Outsider Chronicles: Dark Eclipse
The First Year is over and Leo is already working to right wrongs. However, darkness is beginning to stir, and not just at Hogwarts. As Leo gets more powerful, his nature as an Outsider begins to take effect and worlds are drawn together. Add in some family drama and reveals and Leos migraines are only going to get worse. Sequel to Black Zodiac
And we're back. We're nearly done with book 2, just a few chapters left! Enjoy!
Chapter 12
"WHAT?!"
I shot out of bed, completely ignoring the fact I was only in my underwear and grabbed Ginny by the shoulders.
"What happened?"
I could feel Ginny shaking in my hands and her eyes were red from crying.
"I-I don't know," she stuttered, "It all happened so fast…"
"What did?" I growled, "Ginny, I can't help you if you don't tell me what happened."
Ginny took a breath and seemed to center herself.
"I-I saw it," said Ginny, "I was coming out of the Library when I heard someone talking. T-they said that their puppet was no good, that he was to weak to give him enough energy to fully return, so he took Luna to serve as a sacrifice. When I looked around the corner, I saw the Heir floating Luna down the hall."
"Did you see who it was?" I asked.
Ginny shook her head.
"No, they had their back to me and their hood up."
I nodded and took a breath, allowing myself to relax before I hurt Ginny.
"Alright, lets go," I said, turning to grab some clothes and my wand.
"Go where?" asked Ginny.
"Save Luna of course."
Ginny blinked.
"You want me along?"
"Of course. I'm not about to go into battle on my own. Now come on, lets move."
Ginny nodded and followed me as I hurried out of Ravenclaw.
"Where are we going?" she asked, "I mean, we don't know where the Chamber is."
"Well, we can make some pretty good guesses," I said, "The first attack and message were located outside Myrtle's bathroom and I did some investigating. She died 50 years ago when the Chamber was first open. She was probably a victim of whatever is inside."
Ginnys eyes widened.
"Why haven't you told anyone?" she asked.
"Because I found out literally right before Hermione and Holly were attacked and wasn't exactly in a condition to remember anything after," I said, "Now move it!"
However, as we entered the second floor corridor where Myrtles bathroom was, Mcgonagall's voice echoed through the halls.
"All students to return to their House dormitories at once. All teachers report to the Second Floor corridor immediately."
I pulled Ginny behind a suit of armour as the Flitwick appeared around the corner, clearly having been nearby, before sneaking around the corner where the teachers were gathered in front of the wall where the first message had been painted.
"It has happened," said Mcgonagall in a faint voice, "A student has been taken by the monster. Right into the Chamber itself. As you can see, the Heir has left us another message."
Professor Flitwick let out a squeal. Professor Sprout clapped her hands over her mouth. "Who is it?" said Madam Pomfrey, "Which student?"
"Luna Lovegood," replied the Transfiguration teacher, "We shall have to send all the students home tomorrow. This is the end of Hogwarts, espesually now that Lucius Malfoy has had the Board fire Dumbledore…"
Just then, Lockhart arrived, beaming and sparkling as always.
"So sorry, dozed off, what have I missed?" he asked, seemingly missing the looks of loathing the other teachers were directing at him.
"Just the man," said Snape with a sneer that held far more venom than I'd ever seen, even the one time he and Sirius had been in the same room, "The very man. A girl has been snatched by the monster, Lockhart. Taken into the Chamber of Secrets itself. Your moment has come at last."
Lockhart blanched, the sparkles vanishing as his hair seemed to wilt.
"That's right, Gilderoy," chipped in Professor Sprout. "Weren't you saying just last night that you've known all along where the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets is?"
"I — well, I —" sputtered Lockhart.
"Yes, didn't you tell me you were sure you knew what was inside it?" piped up Professor Flitwick.
"D-did I? I don't recall —"
"I certainly remember you saying you were sorry you hadn't had a crack at the monster before Hagrid was arrested," said Snape, "Didn't you say that the whole affair had been bungled, and that you should have been given a free rein from the first?"
Lockhart stared around at his stony-faced colleagues.
"I — I really never — you may have misunderstood —"
"We'll leave it to you, then, Gilderoy," said Professor McGonagall. "Tonight will be an excellent time to do it. We'll make sure everyone's out of your way. You'll be able to tackle the monster all by yourself. A free rein at last."
Lockhart gazed desperately around him, but nobody came to the rescue. I had to suppress a grin at the sight of the ponce looking so deflated.
"V-very well," he said. "I'll — I'll be in my office, getting — getting ready."
He turned and hurried away, moving past Ginny and I. In a moment of vindictive impulsiveness, I whipped my wand out and stunned him, dragging him into the shadows while Ginny gave me a strange look.
"He could be useful," I whispered, "As a human shield if nothing else."
Ginny nodded in understanding.
"Right," said Professor McGonagall, whose nostrils were flared, "that's got him out from under our feet. The Heads of Houses should go and inform their students what has happened. Tell them the Hogwarts Express will take them home first thing tomorrow. Will the rest of you please make sure no students have been left outside their dormitories."
The teachers dispersed, giving us free access to Myrtles bathroom. I waited for a moment to make sure that the Teachers really had gone, before levitating Lockhart up and sprinting across the hall and into the bathroom with Ginny on my heels. Once inside, I dropped Lockhart and cast an Eneveate on him. The ponce woke with a start.
"W-what happened?" he spluttered, "Whats going on?"
"Whats going on is your going to help us get Luna back," I growled.
Lockhart blanched.
"A-ah, well, you see, I really need to go," he stuttered, ""Urgent call — unavoidable — got to go —"
I shoved my wand under his chin and he shut up.
"Nope, your not going anywhere. You've wasted my time all year so you're going to do something useful before you go."
Lockhart whimpered as I snatched his wand from his pocket.
"Ginny, keep an eye on him," I said as I moved over to the sinks, "Now, it should be...ah, here it is."
I ran my fingers over the snake engraving on the tap.
"Now, lets see, how to open this thing…" I mused, "Ah, that'll work."
I flicked my wand and summoned a small snake.
"Impero."
It was an extremely odd sensation, like I was suddenly in two places at once, made even worse by the fact that snakes have very different senses from a normal human. I directed the snake to the sink and had it hiss open at it, causing the passage to open.
"What was that?" asked Ginny, curiously while Lockhart whimpered.
"The Imperious curse," I said, drawing a startled gasp from Ginny, "But before you say anything, its only illegal to use on a human."
"Well, you hardly seem to need me," said Lockhart, with a shadow of his old smile, "I'll just —"
"Oh no you don't," I growled, glaring at the ponce, "I have no idea what's down there, so you're going first."
White-faced and wandless, Lockhart approached the opening.
"N-now now, what good will that do?" he asked, his voice feeble.
I glared at him and raised my wand. Lockhart slid his legs into the pipe.
"I really don't think —" he started to say, but Ginny shoved him into the pipe and he slid out of sight with a scream.
"After you," she said.
I nodded and hopped into the pipe. It was like rushing down an endless, slimy, dark slide with more slides branching off to the sides. Behind me I could hear Ginny, thudding slightly at the curves. After a few moments, I reached the end of the pipe and landed in a heap with a wet thud. I moved to get to my feet, but before I could, Ginny came barreling out of the pipe and slammed into me with a crash.
"Oww," she groaned.
"Um, Ginny, could you get off me?" I asked, my voice muffled from where it was shoved into the floor.
"Sorry," said Ginny as she got to her feet, "Man, what a dump."
That it was. The entire place was damp, the walls were covered in some kind of unidentifiable slime and the floor was covered in the bones of small animals. A few feet away from us, Lockhart was shakily looking around, jumping at every small noise.
"We must be miles under the school," said Ginny.
"Under the lake, probably," I said.
I lit my wand and lead the way down the tunnel.
"Remember, if you see anything moving, close your eyes immediately," I said.
We made our way slowly through the shadowy tunnel until we reached a bend, around which was the huge form of the Basilisks shed skin. At the sight of it, we all froze, Lockhart and Ginny from surprise and me as I was hit by the realization of just how BIG the damn thing was. This...might be a bit out of my league. Lockhart let out a whimper and collapsed.
"Get up," snapped Ginny, clearly at her wits end with the ponce.
My head snapped up at that as I remembered Lockharts ploy.
"Ginny, get away from him!" I shouted, waving my wand to summon Ginny, just as Lockhart made a grab for her wand.
Unfortunately, the suddenness of my summon caused Ginny to drop her wand, which Lockhart immediately snatched up and pointed at us with his smiles and sparkles back in place.
"The adventure ends here, kids!" he said. "I shall take a bit of this skin back up to the school, tell them I was too late to save the girl, and that you two tragically lost your minds at the sight of her mangled body — say good-bye to your memories!"
He raised Ginnys wand high over his head and yelled,
"Obliviate!"
The bolt of light shot towards us, only to be reflected of the silver edge of my sword as I activated it and swung it like a bat, reflecting the curse straight back at Lockhart. The impact blasted him back into the ceiling with surprising force. Dust fell from the ceiling, followed by a loud cracking sound.
"Oh dear."
I dragged Ginny out of the way as the ceiling began to collapse, blocking us off from the way out.
"Well, this is a conundrum," I said, eyeing the rock pile.
"Arg, that stupid idiot!" shouted Ginny, "What kind of moron steals someones wand like that?! Where is it?"
"Em, I think its still on the other side of that," I said, pointing at the rocks.
Ginny blinked, before she slowly turned red and exploded in anger, shouting about what she was going to do to the idiot when she got her hands on him. I won't repeat what she said here because it is not at all appropriate for a T rated story.
"What now?" she asked after calming down.
"Well, since we can't go back, I guess we have to go on," I said.
"But I don't have a wand," said Ginny.
"Well, you could wait here," I said, "See if you can shift some rocks."
I turned to face the tunnel.
"I'm moving on though."
I started down the tunnel, only for Ginny to catch up with me a moment later.
"Like hell I'm staying here on my own," she said, "I can at least get Luna out if you have to fight."
I nodded and lead the way down the hall until we reached the next door, a circular metal door decorated with serpents with emeralds for eyes.
"Well, this is it," I muttered, before having the snake I conjured open the door.
We stepped inside and paused as we stared out over the Chamber of Secrets. It was large, dark and damp, decorated with carved serpents and large statues of snake heads with lanterns between their jaws set at intervals down the walkway in the middle that lead up to the huge statue of the man I assumed was Slytherin at the end.
"Man, what a shithole," I muttered, before leading the way into the Chamber.
Ginny stuck close, looking around worriedly.
"Where do you think the Monster is?" she whispered.
"Not sure, but I'm willing to bet that its asleep," I said, "Lets just hurry before it comes."
Ginny nodded, before looking at the two figures that were laying at the statue's feet.
"Luna!"
She ran to the blond girls side and I followed a little slower, looking around for Riddle.
"Ron?"
I blinked and looked to Ginny, only to see that the other person was Ron, who had a very familiar diary laying next to him.
"Wait, hes the Heir?" I asked, "Really?"
"They won't wake," said a voice from the shadows.
"So, I'm guessing that your Tom Riddle, correct?" I asked, turning to the Horcrux.
Riddle stepped out of the shadows. He looked pretty much exactly as I expected, a handsome teenaged boy in Slytherin robes.
"Indeed I am, and your Leo Black, the boy that idiot has been complaining about stealing his Potter all year," said the Horcrux.
"That sounds about right," I said, allowing my wand to drop into my hand.
"So tell me something Leo, why are you here?" asked Riddle, "I would have thought that a member of the Ancent and Most Noble House of Black would be more interested in helping me than the Mudbloods that infect the school."
"Well, you thought wrong," I said, my gaze hardening, "Even if I was interested in Blood-Purity, you attacked my friends and kidnapped another so theres no way I am going to let you get away with it."
Riddle blinked.
"Thats remarkably Gryffindorish for a Raven," he said, "But then again, I suppose that you can't judge someone solely on their house, can you?"
"That you can't," I said.
"So what, your here to beat me in the name of friendship?" asked Riddle sarcastically, "How very noble."
"No, I'm also here to make sure that you can't hurt anyone else," I said, "Theres a school full of innocent people above our heads and I have no doubt that if you return now, you'll unleash the Basilisk and kill them all. I refuse to let that happen!"
"Wait, I'm confused," said Ginny, "Whats going on?"
"Whats going on is simple," I said, not taking my eyes of Riddle, "This is the thing responsible for all the attacks, for opening the Chamber and for kidnapping Luna. Its a fragment of a madman's soul, contained within that diery."
I pointed at the book. Riddle smiled thinly.
"My, aren't you well informed," he purred, "But tell me Black, how do you know all this? How do you know about my Horcruxes?"
"I have my ways," I said with a smirk.
Ginny looked sick.
"Aw well, I guess it doesn't matter," said Riddle, "Either way, you'll be dead soon and I shall return once more! And this time, I'll make sure that I smash Holly Potter's petrified body with my own hands. A sutible ending for the child that destroyed the Greatest Wizard of all time, don't you think?"
I let out a snort.
"Whats so funny?" he asked.
"Oh, I just think its funny that you think your the greatest wizard of all time," I said, "When I know for a fact that you're nothing of the sort. There's far more to magic than simple strength Tom and you don't understand the first thing about it."
Riddle sneered.
"Oh, and what does a brat like you know?" he asked.
"I know that you don't know what real magic is," I said, "Its not being able to control the Arcane forces. You could have all the spells and mana in the world, but all that would be nothing if you have nothing to fight for."
Riddle sneered.
"Oh how far the Black family has fallen," he hissed, "To believe such nonsense."
"Nonsense huh?" I asked with a smirk, "Why don't we see? Zodiac Lance, combat mode!"
"CELESTIAL DRESS, ACTIVATE."
I glowed brightly as my clothes transformed into an elegant, black suit and my Zodiac Lance activated fully. I spun the staff around as Talaria activated and lifted me off the ground.
"Bring it on Riddle!"
And I'm going to end it their on a cliffhanger. Next time, Leo vs the basilisk and Ginny finds a way to help. I hope you liked this one, I know it wasn't really up to my usual standard, especially at the end. The reason is because it kept slipping into incredibly corny Friendship is Magic, vomit inducing levels of sappyness and, while I'm not above using such things, I will only do so if theres a laser involved. Anyway, I'm going to sign of so I'll see you next time.