"Very well, I'll inform Professor Binns where you have gone. Tell Madam Pomfrey I've given you permission." Professor McGonagall said. They waisted no time with the reprieve they had been given and took off for the Infirmary.
Awkwardly Harry and Ron did as they said they would, told a petrified Hermione about what was going on, how Dumbledore had been removed as headmaster and how the cure would be done soon. Then Harry noticed something clutched tightly in the hand Hermione hadn't used to hold the mirror. With much effort he pried it from her hand, Ron leaning over to see what he was doing. Carefully unfolding the piece of parchment he read over the contents.
"She figured it out." Harry breathed, Naruto looked up from Sakura and stood.
"Figured what out?" Ron asked stupidly, Harry and Naruto shared a look.
"Listen to this. Of the many fearsome beasts that roam our land, there is none more curious or more deadly then the Basilisk, known also as the King of Serpents. This snake, which may reach gigantic size and live many hundreds of years, is born from a chicken's egg, hatched beneath a toad. It's methods of killing are most wondrous, for aside from it's deadly and venomous fangs, the Basilisk has a murderous stare, and all who are fixed with the beam of it's eye shall suffer instant death. Spiders flee before the Basilisk, fir it is their mortal enemy, and the Basilisk flees only from the crowing of the rooster, which is fatal to it." Harry read out load.
"That explains part of it, but how's it getting around and how come no one's dead?" Ron asked, he had a point but then Harry noticed a word written on the side of the page.
"The pipes, see Hermione has it all figured out. The beam must only kill you if you are hit with it directly-" Harry started to explain.
"- that's why they were using the mirrors, to look around corners so that even if they ran into the snake, it's stare wouldn't kill them. It also explains why some one's been killing all of Hagrid's roosters, I've been trying to figure out that one all year, still have yet to catch the culprit in the act though." Naruto finished.
"There's more, last night me and Ron snuck out into the forbidden forest, Hagrid left us with a hint to follow the spiders, we did and came across Aragog. It's was te creature they tried to pin the blame on last time, but he mentioned that the girl that was killed last time died in a bathroom..." Harry said, it hit Naruto like a ton of bricks, of all the ghost he hated her the most.
"Moaning Myrtle." Naruto moaned, she had taken to stalking Raven, asking if he was a Death Eater, if he was single and wouldn't mind dating a much older, incorporeal, girl. Naruto wanted to bash his head into the floor when Harry nodded, confirming his statement.
"That's where we were headed when you ran into us and unfortunately Professor McGonagall. We were going to ask her how she died and see if she could tell us what the monster was that killed her. It's not necessary anymore, but we're going to ask anyway. I have a feeling with the snake using the pipes... that the entrance to the chamber is hidden some where in a bathroom, Moaning Myrtle's to be exact." Harry said, Naruto smiled brightly.
"Wow, you figured all that out before I or the others could, that's saying something too." Naruto said, Ron paled.
"We should tell the teachers! It's not likely we could go after something like that on our own anyway!" Ron said, Naruto placed a finger on his chin in thought.
"He's right Harry, I doubt even I could go up against something like that with out any trouble and there's the heir... we still don't know who they are or what they're capable of." Naruto said, Harry nodded in agreement.
"Wasn't planing on it unless it was an emergency, besides they haven't done anything in months, I'm sure we have enough time to go tell the teachers right?" Harry asked, though Naruto felt the unease in the situation as well.
"Yeah, you're right, we have plenty of time and the potion to unpetrify students should be done soon!" Ron said taking off for the staff room.
Naruto sat comfortably in a squishy chair, Harry and Ron paced the room waiting for the bell to end classes to ring. It never came, instead Professor McGonagall's voice echoed down the halls telling all students to return to dorms and teachers to report to the staff room immediately. Naruto motioned for them to get into an old empty wardrobe and shut them in, he did a flash of seals where Harry and Ron couldn't see and created a Raven clone. The door burst open to revile Professor McGonagall.
"Raven, Naruto, are Harry and Ron safe?" She asked immediately, Raven nodded to indicate they were.
"We were headed back to dorms when we heard you, I know we aren't staff, but we thought we would be needed here. We also have some information for you as well." Raven explained.
"That can wait unless it has something to do with where the chamber is, but wait to explain until I've briefed every one on the situation." She said, seconds later the other staff members and Mr. Malfoy entered, some out of breath, all except Gilderoy, Naruto noted with destain. He was starting to feel light headed and queazy, for some reason. His Raven clone was zapping the energy right out of him, he didn't know how much longer he could keep it up as Professor McGonagall explained that Ginny Weasley had been taken into the chamber. Naruto moved to Itachi's side, trying his best to move normally and not draw the attention of the other occupants.
"Tachi... not going to last much longer, out of chakara for some reason, the chamber is hidden in the girls bath... room, Ron and Harry are in wardrobe, they can show you, don't tell anyone else." Naruto whispered in hushed Japanese. Kakashi Sensei looked at Naruto in confusion, just now noticing him standing by Itachi.
"Naruto!" Naruto heard Kakashi Sensei shout, it sounded far away and weightlessness over took him.
Harry was tempted to look out and see what had happened, he cracked the door just enough to peer out with out being seen. Professor Uchiha was holding Naruto bridal style in his arms, Naruto was out cold for some reason.
"What did you do to him?" Professor Hatake asked, Harry didn't blame him for asking, Naruto was fine a second ago.
"I did nothing, he's exhausted him self. Probably looking for my foolish little brother and patrolling." Professor Uchiha said cooly, not fazed by the accusations, he walked up to Professor Snape and held Naruto out to him. "Seeing as you are his head of house could you escort him to Madam Pomfrey so she can make sure it is only exhaustion?" Professor Uchiha asked politely.
"As you wish." Professor Snape said. Harry was shocked at what Snape did next, he figured Snape would cast a levitation charm on Naruto, but he took him from Professor Uchiha's arms and carried him out of the room, he was stronger then Harry gave him credit for.
"You said Sasuke's here? Where?" Professor Hatake asked, Itachi raised an eyebrow, but before he could answer the door burst open.
"So sorry - dozed off - did I miss anything?" Lockhart asked brightly, looking around at each of them, he didn't seem to notice most of the teachers were looking at him with something ache'n to hatred. Actually the thought that he might be enjoying those looks crossed Harry's mind, something seemed off about that man and it wasn't just his ego.
"I do recall you saying you know where they chamber of secrets is, Mr. Lockhart..." Mr. Malfoy trailed off, for a split second an evil gleam crossed Professor McGonagall's face and an instantaneous moment of admiration for Mr. Malfoy.
"Ah yes, I do recall you mentioning it as well." Professor McGonagall added, a 'hopeful' smile on her face, the other teacher's caught on and added their two cents worth when Gilderoy stated back peddling and saying he didn't recall saying that.
Finally he caved and said he was going to go get ready, once gone Professor McGonagall gave Mr. Malfoy a thankful, but curt smile before telling teachers to go check and make sure students were back in their dorms. Later, after Harry and Ron had some how made it back before Professor McGonagall, sat worrying about Ginny. There wasn't much they could do, the dorms were monitored closely and even with the invisibility cloak they wouldn't get far with the ninja patrolling the halls. Harry wondered what had happened to Naruto, there had been no mention of his condition, it's not like they could ask either, though the common room was finally clearing out they decided to chance sneaking out to tell Gilderoy what they knew. They where about to make their move when the portrait of the fat lady swung open.
"Harry, Ron, come with me." Professor Uchiha spoke, Ron jumped and looked at Harry not sure what to do, Harry obeyed with out a seconds hesitation, something told him they just found their get out of jail free card.
"Yes Sir." Harry said politely and stepped out, Ron hesitated a second longer then followed. Professor Uchiha lead them down the hall a little ways before stopping.
"Naruto told me you two know where the chamber is before he passed out earlier. You two are going to accompany me to the chamber so we can save the youngest Weasley girl." Professor Uchiha ordered, it almost made Harry want to dig his heels in and not trust the man, but Naruto had, so would he.
"I'm not telling you Professor, even if I did I doubt you could open it, I would bet the entrance can only be opened by a parstletonuge." Harry said, Professor Uchiha seemed to regard him for a moment.
"You are wise not to trust me completely, I was going to knock you out, there are also ways around this... Itachi." Professor Uchiha said, the last part caught Harry off guard.
"Excuse me?" Harry asked, confused.
"Call me by my first name, but only in private, I do not like the title Professor." Itachi said, he had turned and started walking down the hall again.
"We need to tell Gilderoy though." Ron said, Itachi paused for a moment.
"There is no need, he will know. All you have to worry about is finding Ginny and getting her out of there, I will deal with the rest." Itachi said, continuing to walk. They followed in silence for a while, but the question of how Naruto was doing was bugging him.
"How is Naruto?" Harry whispered, when they were nearing the girls lavatories.
"I don't know yet, but before he passed out he said something about using too much chakara. If it's just chakara depletion some rest and he'll be fine." Itachi said, he motioned for them to be quite now, he slowly pushed open the bathroom door. They saw no one inside so they went in closing the door behind them.
"Boys aren't allowed- oh Harry it's you, long time no see, since you guy's aren't brewing anything now." Moaning Myrtle said, floating out of a stall.
"Myrtle, how did you die?" Harry asked moving as far away from the door as possible. Itachi began inspecting the area.
"Ooooh, it was dreadful," She said with relish. "It happened right in here. I died in this very stall. I remember it so well. I'd hidden because Olive Hornby was teasing me about my glasses. The door was locked, and I was crying, and then I heard somebody come in. They said something funny. A different language, I think it must have been. Anyway, what really got me was that it was a boy speaking. So I unlocked the door, to tell him to go and us his own toilet, and then-" Myrtle swelled importantly, her face shining. "I died."
"How?" Harry prompted.
"No idea." Myrtle said in hushed tones. "I just remember seeing a pair of great, big. yellow eyes. My whole body sort of seized up, and then I was floating away..." She looked dreamily at Harry. "And then I came back again. I was determined to haunt Olive Hornby, you see. Oh, she was sorry she'd ever laughed at my glasses." Myrtle said smugly. Harry noted to himself to never piss her off.
"Where exactly did you see the eyes?" Harry asked, Itachi and Ron paused in searching to hear her.
"Some where there." Myrtle said pointing at the sink in front of her toilet. Harry, Ron and Itachi gathered around the sink, Ron tried turning it on, but no water came out.
"There is a carving of a snake under the basin." Itachi said pointing to the little snake. Harry could have sworn Itachi's eyes looked red for a moment before he looked.
"Try saying something in parstletonuge." Ron said. Harry wasn't sure if he could the only time he had was when facing a real snake.
"Open." Harry said.
"Nope, that was english." Ron said. Harry stared at the snake, imagining it was a real one.
"Ooopen uuup." Harry said, the words coming out in low hissing sound. At once the sink began to move, sinking into the floor out of sight to leave a whole big enough for a good sized man to fit into. Clapping startled Ron, Harry and Itachi turned calmly to see who made the noise.
"Bravo, could have done it better my self. In fact I have. Though the heir is never down there when I go, I've been instructed to make contact with him if possible, seems this isn't the one I was looking for after all." None other then Gilderoy said gloating. Harry had a sudden surge of de ja'vu, thinking of Quarrell in his first year, was all his defense against the dark arts teachers going to be evil, two faced bastards?
"W-what are you doing here? I figured you'd be packed and on your way before anyone found out you were a fraud." Ron bit out finding his spine, though Harry couldn't blame him, his sister's life was at stake.
"Oh, a fraud I am. But not in the way you think I am. Why not rat me out brother, surely you've known most of they year that it was me." Gilderoy said, there was a poof of smoke and a young, handsome boy about Naruto's age that looked a lot like Itachi stood in front of them.
"It was none of my concern, our mission here was to protect the students from harm. You didn't pose a threat so there was no need." Itachi said, you could cut the tension in the air with a knife.
"You're Naruto's ex-team mate, Sasuke right?" Harry asked, he was remained on guard even if the other male was standing in a lazed pose. Harry was no where near ready to face a real shinobi. Yeah, what he learned would give him the upper hand in a battle against a wizard, but a trained ninja he was a rookie at best.
"Hn." Was Sasuke's response, Harry took that to mean yes.
"Were you pretending to be Gilderoy all year?" Harry asked, he wasn't sure how much he could get out of him but he had to try for Naruto's sake.
"No, used his own spell against him. He uses a memory altering charm. I would use it on him when I took his place at least twice a day. As of right now he's at the bottom of that whole stunned with no memory of who he is... strangely he's less annoying that way." Sasuke said slipping into a fighting stance. "I'm sick of talking, are we going to fight brother?"
"No, not unless you are going to take this opportunity to to contact the heir of Slytherin." Itachi said, he did something that even Ron could tell Itachi wasn't expecting Sasuke to do. He turn his back to them waved and walked out of the room in a lazed stroll.
"See you around then." He said, the door closing behind him.
"That was weird." Ron said, Harry nodded in agreement.
"He has changed since I last saw him. Before he would have declared vengeance on our clan and simply attacked me head on. Weather this change is good or bad time will tell. Now come." Itachi said, stepping over the whole and falling in with out any restraints. Harry looked at Ron and followed a little more cautiously.
Harry barely landed on his feet, they stung for a few seconds before he walked it off, Ron wasn't so lucky, landing flat on his ass with a thump. They moved, no sounds except the occasional crunch of small bones under their feet. They came across a snake skin that was huge, Harry shrank it and put the shrunken skin in his ninja pack under his robes. Itachi raised and eye brow at that but said nothing, continuing on. They came to an opening, there lay Gilderoy, the spell used to stun him had worn off.
"Oh, hello, do you live here? Do I live here? Where is here anyway?" Gilderoy asked looking around, Ron jumped startled that Gilderoy wasn't stunned and dropped his wand. Gilderoy picked it up looking at it.
"Give that back." Ron ordered, Itachi and Harry were working on sneaking up behind Gilderoy when he began waving the wand around.
"Rather drab looking thing isn't it? What's it do? Swish Swish Swish." Gilderoy said waving it around like a sword. The wand reacted, a pulse of magic sent Harry and Itachi flying backwards, the roof of the tunnel collapsed separating the four of them. Harry looked at the pile of rubble and the direction they were headed, then at Itachi.
"Harry! Professor! Are you two alright?!" Ron shouted from the other side.
"Yeah, just a few scrapes. Look you try moving some of the rubble to clear a hole for us to get out, we're going ahead to help Ginny before it's too late." Harry shouted back.
"Alright, what ever you do save her Harry." Ron shouted through, it sounded like he said something else but he couldn't hear it. (Or else I'll never forgive you. Is what he said, btw.)
Harry and Itachi continued down the tunnel, Harry explained about the basilisk as they walked. The path came to a halt in front of a wall with three fearsome looking snakes engraved on it, green emeralds set into the eye of each one. Harry hissed open once more, the snakes seemed to spring to life, slithering around and the wall opened up into a large chamber. Harry looked to Itachi once more to help encourage himself when he noticed Itachi's eyes really were red.
"Itachi, your eyes..." Harry breathed, looking away on so as not to be rude for staring when Itachi turn those red eyes on him.
"It is my kekkei genkai, I'm not sure if you know what that is... though I suspect you may have one as well... but yes my eyes turn red when I have my Kekkei genkai activated. Though the are not as potent as a Basilisk stare, you would do well to avoid eye contact with me when I use them, the same goes for Sasuke or the one that calls himself Tobi. We can suck you into inescapable illusions, the illusions them selves don't usually kill you but they will weaken you enough for the user or one of his comrades to do the job." Itachi said looking back into the room. Harry nodded then took a step into the room and torches light themselves. In the center of the room lay a heap of clothing, at the edge of the clothing was a matted wad of red.
"Ginny!" Harry muttered, dashing across the room before Itachi could advise against it, he let his wand drop beside him as he dropped beside her. "Please don't be dead - wake up!" Harry said, his wand had rolled away as he rolled her over, she was as pale as marble and her eyes were closed, she hadn't been petrified.
"She wont wake." Said a soft voice. A tall black hair boy was leaning against the pillar closest to them, he was pale and around him was slightly blurred. Itachi had moved to stand next to Harry, but not before the boy had picked up Harry's wand.
"Tom... Tom Riddle?" Harry asked, Riddle nodded, never taking his eyes from Harry's face.
"What do you mean she wont wake? She's not dead is she?" Itachi asked, he wasn't liking the feeling of this boy, if his suspicions were correct the one who stood before them was the heir to Slytherin.
"She still alive. But only just." Riddle said, not shifting from where he lean against the pillar arms crossed hiding Harry's wand.
"Are you a ghost?" Harry asked uncertainly, he looked more solid and colorful then other ghosts.
"A memory, preserved in the diary for fifty years." Riddle said quietly. He pointed to a the little black diary he had found in Myrtle's bathroom earlier that year.
"Tom, you've got to help us and get out of here, there's a basilisk down here." Harry said. "The basilisk could be here any moment, we need to go." Harry said, his gut was turning, the fact Itachi was standing there on guard wasn't helping it, it seemed that Itachi was trying to figure out how Harry knew Riddle and if he was a real threat or not.
"It wont come unless it's called." Riddle said calmly. Harry began searching for his wand. He was looking for his wand to use a levitating charm to lift Ginny with or defend himself. "Did you see-" Harry began to ask when he looked up to see Riddle twirling the wand in his long fingers.
"Give that back I might need it." Harry said, he was getting a really bad feeling looking at Riddle as a smile spread across his face.
"You wont need it." Riddle said, still twirling the wand effortlessly between his fingers. "I've waited a long time for this Harry Potter. To see you. To speak to you." Riddle said wistfully, it was almost like a secret admire confessing their love to some one. Harry tried to explain that they were in the chamber of secrets but Riddle insisted they talk now, Itachi put a hand on Harry's shoulder.
"How did Ginny get like this." Harry finally asked, he was finally catching on.
"Now that's an interesting question." Riddle said pleasantly. "And quite a long story. I would suppose the reason Miss Weasley is the was she is is because she poured her heart and secrets to an invisible stranger." Riddle said with scorn, like listening to some one's problems was such a chore. Harry asked what he meant. Riddle explained that Ginny had been writing in the diary for months and months telling him all about her worries and woes. How her brothers teased her, how she had come to school with second hand robes. Riddle's eyes glinted as he spoke. "How she didn't think the famous, good, great Harry Potter could ever like her..." The whole time he spoke his eyes never left Harry's, there was an almost hungry look to them.
"She wrote to me, I was forced to read all of her frivolous complaints, but I was patient, I was sympathetic, I wrote back comforting her, all the while feeding off of her fears and worries as she poured her soul into the diary, I grew stronger and stronger as she wrote. Until finally I was strong enough to star feeding little Miss Ginny Weasley some of my secrets, to start pouring a little of my soul back into her." Riddle said, Harry was confused, he had used the diary, nothing had happened except he saw that memory where Riddle found Hagrid with the monster... then it click... Riddle had framed Hagrid.
"You framed Hagrid, and by pouring yourself back into Ginny, you mean that you were controlling her, don't you?" Harry whispered, his head hung, he had used Ginny, but what for. "But why, why open the chamber again? What good does it do? What have muggle born ever done to you?" Harry asked.
"You finally figured it out, I was beginning to think my adversary was a complete idiot and that it was pure luck you defeated me the first time." Riddle said. "Muggle born aren't my concern anymore, they haven't been my target this time around, it was a foolish and rash error on my part." Riddle said offhandedly.
"It has been you... So imagine how angry I was when the next person to write in the diary after you was once again Miss Weasley, not you. She saw you with the diary, you see, panicked. If you found out how it worked, or worse I repeated all her secrets to you, told who was strangling Hagrid's roosters? So the foolish little brat waited until the dorm was empty and stole it back. But I had a plan worked out, you would come running if one of your precious little friends was attacked. I had remembered how Ginny wrote hoe the school had buzzed you could speak parstle tongue, so I forced Ginny to right her own farewell on the wall and come down here to wait. She struggled and cried, but she didn't have much fight in her. She had poured too much of her soul into the diary, enough to release me from it's pages at last... I have been waiting here since, I have many questions for you Harry Potter." Riddle said, his eyes still boring into Harry.
"Like what?" Harry spat, clenching his hands into fists.
"Well," Riddle said pleasantly. "How it was that you, a skinny boy with no extraordinary magical talent, managed to defeat the greatest wizard of all time? How did you escape with nothing but a scar, while Lord Voldemort's powers were destroyed?" There was a red gleam to his eye's now, Harry wondered if he too had the same kekkei genkai as Itachi, but doubted it as Itachi was still staring at Riddle.
"What do you care how I escaped? Voldemort was before your time." Harry said, it scared him that Tom wasn't afraid to speak his name. Riddle turned writing his name in the air with Harry's wand 'Tom Marvolo Riddle', then waved the wand and the letters began to scramble.
"Voldemort..." Riddle began, the words 'I am' had formed. "Is, my past, present and future... Harry Potter." Riddle said, the words had now formed 'I am Lord Voldemort', Harry's blood ran cold.
You see, Harry." Riddle whispered. "I was already using the name at Hogwarts, to my most intimate of friends only, of coarse. You think I was going to use my filthy muggle father's name for ever? I, in who's veins from my mother runs the blood of Salazar Slytherin's blood? Keep the name of a father who abandon me before I was even born because he found out his wife was a witch, never. So I fashioned myself a new name and became the greatest sorcerer there ever was!" Riddle said, gloating.
"You're not." Harry said, his heart beating fast, this was the moment where all hell was to break loose.
"Excuse me. Not what?" Riddle asked.
"You're not the greatest wizard there ever was, Albus Dumbledore is, every one says so. Even when you were your strongest you never dared go against him and try to take over Hogwarts. Dumbledore saw through you when you were in school and he still frightens you now, where ever you're hiding these days..." Harry said. The smile had gone from Riddle's face to be replaced with a very ugly look.
"Dumbledore has been driven out of the castle by the mere memory of me!" Riddle hissed.
"He's not as gone as you might think!" Harry retorted. He was speaking at random, wanting to scare Riddle, wishing rather then believing it to be true. Riddle opened his mouth, but froze. Music was coming from some where. Riddle whirled around to stare down the chamber. The music turned out to be coming from Fawks, who appeared atop a pillar in a swirl of fire. He flew strait at Harry, dropping some sort of cloth in front of him.
"That's a Phoenix." Riddle breathed. "And that is the school's sorting hat." He added, erupting into a fit of bone chilling laughter. "Is that all Dumbledore sends his defender? A songbird, a ratty old hat and a new teacher who teaches a muggle defense class?!" Riddle said with mirth, he obviously thought Itachi useless. "To business Harry." Riddle said still smiling. "Twice in your past, my future, we have met. Twice I have failed to kill me. Tell me how you survived. Tell me everything. The longer you talk..." He added softly. "The longer you stay alive."
Harry was thinking fast, he knew Itachi might be able to get to Riddle before he did anything, but there was the defenseless Ginny to worry about. He glanced at Itachi who had yet to move or really say anything. The longer he stood there the more life drained from Ginny, then suddenly he noticed Riddle was becoming more solid. If there had to be a fight between them it was better to happen sooner then later, they didn't have much time left before Ginny really was dead, Riddle was stalling for time, not letting Harry stall for time.
"My, common, muggle born mother died protecting me, I don't know what made you loose your powers, no one does. But you're a wreck now, see where all that power got you." Harry said. Riddle's face contorted for a moment before twisting into a creepy smile.
"Ah yes, a charm like that is a good counter. I see where I went wrong... there's nothing special about you after all. I wondered, you see. There are strange likenesses between you and I, surely you've seen it too. Both half bloods, orphans, raised by muggles, who clearly treat you as poorly as I was treated, though I could be mistaken. Probably the only two parstletonuges to enter Hogwarts since the great Slytherin himself. We even look a lot alike... but after all it was lucky chance that saved you from me. That's all I wanted to know." Riddle said. Harry stood tense for a moment, he knew the battle was to begin.
"Now Harry Potter, I'm going to teach you a lesson. Let's match the powers of Lord Voldemort, heir of Salazar Slytherin, against famous Harry Potter, and the best weapons Dumbledore can given him." Riddle said turning to a giants statue at the end of the chamber. "Speak to me Oh Slytherin, greatest of the Hogwarts four." Riddle hissed in parstletonuges. The mouth of the statue opened, something slithered out of the mouth and hit the floor, Harry shut his eyes before he could even get a good look at the thing. His training with the ninja to use his other senses, as in hearing, was going to be put to the test it seemed. He hadn't heard Itachi move, but hoped he knew to shut his eyes as well, though it wouldn't matter in a moment as Riddle hissed for it to kill them.
Harry could feel the vibrations of the thing moving, a hand on his shoulder turned him around facing the opposite direction. "Open your eyes and run back into the tunnel, I will try and stall it for now, it's stare wont work on me." Itachi said in the same tone as always, not as if he was facing a very dangerous fifty foot snake that could swallow him whole. Harry didn't hesitate, he opened his eyes and took off.
"How! How can you look it in the eye yet you still stand before me! You are nothing but a muggle who only come to learn they had magic at the beginning of the year!" Riddle roared.
"I'm not sure how you came across that information, but you are sorely mistaken to think I am but a common civilian. We have what you call magic, but we use it in other ways. You your self was just talking about how you were born with amazing magical talent. Well I too was born with more power then most, if I were you I wouldn't under estimate me or the boy either." Itachi said, drawing shuriken from his sleeves.
"You see, you don't have to be an orphan to be treated badly. You are also right there are similarities between you and he, but instead of seeking vengeance out on muggles or his family, in that he has the potential to become stronger then either of us combined. Luck has only gotten him so far. From what Dumbledore had told us of his adventure last year, it was not luck that got him to you, or him finding the philosopher's stone. No, there is some one pulling the strings, even now I can grantee you things are not as they seem. After all, it's not luck I stand here before you, or luck that Ginny ended up with the book, though the one who gave it to her wasn't the one pulling the strings either." Itachi continued, the shuriken being tossed with little effort hitting the snake square in the eyes blinding it.
"You've blinded my snake. But he can still hear you." Riddle growled, ordering the snake to follow the sounds of moving feet. Itachi stood still, the snake moved to where Harry was running around, which soothed Riddle's anger some, probably thinking Harry couldn't hurt the snake. After it vanished into the tunnels Itachi continued.
"You should be more patient with the boy... I have read wizarding history, news, about dark wizards, one's the considered hero's... I don't agree with how you are going about making changes... I too am not perfect, having killed my own clan to save a village not worth saving after all... but if you are what I think you are, your past as you say it is, then Harry maybe a better alley then an enemy." Itachi said, hoping Harry couldn't hear any of this conversation. "My little brother works for some one from our world who would by wizarding world definition would be your carbon copy, he will more then likely try to contact you. This man how ever is far more foul and sadistic, though you share an affinity for snakes, the similarities, if I have judged you right are mild compared to him." Itachi added.
Harry could see Itachi talking to Riddle from his hiding spot, un able to hear what was being said, though it was far from his mind as he tossed a shuriken down the tunnel and the snake slithered by. Once he was clear of the snake he took off back into the chamber. He snatched up the sorting hat and placed it on his head, begging for help, the small amount of ninja tools he had wasn't going to last much longer, he either wasn't strong enough to pierce the snakes skin with a throw or the snake's skin was that tough. Instead of an answering response like he was expecting, something hard and heavy hit him on the head, he removed the hat reaching inside to grip something long, pulling it from the hat. It was a long silver sword, glittering rubies the size of eggs embedded into the handle.
Harry was suddenly tossed to the side, not nearly as hard as the person who pushed he was flung into a wall. Itachi had pushed Harry out of the way of the snakes tail, taking the blow full on. Itachi slid down the chamber wall, blood trickling down the side of his mouth. Harry didn't have time to run to Itachi's aid though, the snake had reared back for another attack. Harry stood there, sword firmly in his hands as if it belonged. It all seemed to happen in slow motion, the snake was coming at him with what should be god speed, just as the thing was to bite him in half Harry thrust the sword up into the roof of the serpents mouth. Belatedly, he saw the fang headed toward his arm, only able to watch in morbid fascination and horror as it sunk into his arm. The snake reared back with a screeching roar and then swiveled to the side, it's head hitting the cold stone floor of the chamber with a thunderous crash.
Harry pulled the fang from his arm, putting pressure on the wound as he stumbled over to where Itachi was. He could feel the fogginess of the venom taking effect already. He sank to his knees next to Itachi, gently nudging Itachi's shoulder. Itachi's eyes opened with a snap, but he seemed to be okay, at least not life threatening. He saw the snake dead, the sword glinting in the torch light from inside it's mouth, then noticing the missing fang laying on the ground between where they were and the snake. Looking at where Harry was holding his arm it didn't take a genius to figure out what had happened.
"Itachi... you have to stop Riddle.. or Ginny will die... tell her that none of it was her fault for me?" Harry said, his vision began to blur and he swayed, it was all he could do to stay sitting up.
"Is there an anti-venom?" Itachi asked, wondering why Harry was talking like he couldn't tell Ginny that himself. When he got a shake of the head Itachi knew why, Harry was going to die and any moment by the look of it. Itachi stood shakily, he ran forward and in one clean motion scooped up the basilisk fang, made his way over the snake in one leap to where the dairy was and stabbed the book with the fang.
"No!" Riddle shouted, a light appeared in the center of his chest.
"I am sorry it has to be done, I can not let you kill another one of my charges, but remember what I said, it's not too late." Itachi said, opening the book and stabbing the inside pages. With a flash of light Riddle was gone and the color was returning to Ginny's face rapidly. Itachi picked her up and leapt back over the snake, when he landed on the other side he could see the Phoenix standing next to Harry with it's head bent over Harry's arm. Harry looked at his arm excitedly, then up at Itachi.
"Phoenix tears heal. Apparently they can also cure basilisk bite as well." Harry said, he was smiling but exhaustion was still present on his face. "Is Ginny alright? Is Riddle gone?" Harry asked, worried Itachi might be holding a corpse.
"The girl is fine and the diary has been destroyed." Itachi said, setting Ginny down, he was too tired to carry her anymore. He was sure he had at least four broken ribs and a concussion, possibly a cracked skull. Thankfully the girl had began to stir, pushing her self up and looking around. As soon as her eyes landed on Harry she wrapped her arms around the obviously sore boy, he would be Harry had a broken rib or two himself.
"Oh Harry, you're alright! Tom, the diary you have to destroy it." She pleaded, looking around again frantically, her eyes went wide when they landed on the snake then the mangled book.
"Been there, done that, don't need a repeat thank you very much. How are you?" Harry asked, looking relieved when she finally let go of him.
"I'm fine, tired, cold and hungry, but I'm fine. I'm sorry Harry, I did all that stuff, I killed Hagrid's roosters and wrote those messages, I didn't mean to, I wasn't my self you have to believe me." Ginny said sobbing.
"I know, Riddle explained everything. Come on Ron is waiting for us and at this point I'm looking forward to my bed in the infirmary." Harry said, forcing himself to stand.
Itachi was impressed that a boy his age, who wasn't even a shinobi, could be so strong. He wasn't showing weakness, though his wounds were more then likely worse then he was acting, he had also just survived a literal near death experience with out so much as the blink of the eyelash, nor was he boasting about it either. Even when he was about to die, he wasn't crying, saying he didn't want to die, he sat there, taking it like a man, thinking of his best friend's little sister's well being, even Itachi's, before himself. Itachi removed two scrolls from his ninja pack once Harry and Ginny had turned away from him. He slipped them into Harry's ninja pack when he lifted one of Harry's arms over his shoulder to help support him as they walked out of the chamber... the boy had earned his respect, he hoped he could trust him with those scrolls, one may hold the only chance of beating Madara Uchiha when the time came, the second was one with their clan's jutsu on it. What were they going to do? Charge him with treason again? The thought made him chuckle.
"I-Is something wr-rong Professor?" Ginny stammered, she was still crying, Itachi's chuckle was kind of creepy, even he had to admit.
"Nothing at all." Itachi said simply, setting Harry down not too far from where the pile of rubble was. Ron had managed to clear a small whole at the top.