A/N: And here's the next chapter! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Godzilla. I only own my original ideas.
Chapter 43: Meeting in the Chamber
After getting to meet Sirius, Harry returned to Hogwarts, and school life returned to about as normal as it ever got at Hogwarts… well with the exception of Dumbledore being in a foul mood. Honestly, on some days he made Snape seem cheerful. Some people began wondering what had gotten his woolen socks in a twist. In fact, the Weasley twins joked that someone must have transfigured his lemon drops into lumps of coal. The twins' mood was much improved once the Marauder's Map made its way back into their hands. Over time, Remus and McGonagall told Harry more about his parents, both the good and the bad.
Harry continued his work, both for classes and his extra-curricular studies. He'd slip down to the Chamber of Secrets, and practiced the draconic magic he was rediscovering. Ithnari and Salazar's Portrait were good conversation as usual, and Remus enjoyed conversing with the Portrait after getting over his (justified) fear of the Basilisk, finding Salazar to be quite likeable. He didn't judge Remus for his condition, and instead was understanding.
"So you're afflicted with Lycanthropy?" said Salazar, "how do you deal with it?"
"As well as I can, I was turned by a complete monster, Fenrir Greyback while I was quite young. Greyback takes particular pleasure in infecting small children," said Remus, "I take time off from work around the full moon… when I can find a job. Luckily, despite our past differences, Severus Snape has been providing me with Wolfsbane Potion, which helps me keep control during the transformation. As well, I've got a safe space outside the school I go to on the Full Moon".
"Yes, Harry has informed me the Ministry has enacted laws to hold you back," Salazar said, "it is truly that bad?"
"Worse," said Remus, "they treat anyone who's not a pureblood as second class citizens, and anyone with non human blood even lower than that. The Goblins, Centaurs, Mermaids, and many others are treated as little more than beasts".
"Disgusting," said Salazar, "we built this school, this fortress to protect any magical, human or otherwise, who are in need. You must remember, when we built this place, the world was a less civil place than it is now, it wasn't uncommon for travelers to be accosted on the road by bandits and highwaymen, muggles feared our power, and we needed to hide, needed a safe place to take shelter if someone organized an army against us. That why Hogwarts is such a grand castle. We needed a fortress just in case. More than that, this chamber was not only my private study, but an emergency shelter, a fortress within a fortress with Ithnari as its guardian".
"Fortunately, that purpose was never needed," hissed Ithnari.
"I don't know how accepting they'd be to us today," said Remus, "I'm sure some would welcome us but…"
There was a pulse of magical power, and Harry, currently in the form of Asulmagus lifted his head to look at them.
"Not all muggles are like the Dursleys'," rumbled Asulmagus, "but some would fear us, some would accept us, and some would seek to use us as little but a resource".
"Wha… how are you suddenly talking?" said Remus.
"New spell I've been working on," rumbled Asulmagus, "a translation spell to allow me to converse in any tongue. Also, you forgot dragons".
"What do you mean?" asked Remus.
"Did you know that long ago when dragons first came to this world, many of them were powerful mages in their own right?" explained Asulmagus, "Around the time Hogwarts was founded, the number of magic capable dragon began to decrease, likely due to the need for wand cores".
"Ah, my apologies," said Salazar, "If I had know..."
"I do not blame you for the actions of the wand-makers and dragon slayers," said Asulmagus, "and I doubt all of them were as civil as me. However, about a century ago, the birthrate of magic-capable dragons dropped to nearly zero, and those that hatched were sickly and died young. Nicolas believes that Dumbledore used his research on dragonblood in some sort of dark ritual".
"Yet you are capable of powerful magic," said Salazar.
"Yes, two summers ago, after I completed my first year here, I was contacted by a council of elder dragon spirits, and they tasked me to rediscover the lost magic of dragonkind, be the catalyst to breaking this curse," said Asulmagus, "as you can see, I'm making progress".
"As nice as it's been talking to you, please don't take this the wrong way but you're a lot more civil that I expected," said Remus.
"Yes, troublesome how distorted the lens of history can become," said Salazar, "though the actions of Riddle haven't helped in that matter".
"Well, if it's any consolation, I know of at least a few people were were sorted into Slytherin who were good people, two women born into the Black family in fact: Andromeda Tonks and Dorea Potter".
"I might have allowed myself to be sorted into Slytherin… or any other house, for that matter if not for Dumbledore," said Asulmagus, "though it might have been a bad idea for me to be there with Malfoy's presence… that could have gotten messy".
"Unfortunately, young Mr. Malfoy takes after his father." Said Remus, "and his father was one of Riddle's biggest financial backers. In any case, it's been nice meeting you, Salazar, but we should get back up to the castle proper before someone notices our absence".
"Oh, I understand," said Salazar, "we can talk more later".
Asulmagus reactivated his limiter and together Remus and Harry headed out through a secret passage Salazar had told them about.
"It seems Asulmagus is working hard to achieve his destiny," said Salazar, "He truly exemplifies the best aspects of all four Houses. He has the Bravery to step forwards and accept his role, the Loyalty and work ethic to achive his goal, the Wit and willingness to learn to seek out that others would see forgotten, and the Ambition and Cunning necessary to succeed in his tasks".
"Yes, and now he has more loyal allies," said Ithnari, "he erodes the spider's web, and moves closer to slaying the false serpent".
"The wolf will stay at his side, and the hound will join him soon," said Salazar, "but I worry something else will come, and pile more on the young one's shoulders".
"He is strong," said Ithnari in agreement, "but the hopes and fate of entire races rests upon him. We can only hope he will not break under the strain".
Ithnari slithered off to her sleeping chamber, curling up on her favorite heated stone. As she slept, a strange dream came to her.
The spider watched as its web was weakened, spinning new webs to strengthen in again, not even realizing it was becoming tangled in its own web. Asulmagus stood before the castle, roaring to the heavens. Something screamed earthwards, a beast of machine and nerve melded together. The spider scuttled forwards, sinking its fangs into the machine-beast. It writhed, as the spider's venom coursed through it, trying to make it the spider's slave. Ithnari could not tell whether or not the spider's attack had been effective, but it leapt at Asulmagus with its hooked claws, intending grievous harm upon him.
Ithnari woke with a start, and hissed in anger at what she'd seen. Droplets of venom spilled from her fangs, sizzling as they pitted the floor.
'The Spider grows bold,' thought Ithnari, 'If not for the rules against harming those for reside here, it would be naught but prey. But no, patience is necessary, his dark ambitions will lead to his downfall. Struggle all you like, Spider, your web of lies is soon to crumble. The Azure Wyrm, the child of magic and ancient fire will tear down your falsehoods and reveal the truth that lies beneath'.
A/N: And there we go! Next time, Space Invader. See you then!