===May 8 1993===
No, no, no!' is his first thought as Harry finds himself in a place that is most certainly nowhere near where he needs to be. The boy bares his teeth ferally as he turns to the humanoid beside him, the only visible reason for the change.
"Take me back!" She was hurt. Dead? 'Can't think of that' The despair the thought brings is so beyond the realm of his endurance that he just cannot take it. The mirror has to have worked, it has to. His mind keeps replaying what little of Hermione he has last seen and heard, looking for clues.
"Take me back now! I need to see her!"
"No, no. King of snakes might still be there! I broughts you home. Safe here."
"You should have grabbed her then!" Harry interrupted.
The creature is visibly shaking. "Master told Dobby, watches Hogwarts for danger."
"Who is your Master? Home where? Who-what are you, to begin with?" Harry shouts, not really caring for the answers.
"Dobby, a house-elf." the being answers anyway.
"What of Hermione?" Harry asks, needing at least to hear, if seeing for himself is not an option. Stubborn elf.
"She not dead, not alive."
At first he's terrified. What do you mean not alive? But not dead? A vampire comes to mind. Then it all settles. Harry grimaces, knowing there was a chance she'd get petrified is not the same as facing the fact. When he finds out who is responsible for this they're going to find they crossed the wrong wizard.
Harry takes a deep breath, trying to control himself so he can reason with the... house-elf? "Please, I need to see Hermione and protect the others."
The being stops shivering and its ears shift comically. "Great Harry Potter save day again?" he concludes, and nods.
Harry dares hope. "Yes, but only if you take me back."
"Let me find a safe place, wait here." Dobby vanishes.
Harry breathes deeply, feeling so very trapped despite the enormous size of the room he's in. The bookshelves make his stomach clench, thinking of her. He goes for them, pulls a book out and examines it. Arcanum Ritus is the title. Putting the book back, the boy peeks at another and another. All spellbooks. He thinks briefly of taking one, but decides not to.
The lack of light makes time pass in an eerie way. He steps to the door, wondering if it'd be easier if he just left; but no, he has no idea of where he is or how to apparate, how is he supposed to get to Hogwarts without the being. It makes him feel even worse. Mechanically he tries to open the door anyway, but finds it locked. So he pulls his wand out and casts the spell, "alohomora!" He hears the lock click.
"Dobby take you back now."
Harry jumps, letting go of the door handle as he turns around. "If you would." Harry says, then Dobby pops them both back to Hogwarts. Harry instantly realizes that they are now in astrology tower. "Thank you. Dobby, for everything."
"Dobby is humbled by the Great Harry Potter's praise." The house-elf bows to Harry, then suddenly looks up. "Young master calls." He vanishes.
Harry sighs as he starts down the stairs. Once he starts hearing people he pulls his invisibility cloak out and slips through the school, not wanting anyone to stop him. He had to see Hermione before anything else. He moves at a pace that he considers much too slow until he reaches the infirmary. Once inside he removes his cloak.
"Mister Potter!" Madam Pomphrey says. "Where have you been?"
"I'm not sure." Harry answers. "A house-elf took me somewhere, then brought me back to the astronomy tower."
"We were afraid something happened when we found Miss Granger." Pomphrey says.
"Can I see her?" He asks, fearful that she'd say no.
Pomphrey nods. "Of course." She leads the way to Hermione's bed.
Harry steps into the room, ignoring everything else in the room he looks at Hermione. His first thought is this is a statue of the girl he loves, but he quickly realizes this is her. Her hand is out in front of her face, he lets his eyes move to her bedside and sees her mirror sitting there.
It's only then he realizes Dumbledore is sitting beside Hermione's bed. That's when he speaks. "See Poppy, I told you if we waited he'd show up."
Harry pushes past Dumbledore and gently runs his hand down her cheek. "She's cold."
"That's normal." Pomphrey explains.
Tears well in Harry's eyes as he carefully puts his hand in hers. He leans down and whispers. "I love you."
Dumbledore clears his throat. "Mister Potter, can you tell me what happened?"
"Hermione…" Harry starts his voice breaking. "figured out what's been terrorizing the school."
"I'm not surprised." Dumbledore says. "Will you tell me?"
Harry looks at the headmaster. First he tried to force them apart, and when that didn't work he used their feelings to make sure he was the first to talk to him. He sighs knowing that something this big was going to require Dumbledore's help. "Salazar Syltherin left a basilisk in the Chamber."
"Of course, it all makes sense." Dumbledore says. "I'll have Hagrid get us some more roosters. Then we can figure out where the Chamber is."
"Our theory is that one of the bathrooms is hiding the entrance." Harry says.
"Let me think on that for a little." Dumbledore says. "In the meantime let Pomphrey clear you and take care of yourself."
Harry nods and watches Dumbledore leave, he doesn't move until the old wizard is out of sight. He lets go of her hand and carefully tucks it around her. "How long until you can unpetrify everyone?" He asks weakly.
"Professor Sprout said the mandrakes should be by the end of the month." Pomphrey answers.
Harry nods as he sits in the chair Dumbledore had been in. Nearly a month without her, how was he going to do this?
"Mister Potter, I need to check you over." Pomphrey says.
"Can I stay here?" Harry asks weakly.
"Very well." Pomphrey says as she checks him over.
Harry sits there holding Hermione's hand while he's checked over. If Pomphrey talked to him he didn't realize it until she pokes him. "Mister Potter, you need to eat."
"I'm not hungry." Harry mumbles.
"Boys." Pomphrey says and Ron and Neville step up, each of them goes to one side of Harry.
"We're taking you to eat." Ron says.
"Move it." Neville says as they push him out of the infirmary.
"You can come visit your betrothed later." Pomphrey says.
Sullen Harry heads to the Great Hall being directed by Ron and Neville. He sits to eat, Ron and Neville sit either side of him. "Madam Pomphrey gave us orders to spoon feed you if we had to." Ron says pushing a plate of Harry's favorites in front of him.
"Now eat." Neville says.
"You're not alone mate." Ron says.
Harry smiles slightly and starts picking at his food, his retinue watching him until they are satisfied. "You all seem content, can I go now?"
His friends nod. "Go on." Neville says.
Harry starts to head back to the infirmary, but knows Hermione would insist he keep others informed. So heads to the McGonagall's office. Her door is open so he enters and closes the door behind him. "Harry, I heard about Hermione, so I knew you'd be along." McGonagall says.
"I wanted to make sure you knew what was going on." Harry then explains everything to her.
"Thank you for the update, Harry." McGonagall says. "I'll let you know if Dumbledore tells me anything."
Harry nods. "I'd like to be there when it's confronted, I may be able to confuse it by speaking parseltongue."
"I'll have to discuss that with Dumbledore." McGonagall says.
===May 15 1993===
Harry sits by Hermione's side holding her hand when Crabbe and Goyle walk in. "Potter!" Crabbe says getting his attention. "There's something Malfoy says you need to see."
Harry debates telling them to shove off, so he can stay with Hermione. He quickly ends that internal debate by imagining what Hermione would say when she woke up. So he kisses her cheek and tucks the blanket around her before following them down the halls.
Once they get there Harry stares at the wall. Her Bones will lie in the Chamber forever. Is written on it, a chill goes through him worried who it is. The chill is all that much worse when he remembers that Hagrid is still out looking for more roosters.
Draco walks up to him. "All the Slytherins are accounted for.
Harry nods. "The other houses?"
Draco sighs. "The eagles and badgers are accounted for."
Ron comes running down the hall. "Harry, Harry."
"I'm here Ron, what's the matter?"
"Ginny's missing." Ron says in-between breaths.
"It must be her." Harry says motioning to the wall.
Ron looks at the wall and turns white. "The chamber?" He squeaks.
"The Professors will rescue her." Harry says as he grabs Ron's shoulders. "We need to tell Professor McGonagall what's going on."
Ron nods and follows Harry, Draco follows behind both of them. Harry knocks on McGonagall's door, it opens and they enter. "Mister Potter, Mister Weasley and Mister Malfoy? What brings you here?"
"Another message has been found." Harry says then repeats the message.
"Who's missing?" McGonagall asks.
"My sister." Ron says.
"All other students are accounted for, and last I checked in their common rooms." Draco says.
McGonagall nods. "We'd best tell the headmaster." She stands. "You might as well come along." They all go to the Headmaster's office and ascend the stairs.
"Minerva?" Dumbledore asks. "What's going on?"
"A student has been abducted, and supposedly in the chamber at this very minute. We must act now."
Dumbledore nods. "Of course."
"Have you narrowed down the location of the entrance?" Harry asks.
"Actually I have." Dumbledore responds. "As you have probably heard this isn't the first time the Chamber had been opened; it happened 50 years ago. Unlike this time a muggleborn student died. Her spirit unfortunately still haunts this school."
"Moaning Myrtle!" Harry says. "Of course!"
"Indeed, we'll gather the rest of the Professors and meet you there." Dumbledore says. "If any of you enter the Chamber without us I will see you are expelled."
They nod and head to the bathroom. Harry stops and looks at Ron and Draco. "Let me talk to Myrtle, you two stay here." He pauses. "Why are you even here Draco?"
"I came in case you need someone that was sorted into Slytherin to get inside." Draco explains.
Harry nods then heads inside the bathroom. "Myrtle?"
The ghost appears. "Well hello Harry, I'm surprised to see you again."
"I apologize for not coming sooner, there was a bit of a mystery happening." Harry says.
"Yes, I heard. The Chamber of Secrets is open, is that what brings you to my loo?"
"Yes," Harry admits. "I heard that your untimely demise happened around the time it was last opened."
"It did."
"I wonder if you would give me the honor of hearing how you died." Harry asks sweetly.
"You know all these years nobody has ever asked me that?"
Harry gasps. "No one?
Myrtle shakes her head. "Since the attacks stopped when I died they stopped investigating."
"Tell me what happened, even if it has nothing to do with the chamber I'll do everything in my power to see you get justice."
"I was sitting here crying after that horrible Olive Hornby teased me about my glasses." Myrtle says. "Harry, do you like my glasses?"
Harry gulps nervously. "I think they suit you."
"Why thank you Harry." Myrtle says. "Now, where was I? Oh yes, I was sitting here in this stall crying when I heard this boy's voice say something weird. I opened the door to tell him to get out of the girls bathroom and saw a pair of large yellow eyes." Myrtle finishes. "Next thing I knew I was dead."
"Myrtle, do you remember where in the bathroom the eyes were?" Harry asks.
"The sink over there." Myrtle points at the sink.
Harry walks over to the sink and sees a snake engraved on one of the faucets. "Myrtle, didn't you say the boy said something weird?" He asks.
"Yeah, I couldn't understand it." Myrtle said.
Harry remembers that supposedly only Slytherin could access the chamber, so he wonders if his ability to speak parseltongue might work here. He closes his eyes, focusing on when he talks to a snake and speaks in parseltongue. "Open." The sink collapses backwards opening up a stairway.
"Is that the entrance?" Myrtle asks.
"It is." Haryh says before he goes out to the hall where Ron and Draco are, along with Dumnledor, McGonagall, Flitwick, Snape and Lockhart. Harry glares at Lockhart wondering what the phony is doing here. "I found the entrance."
"Very good, Mister Potter." Dumbledore says. "Professors shall we?"
"Wait!" Ron says. "This is my sister we're talking about, please let me come."
Flitwick sighd knowing full well that short of physically restraining Ron he couldn't stop the boy from following them."I'll take responsibility for him."
"Thank you, Professor." Ron says.
"You will do EXACTLY as I say, understand?" Flitwick asks
"Yes, sir!" Ron says.
"I'll stay up here and guard the entrance." Draco says.
"Perhaps I should stay with him." Lockhart says.
"The terms of your contract require you to lead the way." Dumbledore says. "Unless you would care to tender your resignation."
"You're not afraid are you?" Harry asks. "There can't possibly be anything worse down there than what you faced 'Marauding with Monsters'."
Lockhart marches into the room and looks down the opening Myrtle appears beside him. "I don't see anything."
Lockhart screams and falls down through the entrance. "Not what I had in mind." Dumbledore says, "but it'll work." He goes to the entrance "Thank you for your help Miss Warren."
"You're very welcome, Headmaster." Myrtle says.
"Let's go." Dumbledore says as he goes down.
Next McGonagall, Ron, Flitwick and Snape go down. Harry gets ready to go down, but right before he does Myrtle speaks. "Harry, if you die down there you are welcome to share my toilet."
Harry blushes slightly. "Why thank you Myrtle, I'm honored." He descends through the sink. He finds the professors all scattered around the large cave. A large round door with a bunch of snakes is set in the far wall, Snape stands near the door.
"It seems we can't go any further." Lockhart says as he edges himself back towards the entrance.
"Nonsense, Professor Lockhart." Harry says. "I'm sure I just need to speak parseltongue again. Maybe you should try it. I seem to recall you having a perfect recall of languages."
"Of course I do." Lockhart says. "I've never heard parseltongue before though."
Harry nods, recalling Lockhart wasn't in the room when used it on the sink. "Step over here and I'll use the command open."
Lockhart, seeing that he has no choice, walks over to the door next to Snape. "Ready."
"Open!" Harry hisses in parseltongue and steps back the snakes on the door retracting into themselves.
Once everyone is paying attention to the door Lockhart quickly makes to leave. Flitwick steps in his way. "Where do you think you're going?"
"I'm not going in there." Lockhart says. "I don't care what you say."
"What about your books?" Harry asks
"What about them?" Lockhart asks.
"You didn't do any of the things in those books?" Harry guesses. "I'm guessing you stole the adventures from other wizards and witches. I just can't figure out how you've gotten away with it."
"It turns out, there's one thing I'm very good with." Lockhart says as he quickly pulls out his wand. "Obliviate!"
Flitwick moves with the practiced ease only a master duelist could have. He pushes Ron towards Dumbledore as he pulls out his wand and yells. "Protego!" All in the span of a second. His magic creates a shield that causes the memory charm to bounce and hit the roof of the cave. The impact causes the cave to start to collapse.
Harry sees the cave start to collapse and grabs Snape pulling him into the now open door to the Chamber. The ceiling collapses right behind them. Harry quickly stands. "Professor Snape, are you okay?"
Snape nods curtly. Harry looks at the entrance. "I don't think we're not getting out that way."
"Headmaster, can you hear us?!" Snape yells, then after a brief silence he sighs. "We're on our own."
"Maybe there's another exit?" Harry asks as he turns and looks at the Chamber proper. "Or not."
"Maybe we'll get lucky and find a back way out." Snape says.
"True." Harry says. "The basilisk is in here somewhere, it has to feed on something right?"
"Not necessarily in the way you're thinking. A basilisk is a magical creature, it's entirely possible that it feeds on magic alone."
Harry nods. "You don't happen to know how to transfigure anything into a rooster do you?"
Snape shakes his head. "That is not in my repertoire. I do have a number of interesting potions on my person." He reaches into his robe and pulls out two vials, he downs the contents of both before reaching into his robe and pulling two more vials out and handing them to Harry. "Drink these Mister Potter."
Harry takes the vials. "I suggest given our situation we drop the honorifics until we are safe." He drinks the potions and hands the empty vials back to Snape.
Snape nods as takes the vials. "I can't help but notice you didn't ask what the potions were."
Harry begins to walk forward. "When I discovered you were trying to save my life last year, I figured you were mostly on my side." Harry explains. "You may not like me, but you won't let me die if it's within your power."
Snape sighs. "Something like that."
"Good " Harry says. "In the meantime since it's obvious you're following my lead you can tell me what those potions do and let me know what else you have on you."
"Verw well, Potter." Snape snarls. "We took Gorgan's bane which is meant to protect you from being turned to stone by a Medusa's gaze. I'm hoping it saves up from death or petrification. The other potion is called Hunter's Gift, you'll notice we make no noise other than talking. We also have no scent."
"Useful combination," Harry admits.
"I also have a few potions that are more like muggle explosives when the vial breaks." Snape adds.
Harry looks surprised, he had never heard a wizard compare something to a muggle item before. "Sounds useful. I'd ask you to teach me to make them, but something tells me you wouldn't."
"It's a NEWT level potion." Snape says. "Miss Granger might have the skill to make it someday, but I highly doubt you will."
"Fair enough." Harry says. They come upon a platform that has an enormous statue of Salazar Slytherin. Then Harry sees a bit of red and realizes it's a person. "Snape." He says. "We found Ginny."
Snape quickly goes to her and checks her vitals. "She's alive, but weak." He spots the diary in her hand. "What's this?" He reaches down for it.
"I wouldn't touch that, unless you want to join in her fate." A new male voice says and both Snape and Harry turn to it, their wands drawn. To their surprise a 16 year old male Hogwarts student stands there.
"I am Professor Severus Snape. Identify yourself!"
"My name is Tom Marvelo Riddle." He answers as he writes his name out with his wand. "Of course I'd prefer you refer to me by my chosen name." He waves his hand and the letters rearrange to read I am Lord Voldemort.
Harry points his wand at the young Voldemort. "Let her go!"
"I can't do that. See the weaker she gets the stronger I get."
"Take me instead." Snape nearly whispers.
Harry looks at Snape surprised as the young Dark Lord speaks. "It's too late for that, maybe if you had come before she passed out that might have worked. Such a shame too, with her pureblood she'd make a fine vessel for the next generation."
"That's it!" Harry yells, flicking his wand to cast a spell.
"Potter stop!" Snape yells but Harry doesn't react, he finishes the spell. The spell bounces off the young Voldemort and knocks Harry's wand out of his hand; it vanishes in the Chamber.
"Potter?" Voldemort says. "So you're the Harry Potter she wrote about. She said you defeated me twice already." He switches to parseltongue. "Come, and feed on these two."
"Potter?" Snape asks.
"He just told the basilisk to eat us." Harry says. "It's coming, and I don't think that me talking in parseltongue is going to slow it down any."
Snape nods and pulls a few vials of red potion out of his robe. He hands them to Harry. "Extremely volatile."
Harry takes the vials and looks around. "I have a crazy plan." He quickly heads towards the statue of Slytherin as the 50 foot basilisk comes toward them. "Distract it so I can get to the top of the statue. The potion will have more impact from up there."
Snape pulls another vial from his robes and drinks it. "Over here!" He yells and the basilisk heads towards him he heads away from Harry feeling the deadly gaze burning at him. Just then in a flash Dumbledore's phoenix, Fawkes, appears and attacks the basilisk ripping out its eyes.
"Impressive." Voldemort says. "Another few seconds and my basilisk's gaze would have burned through your potion. No matter, it can still kill you."
The basilisk snaps at Snape and appears to eat him. "Snape!" Harry screams from the top of the statue
"I'm right here." Snape says still standing where the basilisk had snapped him. The basilisk swipes at him, the area it hits distorts like he's made of gas. "Little potion of my own creation." He swipes his hand through the basilisk. "Unfortunately I can't do anything while it's in effect."
"Hey! I'm over here!" Harry calls to the basilisk now that he's at the top of the statue. "Eat me!"
The basilisk goes towards Harry, as it nears him Harry tosses the vials. They all hit the basilisk and explode spectacularly, but all it seems to do is slow it down.
Harry watches as the basilisk continues to come towards him. 'This is it.' He thinks to himself as he closes his eyes, 'this is how I die. I'm sorry I failed you Hermione."
In his head a male voice with a Scottish brogue speaks. 'It's not your time yet laddy. Reach into yourself and draw forth your courage.'
Harry realizes who the voice must be. He opens his eyes only to see the basilisk right in front of him. He speaks starting softly then his volume increases. "I will never give up. I will never surrender. I am courage. I AM GRYFFINDOR!" As he yells a sword appears in his hand.
Snape watches from the ground. "He's the heir of Gryffindor?" He asks himself in surprise.
The basilisk lunges at Harry and Harry drives the sword through the top of its mouth. Then he draws the sword back out. The snake falls down. It's head landing near Snape.
"Congratulations, you defeated the basilisk." Voldemort says. "Too bad it got you too."
Harry stumbles his way down the statue, falling the last bit, dropping the sword as he does. "Snape, help."
"I can't, Potter." Snape says. "The potion hasn't worn off completely." He swipes his hand through Harry.
Harry crawls toward the diary and sees the basilisk fang in his arm. Without thinking he pulls the basilisk fang out of his arm and stabs the diary with the fang.
The young Voldemort screams as the diary bleeds. Snape and Harry look towards the apparition as it screams. "No!" Before breaking apart and vanishing.
Snape turns back to see Harry. He sees Fawkes, standing by Harry. When he looks he sees just a faint scar on Harry's arm. "Of course, phoenix tears. Their healing power is miraculous when fresh." Snape states.
Harry moves. "I'm alive?"
"Yes, you are." Snape says as he offers Harry a hand.
Harry takes his hand and gets up with help. "And your potion seems to have worn of Sn.. Professor."
"As long as you use Professor when appropriate you are fine referring to me as Snape."
"Really?"
"Yes, and once we escape I'd like to have a conversation with you." Snape says.
"Of course, " Harry says then sighs. "Shall we figure out how to get out of here?"
A rumble is heard at the entrance. "Severus! Mister Potter!" Dumbledore calls out.
"Over here sir!" Snape yells. "Looks like we have our way out."