𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 (𝟐) || HARRY POTTER LOVE STORY

57

Riddle glared at her and was about to say something when a bloodcurdling cry filled the Chamber of Secrets. Julie immediately looked over at Harry, worried that something bad might've  happened to him, but saw the Basilisk falling to it's death. Next to him was Harry, covered in even more blood than before, clutching his arm.

"You're an idiot," Julie said after running to him, kneeling beside him, her hands shaking as she applied pressure to the wound on his arm. "You could've died."

"You're the best, Jules," Harry mumbled, his voice strained from the pain. Julie could hear the exhaustion in it, but also something else, something she couldn't quite place. His eyes fluttered shut from the pain.

She felt a wave of anxiety wash over her as she watched him struggle. "Harry, please get through this," she whispered, a tear slipping down her cheek. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

A patch of scarlet swam past and Julie heard a soft clatter of claws beside them. It was Fawks.

"Youre dead, Harry Potter" said Riddle's voice above them. "Dead. Even Dumbledor's bird knows it. Do you see what he's doing, Potter? He's crying!"

Julie blinked. Fawkess head slid in and out of focus. Thick, pearly tears were trickling down the glossy feathers.

"I'm going to sit here and watch you die, Harry Potter. Take your time. I'm in no hurry."

Julie stared angrily at Riddle.

"So ends the famous Harry Potter" said Riddle's distant voice. "In the Chamber of Secrets, defeated at last by the Dark Lord he so unwisely challenged. You'll be back with your dear Mudblood mother soon, Harry... She bought you twelve years of borrowed time... but Lord Voldemort got you in the end, as you knew he must."

Julie looked down at Fawkes, who was still resting his head on Harry's arm. A pearly patch of tears was shining all around the wound - except that there was no wound.

"Get away, bird." said Riddle's voice suddenly. "Get away from him. I said, get away!"

Julie raised her head. Riddle was pointing Harry's wand at Fawkes; there was a bang like a gun and Fawkes took flight again in a whirl of gold and scarlet.

"Phoenix tears." Julie said quietly, staring back at Harry's arm. "Of course... healing powers..."

Riddle looked furious.

"But it makes no difference. In fact, I prefer it this way. I'm going to kill both of you!" Riddle said raising the wand.

Then, in a rush of wings, Fawkes soared back overhead and something fell into Harry's lap - the diary.

For a split second, they all stared at it. Then, without thinking, without considering, as though Julie had meant to do it all along, she seized the Basilisk fang on the floor next to her and she, threw it to Harry, who caught it easily before plunging it straight into the heart of the book.

There was a long, dreadful, piercing scream. Ink spurted out of the diary in torrents, streaming over Harry's hands, flooding the floor. Riddle was writhing and twisting, screaming and flailing and then... He had gone.

Harry's wand fell to the floor with a clatter and there was silence. Silence except for the steady drip drip of ink still oozing from the diary. The Basilisk venom had burned a sizzling hole right through it.

Shaking all over, Julie pulled herself up and helped Harry to his feet. Slowly, Harry picked the Sorting Hat, and, with a huge tug, retrieved the glittering sword from the roof of the Basilisk's mouth. Then came a faint moan from the end of the Chamber.