To be honest I'm not 100% happy with the climax, and I'm not sure if you will be 100% cool with what I did, (as it is against Natsu's fighting style) but I think it's cool seeing Natsu with a different fighting style. Also it's really short.
Anyway, I worked hard on this chapter, so I hope you enjoy! :)
The boys cautiously entered the cavern, their wands swinging round in case something jumped into them. The room was covered in water, snake heads erupting from the sides. Up ahead was the head of a man. Drips echoed through the empty room. Up ahead, were two black lumps lying on the ground. One on the left, one on the right. The boys squinted their eyes to see who it was.
On the right…. Layed Ginny. To the left….. was a beaten and bruised Lucy.
"Ginny!"
"Lucy!"
Harry immediately ran to Ginny's side, Natsu to Lucy. As they both kneeled, they dropped their wands. "Oi! Lucy! Say something! Please! Anything!" Natsu cried, lifting her head, softly shaking her. Her face was hollow, and her body dangerously underweight. Heavy bags were under her eyes, signalling that she didn't sleep at all. Blood was dried on her cheeks and forehead, covering her eyes as well. It was almost something drained the life out of her. "What did they do to you Lucy….?" He gasped, looking up and down her body. "Ginny! Ginny, are you alright?! Please please don't be dead! Wake up! Wake up!" Harry pleaded, copying Natsu's actions.
"They won't wake."
The boys looked up, and noticed a young, tall, slim man walking towards them. "Y-You're him…." Harry whispered as he stood up. "Wait, you know this guy?" Natsu asked, looking at Harry. "Sort of. I found his diary in the Fifth Corridor Bathroom. He showed me what happened fifty years ago…" Harry explained, still staring at the boy. "Hey! What do you mean they won't wake?!" Natsu asked. "They better not be-"
"They are alive. Just barely." The boy interrupted. Natsu's teeth gritted, his fist clenching. "SO YOU WERE HERE ALL ALONG AND YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING?!" He yelled at him. "I am only a memory. Preserve in a diary for fifty years. I couldn't do anything. Even if you wanted to." The boy said. Natsu tisked and looked away, back to Lucy. As he reached for Lucy's cheek, he noticed something move in the corner of his eye. He looked to the right, and saw a human figure. His upper body was hidden in shadows, but his lower body could be seen. He was wearing the Hogwarts uniform. The figure slowly stepped back and exited. Natsu gave a slight tisk and looked at Lucy, who was still out cold. He leaned forward and whispered to her. "I'll be right back Lucy…" And he ran off towards the figure.
Harry looked back down, and began to shake Ginny. "She's ice cold… Please Ginny, don't be dead…." Harry begged. As he did, the boy bent down and picked up Harry's wand. "You have to help me! There's a basilisk!" He pleaded. "It will not come unless it is called." He said calmly. Harry looked up, and saw his wand, being toyed in his hands. "Give me my wand…." Harry said, reaching his hand out. "You won't be needing it." The boy said simply, twirling the wand in his fingers.
"B-But we've got to get out of here! We've got to save them!" Harry said, gesturing to the two unconscious girls. "I'm afraid I can't do that Harry. You see, as poor Ginny grows weaker, I grow stronger." The boy explained. Harry looked away for a moment, then looked back at Tom with a confused look. "Yes Harry. It was Ginny who opened the Chamber of Secrets."
Natsu ducked under the low dip in the ceiling to avoid hitting his head. He stood back up straight, his feet now a bit wet from the puddle he walked through. "Gray? Are you here?" He called out. He sniffed the air, the scent of Gray everywhere. He was definitely here. He kept on walking, until he saw a human shadow standing against a rock.
"No, she couldn't have…" Harry gasped in disbelief. "She wouldn't…" He muttered. "It was Ginny who set the basilisk free on the mudbloods and Filches cat. Ginny who wrote the threatening messages on the walls. Well… not all her. She had a little bit of help…" The boy said with a smirk. "What…?" Harry asked, squinting his eyes in confusion.
Natsu walked closer to the figure, and reached out his palm, igniting a flame on his hand.
"Didn't you know Harry? There was another. One who I saw with immense power. I knew I had to use him. And I knew that Dumbledore would keep him on grounds despite what he told you. He was the perfect pawn along with Ginny." The boy said with a slither.
Natsu reached the shadow. As he lifted his palm, something sharply grabbed his wrist. Natsu gasped, the flame going out. He saw a smile on the figure's face, and his eyes white, iris's small.
CRASH!
Harry gasped and backed away, while the boy stood perfectly still, his body not even jolting. The statue's nose broke, as a human came flying out in dust and stone. Harry widened his eyes at the person. He could recognise that pink hair anywhere. Natsu skidded on his back a bit, before adjusting his balance mid bounce and planted his feet firmly on the ground, a hand on the floor to stop him from skidding. He landed right next to Harry, and wiped his lip with his free hand after he came to a complete stop. "Natsu! Are you okay?!" Harry asked, helping his friend up. "Yeah I'm fine…" Natsu reassured, standing up. "What was that?!" Harry asked, looking at the statue, dust imating from its mouth.
The young man turned around and sighed. "Must you be so reckless?" He said, shaking his head. A sinister chuckle came from the dust, the shadow of a figure could be seen walking through. "Sorry, force of habit…" The figure said with a dark tone. As the dust cleared, Harry's eyes widened. He couldn't believe it.
"Gray…?" He gasped. "I-I thought you were suspended!" Harry called out. "No... " Natsu said, bending over a bit due to the throw. "He's been here the whole time…." He said. "Then that means….. That night…." Harry thought back to the night he and Ron were following the white being. "It wasn't a dream…. But then how could Ron not-" Then it suddenly clicked. "Obliviate…." He gasped. "The figure must've knocked me out, but erased Ron's memories!" He thought.
Gray just stood there with a canine like grin. He then snapped out his wand and ran at full speed towards the intruders, his tongue hanging out like a dog.
"Stay."
Harry and Natsu's eyes in shock as Gray was centimeters away from their face. He gave a soft growl before standing up straight and hung his head low, like a dog obeying his master. Natsu blinked, then gasped as he grabbed Gray's shoulders and began to shake him. "Gray? Gray! Can you hear me?! Are you alright?! Gray!" Natsu pleaded, but to no avail. "He cannot hear you. He is in my control." The boy explained with a straight face. Natsu tisked, and looked at the boy with disgusted eyes. The boy pointed his wand at the statue, and gave it a wave, muttering a chant. Little by little, the stone floated back into place, as if the statue was never broken.
"So you brainwashed Ginny and Gray to do your dirty work…?" Harry gritted. "Indeed. Mister Fullbuster came into the girls bathroom snooping like a rat. So I thought I would put him to use. A slave like all Mudbloods should be. So he became a guard dog. Protecting the Chamber against… unwanted pheasants." The boy said, as he circled around the boys. "Ginny on the other hand was, shall we say say... In a trance. Although, she was afraid of the diary and tried to destroy it in the girls bathroom. And who to find it but you…" The boy said, stopping pointing at Harry with his wand.
"The person I was most anxious to meet. The reason why I let you and your companions in when Gray could have crushed you." Harry tightened his lip and walked up to him. "And why did you want to meet me?" He asked, slightly gritting his teeth. "I knew I had to talk to you. Meet you if I could… So I decided to show you the capture of that brainless oaf Hagrid to gain your trust."
"Hagrid's our friend!" Harry cried, stepping closer to the boy. His face came to a realisation. "And you framed him didn't you?" Harry gritted. "It was my word against Hagrid's. Only Dumbledore believed him innocent." Harry gave a slight and mocking smile. "But he saw right through you didn't he?" He mocked. "He certainly kept an annoyingly close eye on me after that!" The boy spat. "I knew it was too dangerous to open the Chamber again, so I left a diary. Preserving my sixteen year-old self so that one day, I would be able to lead another to finish Salazar Slytherin's noble work!" He declared.
"What about Lucy? She had nothing to do with this!" Natsu asked, trying to restrain himself. The boy stopped and looked at him. "She was… how to say it…. In the wrong place at the wrong time. She saw Ginny write the message. So I had Ginny and Gray bring her here. But there is another reason I brought her down…" He pointed at Natsu with the wand and walked up to him, looking at him straight in the eye. "I sensed something slumbering in you. Something more powerful than any of us could comprehend. I knew you had a connection to this girl… So I wanted to see what you would do if you saw her in such a deplorable state…"
He backed away from the two Gryffindors, who were gritting their teeth. "You bastard…" Natsu growled. "Well, you're not going to finish it this time… In a few hours, the Mandrake Daft will be ready. And everyone who's petrified will band right together." Harry declared. The boy shook his head, looking Harry straight in the eye. "Haven't I told you? Killing Mudbloods doesn't matter to me anymore. For many months now, my target has been you…" Harry breathed sharply.
"How is it, a baby with no magical power survived a curse? How is it you walked away with only a scar? HOW IS IT?! That you defeated on of the greatest wizards of all time?" The boy asked rapidly, before he backed off. "Why do you care? Voldemort was after your time!" Natsu demanded. The boy looked at Natsu and scoffed.
"Voldemort… is my past, present, and future…."
The man spelt his name in the air, etching his name in orange fire. Natsu's eyes widened as he wrote his name.
"His name is..."
Tom.
"Tom."
Marvelo
"Marvelo."
Riddle
"Riddle."
The man swiped his hands, the letters rearranging themselves.
"Also known as…."
The two boys watched, their eyes widened with horror and shock.
"The Lord of Darkness…"
I Am….
"Lord Voldemort."
Lord Voldemort.
Harry and Natsu looked at Tom with widened eyes. "You… You're the Heir of Slytherin…" Harry gasped. Tom turned and gave an evil eye. "You're Voldemort…" Natsu whispered. "Surely you wouldn't think I would keep my FILTHY Muggle father's name." Tom gritted, shaking at the fact that he was a halfblood. He smirked and shook his head. "No… I fashioned myself a new name. A name that I knew that where everyone would walk would one day fear to speak, when I became the greatest sorcerer in the world!" Harry stepped forward with stride, leaning into Tom's face. "ALBUS DUMBLEDORE is the greatest sorcerer in the world!" Natsu rebutted. "Dumbledore's been driven out of this castle by the mere MEMORY of me." Tom slithered. "He'll never be gone! Not as those who remain are loyal to him!" Harry yelled.
There was silence in the room. Tom looked with angry eyes at the boys, Harry and Natsu firing the same shots as him.
"Natsu…." A voice strained. Natsu quickly turned his attention to the voice. He looked down at Lucy, her eyes opening softly. "Lucy? Lucy!" He cried as he swooped down and lifted her head. "It's so cold…. I'm so hungry…. Why is it so dark?"
He gasped sharply as he looked at her eyes. They were bloodshot, her clear chocolate eyes, blinded with cloudiness. "It's so cold…. So dark…"
"Lucy… What happened to you?!" Natsu demanded. "Natsu…? I can hear you…. I can feel you…. But why can't I see you…?" Lucy asked, her voice weaker than a mouse. Natsu's eyes widened further, his pupils dilated. "Natsu…? Are you there…? Is that you….? Natsu…?" Lucy weakly lifted her hand up, her bruised and scratched arm shaking as she tried to find Natsu's cheek.
Natsu looked down, his eyes shaded by his hair as he held Lucy's hand and placed it on his warm cheek. "Yeah. I'm here. It's me Lucy." Natsu said. Lucy gave a weak smile, tears forming in her eyes. "Thank goodness…." She whispered.
"Natsu…. I'm so sorry…" She said, her voice hoarse and weak. Natsu looked at Lucy in shock. "I tried to bring him back….. But I failed….. They took my keys Natsu….. They broke my wand, and my ring…." Natsu looked behind him, noticing little shards of the blue ethernano around them.
"I was too weak to bring them back….. I'm….. such a failure aren't I….?" Lucy's blue tears began to flow from her stinging red eyes. "I don't deserve…. To be in Fairy Tail do I…? If I can't….. Even protect my friends….?" She began to choke, her voice getting softer from the pain. "It hurts… It hurts so badly Natsu…" She said. She gave a cough, but even that light cough made her whole body electrocute with excruciating pain.
Natsu's eyes went dark, before he reached to Lucy for a hug. Lucy was too weak to even have a reaction. "You're not a failure Lucy. I invited you to the guild because I knew you were one of us the moment I met you. Fairy Tail never gives up. And you never did." He whispered.
Lucy's eyes began to roll tears again, her mouth gritting. "Na….tsu…." She whispered. Natsu released her from her hug, and placed her gently on the ground. "Get some rest. I'll take it from here." He assured her. Lucy formed a weak smile, as Natsu's warm hands placed her down. She could here his footsteps walk away. "Thank you…." She whispered, a final tear rolling down her cheek, as she passed out.
Everyone watched, as Natsu's footsteps echoed towards Tom. His face was obscured with darkness. "Natsu?" Harry asked, watching Natsu walk, but not moving from Ginny's side.
"You brainwashed Gray to do your dirty work…."
Gray watched with a sinister smile, as Natsu came forward.
"You made Lucy suffer and tortured her for hours…."
Lucy laid motionless on the ground, as if in a deep sleep.
"You dragged innocent people into this…"
Harry watched, Ginny still laying motionless, while Ron was waiting anxiously with an amnesiac phoney.
He grabbed the sleeve of his uniform, and took it off in one fell swoop. His top had a full sleeve on his left, and short sleeved on his right, white baggy pants and sandals, with a white scarf floating in the air.
"You have made the greatest mistake of making us your enemy…" Natsu growled, bringing his right fist up. His fist clenched and and tucked it sharply into his body. His arms bulging in muscle and veins.
"NOW YOU GOTTA DEAL WITH US!"
Tom merely smirked and shook his head. "I must say Dragneel. I was so looking forward to you releasing whatever you had in you. How disappointing…" Tom held up his hand and clicked his fingers. A flash zoomed in, Natsu feeling some kind of push against his chest. His back then felt the hard surface of rocks. He could then feel himself fall, his back skidding the dirt.
"NATSU!" Harry yelled, watching the rubble fly from where Natsu was pushed back to. "EXPELLIARMUS!" Harry swiftly looked forward, before being blown away. His back skidded the wet floor, his shoulder hurting a bit. "Tsk tsk tsk. Eyes on your own enemy Potter!" Tom spat.
Natsu groaned as he stood up, facing his friend and rival. "Damn you Gray…" He gritted. Gray smirked and walked up to him casually, flicking his arms out gesturing to the whole room. "We're all alone Natsu." He said, twirling around the big room, the size of the Grand Magic Games arena. "We can release our magic here…." Gray said, putting his hands together. A icy blue glow erupted from his hands, forming sword like weapons of ice on his forearm. "And finally see who is the strongest!" He declared with a mad eye. Natsu tisked and flicked his arms, his hands and arms erupting in flames. "I'm going to bring you back Gray! I don't want to do this, but if the only way to bring you back, then I'm gonna beat the living crap out of you!" Natsu yelled, as the two long rivals ran towards each other, Natsu with a roar, Gray with a psycho smile.
Tom turned around and stretched out his hand. He chanted Parseltongue, and turned back to Harry. The mouth of the statue opened with a grinding sound. "Now let's match the power of Lord Voldemort, heir of Salazar Slytherin, against the famous. Harry. Potter."
Harry's face began to worry. He scuttled back and stood up to run. He could hear a giant slither, and a continuous splash of something. Something big. He knew it was the basilisk, and had to move. Harry tried to say something in Parseltongue, but to no avail. "Parseltongue won't save you now! The basilisk only responds to me!" Harry kept running, hearing the basilisk slithering closer, its hiss itching closer and closer. Harry suddenly tripped and fell forward, his glasses falling off.
He scrambled to find his glasses, but once he found his glasses, he could feel the basilisk towering above him. He tried to move, but found that for some reason he just couldn't. This was it. It was all over for him.
"HARRY!" Harry gasped and looked up, seeing Happy fly in, carrying a brown fabricated object. Behind him was Fawkes, who immediately swooped down on the basilisk and scratched his eyes out. Harry gasped, watching the phoenix scatch the fowl snake's eyes out. "No!" Tom cried.
"Harry! Here!" Happy flew down to Harry and dropped something in front of Harry. "What is this?" Harry asked, looking at Happy. "Dumbledore told me to bring that down! Said it would help you fight!" Happy yelled in a panic. Harry observed the hat, then looked at Happy confused. "How is this meant to help me?!" He yelled, needing to know. "He just said take it to Harry!" Happy cried. Harry sighed and used the strings attached to the hat to tie around his waist.
"You may have blinded the basilisk, but it can still hear you!" Tom yelled with anger. Harry turned around, finally seeing the basilisk for what it was. It was like a wingless dragon. It's scales grey and dull. Its mouth had three sets of bloody, brown teeth. Harry panted loudly, and tried to stand up without a sound. But the basilisk heard him, its face in Harry's direction. He put his hand up in defence, as the basilisk moved in for the kill.
He suddenly felt like he was picked up and moved aside. He moved his hands out of his face to see what was going on. He saw the basilisk far away shaking its head, his body moving at a fast speed. He looked down, noticing that his feet weren't on the ground. He looked behind and noticed he had…. Wings? He turned further and noticed Happy had picked him up and flew him away from the basilisk just as it struck.
"Happy!" Harry yelled with relief. Happy put Harry down as soon as they were far away from the snake. "Happy listen to me! Natsu is in danger! He's fighting Gray right now! Go and help him!" Harry ordered. Harry pointed to the hole which cased caused by Natsu and Gray. "He's in there! I can take it from here!"
"Aye sir!" Happy saluted and flew off towards Natsu.
"Fire Dragon…. ROAR!" Natsu roared, putting his hands to his mouth, releasing a fire tyrant. Gray swiftly dodged and ran towards Natsu. He put his right hand on on his forearm and slid it down his arm over his hand. As his hand ran down his arm, a shield of thick ice formed. Once his mold finished, it looked like a sword formed on his arm. He reached Natsu, and attempted to kick him in the waist, which Natsu dodged by jumping back. Gray swung his ice weapon in his face, Natsu managing to dodge by leaning back. Natsu used his gravity to round off and take a fighting stance.
"Fire Dragon, IRON FIST!" Natsu chanted, hitting his ice weapon. Gray blocked it, but in the process, melted his weapon. When the weapon melted through, Natsu managed to punch his fist in Gray's face, forcing him to fly back. Once Gray was up against the wall, Natsu took the opportunity and reached for his wand. But he couldn't find it. He gasped, realising he must've dropped it in all the communication.
"Ice Make…." Natsu gasped, looking at Gray who had a bazooka made of ice on his shoulder. "BAZOOKA!" He yelled, a light of blue shooting from the end. Natsu put his hands up in a block, ready to take it on. But then he felt his body lifting. The blast hit the wall, Natsu seeing the aftermath of the blast. "Happy!" He smiled, looking at his friend. "Thanks!" He smiled. "How'd you get through the entrance is blocked!" Natsu asked. "There's a few tunnels that's just big enough for me to fit. Anyway, I told the others. They'll be here in fifteen minutes!" Happy informed.
"Great! I knew I could count on you!" Natsu praised. "Ice Make…. Spear!" Spears began to erupt from the floor, making Happy fly around to dodge them. "Happy! Leave Gray to me! Go find the others and show them how you got here!" Natsu ordered. "But Harry-" Happy began. "It's fine! I got this!" Happy stayed silent, then nodded and dropped Natsu. "Fire Dragon…. ROAR!" Natsu chanted, melting all the spears as he fell. He landed on Gray and the two began to engage in a fist to fist fight.
Gray kicked him off, and punched him in the face, Gray's face filled with bloodthirsty delight. Natsu skidded back and ran forward, his fist ignited. Gray frosted his fist and punched Natsu's flame fist, causing an explosion. The ground rumbled and cracked as the two contacted fists. Natsu gritted his teeth, staring at Gray with angry, but pleading eyes. Gray's face was smiling wide, his eyes small and bloodthirsty.
"Gray! I know you're in there! So please knock it off!" Natsu pleaded. Gray just growled, and kicked him in the waist. As Natsu ran forward again, Gray just smiled and jumped up. As Gray did, a crash erupted through the wall. Natsu felt a human size item bump into them, and rolled back. He gasped and looked around. He saw Harry on the floor, rubbing his head. Next to him was a sword encrusted with gold and ruby.
Both of them stood up, Natsu wiping his mouth, while Harry picked up his sword. "Where did you get that?" Natsu asked, watching the snake slither and coil around the two, while Gray landing in front of them, smiling that evil smile, cracking his knuckles. He flicked out his wand and licked his lips, looking at the Gryffindors. "Dumbledore gave it to me through Happy. Said it was to help me fight. Fawkes also blinded the basilisk, so it's safe to look at him." Harry explained, taking a fighting stance pointing the sword all around, Natsu taking a fighting stance looking at Gray. The two touched backs, keeping an eye out for each other.. "So we need to beat it with a sword?" Natsu questioned. "I think so…." Harry admitted, keeping his guard up. "Well then. It's a good thing Erza taught us what we know!" Natsu smirked.
He held his hand out flat by his side, a sword similar to Erza's Heaven's Wheel Armour attack appearing in his hand. "I gotta admit. I ain't comfortable with swords but if it's the only thing we can beat it guess I have no choice." He sighed, pointing the sword at Gray. Harry looked at the sword Natsu had, confused. "Where'd you get the sword? I thought Professor Scarlett said we weren't ready for real ones yet!" Harry asked. "Swiped it when she wasn't looking." Natsu smirked.
Harry gave a little bit of a smirk. "She's going to kill you when she finds out." He said. "Well I'm dead either way." He smirked. "Now let's defeat this thing and get Gray and the others back!" Natsu yelled.
The basilisk struck Natsu first, forcing Natsu to block with the sword. "NATSU!" Harry yelled, but Gray ran up to him and kicked him over. Harry gasped, as Gray was in mid flight, about to jump on him. Harry managed to roll away in time. And good thing he did, as when Gray landed, the ground beneath him cracked. Harry scuttled up, panting at the sight. Gray stood up, a dark look on his face. His eyes flashed red as he looked at Harry, a sickly smile forming on his lips. Harry gulped and readied himself.
Meanwhile, Natsu was blocking blow after blow from the basilisk. He tisked as he was being forced back due to its size and attacks. The basilisk hissed and went for a nose dive. Natsu jumped as it hit the ground, landing on its back. He ran up the foul thing, trying to slice it with the sword. But the scales were too tough. He tisked once more and jumped up. He looked at Harry, who had his back turned on Natsu.
"Fire Dragon… WINGED ATTACK!" Natsu chanted in his mind, his hands igniting with flame whips. He struck the beast, but its scales was like its perfect defence system. He tisked and landed back down. He looked at Harry again, who seemed like he didn't notice a thing. Which was good.
"Ugh!" Harry grunted, rolling over to Natsu. "What's wrong?! I thought you were The-Boy-Who-Lived! Surely you can do better than that!" Gray taunted, spreading his arms in a mocking tone, as the head of the basilisk slid over Gray's shoulder. "Gray enough! This is getting out of hand and you know it!" Natsu yelled, swinging his arm down. Gray only laughed at his attempt, Natsu growling in annoyance.
"Natsu, we have to hurry! If we don't Ginny will die and Voldemort will return!" Harry pleaded, holding up the sword. Natsu growled at the information, giving Gray and the basilisk a dirty look. "We have to find a weak spot on that thing! The scales are as hard as iron! It's impossible to pierce!" Natsu said in a panic, gesturing towards the basilisk.
Gray gave a smirk, when all of a sudden, he felt a strong pulse within him. He held his head in confusion and pain, doubling over. Natsu and Gray looked at him in shock and worry. "Gray?!" Natsu gasped. Gray lifted his head up, his face sweating bullets.
"Natsu…." He gasped. He lifted his finger into his mouth, and pressed it against his roof. Harry's eyes widened in realisation. Gray gave a final scream, and bended over again panting. He slithered back up, before giving Harry and Natsu a look of murder with his bloodshot eyes.
"That's it! Natsu! When the basilisk opens its mouth, strike!" Harry yelled, still looking at the basilisk. Natsu, confused, just agreed to it and readied his sword along with Harry. "KILL THEM!" Gray shouted, excitement in his voice and stretched his arm to Harry and Natsu. The basilisk forced itself at its maximum speed, its jaw open for the kill.
Harry and Natsu stood their ground, waiting…. waiting… waiting….
"NOW!" Harry screamed. The boys yelled as they thrusted their swords through the basilisk's roof of its mouth. The basilisk, shocked, began to scream and shake its head from side to side. Harry and Natsu were taken for the ride, Harry feeling like something sharp sliced his arm. He yelped in pain, holding his arm, but managed to pull out his weapon and jump down in time with Natsu, before the basilisk began banging its head against the walls, before sliding back out into the main area.
The boys could hear the creature scream and splash, before it went silent. Harry dropped his sword, while Natsu sent the sword back into his pocket dimension. Harry looked down at his arm, a tooth stuck in. He pulled it out, feeling dizzy, but he had to move. "Ginny…" He muttered, running towards where she was. Gray, now angry, slid in front of him blocking the exit. He began to pull out his wand to cast a spell, but a figure ran towards Gray and pinned him down. Harry stopped to look at what happened. Natsu had pinned Gray down to let Harry through.
"Go save Ginny! I can handle Gray!" Natsu declared. "GET OFF ME!" Gray screamed, wiggling to try get out of Natsu's grasp. "GET GOING!" Natsu yelled. Harry nodded and ran off, stumbling along the way. Gray managed to hit Natsu in the face with the back of his head, Natsu flying off him. Gray stood up, Natsu rubbing his nose as he stood up as well. Gray gave a deadly snare at his long term rival, Natsu giving the same look.
Gray's finger twitched, and in a flash, he whipped out his wand and pointed it at Natsu. "IMMOBULUS!" Gray yelled. Natsu's body began to stiffen, as if he was freezing. Suddenly, his body couldn't move. He could only blink. Gray snickered and walked over to his rival. "You know I could have done this from the very beginning…. But what would be the fun in that…?" He sneered, tapping his wand on Natsu's nose. "I guess we finally found out who is the strongest." He provoked, backing away a bit, before pointing his wand at Natsu's chest. "And now… this is the end…" He said, softly.
By the time Harry reached Ginny, he was crawling with only his arms. "It's amazing isn't it? How quickly the venom of the basilisk penetrates the body." Harry looked at the tooth he was still holding, then back at Tom. "I guess you have a little more than a minute to live. You'll be with your dear Mudblood mother soon Harry." Harry could slowly feel his head pounding and emptying at the same time. He looked at Ginny and grabbed her hand.
"Funny." Tom scoffed. "How much damage one silly little book can do. Especially in the hands of a silly. Little. Girl!" He spat. Harry looked at the diary, and pulled it out of Ginny's hands and opened it. "What are you doing?" Tom asked. Harry looked at the tooth, and looked at Tom, the tooth over the diary.
"Avada…" Gray chanted, a sickly green glow coming from the tip of his wand.
"No stop!" Tom yelled, trying to get to the diary. But it was too late. Harry pierced the diary with all his might. Ink spilled out from the book like blood. It squirted everywhere as if it were a blood vein. Tom stepped back, a golden glow coming from his stomach.
"Keda-" Gray gasped, another pulse came from Gray's chest. He dropped his wand and kneeled. His hands were at his throat, as if he were struggling to breath. His gasps became hoarse and thin, like something was trying to get out.
Harry gave the diary another pierce. And another and another, and another. Tom screamed as holes of gold tore through his image. He held onto his face, screaming in pain. Harry closed the book and gave it one final stab, before Tom Marvolo Riddle burst into particles of light and fizzled away.
Gray looked at the ceiling, taking a deep breath in. As he breathed out, a black cloud escaped his mouth and eyes. As it floated away, it disappeared into black particles. Gray's eyes rolled back, and he landed on the ground face first. Natsu didn't know how to react. He could then feel his finger twitching, then his whole body was free. He flopped to the ground in exhaustion, panting.
Gray's eyes snapped open, coughing and gagging. "Gray!" Natsu cried and stumbled over to him. He held Gray up by the shoulder, shaking him a bit. "Gray are you alright?" He asked. Gray looked up with a groan. His eyes were tired, his body a bit thin. "Natsu… did you do it…?" He asked. "Yeah we did." Natsu nodded. Gray smiled and gave him a light punch on the shoulder. "I knew you could do it." He praised.
"Lucy!" Natsu realised, and stood up to run to Lucy. "Wait, what about Lucy?" Gray asked, standing up. He then winced and held his rib. "Gray!" Natsu yelled, and caught him, just as he was about to fall. "T-Thanks Natsu…" Gray winced. "Don't mention it." Natsu smiled, carrying him out.
When the boys immerged, they saw an awake Ginny and Harry around Lucy. Gray gasped, calling her name out, and limped towards his injured team mate. "Lucy…" He cried, shaking her shoulders. Ginny turned around, seeing Natsu run up to her as well. "Natsu, we didn't mean to put her in danger… Tom was controlling us!" Ginny defended. "Don't worry, I know it's not your fault." Natsu said calmly, looking at Lucy. "Hey, why's Fawkes crying on her?" Natsu asked, pointing at the bird. "Fawkes has healing powers in his tears. He healed my wound from the basilisk. But it's not effective enough." Harry explained. Natsu tisked, and looked down. Gray looked down as well, gritting his teeth and hands were clenched. How could he let this happen? To his own teammate?
"Natsu…?" A soft voice groaned from below. Everyone looked down, and exclaimed their relief. "Lucy!" Everyone yelled in happiness. "Is it…. Over…?" She gasped. Natsu smiled and held her hand. "Yeah. It's over. It's just a memory." He smiled. She smiled, her pure white teeth showing. "Thank goodness…." She said, a tear rolling down her face, and closed her eyes, finally at peace.
"This is incredible! Almost like magic!" Lockhart exclaimed happily as Fawkes lifted him, Harry, Ron, and Ginny, while Happy carried Gray first, Natsu and Lucy waiting at the bottom. They finally saw the moonlight, and they were finally out of the Chamber. The teachers waiting gathered round the missing students. "Gray, oh thank goodness!" Mira exclaimed, pulling him into a hug. All the fairies gathered around Gray, hugging him with tears and relief that he was alright. Although he was a little underweight at least he was alive. "Ginny are you alright?" Minerva asked in calmness and relief, cupping her face in her hands. Ginny nodded, although a little shaken. Minerva sighed and turned to the school nurse. "Take them all to the infirmary. Make sure there are no more anomalies in them." Minerva ordered.
Pomfrey nodded and gently ushered the injured into the castle for examination. Except for Harry who was stopped for questioning.
"So what happened down there? Where's Natsu?" Erza asked, the other teachers standing behind her. Harry looked down in dismay. "Well…" He started. "I'm right here." A voice called from behind Harry. Everyone looked at the person behind him. They all gasped in horror, their eyes losing their shine. There stood Natsu, and in his arms was Lucy. Thin and weak.
"Lucy…." Mira gasped. "What happened to her?!" Levy cried, hands to her mouth. "We need to give her immediate treatment, stat!" Wendy declared. Erza walked up to Natsu and took Lucy in her arms. "We'll put her under care immediately!" Erza said, heading towards the castle. Natsu looked at Lucy one last time, before being blocked by the teachers, their questions fuzzy to Natsu's ears.
"Lucy…."