[Mia turns to face the statue of Salazar Slytherin as a rumbling begins; Riddle turns around to face her as the statue's mouth starts to open.]
"What's going on?" Dean asked, his voice trembling with fear.
Fear filled the Hall, wrapping around everyone like a suffocating cloak, leaving them frozen in their seats, their eyes wide with apprehension. The ominous tension in the air was almost tangible, weighing heavily on each member of the group as they strained to discern the cause of the unsettling disturbance.
Riddle: Let's match the power of Lord Voldemort, Heir of Salazar Slytherin, against the famous Mia Potter. [Mia gulps and turns toward the statue again as she hears an ominous snarling that appears to be coming from inside the statue and hyperventilates;]
As the basilisk came into view, a chilling silence descended upon the room. Wide-eyed with fear, the assembled individuals struggled to control their breaths and steady their racing hearts. Some let out piercing screams at the mere sight of the menacing creature, while others remained frozen in their seats, their bodies paralyzed by intense fear. The collective terror hung heavy in the air, weaving a harrowing tableau of panic and apprehension as the group grappled with the overwhelming presence of the basilisk.
[Riddle turns to face the statue's mouth as the Basilisk shrieks "Hungry!" from within the statue. The stone slab concealing the statue's mouth stops descending; a split second afterwards, the Basilisk emerges from the darkness and starts to come into the light, growling menacingly. Mia throws the Sorting Hat onto the floor in front of Ginny and races back towards the door to the Chamber as the Basilisk's head comes out of the statue's mouth and its snake-like body lowers into the surrounding water; Riddle, immune to the Basilisk's lethal gaze, watches the creature.]
Riddle: Sethae- He- This! (Kill her!)
"NO!" Almost everyone yelled in unison, their voices echoing with a potent mix of fear, defiance, and disbelief,
Riddle: [turns his attention to the fleeing Mia as the Basilisk's body curves to its right behind it] Parseltongue won't save you now, Potter. [the Basilisk's tail drops into the water behind her] It only obeys me!
"THAT BASTARD!" Sirius bellowed, his voice laden with a potent mix of rage and frustration as he directed his vehement outburst at no one in particular.
[The Basilisk slithers after Mia with a ferocious growl. Mia races down the corridor as fast as she can while the Basilisk is in hot pursuit; unfortunately, Mia loses her footing on the slippery floor and trips, allowing the Basilisk to catch up with her.]
The close-up of the basilisk sent shivers through several people, causing them to jump in their seats and prompting screams of shock. "Oh, Merlin's beard!" exclaimed Remus, his tone laced with disbelief.
Meanwhile, others remained petrified in fear, their expressions twisted with worry for the young witch. "Oh, no," Hermione whispered, her voice trembling with concern, as she clutched onto Ron's arm for support.
[Her glasses clatter to the floor in front of her; she immediately puts them back on before realizing the Basilisk is right above her and covers her head with her hands.]
"Oh, no," murmured most, their voices tinged with worry, as they leaned in closer to the screen, their expressions close to tears.
Some averted their gazes from the screen in fear, having momentarily forgotten that Mia was still present in the room with them, their fear for her palpable in the room.
[Just as the Basilisk is about to attack Mia, Fawkes emits his cry, getting their attention.]
The Hall erupted in a unified cry of "Go Fawkes!", with voices merging into a resounding chorus of hope and encouragement, their collective aspirations riding on the intervention of the phoenix. Ron's urgent exhortation to "Get that snake!" underscored the fervent determination to overcome the imminent threat. Hermione's softly spoken, "Come on, Fawkes," conveyed her hopeful gaze and unwavering belief in the phoenix.
Sirius watched with anticipation, eyes locked on the screen, heart racing with silent encouragement for Fawkes to prevail.
[Fawkes swoops down, going directly for the Basilisk, and attacks the colossal snake, pecking at it, with Mia observing their fight by watching their shadows on the wall.]
Riddle: NO! Your bird may have blinded the Basilisk, but it can still hear you.
Neville exclaims with a hint of smugness, "It's over for you, mate," directed at the screen, reveling in the unfolding events of the scene.
Dean's reaction is visceral as he exclaims, "Oh, shit," a sense of concern evident in his tone.
Seamus, wearing a somewhat sardonic expression, glances at Neville and remarks, "It's still bad," acknowledging the seriousness of the situation with a hint of concern in his voice.
[Mia turns around to see that the Basilisk's yellow eyes are bloody.]
The repeated "Oh no!," expressed a growing sense of apprehension and worry among the group.
As tension mounted, the act of hugging themselves and others served as a collective attempt to seek comfort and solace amidst the unsettling turn of events.
The Basilisk thrashes around furiously as Fawkes flies off; Mia gets to her feet, and steps backwards, stepping into something slimy, causing a splattering sound; Mia looks down to see what he stepped in.]
The tension in the air was palpable, with nerves soaring to new heights as the situation became increasingly intense.
[At the same time, the Basilisk stops thrashing about and blindly glares at Mia, who looks up again and makes a run for a passageway to his right. The Basilisk lunges at Mia, nearly getting him. Mia, breathing heavily, runs as fast as she can, into a tunnel just to her left as the Basilisk lunges at her again, smashing through a stalactite.]
"Use your wand," Draco pushed, his tone insistent.
Ron's eyes narrowed at Draco in frustration. "She doesn't have her wand," he retorted, emphasizing the dire predicament they were facing.
[Mia runs through the tunnel,]
As the tension in the room reached its peak, everyone's breathing became heavy, their nerves ablaze with worry. A palpable sense of apprehension filled the air, causing everyone to freeze in their seats, their gazes fixed on the unfolding events with a mix of fear and anticipation.
[looking back to see if the Basilisk is still behind her; she turns left into an alcove, only to find his path blocked by a grate. She struggles to move it, but turns around upon hearing the Basilisk coming into the tunnel. She steps back against the grate, as the Basilisk comes to his position. The Basilisk hisses at her and approaches her with its mouth open.]
The room remained frozen in fear as the giant snake loomed, its presence casting a daunting shadow over the assembled individuals. Everyone in the room visibly paled at the sight unfolding on the screen, their faces reflecting a shared sense of shock and apprehension.
[Mia picks up a rock at her feet and throws it; the sound of the rock distracts the Basilisk, who slithers off into another passageway.]
"That's really smart," Hermione remarked, her gaze shifting to Mia, a sense of pride evident in her expression.
"I never would've thought about doing that," Draco admitted, acknowledging Mia's ingenuity.
Ron chimed in, "Yeah, Mia, that was brilliant!"
"Thanks, guys," Mia replied with a modest smile, clearly touched by their praise.
[Mia races back into the Chamber where Riddle and Ginny are.]
The color drained from everyone's faces as they were reminded of the dire reason Mia found herself facing the basilisk in the first place. The weight of the situation cast a solemn shadow over the room, evoking a shared sense of concern and unease.
Riddle: Yes, Potter. The process is nearly complete.
Molly and the Weasleys let out pitiful whimpers, their distress palpable as tears welled up in their eyes, threatening to spill over at any moment. The atmosphere was heavy with their shared concern for Mia, their sorrow echoing through the room.
[Mia puts her hand on Ginny's hand again] In a few minutes, Ginny Weasley will be dead, and I will cease to be a memory. [Mia looks up at him] Lord Voldemort will return... very... much... alive.
"Oh, Merlin, no!" Several voices whispered in unison, the weight of dread evident in their words.
"Please, don't let that happen," echoed the plea, reflecting their shared apprehension and fear.
Similar thoughts of trepidation raced through the minds of those in the Hall, their expressions paling as they grappled with the harrowing possibility.
Little did they know, he had already returned, looming as a looming threat unbeknownst to most.
Mia: [glancing at Ginny again] Ginny...
[The Basilisk bursts out of the water surrounding the Slytherin statue and thrashes about; Mia turns toward the Sorting Hat, where a sword magically appears.]
The reappearance of the basilisk elicited a collective gasp of shock from everyone in the room. The abrupt return of the menacing creature sent shivers down their spines, leaving them on edge and wide-eyed with fear.
[Mia, without hesitation, grabs the sword and holds it up defensively as the Basilisk slithers toward him. Mia races for the statue and begins to climb it; the Basilisk blindly follows Mia's movements, using its tongue to track his location and lifts its body off the floor. The Basilisk uses its tongue again to find Mia's current position directly in front of it; Mia swings the sword at the Basilisk;]
"Nicely done, Potter. Keep yourself from becoming a target," Moody commended, acknowledging Mia's previous strategic approach.
[it lunges directly at him, he dodges, and it smashes right into the statue. Mia climbs higher as the Basilisk lunges at her again, missing again.]
A heavy silence fell over the room as each person was wholly engrossed in the movie, eagerly taking in every detail they had missed. Emotions and nerves alike were in disarray, fluctuating wildly and creating a tense and charged atmosphere that enveloped the group.
[Mia climbs onto the top of the statue's head, the Basilisk lunges at Mia repeatedly as she swings the sword wildly at the creature. Eventually, the Basilisk sends Mia rolling down the side of the statue, causing her to lose the sword.]
Observing the scene from the side, they all was struck by the sheer size of the basilisk, prompting fervent prayers for Mia and Ginny's safety, along with a collective hope for the basilisk's demise. They had evidently overlooked the fact that Mia and Ginny were both alive and present in the same room with them.
Mia: [seeing the sword about to slide off the top of the statue's head] No.
The room filled with the collective outcry of "Mia!!" as everyone's concern reached a fever pitch.
"I'm right here," Mia exclaimed, her attempt to comfort them filled with urgency, yet failed to break through their heightened emotions as they remained too distressed to register her words.
[Mia hurries to retrieve the sword; the Basilisk lunges right at Mia once more. Mia stops the sword just in time, and rams it right through the Basilisk's upper jaw.]
"LET'S GO!"
"YES!"
"Go Mia!"
An enthusiastic chorus of voices filled the Hall, rallying behind Mia with rousing cheers and encouraging exclamations. Mia, feeling a warm rush of embarrassment, couldn't help but blush in response to the overwhelming outpouring of support.
[The Basilisk bellows in pain until Mia pulls the sword out. Mia screams in pain as one of the Basilisk's venomous fangs just fell into her arm; she pulls the fang out,]
Anxiety gripped them once more as they observed the tooth embedded in Mia's arm.
[unfortunately, the venom is already in his bloodstream. The Basilisk thrashes around, roaring and bellowing in pain, collapsing under its weight, and falls backwards to the floor, dead, splashing water everywhere;]
A wave of triumphant cheers erupted from the group as they watched the colossal snake's lifeless body crumple to the ground, relief and elation washing over them.
[Riddle stares at the Basilisk's corpse in disbelief.]
"It seems like he's not too pleased with you, Mia," Ron observed, nodding to himself thoughtfully.
Mia responded wryly, "When has he ever been pleased with me?" her tone tinged with a hint of exasperation and a touch of resignation.
[Mia limps past the Basilisk's corpse, and, dropping the sword and falling to her knees, she crawls towards Ginny once more as Riddle walks toward them.]
An atmosphere of deep concern and fear enveloped the group as many uttered Mia's name, the gravity of the situation etched on their faces. Sirius gazed at Mia with a profound sense of sadness evident in his eyes as he softly spoke her name. "Oh Mia," he said, his voice tinged with worry.
"Please tell me you fought him back," Remus implored, a mix of concern and urgency coloring his expression as he directed his gaze at Mia.
Mia responded with a sardonic smirk, a glint of confidence evident in her eyes. "You doubt my ability?" she quipped, challenging their doubts with a hint of bravado.
Riddle: Remarkable, isn't it? How quickly the venom of the Basilisk penetrates the body.
"Poisoned?!" Remus and Sirius snarled in simultaneous concern and anger, their voices reflecting the turmoil of emotions they felt.
Mia's silence spoke volumes, her expression revealing a complex mix of concern, determination, and a hint of vulnerability as she grappled with the weight of the revelation.
Riddle: I guess you have little more than a minute to live. You'll be with your dear Mudblood mother soon, Mia.
A chorus of sneers filled the room as a lot of people expressed their disdain at the screen.
"He did not just say that," someone scoffed in disbelief.
[Mia extends her left hand to Ginny's again] Funny... the damage a silly little book can do... especially in the hands of a silly little girl. [Mia looks to the diary in Ginny's arm and carefully pulls it out, placing it on the floor between her and the Basilisk fang] What are you doing?
"What are you doing?" Pansy inquired, her tone laced with confusion..
[Mia picks up the Basilisk fang and holds it up while staring at Riddle, who immediately realizes what Mia is about to do] STOP. NO!
A stunned silence fell over the group as everyone remained frozen in shock, unable to react or respond.
[Mia stabs one of the diary's pages with the fang as Riddle steps forward to try and stop him; Riddle's body crumbles and gives a discharge of yellow light; ink starts to ooze from the diary, Riddle recoils and growls with rage; Mia pries the fang out.]
"What the hell?" Sirius exclaimed, his expression reflecting his disbelief and shock, while others mirrored his sentiment, their unspoken thoughts echoing the same incredulity.
[Riddle attempts to attack, but Mia stabs the other page, crippling Riddle, and causing him to crumble further; Mia closes the diary and stabs the cover with the Basilisk fang; Riddle screams in agony and explodes into yellow particles.]
A heavy silence settled over the room as everyone remained still, processing the unexpected turn of events.
"I gotta say, I didn't see that one coming," Theo finally spoke up, his voice tinged with disbelief as he broke the silence, his eyes wide with astonishment.
"I know, right?" Pansy chimed in, her voice reflecting a mix of shock and confusion.
"This is just... unbelievable."
Amid the palpable sense of astonishment, some exchanged incredulous glances while others simply sat in quiet contemplation, their expressions a mixture of surprise and bewilderment.
[shortly after Riddle's demise, Ginny awakens, hyperventilating, and sits up.]
"Oh, thank Merlin," many heaved a collective sigh of relief, their expressions transitioning from worry to pure joy as tears cascaded down their cheeks.
In the midst of the emotional outpouring, Molly and Arthur enveloped each other in a tight embrace, their tears a testament to the overwhelming relief that washed over them.
"Thank you, Mia," the Weasleys chorused, their voices cracking with emotion and gratitude, their eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
As the room filled with the sounds of joyful sobs and relieved sniffles, amid the hugs and shared glances of elation, a powerful sense of gratitude and happiness permeated the air, momentarily overshadowing the recent ordeal that had gripped them all.
Mia: Ginny.
Ginny said, looking down "I was very shocked to see you there."
Ginny: [turning to face her] Mia, it was me. But, I swear, I didn't mean to... Riddle made me. And... [notices Mia's injury] Mia... you're hurt.
As the group's elation turned to dismay, everyone suddenly remembered that Mia had been poisoned and her life was in jeopardy. The atmosphere in the room shifted as tears of sadness streamed down their cheeks, a somber reminder of the dire situation.
Ginny, overwhelmed by guilt and sorrow, spoke through her tears. "I knew that you were hurt. I didn't know that you were dying," she said, her voice heavy with sadness and regret.
Meanwhile, Sirius and Remus reacted protectively, enveloping their daughter in a tight embrace, a mixture of relief and lingering fear evident in the way they held her close.
The realization that they had come perilously close to losing Mia, even before they had the chance to truly know her, weighed heavily on everyone in the room, casting a shadow over the previously joyous atmosphere.
Mia: [covering her wound] Don't worry. Ginny, you need to get yourself out. Follow the Chamber, and you'll find Ron.
"Why are you insisting that she leaves?" Dean asked, his voice choked with emotion as tears glistened in his eyes.
"I just... didn't want her to see me die. She would be blaming herself further than she already is," Mia explained, her tone steady and composed, a striking contrast to the emotional turmoil gripping the others.
Ginny choked on her tears, her heart aching with a mix of compassion and guilt. Her reaction resonated with the deep emotional impact of Mia's selfless concern for those around her, even in the face of her own mortality.
As the weight of Mia's concern for others settled heavily in the room, a profound sense of empathy and admiration for her selflessness prevailed, emphasizing the depth of the bond shared among them
[Fawkes emits his song again; Mia and Ginny both look down the corridor to see him flying towards them; he swoops around the Basilisk's body, and lands in between them, then steps over to Mia]
"Even Fawkes knows that you're dying," Hermione sobbed, her voice filled with anguish and despair, her concern for her best friend palpable in her words.
Mia, ever empathetic, looked at Hermione with a gentle gaze. "I'm okay, Hermione." she reassured, her tone soft, attempting to offer solace amidst the overwhelming sorrow. "You know you shouldn't worry about me."
Mia: You were brilliant, Fawkes. I just wasn't quick enough. [Fawkes emits a soft grunt, then lowers his head to Mia's wound, and cries on it; the wound miraculously disappears; Ginny stares in amazement]
The room fell into a stunned silence as everyone processed the grave implications of Mia's predicament. Sirius, his expression etched with concern, spoke first, "Phoenix tears... That's powerful magic."
Mia: Of course! [lifting her healed arm] Phoenix tears have healing powers. [Fawkes grunts affirmatively as Mia glances at him] Thanks. [looks at Ginny] It's all right, Ginny. It's over. It's just a memory.
"Fawkes just saved your life," Remus declared, his voice filled with disbelief and relief, a glimmer of joy breaking through the overwhelming emotions gripping the room.
Amidst the outpouring of relief and gratitude, a renewed sense of hope and resilience filled the room, underscored by the profound demonstration of loyalty and sacrifice that had unfolded before them.
[Fawkes then flies Lockhart, Ron, Harry, and Ginny out of the Chamber of Secrets.]
Seamus nodded in agreement, "What a strong bird."
Lockhart: Amazing! This is just like magic!
[Fawkes carries the four of them up towards the opening of a cave as the moon can be seen above them.]
The tension in the room diffused into laughter as everyone found humor in Lockhart's antics, momentarily easing the weight of the recent ordeal.