They were standing at the end of a very long, dimly lit chamber. Towering stone pillars entwined with more carved serpents rose to support a ceiling lost in darkness, casting long, black shadows through the odd, greenish gloom that filled the place. Both Ella and Harry pulled out their wands and moved forward between the serpentine columns. Every careful footstep echoed loudly off the shadowy walls. They kept their eyes narrowed, ready to clamp them shut at the smallest sign of movement. The hollow eye sockets of the stone snakes seemed to be following them. Ella kept her ears opened to make sure that she didn't hear anything. She was also listening for Ginny's heartbeat. Then, as he drew level with the last pair of pillars, a statue high as the Chamber itself loomed into view, standing against the back wall. Harry had to crane his neck to look up into the giant face above: It was ancient and monkeyish, with a long, thin beard that fell almost to the bottom of the wizard's sweeping stone robes, where two enormous gray feet stood on the smooth Chamber floor. And between the feet, facedown, lay a small, black-robed figure with flaming-red hair. Harry and Ella both ran towards the figure, "Ginny!" They both sprinted towards her and dropped to their knees, "Ginny, please don't be dead. Wake up. Wake up. Please wake up," Harry called out. Ella groaned. "Ella? What's the matter?"

"She won't wake… and she physically can't stand the mere presence of me," Tom said.

"Tom. Tom Riddle. What do you mean, she won't wake? She's not…? But vampires can't be hurt by ghosts."

"She's still alive, but only just. Miss Cullen is in severe pain but will be fine."

"Are you a ghost?" he asked.

"A memory preserved in a diary for 50 years," Tom answered.

Harry touched her hand and said, "She's cold as ice. Ginny, please don't be dead. Wake up. You've got to help me, Tom. There's a basilisk."

"It won't come until it's called," he said and then picked up the wand that Harry dropped.

Harry saw what he was doing and stood up, "Give me my wand, Tom."

"You won't be needing it," he responded.

"We've got to go. We've got to save her," Harry said.

"I'm afraid I can't do that. You see, as poor Ginny grows weaker, I grow stronger. Yes, Harry, it was Ginny Weasley who opened the Chamber of Secrets."

"No. She couldn't. She wouldn't," he said.

"She was under his control, Harry," Ella gruntily answered.

"That she was," he agreed. "It was Ginny who set the basilisk on the Mudbloods and Filch's cat, Ginny who wrote the threatening messages on the walls."

"But why?"

"Because I told her to. You'll find can be very persuasive. Not that she knew what she was doing. She was, shall we say, in a kind of trance. Still, the power of a diary began to scare her. She tried to dispose it in the girls' bathroom. And then who should find it but you? The very person I was anxious to meet."

"And why did you want to meet me?" he asked.

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

"Hagrid's my friend. And you framed him, didn't you?"

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

"I bet Dumbledore saw right through you," Ella said.

"He certainly kept an annoyingly close watch on 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 by 16-year old self in its pages so that on day, I would be able to lead another to finish Salazar Slytherin's noble work!"

"Well, you haven't finished it this time. In a few hours, the Mandrake Draught will be ready. And everyone who was Petrified will be all right again," Harry said.

"Haven't I told you? Killing Mudbloods doesn't matter to me any more. For many months now, my new target has been you," he said. "I have been waiting for you to appear since we arrived here. I knew you'd come. I have many questions for you, Harry Potter."

"Like what?" Harry spat, his fists clenching.

"Well, how is it 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?"

"Why do you care how he escaped? Voldemort was after your time…" Ella said.

"Voldemort," Tom said softly, "is my past, present and future." With Harry's wand, he began to trace through the air, writing three shimmering words, 'Tom Marvolo Riddle.' Then he waved the wand once and the letters of his name rearranged itself, 'I am Lord Voldmort.'

"You. You're the Heir of Slytherin. You're Voldemort," Harry gritted his teeth.

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

"Albus Dumbledore is the greatest sorcerer in the world!" Ella smiled to herself when she heard Harry's proud exclamation.

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

"He'll never be gone. Not as long as those who remain are loyal to him," Ella recoiled. In a distance, they heard a cry and saw a crimson bird the size of a swan, piping its cry to the vaulted ceiling. It had a glittering golden tail as long as a peacock's and gleaming golden talons, which were gripping a ragged bundle.

"Fawkes?" Harry called out. A second later, Fawkes was flying straight at Harry. It dropped the ragged thing it was carrying at his feet and then left.

"So this is what Dumbledore sends his great defender. A songbird and an old hat. Let's match the powers of Lord Voldemort, Heir of Salazar Slytherin, against the famous Harry Potter," Tom said and turned to the statue and spoke in Parseltongue. The mouth of the statue opened and a basilisk came out of it.

"Harry, run!" Ella called out. Harry ran to the direction that he had come earlier.

"Parseltongue won't save you now, Potter. It only obeys me," Tom called out. Harry tripped on his own feet and fell down. He covered his head as he waited for the basilisk to kill him.

"NO! Harry!" Ella called out.

Fawkes came flying back and attacked the eyes of the basilisk, Tom cried out, "No!" Harry looked at the shadows and saw that Fawkes was blinding the eyes. When Fawkes was finished, it flew back to where it came. "Your bird may have blinded the basilisk, but it can still hear you." Harry stood up and looked at the basilisk and walked backwards. He heard that squeaking that his shoes were making, and ran down one of the tunnels. He continued to run into another tunnel but became trapped when he saw the bars that were there. The snake turned into the same tunnel that Harry was in but couldn't see him. Harry kneeled down slowly and felt around for a rock. When he found one he tossed it on the other side where the basilisk followed. Once he finally escaped the basilisk, he ran towards where Ginny was and dropped down to his knees and held her hand, "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."

"Ginny?" The basilisk came out of a man made lake that was near the statue and roared. Harry didn't know what to do. He saw a gleaming light come out of the hat and saw that a sword appeared. He immediately grabbed it and ran towards the statue. He started to climb the statue. The basilisk was moving blindly, hitting places that were near Harry, but he managed to dodge it every time. It lunged blindly and its forked tongue lashed Harry's side. Harry attempted to swing the sword at the basilisk but it was out of his reach. Harry finally got on top of the head of the statue and steadied his footing as he waited for an opportunity to hit the basilisk. The basilisk lunged and this time its aim was true – Harry threw his whole weight behind the sword and drove it to the hilt into the roof of the serpent's mouth – one of its long, poisonous fang was sinking deeper and deeper into his arm and it splintered as the basilisk keeled over sideways and fell, twitching onto the floor. Harry held onto the fang and slid down the wall. He knew that it was too late. White-hot pain was spreading slowly and steadily from the wound. Ella held her breathe as she smelled his blood. She knew that her self control had to be strong during this time.

"Remarkable, isn't it, how quickly the venom of the basilisk penetrates the body? I'd guess you have a little more than a minute to live. You'll be with your dear Mudblood mother soon, Harry. Funny, the damage a silly little book can do, especially in the hands of a silly little girl," Tom said. Harry looked at the fang he was holding and dropped to his knees by Ginny. He looked towards the diary that Tom had mentioned that was in Ginny's hands at the moment. He picked it up, "What are you doing? Stop." Harry opened the diary, raised his good arm, fang in hand. "No!" Harry stabbed the diary. Tom immediately was hurt and light tore into him. Harry closed the diary and plunged it into the heart of the book one final time. There was a long, dreadful, piercing scream. Ink spurted out of the diary in torrents, streaming over Harry's hands, flooding the floor. Riddle was writhing and twisting, screaming and failing and then… he was gone. Once the memory of Tom disappeared, Ella's strength came back and Ginny woke up.

"Ginny," Harry said.

"It was me. But I swear, I didn't mean to. Riddle made me, and… Harry, you're hurt," Ginny said.

"Don't worry. Ginny, you need to get yourself out. Follow the Chamber and you'll find Ron," Harry instructed. In a distance, they all heard a bird's cry and saw that Fawkes was flying in and landed near Harry, "You were brilliant, Fawkes. I just wasn't quick enough." Fawkes leaned down on Harry's arm in front of his wound and produced tears and began healing it. "Of course. Phoenix tears have healing powers. Thanks. It's all right, Ginny. It's over. It's just a memory." All three of them walked back towards where Ron and Edward were. They had managed to put all of the rocks on the side of the tunnel. Fawkes was able to carry, Lockhart, Harry, Ron and Ginny. Edward and Ella both ran to Hogwarts. put all of the rocks on the side of the tunnel. Fawkes was able to carry, Lockhart, Harry, Ron and Ginny. Edward and Ella both ran to Hogwarts. Edward and Ella met everyone and led them to Dumbledore's office. When they arrived there, Harry and Ron had told Dumbledore and McGonagall everything. McGonagall had gone to take care of Lockhart and escorted Ginny to the hospital wing to make sure her health was in good shape.

"You both realize, of course, that in the past few hours you have broken perhaps a dozen school rules," Dumbledore explained as Edward and Ella stood by.

"Yes, sir," Harry and Ron said at the same time.

"And that there is sufficient evidence to have you both expelled."

"Yes, sir."

"Therefore, it is only fitting that you both receive... Special awards for services to the school," Dumbledore said with a small smile on his face. Edward and Ella did their best to hide their smiles.

Harry and Ron were both shocked at what they heard. "Thanks, sir," they both responded.

Dumbledore got up from his chair and grabbed a letter, "Now, Mr. Weasley, if you would have an owl deliver these release papers to Azkaban. I believe we want our gamekeeper back." Ron nodded and left the office to fulfill Dumbledore's request. When Ron had left, Dumbledore focused on Harry before speaking, "First, I want to thank you, Harry. You must have shown me real loyalty down in the Chamber. Nothing but that could have called Fawkes to you. And, second, I sense that something is troubling you. Am I right, Harry?"

"It's just… You see, sir, I couldn't help but notice certain things, certain… certain similarities between Tom Riddle and me," he confessed.

"I see. Well, you can speak Parseltongue, Harry. Why? Because Lord Voldemort can speak Parseltongue. If I'm not mistaken, Harry, he transferred some of his powers to you the night he gave you that scar," he explained.

"Voldemort transferred some of his powers to me?"

Dumbledore walked around the desk, "Not intentionally but yes."

Harry was thinking about something, "But how is it that Ella can understand and speak in parseltongue?"

"I believe that I got it because I was there when he transferred it to you. He wasn't expecting anyone, let alone me to be there. And he was using enormous power that there was plenty to go around," Ella responded. Dumbledore nodded.

"So the Sorting Hat was right. I should be in Slytherin," Harry said.

"It's true. You possess many of the qualities that Voldemort himself prizes. Determination, resourcefulness and if I may so, a certain disregard for the rules," he said and smiled. Ella couldn't keep her wide smile off her face when she heard him say that. "Why, then, did the Sorting Hat place you in Gryffindor?"

"Because I asked it to," Harry immediately responded.

"Exactly, Harry," Ella said.

"Exactly, which makes you different from Voldemort. It is not our abilities that show what we truly are. It is our choices. If you want proof why you belong in Gryffindor, then I suggest you look more closely at this. Be careful," he said as he gave Harry the sword.

Harry held onto the sword and saw a name, "Godric Gryffindor."

"It would take a true Gryffindor to pull that out of a hat," Ella said. Dumbledore agreed.

"One thing I don't understand," Harry stated.

"What is it, Harry," Ella asked.

"Why was it so physically difficult for you to move when Tom was there?"

"I suspect that that is what is called a side effect," she started. She could tell that Dumbledore was puzzled by what she said. "What that means is that if Tom takes on some kind of his own being without being dependant on anyone, my strength wanes."

"So, it's not a direct effect that Tom has on you but rather a subconscious undoing?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes, I think it's because I tried to protect Harry from him when his mother died and I picked up whatever that didn't affect Harry," Ella responded.

There was a knock on the door before it opened and revealed Lucius Malfoy with a house elf.

Harry turned around and saw who it was, "Dobby. So this is your master. The family you serve is the Malfoys."

Lucius turned slightly to the elf and said, "I'll deal with you later," with his wand against Harry, he physically moved him out of his way, "Out of my way, Potter." Edward had to restrain Ella from attacking Lucius. Before they could do anything, he spoke, " So it's true. You have returned."

"When the governors learned that Arthur Weasley's daughter was taken into the chamber, they saw fit to summon me back," he answered.

"Ridiculous."

"Curiously, Lucius, several of them were under the impressions that you would curse their family if they did not agree to suspend me in the first place."

"How dare you!"

"Beg your pardon?" he asked.

"My sole concern has always been and will always be the welfare of this school and, of course, its students. The culprit has been identified, I presume?" he asked.

"Yes," he answered and said nothing else. Edward had to hide his smile as he read Dumbledore's mind. Edward knew what game Dumbledore was playing.

"And? Who was it?" Lucius asked.

"Voldemort. Only this time, he chose to act through somebody else by means of this," he said, picking up a torn diary. Harry made eye contact with the elf who somehow motioned for Harry to give the diary back to Lucius.

"I see."

"Fortunately, our young Mr. Potter discovered it. One hopes that no more of Lord Voldemort's old school-things should fine their way into innocent hands. The consequences for the one responsible would be severe," Dumbledore responded.

"Well, let us hope that Mr. Potter will always be around to save the day," Lucius commented.

Harry had somehow found unspoken courage and said, "Don't worry. I will be." Ella smiled at him proudly as did Dumbledore.

"Dumbledore. Come, Dobby. We're leaving," Lucius said and kicked Dobby a length in front of him. Dobby stood up and walked out the door.

Once Lucius and Dobby had left, Harry spoke up, "Sir? I wonder if I could have that?"

Dumbledore gave it to him and Harry left. "Edward, Ella, I need to ask one more favor from both of you."

"Of course," Edward said.

It was the week of final exams and everyone was in the Great Hall, prepared to eat the feast before studying for exams. Before they did anything else, they heard McGonagall speaking up, "Could I have your attention, please?"

Dumbledore stood up from his seat and said, "Before we begin the feast, let us have a round of applause for Professor Sprout, Madam Pomfrey, whose Mandrake juice has been so successfully administered to all who had been Petrified. Also, in light of the recent events, as a school treat, all exams have been canceled." All of the students cheered at the news but before the cheering had settled down, the main doors of the Great Hall opened and revealed a huge figure.

Hagrid walked in and said, "Sorry I'm late. The owl that delivered my release papers got all lost and confused. Some ruddy bird called Errol," Ron knew that it was his bird. Harry and Hermione had laughed at him as Ron looked towards Dumbledore who just stared at him. Before they knew it, Hagrid stood in front of the trio. "I'd just like to say that, if it hadn't been for you Harry, and Ron and Hermione of course, I would... I'd still be You-Know-Where. So I'd just like to say thanks."

Harry stood up on the bench that he was sitting on and said, "There's no Hogwarts without you, Hagrid." With that, he hugged him. Dumbledore stood up and started to clap. McGonagall followed then Harry. Soon enough everyone was cheering and clapping for him. Everyone started to surround Hagrid, welcoming him back to Hogwarts.