The Basilisk seemed to grow cold feet as there were no attacks for a long time. Art still tried to find where the Chamber was located but was unsuccessful. Soon it was Valentine's Day Lockhart was wearing lurid pink robes. He hired 12 dwarves to deliver Valentine cards. Art felt disgusted when he saw the dwarves were dressed with golden wings and harps.
"No wonder other beings hate wizards, look what we do. Make them dress in stupid costumes." Art spat, glaring at Lockhart.
During the day Art's mood worsened as the dwarves delivered him cards from many girls. It didn't help that the dwarves would recite the cards out loud embarrassing him in front of others. Fred and George were having a field day, as they doubled over with laughter.
Wiping the tears away, George said, "Golden eyes that shine like the sun, priceless."
"I noticed you haven't got any cards." Art said venomously.
"So what? Better than what you are going through." he replied.
Cedric soon joined them and he looked annoyed. "The next dwarf that I see is going to get hexed."
"You too?" Art asked.
Cedric nodded and the twins glared daggers at them.
Art saw a group of girls approaching them and tried to escape but Cedric grabbed him. "I'm not going through this alone." he said coldly.
Art laughed bitterly and gave up. Soon a pretty brunette shyly approached Art and gave him a card with hearts on it. "Happy Valentine's Day Artland." she said, quiet as a mouse.
She turned red and quickly ran back to her friend group. Another girl worked up the courage and gave a card to Cedric who thanked her and gave her a smile.
She turned red and ran away, her friends giggling as they left. Art looked down at his card and thought of Fleur.
'Maybe I should send her a card.' Art thought.
Artland smiled and decided to make her a card. Later that day he found Grey in the owlery and gave him a card to deliver to Fleur. He still didn't hadn't received a reply from Newt and was starting to wonder if he got his letter.
His classes with Dumbledore and Flitwick continued and Art was becoming stronger with each passing day.
"You truly are the most talented student I have ever had Artland." Dumbledore said with a smile as Art successfully casted a spell.
Dumbledore said he was near or at NEWT level in Wards. Flitwick said something similar and continuously praised Art.
"Incredible! Incredible Art! It is only a matter of time until you beat me!" Flitwick squeaked, unable to keep his cool.
Art had almost defeated him, only losing at the last second because Art missed his last spell. Art thanked him and left the Dueling room, he was proud of himself but still felt the pressure to improve himself. Madam Pomfrey was also thrilled with Art but kept her emotions in check.
"Good job today Mr. Cason." she said with a smile. She truly believed that Art could become an accomplished Healer if he wanted to.
Art still was working on his own spells. He was using the patronus as a base but was trying to change it into an offensive spell.
"Impetum Patronus!" he said loudly.
His three patronuses flew out but they were different. His Thunderbird was covered in blue lightning while his Dragon was covered in black and red flames. They looked terrifying and flew around the room.
Art shook his head, "Combining fire with the dragon and lightning with the Thunderbird was easy but my Re'em is still a problem. But the destructive power of this spell is immense and will only grow as I grow stronger."
Art left the Room of Requirement and headed back to his dorm when he passed the library he paused in horror. Hermoine was standing there with a mirror in her hand, petrified. Art quickly sent a message to Dumbledore.
"I should have known she would figure it out, she is clever." Art muttered.
He left the library before the teachers came and ran back to his dorm. The Quidditch match was cancelled and everyone was sitting in the common room upset. Ron and Harry were missing but Art guessed that they were with Hermoine.
The next few days were tense and no one walked alone in the hallways. Art was shocked when he saw Dumbledore and Hagrid being escorted by a bunch of ministry Aurors.
"Professor, what is happening?" Art said, running up to them.
Dumbledore and the Aurors turned and looked at him. "Art, I will have to leave for a little while but I believe you will be fine." he said kindly, giving him a smile.
A portly man with a green bowler hat walked up to him. "You are Artland Cason?" he asked.
"Yes, and you are?" Art asked giving the man a glance.
This seemed to ruffle him the wrong way and puffed out his chest. "Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic."
"So Mr. Fudge, why is Hagrid and Professor Dumbeldore being escorted away?" Artland asked shortly.
"Hagrid is being escorted to Azkaban and Dumbledore had been removed from Headmaster." he said, his face turning a little sour.
"You're kidding me? You think Hagrid opened the Chamber of Secrets? Are you daft? And removing the strongest wizard is going to stop the attacks? What the hell kind of nonsense is this!" Art's voice was growing louder.
"Listen here boy, we have to do something. Muggleborns are being attacked." he said roughly.
"So taking away Dumbledore will fix it?" Art asked incredulously.
"Enough Art. I trust you will help Professor McGonagall." Dumbledore said sternly.
Art looked at Fudge before nodding his head and leaving. Not before muttering 'idiots' loudly enough for them to hear.
Soon the school knew that Hagrid was arrested and Dumbeldore had left the school. Some found this a relief and said that the danger had passed.
"Idiots! They can't believe that Hagrid was actually the one opening the Chamber." Art said loudly, looking around the Great Hall, daring someone to argue with him.
Everyone avoided his gaze, except for some Slytherin's who jeered and laughed at him. Ron and Harry seemed to have disappeared and that made Art worried. Those two were idiots that seemed to have a hero complex. Thankfully he saw them in the dorms, Ron looked pale and terrified.
Art casted a tracking spell on them, in case he needed to find them again.
Fred and George seemed to be picking fights with Slytherin's as they continually put down Hagrid in front of everyone. Cedric didn't stay quiet either and even hexed a few. Even Art couldn't escape and was ambushed by a group of Slytherins.
"You idiots must be sadist." Art smiled evilly.
Shortly after they were all on the ground, groaning in pain and trying to crawl away from Artland.
Suddenly, McGonagall's voice sounded throughout the castle. "All students return to their house dormitories at once! All teachers please return to the staff room. At once!"
"Something happened." Art muttered.
He walked by where the first attack was and stopped. New writing was on the wall and caused Art to go cold.
HER SKELETON WILL LIE IN THE CHAMBER FOREVER.
"Son of a bitch!" Art cursed, heading towards the staff room.
He saw the teachers were having a quiet conversation when he entered the staff room.
"Who was taken?" Art said loudly.
The teachers looked at him with sad eyes.
Mrs. McGonagall walked over to Artland, "Mr. Cason this is the teacher's staff room. Please leave."
"Who was taken professor?" Art asked, not budging.
"Ginny Weasley." she whispered, guiding Art out of the room.
"Ginny…" he muttered.
Art walked back to the common room and saw the twins were sitting in the corner with depressed expressions. Art walked over to them and gave them a big hug.
"I will save her. Nothing will happen to her, I promise." Art said in Fred's ear.
"We are coming with you." George said, his face was filled with determination.
"No. You need to be with your family. Your parents should be here soon. Stay with them." Art said, grabbing his shoulders and looking into his eyes.
Fred still wanted to argue but George put his hand on Fred's shoulder and shook his head. He let out a defeated sigh and said, "You're right. Please bring her back Artland…"
"I will." he said with a smile, "I promise."
Art left the common room and told Cedric to meet him near the Room of Requirement.
Art saw Cedric jogging towards him. "I heard what happened, how are the twins?" he asked sincerely.
"Upset, understandably. We are going to get her."
Cedric straightened up and nodded his head, a sliver of excitement was in his eyes. "Good. I didn't expect anything less."
"Now come on. I am sure those two idiots have already got into danger." Art said, feeling the tracking spell getting farther away.
"Idiots?" Cedric asked somewhat confused.
"Ron and Harry. I'm sure Hermoine told them that it is a Basilisk but they still are heading straight into danger." Art said shaking his head. What could two second years do against such a terrifying beast.
Art and Cedric followed Harry and Ron's footsteps, ending up at an abandoned girls washroom. Making sure the coast was clear, the two of them entered the bathroom and saw the sink was missing and replaced with a large hole.
"They went down there if you wanted to know." a dreary voice said.
Turning around, they saw a girl with horned rim glasses but what shocked them was that she was a ghost.
"You said they went down there?" Art asked pointing at the large hole.
"Yes, the one boy hissed or something and the hole appeared." she said day dreamily.
"Parseltongue, that's why no one could find the entrance." Art muttered, he turned to the ghost, "Thank you for your help." he flashed her a smile.
If she could blush she would have and slowly went back to her toilet and disappeared.
"Even ghost are charmed by you." Cedric said, shaking his head. "Shall we?"
Art nodded and jumped down the hole and it turned into a dark, slimy slide. After what seemed for a long time, the pipe finally leveled out and they ended up on a damp floor. They were both covered in slime and looked gross.
"Give me a second." Art said, taking out his wand and gave it a swish. Soon the slime came off their bodies.
"That's better." Cedric said, he looked over Art's shoulders and his eyes went wide. "What is that?"
Turning around, he saw a large snake skin that was at least 50 feet long.
"Ow! Who is there!?" someone called out.
"Ron you idiot, put your wand away." Art said, seeing the gangly redhead.
"Art? Why are you here!?" he asked surprised.
"I promised your brothers I would bring Ginny back." Art said, walking up to Ron. He was shocked to see Lockhart was beside him, looking like an idiot. "Why is he here?"
"Long story. Harry went ahead to find Ginny." he said, pointing at the end of the tunnel.
"Stay here with Lockhart. Cedric and I will go help him." Art said, nodding at Cedric.
They entered a dimly chamber with large stone pillars entwined with serpents supporting the ceiling. Walking deeper into the chamber he saw a huge statue of a wizard with a thin beard.
He saw Harry talking to a handsome dark haired wizard who looked almost transparent. He wrote in the air and letters appeared, he waved the wand and the letters rearranged themselves.
I AM LORD VOLDEMORT
"Voldemort? You're Voldemort?" Art interrupted, raising his wand with a cold smile.
"Uninvited guests we have." Voldemort said curling his upper lip.
"Art and Cedric! We need to save Ginny." Harry cried out.
Art didn't hear her and glared at Voldemort. "You don't fear me? The boy beside you trembled at my name but all I see is hatred." Voldemort said, a little mocking in his voice.
"What are you? I saw you last year but this isn't who I met." Art asked coldly.
"A memory, preserved in the diary. The little girl poured me her soul into me and gave me some strength." Voldemort said, playing with Harry's wand.
"Her soul?" Art's eyes narrowed, "Dark magic." he spat with disgust.
"You must be Artland Cason, the genius. I am a little curious about you actually. How do you think you can compare to me?"
"Let's find out, shall we?" Art said pointing his wand at Voldemort, the tip was sparking.
"In time. First I must kill Harry Potter." he then spoke in weird hissing.
"The Basilisk will be enough to kill yo-." he was interrupted by a strange music that filled the chamber. Fawkes, the phoenix, appeared and dropped a patched worn out hat next to Harry.
Harry looked at it confused but didn't have time to say anything as a large hissing sound filled the chamber.
"Look at the ground! Don't look at it's eyes!" Art yelled, knowing the Basilisk was coming.
Art casted his grid spell and closed his eyes. Soon the grid appeared in his mind and the Basilisk appeared.
The giant snake reared his head and Voldemort hissed out commands to it. It fixed it's gaze on Harry who was staring at the ground.
"You don't have to do this. You don't have to listen to him!" Art said, trying to convey his emotions to the snake. The Basilisk paused and looked at Art, during this pause Fawkes attacked the Basilisk, blinding both of its eyes.
'Thanks Fawkes.' Art smiled.
"Beast Speech?" Voldemort said shocked before a sinister smile appeared on his face. "Doesn't matter though, the Basilisk will only listen to me."
"Bastard." Art spat. He didn't want to kill the Basilisk because it was a rare beast that was being controlled by Voldemort.
Suddenly Azura woke up and hissed angrily at the Basilisk and grew in size. Art was shocked at Azura as she was now 20 feet long with her blue eyes gleamed with anger.
"A Horned Serpent? Interesting." Voldemort said with a sneer and hissed at Azura. She looked at him and hissed at him, clearly telling him off.
"She actually disobeyed me?" he said in shock.
"Just because you are a Parseltongue doesn't mean you are omnipotent." Art said with a cold smile. "Cedric, you and Harry find a way to destroy that diary. I will take care of the Basilisk."
Harry was wandless and wasn't gifted in wandless magic. He knew that Cedric would have to deal with the 16 year old Voldemort. Cedric nodded and faced off with Voldemort, raising his wand.
"A little entertainment before I leave." Voldemort said with a smile, facing Cedric.
Harry was holding the Sorting Hat looking lost but Art ignored him and face the Basilisk. Azura curled around him, glaring and hissing at the Basilisk. Art wasted no time and casted new spell. A Dragon and Thunderbird appeared, growing larger and larger in size. They flew around the Basilisk before crashing into it, causing the Basilisk to cry out in pain. Art waved his waved his wand, chains appeared from the floor and wrapped around the Basilisk, pinning it down.
Azura was darting around the Basilisk, biting it.
Art didn't stop and tried to use a sleeping jinx but the Basilisk easily shook it off. The chains started to break as the Basilisk continued to struggle. He gave a quick glance at Cedric who looked rough. Voldemort seemed to toy with him as Cedric was barely able to defend against his spells. Art frowned and focused on the Basilisk again, creating more chains to pin it down. The Basilisk gave a cry as it continued to struggle and break Art's chains. Suddenly Harry ran past Art with a large sword in his hand and stabbed the Basilisk in the head.
"Harry don't!" Art yelled, not wanting to kill it. But it was too late, the Basilisk let out a final scream before it became still.
Anger filled Art's body at the dead Basilisk but the anger wasn't towards Harry but at Voldemort. Art turned and saw that Cedric was blasted backwards, crashing hard into the ground.
"You have skills but you still are a far cry from me." Voldemort let out a light laugh.
Art expression turned cold and stood in front of Cedric.
"Let's see what the genius that Dumbledore has such an interest in is able to do."
Art didn't reply and immediately started to bombard him with spells. For the first time Voldemort's expression turned serious as he blocked and returned his own spells. The battle continued for a bit but Art was starting to gain the upper hand.
"Most talented wizard? What a joke!" Art mocked.
Voldemort's expression grew savage. "Don't be proud. This is simply a memory, not my real strength."
Suddenly he let out a loud scream and a hole appeared in his chest. Art was shocked and looked to see Harry stabbing the diary with the sword.
"Do it again!" Art yelled.
Harry stabbed the journal again, causing Voldemort to scream again. Soon Voldemort disappeared, leaving Art and Harry taking deep breaths. Art heard Cedric groan and ran up to him, propping him up.
"Not bad Cedric. Not bad." Art smiled, helping him up.
Cedric was holding his side which was bleeding. "God dammit, he was strong." he said, spitting some blood out.
"Of course he was, that was Voldemort."
Cedric grunted and started walking towards Ginny who had just woken up. Harry was making sure she was okay.
"Are you okay Ginny?" Art asked, still supporting Cedric.
"Art! It was all my fault! I opened the Chamber of Secrets! I attacked all those people!" she said, crying hysterically.
Harry hugged her and patted her back. "It wasn't you Ginny. It was Tom Riddle, he was controlling you."
Art let out a long sigh. "Let's leave this damn place."
Azura came up next to him, still in her large form. Art had an idea and asked her, "Can you fly Azura?"
She nodded and started to fly around, causing Art to laugh.
"Give us a ride girl."
The four of them jumped on Azura's back and she took them back to the pipe where Ron and Lockhart were.
"Take them up first. Come back for Cedric and me after." Art said, knowing that she couldn't take all the weight.
Harry was still holding the Sorting Hat and the large sword in his hands.
"Take that back to Dumbledore." Art said, sitting down on a rock.
Cedric was laying down against a rock, still holding his side. Art stood up and walked over, "Let me see that." he said.
Cedric took his hands off his side, showing a large cut. Art casted a spell, finding out that Cedric had internal bleeding, broken ribs and some of his organs were damaged.
"This might hurt. Bear with me." Art said, pointing his wand at the wound.
Soon the wound started to close making Cedric hiss in pain. The wound closed and the pain was reduced.
"Thanks." he said, closing his eyes.
Art laid down next to him and closed his eyes as well. "Hell of memory this will be, don't you think?"
Cedric laughed causing him to wince in pain. "Yeah, maybe next year will be a quiet one."
"Let's hope. Thanks for having my back."
"I'm a Hufflepuff, remember? Loyal to a fault." a smile on his face, his teeth were bloody.
"Yes, you truly are a Hufflepuff." Art said, a smile on his face.
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