He couldn't see anything, well almost.

His energy levels were all times low, his legs gave out and he hit the cold floor, hard. He had been already spent, what with 3 days of constant brewing, then preventing that baboon Lockhart mess from killing idoit 1 and idiot 2.

Not that holding the debries from crushing the boy wonder helped, or the long mental battle he fought with junior dark lord for that matter.

He was dazed and confused, how the hell THAT happened? A 16 years old mini dark master was not on his list of wishes for the new year , you know?

He got glimpses of his mind, and was terrified out of his mind, not that he was not finding out he was dealing with a brat version of his ex-master who was still a teen. He almost felt sorry for the chit weasle, he himself had fallen for his charms at his youth and he was a genious, that girl was not half bright and years younger than him back then.

He got some things , visions. A memory of his encounter with Slughorn, the number seven and somethings names Horcrux.

He didn't know what the fuck that was, and he was deemed an expert in dark arts, or so he thought. Who knew old Sluggy delved so deep in dark arts?

And how had killed his father and uncle and that poor girl, Miss Warren. He got pictures of a heavy costly looking Locket of some sort, a far too ugly heirship ring and a Shack a hunderds times worse than his humble abode. In fact Spinner end looked almost cozy and dare say homy compared to that.

And the diary, how he had the young foolish girl warm up to him, how she lost her resistance bit by bit.

And finally found out WHY Albus called the dark lord Tom. It was his bloody name for merlin socks!

And a half blood.

He now thought that the maniac loved all those Pureblooded arses licking his boots, his, a half blood nobody. Tom Marvolo Riddle, and a riddle he truly was. He must have learned his manipulating ways form watching Dumbledore,with him teaching then,and perfected them.

Not that this Tom didn't get into his mind. It was absolutly mind blowing than he was this powerful, when he was nothing but a shade like parasite depending on a victim and an object to survive. He was not much good in dueling, not yet. But he had been good enough in occlumeny that he could defend himself from a master occlumence of his caliber.

After that, he had ran from a corner to another, like a mouse from a cat.

-After that , he had to yell his spells for it to take, instead of casting it like respectable wizards silently. That gave his hand away soon.

Ran because his magical levels were so low he could not hold a spell , an easy one like incarcerus for more than mere minutes. High on adrenalin, he knew he was badly injured, possibly multiple broken bones, lost of cuts and bruises. To top it all the Basilsk blood was not poisonous on uninjured skin, but when it made contact with raw, torn flesh?

It burned.

So he was poisoned by that too. at least it had given him a boost in magic, but at the cost of being poisoned and burned.

And to think he had to save the brats all by himself… and that Potter lost all trust he gained by saving his neck…

Oh how was hurt being called death eater, he knew he was one, but yet..

Then the heir lost it, started cursing his daughter and Potter. Potter was at least good at dodging thanks to Quidich, but Hermione on the other hand…she was more than once hit by rocks and debries.

He was distracted enough for the snake to throw him to the wall behind.

MERLIN THAT HURT!

He lay still on the ground, slowing his breath and deepen it so to manage the pain.

The bird and the hat were a welcome surprise, if only Dumbledore was attached to his familiar, they would be saved.

When the pain subsided from a level 10 to a more normal 7.5, he searched for the brat and his daughter.

Hermione was not anywhere he could find. He panicked and adrenaline filled his tired vains again. he looked harder, and there she was behind the statue.

She was safe.

He only had the brat to worry for, seeing mini-Lord to be ignored both Ginerva and Astoria. Ginerva he could gather, she was the key to his survival and was he of less strict morals , he would have ended the stupid girl and be done with the farce.

But she had red hair, and green eyes. And she was only a first year idiot, who thought was all knowing and better than others just because she was her daddy and Mommy favourite.

Astoria he could only guess, this Tom guy was all for revenge, like his older less attractive counterpart, and he wanted to get rid of his vanqushir, and his unfaithful servent together. He may have put together that he was a spy for Albus. But first he wanted to hurt them.

Ginerva, because Potter loved weasleys like family, and Hermione because he had found about their relationship, but couldn't say if it was Astoria who was his daughter or Hermione.

Bad luck. Greengrass was a monument of bad luck if anything.

He had supressed the painful protests of his battered body, and crawled to his daughter side.

"Hermione"

She had turned to him with a raised wand. She noticed his predicament and injuries admirably fast"Tergeo!"

He wanted to congratulate her, to say he was proud but again, his brain got stuck.

Her eyes softened.

"don't worry sir.I know"

He was speechless for certain now. She didn't hate him then? She..she accepted him? Knowing fully , from the events of this damned night, what he was?

He choked out"not..not sir. Not when we are… anything else but.."

Sir was something Tobias made him call him. Sir was a reminder of the bastard and his tortures.

"oh so I can call you maybe ..dungeon's bat?"

He wanted to get angry, but the innocent, playful tone, and the worry in her eyes..

Worry for him? After all years no-one had the look with him

For him?

How he could hurt this..this forgiving kind soul that was his daughter? He resigned himself to just protect her from a far, to watch her grow and never be in her life…not involved..

And again she had surprised him. Not only he saw acceptance despite his total buture of the process of making her aware of his fatherhood status, but also worry, and a half affort to make him happy for a chance.

His lips creeped forward.

"maybe not that, but we can think on it a better time"

Then a clange.

Potter was standing like a useless chicken, in the middle of the hall, with a giant sword.

He then noticed he had made himself and his girl invisible, if his accidental magic was at work, he must be worse than he thought for it to step in, in case of a fully grown adult like him.

He grimaced.

Even if he stayed here, just keeping Hermione safe, forget about his word to keep lily's boy safe, and the other two, the basilisk would not let them all survive, at least until Albus came.

And he would, what else would make him come but the golden boy? He had already sent a sword, a hat and his familiar.

"stay here"

He had caught the surprisingly well-thrown sword and…

And he was now on the edge of unconciosness, not knowing how in Morgana's tits he had slayed the gigantic Basilisk.

He would not lat much, that he gathered. He had no magic, his body was weakend and poisoned, and he was half crushed by the fallen beast's carcass.

"dad!"

He heard her voice.

His sweet daughter's voice.

"Dad! Dad please no. not..not now. I swear I call you dungeon's bat, or..or vampire, or even greasy git if you..you just cant .its …"

Her tear fell on his face. He almost smiled in her afforts to keep him awake. It was elementary knowledge that making one angry could make them stay awake.

She just didn't know he was grateful for her, for her to even be willing to talk to him, or sit with him, let alone crying for his pain.

For his nearly impending loss.

That he didn't give two cents if his lass would call him even Snivelous, he would accept it happily. He knew her heart, he knew that this brilliant girl loved him.

Dad.

If he died now, and they survived it, this horrifying ordeal, he would be content.

Happy even.

"no..cry..pl..please. safe…its di..day..diary"

Hermione seemed to focus more, her eyes widened.

"DIARY! HARRY THE DIARY!"

He could hear Astoria shouting..

"GET IT GRANGER!"

-how glad he was that Astoria was ok too. now if he dealt with the diary, all 3 of them would live.

He had snached the diary from his daughter, fearing if she wanted to use the sword, or merlin forbid the basilisk blood or fangs. With all his might, he punctured the diary with a stolen fang.

The whole building shook from a burst of dark magic. He was fortunatly on time , so the weaselet would live too. the parasite had not yet devoured the hostess fully.

He could now die happily.

"Daddy,Dad. Please. I will …you have to live! You just..you are a hero dad.

Heros just don't die like this"

His sweet daughter.

"Her..my..nee…I …proud of..you"

"no no you cant tell me that. Evry person says it ends up dead. I don't want you dead!"

He could sense that there were other people around. Astoria was whispering his name too" professor Snape please hold on. Slytherin would be..we would be..I cant.. I like you!youre my favourite professor!"

These innocent young kids had no deal to have to endure this, this brutality. Astoria wanted to bribe him with this? Her favourite?

He was no one favourite. But her slytherin young mind worked like that.

Idiotic child.

Potter was silent, he could appreciate the brat not cheering for him to die faster against his own wishes. Mayhap he had grown some tact?

There was hope for them all. potter would be saved, and astoria and ginerva and his girl.

He looked for the last time in her light brown eyes, her kind eyes.

His Hermione's eyes.

"l..Love you .."

And his eyes shut themselves, maybe for the last time.