A Potter Secret

Phoenix Tears

Harry dashes back into the main chamber. Ginny looks frighteningly pale. Riddle grins cruelly, almost solid now. "Yes, Potter. The process is nearly complete. In a few minutes, Ginny Weasley will be dead. And I will cease to be a memory. Lord Voldemort will return. Very much, alive," Riddle smiles.

Harry moves toward Ginny, then suddenly, the basilisk shoots out of the tunnel, hissing directly in front of Harry. Trapped, Harry glances around, then- impulsively, leaps upward, begins to scale the statue of Salazar Slytherin. The serpent strikes madly, but Harry continues on, climbing boldly until he reaches the top. He turns. Sees the Sorting Hat. Sees what glitters within: the RUBY handle of a sword. Harry wheels, sword in hand, and fends off the slashing serpent like St. George and the dragon. In a mad rush of courage, he pitches himself onto the serpent, slides down its back and rolls up, sword raised. Too tired to flee, Harry simply waits. The serpent rises and, fangs bared, strikes. Marshalling every ounce of strength left to him, Harry drives the sword upward, deep into the roof of the serpent's mouth. It hisses in pain, thrashing madly as it drives a fang into Harry's arm. Harry clutches his arm in agony, stumbles back and falls to the floor, watching as the serpent thrashes briefly, then goes still. Harry peers down, sees the fang that pierces his arm, the blood soaking slowly into his robe. As he yanks the fang free, Riddle steps forward, almost fully whole now. His eyes shine at the sight of Harry's wound.

"Remarkable, isn't it?" Riddle asks. "How quickly the venom of the Basilisk penetrates the body? If you have any final words, Potter, you'd best speak them now. I'd guess you have little more than a minute to live." Harry blinks heavily, watching as the skin of his forearm turns a troubling gray. "So ends the famous Harry Potter. On his knees 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-" As Riddle talks, Harry glances at Ginny, nearly white now, a small ghost, the only evidence of life the trembling of a single finger. Harry studies the finger and what lies beneath it: Tom Riddle's diary. Harry begins to crawl toward her. "Funny, isn't it? The damage a silly little book can do? Especially in the hands of a silly little girl." As Harry reaches Ginny, he places his hand on hers, then, slips the diary free. "What are you doing? No. Stop-" Riddle's face creases in fear. He lunges forward. But Harry is too quick. Raising his hand high, he plunges the fang into the book. Instantly, black ink spurts from the pages. "No!"

Riddle shrieks, writhing in pain. His body begins to wither instantly, growing blurry once more. As the ink runs off Harry's fingers to the floor, Riddle vanishes altogether. Harry sinks back, then, hears a faint moan. Ginny stirs, color blooming in her cheeks. As she sees Harry, she sobs. "Harry. It was me! But I swear, I didn't mean to, Riddle made me," Ginny admits. "He wrote to me, took me over, I didn't even know whose diary it was. I found it inside my cauldron. The day we all went to Diagon Alley and, Harry. You're hurt-"

"Ginny. You need to get yourself out, Follow the chamber- you'll find Ron-" Harry instructs. There is a rush of wings and Fawkes circles down with another phoenix beside it. "You were brilliant, Fawkes. I just, wasn't quick enough. You- you two need to lead Ginny out, alright?" Harry blinks and looks down. Thick pearly tears are trickling down the baby Phoenix's face and onto his arm. Almost instantly, his wound, begins to heal itself. "Of course. Dumbledore told me. Phoenix tears have healing powers." He looks up at Ginny. "It's all right, Ginny. It's over. It's just a memory-"

The Phoenix glows for a moment, shaping into a young girl. She leans up and hugs Harry. "You're okay!" Isabella cheers.

Harry hugs her back, shocked. "I-Izzy?! I thought you were petrified!"

Isabella leans back, still in his arms. "I was, but papa just finished the first potion a few hours ago. I was the first to get it." Harry smiles before standing up with Isabella and Ginny, leading them out.