The Rules of the Game

Chapter 15

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Draco’s POV

I don’t know what it is about Harry, but at least nothing around him is boring. The whole Lockhart thing has me worried. That man is beyond an idiot, but I can’t think of what he could have done to spook someone like Harry that much. I talked to Sev about it and he seemed concerned as well, and with him on it, I won’t have to worry too much.

I’m just glad that Harry and I are friends again, I really like him, of course just as a friend. He might not be that friendly to most people, but they’re all idiots anyway. I feel like one of the honored few that Harry actually will give the time of day, but more than that, I’m the only one he considers a true friend. And it’s good to have someone like Harry as a friend, not just because of homework reasons, but other things too.

The other day during quidditch practice Millicent hit a bludger right at me! I was on her team! I didn’t even see the thing coming until it had hit me in the gut and I was falling off my broom. My first thought was along the lines of ‘Oh fuck, I’m going to die.’ There were no teachers out there during practice to stop my fall and I was plenty high up that this fall would kill me. My next thought as the ground came rushing up to me was ‘Who’s going to protect Harry from Lockhart?’ I closed my eyes, just feet from the ground figuring I was dead when a sharp jerk, caused me to loose my breath and then I realized I was going sidewise not down. I looked up to see Harry, hanging onto his broom by one hand and one leg, his other hand twisted into my shirt. His face still starring forward, concentrating on steering a broom he was hardly on. Then with a complicated roll and twist he was back on the broom with me sitting behind him. I clutched on tight to his firm chest, and rested my head on his shoulder exhausted. I breathed in the smell of mint and rain, and felt my body relax behind his.

Merlin, I really like him.

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Harry’s POV

The whispers in the walls continued, but I didn’t share it with anyone even after I discovered that I was right, it was a snake, a very big snake, or specifically a Basilisk. Which would explain all the things going on: the chickens begin killed, the spiders running, the people being petrified. I left the whole thing alone, now that my curiosity had been satisfied, waiting for the beast to finally kill someone. The only thing that was of question was who had opened the chamber.

Granger and Weasley were convinced that it was Draco and every suggestion pushed my control on not bursting out laughing. Not to say that Draco isn’t Slytherin enough for that, but he’s far too young and innocent still to be having such diabolical plans. Not to mention that the person would most likely have to be a parselmouth; making me very glad I had kept that secret, and it likely that Voldemort was causing trouble again.

Granger did come up with a fascinating yet disturbing potion to supposedly help us find answers and, since I had played stupid, I was roped into it too. The potion she had found was one that I hadn’t quite reached in my research but as Granger was telling me about the Polyjuice potion I felt sick. The idea that someone could take on my appearance, including scars is deeply disturbing. Can you imagine the damage someone could do disguised as another? Can you imagine how many of my secrets could be easily revealed through its use? If they wanted to try brewing it for no real reason that was fine, I would enjoy the practice, but more importantly I needed to find a way so that this couldn’t be done to me. I had already read about all the damage you can do to someone if you have their blood, even fingernail clippings or an eye lash is enough to put someone under a dark spell. So while Granger began preparing the Polyjuice potion I would play dumb and begin my own research.

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As expected, after brewing the foul smelling thing no profound information was learned. The only amusing part of it was that Granger somehow got her hairs mixed up and ended up half cat. When I told Draco later he made some pureblood comment about ‘the mudblood showing her true intelligence’.

Unfortunately my research on the other matter was not going so well. It appeared that no one had tried to protect themselves this way before so there was no spell to be found. With no other choice I decided I would have to invent my own spell or potion.

I spent another two weeks completely frustrated until it came to me. It was while I was sitting in History of Magic, half a sleep and starring at the trash can when the trash suddenly disappeared. As soon as the bell rang I went to the library to figure out what charm was on the trash. Thankfully it was exactly what I needed; they were set so that after the trash was in there for so long it would automatically disintegrate. Now I just needed to convert that to humans, and hopefully a potion that would change me so that all parts of my body would be affected.

As the school became more frightened over the continual attacks, and Granger and Weasley ran around solving the new mystery, I had finally completed my potion. Ironically to get it to work I had to add the parts of me I wanted affected, and so added a drop of blood, toe and finger nail clippings, eye lash, hair and some dead skin just incase. After a quick wish that it worked I chugged back the dark blue potion immediately followed by tingles throughout my body. For a moment I thought of what happened to Granger when she had gotten the potion wrong, and had a moment of fear before clamping down on it and trusting in my logic. When the tingles stopped I carefully plucked a hair from my head and laid it on the table in front of me. Exactly 15 minutes later it disintegrated until nothing was left. I let a quick smirk of triumph out before clearing my expression again. I checked my notes to make sure all was accurate, bottled a few others that hadn’t had my essence added to them, and cleaned up the rest, thoroughly pleased with my success.

That night I gave another to Draco, explaining what it would do and after demonstrating for him he readily agreed to take it. The remaining three I kept in a case with the other healing potions and poisons I had made.

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It was almost the end of the year and the tension was clearly building. When Granger and another girl were petrified, I was once again annoyed that no one was killed. This poor snake had been locked up for so long and still didn’t get anything to eat. But after that event Dumbledore was removed from the school, so at least something good was coming from all of this.

Exactly three weeks after that it was reported that a student had been taken and was most likely dead. I felt pleased that the creature had gotten its meal at last; but then I heard some very disturbing things. If a student died, the school would close; I couldn’t allow that. The mere thought of having to return to the Dursleys for good decided it for me; I would have to go talk to Voldemort.

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My ability to sense magic and see concentrated areas (secret passageways) allowed me to find the chamber fairly easily since it was practically throbbing with energy. It was regretful that I would most likely have to save a Weasley but it couldn’t be helped. Unfortunately as I headed towards where I remembered the Chamber of Secrets being I ran into Lockhart.

I froze for a moment, wanting to leave and quickly, my entire body was tense and my stomach rolling. No, I wouldn’t be afraid of him, fear was useless.

“Harry, you’ve been avoiding me.” He said, sounding very cheerful for having found me.

“Sorry Professor, I can’t talk now.” I said brushing by him and rushing towards the girls’ bathroom.

“But why the rush?” He asked coming after me and following me inside.

I stood still for a second, trying to work through the abundance of magic in the room and narrow down the entrance when I felt a hand run down my spine. I lost control on my second sight and stood there frozen, unable to breathe.

“I missed you Harry.” His slimy voice whispered in my ear as his other had came to my waist and began to move towards the buttons of my robes.

~Open~ I hissed desperately before my mind receded too much and was rewarded with a part of the sink separating away. The action caused Lockhart to jump back in alarm; allowing me to think once more.

“I found the chamber.” I said, watching the horrified man before a thought began to form. “Actually why don’t you come with me, I’m sure with all that you’ve done this will be child’s play.” I said trying to imitate the worshipful voice I had heard from some other students. Before he could finish thinking about it I gave him a hard shove, down the dark tunnel and hopefully into and bunch of spikes.

But after I slid down there was just a pile of bones and Lockhart freaking out.

“What have you done? Where are we?”

“We’re in the Chamber of Secrets of course. Though it doesn’t look like we’ll be able to get back up that way.” I mentioned gazing back up at the tunnel questioningly. “Hopefully we’ll find a way out before the Basilisk kills us.”

“Basilisk?!” Lockhart chocked out in a high-pitched squeak.

Lockhart’s fear went up another notch and I could feel it around me despite my shields.
“Oh yes, and judging by the large snake skin over there, I would assume it’s very large.”

“We have to get out of here! How dare you push me down into this mess?!”

“I just assumed after everything you had done in your books that this would be simple.”

“Yes, well...um… let’s just find a way out of here.”

I turned from him to hide my smirk and began to lead him past the huge snake skin and down the tunnel. Having him at my back was scrapping at my nerves, but I was pretty sure that he was too scared to think about… that right then.

I was unbelievably impressed with this entire place; the walkway with the snake statues, the intricate doors where Lockhart finally realized I was speaking parseltongue and had a complete fit, I was truly enjoying it. Fortunately or unfortunately he still followed me because he feared being alone. And of course there was the main chamber with a huge statue and a boy was standing over a dead looking Ginny Weasley.

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“Who do you think you are boy? And what have you done to the girl?” Lockhart asked in his usual haughty tone, and I inwardly groaned in annoyance.

While Lockhart pranced forward to ‘rescue’ the Weasley I observed the chamber. It was abnormally large, but then again, if there was a Basilisk somewhere near by it would be just the right size. A quick scan with my magical sight revealed that there was some hidden entrance around the giant statues mouth, as well as a nearby wall.

I also scanned the other boy, but something seemed off about what I was reading, and yet also something familiar. I had to admit that I was severely disappointed that Voldemort wasn’t here again, I was looking forward to talking to him again, but instead there is another boy. He seemingly in 6th or 7th year Slytherin, but I was sure I had never seen him before.

I watched as the boy walked by Lockhart, slipping the idiots’ wand from his pocket and up his own sleeve before turning to face me. I gave him a smirk fitting a Slytherin while he just looked at me questioningly.

“And who are you?” He asked, his voice giving no hint of his feelings.

“Harry Potter.” I said back in a similar voice. “And you?”

“Tom Marvolo Riddle.” He said as if that answered everything.

“And I am Gilderoy Lockhart.” Lockhart said with a flourish, marching forward and holding out a hand.

The boy just sneered at him and then exchanged a look at me clearly stating that the man was a complete idiot while I just rolled my eyes in agreement.

Lockhart seemed flustered at the lack of acknowledgement before regaining his control.

“So who are you?” He demanded, nose in the air once more.

“I am Tom Riddle, also known as Lord Voldemort.” He announced as he traced out his full name with Lockhart’s wand and then with a wave they rearranged to spell out ‘I am Lord Voldemort.’

Well this just got more interesting. I felt a thrill go through me, for now that it was mentioned I realized where I had felt a similar energy signature from before. Lockhart though had his eyes open in shock and seemed unable to speak or move; it was quite the blessing.

“I agree that you’re Voldemort, but something doesn’t seem quite right.” Voldemort looked surprised for a split second at my calm acceptance and then impressed.

“No, I’m the memory from the diary, brought to life by that girl who poured out her heart into it.”

“Hmm, I haven’t ever heard of anything like that.” I thought about all I had read but nothing even remotely like this came to mind. Meanwhile Lockhart had recovered enough and looked like he was about to blow.

“How can you act so calm. You’re Harry Potter, you’re supposed to kill him!” Lockhart demanded, pointing to the brown haired boy.

“I don’t want to kill him, I think he’s brilliant.” Lockhart and Riddle both looked at me like I was insane, but I brushed it off.

“You don’t have a choice, it’s your job! Now do it!” Lockhart fumed. The shouting and the direct order, made me waver. Reminding me that I was nothing and lived to serve my betters; but I didn’t want to kill Tom. He had long ago earned my respect, but Lockhart was like Vernon; and I had to obey Vernon.

“Avada Kedavra.”

A/N: Hope you enjoyed, please review!