everyone had jumped out of the way, and covered their head and eyes until the dust settled. When it was finally safe to do so, we all started getting up, or at least I'm assuming so because there was a giant rock wall in between where Harry and I stood, and wherever Ron was.
"Ron! You alright?" Harry yelled over, trying to remove some rocks to get through.
Finally making a small enough hole to look through, Ron answered, "I'm alright. You and Ana okay? Lockhart is, well, physically fine but he's got no memory! He asked me if I lived here." He whispered the last part horrified.
"We're fine over here. Stand back Ron, we'll try to move the rocks so you can get through." Harry answered.
"No! You two go on ahead and save Ginny. Please. I'll work on getting through the rubble."
With a nod, Harry and I took off down the chamber, and came into a giant room, where lying in the middle was a ghostly pale Ginny Weasley. Running to her, I bent down and started doing any type of healing charms I knew.
"That isn't going to help." A smooth voice answered from behind us. Whirling around stood a good looking guy, maybe in his 7th year.
"You're Tom Riddle." Harry identified him as the guy who had been talking to in the diary. We found out Tom Riddle was actually Voldemort, and that he was using Ginny by literally sucking the life out of her so he could fully live again. His new quest was to go after Harry, so he got everything he wanted by coming to save Ginny.
"No. We won't let you do that to her." Harry stood up to face Voldemort, and I stood beside him. Voldemort was right about one thing. Nothing I had been doing was making any impact on Ginny, so the only way to save her was to get through him. A loud cry echoed through the room, and looking to the entrance, we saw Fawkes flying in with something in his claws. Dropping it in Harry's hands, we saw it was the sorting hat.
"So this is what Dumbledore sends his great defender. A songbird and an old hat." He turned around and said something in parseltongue. "Let's match the power of Lord Voldemort, heir to Salazar Slytherin, against the famous Harry Potter. And friend."
Startled by the opening of the stone carved Slytherin's mouth, Harry and I took a step back, and then another.
"Run Harry! Here it comes!" Both of us turned around and started to run. We only made it ¾ of the way down the runway when Harry tripped on his cloak. Stopping, I tried to help him up before the basilisk got to us, but it was too late. Just as I was squeezing my eyes shut, I heard Fawkes let out another cry. I watched him swoop in and start attacking the basilisk. Not just any part of the basilisk, but its eyes. Looking at the tunnels, I saw how it split and had an idea.
"Harry, he's blinding it. We need to get up, now!" Helping Harry get to his feet. We slowly started backing away, but the water on the floor made it impossible to go quietly. The basilisk, now blind thanks to Fawkes, immediately stopped its writhing and snapped its head right in our direction.
"Your bird may have blinded the basilisk, but it can still hear you." Voldemort called, almost mockingly.
"Harry, we need to run. You go down one tunnel and I'll try to get it to follow me down another, but we have to separate out of Voldemort's sight, otherwise he can tell the basilisk which way to go. I'll distract it, and you get back to save Ginny, okay?"
"Ana, no. What if you get trapped?"
"Better me than you. We have to do something Harry, and we have to do it now. I'll be fine. We'll meet back up." I nodded to him, and he reluctantly nodded back. Taking off together, we ran into the tunnels, the basilisk right on our tails. When I saw the first split, I nodded to Harry to take the right, and I would make as much noise and go left. Which is exactly what I did. I hit the walls, and splashed as loud as I could. Luckily, or unlucky really, my plan worked and the basilisk came after me. I ran as fast as I could, for as long as I could. There was an alcove in one of the tunnels, and I figured this was my chance. I was a little ways ahead of the basilisk, so I had just barely enough time to step into the alcove, and send a charm into the rocks ahead causing enough noise for the basilisk to continue right past me. I watched as it slithered by, and a chill went over my body. It truly was a terrifying creature. As soon as I thought it was clear, I made my way back to the great room. Thankfully, Harry was kneeling by Ginny's body, and Voldemort was talking to him, although I couldn't hear exactly what about. Voldemort saw me first.
"Well it appears I was wrong Mr. Potter. You haven't sent your friend to her death, yet." Harry looked up, relieved. I touched his arm when I got to him, in comfort.
"I'm fine. How's Ginny?"
"It's almost complete. Within a few minutes, Ginny Weasley will be dead, and I, Lord Voldemort, will live again." The basilisk came sliding out of one of the tunnels. I saw something glint out of the corner of my eye. I gestured to Harry to show him. Getting up, he went over to the sorting hat, and amazingly pulled out a giant sword. I looked at Harry with eyes wide.
"We can kill it now!" I yelled to ran towards the basilisk, and began fighting for our lives, literally.
"No!" Riddle stepped forward as though he was going to intervene. I pulled my wand on him.
"You didn't take my wand, which was your mistake. You won't be doing anything. You are still a mere memory. If you try to intervene, I'll be forced to as well." I glared, but luckily he knew I was right. He couldn't do anything, yet. Ginny was looking worse and worse, and even though when I tried earlier nothing worked, I could stand by not doing anything. Sitting next to her, but also keeping an eye on Voldemort, I cast charm after charm. I used a heating charm to help warm her body, as she looked half frozen. Cast after cast, I was surprised to notice she wasn't looking any worse. She wasn't looking any better, but she stopped declining. Although I had no idea how or why, and apparently neither did Voldemort.
"How is that even possible?" He whispered coming closer to me. "How did you do that, girl? Who are you?"
Before I could answer, we heard a terrible screech, and saw Harry with the sword shoved through the roof of the basilisk's mouth. Pulling it out, I saw him wince, which wasn't a good sign as his arm was in the mouth of the basilisk. Especially when its venom was so deadly. The basilisk fell with a great thud, and Harry climbed down to walk over to us.
"You were too late. Ginny Weasley is about to die, and so are you it seems. Lord Voldemort is about to return." I watched Harry, albeit weakly, close the diary and raise the basilisk fang in his hand.
"What- what are you doing?" Voldemort stuttered. Harry, with his seeker reflexes which were as quick as lightning, plunged the fang into the diary. As soon as he did that, light came shining out of Riddle's body.
"Do it again, Harry." I whispered, and Harry did. He stabbed the diary more and more, as we watched the memory of Voldemort go up in light. A minute later, Ginny woke with a gasp.
"Harry! It was me. I opened the Chamber of Secrets. I'm so sorry. I don't know how, but he made me do it!" Ginny tried to explain, but cut herself off when she saw Harry's bleeding arm. "You're hurt."
"Ginny, listen to me. You need to go with Ana. She'll get you out of here and to Ron. You're safe."
"I'm not leaving you Harry. We're getting you out of here too." I said resolutely.
Fawkes made his way toward Harry. ":You were brilliant Fawkes, I was just too slow."
I watched as Fawkes leant over Harry, and his eyes welled up with tears. I gasped, "Phoenix tears!" Harry looked at me confused. As the tears fell from Fawkes eyes, onto Harry's injury, the wound started to heal. "Phoenix tears have healing powers, Harry. He saved you."
"Thank you, Fawkes."
The rest of the evening, and even the small bit of school went by in a blur. Fawkes had flown us out of the Chamber, and we were met by Dumbledore. After explaining everything to him, we were sent to the hospital wing, where we remained until right before dinner. Luckily, Hermione was also released, unpetrified, at the same time. I ran to her and hugged her, filling her in on what had happened. The boys chimed in mentioning how brilliant she was, figuring it out so quickly. Sitting down to the final feast was like a giant weight was lifted, especially when Hagrid walked in, freed from Azkaban. The rest of the night was full of laughter and celebration, and it was a perfect way to end the year.
The jubilation lasted until we boarded the train, and I made eye contact with Pansy Parkinson. She was grinning, although it was filled with malice. The weight that was lifted dropped, but even heavier. With everything that had happened, I forgot I was being reported on. I was anything but obedient this year, and I know Father will be furious at my help within the Chamber of Secrets. Feeling sick to my stomach, I sat upon the train, trying to prepare myself for the summer and what was to come.