Unfogging the Future

The Heir of Slytherin

ActualWeeb: Hi guys, I'm back! Sorry this chapter is a little late, I was at a convention all weekend. However, I think maybe I should tell you guys this: I'm planning on making an animated series on Crystalline's universe. It will be a long time until I even start animating it, so don't expect it out by like next month, but just so you know, that's a thing.

Anyways, onto the chapter! I do not own Harry Potter.

Chapter Seventeen, The Heir of Slytherin.

Tom looked down. That must be him, right?!

They were standing at the entrance of a very long and dim chamber. Towering stone pillars entwined with more carved serpents rose to support a ceiling lost in darkness, casting long, black shadows through the odd, greenish gloom that filled the place. Riddle lead her to the end of the chamber, where a statue as high as the chamber itself loomed into view, standing against the back wall.

Bella had to crane her neck to look up into the giant face above: It was ancient and monkeyish, with a long, thin beard that fell all to the bottom of the wizards sweeping stone robes, where two enormous gray feet stood on the smooth Chamber floor.

Draco sneered. The great Salazar Slytherin isn't "mokeyish".

"What...what do you plan to do?" Bella asked shakily.

"Isn't it obvious?" said Riddle. "I'm but a memory of a past life- a phantom. Here, however, I can return to my original state, to my former glory."

"What are you talking about? Get out of Ginny's body!" Bella demanded. Riddle smirked at her, tossing the diary on the ground.

"As you wish."

"Choose your words carefully, Potter," Moody growled.

It was in that moment that Ginny's limbs went limp as her eyes returned to their natural chocolate brown.

"Ginny!" Bella exclaimed, running to her side.

Ginny turned to look at Bella, a look of both desperation and relief on her face. She reached out her arm to Bella, as if trying to touch her to confirm she was there. But a moment later, her eyes rolled in to the back of her head, and she collapsed. Luckily, Bella managed to catch her before her head hit the concrete.

"Oh, my goodness," Mr. Weasley muttered.

"Ginny!" Bella gasped, slowly easing her on the ground. "Oh, Ginny, please don't be dead, please don't be dead..." She shook her lightly. "Ginny, please wake up." Her head lolled hopelessly from side to side.

She looked around for her wand, which had been in Ginny's hand. She saw it had rolled over towards the diary when it was dropped, and was at the feet of someone else, who picked it up.

Bella looked up to see a black-haired boy, holding her wand in his hand, twirling it between his long fingers. He was strangely blurred and distant, as if Bella was looking at him through a very foggy window. But there was no mistaking him- it was Tom Riddle. Even though he had been at Hogwarts fifty years ago, he looked not a day older than sixteen.

Bella hugged Tom, as he looked like he was about to cry. She didn't blame him, he was only six and being told he would become a monster...

"Any chance you're going to give that back?" said Bella dryly, already knowing the answer.