"All students return to their House dormitories at once. All teachers return to the staff room. Immediately, please."
Draco, Neville, Fred, and George exchanged worried glances. Obviously, something bad had happened.
"Harry?" Neville asked quietly. Harry had barely reacted to the announcement, his expression dull.
Harry grunted.
"Do you want to know what's happened?" Draco said nervously.
"We could send Peeves," Fred began.
There was a sudden, loud commotion in the hallway, and several Hufflepuffs came rushing in. Macmillan was white.
"You took a student into the Chamber!" he squawked, pointing a finger at Harry. "We know it's you this time, you hate Ginny Weasley!"
Neville gasped; the twins looked a mixture of pleased and alarmed; Draco had gone as white as Macmillan.
Fire exploded in Harry's eyes, and he turned to glare at Macmillan. "What do you mean, Ginny Weasley was taken into the Chamber?"
Macmillan opened his mouth to respond, but at that moment, Professor Snape came striding into the library. "What is this noise!" he snapped.
"Macmillan accused Harry of taking Weasley to the Chamber," Draco replied. Snape blanched.
"A student has been taken to the Chamber?" Snape sputtered.
"Professor," Harry said stiffly, standing, "please take Draco, Fred, George, and the Hufflepuffs to their common rooms. I have an annoying girl to rescue." And my Tom.
"You-" Macmillan began angrily.
"Fifty points from Hufflepuff!" Snape snarled. "How dare you accuse a twelve-year-old child of opening the Chamber and Petrifying students!" He turned to Harry. "Good luck, Harry."
"Don't you dare die," Neville said fiercely, "or I swear-"
"I'll be fine, Neville," Harry soothed. "My Demons, protect Draco."
"Yes, Harry," the twins chorused, as Draco looked indignant.
"I can take care of-" Draco broke off as the twins each took one of his arms and began dragging him out of the library. Snape shook his head and followed, and the Hufflepuffs scampered after him. Neville gave Harry a look of worry before following.
Marvolo, Harry thought, I need the entrance to the chamber ⎯ now.
Whatever for? Voldemort thought crossly.
Ginny Weasley has been taken to the Chamber. Whoever took her has the diary.
Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, Voldemort said at once. One of the sinks is broken. That's the entrance. The password is 'open' in Parseltongue.
Thank you. Harry cut off the connection.
Ten minutes later, Harry was standing in Myrtle's bathroom. He studied the sinks until he found one with a snake scratched on the side of the pipe.
"Open," he hissed.
With a grating noise, the sink sank down into the ground, revealing a huge slimy pipe. Harry wrinkled his nose.
You can ask for stairs, brat, Voldemort told him irritably.
"Stairs," Harry said sharply. The pipe shimmered and was replaced with what looked like a hundred stone steps, all different sizes and depths. It almost looked more dangerous than the pipe.
But Harry would have fought an army of dragons to save his Tom.
So, with a sigh, he started climbing down the stairs.
It took almost half an hour to get to the bottom. When he did, Harry was panting. He needed to get in shape....
Carefully, he glanced around. He was standing in a long, dimly-lit stone tunnel that stretched for miles. Harry groaned. This was going to take forever!
About ten minutes later, Harry found himself standing in front of another doorway: a circular doorway with two intertwined snakes.
"Open," he said again. The snakes split in half and rolled in opposite directions out of sight, revealing a huge, dark chamber.
Harry whipped out his wand. "Basilisk Revelio," he whispered. Nothing happened. Harry relaxed; the snake must not be here. "Homenem Revelio," he said again. Two flashes indicated that there were two people down there.
Wait a minute... two? Harry connected to Voldemort again. Marvolo, would your diary register as a person? I cast Homenem Revelio and it said there are two people down here.
It shouldn't, Voldemort replied, sounding faintly bewildered.
"Hello?" Harry called out cautiously.
Silence.
Keep the connection open, Potter, Voldemort ordered. Something's off here....
Harry cautiously peeked through the doorway.
He could see only one person. Weasley was curled up, unconscious, at the feet of a huge statue, probably of Slytherin. He could also see the diary beside her.
What do I do? Harry asked. I can't see the second person.
Call the basilisk. Weasley is asleep; it won't bother her.
"Tenebris," Harry hissed. "Can you hear me?"
There was a pause. Then a faint voice hissed, You are not master. Who are you?
"I'm dating your master, the younger Tom," Harry responded.
What is dating? Tenebris asked.
"Er... I guess you would call it trying to see if I'd be a good mate or not," Harry said in embarrassment, causing Voldemort to snort. "My name is Harry Potter."
Do you follow the bearded fool?
"Dumbledore? Of course not. He ruined my life."
What is your wish, then, Master's mate? the snake asked.
Harry blushed. "There are two other people in the Chamber. Lure the one that isn't unconscious out of hiding."
Of course, Master's mate. Close your eyes, I do not wish to kill you.
Obediently, Harry shut his eyes, but not until he'd cast a spell that would tell him if danger was approaching.
There was silence for a moment, and then a loud hissing filled the room. Then there was a loud curse.
Dumbledore? What is the old fool doing down here? Harry thought.
"Stupefy! Stupefy!"
Tenebris hiss-laughed. Old foolish bearded one. My skin is nearly invincible.
"Stupid snake!"
The basilisk laughed louder. Master's mate, he is in the middle of the room.
"Thank you," Harry smirked. "Keep him there. I'm going to speak to him under a glamor."
What is a glamor?
"I will appear to be someone else," Harry explained. "Is it safe to look now?"
Yes, Master's mate.
Harry opened his eyes.
A black snake about twenty times bigger than a boa constrictor was slowly slithering around Dumbledore, the statue of Slytherin, and Ginny. Dumbledore was ranting and cursing and almost stamping his foot in frustration.
Voldemort started cackling in his head. That is the most hilarious thing I've ever seen.
Harry sniggered quietly. I completely agree. He began applying glamors to make him look taller, with darker hair and Avada Kedavra green eyes. You don't mind if I pretend to be your son?
That's... fine. Voldemort sounded startled. What do you plan on your name being?
Salazar Filsnoir Riddle, Harry said after a pause. (French. Fils: son; noir: dark)
Dark son... clever, brat, Voldemort laughed.
Harry cast one final glamor on his voice, making it deeper, smoother, icier, and stepped into the Chamber.
"Hello," Harry said sweetly. Dumbledore froze and stared at him. "You must be Albus Dumbledore."
Master's mate, is that you? Tenebris asked.
"Yes, Tenebris."
Dumbledore frowned. "I've never seen you here, my boy. What is your name?"
Harry smiled in a deadly way. "My name is Salazar Filsnoir Riddle... you might know my father...."
The headmaster slowly turned pale. Harry chuckled darkly and walked over to Tenebris' head.
The basilisk's amber eyes flashed at him, hissing in pleasure as Harry stroked the serpent's head.
"I was unaware Voldemort had a child," Dumbledore said carefully.
"Well, he and the Death Eaters worked very hard to keep that a secret," Harry chuckled. "It wouldn't do to have the Dark's heir kidnapped and manipulated by a certain conniving headmaster, now would it?" He gave Dumbledore an innocent smile that didn't hide his seething disgust very well.
"I'm not sure what you're talking about, my boy," Dumbledore said confusedly, anger flashing in the man's eyes.
Tenebris hissed angrily, and Harry murmured, "Calm, Tenebris, I know he lies." The snake relaxed slightly.
"I'm sure you don't," Harry sneered. "After all, you haven't been manipulating and controlling your precious Boy-Who-Lived...." He continued before Dumbledore could protest, still stroking the basilisk. "So what are you doing down here, hmm? And how, for that matter?"
Dumbledore frowned. "I am not sure what you-"
"Only those who can speak Parseltongue can open the Chamber," Harry said lazily.
"There are ways to temporarily become a Parselmouth," Dumbledore said, glancing warily at the huge serpent.
Harry blinked. Really? He hadn't known that.
"So... why are you down here? To save this little girl?" Harry glanced down at the unconscious form of Weasley. "You're welcome to take her away, she irritates me."
Dumbledore stared at him. "And this?" He pointed at Tom's diary.
"Don't you know it's rude to invade someone else's privacy?" Harry asked coldly. "You may have the girl. But not the diary." If you touch my Tom I will kill you!
'Your Tom?' Voldemort asked, confused.
"If you are greedy and demand both, you will have neither, and the girl will be mine," Harry said cooly, ignoring Voldemort.
The old man paled. "I will accept your offer," he said quickly, bending to pick up Weasley. "May I ask what you are going to do with the book?"
"I hardly think that is any of your business." Harry picked up the diary and put it in his robe pocket. "Now leave."
Dumbledore turned around and headed in the direction of the tunnel. Silently, Harry sent a Memory Charm at Weasley, so she wouldn't remember anything related to the Chamber.
When Dumbledore had gone, Harry removed his glamor and opened the diary.
Tom! Are you okay!
In answer, there was a flash of light, and Tom appeared. He looked a lot more solid than the first time. He dragged Harry into a hug.
Harry slammed his lips on Tom's, and the older boy gave a muffled squeak of surprise.
Master, Master's mate, as adorable as this is, you aren't alone, Tenebris hissed exasperatedly.
I AM BLINDED! Voldemort shouted. STOP KISSING!
Tom pulled away from Harry's face with a slight popping noise. "Sorry, Marvolo," he said in a slightly dazed tone. "I'm fine, Harry."
"You look fine," Harry agreed, glancing him up and down. Then he blushed. "I mean, you don't look hurt."
Tom smirked. "You don't think I look fine?"
"No ⎯ I mean yes! I mean ⎯ Arg!"
"What happened to my boyfriend who loves teasing me?" Tom chuckled, running his hands through Harry's messy raven locks.
Harry scowled. "You disappeared, that's what happened."
Tom's expression softened and he kissed Harry's forehead. "I'm here," he whispered. "You don't have to worry anymore."
Harry buried his face in Tom's shoulder, muffling a sob of relief. "Love you," he muttered.
He felt the older boy freeze for a moment. Then Tom held him tighter. "Love you, too," Tom whispered.
AUGH! NO MORE! TURN OFF THE CONNECTION OR I'M GOING TO-!