Chapter 3.
Rounding the corner Harry and Ron stopped dead in their tracks. There was the group of professors they were looking for all reading a message once more written in blood on the wall.
"Her skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever"
"But what does it mean Albus?" Minerva asked wearily.
"That the monster has taken a child down into the chamber as a hostage. What we have feared most has come true. I should have evacuated the children when Amelia asked me to." Albus looked downtrodden when saying this.
"Who has the monster taken Albus?" Severus Snape asked coolly.
"Ginevra Weasley"
The gasp that went around the group was pure shock, Ron letting out a gut-wrenching scream was unexpected and caused all the professors to turn abruptly.
"It can't be true Professor!" Ron pleaded to his head of house.
"I'm afraid so Mr. Weasley, but what are you doing out of the infirmary, I thought I told you to go straight there?" She asked while eyeing Harry as well.
"We have some answers for you professor, well Hermione did anyway." Harry explained what they believed the monster to be, a basilisk, and how Hermione believed it was getting around through the pipes.
Harry then explained to Dumbledore how he released the snake from the zoo on accident and how he could speak with snakes, this shocked Professor Snape but not the headmaster.
As Harry was putting the pieces together for the professors something else clicked in his head and he spit it out without thinking.
"It's Tom Riddle professors! Tom Riddle is behind this!"
"How do you know that name Harry?" Albus Dumbledore asked politely but sternly.
Harry then explained about the diary, and that it was taken from him, how he saw the past when Hagrid was blamed and watched as both Snape and McGonagall turned white.
Then Dumbledore did something rare, he explained who Tom Riddle was to Harry. Minerva couldn't believe he was doing so; it went against everything she knew about the old wizard and his need to hold things in. It just showed how dire the situation was.
"Harry, I'm going to need you help tonight, we must hurry to rescue Miss Weasley and unfortunately you are my only chance of getting in that chamber." Pausing to look at his professors Albus continued.
"Harry, you possess the one thing I cannot re-create to gain entry into the chamber."
"My ability to talk in parseltongue?" Harry said quietly.
"Precisely Harry, now I will require you to help me get into the chamber, but I do not want you anywhere near the basilisk. The beast has deadly eyes that can kill just by making eye contact. On top of that deadly condition, it has extremely volatile venom that a mere drop can kill." Albus hoped to pass the severity of the situation onto Harry.
"Headmaster I do not think this is wise" came the voice of Severus Snape.
"It is not, but knowing these two as I do, it would not stop them from heading to the chamber, it's better they assist me in this trek, I will of course need assistance, but will not force anyone to go." Looking around the group that was amassed he noticed that Gilderoy had taken leave from the group, probably to pack his things and be gone. Looks like Albus will require another defense professor next year.
The rest looked determined to help. Minerva volunteered to stay at the entrance to hopefully prevent anything further happening to the children.
Filius, the tiny charms professor offered to contact Amelia and get her up to speed, while Snape volunteered to head into the chamber with Albus.
Professor Sprout was worried about the children and offered to stay with and protect them with everything she had.
Dumbledore nodded and agreed with their choices. It was a good set up. Grabbing a pair of Aurors walking through to assist with Pomona they took up their places. Dumbledore walked to the girl's bathroom that Myrtle inhabited. She was not used to having a crowd in her domain so fled to her u-bend wailing.
"Okay Harry, from everything we have gathered we have determined that this was the entry way to the chamber." Dumbledore explained.
"Harry felt around the sink taps and noticed that there were snakes etched into the metal, glaring at the snake Harry made his mind believe it was real and before he could think of what he was doing a hissing sound surrounded the group as the sinks started to rattle and dislodge from the others.
"Way to go Harry!" Ron said through a quivering voice.
"Yes, well done Harry" Dumbledore said while pushing him behind himself as the slide formed in the open doorway.
"Now I do not believe that a man of such stature as Salazar Slytherin would allow himself to slide down the chute, Harry if you could please try requesting stairs." Albus instructed.
Harry did as he was told and once more a hissing sound filled the room followed the slide turning into stairs.
"Very well done. Now we just need a few additional friends to assist us with this rescue mission." Dumbledore said abruptly as if just figuring this bit out, he called for the house ghosts.
"Hello dear friends, I wish to request your presence with us to head down into Salazar's domain to face his basilisk, I was hoping you four would take lead to warn of any deadly eyes we may or may not encounter." Albus asked.
The ghosts, although floating, seemed to stand up taller. It was the Bloody Baron who responded with "We would be delighted to be of assistance headmaster."
The Barron and the Grey Lady took the lead, leaving Sir Nicolas and the Fat Friar to protect the children. Dumbledore explained his reasonings, "If we should encounter the giant serpent, the ghost would take the brunt of the glare and the rest of us would simply be petrified. I would much rather have stone bodies instead of dead ones."
Everyone in the group swallowed hard but nodded in his explanation. The aurors tightened their grip on their wands as they brought up the rear as the group headed down the stairs into Slytherins domain.
Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs the group encountered thousands of tiny bones crunching beneath their feet.
"We now know why we don't have a rodent problem" Dumbledore tried to inject some humor into the group, it didn't work.
Walking even further they came across a rather large skin of a snake. Ron gulped and tried to hold in a scream which semi worked, it came out as a squeak just before passing out.
"Oh dear, I knew I couldn't ask him to stay upstairs but didn't think he would fall like this" Albus explained, and Harry believed him right, there was no way Ron would accept staying while Harry went.
Albus asked one of the Aurors to levitate the passed-out child back upstairs and to the infirmary. If he should wake advise Poppy that she may sedate him, it would be the only way to keep him safe.
Looking to Harry, Albus wanted to make sure he was still okay, Harry's nod in the affirmative comforted Albus as he chose to continue.
It was several minutes of walking around several tunnels, Harry was wondering how Dumbledore seemed to know his way considering he had never been down here before. While he was pondering this, he heard Dumbledore's soft "ah-ha"
Harry peered around his headmaster and saw another door, this time with several snaked who's fangs locked the door in place.
"Harry, I do believe this is the door the main chamber, once I have you open this, I will request that you stay well behind me and under the protection of Professor Sprout and the ghosts."
Once more waiting for Harry to nod Albus continued.
"Severus, if I should fall victim, please do everything in your power to get the remaining people out of harm's way. If this is Voldemort then we need to be extremely cautious, he will go for not only you but Harry as well."
Albus waited for the dark-haired wizard to nod then turned to the group.
"What we are about to face is extremely dangerous, it is not even a pet that Hagrid would be able to tame." Dumbledore once more attempted to inject a little humor to a group that was not open to it, well everyone except Harry who was the only snort amongst the group.
Smiling that he at least calmed Harry down Albus asked for him to open the door.
For the final time the cavern filled with the hissing sounds of parseltongue as Harry asked the door to open. As soon as the last snake recoiled, and the door popped Albus pushed Harry rather roughly back behind himself and into Pomona's arms.
Once the door was fully opened the ghosts slowly pushed forward, the Grey Lady gasped seeing Ginny's body laying lifelessly on the floor in a shallow puddle of water, a dark-haired ghost like figure standing over her.
"TOM RIDDLE HOW DARE YOU TRY AND POSSESS A CHILD OF HOGWARTS, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?" The petite lady ghost screamed as she flew towards him knocking the wand he was holding out of his hand solely from surprise on his part.
Snape reacted instantly summoning the wand to himself and placing it in his pocket, the whole while keeping his eye on the young man who wasn't fully alive but not quite dead either.
"Well well well, the great Albus Dumbledore comes to rescues his student. I am shocked that you could get in here old man." Tom taunted.
"You shouldn't have come back Tom, you're not welcome here." Albus replied calmly.
Professor Sprout was pulling Harry next to her as she hid behind one of the many stone pillars in the cavern.
Harry took a second to glanced around, the Grey Lady was still standing between Albus and Tom, the Bloody Baron in front of Snape with Sir Nicolas and the Fat Friar floating around the group that was now stationed by the pillar.
Harry missed some of the back and forth conversation between Tom and Dumbledore, he didn't even think Riddle knew that there were more people in the chamber. Harry's eyes then fell on Ginny and he gulped, as she grew more pale the more life like Tom became.
Suddenly he heard stone moving and looked behind Tom to see the giant stone head of Salazar Slytherin's mouth opening. He heard Riddle give instructions to kill the lot. Harry made sure not to make eye contact with the giant snake but could see the body, it was huge!
Dumbledore sprang into action much faster than a man of his age should be able to move, before Harry could blink there was a giant whip filled with fireballs flying out of the tip of Dumbledore's wand.
Harry concerned for Ginny looked down and gasped when he didn't see her, Professor Sprout covered his mouth then pointed in the direction of Snape who had levitated the girl off to the side and was in the process of building a safe house around her by transfiguring stones.
Harry noticed he had grabbed the diary in her arms and placed it to the side, as he was watching Snape he heard Professor Sprout scream, whipping his head around he saw Dumbledore on the floor, solid as stone and the Grey Lady floating lifelessly in the air.
In the same second, he heard Professor Sprout and the one remaining Auror fall to the ground behind him. Looking up he saw that both the Fat Friar and Sir Nicolas where in the same state as the Grey Lady, bodies hanging lifelessly in the air.
Instincts kicked in and Harry dodged behind the Pillar looking at the floor and ground area making all attempts at not looking at the snake. Based on the shadow the giant serpent didn't see Harry and was heading towards Professor Snape, along with Tom Riddle.
Snape would have his hands full with the snake so Harry, gathering up all of his Gryffindor courage called out to Tom Riddle.
"Leave us alone Tom, what are you doing?" Harry yelled as he moved to a different pillar to be able to keep the giant snakes shadow in his sight.
"Harry Potter!" Tom said stopping in his tracks.
"Just the lad I wanted to meet. How is it that an unremarkable baby could be the downfall of the greatest sorcerer in the world?" the transparent figure asked.
"Easy Tom, because you're not the greatest sorcerer in the world. That title belongs to Albus Dumbledore." Harry could hear Snape battling the giant beast but kept his focus on Tom.
"Oh yes, the old man is so great, sitting here on the floor hard as stone." Tom sneered. "Pity that his beloved school will fall tonight and that he was no help to you or the students."
"Help will always be given at Hogwarts, it's not Dumbledore who provides that it's the castle herself!" Harry yelled, knowing in his gut the truth of what he said.
Dumbledore, no matter how great he is, will never be greater than the school herself. The walls ooze magic and mystery.
The loud clang of stone hitting the floor let Harry know that Snape and the Bloody Baron fell to the power of the Basilisk.
"Sssstttttoooooopppp" Harry hissed as the snake was heading his way.
"Liiiisssteennnn to meeeee annnnd onnnlllyyy meeee" Harry tried.
"You foolish boy, do you think simply having the ability to speak parseltongue will save you? Although strange that you have the ability, and it certainly explains how the lot of you got in here, it won't work. Salazar's serpent will only listen to his heir, I am that heir Harry Potter, not you." Tom said with a chuckle.
"Killllllll theeee boooyyyy" Tom spoke to the serpent.
Harry quickly hid behind the pillar to avoid accidental eyesight. He didn't have a ghost that could help him. Trying to think on his feet he avoided the strikes that the serpent was making against the pillars he was fleeing in and out of.
Suddenly a magical musical sound came streaming in from the open door, Peeves came flying in leading the way for Fawkes who dropped a very familiar hat at Harry's feet before heading straight for the giant snake.
Harry watched the shadows on the floor as they ripped and tore at the Basilisk's deadly eyes. Peeves taunting Riddle the whole time zooming through and around him keeping him distracted from helping the snake.
Fawkes completed her mission and flew to the top of the cavernous space nodding towards Harry. Waving Harry nodded back silently thanking the brilliant phoenix for a job well done. Taking the deadly eyes out of the scenario left Harry able to look directly at his foe.
"That's all your school could do Harry Potter. Send in a pesky poltergeist and a bird to bring you a useless hat? The Basilisk might not be able to see you or kill you with her eyes Harry Potter, but she can still smell and bite." Riddle said through gritted teeth while still having to deal with Peeves.
Harry went to grab the familiar hat when it whispered to him, "Inside Harry, look inside" the sorting hat said just loud enough for him to hear.
Harry opened the brim of the hat to discover a jewel encrusted hilt of a sword. Pulling it out he noticed the word Gryffindor etched in the long blade and smiled.
"No but it seems as though this is going to be Gryffindor versus Slytherin, who you think is going to win Tom?" Harry taunted.
Harry once more dodged before the snake could land a grab at him, but just as he pivoted away, he would turn and swipe at the giant beast, each time hacking a little bit of the snake's nose away.
Harry realized rather quickly that this wasn't going to be the end all that he needed in order to defeat the beast. Thinking on his feet Harry thought about his time at private drive and how he would escape Dudley and his gang, wishing himself to the roof of the school saw him in his cupboard for a week, it was worth a shot.
Pulling from that same feeling Harry felt the need to steady himself in fear of falling over, when he blinked, he realized he was no longer behind a pillar but on top of the giant sculpture of Salazar Slytherin.
Harry couldn't believe it worked, he was exactly where he wanted to be, in his up high position it would make the giant snake have to elevate its body and expose the soft underside. Harry could see the snake weaving in between the pillars searching for him, giving him a little time to assess the situation he found himself in.
He could see that Snapes protections on Ginny held, she was safe, the Diary sat by the stone Snape, Harry had a bad feeling that was what caused the Tom Riddle to appear and what was draining the life out of Ginny. It had to be destroyed.
He also saw that Peeve's wasn't relenting on Tom, he had no wand that Harry could see, and the basilisk wouldn't be able to harm him from afar now that his eyes were gouged out.
Harry yelled toward Tom, "You and your dumb snake couldn't even harm a twelve-year-old boy and a poltergeist, and you call yourself a sorcerer?"
Peeves chuckled before zooming through and around Tom again singing in an off pitch voice "Wee Tommy, cried for his mommy and all he got was a dummy."
It wasn't the greatest of rhymes Harry thought, but it seemed to irritate Tom, so he was happy with it.
Tom hissed out a command to the monster of a snake and it immediately changed course heading straight for Harry.
Readying himself Harry watched as the snake started to elevate its body into a cobra like position to reach him, instantly striking the stone as soon as it reached the peak height. Harry lunged at the same time, hoping beyond all hope that the blade was strong enough to break through the under side of the basilisk.
His plan worked swimmingly, the blade punctured the underside of the snake's mouth as it slammed shut, thus moving the long blade through the serpent's mouth and into what could only be its brain.
Harry pulled the sword out only to ram it right back in, he continued thrusting and removing until the snake bucked on the last stab, causing one of the smaller fangs in it's deadly mouth to dislodge into Harry's forearm. Screaming out in pain Harry left the sword in the snake's head as it fell to the ground dead.
Harry knew he was dying; he could feel it in the pain that radiated through his arm. He read the page that Hermione had ripped from the library book, the venom though potent had to make its way through the blood stream to kill him. Pulling the fang out Harry once more pulled on his feeling of needing to escape and found himself next to Snape.
He didn't know what propelled him to do it, maybe it was the thought of dying, maybe it was Gryffindor himself, he just got the gut feeling and knew that he had to stab the diary with the fang.
Tom was screaming at him, rushing towards him as fast as he could with Peeves' interferance, but it was no use. Harry didn't hesitate, he didn't blink, he just stabbed the diary with the fang as soon as he landed. Ink poured from the diary almost like blood, followed by a blinding light pouring out of a hole in Tom's stomach.
Harry opened the book and stabbed it again. This time several holes opened on Tom and the room filled with his screams and the blinding light. Fawkes was circling above singing a calming tune that stilled Harry when he felt a snap inside himself.
With one final scream Voldemort burst into a light show of bright white light and was no more. Harry heard Ginny before he saw her. She scrambled out of the protected area Snape had built and cried.
"Oh Harry, it was me, I was the puppet Tom Riddle used to harm all those people. I was the…" Ginny stopped mid-sentence, "Oh my Merlin Harry, you're hurt!"
"I know Ginny, but I need you to listen" waiting for her nod Harry continued. "Everyone in here is safe, they are just petrified. I need you to head out the door and get McGonagall, she will be at the top of the stairs."
Harry gave Ginny very detailed instructions, he didn't tell her he was dying, he didn't want her to freak out. He urged her to hurry and pushed her with his good arm to get up and moving. As soon as she was out the door Fawkes landed next to him.
"You were brilliant Fawkes" Harry said then looked toward Peeves, "You too Peeves, I don't think I will ever be able to thank you."
Peeves looked extremely worried; a look Harry didn't think he would ever see on the sneaky poltergeist's face.
"Harry Potter, yous be dying" Peeves said in a straight tone.
"Yes, but it was worth it Peeves." Harry said honestly, still unable to fathom that he beat a basilisk.
Harry's sight was starting to get fuzzy, so he laid down holding his injured arm. Fawkes butted her head against it and forced him to show her his wound.
Quietly the phoenix cried three tear drops into the open wound that was now burning, Harry could feel the venom moving amongst his blood when he got struck, but now in the same right he could feel it coagulating and moving back towards the puncture site.
He gazed at his arm while it ejected a blob of clear liquid that had a tinge of green to it, then it started knitting itself up.
Harry's eyesight was starting to re-focus, and he stared at the bird. "Fawkes?"
Harry was so focused on dying, and now not dying that he never noticed the couple that walked out from the light of Tom Riddles death until the female spoke.
"Phoenixes have very special tears sweetheart; they have immense healing powers." The redheaded woman said.
Harry's head whipped around to the voice he only ever heard in his dreams. This couldn't be true, his parents were dead, Dumbledore told him this himself last year with the mirror.
Harry glanced at the couple once more while sitting up. Why then were his very much alive parents staring at him with wide smiles on their faces nodding?
"Mum? Dad?" Harry questioned.
"Yes son, we are here" Harry heard his dad speak for the very first time.
"It's a very long story my love, but rest assured we are alive, we aren't part of your imagination." Lily said soothingly while opening her arms.
Harry didn't hesitate, he knew he should be concerned that this was a trap by Riddle, he knew he should be concerned that it was a figment of his imagination, but he couldn't help himself. He ran with all his might, crashing into his mother with tears streaking down his cheeks.
He felt his father's arm surround them both and smiled. He was home. They were real.