In the middle of the chamber on the ground was Ginny, laying on the ran over quickly to her, while I walked slowly behind, warry. Where was the creature? Looking around for it, and anything else, wand out ready to defend.
Standing next to the crouched Harry, who had rolled Ginny onto her back, seeing her pale face, he gasped, "Ginny! Please don't be dead" He prayed. I spun around, felling like I was being watched.
I lowed my wand slightly seeing the tall figure, that was leaning against a pillar. I recognized the handsome boy. His jet black hair, and his dark intensive eyes, he had a slight smirk on his face. Tom Riddle. He was alive. How? He must've done some spell to sap energy from Ginny, was he doing it to me? Just being in the same massive space with him, it was intense, intimidating almost. Scary even.
I couldn't help the whisper, "Tom" he had pushed himself off the pillar, walking closer, wearing the robes of Slytherin, the emblem resting over where his heart would be.
"Ginny! Wake up!" Harry breathed behind me, not yet noticing we were being watched.
That's when Tom spoke, "She won't wake up" His voice, it was cold and velvety. He walked closer, breaking eye contact with me, once he did, I pointed my wand at him, remembering whom this was. Tom Riddle, Lord Voldemort
"To-Tom Riddle?" Harry breathed, from behind me, "What do you mean? She won't wake up? She's not- she's not -" Harry's voice was frantic, desperate.
Tom walked closer, "She's still alive, but only just" He says.
"Stop right there Riddle" I snapped, point my wand at him, thinking up of some sort of strategy, to duel him.
He looked to me once again, his dark brown mesmerizing eyes. But Harry spoke up, "Amber, stop!" Harry snapped, "Tom you've got to help me" Harry says, "We've got to get her out of here. There's a basilisk, I don't know where it is, but it could be along any moment, please help is"
Idiot, "Don't take a step Riddle" I hissed, keeping my wand pointed at the boy that was walking closer, I noticed he had Harrys wand, he was twirling it in his hand.
"Amber, we need to all go! If the basilisk comes-"
"It won't come until it is called," Tom spoke, calmly, his smirk grew.
"What do you mean?" Harry demanded, "Look, give me my wand, I might need it-" Tom's smirk turned into a wicked smile, showing his nearly perfect teeth.
"Harry, Tom Riddle is-" I started, but interrupted by Tom.
"You won't be needing it" Tom says in a cocky tone.
"What'd you mean? I won't be-" I looked at Harry
"Harry, he's Salazar Slytherin's decedent, he is the heir, he's been using Ginny to get stronger" I finally snapped at him, annoyed with him, his cluelessness.
"Yes, Amber, leave it to you to figure it all out, I've been waiting to meet you face to face, it can wait however" Tom stated, then looked away from me to Harry, "I've been wanting to meet both of you, you Harry, I've been waiting for a long time to speak to you." He smiled slyly, walking closer, being two arm lengths away.
"We can talk later" Harry says impatiently, "What do you mean using Ginny?"
I go to say something, but Tom answered, "She means, I've been using the girl, I suppose the reason was, because she opened herself up, her heart, spilled all her secrets to an invisible stranger, and we're going to talk now" He stated, reaching his hand out, causing my wand to fly from my hand.
"She was charmed by you, spilling her emotions to you. You've been feeding on her soul, to grow stronger, that's how your existing out of the diary" I whispered, why had he not done it to me? I had him for nearly a year and a half...
"Why yes, The diary" Grinning Tom then looked, "My diary, that she stole from you. The moment she started writing I knew she'd be perfect, easy to leech off of. I had told to her, that you, Amber, had put me in the diary, to kill me. The girl bought the lie, and kept me a secret. She's been telling me for months and months, her pitiful worries and woes. How her brothers teased her, how she had to come to school with secondhand robes and books, how-" he then looked to Harry, "How she didn't think the famous, good, great Harry Potter would ever like her" He then looked to me, "It was bery boring, listening to her silly little troubles, she wasn't intresting enough to have a real conversation, unlike you" He then went on, "But I was able to feed off her. I was patient, I wrote back, I was sympathetic, I was kind. Ginny simply loved me." He then went to a mocking tone, "No one's ever understood me like you, Tom... I'm so glad I've got this diary to confide in, it's like having a friend I can carry around. Why would Amber ever think to kill you?" He then laughed, a cold deep laugh, that could freeze an open flame, "As you've said Amber, she was charmed by me, as most people are, deeply charmed. So much so she poured out her soul to me, and her soul happened to be exactly what I wanted... I grew stronger and stronger on a diet of her deepest fears and darkest secrets. I grew more powerful, far more so than . Strong enough to start feeding her with a few of my own secrets."
"What do you mean?" Harry whispered.
"Harry, He used her to open the Chamber of Secrets. He used her to put the message on the walls. He used her to set the Serpent of Slytherin out, on Hermione, and the others." I snapped at him.
Harry gulped, "No."
Tom then smiled again, looking at me, "Correct, I knew you would figure it all out. You're for sure a Ravenclaw." He then looked at the ground at Ginny, "Of course, she didn't know what she was doing, at first. It was very amusing. I wish you could've seen her newest diary entries, when she started to catch on." He then looked to me, "Where you would've caught on in an instant it took her months." He then used a mocking tone again, "Dear Tom, I think I'm losing my memory. There are rooster feathers all over my robes. I don't know how they got there. Dear Tom, I can't remember what I did on Halloween, but a cat was attacked and I've got paint all down my front. Dear Tom, everyone keeps telling I'm pale and don't seem like myself. I think my brother suspect me... There was another attack today, and I don't know where I was. Tom, What am I going to do? I think I'm going mad. I think, I'm the one attacking everyone, Tom!"
I looked to the ground at Ginny, that could've been me. Then looking at Tom I glared once again, but inside I was worried, questioning him. That could've been me? Was he just using me also? He must've absorbed some of my fears also. Would he have used me to do what he made Ginny do?
"It took a very long time for the stupid little girl to stop trusting her diary" Tom stated, "But finally she became suspicious, tried to dispose of it, of me. That's when you found me" He looked at Harry, "you found it, and I couldn't have been more delighted. Of all the people who could have picked it up, it was you, someone I was anxious to meet"
"What do you want with me?" Harry questioned, confused.
Tom, then chuckled, "Well, you see, little Ginny told me all about you, Harry. In more depth than Amber had. She, Ginny told me about your whole fascinating history, I knew I must find out more about you, talk to you, meet you. If I could. So I decided to show you my famous capture of the great oaf, Hagrid, to gain your trust"
As Tom started to circle us, I stood my ground, thinking of a plan. Trying to come up with one that put the odds in our favor. I knew Tom was a skilled wizard, probably knew more than I did, he also had the basilisk on his side, had both mine and Harrys wand, I would be fine without mine, for a bit, but Harry I doubt could do much without his. There was also Ginny, still on the ground, we needed to protect her. It wouldn't end well, if we both dueled Tom, as the basilisk would just come out, to either after Ginny or one of us. The moment either of us would try to stop it, we'd be at risk of dying, or risk the other of dying. If one of us were to stay with Ginny and the other against Tom, it still wouldn't work. Not unless Harry had his wand, he wasn't much use against Tom, and what would he do if the snake showed up? No matter the plan we'd still be at risk. I doubt I could keep an eye on everything, duel Tom, watch for the serpent, keep both it and Tom away from Harry and Ginny.
I let out a huff of frustration, no matter what happened, this wouldn't end well, not with how things currently were. It was piratically two against one. I looked at Ginny, from the corner of my eye. Perhaps, we could forget about her. Harry could distract the snake while I dealt with Tom. I then looked to Harry, would he go for a plan where Ginny was exposed? It was the best plan I had at the moment. I looked at Tom, whom was still talking about how he had preserved himself in the diary. I could hopefully, keep him on his toes, tire him out, get Harry's wand, and then, once I got it to Harry, it'd be an even match. But there was still the risk Ginny being killed, or Harry looking into the snakes yellow eyes, just one slip up could get him killed, then the snake would likely come at me, then it'd be me against both Tom and his beast. Which wouldn't end well, since I literally couldn't keep an eye on the basilisk.
".. How is it 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?" Tom demanded, pointing Harrys own wand at him. "While Lord Voldemort's powers were destroyed?" I myself was curious as to how Harry survived.
Then Harry, asked, "Why do you care how I escaped? Voldemort was after your time."
"Harry, Voldemort is Tom, Tom is him I mean, they are the same person" I stated the obvious.
Tom then wrote his name in thin air, Tom Marvolo Riddle, then had it rearrange, to read, I am Lord Voldemort.
"You. He, is the heir of Slytherin." Harry breathed, baffled, I rolled my eyes, haven't I been stating that earlier, now he's catching on? The dolt.
"Surely, you didn't think I was going to keep my filthy Muggle father's name?" Toms, perfect face became angry, with his nose scrunched up, and his eye glaring, at the mention of his father, who was a muggle apparently. Is that why he hated muggles? Because of his father? What'd he do? Wait, he's muggle-born, not a pure-blooded wizard.
"...Not as long as those who remain are loyal to him." Harry replied to Tom, who's face stilled looked like he'd eaten something sour. His eyes wide, his lips were puckered up.
"Wait, you're muggle born? Why hasn't the basilisk gone after you? Is it because you're Salazar's relative? " I questioned, curious, how did this all work?
Before I could get an answer, a sound of a squawk, causing us all to look in the direction, to see, the gorgeous red bird, Dumbledores phoenix.
"Fawkes?" Harry questioned, getting his answer as the bird got closer, it was carrying something, dropping it as it flew over us. I looked into Harry's hands, seeing the old sorting hat, what good would it do? It would've been better if the bird had stuck around, it would've been useful to have around, during the fight, that would soon happen.
"So, this is what Dumbledore sends his greatest defenders?" Tom mocked, "A songbird and an old hat"
I watched as Tom walked away, towards the statue of Salazar, reaching his hand out. I had a uncanny feeling he was going to call the basilisk out, I stepped forward walking up to him, to stop him. But it was to late he was already talking, "Speak to me, Slytherin, greatest of the Hogwarts four" He hissed in Parselmouth.
Then the mouth of the statues mouth started to open, Tom had turned around, looking to me, then past me at Harry, "Let's match the power of Lord Voldemort, Heir of Salazar Slytherin against the famous Harry Potter" He then looked at me, "And the heir of Rowena Ravenclaw"
I could here the snake's hiss, quickly I looked down, "Harry, don't look at it!" I yelled, reminding him. I then heard the sound of him running, his heels hitting the watered ground, as I saw from the corner of my eyes of the Slytherin green beast, without thinking, I quickly bolted, running after Harry. Forgetting Ginny.
"Parseltongue won't save you now, Potter. It only obeys me. " Tom's voice, echoed as I caught up to Harry shoving him behind a pillar.
"Amber!" he snapped, only to end up with my mouth over his mouth.
"Shut the bloody hell up. Here's the plan, you keep the basilisk busy, I'll deal with Tom, try and get our wands back from, him" I ordered, in a hush tone.
Slapping my hand away he glared at me, "That's the best you've got? You'll get killed!"
I rolled my eyes, "Better then, both of us running, leaving Tom to drain Ginny!" I went on, "Keep it away from us, I'll get the wands, now get lost!" I barked at him, "Don't look at it's eyes" I reminded him, shoving him out into view of the snake, before he could argue with me. Then he took of running, soon, I saw the green serpent slither past. Once I couldn't see it, I came out from behind the pillar, Tom looking up at me, locking eyes, as I walked closer.
"Ah, so you'll be dueling me, will you?" He taunted, holding Harrys wand still, "You won't last long"
He took a step closer to Ginny, I kneeled down to her, making it look like I was checking her, in reality, I was putting Capone into the girls robes. I then looked up at Tom, thinking of the incendio spell, then I shot flames at him, "You won't be touching her" I hissed, getting closer. mentally thinking ahead, perhaps I could trick him into putting down Harrys wand and fight me with wandless magic? Walking past the hat, till I was on the other side of Ginny, standing in front of Riddle.
He smirked at me, "Are you sure you want to duel me? Without a wand, to make things easier?" He taunted in a whisper.
I smiled, sweetly, "I didn't seem to need it with you before, I mean I've faced your older half more than once" I taunted, "What can you do better then he could? You're not even real, just a memory" Impervius!
With the spell, he was pushed backwards, away from me, "I can do more than you can" He whispered, the tip of Harrys wand glowed green, in that moment, I felt my ankles jerked out from under me. As if being pulled up into the air, I was high off the ground, the fall would hurt most likely. Then again I've had worse...
"Relashio!" I pointed a hand at Tom, causing him to drop the wand, mine coming out of his pocket landing next to Ginny, I then used the charm on my ankles, dropping down, I was able to adjust myself in the air, enough so when I fell to the ground, I wouldn't land on my head, however my jaw had hit the ground. Ow! On the ground, I quickly jerked forward, to my wand, taking hold of it, pointing it at Tom, whom had Harry's wand once again. I recognized the movement he was doing with it, quickly, I did a counter spell, as Harry's wand spat out fire, mine released water.
As our duel went on I heard a familiar squawking, Fawlkes must've returned to help Harry. Or so I hoped. Whatever was going on, I could hear the sound of the basilisk getting angry, crying out in pain, and Fawkes, squawking.
"No!" Tom yelled, the bird must've done something to disable, to hinder the snake, then a force of something shoved me back, interrupting the duel, I rolled onto my stomach to see the bird was attacking the snakes head, was it plucking it's eyes? "Your bird may have blinded the basilisk, but it can still hear you." Tom yelled, in that moment, I got up, shooting the babbling curse at him, when he tried to speak, he just babbled.
"Enough talking Riddle, you have me to deal with" I taunted him, then quickly before he could react I shot from my wand, shredding, flurry of ice shivers, little sharp, needle like ice nettles at him. But a red spell had already shot from the wand, I jumped to move but the spell had hit my left side, I felt it go numb, I could feel it spreading, causing my left thigh, to become dead weight, and my stomach to ache as it felt electrocuted. He must've used a stunning charm. I managed to get back up, careful not to put to much weight on my left side, if I did, I just might fall and break it.
He was now looking at me, "Impressive, the stupefy charm isn't fully paralyzing you, then again, you're an overall impressive wizard" Tom whispered.
Harry had then appeared, running up, past me to Ginny. I limped over, past Harry, causing Tom to back up more.
"Yes, Potter. The process is nearly complete. In a few minutes, Ginny Weasley will be dead, and I will cease to be a memory, Lord Voldemort will return, very much alive" In this moment, I could see emotion in his eyes, they were watery, not with tears, but there seemed to be more light shining in his face, showing his deep brown eyes, shining with the warmth determination, they weren't cold and emotionless.
I was then caught off guard, as the snake, the king serpent bursted out of the water, causing me to jump, I on instinct looked at it, seeing where its eyes would be were just the bloody sockets. I smiled, good job Fawkes! We could look at it now, making the battle a bit more evened out. I then watched it, as it seemed to look past me, I looked over seeing Harry now had a sword, where? I shook the question out, looking at the snake, backing up away from it. It seemed to ignore me all together, going past me, towards Potter, who had climbed up the statue. At that moment I felt something odd. I blinked, opening my eyes to feel, I was calm, not on edge, my anxiety banished almost. No worry about Harry nor Ginny. I looked to Tom who was staring at me his wand pointed at me. He must've used one of the curses on me, it felt heavenly, immensely relaxing.
Tom then said something, his voice was different, it was soothing to me, "Help me kill him"
I looked back at Harry, walking forward, I could see the snake had him cornered, I pointed my wand at Harry, who looked from the snake to me.
His eyes wide, "Amber! Stop!" He yelled. Something else, in me seemed to be yelling, fighting, something deep inside of me. I felt it. The fight within me, it was realistic. I shut my eyes, focusing on the feeling. When I reopened my eyes, I was flooded with all of the emotions from before, the calmness was gone. I didn't know if it was a good or bad thing. I could feel my stomach about to yak up its contents.
I looked up to see Harry about to fall, the snake attacking the statue, bearly missing Harry.
"Hey! You!" I yelled, stepping backwards, shooting fire from my wand at the snake, that then looked in my direction, hissing. "Yeah, you come after someone on equal ground"
The snake hissed, seemingly it knew where I was, I however didn't take into account for it's tail. As it hit me, harshly, sending me flying into a pillar. I gasped, as I felt my back, hit the stone, I felt the pointed stone of the carved snake, it the small of my back. I then fall onto the wet ground, my lower back was shooting with pain. I had to ignore it. Getting up to my feet, I took a step, only to fall back down. I looked up at the basilisk. Harry was no longer dangling, he just missed the snakes attack, as he now stood on the head of the statue I got back up again. This time I leaned forward, forcing my legs to move forward quickly, towards Tom. I managed to run into him pushing him away from Ginny. I then fall to the ground, something was wrong.
"what did you do?" Tom whispered, his voice made me remembers a dream I had, the night Daphne woke me up, when my nightmare affected the real world.
I gazed up at Tom, whom was looking down at me, "You've asked me that before. I didn't know your name" I whispered, I was feeling faint. But I was jolted back, hearing the cries of the king serpent. I looked over my shoulder seeing the snake as it fell down, Harry was holding his arm. Must've gotten hurt. Then the snakes head landed on the ground, harshly, as it died. I looked forward, at Tom seeing the frustration in his face, he looked irritable. Who knew, the snake would actually die. I then heard Harry fall behind me, dropping the sword.
"Remarkable, isn't it..." Tom walked past me to Harry, I got to my feet, shakily, I needed to stop him from getting to close. "... How quickly the venom of the basilisk penetrates the body?" He shared, I managed to get in front of him, only to fall to my knees, it hurt to much to stand, "I'd guess you, Amber have a bit longer to live, while Potter has a little more than a minute to live, submit to me however, and I'll let you live" Tom offered.
"What could you possibly do to help me?" I questioned, I needed to keep him talking, hoping to make a plan, or that Harry would make one. Then again if he could stop the pain in my back... Maybe if I submit to him, I could get close and kill him, rid the world of the dark lord before me.
Tom smirked, "More than you know, now submit bow before me" He ordered.
Carefully, I thought about it. If I submit, I could be a spy maybe. relay information to Dumbledore... I could also kill him once he trusted me. I began to lower my head, ignoring Harrys objections. However, before I could fully rest my forehead on the ground, a familiar sound came, I sat up seeing Dumbledore bird, landing on the ground, on Harrys leg. It was laying it's head on Harrys wound. I let out a gasp, as it cried, I see a tear roll off its beak.
"You're dead, Harry Potter," Tom says, ignorant of what the bird was, "Dead. Even Dumbledore's bird knows it. Do you see what he's doing Potter? He's crying"
"Tom, it's not just any bird" I whispered, looking to Tom, looking up at his face, "It's a phoenix, didn't you notice it was immune to the gaze of the basilisk, that would normally kill anything that looked at it? It's not crying because he's dying, the birds tears are an antidote to the venom of the basilisk venom." I then looked to the bird, "It's song, it's voice gave Harry the courage to do good, to kill the basilisk"
"What? No!" Tom yelled, "Get away, bird! Get away from him!" He growled, trying to shoo the bird, to scare it, the bird eventually got up flying away, "Of course, I forgot" He whispered, going on with more confidence, "But it makes no difference. In fact, I prefer it this way. Just you and me, Harry Potter. You and me-" He interrupted as the phoenix returned, dropping the diary next to us. I looked to Harry, he was looking at me, we both must've had the same thought, I nodded, he then began stabbing the diary, with the fang of the basilisk.
Tom than fell to the ground, releasing a horrible scream. I felt conflicted, as I watched the boy, the person I thought was my friend all last year, as he was screaming bloody murder. He needed to die, but I couldn't help but feel sorrow for it, as holes of light started to show through his uniform, then his face, all over his body, till he bursted, I had to look away, the brightness was to much. I looked back, seeing what was left of him, sparkles falling. I could feel the tears rolling down my cheek. Why was I crying? It's a good thing he's gone, him and the snake are dead. Gone, no longer problems for us. I keeled over, onto my side, as my knees started to hurt.
Harry had collapsed as well. That's when Ginny stirred, sitting up, she noticed where she was.
"Oh no! Amber, Harry! Amber I tried to tell you, but Snape." She cried, "I swe-swear I didn't mean to, he, Riddle, he made me, he took over" She then looked at the basilisk, gasping, "How did you kill that thing?" she then looked around, "Where is he? I remember he cam out of the diary-"
"Shut up" I managed to whisper, sitting up, as I watched Capone crawl out from Ginnys robes, "Hey, you" I whispered softly to him.
"It's alright, Riddles finished" Harry soothed Ginny, I felt a tear fall when he mentioned Tom being gone, "Him and the basilisk. C'mon Ginny, Amber, let's get out of here-"
Ginny began to weep, "I'm going to be expelled!" She cried, as Harry helped her up, and proceeded to help me up, I had to lean on him, I wanted nothing more than to fall back down, it hurt to stand up. I was loosing feeling in my feet, "I've looked forward to coming to Hogwarts, since B-Bill cam, and n-now I'll have to leave" Capone sitting on Harrys other shoulder, as he helped lead me out, back to Ron, Ginny followed behind, "Wh-what'll mom and dad say?"
I wanted so much to tell her to shut up, but I didn't want to waste the energy, it was hard enough to walk.
Reaching the large pile of rubble, I was set down onto a laege rock, Capone Jumping to my knees, I could barely feel my left one.
"Ron!" Harry yelled, walking to the rocks, to where a hole was.
The ginger's head popped up from the hold he's made, "Ginny!" He yells, with glee.
Harry then walked back over to me, after he helped get Ginny through the hole, as it was my turn now. On the other side of the hole, with the new memory-less Lockhart, who seemed more pitiful than he did before. Fawkes was there also, seemingly waiting for us. Then I'm struck with an idea, away for us to get out of the hole.
"We need to hold Fawkes tail feathers" I breathed, managing to walk over towards the pretty bird.
Harry nodded, he then explained, "He can carry us, they are strong enough to effortlessly fly up a distance with four people holding on to their tails" I was glad he explained, I don't think I had it in me to do the same.
"But there are five of us" Ron whispered.
I nodded, "You guys go up first, get a professor, tell them the news, the Fawkes will come back for Capone and I, now get going, we need to let everyone know" I snapped, before they could object. Thankfully, they all, did as I suggested. Grabbing the pretty tail feathers of the phoenix, and it flew them out. I sat back on the ground, onto the bones.
Why was I so bent up about him? He did nothing but, lie, manipulate and use both Ginny and I. He was Lord Voldemort for bloody sakes. Maybe I was just crying over the pain in my back, and the lost in feeling in my legs, and the pain combined with how stressful it was down here. I soon put a stop to the crying, as Fawkes was back. I nodded, placing Capone into my shirt. Then grabbing hold of the the golden tail feathers of the bird.
"I need to go to the hospitl wing," I managed to whisper, Harry was about to say something, "I'll take Lockhart also, you guys go find McGonagall, tell her what's happened" I ordered, ignoring any objections, as I pushed Lockhart forward.
I didn't make it very far, as my legs gave way, and I fell to the ground, leaning against the wall. This wasn't good, I looked to Lockhart, "find someone" I whispered, feeling sweat fall from my face, as I fought to stay awake, I could barely see, tears and darkness caused my vision to fade.
Before Lockhart could go anywhere, as I heard the sound of my name being yelled, " , you should be in-" I recognized the figure of Professor Snape as he kneeled before me, "What happened?" He demanded, "What did you do Lockhart!" He demanded.
"Nothing, sir, I need Madam Pomfrey, I think I'm dying" I whispered, feeling my head get heavy, I had to jerk it back, "it's my back, something's wrong, I can't feel my feet, I can't wiggle my toes, I also need Dumbledore, I have to tell him" I mumbled, "Tom Riddle, I need to apologize"
I was then pulled up, off the ground, it hurt. Forcing me to lean into Snape, as he held my shoulders, preventing me from falling down, he then lead me to the hospital wing.