AN: Hey All!
Thank you so, so much for your patience with this chapter! I hope I made it worth it.
Much love,
ArielSakura
xoxo
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Harry frowned at the words, unsure what they meant. "Welcome, Snake Hearted," came Hannah's voice. Everyone looked at her with varying expressions of surprise, "what? I read Welsh."
"It's just not something we expected, Hannah," soothed Neville.
"That one in.." Susan paused doing a quick count of those gathered, "fourteen people can read Welsh? Specifically one that lives in Wales?" countered the redheaded Hufflepuff.
"Good point," chimed in Dean.
Harry rolled his eyes, studying the door he decided to try the same phrase he had used before, "grant me entrance." The doors slowly unlocked, the snakes moving across their surface as they swung inwards. The large hall that they led into, unlike Harry had ever seen before.
Pillars made of black hematite rose, swirling into the ceiling. The floor was polished green marble and silver accents swirled on the dark walls depicting scenes of healing, duelling, potion crafting as well as various types of snakes, from water-dwelling serpents and basilisks to winged occamys. Many doors led off the Hall into rooms that contained Merlin only knew what. Two large silver torches were ensconced either side of a huge ornate portrait. The portrait was of a bald man in emerald robes. He had a pointed beard and a sharp moustache, many rings adorned his fingers. A heavy gold locket hung around his neck. Gasps of awe came from around Harry as they all stepped inside, Ginny moved up to stand next to him. The hessian bag banging against her hip in her haste, "Harry, this isn't, this is... different." she finished lamely.
"Really?" asked Harry, mild sarcasm lacing his voice, he looked at her and quirked half a grin at the girl. She rolled her eyes and punched him in the shoulder.
"How can you tell," Daphne asked, "I only mean, well, from what you said about the last time you were here, it could be you remember it differently?"
"It's a good theory, Daphne," Harry replied as walked towards the portrait, "except it is a completely different room and it's missing something."
"Oh? What's that?" she asked.
"A great, big, dead Basilisk somewhere in that direction," Harry told her flapping his hand to the left.
Everyone but Ginny and Blaise looked in that direction, as the Rukar had moved up to stand closer to Harry as both of them gazed at the sleeping portrait. "Do you think it's really him?"
Harry shrugged, "hard to see who else it would be," he murmured in reply. Blaise inclined his head to the side in agreeance. "Should we wake him up?" he asked.
"Well, what better way to find out what we came to know, than straight from the graniarian's mouth so to speak," Greg intoned from behind them. Harry turned to look at them all gathered behind him. It dawned on him then that their group was represented by every house in Hogwarts.
Harry stepped bravely forward and touched the portrait, jerking back when he felt his magic surge out of him. He rubbed at his hand to get rid of the tingling sensation and Blaise gripped it to take a look. "It's fine, Blaise," Harry murmured, not having taken his eyes off the portrait. "He just stole some of my magic to wake himself up."
Everyone looked at the now fully awake portrait who was looking down sternly at Harry, "you would do well to respect your elders boy, do you not know to whom you speak?"
"Oh, I know very well to whom I speak," Harry replied, "Salazar Slytherin, one of the Founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
Salazar's eyebrows rose, "you're a Speaker, but if you speak the language of snakes, why do you wear Godric's atrocious taste in colours?"
"I asked to be put into Gryffindor," Harry told him and Salazar's eyebrows rose high on his bald head, "because the Slytherin name and Parseltongue have long been associated with Dark Magic, I didn't want people to assume the worst about me."
Slytherin looked consideringly at him for a moment, "perhaps you are one of mine. Explain this, Dark Magic, and why people think I am responsible for it?"
"Gladly," Harry answered, "so long as we switch to English, my friends do not share our skill and they will be able to help me update you on our history. There is a lot to tell."
"How long has my portrait slept?" asked Salazar, adhering to Harry's request.
"We aren't sure, Sir," replied Blaise smoothly as the other startled at being addressed so suddenly, "it is currently nearing the end of the year 1996."
Salazar's eyes widened, "are you telling me, my portrait has slept for over nine-hundred and fifty years?"
"Yes, Sir," Harry replied.
"What of the others? Have they been awake whilst I slept?" Salazar demanded. There was a sudden shaking of heads, no-one dared to anger the man. "Speak up! Where are the portraits of Rowena, Helga and Godric?"
Blaise answered him, "to the best of our knowledge Sir, yours is the first portrait that has ever been found."
Salazar's hand curled over his chin and he stroked his beard, "you had best get comfortable, there is much I will know from you," he said at last, and with a shared glance between them all, Harry called for Dobby who brought beanbags and chairs from the Room of Requirement. They settled in for a gruelling question and answer session. Salazar demanded as much information as they could give, he was often appalled at the state of wizarding affairs, especially when it came to their interactions with other magical races. Finally, he deemed he had heard enough information for the time being.
"Please, Sir, can you tell us your story?" Harry asked at last.
Salazar shifted in his portrait and began to speak, every teen leant forward, enraptured with his story from the beginning.
"As you know, my friends and I decided to build a school. It was to be the greatest centre for learning magic the world had ever seen. It took us many years to find the right site where the magical energy was strong enough that we would be able to tie ourselves to the castle. That is how I am here now, my portrait, and the portraits of Rowena, Helga and Godric are bound to this place. We cannot be destroyed whilst the castle stands, we imbued our very selves, our very magic, so that when we passed we would be able to wake to these portraits and we might always teach the next generation. When we first built the school, we each wanted to teach our own speciality, Godric favours transfiguration and magical weaponry. Rowena the esoteric crafts and Helga loves her plants and cooking. We hired superior individuals to teach those subjects we weren't interested in teaching but we knew were needed for a well rounded and quality education. As I said, we aspired to be the best and we were." His face softened slightly at what must be fond memories.
"Now you tell me, that not only has the wizarding world forgotten much of its history, Hogwarts itself is not the institution we built it to be? It does not offer alchemy? or ghoul studies? spell crafting or even healing as courses and lessons? That students are divided, scattered. That my house is considered evil and Parseltongue even more so?"
Harry nodded, "It's true, Sir, it all seems to come down to purity of blood and Dark Magic issue."
Salazar frowned, "you keep mentioning that, what do you mean when you speak of blood purity?" he demanded.
Everyone gaped at him, fourteen jaws dropped open, "Um, er, well you see," Harry began cautiously, "there's this idea, and they say it started with you, Sir, that wizards and witches who have a magical heritage, that is to say, magical parents are better than those born to parents without magic."
"Poppycock," Salazar stated, even though they had hoped it was not the case, to hear it said, and so vehemently, was another thing altogether. "Helga's parents didn't have a drop of magic in their veins and she was as powerful as the rest of us."
"Sir," began Theo hesitantly, "I believe it came about because you were said to.. favour? some students more than others?"
Salazar turned his gaze on Theo, "well, that is true at least, I never made it a secret that my Parsel Studies students were my favourites and as Parselmagic is often passed through the same families that could be the cause…" his renowned sharp mind connecting the issue with his past, "I scoured the world for my students, to bring them back here to teach and train. Godric and I were always fighting about how often I left the castle."
Harry and the others exchanged glances, that was the source of Salazar's 'leaving' Hogwarts. "So, sir, why did you build the Chamber of Secrets? and why did you hide a basilisk inside the school?" Ginny asked boldly.
"Chamber of What?" he asked.
"of secrets," they choursed back to him, everyone eager to hear more.
"this place," Harry said waving his hand to indicate the large Hall.
Salazar stroked his beard again, "my, my, how time distorts reality. This is the Parsel Chamber, enterable only by a Parseltongue. This is where I taught my students. The doors leading off of this room are to different classrooms and facilities like the Parsel library. You entered here through the Familiar Foyer?" He asked pointing at the large double doors, they all nodded, "that is the main entrance, though there are several more throughout the school."
"Why are there two different entrances in the bathroom?" Harry asked.
"The bathroom? What bathroom?" Salazar asked sharply.
"Erm, the bathroom which we came through? To get to the Familiar Foyer? When I asked the sinks to grant us entrance they led us there. But the first time I came down here, I just said open and it took us.."
"To the Serpents Hall. You can get there by that door over there as well," Salazar said pointing at a door ornamented by black snake with ruby eyes. "The entrance though is not supposed to be a bathroom! When I created it, it was a beautiful fountain! A work of art!" he groused, "the 'open' password was for Boudica, my basilisk. She was not fond of some the portraits in the foyer and it was a quicker route into the forest for her to hunt. Speaking of which, where is she?"
"Erm," Harry hemmed looking at his friends, they all gave him varying looks of unease and dismay. "You see, Sir. You know how we said there was a Dark Lord who calls himself Voldemort?" Salazar nodded, a frown creasing his brow. "Well, he went to Hogwarts and he found the Serpent's Hall. Though I guess he never found this place. Um, anyway he kind of tried to get her to kill me a couple of years ago? And er, well."
"You slew her?" Salazar asked emotionlessly, his eyes boring into him. Harry bit his lip but nodded anyway, Salazar sighed heavily, "if he could corrupt her to kill a child, then you did the right thing. I am just sorry that you had to do such a thing. When did this happen? Can you tell me how it came to pass?"
"Erm, yeah. Okay." and so Harry haltingly told Salazar the entire story. Ginny and Ron filling in information as he went along. Soon he came to the part where he was fighting the basilisk, "I thought I'd lost her in the pipes and I ran out into the middle of the floor to grab Ginny, hoping that if I could get her away from Tom and the diary the distance might be enough." He was looking at his fingers as he twisted them together. "At the very least, I didn't want to leave Gin down here for the bas- er, Boudica to eat. But she was so fast and she came at me, I thrust Godric Gryffindor's sword through the roof of her mouth when she tried to swallow me and she died." He gripped his bicep as he remembered the bubbling, burning pain from the venom.
Salazar saw this and frowned, "you were bitten?" he asked.
Harry nodded and there were a few gasps from around him, "Fawkes, he's a.."
"Phoenix," Salazar replied.
"How'd you know that?" Harry asked looking up at the portrait finally. Seeing the tears on the girls faces out of the corner of one eye and the stoic set to Blaise's frame as he sat on Harry's other side, pressing his thigh firmly against Harry's offering what support he could at this time.
"He was Godric's familiar." Salazar replied.
"Oh," Harry exhaled, that made sense.
Salazar sighed heavily, "thank you for telling me this, I can appreciate it must be difficult for you." Harry shrugged, trying to be nonchalant about it. "I am worried though about this Voldemort character. His diary?"
"I destroyed, with the fang I pulled from my arm." Harry told him.
"It was no ordinary diary then?" he pressed.
"A Horcrux,"
Salazar drew himself up and started hissing under his breath. "Something so vile as that was in our school?! A man so abominable was allowed to keep his magic?!" He trailed off into curses so inventive Harry's ears went red.
Ron leant towards Harry, "what's he saying?" he asked in a stage whisper.
Harry shook his head, "he swears better than Charlie." He and Ron shared a knowing grin, the dragon tamer had quite a mouth on him. Ginny snorted at Harry's remark.
When Salazar calmed down he said, "well, at least you've destroyed his horcrux, the man won't be able to live forever."
The Harry and his friends all shared another glance and Neville was the one to speak directly to the portrait this time, "actually, Sir, he split his soul into seven pieces."
Salazar's face turned burgundy as his voice reverberated around the hall making them all wince and cover their ears, "WHAT?!"
They were saved from having to answer as Dobby popped up, "Dobby is sorry to be interrupting, but the dinner feast is about to be starting. If you is all not wanting to be missed you is best be leaving now."
Seamus cast a tempus charm, "Shite, he's right, we'd best get a wriggle on."
Harry and the others stood and Dobby popped away again. "Sir, you said there were other entrances and exits than just the bathroom? Can you tell us where?"
Salazar looked at him, his breathing still harsh as he processed the information about Voldemort, "I will, if you give me your word you'll come back. We have much more to discuss and I would like to begin passing on my knowledge of parselmagic to you, it seems it has been much forgotten in this time."
Harry nodded, "I will. Are my friends welcome though?" he said gesturing to them.
Salazar seemed to think it over, his eyes assessing them all, "until such a time as these halls are once again filled with Parsel studies students, I will allow it." Harry thanked him and the founder pointed out the doorway which would deposit them anywhere in the school. "It is connected to all the other doorways. You only need to think of the door you wish to walk out of and you will do so. As for the entrances, there is one located in my House Common Room, and there is one located in a portrait that hangs adjacent to every other common room. You see though we were all very good friends, the other Founders did not want my entrances clogging up their walls and vice versa. You can find them yourself, the passwords are the same and will bring you through the Familiar Foyer." They all nodded and said their goodbyes to the man as they hurried to the door, opening they saw what looked like flat, blue flame.
"Wait," said Susan, "we shouldn't all just go through randomly, who knows where we will come out and whose on the other side?"
Harry quickly dug into his bag and pulled out the Marauders Map. Theo, Greg and Daphne all crowded closer to have a look as they were the only ones who were not familiar with the item already. The others had seen it as part of the DA and Blaise and Tracey on their first trip to Hogsmeade with Harry. "Here, these hallways are empty." Harry pointed some out.
"I wonder, can we go directly into our dorms?" Theo asked pointing at one room in particular, "our room is also clear."
Harry shrugged, "try it and see. He did say any door."
Theo looked at Greg who shrugged in acceptance. Theo turned back to Harry. "What time shall we meet after dinner? We haven't yet gotten to exploring and as wonderful as it is to the find his portrait. Written documents would still be more useful to our plans right now."
Harry nodded and chewed his lip thoughtfully. "Okay, how does half past eight sound? It's an hour and a half before curfew. That should give everyone an excuse to leave their common rooms etc. If the door works for the dorms then we should have some time?" They all nodded.
Ginny looked thoughtful for a moment, "we really need to get something like the DA coins for all of us. Something we can all communicate with would be even better though."
Harry hummed thoughtfully, idea's whirling through his mind at her words, "I agree, but for now, we'll just have to continue being careful." Everyone nodded and they quickly dispersed. Harry meeting Blaise's eyes for a moment before the darker boy was whirled away.
The Gryffindor boys, being all present and not having to worry about anyone being in their dorm, stepped through to the doorway. Harry stealing himself as he did so, Merlin he hated wizarding transportation. Taking a deep breath he checked to make sure he was the last and made his way through. There was a moment of weightlessness and it felt like he moved through water but then he was on the other side, standing in the dorm that he now realised he hadn't been inside of for a very long time.
"Huh," he said as he looked at his friends, "that was one of the better ways of wizarding travel." They all laughed at him, knowing how much he hated flooing and apparition and hurried down the stairs so that they wouldn't be late for dinner.
Dumbledore watched as Harry walked into the Great Hall with his friends, they boy was getting hard to pin down. He spent so much time with Poppy, and now Horace, since the potions master had now decided to take Harry under his wing. Surely, that was because of the Dragon Pox cure the boy had apparently come up with.
Stroking his chin as his eyes followed them to their seats, he really must get his hands on those notes. All the messengers he had sent with missives to Harry, had not been able to find the boy. Poppy and Horace both refused to take the summons and he could not be found outside of class otherwise. Though the portraits assured Dumbledore he was in the castle. Usually in his dorm or wandering around various parts of the castle with several friends. Dumbledore sighed, he really must speak with Harry again soon. The young man was getting much too confident and too popular, not that Dumbledore begrudged him his friends. But the more he made, the less likely the boy would do what he must when the time came.
He watched as young Miss Frobisher approached Harry and the others, what could she possibly want? As she had her back to him, he was unable to cast the charm that would allow him to read her lips. Oh, well, it wouldn't be anything important anyway. The girl was a nobody after all.
He tried to catch Harry's eye several times throughout the meal, but the boy was too engrossed in his conversation with his friends. They were huddled together and whispering with excited looks on their faces. Dumbledore smiled fondly, they must be speaking about Quidditch, it was the only thing the boys had in common after all. Hmmm.. now there was an idea.
Harry was feeling a little morose as they made their way back to the chamber, unable to fully pull his mind from the conversation with Vicki. She had asked him if he would say something at the wake she was organising for Katie and Dennis. He told her he'd think about it. "You right, Harry?" asked Ron as they made their way back towards the Chamber.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, I was just thinking about the wake." he replied. Ron hummed and Harry continued muttering, "I can't believe I didn't think of it."
Ron sighed, "I know what you mean, mate, but don't feel bad. We have, literally, a hundred other things to think about. Just, be glad that Vicki's doing it? You can't do everything, Harry."
Harry gave Ron a flash of a smile, "you're right, when did you get so wise, huh?"
Ron snorted and then developed a haughty air, "I like to think I've developed beyond the range of a teaspoon now."
Harry snorted and shoved Ron in the arm, "yeah, alright, dessert spoon now."
Ron gave an indignant "oi!" and Harry took off laughing, Ron chasing after him, tossing hexes at Harry, knowing that the sable-haired boy would catch them. Harry threw a few of his own back at Ron, causing the red-head to dodge and block as he chased after Harry.
They reached the bathroom panting, one hand on their knees whilst the other gripped the other's shoulder. This was how their friends found them.
"You two are mad, you know that right?" Theo said as he eyed them warily, wondering if they were going to start firing spells again.
Harry looked at Ron, who grinned back at him, "mad? Us? Nah, mate, you got us confused with someone else," Harry replied easily, feeling lighter than he had all day.
"Duelling in the hallways?" Daphne asked, her eyebrows raised.
Ron snorted, "that wasn't duelling."
"Oh? What would you call it then?" asked Blaise as he came to stand in front of Harry, looking him up and down to see if any of the spells had hit.
Harry grinned up at his boyfriend as he and Ron answered at the same time, "Fun!"
"Oh, aye, I can attest to that," Seamus chimed in, "Harry and Ron are always throwing spells at one 'nother, 'specially in the DA last year. Kept the rest of us on our toes."
"I'm not sure I want to know what you two consider duelling then," Goyle intoned.
Harry looked at Ron, who shrugged in return, "been a while," was all he said.
Harry nodded, "alright, let's go," he turned to the sinks for the second time that day and opened them. They made their way quickly down the hall and into the Chamber and Harry went to speak to Slytherin as Ron herded everyone else into a corner. "Best put up your strongest shields, just in case." he said garnering several raised eyebrows.
Meanwhile, "Sir, before we get started on anything, my friend and I were hoping to have a duel. Just friendly, but we wanted to show our friends what we can do."
Salazar looked him over, "that shall be adequate, I wanted to assess your magical prowess as it was. If you impress me, I may even have a gift for you."
Harry's eyebrows rose, "yes, Sir." Harry gave him a nod and turned back to walk into the middle of the room, joining Ron. He jerked his head back to the Founder and said, "he wants us to impress him."
Ron grinned ferally, "alright then, start with left, then go right?" he asked to the confusion of the others.
"You read my mind," Harry replied and they took a few paces back from each other. Harry transferring his wand into his left hand as he did so, glad that Ron remembered the scars affect on him. Rolling his head from side to side and shrugging his shoulders a few times, Harry got into position watching as Ron stretched his arms above his head, making his body appear even longer than it was. Ron shook himself much like Sirius did at times and then sent the first spell flying at Harry.
Harry quickly shielded against the slug-eating curse and followed up with powerful aguamenti. The water pouring from his wand reminiscent of a muggle firefighting truck. Ron sidestepped the spell and conjured a mirror, reflecting the water back to Harry.
Harry let the spell die and moved his wand straight into an disarming spell. Knowing that Ron would both expect it and be able to counter it he quickly followed it with a couple of recurring blasting spells. Ron's shield made it up in plenty of time, though Harry saw him tense as the spells hit. The redhead relaxed as the shield held and he physically pushed at the shield sending it spinning towards Harry.
Harry flicked his wand at the oncoming wall of magic and reshaped it. Ron's magic so familiar to his own after their years of duelling practice and adventures that it was an easy task for him. Had he tried to do it with someone that he wasn't as intimately familiar with their magic it would have been much harder to do. The magic he sent galloping back to Ron was his own patronus and it circled around his best mate, blinding and distracting him from Harry's other wand movements.
Ron took several steps back, Prongs continuing to roam in front of his vision and he narrowed his eyes as he watched for Harry's next spell. He cancelled the incarcerous spell just as it started to manifest and threw a couple of incendios back. "Warm enough?" he called as he finally dissipated the Patronus.
Harry's answering laugh was enough for him to know that the duel had reached it's changing point and he quickly rolled his shoulders as he waited for Harry to switch hands. He didn't disappoint and Ron was quickly hit with a succession of heavy spells. Throwing up shield after shield and holding them against the barrage, Ron grit his teeth as he waited for an opening. He saw Harry falter just before he cast the severing curse he had found in the old potions book and Ron knew this was his chance.
Dismantling his previous shields he redirected the magic into the ground, using an old Weasley family spell that Bill had tried to teach him over the previous summer. He hadn't gotten it then, but he had been practising now. Releasing that spell, he quickly blocked against the sectumsempra and was surprised to feel the lack of strength behind the spell. Pausing to see if his other spell had worked he watched Harry.
Harry frowned as he saw him take down his shields and thrust them into the ground, he hadn't seen Ron do anything like that before and now he was worried that the redhead wouldn't be able to block the curse he had just cast at him. He breathed out a sigh of relief though when Ron's attention snapped back up and a light blue curve of magic shot out from his wand to intercept the dark curse. He watched as Ron cocked his head waiting for something and Harry was surprised when the ground beneath him suddenly roiled and a giant stone hand reached up to encircle his waist.
He shot Ron a mixed look of surprised and impressed. Thinking quickly he sent a vibration spell through the rock, breaking it apart and causing the hand to crumble. Next, he cast a banishing spell and the pieces of rock flew towards Ron. A wall of stone shot up in front of the redhead and caught the shards before the hit him.
Harry expecting Ron to counter it somehow conjured a curved mirror unseen behind the taller teen and shot off a few disarming spells. Knowing that Ron would let the wide ones go.
"Come on, Harry! Your aim is better than that!" Ron called out just before he yelped and his wand spun out of his hand to land at Harry's feet.
"It is," Harry replied with a grin. Harry was panting, exhilarated and exhausted at the same time.
Ron wasn't faring much better, though the matching grin he shot Harry told him he was okay. Harry tucked his wand away and threw Ron's to him. Ron copied his earlier action and they walked forward to clap each other on the back. "That shield charm is coming along beautifully," Harry said to him.
Ron nodded, "could of put more power in that Prince spell, it barely tickled the shield."
"Right," Harry replied, spotting everyone hurrying over them. "I'll remember that."
"Good trick with the Patronus too, wasn't expecting that." Ron continued.
"What was up with the giant stone hand? You've been hiding that one from me!" Harry exclaimed and Ron smirked back.
"That was, that was," Daphne interrupted, unable to complete her sentence.
"Bloody brilliant!" Ginny exclaimed.
Tracey was looking at Ron wide-eyed, a little awed and everyone was soon involved in excited chatter about the duel. Blaise pulled Harry to one-side after a moment, "that was very impressive," he told the winner.
Harry looked up into his eyes and saw a fiery glint there, "oh? Did you like that?" his voice low. Blaise growled softly and pulled him up for a kiss. Harry went willingly but kept it chaste. He pulled back saying, "gotta go talk to Salazar, he said he'd have something for me if I impressed him." Blaise cocked an eyebrow but released Harry. Filling in the others as Harry walked over to the portrait.
Harry felt them come up behind him as he asked, "so? Did you see enough?"
Salazar's expression was thoughtful, but at last he nodded. "Behind my portrait is a room filled with eggs of every kind of snake I came across in my travels. My students, once they showed a certain proficiency, would pick one to become their familiar. I invite you to do the same. Use the holidays to get to know one another and when you come back in the new term, I will start teaching you."
"Uh, wow, thank you, Sir." Harry said awed at what he was being offered, not just a familiar, but a chance to learn from a founder. Salazar waved his thanks away and his portrait swung open. Dust and stale air blew out over them and caused them to start coughing. Hannah and Luna both cast a breeze charm, sweeping the air clear and the dust away from them. Harry stepped inside and cast a light spell, his heart dropping as he took in the sight of the decayed eggs. It became obvious that whatever stasis spells had been on the room had failed a long time ago and the eggs, lacking warmth and nutrition, had cracked open and died.
"Oh, this is so sad," Susan said as she came up behind Harry to look around.
Harry nodded and walked in deeper, the light bobbing along next to him. He walked past rows of shelving and nests, stopping when he came to the end. He felt frustrated, his magic was restless, as if it knew there was something here.
"What is it, Harry?" Blaise asked, hearing Harry's dissatisfied noise.
Harry shook his head, "I don't know, I just, there should be something here."
Goyle's deep voice spoke a spell, "creaturarevela." Harry turned his head to look back at the large Slytherin, "there is, this spell is similar to the 'homenum revelio' spell. My family created it. This shows the presence of one living non-human."
Being reminded of a spell, Harry pulled his wand out, "quaesitum," he whispered and his wand spun to point off to his left, following his wand tip he came to a row of shelves. His wand tugged his hand downwards and he knelt, brushing away the cobwebs and centuries worth of dust and filth. His hand came in contact with something that was mildly warmer than the stones around it. Gentling his movements he felt the rounded shape and picked it up. Cancelling the charm on his wand he carefully rubbed his sleeve over the egg as he walked back towards the others. They all stepped back out into the main hall and crowded around to see what Harry had found. There were a few gasps as Harry's scant cleaning revealed a shell unlike which they had ever seen.
"I've never seen anything like that before!" Tracey cried.
"An occamy's egg is similar." Greg informed them, "but it's all silver. Not made up of many metals like this one appears to be."
And indeed, the egg shimmered with hues of bronze, copper, platinum, silver, gold and even the soft dull grey of lead swirling together to form a hard, impenetrable exterior.
"Show me," came Salazar's commanding voice and the group surrounding Harry parted so his path to the portrait was clear. The founder hummed thoughtfully before he spoke, "I only ever encountered one egg such as this, it was very early in my travels through South America when I was exploring the Aztec temples with Godric. I've never had one student even give it a second glance."
"I could feel it, Sir," Harry replied, "I knew it was in there. I'm, er, sorry to tell you that the stasis charms didn't hold up. The other eggs.. They perished."
Salazar rolled his thin lips together, "That is most unfortunate. But you say you felt this one?"
Harry nodded, "I couldn't tell where it was right away, but I knew there was something in there."
Salazar stroked his pointed beard, "in that case, this one truly is your familiar. Behind that door," he pointed to a pale wooden door with a jade inlay of a serpent, "is the Parselmouth Library. In there you will find several books on hatching and raising your familiar, regardless of species. Take them, read them. Hatch your familiar and get to know them. When you come back from your holidays I will begin your training."
Harry was a little wide-eyed as he replied with a bow, "thank you, Sir." Salazar inclined his head to Harry and then called Daphne, Greg and Theo forward. Continuing to speak to them about events of the past, asking them many questions to catch himself up with all the events that had taken place whilst he had slept. Daphne also filled him in on the current events surrounding themselves and Harry and their plans for the future.
Harry and the others gathered and after some discussion, Ron and Blaise followed him into the Parsel library while the others made their way into the Salazar's office, having asked the man where he kept his journals so they might peruse them and use them for their goals.
Harry pushed open the door slowly, his egg still cradled in one arm. The room was large, but not overly so. The walls were lined with bookshelves, and a few freestanding cabinets filled the interior space. There was nowhere to sit, so Harry assumed there must be another room dedicated to study. After taking in the sight of the dark oak lined room filled with dusty volumes, he glanced at Ron and they shared a bittersweet grimace. Blaise noticed the look and stepped closer to Harry.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Nothing, it's just," Harry sighed, "Hermione would have loved this."
Before anything more could be said on the subject, Harry moved to section labelled familiars and started to peruse the titles there.
He pulled several books from the shelves and started slightly when Blaise gently took them from him and shrunk them down to fit into his bag. "Thanks." Harry said softly as he adjusted his grip on his egg.
"So," Ron said as Harry continued to look around the library, "seeing as though we have pretty much everything we were looking for, and more to boot. Are we still going to go into, what did he call it? The Serpent's Hall?"
Harry chewed his lip, "well, we know that Basilisk fangs can destroy Horcruxes don't we?"
Ron sighed and looked at the ground, "yeah we do, alright then."
Blaise took the last of the books Harry had collected for the moment as the Seeker approached his friend. "It'll be okay, Ron." he said.
Ron blew a disbelieving noise out of his nose but nodded anyway. Harry gave him an encouraging smile and a clap on the shoulder before they left the library. Ron moved ahead of them as Blaise wrapped an arm around Harry's waist.
"We can always come back later," he murmured to Harry.
Harry gave him a fleeting, grateful smile but shook his head. "Better to get it over with," he returned as they pushed open the door to the Founders office. "How'd you guys go?" he asked the others.
"Pretty good!" replied Hannah and Neville at the same time, causing the other's to grin at their expense.
"They keep saying the same thing," Susan said, filling in Harry, Blaise and Ron.
"We found letters and correspondence between the founders as well as Slytherin's journals." Tracy told them, "though the journals seemed to require a parseltongue password and I'd guess they are written in the same." Harry nodded as they watched Dean and Ginny shrink the items down to store in the bags Seamus was holding open.
Luna came bounding up to Harry, practically vibrating on the spot. "I found a letter to Salazar from Rowena Ravenclaw! She talks about an expedition to Sweden where she encountered Crumple-Horned Snorkacks!" The normally placid blonde squealed with excitement as she clutched the parchments to her chest.
"That's amazing!" Harry exclaimed with a broad grin.
Luna threw herself at Harry, hugging him tightly, "thank you so much for bringing me down here!" She let him go and bounded over to Neville to chat animatedly to him about her find.
Eventually they all made their way out of the office, having grabbed everything they thought necessary for now. They collected the other three Slytherins from the main hall and said goodbye to Salazar for the meantime.
Now, they stood in front of the door to what would lead them to the Chamber that Harry and Ginny remembered. To the Chamber that still haunted their dreams. Taking a deep breath, Harry pushed open the door.
Entering the vast room silently, the only sound they could hear was the steady drip, drip of water hitting the stone floor. Harry, Blaise and Ginny entered first. Harry's tight grip on Blaise's hand, and Ginny's pinched face the only hint at the feelings they felt about returning to this place.
They walked further in and as they came out from behind the serpent statues, they saw the still intact carcass of Salazar's familiar. There were several gasps and not a few swear words let loose as Harry's friends took in the sight before them. Harry barely heard them as his feet towed him closer, his grip on Blaise's hand becoming painful for the darker boy as Harry spied the large brownish stain on the floor.
Harry abruptly stopped, unable to look away from that spot even as the others could not draw their eyes from the slain serpent. Ginny came to stand next to Harry again and she nudged his shoulder with her own. He finally dragged his eyes away and met her blazing bright brown eyes. He slipped his egg into his pocket and wrapped one arm around her shoulders. They stood there side by side for the moment and Harry felt Blaise squeeze his hand in reassurance, Harry looked at his boyfriend with gratitude in his eyes. He tightened his arm around Ginny reassuringly as Ron stepped up to hug his sister, and Harry let her go to move into the circle of Blaise's embrace.
Blaise ducked his head to whisper in Harry's ear, "this is where you found Ginerva?"
Harry nodded, his nose brushing against Blaise's firm chest as he did so, "yeah, this is, this is where I stabbed the basilisk and the diary." he said gesturing to the bloodstain and the previously unnoticed black stain beside it.
Blaise bowed his head fractionally in recognition. He saw the large brownish stain on the floor, knowing that to be his mate's blood made his own blood ignite in anger at the actions that Harry had been made to take at such a young age. Harry stood holding onto Blaise until Greg's voice registered.
"You haven't harvested this."
"Sorry?" Harry posited from the safety of Blaise's arms.
"You haven't harvested any of the ingredients from this, you could make your grandchildren rich just from this kill," said Greg.
"Oh, um, I guess, I never thought about it." Harry replied as he turned in Blaise's tight hold. The other teen's arms coming to rest around his waist.
Greg looked at him, "would you allow me to harvest this on your behalf?"
"I suppose we probably should. Are you sure you can do it?" Harry asked.
Greg gave him a dry look, "of course, I will need special tools and there are some books at home that I will need to get hold of, but I will manage. It will take some time as it quite a lot larger than I have ever heard of but it can be done."
Harry nodded, "I'll see about getting some bottomless trunks for you over the holidays, that way we can store it until we decide what to do with it. Are we able to get some venom from it now though?"
Greg hummed thoughtfully as he stepped closer to the mouth of the beast, and Theo paled slightly at his action and hurried to stand next to him, wand drawn.
Daphne looked at Harry speculatively, "for the horcruxes?" She asked to which he made an affirmative noise.
They all watched as Greg stood between the open jaws of the snake and cast various spells over the large fangs. He pulled a pair of Dragonhide gloves from his pocket and directed Theo to use a cutting spell in a particular spot. Using his hands and the large muscles in his arms he worked the fang free from the still pink gum.
"There's a bag in the left pocket of my robes, can you get it out please, Theo?" Greg asked softly.
Theo met Greg's eyes and swallowed heavily before nodding slowly and stepping closer to the bulky Slytherin. He pulled the robes away from Greg's body and reached a hand inside to grab the object requested. Once he felt the material, he quickly pulled it out and let the robes fall back into place. He opened the bag and Greg leaned in closer to place the tooth inside.
Greg noticed the tense way Theo was holding himself and he ducked his head a little to catch his eye. When Theo met his gaze he gave him a small private smile and thanked him. Theo blushed darkly and looked down to hide his face. Greg turned back to the basilisk and after a few more cutting charms, had removed one of the venom sacs. Theo conjured a glass container and Greg lowered the sac gently into it. After sealing the box with a few charms that too went into the bag.
"Well, My Lord, I'll need to extract it properly into vials, but there should be a fair amount there. I'd say enough to dispose of what we need to with plenty left over."
Harry nodded, tensing slightly at the term of address, "that's great news." He said as a cheer went up from Seamus and Dean, echoing around the chamber. Their excited looks turning guilty as Daphne and Tracy both shot them a glare for their noisy exuberance.
"Slytherin said this chamber led into the forest, where do you suppose that is?" Asked Neville.
Harry chewed his lip thoughtfully as he looked around. Ginny was the one who answered him though.
"Through the statue," she said hesitantly. "I think I remember walking through the statue."
She and Harry shared a look before he moved out of Blaise's hold and walked across the large expanse to stand in front of the carving. He slipped his hand into his pocket and caressed the warm egg inside, hissing at the stone bust the same words he remembered Riddle saying, "speak to me, greatest of the founders four."
He rolled his eyes a little at the phrase and watched as the jaw dropped.
The others came to stand around him and they all stared into the darkness.
"Uh, Harry?" Ron's voice came from his left. "We going in there?"
Harry looked at his friend and then followed his gaze upwards to the top of the cave. He snorted at what he saw, "seems like they haven't had anything to flee for a while hey, mate?"
Ron just swallowed loudly.
Everyone jumped a bit when a controlled incendio lit up the fine silken webs. All eyes turned Tracey as she smoothed her skirt nonchalantly. Ron gave her a weak smile, "you're brilliant you know that?"
Tracey blushed and slipped her hand in his. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and ducking her head as she did so.
Harry met Ron's blushing gaze and raised his eyebrows a couple of times as Susan and Hannah lit the cave with Lumos spells.
They all drew their wands and proceeded into the cave slowly. Ginny had one hand inside the hessian bag, quite obviously gripping the rooster she had caught.
They walked for a few hundred metres when they came across an opening on their left. The two Hufflepuff girls had taken it upon themselves to provide the light and after a nod from Harry they quickly sent spells in there as well.
Daphne and Seamus both shrieked as the large body of a snake was seen.
"It's alright," Harry and Ron's voices carried over the group, "it's just a skin."
"Bloody life like skin," Dean muttered, his usual dark complexion showing a pallor not generally seen on the teen. Gently Dean pried Seamus's tight grip from his bicep and they all entered slowly. Fanning out to search the round den.
"I guess this must have been where Boudica slept," Blaise pontificated.
Harry was about agree when Neville called to him. "Erm, Harry? You might want to come and take a look at this."
He frowned at the tremble in Neville's voice and exchanged a look with Luna. She just shrugged and said, "each founder needs a representative."
Harry's eyes went wide as he took in the meaning of her words and he hurried over to where his fellow Gryffindor stood. "Fuck," he breathed out.
"Is that what I think it is?" Theo asked, his voice shaking worse than Neville's had.
"If you think it's a basilisk egg, then yes," Greg answered.
"Bloody hell," swore Ron.
"What do we do with it?" Asked Ginny after a few moments.
"What do you mean 'do with it'?" snapped Daphne.
"Well, we can't leave it here, can we?" reasoned Susan.
"Why not?" answered Dean.
"Because we can't risk someone else finding it," said Harry stepping forwards. He picked up the egg and transfigured a bag out of the shedded skin on the ground.
"You can't mean to hatch it, Harry?" Seamus said aghast.
Harry shook his head, "no, I won't be it's bonded. What I am going to do is lock it in my trunk until we can find who it's meant for and if it happens to hatch hopefully I'll be able to talk to it enough until then."
"That's a good idea, Harry." Blaise said, his quiet but authoritative voice ringing through the den. The others agreed though Harry noted they kept a wary eye on the bag that was now slung over his shoulder.
They made their way down the rest of the corridor and came to another door similar to the one that Harry had went through when he was twelve. Snakes lay across the circular door and moved to unlock it when he hissed at them to open. The door swung inwards and there was a small covered alcove covering the entrance and sitting there inside the alcove, protected from the weather and from sight, was a familiar blue car.
Ron let out a burst of laughter and doubled over clutching his stomach. Harry snorted and shook his head both at his friend and at the absurdity of finding the car there after all this time. The car's engine started up and the lights flashed at them. Harry stood to the side and swept a hand, "do you want to come in?" he asked it.
The car tooted it's horn merrily and trundled inside, Harry still shaking his head with a grin on his face gestured everyone back inside and they made their way back to the serpents chamber. Ron still stifling his laughter.
"What's with the car?" asked Theo as they left it behind to enter the main chamber.
Harry and Ron shared a grin, "it's how we got to school in second year." They launched into the retelling of the story and their subsequent battle with the whomping willow as they all stood around the exit. Soon after some much needed laughter and levity they were all setting off on their separate ways as the night was starting to draw to a close.
Harry, Blaise and the three girls they now shared the Room of Requirement with all bid each other goodnight and parted until the morning.
Harry was sitting on their bed waiting for Blaise cradling his new familiar. He had already placed the basilisk egg within his trunk and placed some powerful wards and locking charms on it. Hedwig had flown in and perched herself on his shoulder and she was peering down at the swirling mix of metal with curiosity. Harry had one hand buried in her soft feathers as the other stroked the smooth surface. He had one of the books open in front of him and the others spread out around him.
He didn't hear the bathroom door open to admit Blaise to the room, he did however hear Blaise say, "you look like how I would imagine a young Merlin."
Harry looked up at him blinking owlishly, "What?"
Blaise snorted elegantly and moved to place himself at Harry's side. Hedwig hooted softly and flew over to perch on the stand in the corner of the room. "I said, you look like a young Merlin, sitting here with books no-one but you can understand, an owl on your shoulder and an egg in your lap." He grinned lightly as Harry rolled his eyes at him.
"Oh I do not," he retorted as he pushed Blaise lightly with one hand.
Blaise just leaned back in to trail his nose over Harry's neck, "oh but you do, and you're as powerful as he was too. Or will be. I saw that in your duel earlier."
"Honestly, I'm not-"
"You are," Blaise interrupted, pulling Harry's face around so that he could meet his eyes, "you are that good. Never let anyone tell you any different. You are amazing Harry, and not because of what happened when you were a baby. But because of what you do, the choices you make, and just who you are."
Harry wasn't sure what to say to that, so he just leant forward to meet Blaise's lips with his own. The kiss was soft and chaste, and didn't last nearly long enough in Harry's opinion.
"We should get some sleep, Salazar only knows what is tomorrow is going to bring."
Harry was about to retort when a yawn overtook him. Blinking sleepily he waved a hand at the books and watched as they stacked themselves on his bedside table. Burrowing down under the soft covers, he tucked the egg into the curve of his stomach and Blaise arranged himself behind Harry. Pulling the Gryffindor flush against his him and slotting a leg between his, they quickly fell asleep entwined with each other.
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AN: Also: don't forget to find me on facebook: www . facebook ariel . sakura . 100 for update times, snippets and even just a chat! :D
I'm also on Ao3 under the same username and I have a few more works posted there as they are of a more "ahem" adult nature.
PS: I want to shout out to [R] - who I can't talk to otherwise because they have a guest account/anonymous account. Thank you for checking in on me, your care and support means a lot. The timing of this update is for you lovey and I would love it if you reached out to me.