Chapter 20
“Ah Harry, Malfoy what can I help you with?” Lockhart exclaimed happily.
Harry ignored Draco’s confused look as he stated, “I know where the chamber of secrets is, I need your help.” He knew that Lockhart couldn’t handle a Basilisk, but it would be suspicious if he didn’t bring a teacher with him. And perhaps the basilisk could ‘tragically’ kill him.
The older man paled and stuttered, “N-Now I-I don’t know what you mean by that but go back to your d-dorm now.”
Shaking his head, he pointed his want at the older man and said boldly, “Imperio, follow Draco and I.” Harry immediately felt a cold, yet comforting feeling surround him, oh the beauties of the dark arts. He had just learned what the unforgivable are after he went a little too far into the restricted section, although he wasn’t the least bit disappointed in them. All he had to do is think about everything and everyone he hates, it was still hard to cast, nonetheless.
“HARRY WHAT THE HELL?! T-That was an unforgivable! Harry you could be sent to Azkaban!” Draco said half hysterical.
Giving a small chuckle Harry said, “Its fine, my wand doesn’t have a trace. Now hurry up I’ll explain it to you when we get there.”
Draco was about to argue but the dark aura around Harry forced him to keep his mouth shut. This was a side of himself that Draco had never seen, and he felt an odd sense of pride seeing the fear in Draco’s eyes. Draco nodded reluctantly and followed him.
They swiftly walked to Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom. Ignoring her demands for him to leave, he turned to the sinks and said in parseltoungue, “Open.” He noted that Draco slightly flinched when he spoke it.
Soon enough an entry formed, and he grabbed Lockhart by the arm and pushed him down the hole to gage how far down it was. Hearing a thump and a loud groan Harry said, “Draco, let’s go down together.”
Draco shook his head and he exclaimed, “No way am I going down there! I-I don’t even know what’s going on, you c-can’t expect me to agree to this.”
Forcing himself to soften he stated, “Draco the school will be shut down if we don’t do this… Hogwarts is my home. Please, trust me. Ever since the first petrification I have been doing research on the Chamber of Secrets, I figured out it was here.”
The vulnerability in his voice must have shocked him as then took a deep breath and nodded. On the count of three they jumped down the hole. They were greeted by a hysterical Professor who was now pointing his wand at them.
“I KNEW YOU WHERE THE HEIR OF SLYTHERIN! I-I WONT DIE TODAY. Expelliarmus!” As the scarlet color shot out of his wand Harry simply stepped to the side as the spell missed him completely.
Pointing out his Ebony wand he said, “Stupefy!” It hit him as the man was dazed and confused. He heard that was a side effect of the imperious charm. The man was officially unconscious. ‘Weak’ that was the only word he thought of when he saw the man’s passed out body.
“Draco levitate him and follow me.” Harry said in a commanding tone, Draco simply nodded and did as he was told.
After a few minutes though Draco tripped on a rock causing the rocks around them to fall and separate them. Unfortunately, Lockhart got dragged on Draco’s side, he inwardly cursed. He wanted that man dead.
“Draco are you okay?!” He asked just loud enough for Draco to hear him, he was quite apprehensive if anyone could hear him.
It was silent for a second before Draco called out, “Y-Yeah I’m fine! Just a bit dazed, I’m assuming you want me to stay here and babysit Lockhart?”
Harry frowned but said, “Alright, stay there I’ll find a way to get to you. I fear that breaking the rocks might cause the entire chamber to cave in.”
Draco have a slight noise of agreement and Harry went on his way.
After a few minutes of walking Harry was stopped by a door. He quickly said, “Open” in parseltoungue and walked through. That’s when he saw it. A slightly translucent, but tall handsome man with dark hair was standing over the Weasley’s body, confusion enclosed him as he started to walk up to the sight.
“Hello, Raynor Manchester… Or should I call you Harry Potter?” The man said, it clicked into his head who this was. Tom Marvolo Riddle.
Harry smiled darkly and said, “Hello Tom, glad to see you figured it out. Although I need you to give me back the Weasley. I need to leave with her fairly quickly.”
Tom looked at him intently and then smirked. Ignoring his demand entirely he said, “It was so cute how she thought you loved her, she was basically obsessed with you. Did you do something to her? The story she told me was a little… off.”
He looked at Tom calculating what could be in his mind, Tom clearly wasn’t going to just let her go. After all, why would he? Looking at him in his eyes he said darkly, “Indeed. I just forced the book from her. Couldn’t have her know and ruin my reputation, now could I?” Forcing himself to go back to subject he added, “What did you want with Ginny’s body? It’s obvious that you won’t let me have it willingly.”
“Ah I see. Tell me if you care so little for her, why would you try and save her? And there is no point in trying to save her. The more she dies, I will grow stronger and become physical! I am the heir of Slytherin, and I will finish Salazar Slytherins Work.” Tom stated just as dark as his own voice. He continues, “For I am Lord Voldemort, he is my past, present, and future.”
Harry clicked his tongue and stated in a mock sadness, “Well then Voldemort, I’m so sorry, but I can’t let you do that. Also, the mandrake will soon be fully grown and anyone who was petrified will turn back to normal.” He proceeded to point his want at Tom.
Tom just stared at him weirdly, an emotion Harry didn’t recognize. Perhaps it was admiration? No. He soon smirked and said, “Killing mudbloods show no interest to me anymore. You forget one thing, Harry, I have the basilisk on my side.” Tom paused before looking at the statue of Salazar then muttering something in Parseltongue. He turned back to him and challenged, “Now let’s see what famous Harry Potter could do with a basilisk!”
Harry’s eyes widened as he saw the mouth of the statue open, revealing a 60 ft snake slithering out of it. He did what he thought was best, run. He didn’t get far though when he tripped and fell, Harry knew he was done for. He even dropped his wad when he fell and it slid right over to Tom’s feet, who happily picked it up with a smug smirk. Suddenly, Dumbledore’s familiar, Fawks, flew in and clawed out the Snakes eyes. Harry took the chance, he got up and ran into a pipe. He knew from his faint research on Basilisk they still have excellent hearing. Hiding in the Pipe he hid and thought of a plan. The snake just slithered past him.
He could burn it, then slice its head off. He was always good with burning things, and luckily, he trained with wandless magic. Although he knew he wasn’t strong enough to burn it enough to kill it, although he could permanently injure it. Grabbing a small pebble, he quietly walked to the main area. When he arrived, he noticed Tom was just watching him, not saying anything just staring.
Throwing the pebble, he then waited. The basilisk stormed from a pipe and attacked the floor. Harry remained silent, although he was now thinking of fire, hot, red fire burning the basilisk. It took only a minute, but the snake burst into flames, it wasn’t very strong but strong enough got it to affect the Basilisk. He heard Tom scream, “NO” but he paid no attention. It was writhing in pain, squirming around and attacking anything near it. Harry was tired and knew he couldn’t keep it up much longer.
Finally, after three minutes he was forced to release the spell. Magically tired he forced the rest of his energy in an overpowered cutting spell. Pointing his hand towards the snake he set it off. It didn’t cut off his head, but it did cut a gaping hole in its neck. Collapsing to the ground he started to gasp for air, he overdone it.
Tom walked forward to him with wide eyes. Although he did point his wand at him and said distantly, “I will kill you. Avada Kade-“
But before Tom could finish his sentence Harry tackled him. Forcing his wand out of Toms hand he grabbed it and pointed it at his neck. Harry doubted he could do any sort of advanced spell, so he hissed, “Stupefy” It was weak though and went straight though him.
Tom laughed.
Harry quickly got off him and limped towards the Diary, perhaps if the Diary is broken, he will die. Pointing his wand at the diary he screamed, “Diffindo” It did nothing. The basilisk. They had strong venom. Grabbing a hold of the Diary he walked over to the snake. Ignoring Tom screams of anger, he ripped out the fang and stabbed it.
Tom screamed and denigrated, and Harry promptly passed out.