Effervescence | h.p.

ii | xx. riddle's diary

"It was my name I was already using at Hogwarts, to my intimate friends only, of course. Did you really think I was going to keep my filthy Muggle father's name? No," Tom Riddle breathed, "I fashioned myself with a new name, one I knew wizards everywhere would one day fear to speak, when I became the greatest sorcerer in the world!"

"So you chose Voldemort?" Lyra said in a judgmental tone, coping with her fear through fake confidence. "Sounds like it would belong to a turtle."

"Well -- it's difficult with the letters -- hey! You know what, I'm not explaining myself to a twelve-year-old little girl," he rambled.

"You're not," Lyra shrugged.

"Not what?" Riddle snapped.

"The greatest sorcerer in the world," Lyra said, regretting her next words before even saying them; "Dumbledore is the greatest sorcerer in the world."

"Dumbledore's been driven out of this castle by the mere memory of me!" he hissed.

"He's not gone as long as those who support him remain," Lyra said insightfully until music was heard coming from somewhere.

A crimson bird the size of a swan appeared, piping its weird music to the vaulted ceiling. It had a glittering golden tail as long as a peacock's and gleaming golden talons, which were gripping a ragged bundle.

It flew straight at Lyra and dropped the bundle by her feet before it landed heavily on her shoulder. She noticed the bird's long, sharp golden beak and a beaded black eye.

"That's a phoenix . . . " said Riddle, staring back at the bird that watched him.

"Fawkes?" Lyra said and she felt the claws gently grip her shoulder a bit more.

"So this is what Dumbledore sends his great defender? A songbird and an old hat!" Riddle laughed. "Do you feel brave, Lyra Lupin-Black? Do you feel safe? Let's see how you hold up when put against the powers of Lord Voldemort, Heir of Salazar Slytherin."

Riddle walked backward, approaching the tall statue man slowly. "You know, we're not all that different. There are strange likenesses between us, Lyra Lupin-Black. Even you have noticed." Riddle turned and closed the distance between him and the statue, speaking Parseltongue so she could understand his words;

"Speak to me, Slytherin, greatest of the Hogwarts Four."

There was a stirring in the slowly opening mouth of Slytherin and the thought of the monster made Lyra turn and run. If their eyes met, she was toast.

"Kill her," she heard Riddle hiss after something huge hit the floor of the Chamber. The basilisk was rushing toward Lyra as she ran blindly, eyes closed so she didn't end up like Mrs. Norris from the reflection of the large snake.

She tripped and waited for the fangs of the basilisk but she heard it let out a loud screech. Looking up without thinking of what she might see, she saw Fawkes attached to the basilisk's face, pecking at its eyes with his long golden beak.

Lyra stood quickly and ran as Riddle screamed. "NO! LEAVE THE BIRD! LEAVE THE BIRD! SHE'S BEHIND YOU! YOU CAN STILL SMELL HER! KILL HER!"

The serpent swayed and seemed to regain composure as its tail swung back and forth, its great head sweeping the area for a scent. In the thrashing of its tail, it had swept the Sorting Hat into Lyra's arms where she desperately thought help me -- help me -- please as she dressed herself in the hat.

The hat contracted. Something very hard and heavy thudded onto her head, nearly knocking her out. If she hadn't tasted blood from her fall, she definitely did now. A gleaming silver sword had appeared inside the hat, its handle glittering with rubies the size of eggs.