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

Chapter 13

Cassian still hadn't come up with a solution by the time Easter holidays came. The holidays also brought another headache with them. The Second years had to choose at least two new subjects for their Third year courses. He settled on Care of Magical Creatures which was more or less for Harry. For himself he chose Ancient Runes and Arithmancy.

Then a solution presented itself. There was a quidditch game today. People were less inclined to believe in another attack since one hadn't happened for the last few months. Lockhart of course was bragging about how he was the one who'd stopped the attacks.

Grabbing Tom's diary, Cassian quickly ran to Myrtle's bathroom. He went straight to the tap with the snake.

"Any ideas on what to say?" he asked.

"Open sesame?" Harry shrugged.

"Might as well." Taking a breath and letting it out he eyed the engraved snake. He hissed, "Open."

He heard mechanisms unlock and taking a few steps back stared as the sinks moved to reveal a large opening in the floor. He and Harry stared at each other than at the abyss. Cassian hadn't thought abut that part. The coming back up part.

"We could always borrow one of the school's brooms."

"If that's all we have, we'll make do." Turning to Myrtle who was gazing at him as if he'd cracked he asked, "Can you do me a favor?"

"What?"

"Stay until I get back?"

Myrtle nodded then smiled. "IF you die down there, you're welcome to share my toilet."

Harry goggled while Cassian could only blankly stare at her. "I'll do that," Cassian eventually lied and jumped into the pipe. He slid for awhile then came to rest atop a pile of bones, if the crunching noise underneath him was anything to go by. Taking out his wand he muttered, "Harry."

"What? Oh, right. Sorry." He concentrated and made his hands glow. It was enough light for them to see and not bright enough to hurt Cassian's eyes. The two looked around at their surroundings and Cassian's suspicions were confirmed. "Urgh!"

Rat and rooster bones littered the ground. Cassian looked at two tunnels and decided on the right hand one. They slowed when they saw something large and pale ahead of them.

"What is that?"

"Snakeskin. Gotta remember to mention this to Professor Snape." At Harry's questioning look, he replied, "We use husks and stuff all the time in Potions class. How often does one come across a complete shed basilisk skin? Especially this size?"

Further along they came to a door with snakes on it. "What do you think? Same password or different?"

Harry shrugged. "Try same, if it's different..." He shrugged again.

"Open," Cassian hissed.

Both boys stared in fascination as the locking mechanisms unlocked. Once it was open they waked into a large cavern like nothing they'd seen. There were huge busts of serpents on either side of the walkway. There was now light so Harry allowed the glow around his hands to die.

Cassian was very wary as his eyes constantly roamed on alert for any movement. He stopped and stood before the large bust of a wizard that took up the entire back wall of the cavern. Canting his head he let his eyes scan it.

"Maybe Slytherin's first name should have been Cassian not Salazar."

Harry nodded. You had to have a large ego to have a wall carved into your likeness. "So where's the basilisk?"

Cassian frowned. "I don't know. Maybe it's hiding or slithered out for a minute."

Harry kept gazing around not liking being here at all. "You know, I think we're under the Black Lake."

Cassian glanced irritatingly at Harry. He was frustrated and did not want to have to resort to using Riddle's diary. Mainly because he believed he would more than likely be liked to again, or ignored, or worse. That was one of the reasons he hadn't used it since he first talked with Tom.

"Cass, this is just a thought, but what about Slytherin there?"

"Hm?" Cassian canted his head one way then the other as he gazed at the effigy. "The mouth maybe? He's got a different sense of humor, huh?"

"I doubt 'open' will work this time."

"I wonder how we're going to get him to say ah?"

Harry shrugged. "Ask politely?"

Cassian paced then scowling, took out Riddle's diary, a bottle of ink, and a quill. Opening the diary he wrote – Tom, how did you get people to believe Hagrid was the heir?-

There was a pause then, - How long did it take you to figure that out?-

- As soon as you showed it to me. There is zero possibility of someone like Hagrid being the heir of Slytherin.-

- I knew a fellow Slytherin would figure it out. I was quite surprised as well how easily it was believed. Only Dumbledore didn't' believe me. It's not so surprising really. Dumbledore never really like me as much as the other teachers.-

- Let me guess, he was constantly watching you?-

- Yes.-

- He's been doing the same with me. That was even before this whole Chamber of Secrets business. -

- He thinks you're the new heir? -

- He says he doesn't. -

- But you don't believe him? -

- No. I don't like him. He knows this. -

- Why don't you like him? -

- That's none of your business. We're straying from what I wanted to ask you. -

- And that would be? -

- You were the heir in your day, weren't you? -

- And what would you do with this information? -

Cassian gave a grim smile. Tom had admitted he was the heir. - I want to know how to set the basilisk loose.-

Cassian had to wait a bit for an answer. He knew it was because Tom was thinking. He decided to give him an extra nudge.

- It wasn't hard to figure out the monster in question was a serpent of some kind. And the way to control it would have to be Parseltongue, a rare gift bestowed to Slytherin and his line. -

Now to give Tome the final push.

- I can speak Parseltongue, so if that is all that is required...-

Tom finally wrote back. - How? How is it you can speak the noble language of Salazar Slytherin? -

- I'm related to Slytherin on my father's side. -

Harry stared at Cassian who gave him an innocent look. Harry sighed, not liking this idea. Anyone after hearing that statement would assume Cassian meant Slytherin's direct line. Not many would catch the related part for what it meant.

"Gotcha," Cassian grinned as Tom wrote back about the tap in Myrtle's bathroom. Tom told him how to get to where he was now then quit.

- And when I'm standing before Slytherin? -

- Then I'll help you when you get to that point. -

- You won't tell me how to release the basilisk until I'm in the chamber? -

- Yes.-

- Fine.-

Aloud Cassian said, "No dice."

Shutting the diary he returned it to his robe pocket and faced the effigy. At least he now had a vague idea of how to get he man to say 'ah' for him. It seemed that ego stroking and flattery was the key.

"Are you sure about this, Cass? I'm sure they'll believe us even if we don't show them proof."

Cassian shook his head. "I want to know who's been attacking everyone."

Harry took one look at the other boy's determined cold face and sighed. He knew what Cassian really meant. He wanted to know who had attacked his friend.

Hoping that this would work, Cassian took a steadied breath. When he next spoke it was in Parseltongue. "Talk to me, oh noble Slytherin. Tell me how to complete your vision."

The mouth began to slowly open and the boys stared at each other. Harry muttered, "You mean that actually worked?"

Harry's eyes widened as far as they could seeing the length of the creature slithering into view. Cassian made sure to avoid looking in the basilisk's eyes but couldn't help but wish he'd listened to Harry about thinking this through again.

"Are you ssnackssss from the Masster?"

"Definitely not!" Harry declared while Cassian just stared.

"You ssspeak our language!" The basilisk sounded surprised, as surprised as Harry was to be seen and heard.

"Eh?"

"You just spoke Parseltongue, Harry." Cassian filed away the information in his mind to peruse later.

"Oh, but we already knew I did."

"Are you part of Masssterss family?"

"That would have to be a no," Cassian replied. "We're trying to stop your master from harming anyone else."

The basilisk made an angry sound. "I will not allow sssnake children to betray Massster!"

Cassian frowned and thought it worth a shot to at least try. In a commanding tone he hissed, "You must stop attacking people here."

The snake gave its version of a laugh which creeped both boys out. It appeared that the basilisk would only listen to the heir.

"Not good," Cassian muttered as the basilisk prepared to strike. Shoving his hand into his pocket he pulled out the silver knife he'd pocketed after Potions. He had made sure the blade was sharp.

He waited almost until the last second then twisted aside and lashed out with the knife. He felt it hit and let go of it and was rewarded with the sound of the basilisk's shriek. As it thrashed in pain, Cassian wasted no time, running towards the exit.

"Cassian."

He didn't need Harry's frightened tone to tell him that the monster was now angry and after them. "Do what we planned!"

"O-okay." Harry watched apprehensively as Cassian faced the basilisk with his eyes shut. He was completely trusting Harry to protect him. Cassian raised his want and called, "Lumos maxima!"

The chamber filled with bright white light that completely blinded the basilisk. Harry took the last knife form Cassian and used it to permanently blind the snake. He then grabbed Cassian's wrist and led him from the chamber and the angrily thrashing snake.

"Douse your light!"

"Nox." Slowly opening his eyes, Cassian headed down a tunnel only to freeze. The basilisk wasn't giving up. The boys ran as fast as they dared. As they piled out of the door, Cassian hurriedly told the door to lock.

"Think we're safe?" Harry asked giving a frightened look at the snake covered door.

"I don't know and don't want to wait around to find out. C'mon." They made their way past the snakeskin and Harry shivered. It was when they were in the chamber littered with bones that posed a problem.

"How are we to get up?"

"Cass, I think I hear something."

Cassian whipped his head around and paled. He heard it too. The fast sounds of something slithering along the ground. The basilisk was coming.

"What do we do?"

"I'm thinking!" Cassian growled.

"Think faster!"

Cassian didn't bother to glare or dignify that with an answer. He smiled grimly. He could only think of one spell. Glancing over at Harry, he guessed wheat he was thinking must have showed because Harry turned green. Harry shook his head and Cassian nodded. Harry groaned. "Do it."

Cassian nodded. He hadn't used this spell since he was ten. Spinning his wand around him then pointing it up he muttered, "Turveninis rapidus!" (1)

He grunted feeling his feet leave the ground as the wind wrapped around him. The mini tornado carried him swiftly up the pipes until his feet touched the floor of the bathroom. Stepping away from the sinks he quickly hissed, "Close!"

As the sinks began to take their normal formation, Cassian hurriedly told Myrtle to go get the teachers. It was too late however. The basilisk came shooting out of the pipe showering the bathroom in broken porcelain and water from the busted pipes. The snake hissed angrily and smelling Cassian, lunged. Cassian screamed as he felt the basilisk's fangs rip through his left side, pinning him to the wall. Moving his arm was agony, but Cassian managed it. Savagely, he thrust his hand gripping his wand up. "Delére." (2)

He dimly felt stinging pain in his hand as his wand exploded. The bathroom now had bits of the basilisk's head scattered about. Fighting the wave of darkness he asked, "Did Myrtle go?"

"Yes." Harry worried on his lip as he stared at the gruesome sight that would greet the professors.

"That's good," he replied vaguely.

"Cass, stay awake. Please stay awake until Dumbledore at least gets here. I'm sure he'll know what to do."

Cassian snorted. It was hard not to stay awake. He was in a lot of pain. Tears fell from his eyes and he blinked in surprise. Suddenly the pain became worse and he screamed. Focusing his eyes he saw Harry trying to dislodge the fangs and Dumbledore's bird crying on the wounds.

"S-stop!" He screamed and slammed his head against the wall, dazing himself.

The phoenix was trying to help but was making the pain worse. The basilisk venom was still being pumped into him form the fangs. The phoenix tears were delaying the venom and closing the wounds, which was pointless when the fangs were still inserted. The continuous strain of mending and reopening wounds caused Cassian to pass out into blissful unconsciousness.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Myrtle was able to get Peeves to interrupt the quidditch game and yell about an attack on the second floor. Myrtle went directly to Dumbledore informing the man of a giant snake that burst through the sinks . Madam Pomfrey, Severus Snape, and Minerva McGonagall accompanied the headmaster.

"My word," McGonagall remarked upon seeing the state of first the bathroom and then Cassian. The faculty froze for a fraction of a second before they moved into action. McGonagall an Dumbledore got rid of the basilisk while Madam Pomfrey and Snape saw to the boy's well being.

"Severus, do you have any blood replenishing potions?" Pomfrey asked.

The man nodded and unshrank his 'first aide' potions kit. Handing the medi-witch the appropriate bottles, Severus also handed over an anti-venom potion to be safe. Fawkes finished healing the wounds and retreated to Dumbledore's shoulder.

After tipping the potions down the boy's throat Pomfrey had McGonagall transfigure a stretcher. The medi-witch was happy to report that the boy would live. The only damage left was the nasty contusion on the back of his head and his hand to be bandaged. It took the medi-witch some time to remove all the splintered bits of wood from the burned hand.

"How is he, Poppy?" Dumbledore asked after they got Cassian to the hospital wing. He had been afraid that they had been too late and that another student had died.

"He'll live. You're phoenix healed his worst injuries, but I'm afraid that hand of his will take some time. Normal damage I can repair no problem. But that is magical damage and is not as easy to reverse."

"Thank you, Poppy."

Dumbledore stared at the lax face that was usually tense and guarded. Even in sleep there was a bit of strain showing through. Didn't the boy ever truly relax? Looking over to the nightstand, his eyes stayed on the remains of Tom Riddle's diary. When the basilisk pinned Cassian to the wall, one of it's fangs pierced through the pocket the boy had the diary in.

There had been much speculation and whispers that night. The students were all trying to get a look in Myrtle's bathroom as well as Cassian in the hospital wing. Then the last person anyone would've suspected stepped forward. Ginny Weasley had confessed everything to her Head of House after hearing Ron and Neville talking about the attack on Cassian. She brokenly sobbed everything from discovering the diary to trying to flush it in Myrtle's bathroom.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Cassian slowly opened his eyes and blinked. He frowned, wincing as he sat up and looked around. He was in the hospital wing. Harry pounced on him. "You're awake!"

"Ow, not so loud, yeah?"

"Sorry. You missed everyone." At Cassian's confused look, Harry pointed to the get well cards. "Neville, Draco, Hermione, Daphne, even Ron stopped by. Weird, huh?" Harry then told him how Ron had told the others that Ginny had been under the control of a diary. A diary that Cassian had picked up.

"Ron said that if you hadn't found the diary, it could have been Ginny in hospital. For some reason he thinks you two are 'okay' with each other."

"Whatever."

"Oh! Aunt Narcissa was by and you should have seen her! She really let Dumbledore have it for endangering you."

Cassian felt a smirk form on his lips. If there was one thing you never did, it was endanger a woman's child or one she perceived as her child.

Dumbledore visited Cassian later and sighing, Cassian told his version of events. Finding Riddle's diary, confused why someone would want to flush it. Finding out how the diary worked after reading up on Tom Riddle. Cassian even revealed the memory Tom shared with him and Cassian immediately realizing Hagrid was framed. Dumbledore seemed pleased by this information for some reason.

"I was trying to figure out who Riddle's grandchildren were."

Dumbledore's brow raised. "Why id you think Tom had grandchildren?"

"He's like what, sixty-six? I thought he gave his diary to his granddaughter as an instruction book. I didn't know the girl I partially saw was Ginny Weasley. Is she okay,sir? I know that Tom can be very … charismatic."

"She is. She's very regretful about the entire ordeal."

Cassian nodded. He was relieved as well to hear that the mandrakes would be ready soon. He thanked Dumbledore then asked, "Sir? I no longer have a wand. I was wondering what I'm supposed to do for the last few months? Plus I have exams and..."

"Not to worry, Mr. Ashwood. Your aunt brought a wand for you to use for the rest of term."

"Thank you, sir."

Dumbledore gazed at the boy and stated, "I would like to ask why you did not come to myself or one of the other professors with your suspicions? Especially after realizing Riddle's diary was more than a simple diary?"

Cassian's entire demeanor became glacial. His eyes flashed briefly with hostility and hate before becoming closed once more. "Because they were just that, suspicions. I wanted to have undeniable proof to clear myself and my family's name. To do so, I knew I had to do it on my own. What help would you or the others have been?"

Anger seeped into his voice as he continued. "The faculty is responsible for the students being biased against Slytherin. Don't deny it. You see what goes on between the Houses, yet you do nothing!"

"I'm sorry you feel that way, my boy."

Dumbledore saw the split second rage that flittered across the boy's face and the clenched fists before Cassian composed himself.

"I have nothing else to say to you, sir." The tone was icy and final.

Dumbledore gave him a disproving look but felt concern and worry gnaw at him. He could not lose Cassian. The boy was the only one who knew where Harry was and interacted with him. It was imperative that the Light find Harry before Voldemort. They had to ensure that Harry would not fall victim to the Dark Lord.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Everyone wanted to know what had happened, but Cassian wouldn't say anything. At least on the positive side, those who believed him to be the heir, changed their minds. They didn't think that if he was the heir that he would lose control and be attacked by his own monster. Cassian was sure he had Terry and Hermione to thank for pointing that logic out.

Cassian also remembered to tell Snape about the basilisk skin. The professor had raised a brow, thanked him, and informed him that all ingredients that could be harvested had.

The Mandrakes were ready and Madam Pomfrey administrated to the petrified victims. Everyone cheered when they learned the exams were canceled. Colin and Dudley cheered the loudest. They were relieved since they still had to make up all the work they missed while petrified. Even Filch was in a good mood to get Mrs. Norris back.

As everyone mingled on the platform waiting to board the train to go home, Cassian looked around himself. It felt odd. In the time he had been at Hogwarts, he had felt, not at peace exactly, but it was as if he no longer had to run.

"Hey."

Cassian turned to see Dudley smiling at him. "Hey."

"Make sure to write, huh?"

"Sure." Cassian debated whether or not to ask him if they had ever met before. Both he and Harry had thought Dudley looked familiar the first time they saw him. Then there was that image Cassian got of Dudley when he saw the boy laying motionless on the ground.

Before he could decide they were joined by Neville and Hermione. They sat in a compartment and while Cassian sat back, Neville and Hermione filled their Hufflepuff friend n on all he missed. They then told each other what their plans for the summer were. Hermione was going to France while Dudley was going to Majorca.

"I think my Aunt Marge is trying to get mum out of the house more."

"Gran said she'd take me on vacation to celebrate my good marks," Neville smiled. This had never happened to him before.

"Just remember you're you," Cassian told him. "Don't undo all your hard work over the summer."

Neville nodded. "What are you doing for the holidays?"

"I think the Malfoys said something about Greece. I think Aunt Narcissa has relatives there."

The four waved as they disembarked and Cassian watched as Neville was met by an old woman who he did not want to mess with. Dudley and Hermione both left with the Ravenclaw's parents. If Cassian recalled correctly, Dudley had left Diagon Alley with Hermione's folks then too.

"Cassian!"

He looked over to where Draco was hailing him. Taking a breath he went over and stroked the top of his kitten's head. The kitten was curled up in his sweatshirt pocket. He gave a small smile and nod to Narcissa who put her arm around him. Draco smirked when his cousin didn't try to fight it.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

A.N. - I still need a name for the kitten.

1. Turveninis rapidus – rapid whirlwind

2. Delére - Destroy

Poll Results

Daphne - 13

Luna- 13

Hermione - 5

None- 4

Other- 0