Harry, Ron, and Professor Lockhart stepped into a very long, dark chamber. On either side of them stood, stone pillars with engravings of serpents which rose into the air, trailing off into the darkness to what the group assumed had to be the roof and providing support for the chamber. The pillars casting large shadows through what seemed to be a green tint that the Chamber was emanating.
Harry and Ron were both very nervous, both looking every which way for a sign of the monster or Ginny. Both were convinced the Basilisk was in the shadows, or behind a pillar ready to strike. While Lockhart looked around the Chamber in a satisfied way.
"Well this must be it boys. The Chamber of Secrets." Lockhart said with a nod, looking very pleased with himself.
Both Ron and Harry, swallowed.
"Yeah." Ron said nervously
"Let's see if we can find Ginny." Harry said, taking a deep breath.
"Indeed boys lets go!" Lockhart said as he began to stride confidently into the Chamber. Harry and Ron sharing another annoyed look, then following close behind.
The trio passed pillar after pillar, both Harry and Lockhart had there wand's at the ready. Harry and Ron ready to snap there eyes closed at a moments notice if they saw even a hint of movement, while Lockhart seemed to have a pep in his step as he walked along.
Finally the trio reached the last pair of pillars, and all looked up in awe. Before them loomed a large statue that reached all the way to the ceiling and sat against the back wall of the Chamber. Both Harry and Ron had to look up to take in the sight. It was a bearded man in long robes, at the base of which was two stone feet.
And in between said feet, lying unconscious was Ginny.
"Ginny!" Ron said in a mix of worry and relief, rushing forward towards his little sister. Harry did the same as both boys knelt next to her. Neither noticed that Professor Lockhart hadn't said anything. Still just standing behind the pair, a smile on his face.
"Oh Merlin Ginny. What's happened to you." Ron said as he rolled her over and held her in his arms.
"Ginny!" Harry screamed trying to wake her up. "Don't be dead! Please don't be dead!" Harry pleaded.'
Both Harry, and Ron could see that her face was pale, paler than anyone they'd ever seen. And she was freezing cold, and her eyes shut.
"She couldn't have been petrified." Harry muttered to Ron, putting his wand down, and checking her forehead.
"Ginny, please wake up," Ron said desperately as he struggled to hold back tears, as he shook her trying to wake her.
"She won't wake," A sudden, soft voice said. Both Harry and Ron looked up at each other. That wasn't the voice of Lockhart, whom still was just standing oddly still behind them...so they looked around and saw a new figure leaning against a nearby pillar. He looked odd, like he wasn't fully solid yet. He was tall, had dark hair, was handsome, and wore the robes of a Hogwarts student.
"Who are you?!" Ron asked shaking, but for Harry...he'd already see this boy before.
"Tom – Tom Riddle?" Harry asked in shock.
Tom simply nodded. Not taking his eyes off Harry, not even acknowledging either Ron or Professor Lockhart, who still just stood behind the boys, watching the scene with glee.
"What d'you mean, she won't wake?" Harry asked in a shaking, desperate tone. "She's not – she's not –?"
"She's still alive," Tom replied. "But only just."
At those words Ron began to shake Ginny even more. "Ginny! You've got to wake up! You've just got to!" Ron pleaded in a broken voice.
But while Ron kept pleading with Ginny to wake, Harry tilted his head as he looked at Tom Riddle. He had been at Hogwarts fifty years ago, and yet here he was. Sure he looked odd, not fully solid, and had a odd light emanating from him. But Harry had seen ghost's before...and Tom Riddle looked nothing liked any he'd seen before.
"Are you a ghost?" Harry asked confused.
"A memory," Tom replied softly. "Preserved in a diary for fifty years."
Tom pointed to his diary. The same diary that Harry had in his possession for a short amount of time then went missing. It was open near a toe of the statue. And for a moment Harry was inclined to wonder how it got down here, but the sound of Ron's voice snapped Harry back to the present.
"We...we need to get her out of here and to Madam Pomfrey now." Ron said desperately.
Harry nodded, as he and Ron both picked up Ginny. "You've got to help us, Tom," Harry said. "We've got to get her out of here. There's a Basilisk … I don't know where it is, but it could be along any moment. Please, help us …"
"You too Professor. You can come back and destroy the Basilisk after Ginny is safe." Ron said to Professor Lockhart, who was watching the scene from behind the boys with a massive grin.
Neither Professor Lockhart or Tom moved and inch as Harry and Ron managed to lift Ginny up. Harry quickly bent down to pick up his wand, but saw it wasn't on the ground where he'd left it. He looked around confused...
"Did you see –?" Harry asked the others, but quickly saw Tom twirling his wand. "Thanks," Harry told Tom, holding out his hand and expecting the boy to give it back to him.
But Tom didn't, he simply smiled in a amused tone, still just twirling the wand.
"Listen," Harry replied urgently, even together Ginny was not easy to carry "we've got to go! If the Basilisk comes …"
"It won't come until it is called," Tom replied calmly.
"Please, we need to hurry. Ginny...we need to get her out of here." Ron interjected urgently
Tom continued to totally ignore Ron and act like he didn't exist, while Lockhart still hadn't moved or said a word since this conversation started.
"What d'you mean?" Harry finally asked as he gently placed Ginny down and looked at Riddle. "Look, give me my wand, I might need it." Harry demanded.
Tom smile only brightened as Harry and Ron shared a confused look.
"You won't be needing it," Riddle said again firmly.
"What d'you mean, I won't be –?" Harry asked but was quickly cut off.
"I've waited a long time for this, Harry Potter," Tom replied with a grin "For the chance to see you. To speak to you." He then, for the first time, turned towards Ron. "Unfortunately we have an audience, but we'll make do." Riddle said as he turned his full attention back to Harry.
"Look," Harry replied growing agitated. "I don't think you get it. We're in the Chamber of Secrets. We can talk later."
"We're going to talk now," Tom replied, smiling wildly as he put Harry's wand in his robe pocket.
Harry stared at him, feeling strange as Ron spoke up.
"Please." Ron begged, now back on the floor and holding Ginny close. "My little sister is dying, she needs help." Ron pleaded through tears.
"That's not really my concern, Ron was it? "Tom replied with a wave of his hand, dismissing Ron completely. "I'll need you to be quiet while I talk to young Harry here." Tom finished as he turned back to Harry.
"How did Ginny get like this?" Harry asked slowly as Ron held Ginny close. Lockhart hadn't said a word in a long time, as he was smiling cockily like usual, watching the scene unfold.
"Well, that's an interesting question," Tom replied as if they were pleasantly discussing the weather. "And quite a long story. I suppose the real reason Ginny Weasley's like this is because she opened her heart and spilled all her secrets to an invisible stranger."
"What are you talking about?" Harry asked.
"What are you saying happened to my sister?!" Ron asked, his voice trembling.
"The diary," Tom began. "My diary. Little Ginny's been writing in it for months and months, telling me all her pitiful worries and woes: how her brothers tease her," Tom gave Ron a knowing smirk before turning back to Harry. "How she had to come to school with second-hand robes and books, how –' Riddle's eyes glinted '– how she didn't think famous, good, great Harry Potter would ever like her …'
Tom stared at Harry with a glint in his eye, Ron felt slightly guilty about the teasing he and his brothers had done, Lockhart was still just staring blankly at the scene, and Harry met Tom's gaze.
"It's very boring, having to listen to the silly little troubles of an eleven-year-old girl," Tom continued. "But I was patient. I wrote back, I was sympathetic, I was kind. Ginny simply loved me. No one's ever understood me like you, Tom … I'm so glad I've got this diary to confide in … It's like having a friend I can carry round in my pocket …"
Tom laughed. A dark, evil, high pitched laugh that didn't fit the how he looked. While Ron's face paled as he looked down at Ginny. "Ginny, if you had just told me and the others how you were feeling...we...we'd have gone softer on you." Ron whispered in the ear on his unconscious sister, while Harry stared at Tom with a frown.
"If I say it myself, boys, I've always been able to charm the people I needed. So Ginny poured out her soul to me, and her soul happened to be exactly what I wanted. I grew stronger and stronger on a diet of her deepest fears, her darkest secrets. I grew powerful, far more powerful than little Miss Weasley. Powerful enough to start feeding Miss Weasley a few of my secrets, to start pouring a little of my soul back into her …'
"What d'you mean?" Harry asked shakily while Ron clutched Ginny tighter.
"Haven't you guessed yet, Harry Potter?" Tom replied softly. "Ginny Weasley opened the Chamber of Secrets. She strangled the school roosters and daubed threatening messages on the walls. She set the serpent of Slytherin on five Mudbloods, and the Squib's cat."
"No," Harry replied softly.
"You're lying!" Ron shouted furiously at Tom. "Ginny would never do that!"
"I'm afraid not" Tom replied in a calm tone. "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," Tom recited as he watched Harry look horrified at Ron look furious at him, "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, I can't remember what I did on the night of Hallowe'en, but a cat was attacked and I've got paint all down my front. Dear Tom, Percy 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 clinched his fists, while Ron held the unconscious form on Ginny, now shaking with rage.
"It took a very long time for stupid little Ginny to stop trusting her diary," Riddle continued in a mocking tone. "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 …"
"How dare you!" Ron roared at Riddle.
"Quiet boy." Tom spat back, turning to Harry who was clearly doing his best to remain calm.
"As for why I wished to meet you Harry? Well, you see, Ginny told me all about you, Harry," Tom began. "Your whole fascinating history." Tom looked at Harry's forehead, the spot where the famed lighting scar lie "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," Harry replied as he tried not to just tackle Riddle now "And you framed him, didn't you? I thought you made a mistake, but –"
"It was my word against Hagrid's, Harry. Well, you can imagine how it looked to old Armando Dippet. On the one hand, Tom Riddle, poor but brilliant, parentless but so brave, school Prefect, model student; on the other hand, big, blundering Hagrid, in trouble every other week, trying to raise werewolf cubs under his bed, sneaking off to the Forbidden Forest to wrestle trolls. But I admit, even I was surprised how well the plan worked. I thought someone must realize that Hagrid couldn't possibly be the heir of Slytherin. It had taken me five whole years to find out everything I could about the Chamber of Secrets and discover the secret entrance … as though Hagrid had the brains, or the power!"
"You're a monster! A horrid monster!" Ron shouted in rage, still holding Ginny close.
Tom just chuckled darkly again, then continued.
"Only the Transfiguration teacher, Dumbledore, seemed to think Hagrid was innocent. He persuaded Dippet to keep Hagrid and train him as gamekeeper. Yes, I think Dumbledore might have guessed. Dumbledore never seemed to like me as much as the other teachers did …"
Harry couldn't help but smile. "I bet Dumbledore saw right through you,"
"Well, he certainly kept an annoyingly close watch on me after Hagrid was expelled," Tom looked away in annoyance, then turned back to Harry. "I knew it wouldn't be safe to open the Chamber again while I was still at school. But I wasn't going to waste those long years I'd spent searching for it. I decided to leave behind a diary, preserving my sixteen-year-old self in its pages, so that one day, with luck, I would be able to lead another in my footsteps, and finish Salazar Slytherin's noble work."
"Well, you haven't finished it," Harry replied in a triumphant tone. "No one's died this time, not even the cat. In a few hours the Mandrake Draught will be ready and everyone who was Petrified will be all right again."
"Yeah." Ron added, still holding to Ginny tightly. "And after we get out of here with Ginny, she'll be all right, and you'll have lost Tom." Ron said confidently.
Tom just rolled his eyes at Ron's comment. "Just getting her out of here won't save her boy." Tom told Ron with a devilish grin. "And 'Haven't I already told you,' Riddle added as he turned back to Harry, "that killing Mudbloods doesn't matter to me any more? For many months now, my new target has been – you."
Harry stared at him in confusion.
"What do you want with Harry?" Ron asked confused. "He's not muggle born."
Tom smirked. "Let's get back to the story for you see. Other than Ginny and yourself Harry. There was another who found the Diary. Another who were sympathetic to my goals." Tom said as Harry and Ron looked at each other confused.
"Malfoy?" Harry asked.
Riddle shook his head. "Not him no, but let me explain. You see it wasn't Ginny who stole the Diary away from you that day. Don't get me wrong, she tried. She saw you had it, so she sneaked into your dormitory and ransacked it looking for me, worried I'd told you what she'd been doing. But I was already gone. I was with someone else who'd already found and knew what I was. And that person is standing in the room."
Both Harry and Ron looked lost, then there eyes widen as they both turned to Professor Lockhart. He still wore a wide smile, but it was almost like his expression was vacant, like he was waiting.
"Professor Lockhart?!" Ron asked in shock.
"The one and the only boys, I indeed serve dear Tom here, I do apologize for that." Lockhart said with a wink and a bow, the first time he'd said anything since the conversation with Tom had started.
Harry and Ron looked back and forth between Professor Lockhart and Tom in shock and horror.
"L...Lockhart was working for you the whole time! How?" Harry asked. Despite being annoying a full of himself Harry had always assumed Lockhart wasn't evil... Wasn't he supposed to be a defender of justice? A Hero?
"I'm getting there Harry. First though, let me complete the main part of the tale. So Lockhart took me for a night, then I ordered him to give me back to Ginny. Because now I had a plan. See, I knew what I must do. It was clear to me that you were on the trail of Slytherin's heir. From everything Ginny had told me about you, I knew you would go to any lengths to solve the mystery – particularly if one of your best friends was attacked. And Ginny had told me the whole school was buzzing because you could speak Parseltongue …"
Riddle grinned madly as both Ron and Harry listened in horror. Lockhart still grinning blankly.
"So I made Ginny write her own farewell on the wall and come down here to wait. She struggled and cried and became very boring. But there isn't much life left in her: she put too much into the diary, into me. Enough to let me leave its pages at last. 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 back in disgust and horror.
"Well," Riddle replied, wearing a pleasant smile, "how is it that a baby 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?"
Both Harry and Ron jumped when they saw what seemed to be a red glint in Tom Riddle's eyes now.
"What's with his eyes?" Ron asked shakily as Harry took a deep breath.
"Why do you care how I escaped?" Harry replied in a slow voice. "Voldemort was after your time."
"Voldemort," Riddle replied softly, "is my past, present and future, Harry Potter ..."
Tom took Harry's want out of his pocket, and began to write in mid air as letters appeared before them.
TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE
Then Tom waved the wand, as the letters of the name reordered themselves.
I AM LORD VOLDEMORT
Ron gasped in absolute horror, all the blood draining from his face as he got deathly pale and clung Ginny closer to his chest.
"You see?" Tom whispered, smirking "It was a name I was already using at Hogwarts, to my most intimate friends only, of course. You think I was going to use my filthy Muggle father's name for ever? I, in whose veins runs the blood of Salazar Slytherin himself, through my mother's side? I, keep the name of a foul, common Muggle, who abandoned me even before I was born, just because he found out his wife was a witch? No, Harry. I fashioned myself a new name, a name I knew wizards everywhere would one day fear to speak, when I had become the greatest sorcerer in the world!"
Harry stared numbly at Riddle, while Ron was shaking and had buried his face in the unconscious Ginny's shoulder.
"And now let's circle back, and finish what I was saying about our dear friend Gilderoy Lockhart here." Tom said, walking over to Lockhart, who was still just standing there. His mouth still locked in that same usual grin, his teeth shining.
"You see. Lockhart here has been working for me all year. But not the version you see before you." Riddle smirked.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked nervously.
"Well Harry, I've been told that you met my current self last year? As well as one of my loyal servant, Professor Quirinus Quirrell." Riddle began with a smirk.
Harry froze. Quirrell? He hadn't seen our heard about last year's Defense Professor in ages. He'd seen the wanted posters in Diagon Alley last summer, but had simply assumed Quirrell was just really good at hiding and not thought about him.
"What about him?" Harry again asked.
"You see Harry. Before the school year and totally unrelated to my plans with Ginny. My present version whom you met last year, and Quirrell were looking for ways to destroy you. I admit my current self and Quirrell were desperate. But when they read in the newspaper that Gilderoy Lockhart here was to be your new defense Professor...they decided to act."
"Act?" Ron spoke up shakily, his voice a mere whimper.
"Indeed. You see Quirinus Quirrell and Gilderoy Lockhart one were classmates here at Hogwarts. Both were in the same year, both in your dear sisters house of Ravenclaw. And like you, and Ron, and so many other. Quirrell hates Gilderoy Lockhart with a fiery passion. So when he was Lockhart in the paper he exploded, by my present form saw opportunity with Lockhart, however desperate it may be. So he and Quirrell broke into Lockhart's home, and placed the foolish wizard under the Imperius Curse."
"The Imperius Curse?" Harry asked confused. He'd remembered Sarah saying something about the curse all they way back when Fred, George, and Ron had rescued them from the Dursley's last summer, but Fred and George had shut her down from saying any more, claiming she shouldn't know what is was, and that they were to young.
Riddle laughed. "Never heard of it? I figure you wouldn't, it's not a spell two boys like you would know. Let me make it simple for you. The Imperius Curse puts the caster in total control of the target." Riddle turned to Lockhart. "In this case, Quirrell controlled Lockhart, and Quirrell was told by my present self what to have Lockhart do."
Both Harry and Ron were breathing heavily now. Lockhart had been under the total control of Quirrell and the present day version of Voldemort the whole time...
"There plan was simple. Have Lockhart earn you and your twin sister Sarah's, trust." Riddle explained. "Then have him take you both off the grounds, and to them. Unfortunately that plan never went far, given your hatred of Lockhart Harry." Riddle said in annoyance.
"But, when Lockhart saw the writing on the wall, he instantly informed Quirrell and my present self and the pair changed there plans. Of course my present self knew what was happening, and ordered Lockhart to find me, find the diary. Which eventually of course he did, as I earlier explained."
"What...what happened once Lockhart found you?" Harry asked shakily.
"Me and my present self had a long, enlightening, conversation with the help of Quirrell in a back room of the Hogs Head inn. He told me all he knew, I told him of Ginny and my plans, and then we brainstormed. You see, luring you down here was just phase one Harry. For Quirrell and my present self await my rebirth on the outskirts of Hogsmeade village. And then I shall help my present form regain a body, there shall be two Lord Voldemort's Harry." Riddle finished, and any color that remained from Ron's face disappeared.
"T...two." Ron was now shaking.
"Indeed. Now of course my present self and Quirrell ordered Lockhart to obey my orders as well." Riddle walked over to the confident, imperiused Lockhart. "You see, Quirrell had one request, and that was when this was all over he could kill Lockhart, and I intend to keep that promise." Riddle said, turning to Lockhart. "Your usefulness is at an end, knock yourself out with a stunning charm." Riddle ordered Lockhart.
"As you wish my lord!" Lockhart said, pointed his wand at his head and incanted. "Stupefy!" And with that Lockhart sent himself flying, and landed in the corner of the chamber, knocking himself out cold.
"I would kill him now, he is annoying but, Quirrell really wants to kill him, so I'll take him with me and let Quirrell finish him off." Riddle laughed darkly as he began to encircle Ron and Harry, a evil smirk on his face. "This really can't have gone any better for me. Not only will I return, but my present self will too. We'll be unbeatable, as I said I am the greatest sorcerer in the world, and soon there will be two of me." He chuckled darkly.
"You're not," Harry finally spoke, his voice full of hatred and disgust for Riddle.
"Not what?" Riddle snapped at Harry.
"Not the greatest sorcerer in the world," Harry replied firmly, his breathing quick "Sorry to disappoint you, and all that, but the greatest wizard in the world is Albus Dumbledore. 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. I'm sure that present version of you hiding in Hogsmeade right now, is terrified Dumbledore will show up."
The confident smirk on Tom Riddle's face had vanished, replaced by a very dark look.
"Dumbledore's been driven out of this castle by the mere memory of me!" Riddle exclaimed.
"He's not as gone as you might think!" Harry replied, trying to faze Riddle, hoping with all his heart that Dumbledore had been summoned back to the castle and was on his way here right now.
Tom Riddle opened his mouth to reply, but froze when he, Harry, and Ron heard the sound of music coming from the entrance to the Chamber. The music continued to grow louder, causing Harry and Ron to feel as if there spirits were being lifted, while Riddle frowned, and as the music reached it's peak, flames erupted atop the nearest pillar.
From the flames burst a crimson bird, singing loudly as it took off from the pillar. In it's claws seemed to be a bundle of something, as it took off in the direction of Harry, and Ron. As it approached Harry, it dropped the bundle at Harry's feet. Then landed on Harry's shoulder, and stared at Riddle, finally having stopped singing.
"What's that?" Ron asked, the terror in his voice slightly subdued as he saw the seemingly friendly creature.
"That's a phoenix …" Riddle replied frowning, staring back at the creature.
"Fawkes?" Harry asked warmly as the phoenix pet of Dumbledore gently squeezed his shoulder in comfort.
"And that –" Riddle began, looking down at the item Fawkes had dropped at Harry's feet "that's the old school Sorting Hat."
Then Riddle laughed darkly, his cruel voice echoing throughout the chamber.
"This is what Dumbledore sends his defenders! A songbird and an old hat! Do you feel brave, Harry Potter? What about you Ronald Weasley? Do you feel safe now?" Tom taunted the pair, Ron only gripped Ginny tighter as Harry struggled to come of with a retort.
"To business, Harry," Riddle began, still wearing a evil grin "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 said the last part softly "the longer you stay alive."
Harry stared at Tom. His mind racing. He knew the odds were stacked against him and Ron. Ron's wand was still broken, and Riddle had his wand. To make things worse, Harry saw that Riddle seemed to be getting clearer and clearer, if they were going to save Ginny and stop this version of Voldemort from returning to help his present version, they needed to act soon.
"No one knows why you lost your powers when you attacked me," Harry began. "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," Harry said this part shaking with rage. "She stopped you killing me and Sarah. And you talk about your present self? I saw him last year. He's pathetic. Tell me is he still living on the back of Quirrell's head? In any case you're still a wreck. You're barely alive. That's where all your power got you. You're present self had to use him" Harry motioned to the unconscious Lockhart in the corner of the room. "To try and get me and Sarah. You're ugly, you're foul!"
As Harry taunted him, Riddle's face grew fierce with rage. But then he grinned.
"So. Your mother died to save you. To protect your sister as well. Yes, that's a powerful counter-charm. I can see now – there is nothing special about you, after all. I wondered, you see. Because there are strange likenesses between us, Harry Potter. Even you must have noticed. Both half-bloods, orphans, raised by Muggles. Probably the only two Parselmouths 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."
Harry tensed, waiting for Riddle to point His stolen wand at him, but Riddle never did. All he did was smirk.
"Now, Harry, I'm going to teach you a little lesson. Let's match the powers of Lord Voldemort, heir of Salazar Slytherin, against famous Harry Potter, and the best weapons Dumbledore can give him."
Riddle cast a smirk at Fawkes and the sorting hat then turned to Ron, whom was still pale and holding Ginny close to his chest. "And you boy, I won't kill you yet. I'll first make you watch as your best friend and then your little sister die. And then, when you're broken and sobbing at there corpses, I'll let you join then."
Ron swallowed as Riddle walked towards the large statue. Both Harry and Ron were frozen with fear, as Riddle stopped right in front of the statue and looked up at it. He began to speak.
"Speak to me, Slytherin, greatest of the Hogwarts Four." Riddle began, as Ron jumped.
"Harry he's talking Parseltongue. What's he saying?" Ron asked shaking.
"I...I think he's about to..." Harry replied trembling, backing up away from the statue as Ron froze in terror. As the statues mouth, which was of Salazar Slytherin, began to open. "Ron he's summoning the Basilisk Run!" Harry shouted at Ron in horror, as he backed away into the far wall.
But Ron was just frozen still, all he could do was look down at Ginny, close his eyes, and hold his cold, pale, dying sister close.
Harry slowly backed up as the mouth of the statue opened, and he heard it. The Basilisk. He hit the back wall and closed his eyes tight. To make matters worse, he felt Fawkes take off. Making him feel more alone as Fawkes had left, and Ron simply refused to leave Ginny's side.
That's when he heard a loud thump hit the stone floor, and Harry knew the Basilisk was out of the statue fully now, uncurling itself as Riddle commanded...
"Kill him. Leave the other boy for now." Riddle commanded, watching Harry with a smirk.
Harry, with his eyes closed, tried to run. He ran in a direction he felt the massive beast wasn't coming from. However he heard it coming closer and closer, and he also heard Riddle laughing madly.
"Your friend is doomed Ronald." Riddle told Ron, whom had closed his eyes and burrowed into Ginny's cold body in terror.
Harry tripped, and felt blood trickle down his arm. The Basilisk was only a foot away now, there was no way out Harry realized. As he heard a loud spitting sound, then was thrown against a nearby wall. Harry waited for the fangs of the beast to impale him, but none came. As he heard thrashing and the pillars around the room being hit, and painful hisses coming from the Basilisk .
And Harry couldn't help himself as he peaked, and the sight before him gave him hope.
Fawkes was flying around the Basilisk, which was massive and dark green just like the skin it had shed back in the tunnel. And Harry watched in amazement as Fawkes dove and the Basilisk kept trying to strike and missing. as finally the Basilisk turned, and before Harry could close his eyes, looked right at Harry...
Only to reveal that Fawkes had clawed out both eyes, causing the Basilisk to spit and thrash in agony, and eliminating it's agility to kill whomever it looked at.
"No!" Riddle screamed in absolute fury. "Leave the bird! Leave the bird! The boy is behind you! You can still smell him! Kill him!"
The Basilisk thrashed wildly, clearly confused and in agony as Fawkes circled it in a circle. Still the creature was deadly, and one bite would kill.
"Help me, help me," Harry yelled in terror. "someone, anyone!"
But Ron was to out of it, to focused on clinging to Ginny to do anything. And not that Harry could blame him, if that was Sarah he'd do the same thing. Still, he didn't know what to do now...
He ducked to avoid the Basilisk tail, and suddenly something hit him straight in the face, something soft.
The sorting hat.
And not knowing what else to do, Harry put on the hat and dove onto the floor to avoid being hit by the Basilisks tail.
"Help me … help me …" Harry pleaded with his thoughts. "Please help me!"
There was no voice from the hat like the other times he'd worn it, but there was something appeared through the hat and hit Harry square on the head. It was heavy, if the fact that it really hurt when it appeared.
He grabbed the hat and took it off, feeling something now inside. It was a beautiful, silver sword. Massive rubies covered the hilt.
"Kill the boy! Leave the bird! The boy is behind you! Sniff – smell him!" Riddle was still shouting orders at the Basilisk.
Harry instantly got to his feet, sword in hand, and turned to face the blinded Basilisk. The monster was still thrashing wildly, it's body hitting pillars everywhere. It lunged at Harry, whom dodged as the monster hit the chamber wall. It again lunged, this time its forked tongue grazing Harry's side harmlessly.
The next time it lunged, it's aim was true. Harry, with no other options, met the beast head on. Putting everything he could into driving the sword through the roof of the Basilisk mouth. But Harry also felt intense pain just above his right elbow. And he looked down, and to his horror a fang wedged itself deep inside his arm, breaking off from the Basilisk as the monster fell over sideways, twitching, dead.
Harry slid down the wall behind him, gritted his teeth, and pulled it out of his arm. But the damage was one, Harry knew that a single bite from the Basilisk would be deadly. He'd killed the Basilisk, yet he would die in the process.
"Harry!" Ron shouted, finally gently putting Ginny down, and running over. "Harry you did it! You killed it!" Ron said, but then noticed the wound. "H...Harry." Ron's relieved attitude instantly faded as he leaned down next to him. "Harry hang in there." He begged.
"Ron, we both know...what that book said...one bite and..." Harry replied, his breathing heavy as Ron looked away.
"I...I'm sorry. I should have..."
"I don't blame you Ron, if that was Sarah..." He motioned to Ginny's still unconscious form. "...I'd have done the same."
Ron swallowed back a croak as he looked at Harry. Who's robes were being soaked in blood. It was heartbreaking, and Ron felt helpless just like he did with his sister, now Harry seemed to be on the verge of death, and Ginny still wasn't awake...
Fawkes suddenly landed next to the boys, Harry smiling as best he could as he saw the phoenix.
"Fawkes," Harry said, his breathing heavy "You were brilliant, Fawkes …"
Fawkes tilted his head and gently laid his head over Harry's wound, when suddenly from behind them footsteps sounded as Tom Riddle approached.
"You're dead, Harry Potter," Riddle said with a evil smirk "Dead. Even Dumbledore's bird knows it. Do you see what he's doing, Potter? He's crying."
Indeed Ron, and Harry whom was having trouble focusing, saw the phoenix crying.
"I'm going to sit here and watch you die, Harry Potter. Take your time. I'm in no hurry." Riddle said folding his arms and smirking.
"You...you monster." Ron said, glaring at Riddle with fury, but still also shaking with fear.
Riddle laughed. "I told you Ronald Weasley, you will watch Harry, then Ginny over there die. And I keep my promises." Riddle said, then turned back to Harry.
"So ends the famous Harry Potter," Riddle continued in his taunting tone. "The only one by his side a weak, blood traitor, coward. Forsaken by his dear Dumbledore, defeated at last by the Dark Lord he so unwisely challenged. You'll be back with your dear Mudblood mother soon, Harry … She bought you twelve years of borrowed time … but Lord Voldemort got you in the end, as you knew he must."
Ron broke down crying, as Riddle watched. But something was different, Harry wasn't dying. In fact Harry was starting to feel better. When Harry looked down at where his wound at been, he saw there was none...and Ron also noticed this as his eyes widened in shock and delight.
"Harry are you all right?" Ron asked smiling through his tears.
"I think so." Harry smiled weakly.
"Get away, bird," Riddle said suddenly as he realized what had happened. "Get away from him. I said, get away!" Riddle said while pointing Harry's wand at the phoenix, whom with a loud plop took flight once again.
"Phoenix tears …" Riddle said softly, frowning as he looked at Harry's healed arm. "Of course … healing powers … I forgot …"
But then Riddle smirked. "But it makes no difference. In fact, I prefer it this way. Just you and me, Harry Potter … you and me …" He looked at Ron. "Now watch as I killed your dear friend Harry Potter..."
Riddle raised Harry's wands and aimed it at Harry, but before he could cast a spell Fawkes flew overhead and dropped the Diary right back into Harry's lap.
For a second Harry, and Ron looked at the diary, then Riddle. Riddle looked back, then without a word Harry quickly grabbed the Basilisk Fang that had nearly killed him and drove it through the Diary with all the force he could.
And Riddle screamed in agony, as ink poured from the diary as if it were blood. Both Harry and Ron covered there ears as Riddle screamed, and writhed, and then just...vanished. Harry's wand falling to the floor. The Chamber was silent other than the drip of ink, and the breaths of Harry and Ron.
They both looked down at the Diary, which now had a massive hold through it.
"Wicked Harry. Wicked." Ron finally spoke.
"Thanks Ron."
Harry, despite being dazed, slowly stood with the help of Ron. He grabbed his wand, and pulled the sword from the Basilisk while Ron grabbed the Sorting Hat.
And then, from the far end of the Chamber they heard movement, Ginny sat straight up. She looked at the Basilisk , then to Harry, Ron, and to the diary in his hands which now had a massive hole in it, then she broke down crying.
Harry and Ron raced over, Ron wrapping her in a massive hug,
"Harry – oh, Ron – I tried to tell you two at b-breakfast, but I c-couldn't say it in front of Percy. It was me, Harry – Ron – but I – I." Ginny said in
"It's okay Ginny." Ron said gently, holding her close. "Just breathe." He said as he comforted his sister.
"It's all right," Harry added, holding up the diary and showing her the hole "Riddle's finished. Look! Him and the Basilisk. C'mon, Ginny, let's get out of here –"
"I'm going to be expelled!" Ginny sobbed as Ron, and Harry gently helped her to her feet. "I've looked forward to coming to Hogwarts ever since B-Bill came and n-now I'll have to leave and – w-what'll Mum and Dad say?"
"It's okay Ginny, I promise it'll be all right, let just get you out of here." Ron assured her. Ginny didn't look convinced, but nodded.
But before the trio could head out, they heard another moan and Harry and Ron remembered Lockhart! The trio turned and saw him coming to.
"Harry? What if he's still under the imperius?" Ron asked in terror.
Without thinkin Harry instantly raced over, and grabbed Lockhart's wand and threw it to Ron, then pointed his own at Lockhart.
"Don't move." Harry said firmly. He didn't want to hurt Lockhart, given what Riddle said he hadn't been in control of himself all year. But after all they just went through, he didn't want to take any chances.
But instead of threating Harry, Ron, or Ginny. Lockhart filched badly.. He was pale, his usual confident grin gone, and he was shaking uncontrollably.
"I...I swear...I am...no longer under the Imperius." Lockhart said, barely able to form a coherent thought.
Harry glanced at Ron, while Ginny just looked confused.
"How can we be sure?" Ron asked with a frown.
"You can...keep my wand...just...take me...with you..." Lockhart said, looking around in the chamber in horror. And it was clear to both boys that Lockhart was traumatized badly.
"Fine, but walk in front of us, and no sudden movements." Harry said firmly.
Lockhart simply nodded. "F...fine." Lockhart said, shakily standing, and starting to walk down the chamber towards the entrance.
"What's going on with Professor Lockhart?" Ginny asked softly.
"Let's just say you weren't the only one under the control of Tom Ginny." Ron explains Gently, Ginny eyes widen. But she simply nods as the three students and one shaking Professor.
"By the way Harry, where did the phoenix come from?" Ron asked as they saw Fawkes waiting form them at the entrance to the chamber.
"He's Dumbledore's" Harry replied, giving Fawkes a thankful glance.
Ron simply nodded. As the four humans and phoenix made there way back through the tunnel. It took a while, with Lockhart shaking and almost tripping every few minutes. But eventually they reached the pipe that led back up to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.
"Have you thought how we're going to get back up this?" Harry asked Ron. Ron shrugged. But before they could try and brainstorm Fawkes flown in front of the four, and fluttered there. His long golden tail feathers waving right in front of them.
"He looks like he wants you to grab hold …" Ron said in confusion. "But you're much too heavy for a bird to pull up there."
"Fawkes," Harry smiled at the phoenix " isn't an ordinary bird as you just saw Ron." Harry then turned to Ginny and Professor Lockhart who both still looked really nervous and off, especially Lockhart. "We've got to hold on to each other. Ginny, grab Ron's hand. Professor Lockhart you hold Ginny's other hand"
Harry then tucked the sword, and hat onto his belt. Ron grabbed tightly onto Harry's robes, Professor Lockhart and Ginny took the hands that they were supposed to take. Then Harry grabbed onto Fawkes.
Suddenly the entire group felt light, and Fawkes sped forward. It was amazing, the cool air felt great, as they raced back up the pipe and all landed on the wet floor of Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, the sink that hid the chamber moving back into its normal position.
"You're alive," Myrtle said with a frown when she saw them.
"There's no need to sound so disappointed," Harry replied, wiping blood, and grime off of his glasses.
"Oh, well … I'd just been thinking. If you had died, you'd have been welcome to share my toilet," Myrtle said with a blush, well, as much as a ghost could blush Harry assumed.
"Urgh!" Ron frowned in disgust as the quartet walked out into the dark, empty corridor. "Harry! I think Myrtle's got fond of you! You've got competition, Ginny!" Ron joked, trying to cheer the sobbing Ginny up, but she just silently kept crying as Ron sighed.
"Where now?" Ron asked, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly after his joke had failed to do anything for Ginny.
Harry simply pointed at Fawkes. Whom they followed until it led them to Professor McGonagall's office. Harry took a deep breath, then knocked the pushed the door open, leading them all inside.
On the outskirts of Hogsmeade, Quirinus Quirrell and the wraith of The Dark Lord Voldemort stood. Both had recently felt something dreadful. For Quirrell it was the fact that his imperius curse on Gilderoy Lockhart had been broken. For Voldemort it was the fact that his part self, that one of his horcruxes, his Diary had been destroyed. For Lord Voldemort it had been extremely painful, and for Quirrell a major set back once again.
"We must go. Now!" The Wraith of Voldemort commanded Quirrell. "With my past self gone, and Lockhart free of our control, it is only a matter of time until Lockhart tells Dumbledore of our presence." The wrath of Voldemort commanded urgently.
Quirrell simply nods at his masters command. As the pair quickly depart the village. They make there way back to the Gaunt Shack, the wretched place still there temporary headquarters for the time being. The Wraith of Voldemort was furious, desperate, and still in pain from the aftershocks of his soul fragment's destruction.
"What is our next move my lord?" Quirrell asks nervously, hoping The Dark Lord wouldn't again take his anger out on him
"For now, we have no choise." The wraith of Voldemort replied in both anger, yet resignation. "Again we must wait and see if a opportunity arises to strike at the Potters! Especially Harry." Voldemort spat his name out in disgust.
"As." Quirrell began with a nervous swallow. "As you wish my lord.
The wraith floated around the shack, ranting. Again asking himself the question of how Harry Potter could have thwarted him once again.