"We can't talk here, the basilisk could show up at any moment!"

(Ron has hoisted Ginny over his shoulder.)

"The basilisk won't come until it's called."

"What d'you mean, until it's called? What's happened to Ginny?"

"That's quite a long story. But in short, she opened her heart and spilled all her secrets to a boy in a book."

(Samora is debating the merits of starting the combat now versus waiting for more hints about what's up with Ginny. It doesn't look like something a channel can fix and she's only got one Dispel prepped.)

Riddle proceeds go to on about himself at great length, revealing important plot information such as: He's also known as Lord Voldemort. He's a huge jerk. He's been pretending to be Ginny's friend all year. He thinks he's the greatest sorcerer in the world.

Harry interrupts to assert that the greatest sorcerer in the world is Dumbledore, actually. It turns into a whole thing.

This argument is then interrupted by a song, high and strange and beautiful, with words in a language no human tongue can speak unaided. Neither the meter nor the melody can be translated, but the sense of the song is this:

At midnight in winter, the sun is still there

When you are under the mountains, the sun is still above you 

Though you are alone, you will never be friendless

Joy is stronger than darkness, love is stronger than death

And out of the song, in the midst of the song, in a burst of flame like arms thrown up to greet the morning, a phoenix arrives, carrying in his talons a Hat older than the Norman conquest.

"Is that the extent of Dumbledore's abilities? A bird and a hat? I don't care. Within the hour I will finish draining the girl's life into myself, and then I will be unstoppable!"

That's as much of a hint as she's likely to get and it means she's on a clock. "Release her and surrender or I will attack you." She punctuates this by pointing her sword at Riddle.

Who does she think she is, threatening him with a sword? "Silence, muggle."

Wrong answer. "Holy Smite." (Aimed up and to one side, so as not to catch Harry or the probably-Neutral Weasleys. The phoenix is obviously Good and therefore not a concern.)

"Aaaagh! You bitch! Speak to me, Slytherin, greatest of the Hogwarts four!"

From above their heads comes the sound of stone sliding against stone as the giant statue's mouth opens, and something stirs in the depths.

"Eyes shut, everyone! Blessing of Fervor!" Harry, Ron, and Fawkes all feel a little faster, a little stronger, a little more ready to Kick Some Ass.

Ron sets Ginny down gently behind a pillar and goes to stand between her and Riddle, badly repaired wand at the ready.

"Go back! Don't come out here!" yells Harry in Parseltongue.

"Kill the intruders!"

"Yesss, friend. The cassstle will be sssafe."

"He's lying! We mean no harm! This doesn't have to be a fight."

"He sssmellssss like Sssalazar and you don't. I don't trusssst you. Die."

Samora throws herself to one side as the King of Serpent's fangs come down; her sword clatters off its armored hide. It might not read Evil but it sure is trying to kill them.

Fawkes swoops down at the monster with a defiant caw, and it screams a horrible, unnatural scream.

Lift your heads, open your eyes!

There is no need to fear!

Foe is blind and friends can see!

"It's blinded!" Samora translates, and launches another Holy Smite. It doesn't do a lot but it's more than her sword did.

Harry dashes forward to grab the Sorting Hat just as Samora finishes casting and gets caught in the edge of the sphere of blazing light, which--does him no harm whatsoever.

He jams the hat on his head, thinking desperately I don't know why Fawkes brought you here but we need all the help we can get!