Chapter 14
I inspected the sink Myrtle had gestured to while ignoring her annoying voice. I spotted a Snake engraving on it. "This is is," I said to the others. Open. The top of the sinks moved up and all of the sinks moved outwards to create a giant circular hole. The Snake-engraved sink moved out of the way and sunk into the floor, leaving an easy way into the tunnel for a person. I quickly used my Air Magic to levitate Lockhart over the tunnel and drop him into it. I smirked at the others. "We have to test it's safe somehow." I heard Lockhart stop screaming as he hit the end of the tunnel and I took off my outer robes.
"It's really quite filthy down here," Lockhart said.
"Who's next?" I asked. After a moment, I shrugged and jumped into the tunnel. "Whoo-hoo!" I slid down and then out of the end to fly out of the way as I heard Harry and Ron coming. I quickly pointed my wand at Lockhart as the boys came out of the tunnel and fell on the floor. "That was fun!" They quickly scrambled up and also pointed their wands at him. Ron made a noise of disgust and we looked down to see Animal bones. "Okay, boys, follow me. Don't look the Basilisk in the eyes and try to avoid it eating you." I quickly moved through a random tunnel and I heard Harry behind me with Lockhart following him and Ron following Lockhart to make sure he didn't try anything. We came across a giant snakeskin. "Shit. It's got to be bigger than I'd thought if it's shed this."
"Bloody hell," Ron said. "Whatever shed this has got to be 60 feet long... Or more." I heard a thud and I turned around to see Lockhart on the floor. "Heart of a Lion, this one."
"Careful, Ron!" I yelled. "He could be-" I cut myself off as Lockhart jumped up and snatched Ron's wand from him. I quickly pointed my wand at him.
"The adventure ends here, you three," Lockhart said as he switched between pointing Ron's broken wand at me, Harry and Ron. Ron's wand backfires a lot but there's no guarantee that it'll backfire. "But don't fret. The world will know our story. How I was too late to save the girl, how you three tragically lost your minds at the sight of her mangled body." He pointed the wand at me. Good. "So, you first, Miss Malfoy. Say goodbye to your memories. Obliviate!"
"Protego!" I quickly conjured up a Shield Charm, hoping it'd hold up as I haven't had anyone throw a Spell at it to test yet but Ron's wand backfired and sent Lockhart slamming backwards into the stone wall. The place shook and Harry and I dove out of the way as the ceiling caved in. I used my Air Magic to get rid of the smoke and I heard coughing from the other side of the wall. "Ron, are you okay!?"
"Yeah, I'm fine!" Ron called back. "Harry!?"
"I'm okay!" Harry called.
"Lockhart's Memory Charm backfired! He hasn't got a clue who he is!"
"Ron, clear a way through for when we get back. Harry and I will go save Ginny, okay? Keep an eye on Lockhart. He was already enough of an idiot before losing his memories," I said and Harry chuckled.
"Got it!" Ron called.
"Ready, Harry?" I asked.
"Ready," Harry replied. We nodded at each other and started moving further into the Chamber. We came across a door with seven Snakes coming out of the hinge. Open. An eighth Snake came out of the hinge and started making its way around the edge of the door. As it did, the other Snakes started retreating from the door edge and the door opened after the eighth Snake went back into the door hinge. "Cassie... I'm scared."
"Me too, Harry. Me too," I said. We went a little further into the Chamber with our wands out before climbing down some ladders. "Harry... How was the door shut if the Basilisk and Ginny had come in here? Does it close behind us?"
"Maybe the Snake knows how to close the door with its tail. It's big so it'd be strong enough to do it and I've seen weirder things with magic."
"Huh... Holy shit, Harry. Are you seeing that giant head thing?" I asked as I pointed at the giant head thing.
"Yeah, I'm seeing- Ginny!" Harry yelled and ran over to Ginny, dropping his wand in the process. Boys. So stupid. If Ginny's here, then so is the Basilisk. I slowly approached with my wand in case it was needed. Spells won't work on the Basilisk but maybe I can find a way to blind it. If I could get a clear shot, I could use the Conjunctivitis Curse but how would I get a clear shot at its eyes without looking into them? This is impossible! "Ginny. Oh, Ginny, please don't be dead. Wake up. Wake up!"
"Harry, I don't think she's dead yet." I used a basic Diagnostic Charm. "She's alive but barely."
"How did you know how to do that? You're a first-year!"
"My Mom taught me."
"She won't wake," someone said and I turned around to see a boy about 16 in a Slytherin uniform. I know all of the Slytherins and I've never seen him before. Who is he?
"Tom," Harry said as the boy walked over. I pointed my wand at him.
"Watch it," I warned but he ignored me.
"Tom Riddle... Cassie, he's your Father."
"What?" The boy asked.
"That's not possible, Harry. You said that the memory the Diary showed you was from 50 years ago. How could he still be a teenager? My Adoptive Father would be a lot older than that."
"What are you talking about?" The boy asked after picking up Harry's wand.
"Give me my wand, Tom," Harry said. "Cassie's Inheritance and Heritage Test at Gringotts stated Tom Marvolo Riddle is her Adoptive Father. It's why Cassie is the true Heir of Slytherin and not whoever's been writing those messages." As Harry said that, I looked around and realised something. I pointed my wand directly at the boy.
"Harry, back away slowly. That thing isn't my Adoptive Father. It's not possible... But it's the only person-like thing in here other than Ginny. It's responsible for the attacks." Harry moved away from Ginny and the boy smirked.
"I am real... Or at least I will be. I'm a memory preserved in a Diary for 50 years. You see, as poor Ginny grows weaker, I grow stronger."
"You're draining her Magical Core, her lifeforce, to bring yourself back." Harry looked horrified at my words.
"It was Ginny Weasley who opened the Chamber of Secrets," Tom said.
"No. She couldn't. She wouldn't," Harry said.
"She would if he was controlling her, Harry. Possession isn't common in the Wizarding World but it happens," I sadly said. "It was Ginny who set the Basilisk on Hermione, the Mudbloods and Filtch's Cat. Ginny wrote the messages on the walls. I should've known that bad grammar was hers after the few tests I've had you all do in preparation for the Etiquette Exams. Damn it!"
"The power of the Diary began to scare her," Tom said. "And she tried to dispose of it in the girls' bathroom, and then, who should find it but you? The very person I was most anxious to meet."
"And why did you want to meet me?" Harry angrily asked.
"Isn't it obvious, Harry? He wants to know how you defeated The Dark Lord... Because he's the teenage version," I said and Tom used Harry's wand to write his full name in the air. Then, he swirled the wand around and the letters rearranged into 'I am Lord Voldemort'.
"Surely you didn't think I was going to keep my filthy Squib Father's name, especially when he was raised as a Muggle?" Tom spat.
"Wait... Cassie... If Tom is your Adoptive Dad and he's Voldemort, then you're Voldemort's kid!" Harry exclaimed before backing away from me a little.
"Harry, seriously! We've already talked about all of this and Dumbledore and The Dark Lord... You know me. I thought you were my friend..." Harry winced a little, thought for a moment and then walked over to me.
"Sorry. You're right."
"How is it a baby with no extraordinary Magical talent was able to defeat the greatest Wizard of all time? How did you escape with nothing but a scar while my powers were destroyed?" Tom asked.
"Easy," I said. "He didn't do anything. Lily Potter accidentally used Sacrificial Magic." Tom froze and he looked like he was considering it.
"That does make sense... It doesn't change anything." Tom turned to the head statue thing. A bird started making noises and then flew over to us and dropped the Sorting Hat into Harry's hands.
Dumbledore sent me to help.
Hi, I'm Cassiopeia Malfoy.
I'm Fawkes.
So, Dumbledore knows we're in trouble and he sent you to help instead of coming himself?
Yes. He's been reinstated as Headmaster. He's been acting weirdly all year. He knew more about the attacks than he let on. He was here the last time the attacks happened.
Thanks for the help. What's the Hat for?
The Sword of Godric Gryffindor can be pulled out of the Hat by a true Gryffindor. Harry is the Gryffindor Head of House and you're Heir Gryffindor. You can both pull the Sword out of the Hat if you think about wanting the Sword to appear.
"Cassie, now what?" Harry whispered as Tom stood in front of the head thing and summoned the Basilisk.
"Grab Ginny and take her to Ron. We need to get her to safety and Fawkes and I can communicate while you and Fawkes can't. I have a plan. Save Ginny. Please," I said.
"Got it." Harry quickly picked Ginny up and started running with her.
"Where are you going!?" Tom yelled at him. He shot a Spell at Harry but I blocked it with a Shield Spell. "A Shield Spell as a first-year? Maybe you are my Daughter after all." The Basilisk appeared out of the head thing's mouth as Harry pushed Ginny onto the part of the tunnel above the ladders.
Thanks for the help. Can you please blind the Basilisk for me, Fawkes?
I'll try, Cassiopeia. I avoided looking at the Basilisk and Fawkes as I focused on using my Air Magic to get Harry up the ladders and then I used my Air Magic to place Ginny in his arms. Harry looked at me, nodded and then left down the tunnel.
"No!" Tom yelled. "The girl! Ignore the bird and focus on the girl!" And my Dad is trying to kill me. Great.
It's done, Cassiopeia. The Basilisk is blinded.
Okay. Go help the others start to get out of the tunnel. Ron and Lockhart first and then Harry and Ginny. Come back for me after, please.
Okay. Are you sure you'll be okay alone?
Even if I'm not, at least my friends will be safe. Besides, I have a plan, Fawkes.
Okay then. Hopefully, I'll see you soon. Fawkes flew off down the tunnel. I dodged the Basilisk and grabbed the Hat. I concentrated on wanting the Sword of Godric Gryffindor as I put my hand into the Hat and pulled the Sword out. I used my Air Magic to pull out one of the Basilisk's fangs. Basilisk venom went everywhere but luckily it didn't touch me as I used my Air Magic to create a barrier in front of me. I dropped the Sword and dived past the Basilisk. I noticed the Sword get dowsed in venom. The Sword is Goblin-made steel. It'd have absorbed the Basilisk venom and its properties.
"Tom! Stop!" I yelled. His eyes went wide when he saw what I was holding.