Soon the end of October was upon them. With help from Blaise, Draco and Hermione, Harry was finally caught up in all his missing work. Even Professor Snape had nothing to complain about his potion work. The DADA professor was a scatter brain. It was another joke of a teacher. Professor Tingle was a retired auror. He must have taken too many cursors to the head. He was sure that it would be hard to prepare for his NEWTs.
Harry was sitting at his desk reading on the theory of wandless magic. He was trying to not think about what day it is. He always hated Halloween. He was already struggling not let the sadness overwhelm him. "Alright, Harry you are coming with the feast with us." Blaise busted into the room.
"I am not hungry. I will have Dobby get me something later. I do not feel like going to the feast. I am just going to stay here and study."
"You have been in this room all day except for class. You need to be around others." Draco tried to encourage.
"I am not going." Harry spoke through clenched teeth.
"We cannot allow you wallow. This depression of yours is getting too much. You need to socialize." Blaise tried to emit some understanding.
"I see no point in socializing. I will have plenty of time to socialize after the war is over assuming I am lucky enough to live through it. So, please just go to the feast and have fun. I am fine in here."
"Please, Harry." Draco started to plead.
Harry sighed. "Dobby!" There was a quick pop. "Get me out of here." He was soon in the Astronomy tower. "Thank you, Dobby. I do not understand why people think that I would want to celebrate the day my parents died. It is ridiculous. Please, tell them that I am fine and that I will eat."
Dobby quickly popped back into Harry's room. The two boys were still there. "I was told to tell you to continue onto the feast. I am to bring him some food."
"What is his problem?" Blaise shook his head.
Dobby straightened. "Did either of you considered on what this day is and means to the great Harry Potter? I must get his food." Dobby popped back out of the room.
The two boys looked back at each other. Then there was a knock on the door. They opened it. "What do you two want? Harry is not here." Blaise glared at Hermione and Ron.
"We came to spend time with Harry. It is best that he is not left alone. This day is especially hard on him. He usual tries to search out the Mirror Ersied. It is the only time he sees himself with his parents. He could be anywhere in the castle." Ron spoke.
Hermione looked at them. "Do you know if he took the map with him?"
Draco snapped. "What map?"
Ron smiled. "I see he has not told you two everything. It is for him to tell." Ron moved to Harry's room. He walked in as Dobby was popping out with the map and cloak.
Ron rushed out and grabbed Hermione and started to pull her to the door. "Shit. We have to go. Dobby just took the map and cloak. We are not going to find him now, but we have to try. No telling what is waiting for him."
Draco rushed after them. "We are going with you. I can sense his magic."
Ron humphed. "Not if he is under his cloak."
Blaise yanked on Draco and pulled him in the other direction. "Fine. We will look for him on our own."
Harry looked at the map. "I know the door was down here somewhere." Harry mumbled to himself. He focused back on the map before continuing down the 3rd floor corridor. He opened the door to another room. "Empty."
He quickly closed the door. He looked back and then noticed a corridor to the left. "That was not there before." Harry grabbed his wand and moved down the corridor and up some stairs. He came to a lone door. He tried several spells to open the door; however, it would not open. He took the cloak off and looked around.
He began to trace the school emblem carved into the door. A piece of wood went into his finger. "Damn." He pulled the piece, and it began to bleed. He began to trace it again. His blood dripped onto the carving. The blood began to light up, and the door opened.
He lifted his wand and moved through the door. Once he was in the room, the door closed of his own. "Lumos." The light triggered a series of candles to be lit.
"Who dares enters our tower?" A deep voice spoke.
"Oh hush." A soft femmine voice spoke.
Harry looked around to what appeared to be something like a common room. He looked up at the wall. He looked at four portraits. "You are the Founders." Harry spoke with awe.
"Hmmm. You know who we are, but we do not know who you are." The deep voice who had red hair.
Harry was about to respond when he heard a laugh. He quickly turned around and faced a dark-haired man with light green eyes. He almost wanted to take a step back. "W-What is so funny?"
He should know who you are. You are a Gryffindor after all, or should I say a snake posing as a lion.
Ah, Salazar Slytherin. Harry smiled.
But of course, Harry Potter. Everyone in the castle knows who you are.
Oh please, I have nothing to say to someone that would allow a basilisk to live in a castle where children say.
Slytherin growled. That was not me. It was my brother's son. He looked up to me but took my belief to a whole new level. I never wished to kill muggleborns. I only felt that they should not return to the muggle world. I believed in total separation. I mean it was the Dark Ages and persecution of our kind was rising. The Chamber was mine; however, I only used it to get away from everyone and to practice dangerous potions and spells; so, I would not harm the castle or anyone in it.
Harry was about to respond when there was a faint cough. He turned to face a beautiful woman in royal blue. "Rowena Ravenclaw. I apologize. It is a pleasure to meet you."
The woman smiled. "I have heard many things about you, young man."
Harry frowned. "I doubt that it was anything good. The gossip among the castle constantly waivers in its opinion of me. I am sure that it is nothing good."
"Children will be children. However, I have heard from other portraits and ghosts. I was wondering how long it would take Hogwarts to lead you here."
Harry took a seat in a chair and looked up at the portrait that contained all four Founders. He sat and spoke with them. He decided to ask about the mirror. "Would either of you know where in the castle the Mirror of Ersied is being kept?"
"Ah, my child. You do not need the mirror to see your parents. You only need to look within. They are always with you."
"I have no memory of them. I do not know what they even look like, or how they sound. I have only every heard their voices when a Dementor comes near and I hear them beg for my life. Then I hear their deaths."
There is a stone in my chamber in my library. It is called the Resurrection Stone. If you twirl it three times in your hand while thinking of the person; then you will be able to see or speak with them for several minutes.
"Thank you. For once in my life, I would like to know how it would feel to be loved for just me." He rose and bade them good night. He was made to promise to return.
He closed the room. He slipped the cloak over him. He moved through the castle. He knew that he had wasted a lot of time. He decided to head back to his room and just go to sleep. He would work on getting back to the Chamber of Secrets and find Slytherin's room. He went straight to his room and flopped onto the bed. He would deal with them in the morning
Meanwhile, Blaise and Draco were searching various unused rooms. They had been looking for quite a while. Draco was filled with excitement which was quickly followed by a peacefulness. "I think we should head back to the rooms. It is already getting late. He is either there by now or will show up in the morning."
Several minutes later, the walked in to their room. Blaise walked straight to Potter's door. "He is asleep. Did you know that he had returned?"
Blaise did not turn around but felt Draco looking over his shoulder. "No, I did not know that he had returned, but a felt a peacefulness come from him. So, I figured he was either asleep or found what he was looking for." Draco tugged on his hand and they went to bed.