A.N.- I want to thank you all for being so patient with me and your support. Being sick really sucks and is not fun at all! I really don't like hospitals.

I know I have spelling errors for which I apologize, but I stated on my profile that I am DYSLEXIC. I think I do pretty well not misspelling every other word. When I am tired, stressed, or sick, my dyslexia rears it's head and I screw up more than usual.

Now, on with the story!

Italic sentences = sentences being written in Tom Riddle's Diary

Chapter Twelve

The next day at breakfast Cassian wrote two notes. Draco showed him how to fol them into cranes. Cassian sent one to Hermione at the Ravenclaw table and one to Ron at the Gryffindore table. He watched them read his notes and smiled at Hermione's chagrined expression. He grinned at the scowl the red head sent his way as he crumpled the note in anger and disgust.

Draco arched a brow, but Cassian shook his head. The blond had pieced together that Crabbe and Goyle had been impersonated when the two showed up more confused than usual. They had told the blond that they'd woken in a broom cupboard. They hadn't been able to recall how they ended up there.

When Draco heard that he'd accused Cassian, "You knew!"

"Yes." He hadn't seen any reason to deny it. "It was amusing."

Of course, he did have to reassure the blond that he had not helped them. Draco had narrowed his eyes when he realized just exactly who pretended to be his two goons. He scowled and Cassian asked him to give them an unbiased chance.

"They're not that bad really. Well, Ron, maybe. You have to admit it was clever and worthy of Slytherin."

Draco had given a noncommittal noise.

"It was Hermione who masterminded the whole thing."

The blond looked at him, then turned away but Cassian knew that meant Draco was giving it some thought.

"Incoming," Harry warned.

Cassian looked up and caught the paper crane. Unfolding it he read Hermione's reply. Neatly under her writing he wrote a reply back. Refolding the crane he sent it back to the the Ravenclaw. He looked up to see Draco watching him. "What?"

"What are you going to do today?"

"Read and research in the library."

"What are you researching? You spend more time int eh library than a Ravenclaw."

Cassian blinked at him consideringly. He was actually researching Slytherin's lineage as well as trying to find anything that would explain Harry. That stupid Edward Clogg, the ghost who haunted the quidditch pitch was nothing but an annoyance. Myrtle had told him the ghost was obsessed with quidditch, but he hadn't realized to what extent. The ghost was way past obsessed. It wouldn't speak of anything but quidditch.

"I'm trying to find who here at school could be descended from Slytherin."

Draco stared at him then asked, "Any luck so far?"

Cassian shook his head. He had hit a dead end. "Not really. I've gotten to where Slytherin's descendants merged with another family, changing their surname."

Draco frowned. "Maybe you missed someone? A half-blood no one spoke of or a squib that was disowned."

Cassian and Harry both stared at him.

"What? It's been known to happen. There was a Malfoy who was a squib and disowned. His children were proper wizards though and accepted back into the family even though he never was."

Cassian thunked his head down on the table and gave a groan. If he had to start over or even just backtracking would take forever! Even with Harry's reluctant help. Giving into his mood, he petulantly stated, "I don't wanna do this again."

Draco chuckled at his cousin who frowned at him. It was almost like when they were little again. "We can help."

"We?" Cassian didn't raise his head, just turned it to stare at the blond.

"Crabbe, Goyle, and I." At Cassian's skeptical look Draco rolled his eyes. "They may seem to be so slow as to be moving backwards, but once they grasp something, they understand it."

"You sure Professor Snape didn't pass them because Crabbe and Goyle Sr. could twist him into a pretzel?"

Draco snorted. "Professor Snape is a dueling champion. You really think he'd be afraid of them?"

"If he didn't have his wand, yes. Never underestimate the damage stupid people can do. Look at Lockhart. The man's a moron,yet has people eating out of his hand. As a result, none of us are having a proper education in Defense Against the Dark Arts this year."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Surprisingly, it went a lot faster with Draco's help. With Hermione and Neville helping as well, it went by even quicker. When the Ravenclaw found what he and Draco were up to, she volunteered her help. She seemed more inclined to let bygones be bygones. She and Draco had a grudging truce and the blond made sure Crabbe and Goyle understood to leave the non-Slytherin's alone, for now. Neville quit being quite so jumpy when he realized he didn't need to fear being hexed by the three newcomers. Ron on the other hand could not accept the truce for what it was, still believing it to be a trick of some kind. As a result, things were tense whenever the red head was around, until Ron decided to avoid them and the library for the time being.

As Cassian wrote down another name to investigate as a potential descendant of Slytherin, he quietly asked, "What exactly is the deal between you and Ron Weasley anyway?"

Draco and he were in a secluded area of the library by themselves. The others were scattered in different sections of the library. The blond answered automatically without thinking. "He's a poor excuse of a wizard just like the rest of his blood traitor of a family."

"Draco." Cassian's voice was icy. The other looked at him and flinched. "Want to rethink and restate that?"

Draco swallowed. He had automatically replied how he was told and taught to reply. He really was trying to stop, but it was hard. Every time he realized he was spouting what he'd been told to think by his father, it left a bad taste in his mouth. He wanted to form his own opinion on things.

"What's the real reason for your animosity?" Cassian's voice wasn't so cold, just inquiring.

Draco returned his book to the shelf then turned to face his cousin. Gray eyes distant and angry, scowl on his face. Almost childishly he stated, "He started it!"

Glancing around to be sure they were the only ones around, Draco lowered his voice and told Cassian exactly why he disliked the Gryffindore so much. According to the blond, he met Ron when they were young, a year or so before he met Cassian.

How, when Draco was younger, he was taken to a tumbling class. At Cassian's confused look, he was told it was like gymnastics, basically.

"Ah."

When his class was over, Draco's mother would then take him to a play park. There were a few other children whose parents were witches and wizards that were also there. Ron Weasley was one of them. The red head's grandmother brought him to the play park every weekend. The two had become friends of a sort, playmates. But then once the red head didn't come. When he did show up the next weekend Ron stated that he couldn't be friends with Draco anymore.

Draco had demanded, "Why not?"

Ron's reply was that he wouldn't be coming to the play park anymore. "My brother Percy told me you were bad. That your family's bad and I shouldn't play with you."

Outraged and hurt, Draco had shoved Ron to the ground and told his mother that he no longer wanted to come to the play park anymore.

Cassian thought he understood now. Draco did not take kindly to rejection, especially when to him it wasn't based on anything.

Draco scowled. "The Weasel even had the audacity to forget our friendship."

"So, that's the reason," Harry murmured.

Ron had been one of Draco's earliest friends not coerced or forced upon him by his family. Then the red head had spurned his friendship and forgot all about Draco. So, when they met up years later in Hogwarts, Draco retaliated the only way he knew how. He made Ron acknowledge him by any means necessary. It didn't' help that by then Lucius had begun brainwashing him and indoctrinating him int eh superiority of the pure-bloods.

"Why do you dislike the Weasel?"

"Oh, it's quite simple really," Cassian replied shelving the books he'd been using. "I don't like him. He's irritatingly simpleminded in how he views things. He's very closed minded. He's also a naive brat."

"You're not saying that just because he insulted your Gryffindore friend?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Longbottom and I chatted while you were in hospital."

"That's only a small almost insignificant reason." Sighing, Cassian stared blankly ahead, not really reading the bindings of the books in front of him. Absently he pulled one off the shelf and opened it. Eyes staring at the page but not seeing it, he quietly stated, "He doesn't realized that you can't simply divide everything, especially people into two groups: Good or Evil, Light or Dark, Love or Hate. He doesn't realize there are middle grounds. Most people walk a tightrope between the two extremes. People whether they want to admit it or not are in the third category. We more or less live the in the gray shaded area."

"Are you still talking about Ron?" Harry asked.

"I think I found something!" Hermione's excited chatter had both boys looking over to where she came from. Seeing their expressions, she apologized realizing she'd interrupted something.

"It's alright." Cassian's voice was neutral as was his face once more. "What'd you find?"

"Well, the last known descendant of Salazar Slytherin was a family by the name of Gaunt. Marvolo Gaunt bragged about the fact, never trying to keep it hidden from anyone."

"Gaunt?" Draco's expression and tone was of one trying to recall or place a saying.

"You've heard of them?" Cassian asked incredulously.

"I know I've heard that surname before." The blond frowned then snapped his fingers. "Longbottom!"

"Y-yes?" Neville had just come over to see if they found anything.

"Get Crabbe and Goyle."

"Why me?"

Draco and Cassian both wore identical expressions as they looked at Neville. The Gryffindore sighed and went to where he last thought he saw the two. Hermione was curiously looking at the two Slytherins before her. How could two of the most thick headed students to come through Hogwarts be of help?

When Neville returned with Crabbe and Goyle, Draco immediately turned to the latter. "You once told me about the Gaunts, didn't you?"

Goyle nodded. "My grandparents were talking about them. They were all crazy."

"Details, Goyle. We need details."

"Um..." Goyle thought and Cassian wondered how long this would take. Granted, Goyle was the smarter between the two lumps, but still. It was fascinating though. You could actually see when the light bulb came on in Goyle's mind.

"The Gaunts were poor. Poorer than the Weasleys."

"Just get on with it, Goyle!" Draco snapped.

"Right, sorry. Well, the son, Muffin? I don't think that's his name." At Draco's expression, Goyle pressed on. "Muffin was brought in front of the Ministry at lot. Always for harassing and attacking Muggles. He was sent to Azkaban for killing a Muggle family who lived close by."

"How long ago did this happen?" Cassian asked. If the man was still alive...

"Fifty years ago? It was all the talk when my grandparents were at Hogwarts."

Hermione, Cassian, and Draco looked at each other.

"Were there any other relatives? Brothers,sister, children, parents?" Hermione excitedly asked.

Goyle appeared to be thinking about it. Finally, his face went slack as he shrugged.

"What was the name of the Muggle family?" Cassian asked. If he could find that out and where they resided, it might narrow down the search. People liked to gossip and if he could ask around and talk to the Muggles...

Goyle just stared blankly back. Cassian sighed. "Well, that's that. The well's empty."

"At least we have more to go on," Hermione replied optimistically.

"Hmn," was all Cassian said.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Cassian awoke in a cold sweat, sitting bolt upright, mouth open in a silent scream. He tried to get his breathing back under control. Scowling, he shoved the covers off himself as he stood. Draco watched from slitted eyes. He'd always been a light sleeper and had awoken when his cousin had first began to thrash. It seemed his cousin had two types of nightmares; mild and really bad. Tonight's seemed to be one of his really bad ones.

Draco didn't know what he should do; continue to feign sleep or ask if Cassian wanted to talk about it. When they were little, Draco hadn't known what to do either when Cassian woke up crying. Back then, Draco had thought it was because Cassian missed his mother. He had heard the other boy utter that word once when having a nightmare.

Before Draco could make up his mind, Cassian had left their room. He waited a good ten minutes then went to the Common Room. There was no sign of Cassian. Putting on a robe he picked up Cassian's kitten that was pawing at the entrance to the Slytherin Common Room. He took it to their dormitory and placed it on Cassian's bed.

"Stay put."

Draco then exited the Slytherin dormitories to talk with their Head of House. The blond had only told the professor of his concern of Cassian's lack of sleep and nightmares. Yet, he had never told the professor about the more severe night terrors Cassian had. Tonight he would confide in his Head of House. He would also write to his mother.

Severus was on his way to see the headmaster when he spotted one of his students out of bed. "Might I inquire as to why you are not in your Common Room, Mr. Malfoy?"

The blond jumped, startled. "Professor, I was coming to see you."

Severus arched a brow. Draco shifted uncomfortably. "It's about Cassian, professor."

At this, Severus led the boy to his office which conveniently wasn't too far away. There Draco told him of Cassian's history of nightmares. Severus frowned as he listened. It appeared as if Ashwood's nightmares progressively got worse as he got older.

"Tonight was one of his worser ones." Draco told him about the other boy's silent screaming. "I don't know if he had a silencing spell around him or not, sir."

"Thank you, Mr. Malfoy. Where is Mr. Ashwood, now?"

"I don't know, sir."

Nodding, Severus told Draco to go back to the common room. Frowning, the Potions Master deemed it even more important that he speak with the headmaster.

Severus had been keeping an eye on his student since the Dueling Club incident. The boy had been spending a lot more time in the library than anywhere else. Ashwood had seemed in better spirits after Christmas. He was even carrying around a kitten. Dumbledore had found it amusing. Severus had also seen a bit of relief in the man's eyes.

Entering the headmaster's office he nodded a greeting to Dumbledore.

"Ah, Severus. What couldn't wait until morning?"

"I've some unsettling information I've come across."

"Oh?"

"I originally wanted to speak to you about a student using an unused classroom without permission. That student is using it to brew and stock Calming Draught, Dreamless Sleep, Draught of Peace, and Sleeping Draught. It looks like whoever it is, is trying to make Essence of Murtlap as well. There is also evidence of bruise and burn healing pastes."

Dumbledore gazed at him quizzically. "We have those in the hospital wing, do we not?"

Severus nodded. "I found The Healer's Helpmate among a bunch of books that have been banned due to their 'dark' subject matters."

Dumbledore steepled his fingers in thought. "Am I right to assume you have a guess to whom it might be?"

Again Severus nodded. "I believe it even more after speaking with one of my Slytherins."

Severus then relayed what he'd been told by Draco. The headmaster looked troubled as he listened. Quietly and grave Dumbledore commented, "Perhaps or talk is overdue."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The day before the students were due back from the holidays, Cassian was outside due to Harry's insistence. He was absently staring across the Black Lake humming softly.

"I haven't heard that in a long time."

Cassian jumped, startled and glared at Harry who gave him a sheepish look. Turning back to the headmaster, expression blank.

"It's a lullaby if I'm not mistaken."

"I wouldn't know, sir. I don't recall the words, just the tune." Cassian wanted to know why the man was out here. He eyed Dumbledore warily.

"Did your parents sing it to you?"

Cassian's eyes narrowed and Dumbledore didn't miss the almost imperceptible clenching of muscles before relaxing.

"What exactly do you want, sir?"

"To finish your conversation we had started last term."

"I believe you let me go, professor."

"I had hoped you would willingly talk with me."

Cassian turned cold to Dumbledore's surprise. Even his voice became cooler as he inquired, "And why would I do that? I have nothing to say to you, professor."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Professor Snape has informed me about a classroom being used without permission. You wouldn't know anything about it, would you?"

Cassian struggled to keep his face neutral as he blinked before replying, "No,sir."

Dumbledore gazed into the boy's eyes before Cassian blinked and cast a quick non-verbal Legilimens. Since he was a master of Legilimency, he was able to do it without the boy knowing he had done so. What he saw shocked him a great deal.

"I see," Dumbledore murmured.

At his more sombre tome and expression, Cassian's eyes narrowed, suspicious and paranoia raising. What did the old man mean? Was he going to call Cassian on his lie? Cassian was certain Dumbledore knew it was him that was using that classroom. Now that it had been found, he would need to find another place to make his potions and read his books. That is if the books weren't confiscated.

Cassian also did not like what the those potions revealed to the men about him. He glanced over at Harry grateful that he wasn't wearing an 'I told you so' look. Harry had suggested they use a place like Myrtle's bathroom. The Ravenclaw ghost wouldn't give them away if found. The unused classroom was in the dungeons. It would have been obvious only a Slytherin would be using it.

"Don't stay out here too long, Cassian. You don't want to catch a cold before the new term starts."

"No, sir." Cassian stared, puzzled after the man.

Dumbledore went straight to his office and immediately placed his memories of his conversation with the boy into his pensieve. He then was able to view the glimpses of memory from the boy better and at a slower pace.

The first memory was of two boys about nine or ten years old sitting at the base of a tree. The boy with his knees drawn up to his chest, was obviously Cassian. The boy beside him resting a comforting hand on his shoulder was the one who caught Dumbledore's attention. Messy black hair and striking green eyes reminiscent of his parents; Harry Potter.

"I hate her!" Cassian's venomously stated, eyes more gold than green, hatred etched on his face. "I wish she would just die already!"

The second memory was of Cassian and Harry running through the crowded streets of London. Harry's look was one of exasperation and a trace of fear. Cassian's was one of excitement and the thrill of the chase.

The next memory was of Cassian and Harry sitting in a tree in the Jenkins' yard and receiving the letter from Draco Malfoy.

Fear and apprehension were clear on both boys' faces. Cassian had looked to Harry with a hopeless look. Harry was the one to suggest writing to either Dumbledore or Snape. Cassian didn't appear to like it, but Harry pulled rank, stating he was older. Cassian had frowned and relented. He wanted to write to Snape but Harry said they should write to Dumbledore.

"He's the headmaster and he has more clout than Professor Snape. He's bound to have connections," Harry pointed out.

The last memory was of Cassian and Harry sitting on the roof. The discussion with Draco and then both Harry and Cassian jumping from the roof. Then looking up and laughing at Draco's expression. The exuberance clearly shining in Cassian's eyes.

Dumbledore sat back in his chair in deep thought. Many emotions and thoughts were going through the old wizard. Relief and boy at Harry obviously being alive. Confusion as to why Harry wasn't letting himself be known and why he had not shown up on the magical registry. How and when did Cassian and Harry's paths cross? If Cassian was not Harry, then how could the boy speak Parseltongue? Had he somehow missed something vital? Worried that he had and concerned for Cassian.

He would definitely have to keep an eye on the boy. There was a talk he needed to have with Severus as well. It appeared that Harry had been at Malfoy Manor at least in the memory Dumbledore glimpsed. Somehow, Draco had not seen Harry. It could have been because of a Notice-me-not charm, but Dumbledore didn't quite think that was it.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The new term was busier and fuller than the previous one. Cassian still used his free study periods to study with Neville and Hermione. Surprisingly, Theodore Nott and Terry Boot asked to join their study group. Cassian had stared when Hermione point blank asked them if they thought Cassian was Slytherin's Heir. Both said no. Cassian had raised his brow disbelievingly. Theo he believed because the boy didn't seem to care to fit any groups. Terry replied that Hermione and Luna convinced him that Cassian couldn't be the heir.

At the mention of Luna, Cassian stared at the Ravenclaw. He felt like smacking himself. All this time he could have just asked Hermione. She was a Ravenclaw and a girl. She'd be in the same dormitory as Luna.

Cassian also kept up his talks with Myrtle. He hadn't asked her how she died. It just didn't ever seem like the right time to do so. The ghost was very emotional and seemed to be easily offended. At times, Cassian wondered if she when she was still alive, she was bipolar.

He had once again offended her by refusing all the names she came up with for his and Harry's kitten. Cassian had shown her the kitten which she'd crooned over, until it swatted at her. Sighing, Cassian wondered if he should just ask the moody ghost how she ended up dieing in a bathroom.

Hearing running footsteps, Cassian quickly darted behind the clumps of sinks hoping whoever it was would bypass this bathroom. It had to be a student from the sounds of it. The door was quickly pushed open and whoever it was ran to one of the stalls.

'Great,' Cassian thought. 'Hardly anyone comes here, so why now?'

"It's a girl." Harry stated before Cassian pulled him away.

'And you say, I'm the indecent one.'

Cassian had already reasoned it was a girl. If she washed her hands he'd be found. He didn't want to explain what he was doing in a girl's bathroom. He didn't really think saying, "Oh, I come here to talk with Moaning Myrtle all the time," would go over too well.

He heard a loud splash then a toilet flushing and the girl running away. His eyebrows furrowed. "Odd."

He didn't have time to think or say anything else because Myrtle began wailing and proceeded to flood the bathroom.

"Urgh!" Cassian quickly stood but then nearly swore as he heard Filch's voice outside the door. His yelling was equally as loud as Myrtle's wails. The two of them were giving him a headache and he desperately wanted to shout at them both to shut up!

"Cass, lookit that!"

He looked where Harry pointed. Frowning, he picked up the soggy black notebook. It looked like a diary. Why would the girl try and flush her diary? If she didn't know how plumbing worked she had to be wizard raised. Looking the diary over he saw a gold monogrammed name on the back. "T.M. Riddle. Weird name."

Opening it, he saw the diary looked as if it had never been written in. Frowning, he stared in puzzlement at the logo of where it was purchased. "Vauxhall Road, London. 1952?"

That just made his head hurt more. He knew that area had been bombed in air raids during World War II. It didn't make sense for someone to have to have an old blank diary and then try and dispose of it.

Shaking excess toilet and tap water from the diary he cast a quick drying spell on it. Tucking it into a robe pocket he quickly made for the dungeons. There wasn't any way he wanted to be caught or blamed for Myrtle's tantrum.

Cassian didn't share his discovery with anyone. As he lay in bed he flipped trough the pages with a frown. Taking out his wand he tried every spell he knew for revealing hidden writing and invisible ink. He even tried the Muggle way to no avail.

It was strange. The feeling he got from the diary was the same as from the Death Eater mask he kept hidden. That was why despite logic and reason, he kept the diary locked in the secured drawer with the mask when not on his person.

Trying to find out who T.M. Riddle might have been was frustrating. He found a Tom Riddle on a medal for Magical Merit. He was also on a list of old Head Boys. There was also a Special Services for the School, but didn't state for what.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"The boy is up to something," Severus scowled at his student from the Head Table.

"Let it play out for now, Severus." At the man's dark look of disagreement, Dumbledore continued. "Let us see where this goes and what he does with this information."

"Do you really think he'll come to you?" Severus almost sneered. He believed he knew his student better than the headmaster. "To all his 'friends'? The boy is truly a Slytherin."

Dumbledore frowned at that.

"He keeps his secrets and council to himself. I will admit he has a few Gryffindorish qualities." Then Severus voiced a question that had been plaguing the older wizard. "If the boy is related, what do you think he'll do?"

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Defense Against the Dark Arts was quickly becoming Cassian's least favorite subject. Lockhart was a joke. The man was a braggart, and he greatly disliked braggarts. The man was also a liar and had delusions of grandeur.

Tired of the man making the class period useless, decided to have some fun. For the first time, Cassian raised his hand during one of Lockhart's tales. He immediately caught his classmates attention. For the rest of the period Cassian took delight in pointing out the gaping holes, typos, and flaws in Lockhart's books. The Slytherins catching on aided Cassian. They soon had the man dismissing them early. As he picked up his bag to leave, Cassian felt vindictive pleasure at humiliating the man.

Every DADA class, Cassian would politely raise his hand and interrogate Lockhart. Draco and the rest of the Slytherins enjoyed the game. They would snicker when the man would trip over an inconsistency and the Slytherins pounced on it. It got to where the man gave up and it was basically a free period for the Slytherins.

At their next study session, Hermione was gazing at an all too cheerful Cassian. He raised a brow. "What?"

"Have you noticed Professor Lockhart seems, frazzled?"

Cassian and Theo shared conspiratorial looks which the two Ravenclaws caught.

"What have you been doing?" Terry asked curiously.

"You do know Lockhart's a fraud?"

"Of course. We just let him prattle on but have a proper Defense Against the Dark Arts class taught by our Prefects later to make up for his incompetence."

"Where's the fun in that?" Cassian wanted to know but continued. "We also know he's a charlatan and prove it during class."

Theo told them what they did. Neville smiled then laughed. "That's why he seems to like our class so much."

"You really shouldn't undermine the authority of a teacher," Hermione stated disapprovingly.

"Well, now that's probably why I'm in Slytherin and not Ravenclaw, isn't it?"

Theo turned to Neville and asked the Gryffindore for help on his herbology homework.

"Seriously, why is the man teaching here?"

The others quickly filled in the information for Cassian. About how the DADA position was cursed. Hermione and Neville told him how Hagrid had stated that Lockhart had been the only one who applied and agreed to the job.

"Might as well not have a teacher for all he 'teaches' us."

Of course Cassian had gotten a letter from Dumbledore at dinner to please not harass the staff. Cassian had dearly wanted to respond: Then get a better staff. He didn't, however he did want to know how the man had known he was trying to get a reaction from Professor Binns.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Playing with the diary again, Cassian frowned. Opening an inkwell, he dipped his quill in it, and wrote the first thing that came to mind.

-I don't see why Dumbledore doesn't can Binns and get a LIVE teacher. Then again, he did hire that idiot Lockhart.-

Cassian's eyes widened slightly as the ink seeped into the book. "Odd."

Harry moved closer to him as he too could see, then let out a startled, "Whoah."

-You have my sympathies. May I inquire who you are?-

Cassian stared at the question. He should have know the diary was charmed something like this. Maybe is was supposed to be a 'friend' to whomever wrote in it? Either Tom did it himself or had someone else do it for him. It obviously knew as well when it's owner changed.

Tapping the feather end of the quill against his lip, he made a decision. Dipping the quill in the ink again, he replied, -Cassian Ashwood, Second Year, Slytherin House.-

-My name is Tom Riddle. I too was in Slytherin House.-

Blinking, Cassian stared at the last sentence. Was this really Tom Riddle? He was very curious now. How did one leave an echo of oneself behind? "I guess flattery may help."

-I know. I found your name on a list of Head Boys, Magical Merit, and on an award for Services for the School. -

-And you noticed it didn't specify why I received it?-

-Yes. Does it have anything to do with the Chamber of Secrets?-

-Yes. I caught the person responsible and he was expelled yet never imprisoned for it.-

-Who was it last time?-

-Why?-

-Because it is happening again, although no one had died yet.-

"What?" Cassian asked. Harry glared at him when he'd written, yet.

-I can show you, if you want.-

Cassian and Harry looked at each other. "Show me? How?"

Before he could write the question, he read words rapidly appearing on the page.

-Let me take you back fifty years ago to the night I caught him.-

The diary pages shuffled of their own accord and ink appeared at the corner of one reading June 13. A jagged line of light appeared along the binding and the next thing he knew, he felt as he did when traveling by Side Along Apparation.

Looking around he frowned. What was he doing in Dumbledore's office? He nearly jumped when he noticed a man who wasn't Dumbledore behind the desk. He'd never seen the man before.

"Excuse me, sir?" Cassian tried to gain the man's attention. The man didn't appear to have heard him. Nor did he seem to be able to see Cassian either. Tilting his head, Cassian admitted, "This is kind of disconcerting."

"Now you know how I feel," Harry muttered.

A boy Cassian knew had to be Tom Riddle entered and it was confirmed by the headmaster's greeting. He was only half paying attention to their conversation until he heard something that grabbed his attention.

"- Tom after my father, Marvolo after my grandfather."

"Marvolo?" Both Harry and Cassian looked at each other before Cassian focused his gaze on Riddle.

Riddle left the office and both Cassian and Harry hurried after him. They stopped outside a cupboard, where Tom drew his wand. The voice coming from the other side was familiar and Cassian frowned. Harry was the first to recognize it. "That's Hagrid's voice!"

Tom yanked the door open confirming Harry's fear. "Evening, Hagrid. I'm going to have to turn you in. I don't think you meant it to kill anyone..."

"Yeh can't. Yeh don't understand."

"The dead girl's parents will be here tomorrow. The least Hogwarts can do is give them the knowledge that the thing that killed their daughter was destroyed."

"It wasn' him. Aragog never killed no one. Never."

"Monsters don't make good pets, Hagird. Now, stand aside."

"No."

"Stand aside."

"No!"

Tom wore a look that said, 'You brought this on yourself'. He then cast a spell towards the box Hagrid had been bent over when they came in. "Cistem aperio!"

The lid slammed off and both Harry and Cassian gave a startled yell and got out of the way as a spider about a foot long ran for the door.

"Arania Exumai!"

The spell just missed the spider. Riddle retrained his wand on Hagrid. "They'll have your wand for this, Hagrid. You'll be expelled."

Then Cassian and Harry found they were back on Cassian's bed in the Slytehrin dormitory. For awhile neither boy could speak.

'Harry?'

"Yeah?"

'Slytherin was the one who started this Pure-blood business, wasn't he?'

"Yeah."

'And its not like his descendants would be any different, right?'

"What are you thinking?"

'Just this, Hagrid's at least part giant. There's no way he's related to Slytherin. And Tom's middle name, Marvolo. He's got to be the real heir and set Hagrid up.'

"So, you think the girl I saw was Riddle's granddaughter?"

'Maybe. Something's not quite right about all of this.'

Harry groaned. "Does this mean more time in the library?"

Cassian shook his head. "I'm thinking that tomorrow we are going to ask Myrtle how she ended up dying in a bathroom."

"Oh, that'll be one cheerful conversation," Harry sarcastically replied.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Arriving at breakfast in the morning drove all other thoughts from his mind. Taking a seat between Draco and Theo he asked, "What's going on?"

Daphne brightly replied, "It's Valentine's Day!"

Cassian just looked at her. "And?"

Draco snorted at Daphne's expression. All the girls just about adored this day. The boys, especially the younger ones, not so much. Draco would love to tell Daphne that she was wasting time with his cousin.

Lockhart then informed them all about his card carrying 'cupids'. When the idiot professor mentioned getting love help from Flitwick and Snape, Cassian shook his head. Did the man truly want to die by Professor Snape's hand?

All day the cupid dressed dwarves interrupted classes. Basically, no teaching was being taught. Patience and the force of will was demonstrated however. It wasn't until the next day that Cassian was able to visit Myrtle.

When he asked her how she died, he listened, putting the pieces of the puzzle together where he could. He inspected the sink Myrtle pointed out and his eyes widened. There engraved on the pipe was a snake!

Slowly, Cassian made his way to the dungeons. He and Harry had already guessed the creature in the Chamber of Secrets. Slytherin was a Parslemouth, a rare gift. The creature could only be controlled by Slytherin's heir and no one else. The snake on the tap in the bathroom. It was a basilisk that he and Harry had heard those times. Riddle had been the heir fifty years ago. A girl was the heir this time and more likely Third Year or below.

Cassian stopped as he seriously considered his options. He could go to either Snape or Dumbledore and explain everything to them. Show them the diary and the tap and what he suspected lay behind it. Keep the thing but never use it. Try and destroy it. Or, he could confirm his suspicious when he got the chance.

A.N. - Well, So far it looks like Luna's in the lead. I'll be wrapping up the Second Year in the chapter 13 and chapter 14 will start the Third Year. I do plan on putting Luna and Daphne in more, just be patient with me.

Poll Results-

Luna - 13

Daphne - 12

Hermione - 4

None - 4

Other - 0