The Dark Heir
Author Notes:
Chapter 22: The Second Floor Bathroom
No one really cared that Mrs. Norris had been petrified. Nor did it cause widespread panic.
If anything, the whole school now knew Filch was a squib.
Granger had apparently gotten on Filch's bad side during the early start of term. Apparently, she was tracking mud throughout the courtyard, and Filch wasn't happy. Believing she had intentionally created more work for being thoughtless.
While in her office, Peeves began wreaking havoc in the awards room once more, causing Filch to chase after Peeves. Granger had learned that Filch was a squib.
Squibs were laughed at within the wizarding world.
Wizards who are born without magic.
At least muggleborns like Granger could use magic.
After weeks of looking up any information on the Chamber of Secrets, they found little information.
"Professor," Granger asks, raising her hand as Professor McGonagall goes on her lecture regarding the transfiguration spell.
"Yes, what is it, Ms. Granger?" says Professor McGonagall.
"I was wondering, can you tell us about the history of the Chamber of Secrets," Hermione says in a soft voice.
The room falls silent as all eyes turn to Professor McGonagall.
Professor McGonagall looks nervously before pulling out a watch and looks at the time.
"Very well, we have some time.
"As you know, Hogwarts was founded by four gifted witches and wizards. The schoolhouses are named after them. Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff, Godric Gryffindor, and Salazar Slytherin.
"Salazar Slytherin wished to be more selective for students at Hogwarts. He believed only magical children should be emitted within Hogwarts. In other words, Purebloods. The other founders didn't agree with Slytherin's ideology.
"Before Salazar Slytherin left the school, rumors suggested he built a Chamber of Secrets. A hidden room that only his true heir would open and unleash the horror within to rid the school of its muggleborns," says Professor McGonagall.
"Professor, what do you mean by… the 'horror within?'" asks Ernie MacMillan.
"The horror within suggests Salazar Slytherin left behind a monster of some kind inside the Chamber," says Professor McGonagall.
Everyone falls silent as some students look at each other nervously.
"There is no monster," says Professor McGonagall.
"Salazar Slytherin lived over a thousand years ago, and whatever creature he may have left in that Chamber has long since passed. Countless Headmasters and Headmistresses have searched for the Chamber and have never found it," says Professor McGonagall.
"But if Slytherin's own true heir could unless the monster…" says Hannah Abbott.
"Silence," says Professor McGonagall.
"This is not the first time someone has done this in Hogwarts. Once every few years, students have played this prank upon the school. As we have yet to see any attack to suggest the Chamber of Secrets has been open, the school has little reason to fear this prank. Now, everyone, return to your lessons."
Everyone felt better after listening to Professor McGonagall.
Harry bows his head and looks at his Transfiguration book but doesn't read the context.
Unknown to anyone, he and Delphi were children of You-Know-Who and, therefore, the last remaining Heirs to Slytherin.
Even though Harry had the Black family's last name, Delphi took her mother's maiden family name. They both knew the Dark Lord was their biological father.
Harry pauses, remembering what Andromeda told him over the summer.
His father had countless witches at his beck and call.
Was it possible that he had gotten another witch pregnant during the years of courting his mother and aunts?
Professor McGonagall's words did cause some relief.
Apparently, students played the prank of the Chamber of Secrets opening upon the school to frighten everyone.
Harry and Delphi would have to keep their parseltongue secret even more now.
Who knows how the school would react upon learning they were parseltongue.
Harry already had it set that his father was Regulus Black, even though it was a lie. On the other hand, Delphi's father was unknown to the public. Bellatrix has never released that information.
November arrived, and Mrs. Norris's attack soon became forgotten as a harmless prank.
Filch didn't believe so.
He would patrol the school, more paranoid than ever.
He would pop up around the area where Mrs. Norris had been tied to the torch as if expecting her attacker to reappear.
He also began to torment Granger, popping up when she left her classes or walking the hallway.
Olivia Potter once had sanctuary in the library from her brother and best friend.
Now she was hanging in the second-floor bathroom with Harry, Delphi, Dora, and Artemis.
"Your brother still trying to corner you?" asks Harry.
"He wants me to begin practicing Longbottom," says Olivia.
"Practicing?" repeats Artemis.
Olivia didn't say, but it was clear they were trying to dominate her.
"They want you to spend time on your knees," says Harry.
Olivia says nothing as she turns away in both anger and frustration.
The second-floor bathroom had become somewhat of a safe haven. They could talk freely without the fear of anyone coming inside.
Harry pauses, hearing voices outside.
The girls heard it too.
The door begins to open. Harry grabs Olivia and quickly bolts and hides in the stalls.
"Granger," sneers Delphi.
Great.
Granger would rat on Harry in a heartbeat.
"Oh um… I didn't think anyone would be in here," says Granger.
"What's taking so long," says Neville.
Neville and James had forced their way inside. Shoving Granger to the side as Ron, ever so faithful, follows.
"Get out!" shouts Delphi.
"This is the girl's loo!" shouts Dora.
"What are you doing here, Blacks?" sneers Neville.
Olivia hugs Harry tightly in the stall, hoping her brother wouldn't know she was in here.
"OUT!" bellows Delphi as she pulls out her wand.
"Ron! That's the girl's loo! What are you doing?" shouts Percy Weasley.
"Nothing," Ron says quickly.
"All you boys, get out!" shouts Percy.
"You can't be serious!" says Neville.
"Is there a problem?" says a cold voice.
Professor Snape had arrived.
"Nothing, Professor. I was ordering my brother and his friends out the girl's lavatory," says Percy at once.
"It's out of order," protests Neville.
"Detention, all three of you. Despite being out of order, this is the girl's lavatory. As there are girls currently present inside, you do not have the right to enter," says Snape.
"What's this?" shouts Filch.
The commotion was drawing in a lot of attention.
Filch looks at Granger and smiles darkly at her.
"This is the girls' lavatory, Filch. No crime has been committed," says Snape.
Filch looks at Granger, trying to find some fault with Snape's logic.
"Very well," says Filch.
"Take Mr. Weasley, Mr. Potter, and Mr. Longbottom to my office. There I will speak to them regarding their detention. Also… fifty points from Gryffindor," says.
The boys had no choice but to leave as Filch escorts them to Snape's office.
Percy turns and leaves, knowing his job is done. As a goody too shoe, he wouldn't linger near the girls' lavatory any longer than needed.
Delphi and Dora stare down at Granger, silently asking why she's still present.
Granger, seeing no reason to stay, turns and leaves.
Dora locks the door the moment Granger leaves.
"We really should look into locking spells," Harry says, stepping out of the stall.
Olivia steps out, looking somewhat relieved that her brother didn't see her.
"You know, it may not be a bad idea to make this place more presentable. We could also look into cleaning charms," says Dora.
"I wouldn't know about that," says Moaning Mrytle.
Everyone looks at Moaning Mrytle, who finally decided to return to her toilet.
"He's a boy. What's he doing here?" says Mrytle.
"None of your business," snaps Delphi.
"We should think about bringing some chairs in here," says Harry.
"Maybe a bed," says Delphi.
"So why are you all here?" asks Mrytle.
Delphi says nothing as she fires a curse at Mrytle, causing her to yelp.
Mrytle crying flies away.
Harry says nothing as Mrytle disappears down the floor.
"So Artemis, two more years, and your mother is going to be a baby maker," says Delphi.
"Easy for you to say. We have to wait till we graduate until we start having kids," says Artemis.
"If this was the old days, we could get pregnant next year or within two," says Dora.
"This isn't the old days. New laws have been placed that prevent underage pregnancies," says Harry.
"It sucks, but it's perhaps for the best," says Dora.
"Speaking of which, who are you taking as your wife?" asks Delphi.
"You know I'll decide after graduating Hogwarts," says Harry.
Olivia knew what they were talking about but still flushes upon hearing it being spoken in front of her.
"So Olivia, how many kids are you going to have?" asks Dora.
"Eh?" says Olivia.
"How many kids do you plan on having?" asks Dora.
Olivia mutters something as she blushes about thinking about having kids.
Harry smiles as he sits down.
"Did you know your brother had this?" asks Delphi as she pulls an invisibility cloak from her bag.
Olivia's eyes open wide upon seeing the Invisibility Cloak.
"It was my dad's. I heard from my mom he would roam the grounds of Hogwarts under his invisibility cloak. I didn't think James had it," says Olivia.
"It's ours now," grins Delphi.
"So that's why he was harping about over the summer. He was really upset he had lost the cloak. We offered to buy him a new cloak, but he didn't say he lost our father's Invisibility Cloak," says Olivia.
Harry lets out a smile knowing that James Potter would accuse the Blacks, but he had no solid proof they had the Invisibility Cloak.
"What did your mom say when you showed her the cloak?" asks Harry.
"You mean when she jumped out of her skin," says Dora.
Delphi laughs as she remembers the memory.
Delphi had followed them down the stairs under the invisibility cloak and hid behind her mother. Bellatrix was wondering why her daughter wasn't coming down for breakfast.
Thinking she was unwell, Bellatrix decided upstairs until Delphi threw the cloak off in front of her mother.
Bellatrix had a fright. She fell over.
Andromeda and Lily were also surprised as they didn't expect Delphi to have an invisibility cloak.
Delphi told them she came across the cloak when Longbottom and Potter were smuggling a dragon from Hagrid's to some Dragon Keepers. Filch had caught them while she hid behind a suit of armor.
She went up the stairs and found the cloak lying there.
She threw on the cloak and returned to the Slytherin Common Room before Potter had realized he had left the cloak behind.
Apparently, when Potter returned to reclaim it, he realized the cloak was long gone.
He never found out who had it, and Delphi had been wise to keep silent and not tell anyone about the cloak. Other than her family.
"Could McGonagall be right? That the attack on Mrs. Norris be a prank?" says Olivia.
"Doubtful. Petrifying the squib's cat would take great skills. Even Dumbledore couldn't undo the petrification," says Harry.
Petrification was a type of transfiguration magic. Powerful, but not invisibility. There were counterspells and methods of removing that existed if one had the knowledge and skills.
"Did you hear? Draco got on the team after his father bought the Slytherin Quidditch Team the new Nimbus Two Thousand and One," says Delphi.
"So that's why Flint's been so happy lately," says Harry.
"You guys going to watch the match?" asks Olivia.
"Not really," says Harry.
Flint had been nothing short of being nasty, and Harry didn't want to watch what Flint would do with his new brooms.
Harry also didn't know how good Draco was at Quidditch. He knew that Draco loved Quidditch and dreamed of becoming a professional one day.