Shadowed Mystery

Harry kept a bit of a distance as he followed Alyssa through the halls of the school.

The entire past week they had been acting off and Harry was genuinely starting to worry if somehow Tom had gotten to im. Of course he knew Alyssa’s will was strong, but e had grown up in Gotham. If e had somehow managed to speak, then he didn’t doubt that he knew who the next victim was going to be; and as much as he wanted Lockhart gone, he couldn’t let Alyssa do something so stupid.

As Alyssa pushed the door to the Defense Classroom open Harry grabbed im, the two tumbling to the foot of Lockhart’s desk as Alyssa; startled by the sudden attack, rend Harry to the ground and was wrestling him.

“It’s me!”

“Harry? What are you going?” Alyssa pivoted, turning ier attention to the Professor’s dorm, footsteps sounding from above.

“I could ask you the same thing!”

“Look, I’m bringing him to the Chamber, were going to finish this tonight. I suggest you stay out of my way. Ginny’s already down there, I-“

“What do you mean Ginny’s already down there?”

“She’s the one being possessed. Look we can argue about this later, and you can have me sent to Arkham for all I care.  I am not letting him hurt another person, and this is the only way to kill him without getting blood on our hands. Your in your costume, you clearly knew this was important.”

Alyssa was right. Despite everything, Harry had taken the time to get into costume, where e was still just in the school uniform. As Lockhart went to speak Harry quickly turned his bow on the man. “Unfortunately, I think this might be the only way to stop him-“ He jutted his head towards the man. “But we are having a very long talk about this with Crane, because I’m certain he would just love to hear about this one.”

“Fair enough. I suggest you start following, were going to finish this tonight, don’t you want to possibly be the savior of the school?” Alyssa nodded for him to start moving, shadow ripping his wand away from him and snapping it.  “No, we cant have that now. Come along were going to have a visit with true evil.”

Lockheart went to speak but Alyssa was faster. “Silencio.”

Lockheart let out a completely silent scream, eventually slumping and following as Alyssa produced two swords from the nothing.

Slowly the three made their way to the girls bathroom on the first floor, Alyssa chuckling softly to emself.

“I guess it’s a good thing that you followed me. Only a speaker can get in. Didn’t even think to ask for a password.” E nodded. “Try open.”

“Basic but alright.” Harry shrugged, turning his attention to the snake decor. “Open.”

The sink gave way, dipping down and into the shadows leaving a large gap. Alyssa quickly put a blade between Lockhart’s shoulders, edging him forward until he was forced to jump.

“No turning back now.” Harry said quickly following as Alyssa hopped down, sliding smoothly through the massive pipe, twisting and turning deeper and deeper underground until they landed in a dark cavern. Glancing around he activated his night vision, watching as Alyssa prodded Lockhart forward.

“I only need you if there is another door, other wise I want you to leave immediately when we  find Ginny.”

“I cant do that and you know it.”

“You’ll be too easy of a target for the Snake. It wont listen to you, we both know it. Just stick far enough back, and let me handle it.”

“Alyssa I want to help.”

“Harry! Alyssa’s shout made both him and the now terrified Lockhart jump slightly. “This isn’t me asking.  You know for a fact that I can pick things up, and I can probably mimic that for a good few minuets. I do not want to fight you, but I wasn’t not asking. I was telling you. Let me handle the snake.”

Harry went to argue again, but fell silent as his eyes caught something massive and curved, but entirely still.

“Snake skin.”

“Must be a good what? Twenty feet of it?” Alyssa nodded. “Really think that you should be taking it on. We know how it works, what do you think I plan on doing?”

“The same bullshit that I did?”

“Turning.” Alyssa practically hissed. “I plan on turning myself, and brining the other world with me. This wont just be some kid going against a snake. I wont have eyes to see with, I wont need them.”

“Can you even control that form?”

“In my dreams I’ve toyed with it. I’ve felt myself turning a few times, I sensed a turning and I’m not going to fight anymore. I’m going to at least somewhat accept that this is what I can do, and I just have to know that I am in control.”

“What- Are you talking about?” Lockhart had worked up the nerve to speak, thought Alyssa looked ready to murder him emself.

“That doesn’t concern you. I’m letting the snake eat you first.”

As they headed deeper in they reached a door. It was massive, with two entwined snakes.

“Be careful Alyssa,”

“I know what I’m doing.” Alyssa nodded and Harry took a step forward towards the door. The snakes were impressively detailed metal, with eyes of almost glowing ruby, nearly alive in their own right.

“Open.” Harry hissed, watching as the two drew back into their sections, the parts of the door quickly sliding open. Swallowing softly Harry followed Alyssa an Lockhart in almost instinctively. The room was somehow brighter than before, enough so that Harry was able to turn off his night vision, cautiously scanning the room for Ginny.

“Riddle.” Alyssa called out, scanning the room as well. “It’s time that we talked.”

“Very true Alyssa Wayne, and you’ve brought guests.” Harry’s eyes landed on Ginny, slumped on the far wall, beneath a massive statue. Rushing forward he took in her crumpled form, and her ghostly pail skin.  Her eyes were closed; which Harry figured was a good thing, and while er skin was icy and cold, he could still feel a pulse, if faintly.

“She’s alive!”

“Yes, but she wont be much longer.” Harry turned to the source of the voice. He was a tall boy,  with cool peach skin and inky green eyes that were narrow. He was in the school’s uniform, his decorated  with the greens and silver of Slytherin, a green badge with a silver p sitting at his breast. “I wasn’t expecting to see you Harry Potter.”

“Tom Riddle.” Harry glared holding Ginny tight. “I would say I was surprised, but I’m really not. What are you now, some kind of a ghost?”

“A memory.” He smirked. “Oh dear, did Alyssa not tell you? They have it all figured out.”

“No.” Harry said breathlessly, turning to Alyssa who’s eyes had hardened slightly. “Alyssa, what is going on?”

“He’s draining Ginny’s life force. I’m going to kill him of course, I just… This was the only way I could think to deal with both our problems. To prevent him from returning, and to get rid of Lockhart.”

“What a brilliant little show of manipulation.” Riddle let out an icy laugh. “And what a foolish mistake bringing you here.”

“Get Ginny out.”

“What good will that do. You know what’s keeping him like this, get rid of it.” Harry shouted, but his cries fell on deaf ears. “Listen if you change things now Ginny may be lost forever.”

“Change things?” Riddle arched an eyebrow. “You really think you can change things?”

“Leave Harry for the time being. Call the snake, kill Lockhart and I’ll show you what I am.” Alyssa growled and Harry’s heart skipped a beat.  Alyssa sounded so calm, so certain as he scooped Ginny into his lap. Of course there really wasn’t that much he could do himself. He had his bow, but something told him that wouldn’t do much against it’s scales. Far from what Alyssa could do with the Great Knife.

“You have questions Queen, I’m willing to answer if you do in turn.  Say, how did you manage to survive my killing curse?”

“My mother defended me, her love kept me safe.” Harry responded, forcing his voice to remain steady. “How dose your memory work. Will whatever remains of you out there be able to remember what Alyssa told you today?”

“Hmm… Good question. Even I’m not so certain about that. I know about my future in great part due to Ginny, so it’s not likely. Not that it would matter. None of you are leaving today.”

Quickly Riddle turned to the massive statue, glancing up at the giant head well above where Harry and Ginny  were. Quickly Harry pulled Gunny out of the way, rushing back to the entrance.  Sursing himself softly he dropped Ginny on the other side of the door as he heard Lockheart scream before speaking.

“Close.”

Lockhart’s screaming was cut very short a sudden siren starting up as Harry  turned carefully back to the room. He hear Alyssa scream in agony, the wailing sirens dizzying him. It was clearly agony for the beast as it too was hissing loudly in protest. As he reached the center of the room Harry stumbled, the once clear puddles running red with blood, chains clattering overhead.

“Kill them! Kill them already!”

A loud thundering sounded and; despite his better judgment telling him not to, Harry looked up at the towering monster, heart racing as he watched it lunge and snap, roaring in agony.   It didn’t take Harry long to figure out why, as the head rushed towards him. He only had a moment to role out of the way but he found it’s eyes gone, blood pouring from it’s head.

Taking a few deep breaths Harry rushed to the center of the room. Alyssa was flying in the center, shooting the monster with scorching light, and while it was clearly doing some damage, the snake didn’t seem too perturbed.

“Why the hell are you focusing on me?” Harry snapped as he headed dead for Riddle. “They are going to realize that they arn’t doing that much.”

“You really think that?” Riddle mused, eyes going up to where they were. “They did come to fight.”

“Monster of Slytherin, Kill the one in the sky first.” He commanded, and the snake obeyed, lunging into the air.

Stumbling next to the memory Harry; for the first time, took in Alyssa’s form.   Ey were bleeding heavily, all of eir wounds now open and gushing, school uniform scorched, just barely covering anything. The burn mark on Alyssa’s stomach had reignited, burn a deep sickening brown, with intense black spots; a set of tattered black wind sat on eir back, blood and burning in places, and there were two jet black horns protruding up from the top of eir head.

“What a frightening creature you’ve managed to befriend.” Harry turned away; back to Riddle, unable to watch Alyssa suffer. But they wont-“

A sickening metallic sound caused both Harry and Riddle to cringe, attentions suddenly turned to the battle as a massive *thwoom* sounded, the entire chamber shaking as the two watched the Baslisk’s  body fall to the ground. Alyssa remained in the air a moment, and then; as the syrens started up once again, began plummeting to the ground as the ‘incubus’ and eir sword vanished into the nothing.

“Fuck.” Harry hissed, pulling out his bow, doing a few calculations before shooting two arrows. The first sprung into a net, wrapping wound his unconscious friend, the second dragging a rope through the holes, creating a safe way down.

“So you managed to stop the snake, but I’m afraid you’re too late to save your freind. You have no way-“ Glaring Harry made his way to the small black book that had been lying with Ginny and held it up. “What are you going to do with that? There is none of that other place remaining, and you-“

“Snake head.” Harry drawled, heading over to it. Before Riddle could put two and two together, he pried one of the massive fangs out of the creature’s mouth and jabbed it deep into the book.

Ink flooded out of it like blood, and Riddle let out a horrible scream before he vanished.