AUTHORS NOTE: I can only apologise if its not the greatest chapter in the world. I've always found it difficult to write about the chamber of secrets for some reason!

CHAPTER EIGHT

Trixie watched Professor Snape and Madam Pomfrey sweep out of the infirmary after a distressed Professor McGonagall. The Transfiguration professor was so distressed she didn't hear Severus' attempts to explain that he already knew why she was so scared. She was about to collapse onto her bed when she realised that Harry and Ron were no longer in the infirmary; and that neither was the nurse. Barely paying attention to where she was going, the first year began to run. She needed to find her friend, and she needed to find her now.

Figuring the best place to start would be to check the writing on the wall for any hints as to where Ginny was taken, she sprinted through the castle faster than she had ever thought possible. She was on her way, when she spotted Ron and Harry racing toward Moaning Myrtle's bathroom with Professor Lockhart at wand point. Eyes widening, she followed behind them, as silently as she could.

Ginny lay sprawled on the ground, fighting desperately to keep her eyes open and to get back up.

"Still fighting are you? Stupid girl!" the ghost like apparition that was Tom Riddle sneered at her. Ginny tried to move, but she found she couldn't. Her entire body felt like it was on fire, and yet she could do nothing about it; she was growing weaker, and weaker, and Tom was only growing stronger.

"Help..." she managed to breathe out, before succumbing to the darkness "Snape... help... me..."

Trixie gripped her wand tightly as she followed the boys down the slide, landing with a muffled grunt on the back of her Defence Professor, just as he shouted out a spell. She didn't have time to think about what spell he was using as the sudden impact had forced the Professor to his knees, and his curse to hit the roof, sending rocks flying everywhere.

"You stay here, I'll go and find Ginny!" Harry's voice sounded from the other side of the cave in. Ron nodded.

"Right!"

Trixie was too scared to even bother rolling her eyes as the redhead began moving pieces of rock, to create a hole big enough for Harry to make his way back through when he found Ginny.

"Wingardium Leviosa"

Ron dropped the rock he was holding on his foot as he watched a large chunk of stone lift slowly in the air from the top of the pile. He followed it with his eyes until Trixie laid it carefully on the ground next to the terrified Lockhart, who was once again unarmed. Trixie glared at the Professor as he made a lunge for her, her wand in his face immediately, causing him to stumble backwards.

"Immobila" she hissed, and he froze where he stood, one leg in the air. She turned back to Ron.

"If he moves, blast him!"

Ron nodded again, his grip tightening on his wand. A few more levitation spells later, and Trixie was able to scramble through. She raced down the corridor, praying that she wasn't too late.

"You?" Riddle laughed, as Trixie burst into the open cave. Trixie ignored him.

"GINNY!" she cried, racing toward her fallen friend. Tom raised Ginny's wand and pointed it at her.

"Step away" he ordered. Trixie glared at him, raising her own wand and pointing it at him, trying to ignore the sounds that were echoing down the pipes. She just hoped Harry was okay, whatever it was that was keeping him distracted.

"You must be Tom"

Riddle smirked.

"Is it stupidity or bravery?" Trixie didn't answer. "You are just as stubborn as your little friend aren't you?" he asked, twirling the wand in his fingers. "Look at her, still fighting me, keeping me from my full strength..." Trixie was gripping her wand so tightly her fingers were white, as she tried not to shake "but soon that strength will fail!"

"Not if I... I can help it!"

Riddle only laughed again as she stumbled over her words in her fear. She had no doubt he knew she knew who she was facing.

"EXPELLIRAMUS!" she shouted, but her spell was batted casually to the side. She couldn't give up though. She threw every curse and hex she knew, which was sadly not much, again and again, never landing a shot. It was only her quick reflexes that meant she had only been hit by some of his minor cutting hexes, before Riddle grew bored. With a flick of his wand, she was frozen, her wide eyes showing her fear.

"This will be fun" Riddle gave an evil grin. "CRUCIO!"