The Hogwarts' Riddle
Chapter 6 -ANSUZ-
It was the diary.
For a few seconds Ginny hesitated. Carefully she turned her head in both directions to check that nobody was around. Dust danced in the traces of sunlight that floated into the room through the wide open windows at the west side of the castle.
There was no noise except for the laughter of the other students down in the grounds drifting in from outside. She seemed to be all alone in the vast room. Even the librarian was busy sorting some new books into their places in another section and wasn't observing her at the moment.
And Tom – He was obviously somewhere in the library, but he wasn't close yet and maybe, if she hurried, maybe she could pocket the little black book.
The diary-
She had never expected to see it again. But it existed at this time, of course. It looked brand new now. She even wondered if it had yet been enchanted to hold Tom's memories. But then it couldn't on the other hand. The Chamber of Secrets hadn't been opened yet and Tom wouldn't let an important book lay around like this, would he?
Hesitatingly, Ginny took a few steps into the direction of the little object, but stopped once again to carefully glance above her shoulder. There still wasn't anyone around. It seemed to be the perfect chance to get her hands on the book, if it hadn't been for the annoying little voice in the back of her mind telling her that it was just wrong to look into another person's diary, even if it belonged to a boy who would one day be the most evil Dark Wizard ever.
But then, it had been - or would be - her - diary at some point in the future after all, wouldn't it?
While she still stood in the library arguing with herself whether or not she should take the chance, the creaking of steps on the old wooden floor told her that someone was nearing from the restricted section and she didn't have any doubts who it might be.
Flinching with a stab of conscience, her heart pounding with fear, Ginny crossed the short distance to hide within the rows of shelves at her back. Cautiously not to cause any noise, she drew a small book out of the row and peered carefully through the gap.
She had been right.
It was Tom. He carried a couple of dusty, very old looking books he had obviously just picked up in the restricted section.
Ginny felt her throat getting dry. The little hairs at the back of her neck stood on end. There was no doubt, he was planning something and if she wasn't much mistaken, she new exactly what he was up to. He was searching for the entrance to the Chamber. Well, she could have easily told him where to seek, she thought bitterly. Maybe if she destroyed the entrance to the Chamber, maybe then she could keep things from happening. But no, it wouldn't be enough to prevent a Dark Wizard from rising. She had to change his attitude towards muggleborns and muggles if she wanted him to give up on his plans. This couldn't be easy at all since she, a pureblood herself, could hardly tell him anything about the way muggles acted. After living at a muggle orphanage for the first eleven years of his life, Tom probably new more about them than she ever would.
If she only knew what to do. Maybe it was best to just observe him first. To follow him silently as a shadow while he prepared for setting his plans into action.
All of a sudden one of the books, next to the gap she peered through, lost its safe stand. With a slight thud it nudged against the other one. Nervously Ginny bit her lip. What if he had heard this?
Her question was answered the very next second.
F
Tom looked up from the book he had just opened with a frown. He had clearly heard something. Suspiciously, he looked around until his eyes fell on a single bag at one of the tables two rows away from his, that hadn't been there before. So he wasn't alone as he had supposed. Someone else must have entered the library while he had been in the restricted section and were probably looking for some books themselves right now. He had no idea who it might be, but whoever it was, they crossed his plans quite badly. He needed to be alone for what he planned. He had been so sure the library would be deserted on a bright summer's day like this. Most obviously he had been mistaken by this, but he didn't appreciate the unexpected company one bit. Cursing under his breath he stuffed his school books and writing materials into his bag, pressed the books from the restricted section to his chest and hurried out of the library to seek some private space.
F
Only when the heavy wooden door fell shut behind him, did Ginny dare to breathe again. He hadn't seen her. After the first seconds of relief, she noticed there was something else Tom had missed at his rush to exit.
Forgotten under the table lay the diary.
It must have dropped to the floor, when he had hastily shoved his things into his bag, she supposed.
Well, hesitations and doubts as they might be, this was the perfect chance to get a grip on that little black book and she would have been a fool to let it pass.
F
Down at the Slytherin common room, Tom was cursing under his breath once again. He couldn't find his diary. He didn't even know why he had brought that stupid thing to Hogwarts with him. He was sure he'd still had it this afternoon, but he could ransack his bag as much as he pleased, he still couldn't find it.
"What are you doing?" a female voice asked behind him.
His head snapped up in surprise. It was her.
To his anger he noticed that his heartbeat quickened and his cheeks flushed quite a bit. Of all times of the day she had to just find him rummaging through his things like some sap. He felt rather stupid and began to hurriedly stuff his belongings into his bag and yet, he was glad that she was speaking to him again. She had been pretty mad at him the day before when he had sent her off to get some research at the library done, after all. If he only had more time to deal with her. But he was determined to find out more about his ancestor and his legacy. He couldn't take himself the time to date a girl right now, as much as he might wish to.
Nonetheless he was kind of thrilled when she suddenly stood beside him, smiling. A little awkwardly he scratched his ear. "You didn't happen to see a small black book, have you?" he asked, to hide his confusion.
At first she looked stunned, then a sly little smile crossed her face all of a sudden. 'She probably thinks I'm a complete sap now,' he thought irritably. He couldn't help but frown at the prospect.
"No, I'm sorry, I haven't," she said, then added with a nod into the direction of his now very untidily-stuffed bag, "is it that, you're searching for?"
He nodded, feeling quite foolish once again. "Yes," he shrugged, "but it isn't that important. No, actually it isn't important at all. It should be already time to head for dinner. Come, let's go to the Great Hall."
F
Thoughtfully, Albus Dumbledore released his pet bird onto its perch to answer the knock at his office door.
"Ah, Minerva," he smiled, "it's you. How nice. Come in, take a seat. Do you care for a cup of tea?"
He suddenly noticed her tense posture and looked at her with concern. "Is everything all right?"
Professor McGonagall took in a deep breath. "Well I'm .. not quite sure, Albus," she started, then her thin lips formed into a smile. "But you're right, a cup of tea is a very good idea, I suppose."
"Well then," he reassured her with another kind smile and led her towards his sitting room, where he summoned an oriental tea set with a wave of his hand. He took one of the scarlet-and-gold-decorated glasses and poured some steaming hot peppermint tea over the twig of fresh mint in it. "What's the matter, my dear friend?" he asked softly as he handed the glass to her.
Professor McGonagall's lips were once again pressed into a thin line, "Thank you," she muttered and shifted quite uneasily in her seat. "I don't know, Albus," she started hesitatingly, "I'm most certainly making a fool out of myself, but – you see, there are these strange dreams I'm having lately and I'm not sure -"
"Dreams?" Dumbledore asked with surprise. "I thought you didn't rely on things like Divination and dreams, Minerva?"
"Yes, you're right," she assured him, "but now - I've been dreaming about the Weasley-girl and - And I'm quite sure she's at Hogwarts, Albus. In the past. I met her there, in my fourth year – But she isn't in Gryffindor then. She's in Slytherin, Albus, can you imagine that?" She replaced her glass with slight clattering onto the tray and shot a troubled glance at the older wizard.
Dumbledore watched her thoughtfully for some seconds and let her words sink in to him, before he responded. "Yes," he nodded carefully, "yes, Fawkes already said so."
Professor McGonagall's eyebrows rose in astonishment at this. "Fawkes, Albus?" she asked, slightly nervous.
"Yes, Fawkes, my dear Minerva," Dumbledore smiled kindly, "he often talks to me telepathically, didn't you know that?"
"Oh, erw, indeed? she asked, trying to hide her confusion and spooning some more sugar into her tea. "Does he? Ewm, what does he say?"
"Oh, this and that," Dumbledore remarked casually, "but he also mentioned Miss Weasley lately. And I'm quite sure your dreams are based on memories."
Professor McGonagall looked at the white-haired wizard with, for her age, an uncharacteristically insecure expression on her face. But then, sixty-seven wasn't that old for a witch on the other hand.
F
A soft breeze moved the long yellowish summer grass. The dry rushes rustled against each other and mixed with the quiet, continuous sounds of crickets and frogs. The moon wasn't up yet, but the darkening sky that arched above the old castle was already sprinkled with the first stars. After the day's heat it was refreshing to sit by the quiet lake shore and watch the small waves nudging softly against its banks. It was the perfect atmosphere to rest one's thoughts and put one's mind at ease with a stressful day's happenings. But the dark-haired boy who was sitting amid the weeds had no time for such diversions. He was determined to finally finish reading the mysterious parchment with his ancestors' legacy. In this deserted place and at this late hour, nobody would disturb him, so he supposed.
He fixed the light of his wand onto the text and started to pronounce the strange-looking syllables once again.
If you read these lines descendent of mine, you are able to speak with the serpent's tongue …
No, he had already read this twice, he needn't reread this part. He skipped the next couple of lines and started reading again – …are the one I am writing this for, my heir. Now read on and listen to my words through your own voice.
It is the year 1002. My name is Salazar Slytherin and I am a wizard -
Yes, that was the right place, here was where he had been interrupted twice. Burning with anticipation he leaned forward to continue – When we founded this school, all those young maidens and youths with magical abilities were accepted, even the muggleborns. My friends depend on this. But I do not welcome the offspring of non-magical folk in this place. They should stay were they belong. With their equals. The muggles.
They do not know what it means to be a wizard. They do not understand the ways we think and act. They are unable to empathise our world, but they will tell their non-magical relatives of us. And those will certainly misunderstand our actions and will face us with suspiciousness and dislike. The less muggles know about us, the better.
Not only are muggles inferior to our kind, they are a threat, even. We need to be aware of them. The other Founders will not listen if I try to convince them of this, but I have seen far into the future and I know, there will be tragedies visited upon the Wizarding world.
Right now, the muggles who know of our existence accept and sometimes even worship us, but very soon, they will start to mistrust us and not long afterwards they will begin to hunt us down. In about 500 years there will be killing and tortures beyond our imagination. Not even the muggles themselves will be safe from the uproar of fury they will create. Some of us will be able to save ourselves with the help of magic, but if robbed of his wand, a wizard is just as helpless as a muggle.
Therefore we need to practice what is called Dark Magic by those who do not understand. A Dark wizard has no need for a wand to defend himself. It might still be useful to him, but it is not necessary. Dark Magic is the more powerful magic. There is no doubt about this. I have practised it and I am prepared. I do not know in what time you will be born; if you are to face the dangers I have foreseen, or if you will live even farther in the future; but I know you will exist some day. So I have deposited a familiar, deep beneath these floors, to follow your command and rid this castle of all those who are unworthy to live among us.
My heir; to plumb the secrets of my dormant legacy, you must heed carefully the following words: When I started, there was no path – I forged it myself, at great cost and to my own undoing.
As the manifestation of our shared destiny, it is not my place to lead your way, or even guide you. You must use your birthrights, wit, guile and deviousness, to uncover the way.
This castle is alive with the essence of the Founders Four, and nothing in it happens at random. Even the staircases do not move without purpose. If you tread on the correct one, at an auspicious moment, it will bear you to the destination I have intended for you…if you know the right words to speak.
And now, my heir, it is really very plain, for one of my line – simply…
'Watch the windows. But do not look outside.'
The unflagging endeavours of the Founders, turned Hogwarts into the heart of the wizarding world in this country. And as there are four chambers to this, there are four houses within this castle, that need to work alongside each other. Today the other Founders might split the interplay of forces and spirits, as they ban me from this place and conquer my part of the entity this castle holds, but they do not know what is buried deep down within its soul, waiting for you to set it free. And to this Secret Chamber of mine it is 'Helga', who holds the key.
Salazar Slyth-
A sudden noise to his left made Tom look up from the parchment. There was some rustling in the weeds nearby. Something was moving within the bushes of stirring nettles, but it didn't sound like footsteps to him. He narrowed his eyes into small slits and stared intensely into the location of the noise, but nothing happened. Nothing at all.
He was just about to return his gaze to the parchment, when he suddenly heard the tiny whispering voice amid the weeds. "S-s-there you s-s-see. It's-s no firefly. I told you it was-s one of s-s-thos-se."
And another likewise whispering voice that answered: "Don't talk nons-s-sens-se. As if it could be one of s-s-them if everyone knows-s-s s-they can't s-s-speak. All s-s-they do is-s-s making s-s-strange s-s-sounds-s, nobody will ever unders-s-tand."
"But s-s-that is-s a human. It's-s a male, is-s-n't it?" the first voice asked in confusion.
"Yes-s, yes-s it is-s," the other one agreed. "but it cannot have been s-s-this one, which s-spoke earlier. S-s-there mus-s-t be s-s-someone els-s-e around. Come on, let's-s s-search for them."
With that, the small brown head of a snake appeared from out of the weeds. It swayed slowly from side to side as it looked at its fellow beside him.
With one leap Tom jumped to his feet. "What on the name of-" he gasped, staring at the equally shocked serpent. He didn't even realise that he was still speaking parseltongue.
The serpent, on the contrary, did and so its split tongue fluttered excitedly at its next words. "Ha-" it gasped and jumped backwards into the bush of stirring nettles. "It'-s-s speaks-s."
"Come on," the other snake whispered nervously, "we'd better hurry. S-s-this-s is-s creepy." With that the two serpents hurriedly fled into the darkness.
F
The next afternoon, Ginny sat at the library once again. She was looking up some advanced Transfiguration spells in an old book, when suddenly a shadow fell across the pages. "Would you mind allowing me to have a brief look into that book as well?" a familiar voice asked behind her.
When Ginny turned her head in surprise she faced a quite awkward-looking Minerva McGonagall. The dark-haired girl seemed to have debated with herself for quite a while before she had decided to ask, and she was most obviously extremely uncomfortable with the whole situation. After the first shock, Ginny managed to smile at the younger version of her Head of House.
"Oh hi," she muttered hesitantly. "Of course you can look something up." She gestured towards the free chair next to hers. "Won't you sit down?"
Minerva's eyes widened in surprise at her friendliness. Hesitatingly she took the offered seat and drew the large book towards herself. When her eyes fell on the page she looked up at Ginny, curiosity written all over her face. "What are you looking up advanced Transfiguration spells for?" she blurted out, but bit her lip the very next moment. "Excuse me, it's certainly none of my business," she muttered.
Ginny wavered. Even if Minerva supposed her to be a Slytherin and didn't like her very much, Ginny knew that the other girl was trustworthy. She would be Dumbledore's right hand and head of her own house in her time after all. And the Transfiguration Professor at that. Maybe she could be of help to her. She just mustn't tell her the whole story. And it was certainly worth a try.
Ginny noticed with some amusement that she was starting to think and act rather Slytherin. "Oh, it's no problem," she told her with a smile. "I'm, … well, one could say I'm working on a project," she added with a careful side glance at Minerva. "You're pretty good at Transfiguration, aren't you?"
"It's my favourite subject," the other girl declared proudly.
"Oh, it's mine, too," Ginny told her earnestly, but blushed the very next second. Even if Minerva was her age now, Ginny felt like rambling by telling a later professor that her subject was her favourite one. Maybe she should just stop thinking of her as a teacher, she thought. It might certainly help. At the moment the black-haired girl nervously chewed her lower lip, and didn't look comfortably at all. "I'm sorry," she blurted out all of a sudden, and Ginny flinched with surprise.
"About my behaviour in Potions the other day," Minerva continued. "It was stupid of me to be this mean to you. I guess I … um … need to apologise."
This time Ginny didn't have any difficulties smiling at her. "It's quite all right. We just had a bad start, I suppose. Let's just try again, OK?" she suggested kindly.
Minerva's face lit up at that. "Oh, um, yes, surely-"
"Well, Minerva," Ginny started, carefully weighing her every word. "If you're good with Transfiguration, maybe you could advise me how to deal with my project?"
"Yes, certainly, I'd gladly try," the other girl assured her eagerly.
Ginny smiled at her once again. "What would you do to enchant an object to alert you and make contact with you, whenever someone else uses it?"
"Mhm, which kind of object?" Minerva asked with a frown.
Ginny looked at her, tilting her head aside. "Well, a diary, for instance," she suggested casually.
A/N: I know that Tom uses Moaning Myrtle's bathroom at the second floor as an entrance to the Chamber of Secrets, please don't roast me alive. I have a plan …
Thanks for reviews and e-mails and a big THANK YOU to SilentG for beta-reading this chapter.
ANSUZ this chapters rune is a rune of opening in every way. It might either represent the opening of lines of communication, advice from a wiser person and the growth of interpersonal communication in a relationship, or self change, wisdom, cunning speech and occult power. It can also be used to bring success and leadership, or generally help with magic and it tells of the need to focus on the past to direct the future. Its shape resembles the letter F, only that the horizontal lines are pointing slightly downwards.
*C-chan, AKA Sailor Capricorn* Thanks for the first review to the fifth chapter.
*Slytherin-BadAss* Oh no, I don't mind that at all. I'm glad that my fic inspired you to write a Tom/Ginny story. Thanks for mentioning me in your Author's note and Good Luck with your story.
*gray frog* Yes, Argus Filch probably is a squib, or at least barely. He must have some magical ability, though. Otherwise he wouldn't be able to even 'see' Hogwarts since it's no more than ruins to the muggle eye.
*Jade Stellar* Mm, possibly …
*Sarah* Thanks for the explanation about Grindelwald being a Swiss resort. I didn't know that.
*Weather Witch and Metal Mage* I hope your exam went well. The Epilogue's last two words are going to be '- who loved.'
*tiger* Greetings to bobby!
Serpentina