Entering the Chamber

The following morning, Cedric was missing yet again when we went to visit Hermione after getting special permission from Professor McGonagall.

"Wish you were here, Hermione," I murmured. "You'd know what to do." I squeezed her hand, and then felt a paper inside it.

"What's that?" asked Ron.

"Ron, this is why Hermione was in the library the day she was attacked!" I said, as I read the paper. "Come on."

I read aloud the paper as we walked. "'There are many fearsome beasts that roam our lands, but none is more deadly than the basilisk. A giant snake born from a chicken's egg and hatched beneath a toad. Capable of living for hundred of years. The crowing of a rooster is fatal to it. Any who look upon this deadly serpent in eye will die. Spiders flee before it.' Ron, the creature in the Chamber is a basilisk, that's why I can hear it speak, it's a snake!"

"But if it kills by looking people in the eye, why is it no one's dead?" asked Ron.

"Because no one did look it in the eye," I realized. "Not directly at least. Colin saw it through his camera, Justin saw it through Nick but Nick got the full blast of it and couldn't die again because he's a ghost, and Hermione had the mirror. I bet you anything she was looking around corners in case it came along."

"And Mrs. Norris? I'm pretty sure she didn't have a camera or a mirror, Helena," said Ron, raising an eyebrow.

"The water," I said, remembering. "She only saw the basilisk's reflection! 'Spiders flee before it,' it all fits!"

"But how's a basilisk been getting around? A dirty great snake, someone would've seen it!" said Ron.

"Hermione's answered that too," I said, showing him the scrawl that read pipes.

"Pipes?" Ron repeated. "It's using the plumbing!"

"Remember what Aragog said about that girl fifty years ago? How she was found in a bathroom? What if she never left?"

Ron's eyes widened. "Moaning Myrtle."

Professor McGonagall's voice rang across the P.A. system. "All students will return to their house dormitories at once. All teachers will go to the second floor immediately!"

"The second floor's where Mrs. Norris was attacked," said Ron. "You don't think…?"

"Let's pray we're wrong," I said, dreading it.

We ran and hid just as the staff arrived.

"As you can see, the Heir of Slytherin has left another message. Our worst fears have been realized. A student has been taken by the monster into the Chamber itself," said Professor McGonagall. "The students must be sent home. I'm afraid this is the end of Hogwarts."

Lockhart appeared, failing to notice the frowns on their faces. "So sorry, dozed off. What've I missed?"

"A boy has been taken into the Chamber, Gilderoy, your moment has come at last," said Professor Snape.

"My m-moment?" said Lockhart.

"Weren't you just saying last night that you've known all along where the entry to the Chamber of Secrets is?" said Professor Snape.

"Well, that's settled," said Professor McGonagall. "We'll leave you to deal with the monster, Gilderoy. Your skills after all, are legend."

"Very well," said Lockhart. "I'll just be in my office getting ready, shall I?" He left the staff, much their pleasure and ours.

"Now that's got him out from under our feet, the Head of Houses will inform the student of recent events and contact Professor Dumbledore," said Professor McGonagall.

"Who is it the monster's taken, Minerva?" asked Madame Pomfrey.

"Cedric Diggory," said Professor McGongall.

My heart froze and I could barely move as I saw the inscription on the wall. "'His skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever.' Cedric!" I whispered.

"We'll save him, Helena, I promise," said Ron, squeezing my hand.

I nodded. "Come on!"

We ran into Lockhart's office.

"Lockhart may be useless, but if he's going to try and get into the chamber, at least we can tell him what we know!" I said, as we burst in. "Professor, we have some information for you!" I frowned as we saw the walls were stripped of their décor and everything neatly packed. "Are you going somewhere?"

"Uh, yes, urgent call, unavoidable. So sorry, have to go," he stammered.

"What about Cedric?" I demanded, angrily. I knew he was a moron, but how could he be so heartless as to leave Cedric in the Chamber of Secrets to the mercy of Slytherin's Heir and the basilisk?

"Well, as for that unfortunate incident, no one regrets more than I…"

"You're the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher!" Ron yelled. "You can't go now!"

"Well, I must say, when I took the job, there was nothing the job description…"

"You're running away?" said Ron. "After all that stuff you said you did in your books?"

"Books can be misleading!"

"You wrote them!" Ron shouted.

"My dear boy, do use your common sense! My books wouldn't have sold half as well if people didn't think I'd done all those things!" said Lockhart.

I was like a volcano about to erupt, I was so angry. "You pompous, arrogant, pathetic excuse for a man!" I shouted. "You're nothing but a fraud! You've just been taking credit for what other witches and wizards have done! Is there anything you can do?"

"Yes, now that you mention it. I rather happen to be gifted with Memory Charms," said Lockhart. "Otherwise all those people would've gone blabbing and I'd never have sold another book. As a matter of fact, I'm going to have to do the same to you."

Before he could do this, I grabbed my wand. "Expelliarmus!" I shouted, disarming him.

Ron picked up his wand and then broke it in two before aiming his own wand at Lockhart. "You're coming with us. We know where the Chamber and what's inside it. Go on, go. No arguments."

Lockhart looked as if he wanted to disobey, but he didn't dare as we aimed our wands at his back and made him walk to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.

"Who's there?" she said. Then she saw us and cheered up. "Oh, hello, Helena. Hi, Ron. What do you want?"

"To ask you how you died," I said.

"Oh, it was dreadful," said Myrtle. "It happened right here in this very cubical. I'd hidden because Olive Hornby was teasing me about my glasses. I was crying and then I heard somebody come in."

"Who was it, Myrtle?" I asked.

"I don't know. I was distraught! But they said something funny, a kind of made-up language, and I realized it was a boy speaking so I unlocked the door to tell him to go away and then I died."

"Just like that? How?" I asked.

"I just remember seeing a pair of great big yellow eyes over there by that sink." She pointed to the one tap that never worked.

I examined it for a moment and found Slytherin's mark on it. "Ron, this is it! I think this is the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets."

"Helena, say something in Parseltongue. Maybe that'll open it," said Ron.

It was worth a try. I focused on the snake and said in Parseltongue, "Open up."

The sinks began widening and the top rose into the air and down below us was a huge tunnel wide enough for six people to run through or a basilisk.

"Well, excellent work, Helena!" said Lockhart. "You don't need me anymore. I'll just be going now."

"Oh, no you won't," said Ron, as we forced him back. "You can go first." He then shoved Lockhart down the tunnel and we followed.

Going down the tunnel was nothing I wanted to experience again. We were going so fast I thought we'd never stop, the tunnel was slick and damp and cold and it reeked of sewage, and dead fish and rats. We eventually landed in dried animal bones where Lockhart was waiting for us. He looked annoyed, but didn't argue.

We forced him to continue walking until we came across the biggest snakeskin I'd ever seen. "Good gracious," I murmured.

"It's a snakeskin," said Lockhart.

"Whatever shed this must be sixty feet long or more," said Ron.

Lockhart then fainted, making us both scowl and then Lockhart grabbed Ron's wand. "The adventure ends here, children," he said. "I'll take a bit of this skin with me back up to the castle. The world will know our story. How I was too late to save the boy, how you two tragically lost your minds at the sight of his mangled body. You first, Miss Potter, say good-bye to your memories." I couldn't move and then he said, "Oblivate!" and then there was a flash of green light and he was thrown backwards into the ceiling.

The roof then collapsed, leaving Ron and Lockhart trapped. I climbed up to the top of the rock. "Ron! Ron, are you okay?" I yelled.

"I'm fine!" said Ron. "But this git's not! His Memory Charm backfired! He hasn't got a clue who he is! What do we do now?"

"You wait here and try to shift some of this rock so we can get back through," I said. "I'll go and find Cedric. If Lockhart does anything, grab a big rock and hit him with it!"

"Okay."

I went on walking. I came to a barricaded door with seven snakes. "Open," I hissed. An eighth snake circled around the other seven, making them draw back and then the door opened. I walked through and climbed down a ladder. I found myself in a huge chamber with stone snake heads and a stone form of Salazar Slytherin's face. I could feel my scar burning then I saw it. There, lying near the water surrounding Salazar's face was Cedric's unmoving body.

Cedric! My heart seemed to stop beating as I ran over to Cedric and knelt beside him. He was as pale and as cold as cracked ice. "Cedric! Cedric, don't be dead. Wake up! Wake up! Please, wake up!"

"He won't wake," said a voice.

I turned and to my shock, I saw Tom Riddle walking towards me. He was still sixteen and as youthful as ever. He looked real, but how was that possible? "Tom? Tom Riddle? What do you mean he won't wake? He's not—?"

"He's still alive, but only just."

"Are you a ghost?"

"A memory," he corrected. "Preserved in a diary for fifty years."

"You've got to help me, Tom, there's a basilisk."

"It won't come until it's called."

I frowned when he said this and saw that he was holding my wand that I'd dropped. "Give me my wand, Tom."

"You won't be needing it."

"What're you talking about?" I demanded. "We've got to go. We've got to save him!"

"I'm afraid I can't do that, Helena. You see as poor Cedric grows weaker, I grow stronger." My eyes widened as I realized what he was saying and he went on, "Yes, Helena, it was Cedric Diggory who opened the Chamber of Secrets."

"No, he couldn't. He wouldn't!" Cedric couldn't, he wouldn't ever do that! He'd never betray the school or our friendship like that!

"It was Cedric Diggory who wrote the threatening messages on the wall. It was Cedric who strangled the school's roosters. It was Cedric who set the basilisk on the Mudbloods and on Filch's cat," said Tom.

"But why?" I asked, unable to believe this.

"Because I told him to. You'll find I can be very persuasive. Not that he knew what he was doing. He was, shall we say in a sort of trance? Whenever he did a task, he ended up with a memory blackout. He began talking to me more about his fears and hiding from you so he wouldn't worry you. Eventually, though, he pieced it all together and realized what was going on, so when the power of the diary began to scare him, he tried to dispose of it in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, and then who should find it, but you?"

"But how did he steal it back? Why did he take it back?"

"It was simple, really. When he found out you'd found it, he panicked. He began to worry that I'd told you the truth about what he was doing, and feared that if you knew, that he'd lose your friendship. So, he bribed a foolish little first-year Gryffindor girl to steal it back when your dormitory was deserted but instructed her not to damage your things. I was quite angry when Cedric began writing to me again because you were the very person I was most anxious to meet."

"And why did you want to meet me?" I growled.

"I knew I had to talk to you, meet you if I could. So, I decided to show you my capture of the brainless oaf Hagrid to gain your trust."

"Hagrid's my friend!" I yelled. "And you framed him, didn't you? I thought you made a mistake, but you just…"

"It was my word against Hagrid's," said Tom, coolly. "Only Dumbledore seemed to think he was innocent."

"I'll bet Dumbledore saw right through you," I said, grinning.

"He certainly kept an annoyingly close watch over me after that. I knew it wouldn't be safe to open the Chamber again while I was still at school, so I decided to leave behind a diary, preserving my sixteen-year-old self in its pages so that one day I'd be able to finish Salazar Slytherin's noble work."

"Well, you haven't finished it this time. In a few hours, the Mandrake Drought will be ready. In a few hours, everyone who was Petrified will be alright again."

Tom shook his head. "Haven't I told you?" he said, quietly. "That killing Mudbloods doesn't matter to me anymore? For many months now, my new target has been you." He brushed aside my hair with my wand revealing my scar. "How is that a baby with no extraordinary magical talent was able to defeat the greatest wizard of all time? How did you escape with nothing but a scar while Lord Voldemort's powers were destroyed?"

"Why do you care how I escaped?" I demanded. "Voldemort was after your time."

Tom smirked. "Voldemort is my past, present and future." He used my wand to write words in the air.

Tom Marvolo Riddle

Then he waved his wand and they rearranged themselves and I was shocked by what they said now.

I Am Lord Voldemort

"You," I whispered. "You're the Heir of Slytherin! You're Voldemort."

"Surely you didn't think I was going to keep my filthy Muggle father's name?" he growled. "No, I fashioned myself a new name. A name I knew wizards would one day fear to speak when I became the greatest sorcerer in the world!"

"Albus Dumbledore is the greatest sorcerer in the world, you pompous evil lunatic!" I yelled, furious.

"Dumbledore's been driven out of this castle by the mere memory of me!" Tom hissed.

"He'll never be gone! Not as long as those who remain are loyal to him!"

Just then, there was a bird's screech and a swan sized bird of red and gold plumage appeared. "Fawkes?" I murmured. Fawkes then dropped something in my hands. It was the school's Sorting Hat. This was the only defense I had? Crap!

"So this is what Dumbledore sends his great defender. A song bird and an old hat," said Tom, sneering. He turned to Salazar's statue and spoke in Parseltongue. "Speak to me, Slytherin, greatest of the Hogwarts Four." He turned back to me as I began backing up. "Let's match the skill of Lord Voldemort, Heir of Salazar Slytherin against the famous Helena Potter." The basilisk came out as I began to run. "Kill her! Parseltongue won't save you now, Potter, it only obeys me!"

I ran as fast as I could, trying to escape it. I then slipped and fell onto the soaked floor and fumbled for my glasses. When I heard the basilisk above me, there was no time to run, but then I saw Fawkes's shadow and saw it blinding the basilisk.

"NO! The girl is there! Sniff her! Hear her!" shouted Tom. "Your bird may have blinded the basilisk but it can still hear you!"

I took advantage of the opportunity to run and went down every tunnel I could, and tried to evade it, but to no avail. I found myself trapped at a dead end and then the basilisk came near me, blinded but still able to hear and smell me. I held my breath and tossed a rock down the tunnel and this lead the basilisk away. When the snake was gone, I ran back to Cedric and shook him. "Cedric, please, wake up," I begged.

"Sorry, Helena, but the process is nearly complete. In a few moments Cedric Diggory will be dead and I will cease to be a memory. Lord Voldemort will return, very much alive," said Tom.

"Cedric," I whispered. "Please!"

There was a loud splashing and then the basilisk reappeared in the water. Crap! I looked for anything that could help and found a silver sword with enormous red rubies sticking out of the Sorting Hat. I grabbed the sword and swung it to fight off the basilisk as it tried to hit me. I barely managed to climb up the statue of Salazar and got onto its head as the basilisk and I fought. It lunged for me; I dodged it and kept swinging my sword at it. It lunged for me again but then I stuck the sword through the roof of its mouth and through its brain causing it to yell in pain. I yanked my sword free, but not before one of the basilisk's fangs lodged itself in my arm, which made me cry out in pain. The basilisk towered to the left and right, but then fell to the ground dead.

I was relieved, but that was the least of my concerns. The pain in my arm was horrible and I felt hot and sick as the poisonous venom worked its way through my veins. I barely managed to limp over to Cedric's body before collapsing.

"Remarkable, isn't it? How quickly the basilisk's venom penetrates the body," said Tom. "I'm guessing you have little more than a minute to live. You'll be with your dear Mudblood mother soon." He gazed at the diary which I took into my hand. "It's funny, the damage a silly little book can do, especially in the hands of a silly little boy." Then he saw that I was picking up the basilisk's fang. "What're you doing? Stop, no!"

"This is for Cedric!" I hissed, as I stabbed the diary with the fang. Ink spewed out of the stabbed areas as Tom screamed and bright lights burst through him. I stabbed the diary three times with anger before he clutched his face and then disappeared forever.

Cedric then inhaled sharply and woke up gasping as he sat up.

"Cedric," I said, relieved.

"Helena," he said, as he turned to face me. There were tears in his eyes and he looked both horrified and ashamed. "I'm so sorry. I tried to tell you before, but somehow I just couldn't. It was me. I opened the Chamber and attacked those students. But I swear, I never meant to do any of it. Riddle made me and—Helena, you're hurt!"

I covered my wound with my other hand. "It doesn't matter," I said. "It's okay. None of this is your fault. Cedric, you need to get yourself out. Follow the Chamber and you'll find Ron and Professor Lockheart. There's no hope left for me. Get out, now."

"There is no way I'm leaving you," he said, firmly.

Before I could protest, Fawkes flew by and sat in between us.

"Dumbledore's phoenix?" said Cedric, surprised. "But how—?"

"Long story," I interrupted. My vision was starting to blur and my head felt strange. I was getting weaker. I turned to the beautiful Fawkes, who softly chirped at me. "You were brilliant, Fawkes. I just wasn't quick enough."

Fawkes chirped at me again and then lowered his head. Then he started crying. His tears fell onto my wound and then it healed and I felt better. Cedric looked relieved and stunned that I was healed.

"Of course, phoenix tears have healing powers," I murmured, as I stroked Fawkes's feathery head. "Thanks." I turned back to Cedric and smiled. "It's okay, Ced. It's over. It's just a memory."

He smiled as he helped me up and we hugged each other. We walked out of the Chamber and met up with Ron, who was relieved we were both safe and asked several questions about the items we had and about Fawkes, but Cedric shushed him by promising to explain later. Lockhart's Memory Charm proved to be quite powerful as he didn't have a single clue about anything. Fawkes was able to carry us out of the Chamber, which resealed itself after we were out.

Then we all trudged up to Professor Dumbledore's office. We were quite a sight, all covered in grime, dirt, and blood, but none of us cared. Cedric performed a Temporary Silencing Charm on Lockhart to get him to shut up and the rest of us were quiet. We arrived at the gold gargoyle which moved aside after I gave the password and then we went inside the office.