Y/N could feel the poison working it's way up through his body. It was an intense burning like nothing he had felt before. Even for him, with his threshold, it was agony.

Y/N managed to slowly make his way down from the giant stone head but dropped to his knees in pain as he reached the floor of the Chamber. He heard Tom cackling and mocking behind him:

"Funny isn't it, how fast the venom of the Basilisk works. I'd say you have a minute. Then you die. Then Ginny dies. Then I return."

Y/N looked up at Harry and Ginny. He could see the look of fear on Harry's face. Y/N pushed himself to his feet but was levitated up and thrown to his left, smashing back first into the boulders leading up to Salazar's stone head before crashing hard to the stone floor.

He didn't have time to worry about the agonising pain in his back and hips as he was struck from behind with spell after spell, some cutting deep into the flesh of his back, others were clearly cruciatis curses.

Y/N edged towards Harry and Ginny as his torturer laughed and cackled, Y/N feeling the world going darker as the venom took hold. Tom laughed loudly:

"You're going to die Y/N! Don't worry, when I return I'll go take special care of that little Mudblood!"

Y/N reached a crying Harry and looked at the Diary, an idea crossing his mind. Basilisk venom kills anything right?

He suddenly grabbed the Diary and ripped the Basilisk fang from his arm. Tom roared:

"Stop! What are you-"

He was cut off and screamed as Y/N rammed the Basilisk fang into a page from the diary. Black thick blood oozed from the book as Tom screamed in pain, his abdomen exploding in a bright light. Y/N chuckled:

"If I'm dying you are too. See you in hell, cunt!"

He stabbed on another page, Tom screaming in agony as he grabbed his face, which also exploded in light. Y/N closed the diary, and with all his remaining strength stabbed the front cover. Tom screamed again before exploding in light, illuminating the whole hall before it returned to its prior eerie torchlit glow. Y/N collapsed to his side, rolling onto his back as he felt his strength leave him and everything began to get dark.

Ginny shot up wirh a gasp, looking around and inhaling deeply. He eyes landed on Harry:

"Harry it was me who opened the Chamber. I didn't mean to but-"

She looked over and saw Y/N laying there. He was bruised and bleeding heavily from his arm. His skin had began to turn grey. Ginny sobbed in horror:

"Y/N... Y/N no...???"

"It's ok Gin-Gin. It's ok" Y/N smiled with some effort. His eyes began to lose their shine and go dull as he lost the feeling in his arms and legs. Ginny crawled over and hugged him tight as she sobbed.

"It's ok Gin. I love you. Harry get her ou..."
Y/N struggled to finish his sentence. Harry had broken down, tears streaming down his face as he whimpered:

"No! You're coming with us Y/N."

Y/N replied weakly: "don't want her to see.... tell 'Mione I love..."

His voice trailed off, his eyes faded. Everything began to grow dark as he coughed up blood. Ginny wailed as Y/N heard a sweet little voice in his head:

You will not die today Y/N L/N!

Through the darkness Y/N felt a number of cooling, soothing drops on his arm injury. The darkness around his field of vision started to recede and he was able to make out Fawkes crying onto his rapidly healing arm injury.

"Thanks Fawkes, I owe you one" Y/N smiled as Harry and Ginny laughed excitedly, both wiping their eyes.

You are welcome, Y/N L/N. You owe me nothing. You have many more battles to fight yet, Prophesied one. Our paths are destined to meet again.

"How?" Harry asked in shock at the rapid recovery in Y/N.

"Phoenix tears have healing qualities, Harry. Help me up"

Y/N held his hands up to his two friends who groaned but managed to lift the much larger student between them. Y/N grimaced at the effort, his back and hips wracked with pain, but he pushed it down in concern for Ginny. She latched onto Y/N, burying her head into his muscular chest as he cooed her softly, reassuringly, calming her tears as he whispered:

"It's ok my sweet little Gin-Gin. I'm here. We're all ok. None of this was your fault, let it out, let it all out."

When Ginny eventually calmed Y/N smiled and wiped her eyes, kissing her on the forehead lovingly. He put on a brave face again as he limped out of the Chamber with Harry on one side and Ginny attached to Y/N's hip on the other- but not before Y/N ripped two teeth from the Basilisk's enormous mouth, placing them along with the tooth he had been impaled with into his pouch.

"What are they for Y/N?" Ginny asked, still wiping away tears.

"Basilisk venom is extremely hard to find, Gin-Gin. One for my stores, one for Penny's, one for Sev- uh, Professor Snapes."

Ginny nodded as Harry blurted out:

"Why are you so close to him, Y/N? After he gives you detentions all the time?"

Y/N chuckled as Ginny gripped onto him tightly again, replying calmly:

"That's a story for another day, Harry."

—~—

The three eventually made it to Ron and Professor Lockhart. Ron had cleared a path through the debris, Lockhart was sitting and smiling with no idea who he was or where he was. Ron rushed to try and hug Ginny but she shirked back into Y/N, burying her face into him again. Y/N said, in a much more gentle tone than he had ever used with his godbrother:

"Maybe just leave it Ron? It was really traumatic in there for her."

"Whatever" he mumbled.

The five rode Fawkes out of the deep cavern, Y/N holding one of the Phoenix's legs with Ginny in his arms and the village idiot of magic holding onto his legs. Harry and Ron were on Fawkes's other leg.

After arriving at Myrtle's bathroom the usually unpleasant ghost agreed to take the 'hunky professor' to the infirmary, while Y/N, Ron, Harry and Ginny walked to the Headmaster's office. It was long and slow, usually Y/N would be the first one up but he was moving extremely gingerly. He ignored Ron's constant moaning to "hurry up!"

They arrived at the office and heard voices inside, specifically the panicked voice of Molly Weasley. Y/N said to the others:

"Let me do the talking."

They all nodded.

The four entered happy to see Dumbledore had returned as Molly shrieked and cried, rushing her daughter and squeezing her tight.

Y/N hobbled over to a chair, holding onto the back of it and leaning over slightly as Albus asked:

"Are you ok, Y/N?"

Y/N nodded, giving his customary cocky smirk, replying:

"I will be Albus, just banged up!"

—~—

Y/N explained what had happened, throwing the diary on Dumbledore's desk. He explained how Ginny had been possessed by the book and imperio'd by-

He was cut off as Arthur immediately chastised Ginny, telling her she had been warned about cursed items.

"ARTHUR!!!!" Y/N roared, causing everyone to jump. Y/N smiled at his godfather, continuing:

"It wasn't Ginny's fault, Arthur. This year has been really tough for her. She missed home, was trying to fit in, none of her brothers have been supportive-"

Ron snorted in derision but Y/N chose to ignore him, instead adding:

"I should have looked out for her more, but I was too preoccupied trying to protect Hermione, which I failed at anyway. I'm sorry Gin-Gin."

Y/N looked down, full of shame. Ginny rushed her favourite brother and hugged him tightly, saying into the hug:

"I'm sorry too, Y/N. It's ok."

Y/N hugged her back as Molly and Arthur quickly joined in. Y/N added:

"Besides it wasn't Ginny's fault. Not really. Much wiser and more experienced witches and wizards have been tricked by Voldemort."

You could hear a pin drop in the office before Arthur stammered:

"V-V-Voldemort?"

Y/N nodded and turned his attention to Albus:

"Yeah, the diary was Tom Riddle's at school, Professor. He trapped a memory of his sixteen year old self in it. The same one who opened the chamber 50 years ago. It's dark magic Professor. I'm not sure what but it was the worst kind of filth."

Albus nodded.

"I believe you are correct Mr. L/N. Now... what about the monster?"

"It was a Basilisk" Y/N replied.

"Was?" Albus asked puzzled.

"Yeah Y/N killed it" Harry yelled excitedly before Y/N could reply. The rest of the room gasped at his statement. Harry continued:

"Y/N told me to keep Ginny safe and then took out Tom Riddle and the Basilisk all by himself. He nearly died."

Harry gushed over his best friend. He was so proud and in awe of Y/N. Harry got frustrated when people acted like he was a hero for something that he had no control over as a baby. The acts he had watched Y/N do the last two years, that was a real hero.

"Remarkable" Dumbledore muttered with a look of pride on his face.

"I didn't want to kill the Basilisk, feel a bit guilty about it. But it was so warped it was beyond being saved and-"

Y/N's ramble was cut off as he groaned. Molly had rushed him and hugged him tighter than ever, and for Molly Weasley, that was saying something.

"We can never repay this debt, Y/N. You saved our little girl" Molly said as she fought back tears.

"There is no debt, Molly. We're family. Besides I couldn't have done it without Harry. I couldn't have concentrated on the fight without knowing he had Ginny safe. And thanks for Fawkes and the Sorting Hat, Professor."

Albus looked at Y/N a little stunned. Y/N explained:

"I was a second from death before Fawkes tears healed me from the Basilisk venom, and I couldn't have killed the Basilisk without the sword that Harry was able to pull from the hat."

Albus smiled and chuckled:

"I did not send Fawkes or the hat, Y/N. I should thank you. Both of you boys must have shown me tremendous loyalty to have summoned Fawkes to you."

—~—

Dumbledore sent Ginny and the Weasleys to the infirmary to have Ginny looked over and asked Ron to send his owl to release Hagrid.

Lucius entered with Dobby. He instantly looked nervous at the glare he received from Y/N.

"You're the fucking piece of shit who's Dobby's Master?" Y/N growled furiously.

Lucius looked at Y/N and then Dobby. He lifted his cane to strike Dobby but Y/N's wand was instantly unsheathed, pointed at Malfoy's face. Y/N spat through gritted teeth with venom:

"Strike him and it will be the last fucking thing you ever do. I will fucking murder you in cold blood right fucking here and go to Azkaban with a fucking smile on my face if means freeing Dobby from you, you sadistic cunt!"

Harry's eyes widened as did Lucius's. Dobby looked at Y/N with undying gratitude. Albus observed emotionless. Lucius roared:

"You dare threaten me!?! I will have you loc-"

"It wasn't a threat you dumb cunt. Threats are empty. I meant every fucking word. Try pushing me!"

Lucius backed off, realising there was no way to win in this situation. He would make the blood traitor bastard pay, someway down the line. He instead turned his attention to the returned Headmaster.

They had a discussion about Voldemort, the diary, and what would happen if anymore of Voldemort's possessions ended up in innocent hands. Lucius stormed out with Dobby, Harry taking the diary and running after them. Albus turned to Y/N:

"I sense there is something you wish to discuss, Y/N."

Y/N sighed and looked at Albus with a pained expression.

"When we were fighting, Tom said something. My grandfather. He..."

Y/N sighed.

"He said my real grandfather is Gellert Grindelwald."

Y/N felt sick even suggesting it. He despised Grindelwald. The prick was the complete antithesis of everything Y/N fought for. Albus sighed:

"I see. Unfortunately Y/N, I had feared as much."

Y/N was shocked as he stammered:

"Y-Y- you did? Why?"

Albus smiled sympathetically:

"Your grandmother, Walburga Black, was obsessed with him. The manner you despatched Professor Quirrell last year, blue flames that turned your enemy to ash but didn't harm your ally, Mr. Potter. Only one other wizard has ever used that spell, Y/N. It is called Protego Diabolical, and is one of the most powerful, most complex spells ever created. It was used by..."

"My grandfather" Y/N replied, a tear streaming down his cheek.

"Yes, I am afraid so Y/N. He was also a seer, and as we are aware-"

"Fireballs" Y/N said suddenly.

"Pardon?" Albus asked puzzled.

"I shot fireballs at the Basilisk from my hand. I..."

Y/N held his palm out and concentrated. His whole hand was suddenly ablaze. Albus's eyes widened in shock as Y/N flapped his hand, attempting to put out the flames.

"Gellert was also adept at Elemental Magic, Y/N. You have inherited much it seems. You have a lot of training ahead of you if you wish to harness these abilities."

Y/N nodded as Albus smiled sadly and added:

"You remind me of Grindelwald a lot you know, Y/N."

"I know" Y/N replied. "I'm a monster."

"No!" Albus said sternly.

"That's not it at all. You have his power, Y/N. You have his drive. His refusal to compromise his beliefs. But, you are not the same man. How are your feelings toward Ms. Granger?"

Y/N looked up at Albus, directly into his eyes. He answered honestly:

"I love her, Professor. I love her with all of my heart."

Albus smiled warmly:

"See that is the difference my boy. Your grandfather wanted to dominate. You want to protect. It is not our family who determines who we are Y/N. It is our choices."

Y/N nodded as Harry re-entered the room with a smiling Dobby. The elf ran to Y/N:

"Mr L/N, Mr L/N. Dobby is free!"

Y/N smiled.

"That's excellent Dobby. Go to my family's estate, see our head elf Terrence. Tell him you're my assistant now but you will be living in the elves home on the estate. We will sort out finances and such when I get back from Hogwarts."

Dobby nodded and smiled happily, hugging both Harry and Y/N before apparating. Harry smiled before seeing the look on Y/N's face.

"You ok Y/N?" He asked worriedly. Y/N patted Harry on the shoulder and turned gingerly to leave, saying:

"No. I need to be alone. I can't see Hermione. Please explain it to her. I'm a monster."

Y/N slowly exited the room leaving a worried best friend and Headmaster behind him.