Richard returned to the dorms late. Thanks to his prolonged chat with professor Dumbledor he had to push back all his other planned activities, which, by the time Richard completed was past dark.
But unlike the other times he arrived late, the common room was not accompanied by pranksters, or people just chatting or even people who gathered to study, but quickly forgot. It was silent, the lone flame burning in the fireplace being the only occupant.
'It must be Hermione. '
Richard guessed. He knew she would get caught by the basilisk. With all that late night wandering to the library hoping to solve the problem because the other two were a couple of muscle brained idiots.
Richard walked up the stairs, to his bed.
The door opened, and a shadow leapt onto him.
Bam
He staggered under the sudden weight, but kept his balance as he stumbled around. With his innate magic powering his physical body passively, he was already stronger than a normal grown up.
The shadow struggled as it tried to pull him down, gripping his robes so tight that he felt it tighten around his neck . Richard whipped his arm back, grabbing a fist full of fabric from his attacker.
Boost
His body glowed with a orange hint as power rushed like a flood into his muscles. Richard pulled the fabric with the new found strength, pulled it so hard, the attacker got dislodged from him, and flew away, landing with a heavy thud somewhere in the darkness.
"Don't move."
Richard had already pulled out his wand, pointing it at the second shadow he could make out in the dark.
"Twich a single muscle, and I will make sure that you never will."
The silhouette froze, his wand hand, stopping from finishing whatever the spell he was about to do.
"Throw down your wand."
The shadow hesitated, and Richard threw a piercing spell right at his foot, startling the shadow. He returned his wand to its original position, aimed at the shadow's head, and snarled.
"Now"
The wooden wand clattered off the ground before rolling some distance away. Richard used his other hand to throw it further with a burst of magic before turning to the other direction.
"You too, if you dont want your friend to end up like Swiss cheese."
There was another clatter.
Richard held up his hand and called forth a small fire, bright enough to drive away the darkness and reveal who the people really were.
Their faces were quite familiar to Richard.
"What do you want with me Harry, Ron?"
"You really think we dont know? Do you take us for idiots?" Ron sneered despite being unable to stand up. He was bleeding from his face, his eyebrow split. "WHERE IS SHE! YOU BASTARD!?"
"Shut up"
Richard pointed his wand at Ron and quickly silenced him using a silencing charm. He turned towards Harry instead.
"Looks like our friend doesn't know how to use his inner voice. But I really hope that you do."
"Petrificus Totalus "
Richard cast the full body binding curse on Ron before completely turning his attention towards Harry. His wand returned towards Harry's head, casting moving shadows as the fire in Richard's hand shook from the movement.
"You have five minutes to tell me what is going on, and why Ron tried to attack me. "
Harry looked at him without a flicker of fear. If anything he looked angry.
"You know why! Your friend Kidnapped Ginny !"
"What?"
"You think we don't know? How you sneaked in that girl during the Quiddich match? She is the heir of slytherin, isnt she? Otherwise how could both she and Hermione go wandering around the castle and Hermione end up petrified while she end up missing? How else would Ginny end up taken to the chamber the same day -"
"Wait a second. " Richard interrupted Harry. "Tonks is missing?"
"Don't play dumb. Your master kidnapped Ginny. 'Her skeleton will remain in the chamber forever'?. She is the Heir of Slytherin, isnt she? She used the basilisk on Hermione and Ginny-"
"You shut up too"
Richard walked towards Ron and used the countercurse to unpetrify him.
"Episky"
The small wounds healed, and the blood vanished with a flick of his wand.
"My friend, is not a part of any delusions you lot cooked up in your heads. But you said that she's been missing? For how long exactly?"
"12 hours, Last time anyone saw her, was when she was in the library with Hermione. Right before she kidna-"
Richard pointed his wand at Harry. His voice was unusually cold. Because at the moment, he didn't care about hiding his face anymore.
"I ask, and you answer...got it?"
He brought the fire closer to Harry's face, and the long hair curled to the heat.
"Did, I make myself clear?"
There was a stiff nod of affirmation.
"Tonks has been missing for how long? And what happened since when? Explain properly."
"At noon, professor McGonagall found out Hermione petrified in the way to the girl's bathroom. The only person who was with her before she turned up petrified was your friend. And then, at about four in the noon, there was a new message in the walls, and Ginny turned up missing too, and now the school is closed, while we stayed back while the professors-"
"That's enough." Richard got the gist. He turned and rushed out of the dorm. Tonks got captured....
Richard didn't know why Tom would do it, but it didn't matter. He paused at the door. To get inside the chamber, he needed someone who could speak parsletongue.
"Pick up your wand Harry, you are coming with me."
"Huh?" Harry looked confused. But Richard didn't have time for that. In a matter of life or death, every second counts.
"Pick up your wand Harry. Pick it up! Get up! We need to leave right now!"
As Harry scrambled for his wand, he turned to Ron, who was still glaring at him.
"You too idiot. Pick up your wand, you are coming with wme right now if you ever want to see your sister again."
Seeing them both with their wands in their hands, he grabbed them by their collars while rushing out, his body glowing slightly as he boosted himself.
"Oi, get off"
"Let go-"
"Then keep up, maggots. I don't want to take a single second, more than needed." He let go of the both as he ruched towards the location he knew, but never visited. "You are endangering the lives of my people and your people each second you stumble."
And so they ran. As fast as their legs could carry them. Until they arrived to their destination.
"So this is it?" Ron asked while panting. His voice sarcastic as he looked at the bone white sinks and waslets.
"Yeah, this is it." Richard confirmed as he pushed Harry forward. "The entrance to the chamber of secrets."
"Say something."
"What?"
Seeing Harry staring at the sink, Richard pressed. "The Chamber listens to parsletongue. So say something. We don't have time."
"I mean I can't just do it on my own-"
"Do you want to save Ginny or not?"
Harry stared at the sink for a moment, then a horrible rasping sound escaped his mouth.
Clink
The result was immediate. The sinks separated and were swallowed by the ground revealing a massive hole.
Without waiting a second, Richard leapt in, letting the twisting and turning tunnel take him to the end.
The other two stood there for a second.
"Did he just.....?"
"Just jumped in? Yeah I think so." Harry replied to the dumbfounded Ron. They both looked at teachother, then jumped in as well.
Richard flew out of the entrance with his wand out. If anyone was there before them, then he was prepared to curse him. However there was no one there.
Just as he stood up, both Harry and Ron shot out as well. But he didn't wait for them to get their bearings, instead pulling them up to their feet using their collars. The fire in his hand providing the only illumination until Harry lit his wand.
"Lumos"
"Come on, we got to go."
They stumbled forward as they walked but quickly walked steadily with purpose.
" Is that-?"
"Yes the Basilik skin." Richard didn't bother to stop. Instead kept moving. Three people in one attack, and two taken to the chamber itself. His fingers tightened around his wand as he tried to comprehend what Tom Riddle's scheme was.
'If he so much as touch a single hair..'
"Harry! Stop gwaking and get here!"
Richard barked impatiently as he stopped in front of a smooth man-made wall with two serpents who looked at them with strangely alive emerald eyes.
Despite the urgency, Richard stopped Harry from opening the final gate.
"You know what's in there, right?"
His voice carried a tangible tension that made both Harry and Ron be alert.
"We guessed.." Harry replied. "A basilisk- "
"Keep these things in your mind. If you ever hear a slithering sound, or if I ever warn you, cover your eyes. A basilisk can kill with its sight. And make sure to run. Basilisk poison is one of the most potent poisons in the wizarding world. It can even affect the soul." He looked at the two who were turning pale, but still held their wands in hand. "Am I clear?"
"So you're on our side?"
"At the moment? Yes." Richard replied to Ron, "Now open it Harry"
Harry spoke in the rasping voice again, and the wall slid apart, the two halves dissapearing into the tunnel.
Harry immediately put out the fire. His gaze wandering, looking at the long chamber lit in the pale green glow, looking for that familiar bright pink hair.
His eyes immediately identified something, at the foot of the giant statue of Salazar Slytherin.
"" GINNY!""
But before both Harry and Ron could run reckless, Richard grabbed them both by their collars, his eyes locked onto the shadow that stood behind a pillar, just out of sight.
'Stupefy'
Swish
The spell burst into sparks as the shadow moved. And both Harry and Ron quickly aimed their wands at the shadow as well.
Tac Tac Tac
The sound of heels penetrated the silence as the shadow stepped forward. It was a boy. Somewhat older than them. He was wearing Hogwarts robes.
'.....who?'
"Tom!" Harry exclaimed suddenly in Richard's grip, "You are Tom Riddle, right? "
Richard's eyes widened.
"What are you-"
"Expelliarmus!"
"Bombarda!"
Richard pulled both Ron and Harry away to cover as the charm flew just past them, exploding as it touched the wall.
"Sectumsempra"
"Incendo"
"Wait! " Harry grabbed Richard's wand hands as he tried to stop him. "WAIT! I know him. He's Tom. He's the head boy from fifty years ago. "
"Get off of my"
Richard shook off Harry, just in time to block another curse.
"Crack"
"You mean the same guy, whose diary-"
"Shut up, Idiots!" Richard bellowed with fury. "Tom Riddle is the school name of Voldemort. So curse that thing like you want it dead, if you want to ever see your friend alive."
"Indeed." A confident voice echoed through the chamber. "Looks like someone among you knows somethings they aren't supposed to know."
Though the voice was clear, it also fluctuated from different frequencies. Sometimes it was deep, othertimes, it was lighter. And the other frequency, Richard knew it very closely.
Richard stepped out of the pillar, his wand pointed straight at the boy who stood smiling .
"What did you do to Tonks!? "
His grin grew wider.
"Oh, you mean the metamorphmagus? " Then with a wicked gaze ,bare with schadenfreude, he revealed. The ink black hair slowly changed color from the roots till they became neon pink. The pale gaunt face, and the masculine chin melted away revealing away a very familiar face for Richard. A very familiar face now marked with dark blackened veins and translucent skin.
"You see, first i just wanted to return. If poor Ginny just kept pouring her secrets to me, about how her she always feel like she is not enough when compared to her brothers, how worried she was about what the great Harry Potter thought of her.. well, she gave enough secrets about herself for me. All her deepest, darkest secrets and fears so I could return .. stronger. And when I when i fully consume her... the heir of Slytherin would finish the great work of Salazar Slytherin, and return as the greatest sorcerer the world has ever known."
"You aren't the greatest sorcerer. Dumbledor is." Harry replied. "And you failed. Once the mandrake solution is ready, everyone who was petrified-"
"I don't care."
Tom Riddle then chuckled. A very weird, off putting chuckle while he wore Tonks's face.
"Because for the last few months, I gained a couple of new interests." His eyes gleamed with hidden madness. "For example..." his gaze stopped at Harry. "How could a mere baby survive the greatest wizard the world has come to fear with nothing but a scar? You were my latest interest. And of course, this body was another interest. And as my luck would have it, they both came to me, willingly."
"Why-" Richard was interrupted by Tom Riddle.
"You know, i didn't believe it when Ginny wrote she saw a girl who could change appearence. She thought that she had seen a ghost wandering the corridors at night. She could never have guessed that it was a metamorphmagus."
His grin widened till it reached his lips. "The main reason I've been staying here for so long, was because there are so many people who knew me. Because despite growing old enough, those wrinkly wrecks never leave the castle. I was afraid that i might have to stay hidden for years until they stop searching for the chamber of secrets and the monster. But now I have a body. A body perfect that can hide the characteristics of possession."
As Richard watched, the pale face morphed into Ginny's lively face, then, it grew taller and wrinkled as it turned to professor McGonagal
" A body that can blend in and even walk up to Dumbledor's office, murder him, and take the headmaster position if it so desires without anyone ever suspecting a thing."
He then morphed back to Tom Riddle. The eerie smile never changing as he shifted forms.
"And now that you are here, just like i planned when i kidnapped Ginny, I believe that it is time to end, the great legacy of the boy who lived. And tomorrow, the world will see the great wizard Dumbledor fallen by the hands of the boy who lived. " Riddle morphed once more turning into an exact copy of Harry, still sporting the same expression. "Truly magnificent don't you think? Taking down both the symbol of hope and the pillar of strength of the fools who dare to stand against the dark lord in a single move."
He raised his hand and made a rasping sound, just like Harry had done earlier, prompting Richard to throw another spell.
'Langlock'
But by then it was too late. The mouth of Salazar Slytherin's statue began opening with a groan. A dark shape was slowly emerging from the opening.
"You cannot stop what happens from here on." Riddle exclaimed, the curse already countered. "So lets match the powers of lord Voldemort, Heir of Salazar slytherin against the famous Harry Potter. "
'Thud'
The chamber trembled as the basilisk fell onto the floor, where it began hissing loudly and coiling around.
"Close your eyes!"
Richard ordered as he squeezed his own eyes shut. Despite his own strength, he knew that he was no match for the basilisk gaze. At the same time, he heard a melody. A beautiful song. He could feel a flash of heat, and them Tom Riddle's scorn filled voice.
"So this is what Dumbledore sends his defenders. A song bird, and an old hat. " there was a rasping sound, and Richard could hear the slithering sound. At the same time, something hit the ground with a light thump.
Boost
His senses exploded. He could hear the snake coming, not just the distance, but he could sense the direction as well. He grabbed the duo, and ran the other way. As he ran, he whispered to Harry and Ron.
"You need to hold back Tom."
"Wha-"
"Hold Tom back while I deal with the basilisk. Or would you rather face the basilisk yourself?"
He then forcefully shoved the hat onto Harry once he kept them both on the ground.
"Don't get hit, and don't die and if i ever yell, close your eyes. And if you get the chance, grab the diary in Ginny's hands. That's where his real brain is."
Richard instructed before turning around. His eyes were shut tightly so not get killed by an accidental gaze. He had to lead the basilisk elsewhere so that Ron and Harry could destroy the horcrux, or at least stop Tom.
He removed his robe, and ripped out a large strip of cloth before creating a makeshift blindfold.
Boost
Boost
Boost
Richard felt his muscles turn to fire. Burning with both energy and pain as he pushed his ability to its limit for the first time. His senses overlooked, providing him a hazy image of the setting.
Two smaller ones behind him, one smaller one a bit far, and a massive one barraling towards him while another smaller one orbiting around him. That massive one had to be the basilisk.
Richard concluded, and raised his wand before waving it wildly.
Sectumsempra
The large thing slowed down for a moment, but instead dropping and screaming in pain or just dying as Richard had expected, it moved towards him with even greater speeds, as if it was obsessed with revenge.
'Shit, forgot about magic resistance.'
Boom!
Swoosh
Wind whistled by him as Richard narrowly avoided the basilisk strike, leaping horizontally to the closest pillar he could find.
Swish
It struck again, just as Richard pulled himself up the pillar using the entwined snakes as handhold, his enhanced strength taking him up tens of feet in mere seconds.
He placed his wand onto the pillar, which glowed with blue patterns for a seconds, before spikes burst out impaling the creature.
He could feel many breaking, but some found blood as they pierced the soft spots. Richard 'saw' the bird swoop at that very moment, connected with the basilisk for a split second, then fly away. But the damage was already done.
This brought Richard a split second to lift his blind fold and look at the other two. And they were being overwhelmed by Tom.
Richard pulled himself up until he had a semblance of a foothold.
"Fawkes! Help them!"
The bird circled around the basilisk for a moment, then flew towards Harry and Ron. Richard closed his eyes once more, but his wand followed the serpents movements.
Incendo!
Richard aimed his wand at the basilisk releasing a white flash of fire so potent, that he could see it through the blindfold.
He could hear the basilisk screaching below. He could feel the exhaustion coming. Richard knew that he couldn't use that kind of fire again. But that didn't mean he had to give up. As the basilisk wriggled below with pain, Richard let himself drop.
Projection
The same obsidian sword, but this was made of pure steel materialised in his left hand, as he gripped the wand with his teeth. He clasped the sword with both his hands, blade facing down as he applied the unbreakable charm.
The wind whistled for a second.
Boost
Boost
For a small moment, he pushed his boost beyond what he had ever done, and at that moment, he could 'see' even without his eyes.
He could see the clear silhouette of the snake who was twisting and turning in pain.
Time slowed down for Richard as his neurons worked faster than ever. He could see the head waving drunkenly, and he could see where the baleful eye of it was, and will be.
He was falling far away from it.
Richard transferred the sword to his right hand, and pulled it back. There was no time for spells. He could only hope his aim remained true.
Boost
Boost
Boost
Richard chanted in his mind as more and more power pushed into his body. The sword felt lighter than a feather for him at the moment, and he altered it unconsciously, changing it from a normal sword into something that looked like a giant needle. And then-
"WOOOOSH"
"GIYAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
The moment Richard dropped to the ground, he dashed away, just in time to avoid the snake's massive tail that swept through.
"NOOO!"
Richard heard Riddle yell, and smirked for the first time since he arrived to the chamber. He then wiped his nose while holding a chough.
'Blood'
He didn't have to look too hard at the liquid he had wiped off. He dropped the enhancement permanently for a moment, wiping his hand on the now useless blindfold as he tossed it away.
Then he glanced for a moment, at where Tom was fighting Harry and Ron. They had somehow dragged Ginny and were throwing spells at Tom while hiding behind pillars. And it looked like they had tried to destroy the horcrux with less than success as seen from the sword that was stuck on the book cover. Tom was still there, and Richard knew that without the venom of the basilisk, it would not be destroyed.
He turned to the basilisk who had a needle sword going through its eyes looking like a screw tightened into it's skull. And despite that, it still refused to die.
It was on it's death throes and Richard knew that something like that was more dangerous than anything. The moment he could feel magical energy healing his body. This was his berserk trait. As long as he has magical strength left, he would heal, like a phoenex of the Riser family. The only problem was that he could feel the exhaustion hovering just behind him, like death's scythe.
Still, he was not done. His eyes gleamed with murderous intent as he locked his gaze on Tom Riddle who was screaming at the basilisk.
He was going to die, and Richard was going to be the one to kill him.
Boost
Boost
Boost
He didn't give his healing body time to rest. Instead he dashed toward the dueling trio with speed of a racing car.
The basilisk now blind, heard the sound and immediately moved to attack, slithering like a grey arrow with hysterical rage and strength.
Richard's eyes locked onto the sword. The sword that could cut through almost anything, even the scales of a basilisk with certainly, Then at the person standing next to it.
"RON! THROW ME THE SWORD!"
Ron froze for a second, then grabbed the sword, still impaling the diary and threw it at the rapidly approaching monster and the wizard duo.
Boost
Richard pulled one more boost, from the last willpower he had, pushing his speeds to near imperceptible, then kicked off the snake entwined pillar. Not too hard. Just enough to fly about seven feet just as the monster crashed into the pillar.
As he flipped, he gripped the goblin steel handle, encrusted with jewels and rubies, then let gravity take him down, along with the sharp tip that could cut diamonds, right onto the already dying Basilisk's head.
Squelch
The sword pierced the skull of the beast like butter, and the creature, writhing in its deaththroes fell slack like a sack of sand.
Richard cancelled the boost, letting his body return to its normal unaugmented state, and almost collapsed.
""Richard!""
'Da hel?'
For a moment he was confused. He could understand why Ron was rushing towards him. But two Harry's? For a moment he was confused. Then he remembered, and immediately lit his hands on fire.
"Stay back!" He bellowed. "Stay back, both of you. Or else I swear to burn you both to ashes."
""Wait, we're not the imposter, he is!""
"What in the?"
Richard turned to see Ron looking at the two Harry's bewildered, and wobbled down, with his wand point wavering but still direct. He moved slowly towards Ron, but he felt something was off.
"Richard, that not me! That's Tom!"
'Huh!?'
Richard froze in his steps. His gaze snapped to see a wry grin on Ron's face. He barely had time to manifest a shield charm before a spell blasted him away. The impact vaporised the small shield on impact, and Richard found himself skipping along the ground before coming to an impactful stop when he hit the chamber walls.
Cough
Cough
Cough
Cough
Richard had to stop himself from spitting out his lungs. He could feel his head bleeding. Yet even when the man came walking towards him, even when the other two were screaming, he felt no fear. Instead a grin found itself on his face.
"No one touches whats mine and gets away with it."
"What are-"
Riddle's words were cut off as he began to scream in pain. On top of the basilisk, the diary leaked ink like it was blood, letting it flow freely soaking the head of the fallen basilisk.
Richard crawled towards the fallen basilisk, and used its body to support himself as he stood up, then gripped the sword handle.
Tracing
"Basilisk venom." He explained, "destroys anything. Magical or not. And goblin made weapons like these, grow stronger by taking characteristics of special materials permanently.I made sure to angle the sword just enough to cut through its venom glands."
But Tom didn't have a chance to answer. The book splurted a massive amount of ink and Tom Riddle, or rather, Tonks's body went completely slack, before falling to the ground facefirst.
The other two walked to her slowly. As did the phoenix, who circled once around the fallen beast before landing on Harry's shoulder.
"Is he truly gone?"
Harry asked, but was silenced by Ron, who pointed at the fallen body, which slowly returned to its original state.
Richard flipped her over. And placed his fingers under her nostrils. There was a faint breath there. But her eyes...they were blank.
"Tonks? " Richard called as he shook her lightly. "You ok in there?"
Obviously not. Who would be, if a darklord had forced themself into their mind? Whatever methods he had used to control her from rebeling, had done some permanent damage to her.
He placed his hand against his chest, and pulled something. The queen piece. If this doesn't work, Richard truly had no other option.
He turned to Fawks.
"Can you help me? If you do, I will help you or your master once with my full strength."
The phoenix looked at him with an unblinking gaze. And just when Richard believed that it will not help, a single tail feather fell off. They both looked at eachother for a moment. And for the first time, Richard could read something from those intelligent eyes.
'I will be watching what you become.'
"Thank you" and for the first time, Richard shed his pride and thanked the phoenix wholeheartedly.
He turned to Harry and Ron.
"Don't speak about this to anyone. Ever! Do you understand?"
They both nodded their heads.
Richard stepped closer to the fallen wizard.
"You aren't getting away from me that easy Tonks. "
He opened his circuits, and let it come to contact with the phoenix feather. The dark circuits recoiled, and the sword based circuits remained neutral. But the ones that managed fire? They opened like flood gates, trying to call the power home. It was the same magic as its own. And when it tried to bind with it, Richard felt his circuit become unstable. Fawks's own magic was there. It was not a mere extension of Richard, but a complete different power with the same source.
Richard knew that if he kept using this, he might just loose his fire magic circuit. But then again, who gave a shit.
He allowed the merger to continue. And as it did, he could feel himself growing, glowing. His hair growing to a deeper blonde. His features deepening and fire growing around him.
He took the queen piece. And as he grew to his peak, he could see the inside of the piece. He placed the piece in Tonks's heart, and let the changes happen. The piece merged with the body immediately, and began changing the body. But what Richard wanted changed was not the body but the mind. He held his wand on one hand, pressed it against the chess piece that was dissolving. His other hand was glowing with a warm fiery glow. It was the same berserk magic, the same regeneration aspect of phoenix that gave them the ability to be reborn with ashes. This was what the magical power consisted of.
He was a devil, and he could sense souls, and as his power peaked, almost reaching his devil strengths, he was able to see the shattered mind that remained after Tom took over. He let the warm fire melt the shattered remnants, and guided the power of the piece along with it to heal her. He knew that this might cause her to forget somethings, and he was not willing to take that risk.
He used his own memories to weave the scattering parts back together. He wasn't doing this with advanced magic or theory, but rather through pure magic itself. Not wand waving, not arthmancy or spell repetition. At the moment, he was truly open to the magic he wielded. He had his magic circuit forcefully connected to the raw most primitive aspect of itself, and he only had to guide the magic, to heal. And heal it did.
The thoughts fell together like they were magnetically drawn together, and then they fused back, her psyche becoming whole again.
At the same time, Richard felt the power slowly flowing away from him. He could feel his regeneration stopping. He felt the fire getting out of control. And then he could feel the exhaustion crashing down on him like a tidal wave. And he decided to let the exhaustion take him. He was tired. So he greeted the darkness with open arms.