Kat Linyo: lol... well I'm glad you like it that much!
Elle's Bells: Yeah, Blair is a creeper character, all these werid things will start to happen to her...
ebtwisty9: Hermione thinks of Blair as her lesser, nothing more then a spoiled child. I put the background into this so it is natrual for her to challenge Blair when she sees her not as a Professor.
Evergreen Scepter: No, it was Salazar's coffin. He is the King of Snakes. You learn about the powers of the coffin in this chapter. As for Blair being related to Voldemort... they may have some history behind them...
Psychic Lunar: Thanks for the correction. Yes, Daemon did get Harry into a bit of trouble as you will discover later on...
Psychic Lunar: Blair loves secrets, whatever do you mean... lol! Yes, the coffin does has something to do with her. But don't judge Blair so quickly, she is an incredibly complex character who is going to create an interesting little web for this story...
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"Salazar Slytherin's tomb has been found!" The words echoed around Hogwarts thanks to Professor Kryeen's fondness of secrets... She had brought the coffin out to the Great Hall and left it there.
"I am not keeping a box in my room." She defiantly told Dumbledore when he asked for it to be kept safely back in its place.
An hour later, Harry was jogging to keep up with Lupin as he walked quickly through the school.
"Slytherin's coffin... How did she know where it was? The burial places of the four creators was lost long ago... And, how was she able to break through the wards? I am sure there must be protections on each grave..."
Harry listened in silence, thinking about his own questions as they walked up the narrow staircase to Professor Dumbledore's office; he seemed to be spending a lot of time in that place this year...
"Remus, Harry; please take a seat." Dumbledore's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Headmaster what are we to do with her?" Lupin asked wearily.
"I do not know... but Professor Kryeen has proved her power over now. We cannot allow her to join the other side." He replied.
"How did she know where it was?" Moony said.
"It is strange... Ms. Blair specifically asked for that room and the bedroom above it." Dumbledore commented.
"But that is where all the other Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers have been." Harry interjected.
" True, however I doubt that she knew that. There are no records of Professor Kryeen ever attending Hogwarts." The headmaster added.
"Then how could Blair possibly know where Salazar's coffin was buried?" Professor Lupin questioned.
"Another part of the mystery that surrounds our strange professor." Dumbledore said simply. Then turning to Harry he continued. "Now, what was it that you saw exactly?"
Harry went through a quick account of Hermione's challenge, Kryeen's reaction, the fire obeying her, the coffin; even when he read the words on the tomb.
Remus rested his head in his hands. "She got past the enchantments to get to the tomb, but didn't destroy the curse?"
"Curse?" Harry asked, confused.
"When a very powerful wizard dies, it is customary to place two kinds of spells on their tomb. The first are magics of protection and secrecy. The second is a safe-guard of sorts. It is a curse. If the coffin is found and taken from its resting place the curse is triggered, and a guardian of some form is released. The protector will continue to plague the people who have unleashed the curse until the coffin is re-sealed and buried again." The headmaster seemed anxious as he spoke, and Harry began to see the huge weight of what Professor Blair had done.
"What kinds of things are the guardians?" Harry wasn't sure he actually wanted to know.
"The more powerful the witch of wizard, the stronger the curse. One time a group of muggle archaeologists disturbed the tomb of a wizard they called King Tut. They all got boils and a cat died. Still, with their superstitions the tomb was replaced..." Remus told him.
"And with a wizard of Slytherin's power?" Harry's stomach was in knots.
"I do not dare to imagine what horror Professor Kryeen awoke. Much less, the tomb has been moved into the Great Hall, and all who walk through are subject to a victim of its wrath... While Professor Kryeen is not being cooperative at this moment, we cannot return the coffin to its resting place. We must however, move it into a less populated room..." Dumbledore sighed.
"The Room of Requirements!" He said a loud suddenly.
For the first time tonight, Lupin gave a half-smile. "Well done Harry. The Room of Requirements is the best place to put it for now."
Albus nodded and beamed at Harry. "Tonight then, we shall move it. I will instruct all the prefects to lead their houses in the Common Room tonight. All the teachers will report to the Great Hall. Oh, and Harry... I would advise you not to tell anyone of what you have heard here, except for... perhaps Miss Granger and Mr and Miss Weasley."
Harry nodded and then left, walking down to the Fat Lady.
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The boy-who-lived caught them them walking into the portrait hole.
"Ron, Hermione, Ginny." He called quickly.
"Harry, we just got called inside the tomb is..." Hermione was interrupted by him."I know, but listen we have to go talk to Professor Blair. I'll explain on the way." Harry panted.
"Then why are we standing here?" Ginny demanded.
"Not you." Ron exclaimed.
"Yes, her too." Harry had caught the tone Dumbledore used when he mentioned Ginny. He needed her to stop this.
"But Harry-" Ron stuttered.
"I'll explain on the way. Let's go!" He didn't wait for their reply.
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"So wait- say this all again." Hermione whispered in disbelief.
"The tomb was cursed and now Blair has unleashed some kind of guardian on Hogwarts. Anyone who went into the Great Hall in considered a victim. The only way to make the guardian leave is to return it to Professor Blair's room; and she is refusing to let us do that." Harry breathed.
"Then what are we doing here if there is some angry, powerful being hunting in the school?" Ron muttered.
"We are going to convince Kryeen to let us return Salizar to his resting place." He said shortly.
"And Gin had to come because..." Ron berated.
"Because Professor Dumbledore said so, now shut it!" Harry snapped.
The foursome crawled out from the column they were hiding behind; creeping across the dark corridor with all senses alert.
"Someone is coming!" Hermione squealed. They all ducked into the door beside them.
Breathing heavily in the dark gloom, Ginny peaked out the crack in the door.
A dark swish of a cloak passed through, followed by a distinctive voice.
"Honestly, what is she thinking? Is she trying to kill us all?"
Professor McGonogall
The rap of shoes and dark cloak soon vanished behind the turn.
She gave a shuddering sigh of relief.
"That was close." Ron's voice was high.
"We have to do this." Harry gritted his teeth.
"How are we even going to get Professor Kryeen to take the coffin back in?" Hermione questioned.
"I don't know." Harry admitted.
"We'll think of something!" Ginny protested. "Harry's right. We have to do this. I-I think Dumbledore wanted me to do this because of what happened in the Chamber. I helped bring that.. thing to life, and I can stop this one! Don't worry," She layed a comforting hand on Harry's shoulder. "We can do this."
"Gin-" Ron began weakly, halting with a sigh.
"She's right. Come on then, lets go." Hermione forced bravo into her voice.
One by one, they crept out of room, sneaking back onto the corridor.
"Right, lets go on." Ron swallowed.
They continued walking along the dim corridor, listening for any sound. A day passed, or perhaps only a second. Time faded into the startling charged air.
"Sh- do you here something?" Ginny asked suddenly.
They all froze, listening intently.
"What are you taking about there is nothing-" Ron stopped short.
There it was, the faint sound of something moving along. Almost like a carpet flowing by...
"What is it?" Hermione asked softly.
"I don't-" Harry cut off as it came into view.
The torch-lit gloom contrasted off its form eerily. It had the head, and torso of a young woman. Her face was alabaster and oval. Two wide, silver eyes glowed, along with straight black hair that hung to the floor. Her lips were thin, cheekbones high, and eyebrows arching. The deathly white torso was naked, and fading into the scaly body of a snake; emerald green scales scattered with silver. Silently, she opened her mouth to reveal inch long fangs, green venom glittering on the tips. The horror cast a spell over them.
Someone screamed, and the enchantment fell.
The foursome fled, flying down the halls as the ancient guardian of Slytherin followed swiftly and screaming in parselmouth.
"Mortals dare defy my father's rest! Die all, die and let me feed. I am so hungry, come little children... pay the blood to awaken the King of Snakes!"
"It's coming closer!" Hermione shrieked
"Keep running!" Harry's lungs burned angrily.
They took a sharp left, running blindly down the next corridor.
"Try the door!" Ginny shouted.
Ron rammed against the door near him. It was locked.
"Open!" Harry beat at it angrily.
Hermione lifted her wand to it and muttered a spell. "I can't open it!" She turned around fearfully.
The creature turned and came, scant feet from its prey. Slowly, and deliberately it slithered over to the four teens.
"Now you DIE!" She hissed, with a flickering forked tounge.
Desperately, Harry raised his wand. With the speed of a striking snake, it disarmed him, turning sharply to knock out Ron's wand as well.
Hermione held her wand close and began to whisper a spell. A jet of red light flew out of her wand, but didn't effect the creature.
The snake-woman crouched upon Hermione, fangs inches away from her flesh.
A mad energy seized Ron and he jumped up, hitting the guardian over the head with his fist.
She roared with fury, turning around to throw Ron into a wall.
A bone-shattering crack hit the room.
"Ron!" Harry screamed, crawling over to his friend.
Now the guardian turned to face Ginny. Time seemed to freeze.
"You escaped once, but not again..." Harry heard it hiss as it reared back to strike.
A swish of black, and then light exploded in the dank corridor.
A loud hiss followed.
"Back to the gloom in which you came!"
The half-woman cried in agony and the stench of burning flesh filled the air.
Suddenly, there was someone shouting.
"Get up! It won't hold her long! Grab hands!"
The light faded and left them in impenetrable darkness.
Still, Harry felt a hand grab his as he was pulled to his feet. Then, the sound of feet running quickly reached through. Turning blindly, they ran on past doorways and turns.
"Daemon!" The voice cried as the swift curses of the guardian got closer.
The phoenix soared down, a beacon of crimson light in the darkness.
They followed the phoenix for a long stretch, Harry praying that everyone had made it as the scar on his arm poked him annoyingly.
If one of them is hurt it is my fault...
Suddenly, they halted abruptly.
He heard Ron groan as he ran into who could only be Hermione.
Ginny...
Whoever was leading them was pounding upon a wall... or was it a door. The blinding light and dizzying pain were dulling Harry's senses.
"Daemon!" It cried again. The phoenix flew through the wall... Harry wondered if he had gone insane...
Suddenly, the door clicked open and they all tumbled in.
There was a moment of coughing blackness, then someone's wand lit up.
It was the face of a teenage girl, with fair skin and chestnut hair.
"Celia?" Harry wasn't sure if he had the name right.
"Hush, you'll need your strength." She panted.
"Ginny..." He breathed.
Celia nodded to her right, where a pale and sweaty Ginny sat by breathing heavily.
"Is Ron alright?" She asked tightly.
Celia looked over to the end of the chain. "A few broken bones, but if he ran with us it can't be serious." Her voice was overly-optimistic.
The scarlet form of Daemon flooded over to them.
"Welcome." A voice rang out from the gloom.
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A/N- Sorry about the wait. Anyways I tried to make this chapter intense. How did I do? Who guessed Celia was the one who saved them?