Story: Perfection
Storylink: s/9753901/1/
Category: Harry Potter
Genre: Harry P.
Author: Shadowz101
Authorlink: u/2448552/
Last updated: 01/16/2014
Words: 44867
Rating: M
Status: In Progress
Content: Chapter 1 to 4 of 4 chapters
Source:

Summary: When Ron and Hermione were both petrified by the Basilisk, Harry took it upon himself to find out as much about the Chamber Of Secrets as possible. He tracked down and killed the beast, though it left him mortally wounded. The tears of the Phoenix healed him, but not before the venom had almost completely taken ahold of him.
1*: Prologue: The Death of Tom Riddle

Hey guys and welcome to my latest work. Before I get messages saying that I have bitten off more than I can chew as my other story gets rather sporadic updates anyway, do not worry. I created this story as a diversion for when I have writer's block and will flip-flop between the two stories depending on what catches my inspiration at the time. I will not abandon either. This story will likely get less updates however so please don't bombard me with messages asking how often I am going to update this story... I'll tell you now it will probably be only once a month at the most, and if I update any more than that it means I am well and truly stuck on my other story.

Now the boring shi-ite is out the way, now to an overview of what to expect from this story. This story will feel a lot different from my other HP fanfic. The themes will be darker, though not as dark as the other plot bunny I have going right now but certainly a lot more dark than the other story. There will be deaths and fights will be described in gruesome detail at times. This is a Harry/OC story, for reasons that will become clear in the future lol.

This is a Powerful!Harry story though I won't go over the top. This will be explained in the next chapter. There will be no character bashing, just a fair reflection of the characters when they are put in the situations they are put in.

Lastly...enjoy and give me feedback. This is my first 1st person perspective HP fanfic.

Sorry about the long A/N, it just avoids pointless questions later on.

It's probably obvious but I should probably point out this is an AU and anything that I have done different to canon was completely intentional

Though if there is something I have not covered up here, feel very free to ask, as I am a socially active member on this site, and will answer your message to the best of my ability.

Where do I begin? It is hard to tell when my destiny started floating off the beaten path and turned into its own entity. There were many moments that you could say shaped me into something far different than what I was. It could have been a number of things. It could have been the moment a blonde Slytherin came to me a short while after the Chamber was opened and admitted that it was implausible that I could have opened it and that I should stop moping around like a kicked puppy and take control of myself. If I wasn't so shocked at the fact someone believed me I would have noticed how odd it was that a Slytherin of all people dragged my consciousness out of my own personal hell. That was only the first of many things that would change over the course of that year.

When Ron and Hermione were originally petrified I'll be honest, I was shitting bricks. Without them I felt lost and confused and the sunny disposition I had for the few weeks since I met the strange Slytherin girl started to fade dramatically, that was until she came by again when no-one was around and scathingly reminded me that they were not dead and to stop moping. Not very tactful I know but I'll admit it did work to an extent and I found myself getting through each day better and better. I took to learning more magic as a means to keep my mind active and you know what? I found out I wasn't quite the idiot I made myself out to be. It was amazing what I could accomplish when I wasn't using Hermione as a crutch or being dragged down by Ron's constant pleas for chess games.

I threw myself into my studies with abandon and was pretty soon damned near the top of my class in almost every subject save History and Potions, though the latter may simply have been because the professor hated me. Merlin only knows what my grade should have been. I wasn't like Hermione in that I could learn spell after spell flawlessly and camp myself at a library for nights on end however, for me this was a real struggle. Some days I literally had a splitting headache with the amount of time I spent on mastering a single spell. It kept my mind off them however and that was enough.

It was after a few months of constant studying that I figured out what the school was really up against. The Chamber's monster was a Basilisk, an ancient terror that was nigh unbeatable. It had scales that could block almost any spell fire and teeth that could tear through steel, and even more dangerously, all it took was a gaze into its eyes and you were dead. So what do you think I did? I went after it of course. Now contrary to popular belief I do not hold a death wish. I would rather avoid trouble if possible but for some reason the gods have not been kind to me and trouble seems to gravitate towards me. The truth of the matter was that it was lucky that the Basilisk hadn't killed yet and something needed to be done. There were teachers all over the school that had more magical experience than me, more spells and more knowledge, but I knew I had something that they just didn't have and probably never would.

Sheer dumb luck.

Never had I taken Professor McGonagall's words to heart so much.

That was another major change in events that in hindsight helped shape me as a person; the willingness to go off on my own and simply act, without fear of consequence and just do the right thing. I knew well in advance that I could very well die doing what I was doing but I still carried on regardless and tried to solve the mystery that was the Chamber of Secrets. Looking back on things, the mystery itself was quite easy to solve once I looked in the right places. My foray into the forbidden forest, while dangerous and reckless, did yield substantial results. I found out that Hagrid was innocent (something that in my heart I probably knew anyway) of opening the Chamber, despite Tom Riddle's diary saying otherwise, and that Aragog the acromantula wasn't the monster from the Chamber, though by that point I already knew that. Then all hell broke loose and I was saved by a magically enchanted car… yeah I know it sounds crazy. It was a crazy night.

So while I didn't find out anything I didn't already know, I did come to a profound conclusion. That diary was just bad news. I didn't know what reason it had for misleading me but I didn't really care. When I got back I planned to destroy it. It just felt wrong… like something was tainting it. Looking back I realise how close I was to the truth.

When I finally got back to my dorm room that night I found that someone else seemed to have a different idea and my dorm was ransacked and in a state of disarray, with books and parchment strewn everywhere. After cleaning up I realised that the diary was gone and I was back to square one. Over the next few days I kept a lookout but I didn't see anyone with it so I just gave up. I knew I was running out of time; someone could be killed any day. I had to act, to do something. The teachers were threatening to close the school and it I don't care what anyone said; the prospect of spending any more time than absolutely necessary at my aunt and uncle's house was enough to strengthen anyone's resolve.

It was a month before the end of term when I finally realised where I should be looking. It was so obvious that I literally slapped myself for not thinking of it earlier. It was simple. The last person to be killed by the snake had died in the girl's bathroom on the second floor… and guess who haunted the girl's bathroom on the second floor? Exactly my point.

So here I am walking up to the bathroom on the second floor, knowing full well that I was right and this was the point of no return. It was around midday on a Tuesday and I had a few hours before my next class so I thought, why not? If I succeeded I doubt the professors would care that I skipped class and if I didn't I'd be dead so it wouldn't matter anyway. Some twisted logic, but if I were being logical at this point I wouldn't have been doing any of the things I had been doing the last few weeks so it was a rather weak argument.

It was with a major sense of trepidation I walked through the entrance to the girl's toilet. It was eerily quiet which didn't help, the sound of my footsteps echoing loudly in the stone room.

"Myrtle? You there?" I called, trying to get her attention.

"Myrtle I need to talk to you" I call out again, trying to calm down the frantic tone that was creeping into my voice. I didn't know how much time I had but I knew I didn't have a lot. People were getting petrified left right and centre and it was only going to get worse. It felt like a long time before I felt the familiar drop in temperature that indicated the ghost was near. I don't think many people noticed this but to be honest I doubt that many people spend that much time among ghosts.

"Me? Why would you want to talk to me? Nobody ever wants to talk to me" she said in her usual sad tone, her translucent form passing through the left wall. I wish she'd just lighten up sometimes.

"Oh I'm not sure I believe that" I said with a smile. "I was just coming down here to ask how you died… I'm sure you've answered that question a lot of times." I rushed out though I knew she hadn't. Her ghostly existence was somewhat of a mystery to most students. Most of the school's ghosts were. No-one really questioned how they came to be - they just accepted them. I myself didn't know how half of the school's ghosts died and the only one I knew by name was Sir Nicholas.

"Oh!" she said, her face visibly brightening… so to speak. "Oh it was horrible. It happened right here in this very cubicle you know." She said, gesturing to the second toilet cubicle from the left.

"I ran in here crying because Olive Hornsby, a girl in my year, was teasing my about my glasses. Even back in those days no-one really came here as there were other bathrooms in the castle. I must have been in here for about 20 minutes. Anyway, I heard this strange hissing noise coming from the sink near the far wall. I thought it was just more classmates coming back to make fun of me so I opened the cubicle door to tell them to go away and… I died." She said, trailing off.

"Just like that?" I asked

"The last thing I saw was this set of great big yellow eyes, over there by that sink." she pointed to the sink she mentioned earlier on the far wall. It looked rather run down, covered in dirt and grime from not being used. It looked like Filch hadn't been in here for years and he probably hadn't. The ghost of Myrtle was enough to keep almost anyone away, even if she was basically just an oversensitive teenager.

"I... I understand how difficult it must have been for you to tell me this but thank you."

"Oh it's no trouble Harry. It's been a long time since I have told that story."

"So… it's no problem then?"

"None… thank you for asking."

"My pleasure. You should probably get a teacher in about fifteen minutes. What I'm about to do is 30% brave and 70% mad."

"What are you doing?" she asked inquisitively.

"Going after what killed you… so yeah, mad" I said with a nervous laugh. It was either laughing or crying at this point and I'd take laughter all day long

"Oh." she breathed, a little shocked by my proclamation.

"Well good luck… if you die you can always share my cubicle." she added. I couldn't help myself at this point; I had to laugh at the ridiculousness of that notion.

"I'll keep that in mind." I said while walking slowly towards the sink. This must be the entrance somehow. I absentmindedly twisted the knob on one of the taps, though no water came out. It was like the entire bathroom unit was one big decoration. I could have too easily blasted away with my wand at the sink until the entrance revealed itself but I was pretty sure that would arouse some attention as the noise would echo around the castle walls like a clap of thunder. That was one of the things about living in a castle; sound really does travel.

I stared at the decaying porcelain for a few minutes, trying to think of how to enter the Chamber without raising an alarm. Walking around the circular unit I searched for any hidden buttons or symbols that could act as a switch and open a path or door, though it was a rather half-hearted search as I knew it probably wasn't this simple. If that was the case then anyone in the last thousand years could have discovered the Chamber before now by complete chance just by touching a symbol. They wouldn't even know what it meant. The only symbol I could find was an ornate S inscribed on each one of the taps and all that did was show me I was in the right place, it didn't grant me access. In fact all the mark of Slytherin did for me at that moment was make me angry. It was like the little symbol was mocking me, showing me that I had the answer within my grasp but couldn't quite get there. I was within touching distance of the answer, I knew I was.

Then it hit me. It was silly and ridiculous and it hit me so hard that I almost slapped myself for not thinking about it earlier. The clues were all there. It was the surefire way of making sure that no-one not of Slytherin descent could enter the esteemed Chamber. It was the ultimate security measure and one that could only be beaten by the few and even then they would have to know where to look.

Parseltongue.

It was that simple. The monster was a snake so why wouldn't the entrance itself need the same language. No-one could break this protection. No-one but Riddle and myself. I still hadn't figured out how I could speak it but that didn't matter. It was how I used this incredible tool that mattered. I stared at the small green S shape, inscribed onto the tap in front of me. Conjuring up the image of a snake in my mind, I spoke to the small logo with as much of a commanding voice as I could

"Open"

Now that I was more aware that I was speaking in a different tongue, I could actually hear the way my voice hissed, slightly layered with magic. From the moment the first syllable escaped my lips, a loud grinding noise filled the room, almost making me jump. The stone slabs that were originally part of the sink design opened out and descended into the floor. The stone tiles of the floor almost seemed to rearrange themselves, moving out the way of the object that once stood there, now disassembling itself into different parts. I could hear what sounded like gears turning as each segment folded into the floor slowly; sounding unnaturally loud in the enclosed room, even though I knew it was only my head playing tricks on me. When the fake plumbing had moved out the way completely, all that remained was a small hole in the floor a few meters wide.

Tentatively, I took a few steps closer to the edge and looked down, casting a Lumos as I peered over the edge. It was certainly deep, that much was certain, and there was a bend in the pipeline that made it impossible to see how far the drop went. It was almost pitch black and only the light from my wand allowed me to see as far down as I did.

Alright I thought… looks like I'm going to have to jump here.

"Goodbye Myrtle. If I live through this remind me to thank you."

"Hehe goodbye Harry… and remember my toilet is always open to you if you don't survive." she said, giggling childishly before diving into one of the toilets, splashing water everywhere.

This was it now. Taking a deep breath, I took a short run and jumped. If I waited I knew I would just bottle it.

It was just like taking a very deep slide. It could have even been considered fun if the circumstances had been different. After a short journey I was practically thrown out onto a bed of… something. I didn't know what it was at first. My eyes were closed in fear during the ride and now as I opened them I couldn't quite get my bearings. I was lying face first on some brittle material. It was hard yet at the same time it broke when I put any real pressure on it. Stumbling back onto my feet I jerked back in revulsion at the sight of what I had just landed on.

Bones. It was horrifying. There weren't just a few skeletons here. In this small room there must have been hundreds upon hundreds of shattered bones and remains lying around like discarded rubbish. Taking a closer look I noticed there were no human remains but the threat still hung in the air. I was well and truly in hostile territory. If I was found here I could not expect help, nor could I expect mercy. The creature that lived here wouldn't hold back at all.

Now that my eyes were adjusting to the dark I noticed that there were dozens of large pillars coming down from the ceiling and that this was more of a cave than a room. I guess it made sense, since I was right under the foundations of the school. The air felt damp and cold, uninviting and ominous. It was like I was being warned away by the castle herself. There was a very thin mist in the air, making it harder and harder to see the farther ahead I looked. I didn't know exactly where I was going but considering the cave only went one way, I could take a pretty good guess. On my left I could see a large pool of water that stretched back into a wall, though the mist concealed its actual size. This must be part of the lake I thought… if the situation wasn't so dire, I might have been fascinated by the age old architecture and natural landmarks but as it was I turned away and kept plodding ahead.

The rocks eventually began to gradually thin out and the path became easier. The silence that hung in the air was deafening, making the slightest step echo loudly in the surrounding cavern. Water dripping from the ceiling could be heard up to 200 meters away, and darkness seemed to move like living shadows.

After a few minutes I came to a narrow corridor, with a large door situated at the end. This was it. If I couldn't back out before I definitely couldn't now. I could very well die here and no-one would find me. I slowly walked towards the large metal door with trepidation; I could have only minutes to live. The door itself was obviously made of thick metal, and had many statues of snakes pointed at different angles in a circle formation. It was a strange design and I took a couple of seconds to steady myself before I spoke the words.

"Open" I commanded. A mechanical snake slipped out of one of the grates, circling the outside of the metal door, each of the snake's heads in the way receding as it made its journey, moving back with a loud clank. The strange formation of snakes on the door made sense now, as they were simply locks that pulled back as the magical serpent weaved in and out of the openings created when they drew themselves back into the centre of the door.

Before long the last lock disengaged and the door swung back with a large creak of protest.

This was it. I was here. The Chamber of Secrets.

I knew immediately that I was in the right place. There were many giveaways that said this was the fabled Chamber. One such giveaway was the long line of bronze statues of snakes that lined the sides of the Chamber as you walked in. Each of their faces was drawn back in a striking pose, their fangs out as if ready to strike. Another such giveaway was the rather creepy face that was etched on the back wall in front of me. It depicted a large bearded man with long hair billowing out. His eyes shone malevolently and his expression looked angry and dangerous. I didn't recognise who he was by sight but the fact that this was Slytherin's Chamber made it quite obvious who I was looking at. This was the face of Salazar Slytherin.

Even though it was just a statue, the fear in my gut could barely be ignored. I was standing on hostile ground and I knew it. The room was lit in a green glow, giving it a rather ghostly look. Green flames sprung out of lamps and candles that lined the wall from where I was standing to the end, where the monstrous statue stared at me with crazed eyes.

The biggest giveaway however was the young girl that stood at the end, with her back to me. This confused me slightly. I didn't think that anyone other than me could get here and if this was the real heir of Slytherin then I was already having second thoughts. I didn't come here to kill a child. Especially when it hit me who this child was. Even from this distance it was hard to mistake the red hair for anyone other than a Weasley. I knew that there was only one child in that family that was a girl, the first year Ginny who had started this year, and she was definitely not the heir of Slytherin.

That much I knew for certain, which made my task that much harder.

"Ginny, what the hell are you doing down here?" I called out to her, my voice unnaturally loud in the stone halls of the Chamber. Her neck snapped round in an instant, shock written on her face before she smiled sinisterly. This was unnerving… something was wrong…more wrong than I thought possible.

"Ah Harry Potter… just the one I was hoping to see" she said, though when I say she, her voice was layered and scratchy like it wasn't really her talking.

"How did you even get down here? Only a Parselmouth can get in here and you're not a Parselmouth to my knowledge." I asked while walking towards her. It took all my concentration to move, as the room itself seemed to exude fear.

"You're right she isn't, but I am… I must say, she's been such a fantastic host so far, if you disregard the whining sob stories. It's pathetic really." her voice spat. So obviously this wasn't her… something was using her body. I was now only a hundred or so feet away and I could see her eyes… oh god, those eyes.

They were blood red, evil and cold, like they didn't care if the entire roof fell down. This expression made my stomach turn. Every rational part of my body was screaming at me to run but I didn't. I couldn't… I just couldn't.

"Who am I talking to then? It's obvious that you've possessed her somehow."

"I'll answer that in due course. I just wanted to talk to you… well kill you actually but no sense in not being civilised before we get to the dirty part is there? It's what separates us from the animals." the being said in a candid tone, flippantly brushing away the idea of murder as if we were just talking about the weather. I didn't know what was worse, the fact that whatever this was, was going to kill me, or the calm way in which it was talking about it. I involuntarily made for my wand but didn't make it half the way to it before I felt myself being pushed through the air by an invisible force. I felt myself hang in the air for a few moments before crashing back to the ground in a heap, pain shooting through my side as I landed on the hard stone.

"We'll be having none of that." I heard her voice say as I blinked my eyes open and shakily stood up.

"You cannot win so don't try." She said in a sickly sweet voice, the self-satisfied smirk painted on her face.

"Now answer my questions. Why is it that a boy only one year old managed to defeat the greatest wizard of all time while suffering nothing but a scar? I see nothing special here. You! A mere child destroying the most powerful wizard in the world."

"Dumbledore is the greatest wizard in the world"

"Dumbledore has been driven out this castle by the mere memory of me."

"What do you mean? Memory?"

"Use your head Potter. Despite your brash decision to come here tonight you're not stupid, just incredibly foolish."

Memory. That's what he said… a memory. I quickly thought back to my experiences this year trying to piece the mystery together in my head. That was one thing I could attribute to the lack of friends to lean on; my analytical skills. In fact the only time I didn't look before I leaped was today and that was because I knew if I did, I would never have come here.

I thought back - a memory… a memory. Then it hit me. The diary's words when I first wrote into its pages. "A memory… trapped in a diary for 50 years". He had already given me the answer months ago.

"Riddle" I said, spitting out the word as if it were a disease, an infection.

"Very good. You see for all his supposed greatness, Dumbledore never could prove it was me who opened the Chamber so many years ago. The fool! He certainly kept an annoyingly close eye on me after that, and you didn't answer my question Potter! How did you beat the Dark Lord?"

"Why on earth would you care? He was after your time."

"Lord Voldemort is my past, present and future." With that the possessed girl turned around on the spot and waved her wand in the air, drawing letters that glowed orange in the dark Chamber. With a sense of foreboding I watched in fascination as Tom drew the letters in the air to spell out his name.

Tom… Marvolo… Riddle.

He gave his wand a sharp swish and they rearranged themselves. I could feel my stomach clench as they spelled out the words I had least wanted to see but in my heart almost expected.

I Am Lord Voldemort.

That statement rang in the air like an alarm bell. I knew I should try and get out of there but I was rooted to the spot. This was Lord Voldemort, the man that had murdered my parents and destroyed the families of thousands. I was paralysed in fear at that moment, staring dumbly at the little pocket of air where those letters hung like my own personal epitaph.

I couldn't escape even if I was able to move. This was the most powerful wizard in the world bar Dumbledore who was in no position to help me at this moment. I was alone with the most dangerous person in the world and hopelessly outclassed.

"So you see why I might care, hmm? Now answer me!"

"I don't know! Nobody knows and even if I did why would I tell you? You're going to kill me anyway."

"Yes… I guess you're right. A pity… I had hoped for some enlightenment but it's no matter. You will die either way."

"Get on with it then." I said, trying to sound as brave as I could. It was terrifying to think that I would be dead in a few minutes but I didn't want to die cowering with fear. I had my pride, and pride dictated that I go down with dignity.

"Oh we'll get to that. You see, I'm not sure if you have noticed but I am currently borrowing this body. It really is disgusting having to borrow this blood traitor's female form but she's been a good enough host I suppose. The diary-" he gestured to a book that was funnily enough lying on the floor only a few feet away. I hadn't noticed it before which was strange but then again I hadn't been looking for it, since my attention was focused elsewhere.

"- that I made before my fall was imbued with my memory, and every time she wrote into the diary, I became a little more alive. She was easy to manipulate, always going on and on about how all her brothers ignore her and that you never noticed her at all. So she poured her heart into the diary and after a time I was strong enough to take control for brief periods. I forced her to open the Chamber and release the basilisk. I tried to make her kill all the mudbloods I could find in the school but she fought valiantly, and until recently I haven't been able to properly assert myself. She broke in the end though… they always break. Even now she's still fighting me but it's futile. In the coming weeks she will get weaker and weaker, eventually bringing me back into my original body." He explained with a gleam in his eye… or her eye depending on the way you looked at it.

"So whatever happens here, you both die and there is nothing you can do to stop it." he said simply.

"You disgust me… you're nothing more than a murderer." I spat out, glaring at his form. Despite the fear, the hatred of this man welled up inside of me and I could feel myself shaking with rage. "Whatever happens tonight, I'm taking you with me."

"You are such a fool. You can't kill me you imbecile. Your precious best friend's sister will die and we both know you don't have the stomach to kill us both." He smiled sadistically and I replied with a glare. He was right but I wasn't about to let him know that. Internally I was trying to think of a way to get around this. If worst came to worst I knew I had to kill her… and it sickened me. I doubt Ron would forgive me when he woke up. He would be devastated and I would lose the best friend I had had since I was born. Hermione would be more understanding but the rift in our friendship would tear us apart… things would never be the same.

"Dumbledore will stop you though. When he comes back, he'll realise what happened and come looking for you." To this Riddle just laughed.

"Didn't you hear me tell you? Dumbledore has been driven away. It's just us."

"Dumbledore will never be gone. Not as long as there are those loyal to him. All you have done is delay the inevitable."

"We-" he was cut off when a loud trill echoed throughout the Chamber. Looking up a large bird came swooping in from the ceiling, seeming to be carrying a large hat. The orange bird came closer and I instantly recognised it.

Fawkes.

Her orange feathers almost glowed against the dark stone walls and she flew through the Chamber gracefully and full of life, her trill giving me hope where before there was none. After all, if she was here then there must be a reason… she was a Phoenix and they hardly ever showed themselves without cause. They were also creatures of Light, meaning that she certainly wasn't here for Riddle's benefit.

After a few circles around the Chamber, she pitched in a shallow dive and landed gracefully in front of me, dropping the tattered looking hat at my feet. I recognised that too… the Sorting Hat. A rather odd thing to be giving me since I was about to be killed but I never claimed to know why she came… I just knew that there must have been a reason.

"So this is what Dumbledore sends his great defender? A songbird and an old hat! I grow tired of talking. It's time to end this!" he sneered and turned around sharply and held his arm out in front of him.

"Speak to me Salazar Slytherin! Greatest of the Hogwarts Four" he hissed and I instantly recognised it as Parseltongue. Something was about to happen, something big. I could feel it in my bones. I noticed the mouth of the statue starting to open like a door.

"Let's see how Lord Voldemort, heir of Salazar Slytherin, fares against the famous Harry Potter!" He said in a sarcastic tone as he turned to face me. He didn't even raise his wand at me. Whatever he'd done he was sure would be enough.

"Masster" I heard a voice say, old and dark. I knew that voice. It was the voice I heard from the walls before an attack. It was the voice of the basilisk.

Instantly I closed my eyes and turned to run.

"Kill him!" I heard him command behind me. I ran as fast as I could, terrified out of my wits. This was a basilisk, the most dangerous creature in the world today. I heard a large thump that I presumed was the body of the magical snake hitting the floor as it slithered out of its dwelling and into the Chamber itself. I didn't dare look back. I knew all too well what looking into the beast's eyes would do. It would be game over.

"Don't kill me! I'm not even a muggleborn!" I knew it was a weak protest but I had to do something and I didn't have any ideas to hand.

"You are not my masster!" the giant serpent hissed behind me. I dared not look back in fear of what would happen if I did. I could hear my feet hit the stone loudly as I moved, blood pounding in my ears. Cold hearted fear gripped me now. I didn't know what else I could do but run. I couldn't even turn back and confront the thing I was facing, and the word facing was somewhat stretching the truth of the situation. I could not face this monster. How could I kill what I could not see?

"Damn you!" I hissed out, slipping into parseltongue as my anger lashed out at the large serpent. I could feel it gaining on me with every step I took, the stone statues lining the hallway glaring at me in anger. The exit was still over a hundred feet away but I didn't know what else to do. It shamed me to admit that at this point, Ginny's safety was the farthest thing from my mind. It was hard to think of her as Ginny anymore anyway, the malevolent spirit of Riddle possessed her, tainting her with a darkness so evil it made me sick to my core.

I could now actually hear the large snake's muscles slither across the floor. It was so close, I could hear drops of water dripping from its tough hide. Still I ran but I knew in my heart that in seconds it would be all over.

That was when something amazing happened. Out of nowhere I heard a call; a high screech that reverberated through the Chamber, bouncing off its walls with abandon. For some reason the call made my heart warm, and the fear abated, albeit only for a few seconds. At first I didn't know where it was coming from. I was tempted to stop and look but then I remembered the beast lumbering behind me. I could not indulge myself with curiosity at this moment.

As if to answer my mental chiding, it was then I saw it. I mentally slapped myself for not recognising the trill, for flying down from the air, a flame red phoenix swooped down, its wings outstretched as it glided gracefully down from the ceiling. How it got it in I didn't know, but I was glad it did. Its presence lifted my heart, giving me hope when before there was none. I had no idea where this feeling was coming from but it didn't matter. Seconds later the bird swooped over my head straight towards the beast behind me, unaffected by its death glare. Now it was the basilisk's cry I heard, low and thunderous screams of pain as the phoenix attacked with ferocity. It hissed in defiance and it snapped back; I could hear the click of its jaws as it clamped down on empty air as the magical bird backed away and flew off again, sending loud trills into the air, though not before dropping something down on the floor.

"No! Damn you, you infernal bird. No matter, your bird may have blinded the basilisk, but it can still hear you. You have barely bought yourself minutes. How does it feel to be on the brink of death Potter? Does it frighten you?" Riddle's voice taunted from behind me, his voice ever more mocking since it came from an 11 year old's mouth. A thought registered in my mind just then. I could turn back safely now. In his arrogance, Riddle had given me an insight as to what the phoenix had achieved in its short attack. It was blind… blind. I can now turn around and face this monstrosity, for all the good that would do me. At least now I could actually face my attacker though, rather than just blindly running away.

Turning to face the snake for the first time I gasped at what I saw. The beast was huge; perhaps 40 or 50 feet long. Its hide was a dark green, almost black, riddled with shining scales that dripped water from the plumbing from whence it came. Where its eyes once were, all that could be made out was a bloody mess of flesh, the remains of its eyes dangling out in a grotesque way.

Perhaps the scariest part of the monster though was its teeth; long fangs over a foot long, tinted yellow and sharp as daggers. I had no intention of letting those get near me. Looking into the snarling face of the monster, which could now not see me, I did the only thing I could think of.

I ran again.

What a stupid idea that was.

The moment my feet hit the floor, the snake's face snapped back towards me, sharp as whip. It seemed its hearing was just as good as its eyesight I mused.

Not wasting any time, I ducked right into one of the tunnels, the old plumbing of the school providing the only cover in a large Chamber that seemed to be devoid of anything.

"Go on, run. The more time you waste thinking you have a chance of survival, the less time dear sweet Ginny has. Whatever happens, your death is certain." came the laughing voice of Riddle, far away at the back of the Chamber. I could barely hear his taunts, though I knew the message.

I didn't have much time. I could probably run for quite a long time. The tunnels led all around the castle and I was sure that at some point I could find a way out and live to fight another day but what would be the point? I would have to face Ron's distraught face when he woke up only to tell him that I couldn't save her. He would hate me for it. My first and best friend would hate me and it would all be my fault because I was a coward. It was my fault she was targeted anyway. Lucius could have slipped the diary into anyone's possession but why her? ...why her…?

I knew the snake was still behind me as I darted in and out of crisscrossed pipes but I also knew that with all the sharp turns I was taking and the changes in direction, it couldn't possibly hope to catch me so long as I kept the pace high and didn't stop. The pipes were only big enough for the snake to go one way…so unlike me, it couldn't go back on itself as easily as I could if I wanted to change direction.

But I knew I couldn't play cat and mouse forever. The Basilisk was getting angry and was starting to move more quickly, making it increasingly hard for me to stay ahead. I had more than once hit a dead end and had close calls and it was only a matter of time before I ran myself into trouble. It didn't help that the pipes were not lit, and in some areas I was running blind, a dim light that barely lifted the shadows from the walls, sometimes only serving to make them shift in and out of focus, allowing fear to get a chokehold on me once more.

Sweat was starting to drip down from my brow, the constant running tiring out my aching limbs. I had to make a decision. Either continue running and waste more time, or find a way of surviving. This wasn't really a choice if you really thought about it but I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to survive. The situation appeared hopeless. Run and die or fight and die. For a few seconds I just stood there panting, trying to gain a little breath back from constant movement. I knew I couldn't stay long for the Basilisk was in pursuit but it gave me a few seconds to think, and gain my bearings. It didn't take me long to realise I was tired of running. It wouldn't make any difference and the only thing to come out of it would be my eventual death, and Ginny's. To be honest I wasn't even sure if she could be saved but damned if I wasn't going to try. I'd do what I always did and make my plans up as I go. It's what I did with the Stone last year and that worked out well…for the most part.

Taking a deep breath I moved back into the main Chamber, my feet echoing as loud as ever in the large room. The piping was rather easy to navigate so it didn't take me long. It was just as I'd left it; dark and foreboding; Ginny's Voldemort possessed body standing proudly in front of Salazar's large statue. He didn't have a care in the world. In his mind he had already won.

I couldn't help but agree with him.

"Still alive I see. Pity" Riddle sneered as I walked closer. "There is no chance of survival you do know that don't you? You're powerless against me, completely powerless. Running only gets you so far Potter.

It was time to end this game of cat and mouse.

Come my beast! He is here! Kill him where he stands." He snarled, finishing with a hissed command in Parseltongue. In the echoing cavern the words echoed, making it sound like the walls themselves were whispering.

"Goodbye Potter." He said with a smug smile. I was just about to reply when the Basilisk blasted through the floor, covered in water, roaring loudly as it rose. The injuries caused by the Phoenix made the serpent thrash wildly as it moved, the slightest movement causing it pain. It reared its head back, showing foot long fangs dripping with venom, the color of stained ivory. The pain was making the beast angry, and even without eyes to stare into, you could clearly see the rage on the snake's features. It made me shiver.

In seconds I could be dead.

Then I spotted something out of the corner of my eye. Sitting on the floor sat a tattered hat, dropped into the Chamber by the phoenix. It wasn't the hat that interested me, since on its own it was useless. More than useless actually, it felt like fate was mocking me. There was something else grabbing my attention. Out of nowhere, a metallic glint appeared within its folds, a silvery hilt poking out of the open bottom.

A sword…finally something I could use.

Wasting no time I dove to where the sword lay and took it out of the hat, not once questioning how it fit there in the first place. It was magic after all. I held it in front of me, firm and defiant as the snake reared its head back to snap its jaw down on me, its hate filled hisses reaching a crescendo. It dove down, incredibly fast, leaving me with only a split second to dive out the way. I could hear a smashing sound as pieces of marble flew into the air where the Basilisk's jaw had smashed into the ground. I tried to sneak a glance back but it pounced again, forcing me to dive yet again, this time only missing me by inches, flecks of water from its scales splashing onto my skin. I wasted no time this time and backed away out of range from its jaws. It looked towards me for a few seconds, the muscled body slowly slithering its way to me. I held the sword up defiantly, determined not to give in.

It struck again, but this time I was ready, sidestepping the strike before I thrust forward with the sword. I missed it by a few feet as it had already backed away but it attacked again, this time using its tail like a whip. I was not expecting it, and it struck me across my chest, lifting me into the air and depositing me 30 feet away, completely winded. Somehow I had managed to keep my hand on the weapon, though God only knows how.

I got back up groggily; slowly brushing off dirt as I did and faced my attacker once more, who had already slithered forward and was poised to attack. It snapped at me again, causing me to stumble slightly though I just about kept myself upright. The beast was so fast for its size it was scary. All of a sudden, this sword was starting to feel more and more like a toothpick. It struck again and yet again I tried to sidestep, crashing my sword arm down on its snout. It didn't even break the skin.

The first hit I had made after nearly ten minutes, and it didn't even cause a scratch, not a scale was dislodged from its tough hide. The sword bounced off with a clang and the basilisk reared back again before driving forward. This time I couldn't get out the way. Before I even had time to react I was pushed to the floor, the snake's nose hitting me so hard I was sure I cracked a rib. I was lucky its mouth was closed, for if it wasn't, I would have been cut in half. If the beast could see properly, I probably would be. The sword flew out of my hand and I had to scramble backward to pick it up again.

"End this" Riddle's voice hissed from the background, his sharp and menacing tone cutting through the air like knives. I had almost forgotten he was there, looking on with an impassive face, almost bored in his demeanour. The basilisk glanced briefly to his master and nodded his head in affirmation as it reared back again, opening its monstrous jaws, fangs protruding with menace. Time seemed to slow, my blood pumping wildly in my veins, so fast and aggressive I could feel it reverberating through my skull.

The basilisk dove at me again, and I drew back my arm. I was beginning to get frustrated and just wanted to hit the damned thing. As it snapped its jaw down on me, I drove the sword forward, summoning all my strength with a wild cry of anger.

It was by far the stupidest thing I had ever done.

As the basilisk's mouth opened to snap down at me, my arm drove straight into it, the blade going right through the roof of its mouth, the once shining silver metal now covered in crimson blood. The snake seemed almost as shocked as I was, for a split second not moving at all. I could feel the searing pain of a fang embedded into my arm, cutting deep and burning like fire. I could barely hold onto my sword, and with one final twist of the blade, I let go and dropped to the floor, no energy left.

"No! This isn't possible-" I could hear Riddle shout but past that I heard no intelligible words, for the pain in my arm was reaching unbearable levels. I could feel what I could only guess was venom, seeping into my veins. When I took a glance to inspect the wound, I noticed the basilisk fang was still imbedded in my skin, dripping blood onto the floor. I could feel my body continue to weaken, and struggled to stand again, swaying slightly as I moved and edged myself towards where Riddle stood. The basilisk was still thrashing behind me, albeit weakly, dying a slow death from the wound I had inflicted. I was in no danger from that now. I was probably already dead I realised with a start. Basilisk venom was a death sentence as far as I knew. There was no cure.

With every step I took I could feel the strength ebbing away from me, bit by bit. By the time I reached where Riddle stood, I had stumbled onto my knees and was barely able to move. As angry as Riddle was, I could see a sinister smile cross his features.

"You're already dead. It's over Potter. Soon I will have absorbed dear Ginny's essence and my rebirth will be complete. Killing the basilisk means nothing. You have achieved nothing" he spat. I was now on my hands, not having the strength to look upon his face. I felt something in my hands as they scraped the floor.

A book…what the…Oh right the diary I thought.

The Diary… The Diary!

Suddenly a thought came to me. This was what was controlling Ginny. All of Voldemort's strength at this point came from this book so if the book was destroyed…

I grabbed onto the fang that was protruding from my shoulder and wrenched it free with a horrific roar, the pain sending a scream through my mouth that was barely human. I didn't think about it, neither did I try to slowly slide it out. I did it as cleanly as I could, knowing it would hurt like hell. I could hear the blood spray on the floor and feel the warm liquid running through my fingers as I handled the tooth. I then opened the diary.

"What are you doing?" I heard Riddle's voice demand, as I saw his shadow move towards me. I could almost feel him breathing down my neck. I opened the book, not caring which page it came upon, for they were all blank and I knew this. I glanced at the figure walking slowly towards me, though I couldn't see him very well, as my vision had now become blurry, and dizziness started to overcome me. Realising I had very little time, I took as deep a breath as I could and slammed the Basilisk tooth as hard as I could into the diary.

"Nooo-aaaah!" It screamed, as the sharp tooth tore through the pages. Black ink spilled over my hand, drenching it. As I looked up, I could see the outline of Riddle on his knees screaming, blood dripping from his eyes. I drew my arm back and stabbed into the book again, barely able to see what I was hitting. By now, the black ink was spraying from the diary like a fountain of blood. My hand was completely covered in the stuff, and the book was still bleeding as I wrenched it free again.

I could not see Riddle clearly but from what I could gather, flecks of blood were dripping from Ginny's body as black smoke escaped from her mouth. An ear splitting scream filled the Chamber, so harsh and biting that it was scary to behold. The smoke broke away as soon as it touched the air, never forming a defining shape, evaporating as soon as it left her.

Voldemort I thought.

I could literally feel the pain in those screams, as the thing that was possessing Ginny was expelled from her, slowly dying. It was obvious it was fighting but it was no use, as the book that once held the memory was now destroyed. I did not know how it worked, neither did I care. All I cared about was the fact that I'd won… he was beaten.

As the last of the smoke left her mouth, she slumped to the floor on her hands, breathing heavily. She shook her head briefly before she started to cry.

I now had so little energy I completely collapsed on the floor, unable hold my own weight any longer. Using the last of my strength I rolled over to my side so I could face Ginny. I wanted, no needed to make sure she was okay.

"Ginny" my voice came out in barely a whisper.

She looked at me, or at least that's what I thought she was doing. I couldn't really see her.

"Harry!" she shouted, before rushing towards me. "I'm sorry…I tried to fight him…I just couldn't…he was too strong" she rattled on frantically before trailing off.

"Harry, you're hurt!" she said in a panicked voice.

"Don't worry about me… please just get out of here. At the start of the Chamber there is a door…it should still be open but if not say open" I said, slipping consciously into parseltongue at the end. I was barely speaking in whispers; such was the weakness that I felt.

"But what about you?" she nearly shouted. "I can't leave you here…you'll die" she said with a whimper. By now my eyes were nearly closed.

"I'm already dead." I breathed. I faintly registered the sound of the phoenix that assisted me earlier resounding in the Chamber, its mournful cries like a symphonic theme to my death. It felt almost poetic. I hardly sensed it land when its feet touched the floor, barely registering its presence. I was seconds from death. I barely felt the tears drop as it leant over my body, neither did I feel it use its incredible strength to turn me over and cry on my back. I registered none of this.

And as I closed my eyes, the last thought I had was the hope that Ginny would be ok, mixed with the satisfaction, that at least my death had saved a life.

That at least, counted for something.