Written for QLFC: Season 9, Round

Team: Kenmare Kestrels (Captain)

Prompt: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley - Write about an action or event that has major consequences.

Summary: Salazar Slytherin doesn't agree with the other founders of Hogwarts. He believes only those of pure blood are worthy to become a student under his name. So he creates a chamber and brings a monster into the world. A monster who has three masters over the course of her lifetime.

Warnings: Mentions of blood and lots of mentions of snakes and a bit of murder and attempted murder. And blood supremacy and well… it's a fic about the Basilisk.

Disclaimer: "Speak to me, Slytherin, greatest of the Hogwarts Four." This is word for word from the second book. It is the only thing that is quoted, though.

Word count (excluding AN): 1244

The Serpent of Slytherin

993 CE

Salazar's steps echoed through the tunnels, the sharp click of the heel of his boot reverberating around him as he made his way through the winding path he had created. He ambled, not in any particular hurry. He wanted to take in everything that he could, knowing that he wouldn't be able to come down for quite some time. By the next morning, the first students would arrive at Hogwarts, and Salazar would have classes to teach and minds to mold. Plus, Godric had become much too watchful for Salazar's taste, and he wasn't sure he could manage sneaking down here again without the other man becoming too suspicious.

But there was one last thing that he had to do before he could be satisfied with the creation of his chamber. He had to give it a habitant. One that would do the work he knew he could never do with Godric, Helga, and Rowena's presence at the school. One that would, once his generation had passed on, purge Hogwarts of all of those who were unworthy. One that would only obey someone with Salazar's blood and mindset—a true Heir of Slytherin.

He carried a box under his left arm, two things inside it: a chicken egg, nearly ready to hatch, and a toad. He had done enough research to know what he was creating.

After some time, he came upon a wall with two twisted serpents, pleased to see that their emerald eyes still gleamed as brightly as the day he had first set them, what was it... ten? Fifteen years ago? It had taken him a lot of time and magic to create his chamber under the noses of the other founders, just as it had taken all four of them years upon years of work to create Hogwarts as a whole. Neither Hogwarts nor the Chamber of Secrets had been made in a day.

Once he had commanded his stone serpents to open the chamber, he stepped through into the long room, green flames erupting along the walls and illuminating the path before him. He sauntered past each pillar with a smirk on his lips, all seething with carefully carved snakes. He admired his handiwork, pride bolstering his steps.

At last, he came upon the statue of himself, and knelt reverently before it, placing the box at his stone feet. His smirk grew into an almost manic grin. Salazar felt giddy with the knowledge that before the passing of the hour, the Serpent of Slytherin would be born.

.

1943

Finally.

Tom Riddle held his breath as the Chamber of Secrets opened before him, his eyes flickering across the pillars that lined the walkway. He released his breath, his school-issued shoes echoing as he strode into the chamber, the sound getting lost in the high ceiling.

He didn't break his stride until he came face to face with Salazar Slytherin, struck silent—breathless—by the raw power he felt coming from the statue.

"Speak to me, Slytherin, greatest of the Hogwarts Four." The words weren't necessarily planned, but as with most magic, the intent behind them mattered more than the phrase spoken. And Tom Riddle was nothing if not intent.

As Salazar Slytherin's mouth opened up, letting loose the King of Serpents, Tom Riddle felt his anticipation growing. He, Tom Marvolo Riddle… no… Lord Voldemort. He was the Heir of Slytherin, and it was time for him to purge Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry of its impurities.

The Basilisk seemed to recognize him as Slytherin's Heir, for once she had escaped the confines of her cave, she didn't raise her gaze. Instead, she nudged her snout against the palm of his hand, and he had to fight back a grin.

"Come," he said, letting the Parseltongue slither past his lips. "We have work to do."

The Serpent of Slytherin seemed all too eager to begin, delightfully making her first kill, however accidental. Neither the snake nor the wizard had known that the Mudblood Myrtle Warren had chosen their bathroom to cry in.

But it didn't matter. The girl was dead, and Lord Voldemort couldn't help but kneel beside her body with satisfaction.

For, from her, he could make his first horcrux.

.

1993

Ginny didn't know where the diary came from. All she knew was that it was in her possession, and within its pages was the most understanding and beautiful soul she had ever come across.

She let Tom Riddle slip his way into her heart from the pages of his diary, telling her secrets about the castle, promising that he would always remain beside her. That he would always be a good friend. That she could tell him anything.

She trusted him.

So when he asked to live through her, just for an hour, she willingly agreed.

And that's when the first blackout happened—a bit of her life that she couldn't seem to remember until it was too late. Until the next time Tom Riddle needed her to let out the Basilisk. It all came down on her with a crashing clarity, and the knowledge of what she had done weighed heavily on her heart.

She didn't mean to open the Chamber of Secrets. She didn't mean to let the Basilisk roam free. She didn't want to hurt anyone, not even Mrs. Norris.

When she realized she was in the chamber, surrounded by pillars seething with serpents, she let out a panicked cry, desperate to run away. Desperate to stop all of this.

But Tom Riddle wouldn't let her. "My little Ginny, don't you see?" he whispered, the part of his soul that had connected to hers now speaking directly into her mind. Her knees buckled at the sound of his voice echoing across her thoughts.

"You cannot run from this. You have already given yourself to me, and together we will finish what I started fifty years ago. What Salazar Slytherin started a thousand years ago."

He stood before her now, so beautiful it made her heart ache. He was barely visible. He looked to be little more than a memory. Or a hallucination.

Ginny turned her gaze down. Her hands were covered in blood.

"Call the Basilisk again, my little Ginny. It's time to go hunting."

She wished she could stop it. She wished she could say no. But Tom Riddle had a tight hold on her soul, and when she opened her mouth, it was to beckon the Serpent of Slytherin.

And the next day, she didn't remember what she had done or why there was blood underneath her fingernails.

She was back to being a young girl, nothing on her mind but the diary that contained a kind soul, her classes, and Harry Potter. Oh how she hoped Harry Potter would notice her.

And a small part of her… a tiny part of her that she didn't even know existed… hoped he would save her.

.

993 CE

Salazar hummed, pleased with his work as his Basilisk, still tiny… just barely born, slithered around and through his fingers. She wanted to explore, Salazar could hear it in her mind. She wanted to feel her Master while she was still small enough to do so, knowing she would grow too large for simple pleasures like this in a short amount of time.

"Now, now, my precious," he hissed, the Parseltongue sliding smoothly over his tongue. "I have to leave. But do not worry. You will do great things."