Hermione walked around the Black Lake the October wind wiped her cloak around her. She was lost in thought of what Severus had told her. She had many things to think about. She didn't know what to feel towards the man or what to think about the true reason behind the war or the truth about the death eaters and Dumbledore. The dreams of Salazar were strange within themselves.
Harry and Ron followed Hermione around the lake under the invisibility cloak. They wanted to know what was going on with their friend. They only knew was that she had changed, and wanted to know if Snape had her under mind control for her to act so…Slytherin. It made them sick. She was a lion not a snake. They had seen her and Ginny with Malfoy a few days ago. He was friendly towards them. They didn't like Malfoy. They assumed that he was brain washing Ginny. They had to put a stop to it all before they were to join Voldemort.
Ginny walked up to Hermione and pulled her into a hug. The witches smiled at each other. They walked around the lake together quietly discussing what it meant to be a death eater.
"I saw Professor Snape's memory. Tom Riddle didn't have a snake-like face." Hermione whispered. "Sev-"
"You call him by his given name!" Ginny said in a hush whisper.
Hermione gave her best friend a shy smile. "Only in private. He kissed me today. I've fallen for him Gin."
The redhead's eyes widened in shock. "Hermione! Are you serious?" She only nodded her head.
"I've seen the man behind the mask. He's so understanding and caring. You saw him when-"
"He pulled you into his arms. He was so gently with you." Ginny whispered and smiled at the woman next to her. "You're of age and they can do nothing. It isn't the first time a student got together with a teacher."
Harry and Ron shuttered at the thought of it. The redhead narrowed his eyes. Hermione was with him not the bat of the dungeons.
"Harry this is sick." Ron whispered making a gagging noise.
"We can't go and hex Snape." Harry whispered back wanting to hex the Head of Slytherin House. "But we can hex Malfoy." Ron smirked and they left to find Malfoy.
"Ginny what am I going to do? I'm with Ron."
Ginny wrapped her arm around Hermione's shoulders. "You're not happy sweetie. So break it off. I don't care. My dear brother and I rarely talk anymore. If we are we're fighting. Do what makes you happy."
Hermione turned and threw her arms around her best friend and thanked her. Ginny smiled and watched Hermione leave and head back to the castle.
"You just made Hermione very happy my love." Draco told his girlfriend. He kissed her on the nose and they walked around the lake holding hands.
It had been three weeks since she had broken things off with Ron. He didn't take it well at all. He made a huge scene in the Gryffindor common room and the entire house was in the room. They were shocked that Ron had called her a Slytherin loving whore. But to Hermione's happy surprise McGonagall had walked into the room when Ron yelled it at her. She took off 20 points and gave him a weeks worth of detention. Hermione had told Severus what happened. He was pleased that she broke it off with Ron, but was furious when the weasel had called her a whore. He had to restrain himself from going after the redhead and hexing him. Draco took the happy chance and hex him with a boils hex which left him in the hospital wing for three days. Severus gave him ten points for sticking up for Hermione.
Hermione tossed and turned unable to sleep. She got up slipped into a pair of jeans and shirt and a pair of boots. She threw her cloak over her shoulders. She left the Gryffindor tower. She slowly made her way down to the dungeons. She couldn't explain why it was important to find the chamber she had dreamt about. It was calling to her to find it. It was to prove she was the true Heir of Slytherin. She was proud of it.
"You have to go back Ginny." Draco whispered to his girlfriend.
"I don't want to go back to a place where they treat me like trash." she told him.
"But Hermione needs you there to help her fight off the scum of Weasel and Potty." he kissed her on the lips. They pulled back when they saw Hermione. "Hi Hermione just the witch we we're talking about."
Hermione smirked at her two best friends. "Do you want to come with me. I'm on a little adventure. I need to find Slytherin's secret chamber."
The blonde smirked at the brunette. "It's time for the Heir of Slytherin to become known." Hermione nodded with a smile. "Yea it would be amazing to find something that has been-"
"Hidden for the past 1,000 years." said a slick voice from behind Hermione. She closed her eyes and smiled at the sound of his voice. "I'll accompany you down to the sur-dungeons. You never know what you'll find." he turned the woman to face him wrapped his arms around her waist. He lowered his face to hers. "I want you safe. I promised to protect you," and he captured her lips with his own.
Ginny looked at Draco with a smile. He only smirked at the couple. He knew his godfather needed happiness in his life. He had his daughter and loved her dearly, but needed a woman to love him. Draco knew Severus found that in Hermione.
Severus pulled back and took Hermione's hand. They lead the way down the stairs to the sur-dungeons. Ginny looked at the cells and shook her head. Draco gently pushed her forward.
Hermione stopped at the brick wall. She removed the cobwebs from the stone. "This is it." she said gently ran her fingers over the snake wrapped around the sword and rose. She looked at it closely and hissed, "I'll do no harm within these walls."
Severus looked at Hermione shocked that she could speak serpent's tongue. Than he remembered the dream she had and that she understood what he hissed. He assumed it was one of the many hidden powers Salazar had placed on his heir. Hermione looked at him shrugged her shoulders.
The wall opened and they followed Hermione into the room. The wall closed and a fire and torches sprang to life relieving amazing library. The room was a two story library deep green carpet, a couch, loveseat on the right of the couch, two armchairs in front of the fireplace and a coffee table in the center. The second floor was a desk for research. The books ranged from muggle writers to the dark arts and several personal journals. The door on the right lead to a private potions lab. The door on the left was a large bed chamber.
"Wow, this is incredible." Hermione whispered looking around the room.
"Thank you Hermione. I took great pride in creating my private chamber." a said a voice. The group looked around the room for the voice. "Up here above the mantle."
"Oh hello. How did you know my name?" she asked the portrait.
"You look like my late wife Hermione Slytherin, dear girl." Salazar said and smiled. "I've waited centuries for my heir to come and end this War of Houses. Please do make yourselves comfortable and I shall tell you a few things you must know."
Ginny and Draco sat down on the loveseat while Severus and Hermione sat down on the couch. A letter floated down from the second floor desk and landed in Hermione's lap.
"This is a long story. I sent you several dreams, Hermione. Did they help you?" Salazar asked. She nodded her head. "I'm pleased. Now, you my dear are a dark witch. Severus and Draco are dark wizards. You three have cast the Unforgivable. But you don't have to kill anyone to be a dark witch or wizard, and there is nothing to wrong about being dark is actually a very good thing. They're more powerful than the "Light and Dark wizards." It's because you use both sources of magic. I created the death eaters to protect our world and Hogwarts. I must say Tom Riddle has done a wonderful job bringing in new generation of death eaters. Even with those that have turned completely dark but that's part of nature." Salazar waited for the group to think about the information to sink in and understand it. "Any questions before I continue?" the shook their heads.
"Hogwarts is alive. It's not just magic. She has a heart. I created that heart, while the others created the magical aspects of the castle. She can speak to you my heir."
Hermione's eyes widened in shock. It was rumored that Godric Gryffindor was one that created the heart of Hogwarts. She narrowed her eyes at the lie.
"That lying bastard." she hissed under her breath. "Gryffindor got your credit for creating the heart of Hogwarts."
"He what!" the painting roared in anger. "I created her! Hogwarts is alive because of me!" Salazar took several deep breathes to calm down. "Have you been hearing whispers within the walls or humming?" Hermione nodded. He smiled at his heir. "She is going to start speaking to you. She will help you protect the students. Hogwarts is beautiful and amazing wonder. Her heart is located in the center of the castle. She is in fact in the outer chamber. Serna my basilisk protects her heart."
Ginny gasped in shock and looked sadly at the founder. "Sir…she's dead. Harry killed her."
"What? The heart of Hogwarts has been unprotected! She's dead! For how long?" he asked sadly.
"Six years. She was killed with the Gryffindor sword."
"DUMBLEODRE!" roared Salazar in shire anger.
Hermione felt Hogwarts shake. She knew she had felt sadness six years ago after she had woken in the hospital wing. "What can I do to protect her heart Grandfather?"
"Go to her and pledge your protection to her. Draw my sword and place my ring on and pledge to her your life."
Hermione put the letter in her pocket to read in private. She rose from the couch and walked over to the stone. She looked over at a Severus. He stood up and walked over to her and gave her a reassuring nod. Hermione took a deep breath. She gripped the sliver green stone handle and pulled it from the stone with ease. She swung it the air and a sliver and green light surround the room and quickly died. She picked up the sliver ring with two serpents and placed it on her right hand.
"Welcome home Mistress." said a gentle famine voice.
Hermione smiled at the voice. It was gentle and comforting. She could hear a loud heart beat from the outer chamber. It was strong and protective for those around her. A green sliver belt appeared around her waist for her sword to be placed at her side. She put away the sword.
"Go and pledge to protect her my one true heir." Salazar told Hermione.
The wall opened and Hermione walked through the door that had appeared followed by Severus, Draco and Ginny. The wall closed behind the redhead. They entered the outer chamber. The torches of serpents lit the walkway.
Hermione looked sadly at the once great serpent that guarded the heart of Hogwarts. "You guarded her well Serna." she ran her hand over the great snake and it disappeared. "Rest in peace."
Hermione walked up to a large red glow that was in the center of the castle. She heard the heart beat loudly. She smiled now able to use her true last name that no one knew. "I, Hermione Jean Slytherin pledge my magic and life to the heart of Hogwarts." she took out her wand and cut her hand and pressed it against the floor.
Hermione smiled when she saw a woman with long blonde hair, pale skin, bright blue eyes with a long flowing white gown.
"You have finally came home, heir of Salazar Slytherin. You've brought your guard with you, Severus Snape. Guard her well and I shall guard you well." Hogwarts told them. "Call if you need of me." Hogwarts waved her hand and they all vanished from the Chamber of Secrets.
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