The halls are filled with nervous chatter; every student scared of what lurks around taking fellow students out. Slytherin's, for the most part, are not, All take of Harry being the heir has vanished he would never hurt Hermione and the fact I also spoke parseltongue saved his arse. But now they all look at me with worried eyes all filled with fear; I was the heir to Slytherin and the other house's. But I their frantic, scared minds I was the Heir to Slytherin, sending a beast to take them out, only a few outside of my circle thought I was innocent, I would die before hurting Hermione. Ginny, bless her touched my shoulder. "Don't fret; we know the truth," "It bothers me they think it is a Slytherin doing such vile acts, any work I thought I had done to build bridges has not worked," Hannah snapped out, "It bloody well has, fak these wankers. You do what you must those close to you know what is in your heart," she was right, she was a foul mouth, but she was right. "Potter and Weasel are waiting, sorry Gin," Avery added but Ginny had a strained relationship with her older brother. "I will be right back," all I could do was head over to the two boys who wore many marks, guess following the bloody spiders was not the best idea, but better them than me. I stood "And?" "Hagrid never opened the Chamber of Secrets," said Harry. "He was innocent." "Anything useful, this I already knew," I was a hormonal twelve-year-old girl, they better talk or get out of my way. "Follow the spiders," said Ron weakly, wiping his mouth on his sleeve. "I'll never forgive Hagrid. We're lucky to be alive." "I bet he thought Aragog wouldn't hurt friends of his," said Harry. "That's exactly Hagrid's problem!" said Ron, thumping the corridor wall "He always thinks monsters aren't as bad as they're made out and look where it's got him! A cell in Azkaban!" He was shivering uncontrollably now. "What was the point of sending us in there? What have we found out, Id like to know?" Harry spoke low, "The girl died in a bathroom, that's all," I let my fist fly, the throbbing pain in my knuckles was well worth the bloody nose Weasel had. "You are small minded; Hagrid has a heart big enough for animals and humans. To see the good in anything even when it has a bad reputation, like Dragons. Thank you, Potter, what little information you gave was needed," I left them there dumbfounded making my way to my friends. "The Second-floor girls' lavatory, more commonly known as Moaning Myrtle's Bathroom, we are going to go have a little chat," every single one just looked ready to bolt. Millicent piped up, "Should we all go, might be too much for the girl," Milli had a point. I looked around, "Cho, Luna, and Daphne with me might want to save us some brekkie." Everyone who could will avoid this loo, she was a dreadful snot of a ghost. Yes, she leads an abysmal life here, bullying caused her to die the beast was only the giver of death. I called out, "Myrle Warren," Like that she was floating in front of us, "Oh it's you," like I was such a vile person and maybe I was to her. I spoke up, "I Lady Black apologize for my rude behavior, in death, you should have the peace you were not granted in life. Luna here has also been subject to bullying in Ravenclaw. Now, you know deep down I am against it and have been trying to unit the houses against a force of evil as we have yet to see. You died in this very bathroom," Her eyes had hesitated even behind her glasses when Cho spoke, "I also would like to offer my apologies. Our house is wise, but also in that sediment, we are vain and relentless, our house members belittled you and were in our opinion a key factor in your death for if you had not been hiding here, you would not have died. Lady Black is looking into honoring you," 'Ooooh, it was dreadful, it happened right in here. 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've been. Anyway, what got me was that it was a boy speaking. So I unlocked the door to tell him to go and use his toilet, and then... I died." I was genuinely concerned, "Did it hurt?" "It was like going to sleep," Avery chimed in, "At least Mione didn't feel anything," "This beast attacked my sister Hermione Granger; I know it is a Basilisk. You said a boy was in here now why would he be?" I thought Luna and Cho did the very same as Avery was chatting with the ghost. "Damn it; we have to go. If you don't show they might think you have tried to blow up half the bloody school," I turned to Myrle. "I promise your death will not be in vain, somehow I will make it right," and I would in some way. I walked head high into Transfiguration, "Sorry I am late, I was, I was," coming up with nothing under the stern glare of my grandmother. Avery chimed in, "Not plotting to blow the Hospital wing up again that is for sure," but we take our seats, and nothing more is said about our delay. The exams are a week away, not that I mind but Hermione would be very upset she missed them, exams are like Christmas for her. "Professor Dumbledore's instructions were to keep the school running as normally as possible, she said. "And that, I need hardly point out, means finding out how much you have learned this year. "But Hermione will miss them; you know how she loves her Exams. She will be upset," something like torment was hidden in my tone as Grandmother gave me a soft look. Harry seemed to look down at the pair of white rabbits he was supposed to be turning into slippers. What had he learned so far this year? Nothing from what I have seen. He couldn't seem to think of anything that would be useful for an exam. Ron looked as though he'd just been told he had to go and live in the Forbidden Forest. Ron thankfully got a brand-new wand, and it fit him better if he was Harry's friend he at least needed a functional wand. Three days before their first exam, Professor McGonagall made another announcement at breakfast. "I have good news," she said, and the Great Hall, instead of falling silent, erupted. "Dumbledore's coming back!" several people yelled joyfully, yes he was, but that wasn't released yet. "You've caught the Heir of Slytherin!" squealed a girl at the Ravenclaw table, her eyes touched mine for a small moment before she yelped looking away. "Quidditch matches are back on!" roared Wood excitedly. When the uproar had subsided, Professor McGonagall said, "Professor Sprout has informed me that the Mandrakes are ready for cutting at last. Tonight, we will be able to revive those people who have been Petrified. I need hardly remind you all that one of them may well be able to tell us who, or what attacked them. I am hopeful that this dreadful year will end with our catching the culprit." I smiled, Hermione would be here, and everything would be back to normal. My mind could not stay on track, "The entrance to the Chamber is in the loo, why else would some random boy be lurking in there with a Basilisk," Avery and Millie gave me a grave look. "Well now guess studying is off the plans, we are taking a trip," Daphne sighed in a way only she could, light and airy but smart and sophisticated as well. I walked with Susan Bones, Avery, Ginny, and Cho while the rest kept watch. It was pivotal we at least try and warn a teacher. But the bell to signal break never came. Instead, echoing through the corridors came Grandmothers voice, magically magnified. "All students to return to their House dormitories at once. All teachers return to the staff room. Immediately, please. " I felt coldness and dread, "Another attack and this time, either they were taken or killed," low and horrified my voice echoed around the small space as Avery tossed Weasel down, Susan had Potter in her grasp. "Of course," We cringe listening to the rumbling of hundreds of people moving overhead, and the staff room door banging open. From between the musty folds of the cloaks, they watched the teachers filtering into the room. Some of them were looking puzzled, others downright scared. Then Professor McGonagall arrived. "It has happened," she told the silent staff room. "A student has been taken by the monster. Right into the Chamber itself." Professor Flitwick let out a squeal. Professor Sprout clapped her hands over her mouth. Snape gripped the back of a chair very hard and said, "How can you be sure?" "The Heir of Slytherin," said Professor McGonagall, who was very white, "left another message. Right underneath the first one. `Her skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever." Professor Flitwick burst into tears. "Who is it?" said Madam Hooch, who had sunk, weak-kneed, into a chair. "Which student?" " Hecate Oakham, first year Hufflepuff," said Professor McGonagall. She was such a sweetheart, always friendly to everyone, her brown eyes seemed to glow amber, her hair chestnut brown it fell in thick waves down her back. "I am sorry Sue," "We shall have to send all the students home tomorrow," said Professor McGonagall. "This is the end of Hogwarts. Dumbledore always said. . ." my heart was racing, they couldn't close the school this was my home. The staffroom door banged open again. "So sorry - dozed off - what have I missed?" He didn't seem to notice that the other teachers were looking at him with something remarkably like hatred. Uncle Snape stepped forward. "Just the man," he said. "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. "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 Uncle Snape. "Didn't you say that the whole affair had been bungled and that you should have been given free rein from the first?" Lockhart stared around at his stony-faced colleagues. "I - I 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." The sarcasm dripped like a faucet from Grandmothers tone. Lockhart gazed desperately around him, but nobody came to the rescue. His lip was trembling, and in the absence of his usually toothy grin, he looked weak-chinned and feeble. "Very well," he said. "I'll - I'll be in my office, getting ready." And he left the room. He was going to pack and vanish like the weak, useless scum he was. "Right," said Grandmother, whose nostrils were flared like they normally do, "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 rose and left, one by one. I stood looking at Uncle as he strode in, paler than usual. " Hecate Oakham was taken tonight, a pureblood. The school has come to a close, and you will be transported home first thing in the morning. Pack your belongings now, once done Juliet Black call on Juju to take you tonight. I will be back to make sure it has been done," Like bloody hell, once he was gone, I called my best elf friend, "juju," She was beaming at me, her large green eyes shining. "I need you to tell Uncle Sev in thirty minutes you have dropped me at the estate. I know we hate lying, but the heir has taken a girl, and I feel it deep down that I must help," "You will do great things, Little Mistress, I will do it," with no sound she was gone. "We can't all just leave," Pansy was right, her slight frame was tense with fear. "I am going alone, and none will follow me. You each will be checked on by Uncle, and if any disappear, it will be a small red flag to him. I covered myself for a small amount of time because he will check on me at the Manor," each girl looked at me like I was out of my mind and right now it was very likely I was, but they saw some logic as they agreed one by one. I walked through the Garden not but ten minutes later, wand in hand, I was scared, but life was hanging in the balance. "Good luck," "Thank you, and also thank your husband for allowing a massive snake in the castle. Men don't think," "A life lesson you learned very early," Helga smiled down at me, but soon the tunnel emerges that would lead me to the library. It was not easy to move around with many teachers watching the halls wands drawn, ready and waiting for another attack. I walked into the bathroom seeing Myrle sitting on the sink, "Hello Myrle, a young girl was taken," "I know, I watched her come in her eyes glossed over she was not her normal self," "Did you try and stop her?" Myrle glided through the circular sinks, "Of course, but it was as if she was in a trance," "Where is it?" she eyes the sterling silver sinks, so I move lower on a single one was an engraved snake. "Oh nice, he hid his chamber in a girl's loo," we would have words. "Open" Except that the words weren't what I heard; a strange hissing had escaped me, and at once the tap glowed with brilliant white light and began to spin. Next second, the sink began to move; the sink, in fact, sank, right out of sight, leaving a large pipe exposed, a pipe wide enough for me to slide into. "well nice knowing you," are my last words as I dropped down, but her voice rang clear as if she was next to me. "If you die you can share my toilet," Oh Merlin please let me live through this. It was like rushing down an endless, slimy, dark slide. As I passed them, I could see more pipes branching off in all directions, but none as significant as the one I am shooting down, which twisted and turned, sloping steeply downward, and even I knew that I was falling deeper below the school than even the dungeons. And then, just as I had begun to worry about what would happen when I finally hit the ground, the pipe leveled out, and shooting out of the end with a wet thud, landing on the damp floor of a dark stone tunnel large enough to stand in. I clambered to my feet; I was dirty my knees bleeding. "Oh right as rain," was muttered into the void. Squinting around at the dark, slimy walls. I stare into the darkness ahead. "Lumos!" I had knew fear, and this was still new, I am walking to my death over a girl I only knew in passing, but she was a good person, and I was going to try and save her. Eyes as narrow as I could make them and still see, edging forward, wand held high without a trance of my fear. The light slid over a gigantic snakeskin, of a vivid, poisonous green, lying curled and empty across the tunnel floor. The creature that had shed it must have been twenty feet long at least if not more. "It shed," I refused to stop; the skin would be looked at a later date. I crept around yet another bend, seeing a solid wall ahead on which two entwined serpents were carved, their eyes set with magnificent, glinting emeralds. My throat was parched. There was no need to pretend these stone snakes were real; their eyes looked strangely alive, a charm to scare and entice. A low hiss escaped my lips, the emerald eyes of the twin serpents glowed in front of me. The reptiles moved from each other while the walls moved out of sight, I walked forward my wand still out. 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. It was stunning in a creepy way it was probably even more remarkable when Salazar was here. The hollow eye sockets of the stone snakes seemed to be following my every move. More than once, with a jolt of the stomach, thinking I saw one stir. Then, as I drew level with the last pair of pillars, a statue high as the Chamber itself loomed into view, standing against the back wall. Being smaller had me crane my 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, face down, lay a small, black-robed figure with chestnut brown hair. "Hecate," I whispered when footfalls echoed behind me, I didn't lower my wand seeing Potter looking at the same statue. "Keep your wand out while I get Hecate," He nodded, his eyes slit nearly closed. I picked Hecate up; I could carry her some but not all the way, I set her back down needing to get Harry to help me. Her face was white as marble and as cold, yet her eyes were closed, so she wasn't Petrified. But then she must be "Hecate, please wake up," muttering desperately, shaking her. Hecate's head lolled hopelessly from side to side. "She won't wake," said a soft voice. I snarled, "Who the bloody hell are you?" his eyes linger over my robes giving a slight nod of approval. A tall, black-haired boy was leaning against the nearest pillar, watching. He was strangely blurred around the edges, as though we were looking at him through a misted window. But there was no mistaking him. "Tom - Tom Riddle?" Harry stuttered. Riddle nodded, not taking his eyes off Harry's face. "What d'you mean, she won't wake?" Harry said desperately. "She's not - she's not -?" "She's still alive," said Riddle. "But only just." Harry stared at him. Tom Riddle had been at Hogwarts fifty years ago I remember hearing about him, yet here he stood, a weird, misty light shining about him, not a day older than sixteen. "Are you a ghost?" Harry said uncertainly. "A memory," my voice was tense as my wand was raised. "How am I not surprised you lot seem to know each other. Can't manage to stay out of trouble Saint Potter," "Preserved in a diary for fifty years," Riddle smirked. I smirked back, "A diary, you sissy," he pointed toward the floor near the statue's giant toes. Lying open there was the little black diary. "You are?" Riddle spoke to me once again, but his attention was more Harry then myself. "Lady Juliet Black," "A noble and ancient house, much like my own," Riddle never rang a bell, "I am not in the mood for trivial matters," Harry cut in, "You've got to help me, Tom," Harry said, raising Hecate's head again. "We've got to get her out of here. There's a basilisk ... I don't know where it is, but it could be at any moment... Please, help me," he was naive. A smile curled the corners of Riddle's mouth. He continued to stare at Harry, twirling the wand idly. "Listen," said Harry urgently. "We've got to go! If the basilisk comes -" "It won't come until it is called," said Riddle calmly. "What d'you mean?" he said Riddle's smile broadened. Harry stared at him. "Potter, you idiot. You can't go around trusting everything; this is dark magic," "You would know," "More than you on your best day," "Potter, he is the one controlling Hecate to open the chamber, he is feeding off her soul it makes him stronger. This is ancient dark magic. Hecate thought he was a friend and told him everything from her loves to fears letting him grow stronger," Yes," said Riddle, calmly. "Of course, she didn't know what she was doing at first. It was very amusing. I wish you could have seen her new diary entries ... far more interesting, they became ... Dear Tom," he recited, watching Harry's horrified face, "I think I'm losing my memory. There are rooster feathers all over my robes and I don't know how they got there. Dear Tom, l can't remember what I did on the night of Halloween, but a cat was attacked and I've got paint all down my front. Dear Tom, Cedric keeps telling me I'm pale and I'm not myself. I think he suspects 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!" Harry's fists were clenched, as I held my wand up ready when this went down. "it took a very long time for stupid little Hecate to stop trusting her diary," said Riddle. "But she finally became suspicious and tried to dispose of it. And that's where you came in, 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, the very person I was most anxious to meet . . . ." "And why did you want to meet me?" said Harry. Anger was coursing through him it rang in his voice. "Well, you see, Hecate told me all about you, Harry," said Riddle. "Your whole fascinating history. " His eyes roved over the lightning scar on Harry's forehead, and their expression grew hungrier. "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 that great oaf, Hagrid, to gain your trust -" "Hagrid's my friend and a great wizard," "And you framed him, didn't you? I thought you made a mistake, but -" Riddle laughed his high laugh again. As we talk Hecate is in far greater danger, I gave in, never would I risk harm to her. "Juju," Riddle looked at me like I had grown another head, but then he saw the small elf at my side. "Get Hecate out of here," "Protego," I cast shielding Juju while she lifted the helpless girl they vanished like that, sending a bellow of anguish and hate, but Hecate was only gone from here not the death he encased her with. "She will die you have done nothing," "I have, she was a distraction, now the distraction has been removed," "So, you're the so-called Dark Lord. Potter this man killed your parents, this man had my mother killed," anger like never before coiled tightly in every muscle I had, my eyes tingled, but nothing more but Riddle looked at me in a new light. "Impressed, you have great power resting in you," Harry's brain seemed to have jammed. He stared numbly at Riddle, at the orphaned boy who had grown up to murder Harry's parents, and so many others... At last, he forced himself to speak. "You're not," he said, his quiet voice full of hatred. "Not what?" snapped Riddle. "Not the greatest sorcerer in the world," said Harry, breathing fast. "Sorry to disappoint you and all that, but the greatest wizard in the world is Albus Dumbledore, Lady Blacks grandfather. Everyone says so. Even when you were strong, you didn't dare try and take over at Hogwarts. Dumbledore saw through you when you were at school, and he still frightens you now, wherever you're hiding these days -" The smile had gone from Riddle's face, to be replaced by a grim look. "Dumbledore's been driven out of this castle by the mere memory of me!" he hissed. "He's not as gone as you might think!" Harry retorted. He was speaking at random, wanting to scare Riddle, wishing rather than believing it to be true. Riddle opened his mouth but froze. Music was coming from somewhere. Riddle whirled around to stare down the empty Chamber. The music was growing louder. It was eerie, spine-tingling, unearthly; it lifted the hair on my scalp and made my heart feel as though it was swelling to twice its standard size. Then, as the music reached such a pitch that flames erupted at the top of the nearest pillar. A crimson bird, the size of a swan, had appeared, piping its weird music 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," I whispered. A second later, the bird was flying straight at us. It dropped the ragged thing it was carrying at Potters feet, then landed heavily on his shoulder while giving me the eye "You see this Potter, it just, shit my grandparents know I am gone," As it folded its magnificent wings. The bird stopped singing. It sat still and warm next to Harry's cheek, gazing steadily at Riddle and not me. "Fawkes?" Harry breathed. "And that -" said Riddle, now eyeing the ragged thing that Fawkes had dropped, "that's the old school Sorting Hat -" Riddle began to laugh again. He laughed so hard that the dark chamber rang with it, as though ten Riddles were shouting at once "This is what Dumbledore sends his defenders! A songbird and an old hat! Do you feel brave, Harry Potter and Lady Black? Do you feel safe now?" "To business, Harry," said Riddle, still smiling broadly. "Twice - in your past, in my future - we have met. And twice I failed to kill you. How did you survive? Tell me everything. The longer you talk," he added softly, "the longer you stay alive." I noticed his form was more apparent now, Hecate had so little time. "No one knows why you lost your powers when you attacked me," said Harry abruptly. "I don't know myself. But I know why you couldn't kill me. Because my mother died to save me. My common Muggle-born mother," he added, shaking with suppressed rage. "She stopped you killing me. And I've seen the real you, I saw you last year. You're a wreck. You're barely alive. That's where all your power got you. You're in hiding. You're ugly, you're foul -" "I killed the body that hosted you, so desperate to living a half-life," I smiled in such a way it disturbed people. Riddle's face contorted. Then he forced it into an awful smile. "So. Your mother died to save you. Yes, that's a powerful counter-charm. I can see now ... there is nothing special about you, after all. I wondered, you see. There are strange likenesses between us, after all. Even you must have noticed. Both half-bloods, orphans, raised by Muggles. Probably the only two Parsalmouth's to come to Hogwarts since the great Slytherin himself. We even look something alike ... but after all, it was merely a lucky chance that saved you from me. That's all I wanted to know." I snorted, "I am a Parselmouth as well, not rare, three in a single chamber," Harry stood, tense, waiting for Riddle to raise his wand. But Riddle's twisted smile was widening again. He cast an amused eye over Fawkes and the Sorting Hat, then walked away. I watched Riddle stop between the high pillars and look up into the stone face of Slytherin, high above him in the half-darkness. Riddle opened his mouth wide and hissed - but Harry understood what he was saying... "Speak to me, Slytherin, greatest of the Hogwarts Four. " Harry wheeled around to look up at the statue, Fawkes swaying on his shoulder. Slytherin's gigantic stone face was moving. Horrorstruck, we saw his mouth opening, wider and wider, to make a massive black hole. And something was stirring inside the statue's mouth. Something was slithering up from its depths. Harry backed away until he hit the dark Chamber wall, and as he shut his eyes tight. Something huge hit the stone floor of the Chamber. Feeling it shudder – I knew what was happening, he could sense it, could almost see the giant serpent uncoiling itself from Slytherin's mouth. Then we heard Riddle's hissing voice: "Kill him, then the girl. " The basilisk was moving toward Harry; I could hear its massive body slithering heavily across the dusty floor. Eyes still tightly shut, Harry began to run blindly sideways, his hands outstretched, feeling his way - Voldemort was laughing. Harry tripped. "Too right you're, Potter, this wizard doesn't compare to Albus. Sorry, Riddle, I am the heir of Slytherin, I am Lady Black, and last I am the granddaughter of Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall you will not be re-joining us today," He was substantial enough to use a wand, "Potter take care of the snake, I got this handled," Greenlight flared right pass my head, "A death eater go to curse, here is mine," I waved my wand, "Sectumsempra," catching his left thigh seeing a very foggy type blood spill, he could be hurt but not killed this way. His face could have been described as handsome, but it was contorted with rage and hate. We danced around; I was slammed into the wall when I searched for Potter who was running and climbing. My face throbbing, "Yeah, nice." My wand spinning once it stopped he was rolling through the air before slamming into the cold mildew smelling wall. I sent another, "Stupefy," he dodged it the red flew very close to his head, it was only a distraction when he was able to glance back at me his face was surprised. Another, "Waddiwasi," large chunks of statue hurl themselves into him, slamming into his body knocking him to the floor. "Once I return, you will not be so lucky. I am not even at my best," I snarled, "I wait for the day you do return, Juliet 2 points and Dark Lord 0," knowing right now he was still a memory even if more clear, no spell, no curse I knew could kill him. "You can't kill me," Then he screamed, "LEAVE THE BIRD! LEAVE THE BIRD! THE BOY IS BEHIND YOU. YOU CAN STILL SMELL HIM. KILL HIM," A thought hit me, "Fiendfyre, spirits of fire which burn anything in its path, including nearly indestructible substances," I smirked but then a boulder, no a snake smashed into my chest, a sword was in its chest and Potter was pulling its fang from his forearm. The Basilisk was dead; its last act was to save his master "You died well, beast." I crawled, my leg was broken, "Stab the bloody book, Potter. Basilisk venom can destroy it," a theory, and one I was hoping was proved correct. "You're dead, Harry Potter," said Riddle's voice above him. "Dead. Even Dumbledore's bird knows it. Do you see what he's doing, Potter? He's crying." I laughed more manic than his, "You're stupid, healing tears, Phoenix's tears heal wounds like nothing we have ever found or created," I just tried to buy time and being annoying and rude worked most times. Harry seized the basilisk fang on the floor next to him and plunged it straight into the heart of the book. 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 flailing and then I was flipping him the bird. He had gone. Hecate's wand fell to the floor with a clatter, and there was silence as I collected her wand. I groaned, "Look, Potter, we made a good team. I might die once I get back up there but you can't live on luck forever, try learning," I was helped up; I hobbled on my left leg as Potter held me up right through the progress up the dark tunnel, a distant sound of slowly shifting rock reached our ears. "Ron!" Harry yelled, speeding up. "Potter, I can't walk that fast," We heard Ron give a strangled cheer, and they turned the next bend to see his eager face staring through the sizable gap he had managed to make in the rock fall. "Juliet was already down there saving Hecate; she defeated him," "Hey now, you killed the basilisk. Now the spiders will not be scared to come eat all of us," Ron paled nearly stumbling over his feet. Lockhart was in a new state, but in time he would be his usual self the charm was only a backfire. Fawkes was fluttering in front of me, his beady eyes bright in the dark. He was waving his long golden tail feathers. "You are just happy you're taking me to get yelled at, I was a toddler and never meant to bite you. Can you please stop holding a grudge?" Fawkes gave a shrill note shaking them yet again. I grasped the feathers, "Hold on to each other, we are about to be screamed at," Harry tucked the sword as we each held on to the other, Lockhart was last. Once in the bathroom, it was empty. "Bloody hell, we're in serious trouble," mumbling as Ron and Harry each grabbed under my arms leading us behind Fawkes, right to Grandmothers office. "Traitor," I spat as Fawkes looked to smirk at me. Harry gave a knock before pushing the door open, my grandparents, Aunt, Uncles, Hecate's mother all stood looking at the three of us all covered in slime and muck, Potter and I in blood. Grandfather was standing by the mantelpiece, beaming, next to Grandmother who was taking great, steadying gasps, clutching her chest. Fawkes went whooshing past Harry's ear and settled on Dumbledore's shoulder, just as Harry found himself and Ron being swept into Mrs. Oakhams tight embrace. Then she bowed to me before letting go and hugging me as well. "You saved her! You saved her! How did you do it?" "I think we'd all like to know that," said Professor McGonagall weakly. Harry, who hesitated for a moment before helping me into a chair, then walked over to the desk and laid upon it the Sorting Hat, the ruby encrusted sword, and what remained of Riddle's diary. Then he started telling them everything. For nearly a quarter of an hour he spoke into the rapt silence: He told them about hearing the disembodied voice, how Hermione had finally realized that he listened to a basilisk in the pipes; how he and Ron had followed the spiders into the forest, that Aragog had told them where the last victim of the basilisk had died; how he had guessed that Moaning Myrtle had been the victim and that the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets might be in her bathroom ... Eyes turned to me, "You lot know I can talk to snakes, I made it my mission to figure it out after Hermione was attacked. I blew the hospital wing up to make a distraction, Weasel and Potter never would have been smart enough to leave the school. I found the chamber the morning of the last attack; when I heard Hecate had been taken, I left by myself to go. After I was already in the chamber did Potter come," Aunt Cassiopeia gave me a look, "You Juliet Black are never leaving the manor and might not be returning to Hogwarts," "Why the manor isn't safe is it? You lied to me, you were not on vacation but attacked by Death Eaters. I will kill them all," anger winning over, she had been my mother, and she was nearly ripped from me. "Enough, both of you are scared and not thinking right," Uncle Sebastian cut in his voice like a knife, ending our argument. "What interests me most," said pop pop Dumbledore gently, "is how Lord Voldemort managed to enchant Hecate when my sources tell me he is currently in hiding in the forests of Albania." Relief - warm, sweeping, glorious relief - swept over me. "W- what's that?" said Mr. Weasley in a stunned voice having just arrived with Mrs. Wealsey. "You-Know-Who? En-enchant Hecate? But Hecate's not ... Hecate hasn't been ... has she?" this was the frantic mothering voice of Mrs. Oakham when the door flew open my god-parents walking through both looking irate. "It was this diary," said Harry quickly, picking it up and showing it to Dumbledore. "Riddle wrote it when he was sixteen . . . ." Dumbledore took the diary from Harry and peered keenly down his long, crooked nose at its burnt and soggy pages. "Brilliant," he said softly. "Of course, he was probably the most brilliant student Hogwarts has ever seen until Juliet." He turned around to the full office who was looking utterly bewildered. "Very few people know that Lord Voldemort was once called Tom Riddle. I taught him myself, fifty years ago, at Hogwarts. He disappeared after leaving the school ... traveled far and wide ... sank so deeply into the Dark Arts, consorted with the very worst of our kind, underwent so many dangerous, magical transformations, that when he resurfaced as Lord Voldemort, he was barely recognizable. Hardly anyone connected Lord Voldemort with the clever, handsome boy who was once Head Boy here." "He is a," but Uncle Severus gave me a look. "Enough, you have worried us all," "If not for her we be dead, I can't live on luck. I umm- I need to learn and need teachers willing to help me," "Bravo Potter, I will help you," I offered he blushed smiling at me. "I seem to remember telling you three that I would have to expel you if you broke any more school rules," I tensed looking at my pop pop. "Which goes to show that the best of us must sometimes eat our words," Dumbledore went on, smiling. "You will each receive Special Awards for Services to the School and - let me see - yes, I think two hundred points apiece for Gryffindor and Slytherin," "I want an award and more strict guidelines for bullying for Myrle Warren; if she was not bullied, she would never have been hiding in the loo. If the teachers took action against Ravenclaw than it could have been prevented," "Yes, of course, my Poppet," "But one of us seems to be keeping mightily quiet about his part in this dangerous adventure," Dumbledore added. "Why so modest, Gilderoy?" Harry gave a start as Ron, and I chuckled. We had forgotten entirely about Lockhart. He turned and saw that Lockhart was standing in the corner of the room, still wearing his vague smile. When Dumbledore addressed him, Lockhart looked over his shoulder to see who he was talking too. "Professor Dumbledore," Ron said quickly, "there was an accident down in the Chamber of Secrets. Professor Lockhart -" "Am I a professor?" said Lockhart in mild surprise. "Goodness. I expect I was hopeless, was I?" "He tried to do a Memory Charm, and the wand backfired," Ron explained quietly to Dumbledore. "Dear me," said Dumbledore, shaking his head, his long silver mustache quivering. "Impaled upon your sword, Gilderoy!" "Would you mind taking Professor Lockhart up to the infirmary, too?" Dumbledore said to everyone huddled in the office. "Id like a few more words with Harry and Juliet ... Lockhart ambled out. Ron cast a curious look back at Dumbledore and Harry as he closed the door behind everyone who filed out, most unwilling. Pop pop Dumbledore crossed to one of the chairs by the fire. "Sit down," he said, and we both sat, feeling unaccountably nervous, the pain in my leg was getting worse, I was covering it with my robes. "First of all, Harry and Juliet, I want to thank you," said Pop Pop, eyes twinkling again. "You must have shown me real loyalty down in the Chamber. Nothing but that could have called Fawkes to you." "I of course am loyal to you pop pop," like it was nothing but to him it was everything, he takes my hand into his as a single tear slips passed his spectacles. He stroked the Phoenix, which had fluttered down onto his knee. "And so you met Tom Riddle," said Dumbledore thoughtfully. "I imagine he was most interested in you . . . . " "Professor Dumbledore ... Riddle said I'm like him. Strange likenesses, he said ... "Did he, now?" said Dumbledore, looking thoughtfully at Harry and I, from under his thick silver eyebrows. "And what do you think, Harry?" but something like shock was heard meaning pop pop thought he would have more interested in me. "I don't think I'm like him!" said Harry, more loudly than he'd intended I guess. "I mean, I'm - I'm in Gryffindor, I'm . . ." But he fell silent, a lurking doubt resurfacing in his mind. "Professor," he started again after a moment. "The Sorting Hat told me I'd – I'd have done well in Slytherin. Everyone thought I was Slytherin's heir for a while ... because I can speak Parseltongue... "You can speak Parseltongue, Harry," said Dumbledore calmly, "because Lord Voldemort - who thought he was the last remaining ancestor of Salazar Slytherin - can speak Parseltongue. Unless I'm much mistaken, he transferred some of his powers to you the night he gave you that scar. Not something he intended to do, I'm sure... "Voldemort put a bit of himself in me?" Harry said, thunderstruck. My heart stopped in that minute, I skimmed over a very dark ritual once, and it mentions something very similar. "It certainly seems so." "So I should be in Slytherin," Harry said, looking desperately into Dumbledore's face. "The Sorting Hat could see Slytherin's power in me, and it -" I snapped, "My house is not that bad, Saint Potter," "Put you in Gryffindor," said Dumbledore calmly. "Listen to me, Harry. You happen to have many qualities Salazar Slytherin prized in his hand-picked students. His own very rare gift, Parseltongue - resourcefulness - determination - a certain disregard for rules," he added, his mustache quivering again. "Yet the Sorting Hat placed you in Gryffindor. You know why that was. Think." "It only put me in Gryffindor," said Harry in a defeated voice, "because I asked not to go in Slytherin . . . ." `Exactly, "said Dumbledore, beaming once more. "Which makes you very different from Tom Riddle. It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. Juliet the very same goes for you, you are a Slytherin but show your traits on your sleeve, loyal like Hufflepuff, brilliant as any Ravenclaw, Brave so very brave like Gryffindor," Harry sat motionless in his chair, while I grimaced in pain. "If you want proof, Harry, that you belong in Gryffindor, I suggest you look more closely at this." Dumbledore reached across to Grandmothers desk, picked up the blood-stained silver sword, and handed it to Harry. Dully, Harry turned it over, the rubies blazing in the firelight. And then he saw the name engraved just below the hilt. Godric Gryffindor "Only a true Gryffindor could have pulled that out of the hat, Harry," said Dumbledore quietly. "What about a direct descent of Godric?" "Yes, they could as well," he smiled at me his blue eyes twinkling. For a minute, neither of them spoke. Then Dumbledore pulled open one of the drawers in Grandmothers desk and took out a quill and a bottle of ink. "What you need, Harry is some food and sleep. Juliet you as well after you get your injured leg fixed up. I suggest you go down to the feast, while I write to Azkaban - we need our gamekeeper back. And I must draft an advertisement for the Daily Prophet, too," he added thoughtfully. "We'll be needing a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher... Dear me, we do seem to run through them, don't we?" Harry got up and crossed to the door. He had just reached for the handle, however, when the door burst open so violently that it bounced back off the wall. Lucius Malfoy stood there, fury in his face. And cowering behind his legs, heavily wrapped in bandages, was Dobby. I stood taller now; I was more than capable of taking him even with a bum leg. "Good evening, Lucius," said Dumbledore pleasantly. Mr. Malfoy almost knocked Harry over as he swept into the room he avoided contact with me, he paid a very handsome fine for his bullying tactics. Dobby went scurrying in after him, crouching at the hem of his cloak, a look of abject terror on his face. The elf was carrying a stained rag with which he was attempting to finish cleaning Mr. Malfoys shoes. Mr. Malfoy had set out in a great hurry, for not only were his boots half-polished, but his usually sleek hair was disheveled. Ignoring the elf bobbing apologetically around his ankles, he fixed his cold eyes upon Dumbledore. "So!" he said "You've come back. The governors suspended you, but you still saw fit to return to Hogwarts." I cut in, "Well, you see, Lucius," smiling serenely, "the other eleven governors contacted me today. It was something like being caught in a hailstorm of owls. They'd heard that Bethany Oakhams daughter had been killed and wanted Grandfather back here at once. They seemed to think he was the best man for the job after all. Extraordinary tales they told me, too... Several of them seemed to think that you had threatened to curse their families if they didn't agree to suspend him in the first place. Now, now, didn't you pay a large sum due to these same tactics?" Mr. Malfoy went even paler than usual, but his eyes were still slits of fury. "So - have you stopped the attacks yet?" he sneered. "Have you caught the culprit?" "We have," said Dumbledore, with a smile. "Well?" said Mr. Malfoy sharply. "Who is it?" "The same person as last time, Lucius," said Dumbledore. "But this time, Lord Voldemort was acting through somebody else. Utilizing this diary." He held up the small black book with the large hole through the center, watching Mr. Malfoy closely. Harry, however, was watching Dobby, so my eyes turned to him as well. The elf was doing something very odd. His great eyes fixed meaningfully on Harry, he kept pointing at the diary, then at Mr. Malfoy, and then thumping himself on the head with his fist. "I see. . . " said Lord Malfoy slowly to Dumbledore. "A clever plan," said Dumbledore in a level voice, still staring Mr. Malfoy straight in the eye. "Because if Harry and my granddaughter here" -Lord Malfoy shot us a swift, sharp look - "and his friend Ron hadn't discovered this book, why – Hecate Oakham might have taken all the blame. No one would ever have been able to prove she hadn't acted of her own free will ... Lord Malfoy said nothing. His face was suddenly masklike. "And imagine," pop pop went on, "what might have happened then... The Oakham's is one of our most prominent pure-blood families. Imagine the effect on Mr. Oakham and his Muggle Protection Act, if his daughter was discovered attacking and - killing Muggle-borns ... Very fortunate the diary was discovered, and Riddle's memories wiped from it. "Who knows what the consequences might have been otherwise ... Mr. Malfoy forced himself to speak. "Very fortunate," he said stiffly. And still, behind his back, Dobby was pointing, first to the diary, then to Lucius Malfoy, then punching himself in the head. Heartbreaking seeing such a loyal elf force to self-harm. Harry nodded at Dobby, and Dobby backed into a corner, now twisting his ears in punishment. "Don't you want to know how Hecate got hold of that diary, and in turn gave it to Hecate because Hecate loves old journals, Mr. Malfoy?" said Harry. Lucius Malfoy rounded on him. "How should I know how the stupid little girl got hold of it?" he said. "Because you gave it to her," said Harry. "In Flourish and Blotts. You picked up her old Transfiguration book and slipped the diary inside it, didn't you?" He saw Mr. Malfoy's white hands clench and unclench. "Prove it," he hissed. I moved closer to the older man, "Oh, I will. I will see you rotting away in Azkaban," "Now that Riddle has vanished from the book. On the other hand, I would advise you, Lucius, not to go giving out any more of Lord Voldemort's old school things. If any more of them find their way into clean hands, I think Arthur Weasley, for one, will make sure they are traced back to you ... Lucius Malfoy stood for a moment, and we distinctly saw his right-hand twitch as though he was longing to reach for his wand. Instead, he turned to his house-elf. "We're going, Dobby!" He wrenched open the door, and as the elf came hurrying up to him, he kicked him right through it. They could hear Dobby squealing with pain all the way along the corridor. Even on a bum leg, I was after him; Dobby was a good elf with my wand pointed at his back. "You're nothing but a second-rate death eater, Malfoy," his cold eyes locked with mine. "You child will learn your place," "Try and show me, and I will show you how miss placed your arrogance is," "Mr. Malfoy," Harry gasped, skidding to a halt next to me. "I've got something for you -" And he forced the smelly sock covered diary into Lucius Malfoy's hand. "What the -?" Mr. Malfoy ripped the sock off the diary, threw it aside, then looked furiously from the ruined book to Harry. "You'll meet the same sticky end as your parents one of these days, Harry Potter," he said softly. "They were meddlesome fools, too. He turned to go. "Come, Dobby. I said, come." But Dobby didn't move. He was holding up Harry's disgusting, slimy sock, and looking at it as though it were a priceless treasure. "Master has given a sock," said the elf in wonderment. "Master gave it to Dobby." "What's that?" spat Lord Malfoy. "What did you say?" "Got a sock," said Dobby in disbelief. "Master threw it, and Dobby caught it, and Dobby - Dobby is free. " "You've lost me, my servant, you both will regret it," But Dobby shouted, "You shall not harm Harry Potter and his girlfriend," Oh dear, he has this confused. There was a loud bang, and Lord Malfoy was thrown backward. He crashed down the stairs, three at a time, landing in a crumpled heap on the landing below. He got up, his face livid, and pulled out his wand, but Dobby raised a long, threatening finger. "You shall go now," he said fiercely, pointing down at Mr. Malfoy. "You shall not touch them. You shall go now." Lucius Malfoy had no choice. With a last, incensed stare at the pair of them, he swung his cloak around him and hurried out of sight. "Harry Potter freed Dobby!" said the elf shrilly, gazing up at Harry, moonlight from the nearest window reflected in his orb-like eyes. "Harry Potter set Dobby free!" 'Good job for once Potter used that brain," I crashed to the floor; darkness was all I saw.