chamber rang with it, as though ten Riddles were laughing at once. 'This is what Dumbledore sends his defender! A songbird and an old hat! Do you feel brave, Harry Potter? Do you feel safe now?' Harry didn't answer. He might not see what use Fawkes or the Sorting Hat were, but he was no longer alone, and he waited with mounting courage for Riddle to stop laughing.

'To business, Harry,' said Riddle, still smiling broadly. 'Twice –in your past, in my future – we have met. And twice I failed to kill you. How did you survive? Tell me everything. The longer you talk,' he added softly, 'the longer you stay alive.'

Harry was thinking fast, weighing his chances. Riddle had the wand. He, Harry, had Fawkes and the Sorting Hat, neither of which would be much good in a duel. It looked bad, all right. But the longer Riddle stood there, the more life was dwindling out of Ginny ... and in the meantime, Harry noticed suddenly, Riddle's outline was becoming clearer, more solid. If it had to be a fight between him and Riddle, better sooner than later.

'No one knows why you lost your powers when you attacked me,' said Harry abruptly. 'I don't know myself. But I know why you couldn't kill me. Because my mother died to save me. My common Muggle-born mother,' he added, shaking with suppressed rage. 'She stopped you killing me. And I've seen the real you, I saw you last year. You're a wreck. You're barely alive. That's where all your power got you. You're in hiding. You're ugly, you're foul!'

Riddle's face contorted. Then he forced it into an awful smile.

'So. Your mother died to save you. Yes, that's a powerful counter-charm. I can see now – there is nothing special about you, after all. I wondered, you see. Because there are strange like- nesses between us, Harry Potter. Even you must have noticed. Both half-bloods, orphans, raised by Muggles. Probably the only two Parselmouths to come to Hogwarts since the great Slytherin himself. We even look something alike ... But after all, it was merely a lucky chance that saved you from me. That's all I wanted to know.'

'Oh, you can just shut the hell up right there!' shouted Amelia, a fire burning in her eyes. She needed to buy Hary time.

Riddle smirked. Then he laughed.

'You're different from the others, aren't you?'

Amelia pulled her wand.

'Oh, that won't do you much good.' hummed Riddle. 'Yes, you are very different. You know things others don't, but what? Hmm, that is the mystery, isn't it?' Riddle chuckled.Harry had no clue what was going on. Amelia and Riddle were circling each other, never breaking eye contact.

'You reminded me of myself. Misunderstood, powerful, ambises. You could join me, you know? You just have to make the right choice. You and me, we are so alike,'

'I am NOTHING like you! And I wouldn't join you if my life depended on it! You KILLED my parents in cold blood! You are an EVIL bitter man, and I would rather DIE than EVER join forces with the likes of you!'

'You going to have to narrow it down for me. Who were your parents again?'

'You killed my father! You killed my brother as my mother held him in her arms, begging you to take her and let us live!' Amelia had no clue where all this was coming from, but visions of her mother filled her head, and begging screams pleading for mercy mixed with cruel laughter filled her ears. 'And I will NOT rest till I stop you from HURTING anyone else EVER again, even if it costs me my LIFE! I will NEVER be like you!'

The look in Amelia's eyes was murders filled with rage. Riddle laughed his high laugh once more before turning to face Harry.

Harry stood, tense, waiting for Riddle to raise his wand. But Riddle's twisted smile was widening again.

'Now, Harry, I'm going to teach you a little lesson. Let's match the powers of Lord Voldemort, heir of Salazar Slytherin, against famous Harry Potter, and the best weapons Dumbledore can give him.'

Amelia stood in front of Harry, she didn't know what was about to happen, but she had a good guess. She almost died protecting Harry before, and she will do it again if she has to.