History of Magic was being canceled for the next week. It took until Wednesday for someone to notify the staff that Professor Binns failed to show up to any of his lessons. I took that as a sign how much attention everyone paid to him. When he didn't show up at the end of the week and none of the ghosts had any idea where he was a school-wide search was being called. Of course it was fruitless.

Exorcising Binns had been even easier then Myrtle. I had needed the distraction the Weasley twins had provided then and still no one had found out she was gone. But with Binns I had been able to place all my runes and draw the circle around the ghost wearing my Invisibility cloak without the professor who was sleeping in his chair even noticing me. When he did it was already too late. None of my dorm mates had seen me sneaking out and even if they had they'd never rat me out. That was why it should be literally impossible for anyone to suspect me.

Of course someone did anyway.

It was Friday again and I had just discussed the next dueling session with my minions in the common room. Several students from the higher years had joined us. However I couldn't but notice that the Bloody Baron, who hovered in the shadows of the chimney, was watching me the entire time. Finally I send them all to bed and pretended to do my homework.

"Why don't you come over here and tell me what you have on your mind?", I asked without looking up when I couldn't hear their steps anymore.

Richard Cunningham, the house ghost of Slytherin, slid towards me watching me closely.

"Cuthbert Binns is gone", he said with his raspy, dark voice.

"I noticed."

"You don't seem too upset."

"Should I?", I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"He was a professor at your school."
"And a terrible one at that."
Cunningham sneered. "Not as terrible as this blonde fraud."
"You mean Lockart?" I pulled my wand to cast a privacy charm before saying: "That man is a disgrace to all wizardkind. But even if he were to mysteriously vanish, Dumbledore wouldn't be able to get a replacement. We'd be sent someone from the ministry. I'd rather have it the students learn nothing at all for a year then those people meddling with Hogwarts' affairs."

"So you're getting rid of him but this filthy piece of vermin you let live!?", the baron hissed furiously.

Now I turned towards him completely. "My, my, Richard, you seem upset. Was Binns that close to you?"

"I might have liked him the least from my kind but he was a fellow ghost. If it is really your aim to better the school I'm just asking myself why you took him first when there are far more pressing matters."

My glare grew cold. "Binns was already dead. Even if people found out, they'd think I probably did him a favor. Defense is not that important, not with the club running so well. I've already killed the last excuse for a defense teacher myself, I can't do it again. He is too public a person. I will not have to anyway. After all the position is cursed. Some way or another he'll be gone at the end of the year."

The ghost gave me a wary look. "I've heard the rumors. So it is true then? The position is really cursed?"

"It is. The curse makes it so the worst side of them gets out to the light. For someone like Lockart who has a rather delicate dirty little secret it should ruin his reputation and ability to get a job forever. Do not worry about it. I've already set something in motion for him."

I pretended to get back to my homework but looked up again when the Bloody Baron didn't make a move to leave.

"Is there something else, Richard? Another professor you want gone?"

He averted his gaze uneasily. "No. Not gone, but..."

I sighed. "What is it?"

"It's about our head of house, Severus Snape", he whispered.

"What about him? You can't exactly complain about a lack of skills."

"No, his skills are without fail. But it is largely during to his polar treatment that Slytherin house has been unable to integrate with the other houses for years. I... I would not mention this if I hadn't noticed that you had made endeavors to form connections with students from other houses. He could damage your plans."

"I am aware of that problem. Snape is a terrible head of house... during peace times. But when Slytherin is being threatened I wouldn't want to have anyone else in this position. He will protect the students from harm and I have the distinct feeling that we will need this protection soon. He too will have to leave this castle sooner then he'd like... But you'll have to be patient for another few years. I have still use for him."

"I see. Is there anything I can do to... speed up the process?"

I watched him warily. If the Bloody Baron offered you his help you'd better be damn suspicious.

"Of getting rid of Snape or Lockart?", I asked finally.

"Lockart."
"There is indeed something... The Headmaster and I had a little disagreement at the end of the last year. Normally I wouldn't give it any thought but he is in a position of power. Of great power, indeed. Since you're a ghost you can not only turn invisible but you also have means to not to be sensed by wizards, is that right?" Nekrys had told me a lot about it since it was the main problem a Necromancer had to overcome when trapping a ghost. They could just vanish into thin air whenever they liked without really going anywhere else.

"You want me to spy on the Headmaster?"

"I'd like to know what he and the other professors think of me. Whenever or not they see any truth in the rumors about me. To this very day I still don't know if he was told the crazy story I gave my so called brother in order to explain certain unexplainable things I did in the past. If I can avoid drawing his attention I may have more means to approach the Lockart-matter."

"If that's all."
I raised an eyebrow. "You'll do it?"
He sneered. "Never really liked that old goat."

At that I actually had to laugh. I'd have to see how sincere the Baron really was but having such an efficient spy would be wonderful. The uses of my snakes were limited. People tended to oversee house elves but Dumbledore was one of the few people who didn't. But no one, and I mean no one, as far as I knew, had ever considered the possibility of a ghost spying on them. Being haunted, sure, but older ghosts were that indifferent towards anything as fleeting as human lives they just couldn't be bothered. That was why they were a resource underestimated by everyone. A resource I planned on putting to good use.

Halloween. The night of all nights. From Nekrys I knew that the dead ones were closest to the living world on this night. It was a night full of magic.

It was Voldemorts favorite night.

Unfortunately Voldemort was bat shit insane. Announcing his return with some bloody graffiti in front of a girls lavatory didn't exactly have much class.

During to my reputation I was bound to be one of the prime suspects for the following events, which was why I made sure to have a flock of followers around me for the whole afternoon before I went to the Halloween feast. I made homework together with Hermione, Daphne and Theodore, helped Neville practicing his Expelliarmus while Draco got private lessons in transfiguration from a fourth year Hufflepuff in another corner of the RoR and I was discussing who'd be Binns replacement at dinner with Draco and another fifth year Ravenclaw, both of whom had parents at the School Governors Board. In short I had a perfect alibi for the whole day without being obvious about it. Still I was kind of giddy the whole evening and I think my minions felt it too. They kept shooting me questioning glances but no one was willing to get on my bad side by actually asking what was going on. They knew if they had to know I would tell them. Otherwise they'd never get anything out of me.

Finally the feast was over and the food disappeared. Without hurry I stood up and went with the crowd when they left the Great Hall. We were in the ground floor and our common room was in the dungeons, but I really wanted to see Harrys face when Filch accused him of killing his cat so I mentioned something about having to pick up a book from the library and took my minions together with a bunch of Gryffindors and Ravenclaws towards the stairs.

I was not at the front of the crowd but still close enough to get a good look at the bloody message once the first row stopped in shock.

Draco took one look at the graffiti and the shell shocked Harry and Ron in front of it before a large grin threatened to split his face apart.

"Enemies of the heir, beware!", he read aloud, looking as if Christmas had come early. "You'll be the next-" I stepped on his foot, hard.

"Uff!" I glared at him and he shut up.

Attracted by Malfoys shouts Argus Filch fought his way through the crowd. "What's going on here? What's going on?"

Then he saw the stiff cat and his eyes widened in horror. I was barely able to suppress a chuckle when a similar expression appeared on Harrys face once the caretaker started shouting death threats at him.

But the fun was cut short because now Dumbledore and the other teachers arrived. They took the two boys, Filch and the cat with them to Lockarts office and the rest of the students was ushered away by Professor Sprout.

None of my minions questioned me about the incident, although they all kept shooting me glances when they thought no one was looking. I refused to approach the subject first, which was why we were one of the very few groups in the school who didn't discuss Mrs Norris petrification regularly. Hermione however spent hours to no end in the library and couldn't understand why I wouldn't help her.

"But aren't you excited at all?", she used to ask me. "I mean, it's terrible what happened to Mrs Norris and all that, but the Chamber of Secrets! I know I read about it, I just can't find a copy of 'Hogwarts, a History' anymore in the library. I remember that it was said to be build by Salazar Slytherin himself, surely that would interest you?"

"Herminny", I sighed, ignoring her scowl at being called yet another name, "It's not that easy around Slytherin. Either the message is a fake, then we can't afford to fall for it, it would ridicule us. Or the message is real, which would mean there is a real heir out there. A heir who, judging by Mrs Norris condition, has very bad intentions. Considering Slytherins history those intentions are likely to go against muggleborns. In Slytherin you'd be either for the heir or against him. If you're for him you'll do well to shut your mouth, watch silently and applaud him only when he's done. If you're against him you shut your mouth as well because when there's one thing for families as old as the Slytherins that's worse then muggleborns, it's bloodtraitors."

"So you're afraid?" She let out an hollow laugh. "You? You cannot expect me to believe that."

I shrugged. "Call it peer pressure."
"No Charles, there's more to it, I know it."

Slowly I came closer to her, leaning in to whisper in her ear. "You forget that I know what is to come, Helena. I am doing research, just not where everyone else can see it. You should take that as an example."

She bit her lip and averted her gaze. "But... But I'm just so curious!"

"I know. Look, why don't you just... ask our new history teacher, hm? Snape told me that he's going to arrive in two days. If he can't tell you anything new you'll let the matter drop."

"Oh, you know who's gonna replace Professor Binns?"
"No, I just had one of my lessons with Snape yesterday and he told me, that's all."
"Oh, I'm so exited! How do you think he will be like?"
And that put her mind off the subject effectively.

What I had said about the new History teacher was true and sure enough, two days later at dinner Dumbledore introduced a certain Professor Sibwayn.

Sibwayn was a man of average height with dark curls and even darker eyes. His simple black robes were void of any decorations and just like Snape who he sat next to he seemed to somehow melt into the shadows. When Dumbldedore called his name he stood and gave a little bow before sitting down again and giving the students a small smile.

During dinner I saw him conversing with Professor Snape and Vector. Once Lockart tried to approach him too but it seemed he made some kind of insulting remark because Sibwayn gave him a look of disgust before refusing to speak to him.

He didn't touch his food the entire time.

I was honestly curious about that new teacher. After all last year a teacher died, the ghost Professor somehow vanished with no one knowing what happened and now the rumors said the Chamber of Secrets was opened. Finding new teachers would be hard for Dumbldedore, not only for the Defense post. This guy was either a complete failure as a wizard or dangerous enough himself to have the confidence to counter everything Hogwarts could possibly throw at him. Which was a lot.

For the Slytherins History was taught together with the Ravenclaws. Surprisingly there was a change in the timetable. The lessons now started at 6pm. That was all very weird and when I went to class with my minions in tow it was with a lot of expectations.

"Good evening, class", Sibwayn greeted once everyone was seated. "Welcome to History of Magic. My name is Professor Amon Sibwayn and I will be replacing Professor Binns until further notice. Now can someone of you tell me what already you covered this school year?"

Silence. Everyone stared at him incredulously.

Finally Hermione raised her hand.
"Yes, Miss...?"
"Granger, Sir. Hermione Granger. "We were covering the International Warlock Convention of 1289."

"Really? Respect, you're the first class that actually remembers anything from what Professor Binns taught you. Still I suppose no one will be too sad if I make a few changes to the curriculum." He turned around and began to write on the blackboard. "For second year we will be covering wizards history from the Middle Age up until now with focus on the last two Great Wars after Easter."

Promptly Hermione raised her hand again and I might have seen Sibwayn rolling his eyes for a moment before he turned towards her.

"Yes, Miss Granger?"

"Sir, does that mean we get to learn about the founding of Hogwarts?"

"Since it is part of the educational reformation, we will talk about it briefly, yes."
"And Sir, can you tell us something about the Chamber of Secrets?"

The class was for a change not asleep but they hadn't seemed particularly interested in the subject either. Now however everyone's eyes were fixed on Professor Sibwayn in rapt attention.

The black haired man looked around the room smugly. "I understand that this is of high interest for you. But in order to fully understand that legend you have to know what life during the Middle Age meant for a witch or wizard. This is a great start for our first lesson, students." Sibwayn moved behind his desk and came back with a pile of old books that he ordered Nott to hand out.

"These books belong to the school but you're allowed to borrow them until next week. Pinned to each of it is a list of school books you'll need to order for the rest of the year. Please have them ready in two weeks. Now please open page 27."

After everyone had complied he began to explain:
"You may have heard of the word 'Inquisition' before. About Christian muggle hunting down witches. Around the turn of the millennium the position of wizardkind was already very dangerous. The muggles were not yet that organized but soon they would be. Now you may not think muggles much of a threat. But remember that there was no magical school around that time. Wizards leaned everything they could from their parents. Muggleborns therefore knew next to nothing at all. Often they were seen as being possessed by the devil. Their own parents would drown them or put them under cruel exorcisms. The few Muggleborns that survived only did so because they found other magical people to help them, often through finding love. They carried their beliefs of witches being less worthy then wizards, more dangerous or even more evil into their families. That was simply the way muggle woman were being raised around that time. Therefore very few wizards and even less witches were educated in the way of magic. Now imagine yourself with the current standard of knowledge you have today having to fight against a bunch of angry muggles. Of course there a spells and curses to ward them of. Of course there is a charm that freezes fire and can help you to escape when they burn you on a stake. But few of these people actually knew those spells. And that's not even taking into account that wandlore was just about to develop. In ancient times wizards used staffs and crystal orbs or potions to channel their magic. Wands were very expensive and few families could afford one, let alone to waste it onto their children. Altogether it's not very surprising that a lot of witches and wizards died by the hands of muggles.

The founding of Hogwarts brought hope in a time of darkness. Having a wand was mandatory to attend school and there was a fund that allowed those that did not have the money to get one and repay the dept later in their life. Students didn't have to learn from their parents who at best knew only a small portion of specialized magic and at the worst nothing at all. They were able to learn from four masters of their fields. Godric Gryffindor taught Defense, Transfiguration and Care of Magical Creatures. Helga Hufflepuff taught Charms, Astronomy and Herbology. Rowena Ravenclaw taught Language, Potions and Arithmancy. Salazar Slytherin taught Runes, Warding and Curse Breaking. They were all masters of their respective fields and this way the students were able to get a broad education. But the founders had very different opinions on what the purpose of their school should be. Gryffindor wanted to focus on them being able to defend themselves from both muggles and dark wizards. Therefore he saw little sense in allowing those with little magical power, the sick or the crippled into the school. Ravenclaw saw the school purely as a place of education, a great chance for everyone magical. Therefore she was very strict and would have liked to expel everyone who did not do well enough in class, the lazy and dumb ones. Slytherin saw the greatest threat for Hogwarts in the muggleborns. Even if they were magical themselves, they were bound to tell other muggles, family and friends about what they did and provide the muggles with a way to find and eventually attack the school they had to think the work of the devil. Hufflepuff was the only one who wanted to take in all children, regardless of their condition, blood status or intelligence.

Eventually they found a solution in the founding of the four houses. Slytherin took charge of the Hogwarts wards. As you may know, the castle is unplottable and the wards could be activated by the Professors should there ever be an attack. Those old wards are still intact and were used many times in the following centuries. Everything seemed well until Gryffindor and Slytherin, who were known to be very close friends, had a major fallling-out. The muggleborn-problem had been an object of many quarrels before and in one of those Gryffindor insulted Slytherins family. Since Slytherin had recently lost his wife he took the insult rather personally and left in a fit of rage."

Sibwayn paused for a moment and I asked myself how the hell he knew all of those details. I had read 'Hogwarts, a History' which seemed to be the universal reference book when it came to the castle but I never even heard which subjects the founders had taught. I had always assumed Slytherin taught potions. It made sense however that most of his subjects weren't taught at Hogwarts at all. If he had only been at Hogwarts for a few years there wouldn't have been enough time to raise a worthy successor.

"Is that... is that when he build the Chamber of Secrets?", Lisa Turpin, another of my friends from Ravenclaw, asked.

"The Chamber of Secrets is a myth that was developed in the early 14th century. Primary sources simply speak of 'Slytherins Chamber'. It seems the knowledge of what or where the chamber is simply got lost and was rediscovered only three hundred years later. Therefore it is unsure if the chamber actually exists, if it did then whenever or not it was kept a secret from the other founders and what its purpose was. Also the context in which earlier texts speak of it suggests that the chamber, while it had been build by the founder, didn't belong solely to him or even just his family. Apparently it had been open to the whole house of Slytherin. Generations of Students are said to have come back to store their knowledge in it. It is entirely possible that the chamber contains a hidden library or a collection of artifacts. Others speculate that the chamber contains the so-called 'guardian of Slytherin', a creature or spirit that watches over the house and defended it against anyone who would threaten it. Since Slytherin specialized in warding he would be able to not only create but to hide such a place even for centuries to come.

More malicious sources from the late 18th century presume that whatever is hidden in the chamber was meant to enforce Slytherins will in chasing away the muggleborns. This belief is supported by written records that say Salazar Slytherin was afraid a horde of angry muggles would someday come and attack Hogwarts. Even the most powerful wards could only hold that long after all."

"So you think the Chamber of Secrets is real?", Hermione asked. "And it's been opened?"
"There are a lot of indications, none of which however can be called solid proof. An opening of the chamber would require a serious threat to Slytherin house. As such a thing is, to my knowledge, not at hand one is to assume that whoever opened it is misusing his power in a way that was not originally intended by Slytherin himself. Writings at the wall, the attack of the cat, all of this points towards an immature, malicious mind who does not understand what kind of precious treasure he has stumbled over."

Unconsciously I found myself nodding in agreement with the Professor. His explanation agreed with the speech Slytherins portrait had given me a year ago. In fact it was logical and detailed in a way that would almost suggest Sibwayn to be present around that time himself. But that was impossible. Or was it?

Sibwayn ordered us to read in our books and at the end of the hour he gave us homework to do. We were to write an essay about the living conditions of an average wizard before Hogwarts had been founded with notice of the political changes during that time. He said we'd discuss and summarize the subject in the next class before moving on to the era of Merlin, who had been one of the first great wizards Hogwarts produced after its founding. And he had been a Slytherin. Which no one ever mentioned to me. Blasted school!

It was the last class of the day but I ordered my minions to go ahead without me. Sibwayn was cleaning the blackboard and for a moment I wondered why he didn't use magic to do it.

"Professor", I said to draw his attention to me.

"Yes, Mr...?"
"Potter, Sir. Charles Potter."

He didn't bat an eye upon hearing my name, which for a new teacher was a first one.

"What can I do for you, Mr Potter?"
I gave him an honest smile. "Oh, you've already done enough. I wanted to thank you for your speech today. With everything that's going on in this school lately I was afraid the prejudices against my house would only grow. I hope you gave some of them food for thought today."

Sibwayn haltered in his movement and finally put the sponge away. "Yes, I am aware that some of you might be in danger to fall victim of revenge-seeking other students... should this madness continue. But above all I am a historian and it is my duty to bring the truth to the surface and nothing but the truth."

I couldn't hold back a small laugh. "Then you should prepare yourself for a lot of riddles, Professor." No pun intended. Well, maybe a little one. "Slytherins know how to keep their secrets. Whoever the idiot is who's done this, he will be hard to catch. Do you mind me asking if you were one of ours once?"

"You mean a Slytherin?" Sibwayn shook his head. "No, I didn't visit Hogwarts as a child. However I came here to study for my mastery for a few month as an adult. The library is a legend, even on the continent."

"It sure is. I'm glad we have such a competent Professor in this subject for a change." I turned to leave and muttered quietly under my breath: "Even if it's a vampire."

Sibwayns gaze pierced me sharply and without wanting to he confirmed my suspicion. No human would've been able to hear those words.

I gave him a clever smirk and winked before leaving the class room.

This could get interesting.