HARRY POTTER AND THE SEERS' TRUTH
By Lady Lestrange
The Chamber of Secrets
Chapter 40
10 REVIEWS. Here's the new chapter—I really hate blackmailing you into reviewing, but hey, I'm a Slytherin. It's in my nature, so when there are 10 reviews for this chapter, the next one will magically appear. Love my readers and reviewers. Answers to reviews follow the story.
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter characters and previous situations belong to JK Rowlings. No infringement is meant or implied. No money is made from this Fanfic. THANKS JK.
--LADY LESTRANGE
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(A/N: I've been reading a number of fanfics in installments like this one myself, and find it is sometimes hard to remember exactly what has happened before-In a fic as complex as this one is, I thought having a reminder may be helpful for you. If you want to skip it, just page down FIVE times. --Lady Lestrange)
UP TO THIS POINT: Parvati has been having dreams and visions about the Dark Lord, Harry and a Prophecy Child. So far, they are not sure who the prophecy child is, and it is important for them to find him/her. The Sorting Hat is not sorting, so the students have "little brothers and sisters" to show around. The dream team thinks that The Sorting Hat failing is a plot to hide the Prophecy child from the teachers and anyone who can help insure that he/she stays on the side of light. No one is sure that the brothers and sisters actually belong to the house they are currently in.
The Hogwarts Express has been attacked. Dark Marks have been in the sky. The floo network is compromised. The Minister of Magic has been turned. Snape is now teaching both Defense and Advanced Defense, but it looks like Advanced Defense is just an excuse to let the Slytherins and Ginny and Edward visit the Dark Lord. Mrs. Figg is teaching potions and we know very little about her so far, except that she was against Dumbledore's suggestion to make Poly Juice Potion.
Beatrice is an animagus, a bunny. Edward's granny looks like she could have given the Dursleys a few pointers on cruelty. Slytherin is a house at war according to Snape, divided between Death Eaters and those who want to stay on the side of light. Harry uses his Invisibility Cloak and finds out when it is ripped, the Invisibility spell ceases. There is an unwelcome addition to Myrtle's bathroom, Olive Hornby. Peeves is his usual annoying self, but the Baron seems to have a little less control over him.
Samara, for some reason, lofts some wicked, powerful curses. She doesn't look like she has total control over them, which isn't really surprising since she's learned magic on her own from a book, that Harry is sure is a dark book. She seems to like Draco, but don't assume this is a romance. It is not. Ginny is still hearing voices in her head. Harry's scar is hurting more, and neither he nor Ginny know what this means. Ginny is closer with Harry this year, but again, not romantically. There is Edward, the new Gryffindor, who seems interested in Ginny, but Ginny really hasn't gotten over Tom.
We find out about Neville's powerful auror parents. We learn that Neville has a memory charm that was put on him as a baby. He's a more powerful wizard than anyone ever thought as evidenced by his yew wand and the way he reacts to Snape's ministrations in trying to remove the memory charm. We might wonder why Snape is trying to do this himself, instead of enlisting the help of Madam Pomfrey. Sirius and Lupin are on "fieldtrips" with the sixth and seventh years.
Of course we can also wonder why Snape is so determined to teach his classes advanced spells like the Patronus, or we can just chalk it up to Snape, being mean. The Fifth year class starts apparition classes and we meet Professor Sinistra. We also visit Hufflepuff, where we see The Wall, and Slytherin house, where we discover, to our amazement, a magic room that Draco shares with Samara, but Samara has a very unslytherin use for the room. Ravenclaw to come next weekend.
The chapter, CHAINED AND CHARMED, takes place at the same time as DANCING IS AN OUT OF BODY EXPERIENCE-when Samara was in Slytherin, dancing. It is Saturday afternoon. Harry and the Gryffindors examine Samara's Dark Book, after they come back from lunch. They find an extreme potion, and decide they need to make a trip to the Chamber of Secrets. Ghastly Ghostly Dinner is when Gryffindor's meet with Samara after her little trip to Slytherin. Samara and Beatrice are persuaded by Edward to help him steal his snake back from his brother Ethan. Things get a little out of hand, and Samara learns more about Slytherin than she ever wanted to know.
Now the Gryffindors are mad at her. Samara wants to make up and be friends with them, but is it possible to befriend both Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy? How far will she go to make up, or will she just find some valuable information to store away for future use? (So, don't you want one of those Tee shirts?)
LIONS AND TIGERS: We see a very stressed out Snap both in Harry's memory of what happened with Snap and Neville and in the actual DADA class. We find out Trelawney doesn't want Samara in her class and Samara decides to take Ancient Runes instead. McGonagall assures Samara that Trelawney has done her a favor. McGonagall further talks to Samara about her experiences in Gryffindor, opening the door to give Samara someone to talk to, if she so chooses. We also learned lots more about animagi in McGonagall's class. Snape dismisses the Gryffifndors and keeps the Slytherins after class. We find out it's because Snape wants them to practice their patronus because the Slytherins are so lousy at the spell. Could it be because there are so few happy memories to chose from?
In DRAGON BREATH AND BLUDGER BATS, Ginny and Edward set the Slytherins up with fire mints, and Samara gets extremely angry at them both because they hurt her friends. In an effort to contain her anger, she goes to the Quiddich pitch where she meets Fred and George. After lobbing a few quaffles at them in her anger, they decide to ask her to be a Beater for Gryffindor. She refuses, but later when she talks to Draco, he is not very nice to her, (hey, who said Draco was a nice guy?) so she wonders whether or not she should take the Beater job.
In WISH IT REAL; WISH IT NOT we see into one of Ginny's dreams. If you don't remember this dream, go and re-read chapter 28. In Chapter 29, THE SPELLING BEE, Samara is feeling homesick and friendless until Draco invites Samara back to Slytherin. Also, includes a short intro into what's coming up in potions class.
In Chapter 30, CHILD OF GRYFFINDOR, Neville and Snape break the Imperio part of the Memory Charm. The trio discusses the Founders' spells, which put their gifts in the Sorting Hat; however they do not have the original parseltongue version of Salazar's spell. Ginny also sees Edward painting and the reader sees a bit of Ginny and Tom's relationship. In SLYTHERIN GAMES—Well, if you don't remember it, you better re-read. Voldemort is finally out and angry—burning and pillaging and we see a little-known inside version of Slytherin through Ginny's eyes. In STICKY SITUATIONS, Samara uses her adhere charm on the Weasley twins, Neville sticks Beatrice's wand to his with bubble gum, and Edward is sticking in Gryffindor.
In OW POST the Slytherins get even for the Dragon Breath Mints, among other things—
In the Ravenclaw chapter—I'm still trying to think of a good name for it—Help me please—we meet a number of Ravenclaws and find out a little more about the characters, in Ravenclaw as well as Edward and Samara. So do you think either of them are really Ravenclaws? Hmmmm? In chapter 35 we meet Sirius again who plans to have a talk with Dumbledore about his keeping Harry safe and of course what that nasty Snape is doing to poor Neville. The Quiddich Game and then more of Neville's awesome Auror parents.
The war is heating up and touching the lives of the children. This story is rapidly approaching –nasty things. Not for the faint of heart. Last chapter, we had a relaxing time at Hogsmeade. Samara bounces from friend to friend and Harry has some nasty dreams, and Harry is shocked to find out that Ron and Hermione are a couple. We knew that already though, right?
Now that Harry's hand is good enough to play Quiddich, don't you think it's time for him to go to the Chamber? Me too. So here it is:
The Chamber of Secrets
Chapter 40
After lunch on Sunday, Harry, Ron and Hermione, with brooms in hand, headed toward Myrtle's bathroom.
If we can't use the second floor girl's bathroom there's another way into the Chamber," said Harry, "But I'd rather be on familiar ground if we can—" Today, the girl's bathroom was deserted. "I wonder where Myrtle is?" said Harry.
"Probably pouting in her U bend about something," said Hermione.
"Check," said Harry, and Hermione shrugged, double checking the stalls to be sure that the bathroom was indeed empty.
"Just get on with it, Harry," urged Ron. "I want to get this over with."
"No, wait," said Harry. "I have something I need to tell you—now that we have some privacy." His voice dropped to a whisper. "It's about Salazar—"
"What?" asked Hermione.
Harry took a deep breath and told his friends about the Slytherin cult. "It's purpose was to return Salazar Slytherin to life and Tom Riddle's mother was part of it."
"That's sick," said Ron, after Harry explained. "His mother just gave her baby to these freaks?"
"Well, I think she might have had second thoughts, but they killed her, and put Tom in the muggle orphanage anyway," said Harry.
"Harry, I thought you said Tom's father put him in the orphanage," said Hermione.
"I know, that's what Voldemort told me last year," said Harry. "But if you think about it, that doesn't make sense. I kind of assumed that because his father was a muggle, he ended up there, but Voldemort said, his father went back to his muggle parents before he was even born, because his father found out she was a witch. He abandoned her."
"But," Hermione continued, understanding alighting, "If he abandoned her before Tom was born, then, surely she would have been with magic folk when she had the baby, not with muggles, so why would Tom end up in a muggle orphanage?"
"Exactly. Unless the magic folk, put him there," finished Harry. "They wanted him to grow up hating muggles, because he was Salazar's heir. In fact, the one woman actually said he was Salazar himself!"
"Who said that!" cried Ron.
"Valeriana Lestrange."
"Lestrange," breathed Ron. "Related to Edward, do you think?"
Harry nodded. "His mother."
"It can't be," said Hermione. "Edward and Ethan are thirteen. She would have had to have been pregnant when she was torturing the Longbottoms, and that would mean that—that—when he said he was born in Askaban—"
"He wasn't joking," said Harry softly. "I know she and her husband, along with Barty Crouch went to Askaban for torturing the Longbottoms," continued Harry. "I saw her trial in another pensieve, Dumbledore's."
"Harry, why didn't you ever tell us that?" asked Ron.
"Because Dumbledore asked me not to, for Neville's sake. He didn't think it would be right for me to tell people that Neville's parents were in St. Mongo's if Neville didn't want people to know."
"We're not talking about 'just people' knowing," said Ron. "You could have told us."
"No, Ron," said Hermione softly. "It was Neville's to tell, not Harry's." She sat back on the edge of one of the sinks. "Poor Neville," said Hermione. "It must have been terrible to see his parents—like that."
"I think he's alright with it, actually," said Harry. "His parents were awesome. It took twelve Death Eaters, to over come them, and only two escaped."
"The Malfoys," said Ron. "You told us that. Do you think, now that Neville remembers, charges could be brought against them?"
"I doubt it," said Harry. "They have too much money and too many friends in powerful places. It's going to take more than the memory of a one year old."
"Anyway, they were already questioned about that crime, years ago," said Hermione. "According to The Daily Prophet, the Malfoys said they were under imperious, and they had witnesses that they never left Draco alone with just the house elves."
"Hermione," asked Ron, "How many Daily Prophet articles have you read?"
"Well, when Neville started having his sessions with Snape, of course, I looked up the Death Eater's trials," said Hermione. "I was just thinking I should try to find something about when Tom Riddle was born, but there was no crime, unless—what did you say his mother's name was—"
"Doogle," said Harry. "I don't know her first name, but under veritaserium Frank Longbottom listed a whole group of cult members. Most of them are Death Eaters now."
"Doogle," said Ron. "I remember that name from somewhere—"
Hermione paused thoughtfully. "Maybe I should look up when Tom Riddle, Sr. was killed, but that would probably be too late and it would only be in the muggle papers."
"You do entirely too much reading," said Ron.
"And you do too little," retorted Hermione.
Harry ignored their voices, and stared at the tap with the tiny snake on it. It seemed to take forever for him to make a sound. He was having trouble concentrating with his headache and his friends bickering.
Ron, Hermione, watch for ghosts," said Harry, hoping to get them to stop arguing.
"I wonder where they are," whispered Hermione.
"Donno," said Ron. "But—"
She shrugged, and then hushed him. "Sh-h-h. Be quiet. Let Harry concentrate."
There was a hissing sound and the chamber opened. Hermione and Ron came forward to look down the dark, featureless tunnel. A musty smell was coming from the depths.
"Harry," said Ron, seriously, "this stuff about Salazar Slytherin—We can't tell Ginny. You saw what she did when we were talking about the Hat. I mean, if there is any possibility that this cult could return Salazar Slytherin to life and if Tom Riddle had some part in it. Well, we might as well, just send Ginny to St. Mongo's now. I worry about her."
Harry nodded, and they turned their attention back to the dark tunnel in front of them that led to the Chamber of Secrets.
"Should we use our brooms?" asked Hermione softly.
Harry shook his head, taking the lead. "Come on," he said as he began the slide down into the Chamber of Secrets. Harry found himself filled with resolve. He wasn't searching with his heart filled with dread as last time, when he thought there was only the remotest chance that Ginny was alive. Now he was searching with optimism for something entirely different--basilisk eggs. He was sure they were in time. He heard the movement behind him as Ron and Hermione slid down the pipe. Finally, the pipe leveled out and he was spat out onto the floor of the Chamber, but it wasn't the floor he remembered. He lit his wand to be sure. It was clean swept. There was no litter of rat's skulls, or tiny animal bones. In fact, there was very little in the way of dirt or for that matter, spider webs. In the silence he could still hear the water dripping somewhere in the distance, but this part of the floor was dry. There was no other sound except for the rapid beating of his heart.
"I don't think we need to worry, but any movement, any sound, close your eyes," said Harry as Ron and then Hermione landed on the stone floor.
"But Harry," began Hermione. "There can't be a basilisk here yet—there hasn't been time to hatch another clutch of eggs."
"Whoa!" said Ron looking around, "Who let the house elves in here?"
"What do you mean?" asked Hermione.
"It's been cleaned," said Harry. "A lot. At least there are no spiders or spiders' webs, Ron."
"Yeah, They've all been eaten." He replied sullenly.
"Come on," said Harry, hurrying down the passageway in the dim wandlight. Ron and Hermione also lit their wands, throwing grotesque shadows upon the wall as they moved.
"It's not here," said Harry, bending down to touch the floor. "Not a trace."
"What?" asked Hermione.
"Last time we were here," said Ron. "There was a huge basilisk skin down here. Are you sure this is the right place, Harry? I think it may have been further on."
"No," said Harry. "It was right there." Harry pointed. "I remember Lockhart falling against that pillar and I ran around that pillar. I slipped on the snakeskin when I ran. It was right there."
"And that's where the partition fell down," said Ron. "Somebody, fixed it—put all the rocks back—How?"
"Well, I remember reading that basilisk breath causes rock cave ins," said Hermione. "If the chamber was made for basilisks, maybe it's spelled to fix itself."
"Well, it wasn't spelled to clean itself," said Ron. "It was disgusting last time."
"Come on," called Harry. He was several feet in front of them and already his wandlight looked no brighter than a firefly. By the time they caught up with him, he was standing in front of the solid wall on which two entwined serpents were carved in the stone. Their emerald eyes glittered menacingly, as if ensorcelled to repel intruders. Upon closer inspection, Harry realized that they weren't snakes, they were basilisks.
"Whew, they are creepy, aren't they?" said Ron, as he eyed the serpents. "They look almost real."
"Open," Harry hissed.
"Only for the speaker," the serpents hissed back.
"What?" Harry looked at the carved basilisks that now seemed to be just carved, but for a moment there, they seemed very real—too real—their scales glinting golden and green in the wandlight. "Did you hear that?" Harry asked in English.
"They hissed back at you," Hermione said. "What did they say?"
"They said, they would only open for the speaker."
"Oh, well." said Ron, putting his arm around Hermione. "All the way down here for nothing—"
"Ask again," urged Hermione. "Tell them we want to help."
"It is necessary that my companions enter," hissed Harry.
"They are hisssus," hissed the first serpent.
"As you wish, Master," hissed the other.
"But say the word," hissed the first.
"And we will rid you of them." The second continued.
"No!" Harry hissed back. "No, don't do that." He hesitated a moment and then on impulse, said, "Close your eyes," to the serpents.
"We cannot, Master. Only you can remove our eyes from the spell." Said the serpents together.
"Well, don't harm my friends," Harry hissed sharply.
"What are they saying?" Hermione asked. "They sounded angry, somehow."
"No," said Harry. "They're not angry. "They just wanted to be sure I really wanted you to come with me."
"Like extra safeguards in case you were forced to open the Chamber?" said Ron.
"Something like that," replied Harry.
"Well, that's good, I guess," said Hermione. "Isn't it? ISN'T IT?"
"I'm not so sure," said Harry as he moved forward into the Chamber, and all eyes were drawn to the enormous statue of Salazar Slytherin. Harry shivered. He couldn't help remembering Frank Longbottom's testamony, that Salazar Slytherin's soul was kept in the Chamber of Secrets.
"Just a bit arrogant, wasn't he?" Hermione deduced as she looked at the immense statue of Salazar Slytherin.
"Do you think he made it himself?" asked Harry.
"I don't know," said Hermione. "I guess I just assumed—"
"You would think," said Ron. "If he made it himself, he would have made it look more handsome."
"I can't imagine anyone being that conceited. The statue must be nearly as high as the Quiddich stands," said Harry.
"I don't think it's that big," said Hermione, eyeing it, "But it is a showstopper. So where are the basilisk eggs? You said you thought you knew where they would be." She looked at Harry expectantly.
"I thought it would be--open," said Harry. "No one shut it last time I was here, but I do know how to open it." Harry took a deep breath. "If there are basilisk eggs or--baby basilisks," said Harry, "These sounds will open the hiding place and call it—or them. Maybe you should shut your eyes, just in case."
Hermione nodded.
"Glad to," said Ron. "Who wants to look at old Monkey face up there anyway?"
Hermione laughed, the sound breaking the tension, and Ron reached out taking Hermione's hand in his own. "Don't want to get separated, if—if—"
"Good idea," whispered Hermione, blushing even in the dim light.
"Here goes," said Harry, and then he looked around for one of the carved snakes. There was one right in front of him in the center of the chamber. It was carved from milky white sandstone, and limestone, shimmering pink and gray granite and rusty oxidized minerals in carbonate streaked red and orange through the scales. These rocks were not supposed to exist next to one another, and yet here, in the Chamber they existed side by side, through magic.
The serpent was an amazing work of art, but it had no eyes. As Harry looked at its face he suddenly realized that some of the serpents in the room were snakes and some were basilisks. Some had huge emerald eyes and some had small emeralds. Some had eyes made of jade and aquamarine. Others had no stones at all for eyes. Had someone removed them? Or did Voldemort have them? Harry wondered if he dared to ask one of the carved snakes on the wall. Would they tell him?
"Harry?" whispered Ron.
"Yes," said Harry, coming back to the present. "I'm ready now." The chamber echoed with Harry's hissing. " Speak to me, Slytherin, Greatest of the Hogwart's Four."
Nothing happened.
Harry waited another moment and repeated the hissing.
"It's not working," said Harry.
"Are you sure you remember the password," said Hermione. "One little phrase out of sync—one syllable mispronounced and it may not open."
"I'm sure I'm saying it right," said Harry.
"What are you saying?" asked Ron, curiously.
"Speak to me, Slytherin Greatest of the Hogwarts Four."
"Oh, there's the problem," said Hermione.
"What?" asked Ron and Harry together.
"Harry, do you believe that Slytherin was the greatest of the Hogwarts four?"
"No, of course not," spat Harry. "Oh, of course. Intent. Well." He shrugged. "What are we going to do?"
The trio stood thinking, studying the architecture and the myriad carvings. They were quite intricate. Harry didn't have the time to appreciate the scenery last time he was here.
"It's hard to believe my little sister opened this," said Ron. "How could she believe that Slytherin was the greatest of the Hogwarts four?"
"Not Ginny," said Harry. "Voldemort." Harry paced past several of the serpents, his wand light reflecting wildly as he walked. "I could ask one of the serpents," suggested Harry. "Maybe there is another way to open Salazar's mouth."
Hermione shook her head. "I don't like you talking to them, Harry. I don't trust them."
"Let's just fly up and have a look," said Ron. That sounded like a reasonable idea, so the threesome mounted up their brooms and flew closer to Salazar's mouth. Dirt was caked on his upper lip and the ancient remains of some sort of nest was in his nostril. There was no movement. No life, and no way to open it without the correct password.
"Harry, I have an idea," said Hermione as they coasted back down to the ground. "What do you believe about Salazar Slytherin?"
"Aside from his being a crazy, sadistic bastard—"
"Technically, he wasn't a bastard," said Hermione. "Since—"
"Hermione," interrupted Ron.
"I just thought," continued Hermione, "If you could think of something that you believed Salazar Slytherin was the greatest as—maybe the spell would work."
"The greatest git," said Ron.
"No wait," said Harry. "That might work. I believe he was a power-hungry—wait. WAIT. I have an idea." With a shiver, Harry thought of what he knew to be true of Voldemort.--the great one, always hungry. "Close your eyes," he said, and then Harry lifted his head and hissed, "Open for the blood of the Sissahass A Sissahass," and with a sickening grinding of stone on stone, Salazar's mouth began to open. Wider and wider it opened until there was a great gaping maw between the stones of the upper and lower lips.
"Hey! It worked," said Ron. "What did you say, Harry?"
"Does it matter?" asked Harry, evasively. "It doesn't look like anything is coming out. I'm going to fly up and have a look."
"We'll come," said Ron mounting his broom.
"No," said Harry. "Wait for just a minute. Let me be sure it's just eggs."
Ron and Hermione agreed and Harry lifted up to the edge of Salazar's mouth. Now he could see the interior of Salazar's mouth with his wandlight. It was like nothing he had ever seen before. He stared in amazement.
"Well, Harry?" called Hermione from the floor.
"Come on up," said Harry. "I don't see anything here." There was a small antechamber in front of them decorated in gold and marble and velvet, and to the right, there was another door with golden twin serpents guarding it. "Open," hissed Harry and the door opened to a long marble corridor.
"Harry," squeaked Ron, "There's something here."
Harry turned left toward Ron's voice. There was a large room that looked like nothing so much as a huge round bathtub filled with sand, jutting out from the tub in a veritable maze was sand filled tunnels. A playground for the baby basilisks. Harry stooped to touch it. Warm sand. There were no signs of eggs or basilisks, but this was definitely a perfect place for a basilisk. As Harry ran his hand absently over the sand a thousand thoughts filled his head. Someone could have come into Hogwarts itself to retrieve the eggs or the baby basilisks, already or Dumbledore could have ordered the place cleaned after Ginny's experience and the giant basilisk skin was taken away. Maybe they were mistaken—maybe—it was just—And then his hand connected with something in the sand—something thin and strong and wiry. He held it spellbound. Even though it was only a tiny piece, he knew what it was: a piece of dragon hide thread. He handed it silently to Hermione, but it was Ron who spoke. "Common Welch Green," said Ron softly.
"So they did it," said Hermione with her no nonsense logic. "We just have to find the nesting ground."
"You don't think this is it?" asked Ron.
Harry shook his head. "Too small."
"We could split up," said Hermione. "Check the tunnels—"
"No," said Ron and Harry emphatically.
"We stick together," said Harry. "And we don't have to check the tunnels. I can't imagine Salazar crawling around in the sand. There had to be a way for Salazar to check on the eggs, without dirtying his hands--probably from up here." Harry started up the steps to the right, and found himself in one of the most luxurious sitting rooms he had ever seen.
"Looks like Bloody Buckingham Palace," said Ron. "Who did he think he was?"
"The greatest of the Hogwarts Four," said Hermione, deadpan. "And they were the Greatest Witches and Wizards of the Age."
The trio wondered through room after room. "Look at this," Ron exclaimed touching a golden snake candlestick. "Do you realize this could probably pay my Hogwarts tuition for the next two years, and Ginny's too? And this—" said Ron, sitting and bouncing on a rich velvet covered bed, and rubbing his hands against the cushions. "That's it," said Ron. "I'm moving my trunk. As soon as we get rid of the basilisk eggs, I'm moving in. This place is fantastic."
Harry pulled open a drawer. He froze. There, staring up at him was a horribly familiar white mask and neatly folded beside it were several black robes. All were immaculately clean.
Hermione sucked in her breath.
"OK," squeaked Ron. "I'm ready to go now."
"Wands out," said Harry as they exited the living quarters and made their way silently up several more flights of stairs.
"Do you think this comes out somewhere in Hogwarts?" asked Hermione.
"In Slytherin?" breathed Ron.
"I think we're still too much underground," said Harry.
"Harry we've been climbing for ages," said Hermione. "We should be at ground level by now."
Ron shook his head. "Look at the walls." Said Ron, running his hand along them. They were covered with a thin glaze of dampness, which shimmered on the walls. Suddenly he stopped. "There's a door here," said Ron excitedly.
"Are you sure?" asked Hermione. "I don't see anything."
"There's a door. There's definitely a door."
Harry moved forward, running his hands along the wall to inspect. "I don't see anything either, Ron, But, I can feel—"
"Harry, will you just tell it to open," said Ron exasperated.
"Open," hissed Harry and the door of the room dissolved as if it had never been a part of the wall."
"Oh." Said Hermione. "Ron, how did you find that?"
"I was touching the wall," said Ron.
"What do you think it is?" asked Harry, peering into the room.
"Indoor Quiddich Pitch?" suggested Ron.
"No, the ceilings not high enough—it's big enough though—How can it be this big?"
"Charm?" suggested Hermione. "Like in the tents at the World cup?"
"Maybe." Harry reached down and touched the dirt at his feet. "It's not sandy enough," he said "I don't think this is the hatching ground, but feel this dirt, Ron. It's not dirt."
"It feels like your Invisibility Cloak, Harry. Like it's part liquid, and yet not wet." Said Ron as he sifted some of the dirt through his fingers. "It feels—It feels—I don't know—Strange--Let's get out of here."
"It looks like some sort of amphitheater," said Hermione as they closed the door and resumed climbing. "You know, for concerts and things—But it felt like it could suck the magic right out of you like a dementer."
"Not like a dementer," said Harry quickly. "It just felt very snake-like."
"Slytherin," said Hermione.
"Hermione, Hufflepuff is on that side of the castle," said Ron, pointing "And Harry just opened the door with parseltongue. Of course, it's Slytherin. It's not an amphitheater."
"Small coliseum?" suggested Harry wryly. "Slytherins might get a kick out of seeing some gladiators—duel," Harry finished thoughtfully as he climbed the stairs.
They could see another door, one more flight up.
"Hush," said Hermione, and then they all heard it, the sound of voices, giggling and teasing—making no effort to be quiet."
Harry pulled the Invisibility Cloak out of his pocket and threw it over them all. They stood utterly still and listened.
"That's Malfoy," whispered Ron. "And Pansy and Alvin Nott—"
"Quit!" shouted a voice.
"Definitely Alvin," said Harry.
"Honestly, Alvin, the first little sign of pain--" said Lauren. "It's not like she'd really hurt you."
"I'll take you on," drawled a lazy voice.
"Oh gawd," moaned Ron. "Do you think we're under the Slytherin Common Room?"
"As you mentioned, Hufflepuff is that way," whispered Hermione, as she gestured.
Harry motioned them back without saying a word. He was afraid if he opened his mouth; the sound would carry to the common room. The threesome began the long walk back down to the Chamber of Secrets. About half way there, Harry turned left, but Ron said they should go right. Hermione thought right, so they went right. At the next intersection, Harry again wanted to go right, and this time Ron said left. Hermione wasn't sure so they followed Harry's way. After walking about a city block to the right, they came to a dead end, so they turned around and followed Ron's directions for a while. At the next intersection there was again a disagreement about how to get back. "I think it's this way," said Harry wiping sweat from his forehead.
"No, this way," said Ron.
"For heaven's sake," said Hermione. "It's that way." She started walking and Harry grabbed the sleeve of her robe. "Stick together," he snapped.
"I wasn't going anywhere," said Hermione. She frowned at him. "What's wrong, Harry?"
"I just don't think that's right," he said. "Stay put for a minute. Let me think." Harry took a couple of deep breaths and rubbed his hands over his face.
"Harry?" said Hermione
"Well, what are we going to do," snapped Ron. "Wait for some Sytherin to come and save us. It's like a maze—a maze—" Ron whispered looking at Harry.
"I'm sorry," said Harry wiping beads of sweat off of his brow. "Mazes just make me feel a little—nervous."
"It's OK, mate," said Ron, clapping his shoulder. "We'll get out of here together."
Harry went chalk white.
"I know," said Hermione. "The compass spell you used in the Tri-wizard maze--She pulled her wand and laid it across her palm. "Point me," she said and the wand spun wildly.
"What do you think?" Asked Harry worriedly.
"Some kind of interference. Either strong magic or—" Hermione shrugged. "OK, which way do you think; Ron? You've been right so far. You must have been paying better attention to the direction we were taking when we came."
"Left," said Ron unhesitatingly.
"Do you remember all of these intersections on our way up here?" asked Harry.
"Or are you just guessing?" added Hermione.
"I remember a few, "said Ron, "but we may have missed some of them because we were going the other direction. I just have a knack for remembering moves—it's almost like chess— or –we could be lost," Ron finished lamely. He stopped as they found themselves in a room that they had not seen on the way up.
"Oh my," breathed Hermione as she looked at the shelves upon shelves of potion ingredients. Against the opposite wall was a bookshelf, which Hermione naturally gravitated to. "We weren't here before. Do you think these rooms are moving? Like the staircases?"
Harry shrugged thoughtfully. "Maybe—" He seemed much calmer now that they were in a room instead of the changing maze-like corridors.
Ron moved to the practical potions area. "Someone was in the middle of something here," said Ron. "Look, the cauldron is not even covered. It's got a scum on top of it—"
"Don't touch it!" screeched Harry.
"Why?" asked Ron.
Harry held up a book that was bookmarked with a piece of basilisk skin. "It's the Elixir of Life," said Harry "Only Quirrel didn't get the Philosopher's Stone to put in it. At this stage, the potion is deadly poison and cursed. It's the Stone that reverses the effects of the poisons." At this point, Harry wondered if even the house elves with their special brand of magic could touch the Elixir of Life, and if the house elves could just pop into the Chamber, then surely someone would have known about the location of the Chamber of Secrets years ago. No, thought Harry, a parselmouth had to have let them in—Harry suppressed a shiver. "Let's see how many of the basilisk potion ingredients are here," said Harry softly.
"Ok," said Ron. "I don't remember that many. Hermione, we need you," Ron called.
She looked up dreamily from the book she had been reading. "I wonder if this will be on OWLS," she said.
"Forget OWLS," snapped Ron. "We need you to help remember the ingredients of the basilisk hatching potion. "
"Let's see," said Hermione, counting off on her fingers, "There was --------
Dragon blood, procured from a first time nesting mother--
Werewolf blood
Goblin blood
Gnome blood
Giant blood
Unicorn blood
The boys checked off the ingredients as Hermione recited.
She looked at her fingers for a moment. "I'm missing a blood," she said. "Oh right. Muggle blood."
venom from King Cobra
venom from Saw Scaled viper
venom from the Black Mamba
2 dragon's eggs
toads
Devil's snare
Rue
"There's something else—Oh right. The snake parts of the cobra, viper and mamba and the seven live snakes and, of course, the basilisk skin. I think that's it."
"They're all here," said Harry. "Except the live snakes and toads. No one would have gotten all those obscure ingredients unless they were planning to actually make the potion."
"We don't know if they finished," said Ron.
"Yes we do," said Hermione. "If they hadn't, the bones of the live snakes should be here and the cauldron would be sitting here beside the Elixir of Life. It wouldn't be—wherever the toads are."
The boys looked at her for a moment, Ron moving to a cabinet where he found another golden goblet, filled with a clear substance that looked like water and a crystal bowl full of what looked unmistakably like unicorn blood. "Hey, this cabinet is warmer than in the room," said Ron.
"Unicorn blood and—" Hermione frowned, "that clear substance could be a number of things that have to be stored at room temperature," she said. "Better not touch it."
"But that cup must be worth a fortune. It's solid gold," said Ron.
"And it belonged to Salazar Slytherin," said Harry.
"But he's dead."
"It's probably cursed," replied Hermione. "Put it back. Honestly Ron. Don't you ever use your head? You don't even know what's in the goblet—"
"I know what this is," said Ron reaching for some thin blue sticks that were stacked neatly on an ice covered shelf. In the process of reaching, he knocked over the golden goblet, and its contents spilled over the floor. Immediately, it started to smoke, eating into the stone."
"Well, it's not water," said Hermione, magically drawing the scattered droplets back into the goblet. "glomerare camella."
"I knew that charm," said Ron. "I was just about to do it."
"I was!" he protested as Hermione looked askance at him.
"We have to find those eggs," Harry moaned, moving to the door and looking out "Do you remember this?" he asked confusedly as he looked at the corridor, which had definitely changed.
"We'll have to come back," said Hermione. "We've been gone a long time. People are going to start to miss us, and we still don't know which way to go."
"OK" said Harry, pushing himself away from one of the walls. "Let's go back."
Hermione looked at the changed corridor. "Do either of you boys know which way?"
"That way," said both of them, pointing in opposite directions.
Harry sat down on the cold stone corridor. "It's magicked," he said. "I should have thought of it. Salazar didn't want any trespassers to get out of the Chamber, if they managed to get in." Harry was shaking, and his teeth were beginning to chatter. He laid his head on his hands.
"Harry, get up," demanded Hermione. "What's wrong with you?"
"I'm just really, really cold, all of the sudden," he said. "And I don't like mazes."
"Don't blame you, mate." Said Ron. "But I don't think it's cold in here, at least not any colder than it's been in any other part of the Chamber. Do you think it's cold Hermione?"
"No, well, not as cold as Harry seems to think it is, but let's try to find somewhere that's warmer for Harry. I wonder why this sudden cold is only affecting him and not us, Ron?"
Hermione and Ron pulled Harry to his feet and walked down the left corridor as Ron suggested. They crossed several intersections and Harry started to feel warmer. "This is better," he said. Then abruptly, he stopped. "No," he said pointing to a narrow corridor. "That way."
"That doesn't look familiar," said Hermione.
"But I feel heat," said Harry.
"Is that a good thing?" muttered Ron.
As they walked, Harry passed doorways saying, "No that one's cold. That one's cold. This is it. It's warmer." It seemed like it took them an impossibly long time, and they had yet to see anything familiar.
"It's like that muggle game," said Hermione when you want to find something and someone tells you 'warm' when you are close and 'cold' when you are not."
"A muggle game?" said Ron. "Salazar wouldn't have known about a muggle game."
"Tom might have," said Hermione. "But why would he do that?"
"I don't know," said Harry, "but look."
Even though they made many wrong turns, and nothing looked familiar, at last, they got back to the Salazar statue, but they hadn't found either the basilisks or basilisk eggs.
"At last," said Hermione.
"I think we should go to dinner," said Ron. "I'm starved. "
"I wish we would have found the eggs," moaned Harry as they trudged across the wide expanse of the Chamber. "But I'm glad we found our way back."
"I wish we would have paid more attention to the Slytherins," said Ron. "Maybe we could have picked up on their game plan for the quiddich game. It was the perfect opportunity."
"They weren't talking about Quiddich anyway," said Hermione. "They were playing that game—and Harry will catch the snitch anyway. He's faster than Malfoy."
Harry grinned at her, as he paused by the multicolored basilisk, his hand brushing against it. "I wonder where all the emerald eyes are?" he thought.
"Hidden," came the answer. "Find mine."
"Did you hear that?" asked Harry, but he was quite certain the serpent spoke directly to his mind and not aloud.
"No," said Hermione. "We should go. We're awfully late. Someone's going to come looking for us and we'll get detention.
"It's not like they will find us down here," said Ron sarcastically.
Harry was shaking his head, covering his ears.
"What is it?" asked Ron.
It seemed to Harry as if every serpent in the chamber was now clamoring for his attention. Each was shouting at him to find their eyes. "Shut up!" Harry hissed in parseltongue. And then he continued a little calmer. "Speak only when I speak to you."
"What just happened, Harry? You looked like you were going to be sick," said Ron.
"I wondered about the eyes," said Harry, "and suddenly, all of these serpents wanted to talk in my mind.
"Wicked," breathed Ron. "What did they want?"
"For us—me—to find their eyes."
Harry kept his hand on the beautiful serpent, his finger tracing over each different scale, each a different color. "Where are your eyes?" Harry asked in parseltongue.
"I am not permitted to tell you," replied the serpent.
"A scavenger hunt," quipped Harry.
"Not a scavenger," said the snake. "A ssheis."
"Very well, a predator. What will I get if I find your eyes?"
"All that is," replied the serpent enigmatically. It was then, that Harry looked more closely at the face of the snake. When it spoke, and only when it spoke, a shadow of a tongue protruded from the rock—a second tongue.
"Ron," Harry said softly. "I think we found our bilinguis."
"Do they all have it?" asked Ron and Hermione. "The threesome began going from serpent to serpent with Harry asking them questions in parseltongue just to see if any of them had two tongues. They did not. Finally, they just couldn't continue anymore, but there were still serpents to visit. Hermione was standing near one at Salazar's feet looking up.
"I'm sure we missed dinner," moaned Ron. "My stomach thinks my throat got cut."
"Yuck, where do you come up with these sayings?" asked Hermione.
"Fred and George," said Ron as he mounted his broom.
Harry was quiet and thoughtful.
"Harry," said Hermione softly. "We went up into the head and ceiling and out into the dungeons. If we had gone down—down into the legs of the statue—"
"Yes," said Harry. "I think you're right. Next time—"
"When they finally flew out of the sink opening into Myrtle's bathroom, Ginny was waiting for them, broom in hand. She looked as furious as Mrs. Weasley ever was. "Where have you been!" she demanded. "Supper's been over for hours. Do you know what time it is?"
"No, Mum," said Ron snidely. "Suppose you tell us."
"The next time you want to know something about the Chamber of Secrets, just ask me, OK," spat Ginny. "I've been in that wretched place more times than you could count."
"Ginny—" began Harry, putting his hand on her shoulder. And then realizing that she held her broom.
"You were coming after us?" queried Harry.
Ginny nodded. "I was trying to stir up my courage. I thought you were lost. I used to get lost—when—when-- the corridors changed—until Tom put on the hot and cold spells—I didn't know if they would still work--"
"Tom did that," said Ron. "Why didn't me and Hermione feel it?"
"I thought you were all dead!" said Ginny breaking into sobs, letting her broomstick clatter to the floor.
Harry pulled her closer and let her cry on his shoulder. "Especially after Parvati's prediction," muttered Ginny.
"What prediction?" said Harry.
==
Later, when they were gathered in the Common room, Parvati reviewed the prophecy.
"How did the vision begin," asked Lavender.
"I was cold," Parvati began. "I was looking at the cold fireplace, and suddenly I was outside. There was snow on the ground. It's night, and I'm alone. Cold. Wandless. But I escaped—They will not underestimate me again—I'm angry. Very angry."
"Are you a muggle again?" asked Lavender
"No. My wand was taken from me," Said Parvati. "If I had it—I wouldn't be out in the cold."
"Who has done this?" asked Lavender
"My enemies."
"Who?"
"I would assume that my enemies are the ones trying to kill me," said Parvati loftily.
Lavender sucked in her breath. "What else do you remember about the dream? Do you know who you are?"
"Yes. I am the one you call the Prophecy child.
Ginny shuddered, listening to Parvati's words. Parvati had taken on the air of the prophecy child, and Ginny was sure this was not someone you wanted as your enemy.
"I have a sense that I am in a very dangerous position—without my wand—exhausted--bereft of protection," Parvati continued with calm assurance. "I need to find Harry Potter, but that may not be enough, now. I'm afraid that he may not help me. Cannot help me. Or will not help me. But I need to find him, nonetheless, because I made a promise."
"Are you and Harry Potter on the same side of this war?" Lavender asked.
"Well," spat the prophecy child, as Parvati ran her hands nervously through her hair. "I suppose that depends upon if he tries to kill me too."
What else?" Lavender prompted. "What else do you remember?"
"Nothing." Said Parvati, coming back to herself. "I fell asleep."
"And you dreamed," said Lavender.
"Parvati nodded. "But I don't think they are related. I don't even think I'm the prophecy child any longer. In fact, I know I am not."
"Tell me," said Lavender.
"I was running—I had run through the corridors of Hogwarts—old dusty corridors. There was a trapdoor and I went down it, using stealth to hide me from the danger, but I couldn't stay there. I had the feeling that it was only a few steps behind me and if I stopped for just a moment, if I let my guard down, I would die. I kept my head low, running from statue to statue and then the staircases changed and the Thing that was chasing me was behind me laughing. The staircases changed again and suddenly I was running right to It and It was saying-- Every corridor is mine. Every staircase is mine. Every fire is mine. Hogwarts is a maze you cannot escape! So I jumped over the banister and fell an impossibly long time, but I landed on my feet, and began to run again. I didn't need to look back to see if the Thing had followed. It would always follow. The land was crunching like bones beneath my feet as I ran. I saw a black dog digging so I threw myself down on the ground beside him and began burrowing into the bones like some wild animal, desperate to do something that would not destroy everything. And then the bones were suddenly changing into the bones of people I knew—my parents, my friends, my teachers-- but one of the bones was a portkey and I was transported back to the Thing that was chasing me. It grabbed me, sinking its claws into my right arm—at least I thought it was claws until I looked at the Thing. It was a snake and it had its fangs sunken deep into my arm, but it was talking to me, and I understood it. It was saying: Become part of my Power and no more will need to die, and then it released me.
"It released you?"
"Yes."
"I don't understand," said Lavender. "Do you know who you are in this dream?"
"I am Harry Potter."
Hermione gasped and white-faced clutched Ron's arm. Both were staring at him.
Harry sat still and quiet, an arm's length from Ginny, but he didn't touch her—didn't look at her. He was remembering the last moments with Voldemort at Little Hengleton graveyard from last year. Voldemort hadn't released him. His mother had saved him—again.
Lavender glanced at Harry, and then turned back to Parvati. "Do you understand this dream?" asked Lavender.
"No," said Parvati, "But the creature spoke in that snake language, and then he laughed. Such horrible laughter.
"You understood parseltongue?" asked Lavender.
"No," said Parvati. "Harry Potter understood the parseltongue."
Harry had had this dream himself. He stood, looking at Parvati with horror in his eyes. "I never heard the parseltongue," he said, but she didn't acknowledge him.
He turned to his friends who were still staring at him with fear in their eyes. They were staring at him, just as they had second year when everyone thought he was the Heir of Slytherin. "And he didn't release me," shouted Harry Potter. "My mother saved me! She saved me!"
Parvati turned toward him, but her eyes seemed to be on some far-away scene. "The Dark is upon the Light," she said. "The choice is fouled."
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THANKS TO MY REVIEWERS. They are very special and many of them are excellent authors. I know, because I always read my reviewers fics. If you want me to read your fic. Please review. If you are looking for a good read, please check out my reviewers fics. Lady Lestrange.
AND NOW, IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO DO YOUR PART TO KEEP THIS STORY MOVING. PLEASE REVIEW. It's cheaper than buying a book, isn't it? Be a responsible reader. REVIEW. 10 Reviews to the next chapter.
Coming up next: Polyjuice is finished. Edward finishes the Wall. Harry talks to Kauket, the snake. More Ginny/Tom, and Ginny borrows Neville's Quick Quotes Quill to take notes in ADADA. REVIEW NOW.
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Slytherin's Silver Snake
Glad you enjoyed this chapter. Please continue to read and review. Those of you looking for a good read, check out Slytherin's Silver Snake's stories. Great writer!
Raven173
So you think in most sets of twins, one is good and one is evil? Hmmmm. Yes, I'm good at evasion. I've been taught by the Dark Lord himself. If you don't believe he's good at lying, wait until you hear what he tells Ginny. Sorry. Just finished reworking the ADADA field trip chapter, and I'm in a really EVIL MOOD. And yes, I wrote the protection spell just for you. Previously, I just said what it did, but actually, I like the actual words in it now. It's coming up soon. Thanks for your review. I will look forward to more obsessive reviews from you.—LL
Reiven:
Glad you liked chapter 41. Just the right blend of Edward, Ethan and Draco. You will soon know more than you want to about Edward and Ethan. It's so expensive running a war, you know. You have to get some money from somewhere. Yes. I think Draco is perfect too. Hope you continue to feel that way. Trying to keep him in character. About the 5X Ancestor thing, my sister married Lucius Malfoy. I know, that puts me in the wrong generation. Maybe the Dark Lord can do something about that with his eternal youth potion or something. Have to talk to cousin Severus on that one, I guess.
I've been trying to think of a way for Pritch to make an appearance, but I'm not sure where he will fit. I'll keep my eyes open though.
ennui2
Oh you have no idea what torture is. As we speak, I'm sitting here looking at the next ADADA class It's 30+ pages long. I'm trying to think where to cut it in half—Maybe right when Ginny gets to the portkey--MUAHAHAHAHAH
Volde's reaction won't be coming for a while.
How on earth would Edward know that Harry is a parselmouth? Not exactly dinner conversation in Gryfffindor is it? And there hasn't been a parselmouth for years—not since the Great Salad Bar Slytherin and then of course the current Dark Lord. Who would think that a Gryffindor would be a parselmouth, unless Ed was there in second year, which he wasn't, soo?
Kemenran
Love your creativity. More please.
Trillium
Which conversation with your Ravenclaw friends? Should we go over the waterfall? Glad you like the games. I think it's funny that you like Ron/Hermione in my story. All that has happened is that they are conspicuously absent on several occasions, and Hermione won't let Ron tell. So everything that has happened in the H/R relationship is in your mind, not my story. Hehehe.
Silverfox1
Glad you liked Bea's little cuddle. She's such a sweet thing isn't she? Would Sevi forbid it? HeHeHe. Wait till you see what else is going on in Slytherin common room. You wouldn't even ask that question.
Blue-blonde sorceress: In the words of Draco when Samara apologizes to him: "humph." Anyway the apology needs to be to Rieven, not me.
The elemental Sorseress: Yes, I invented the game, QUIT. The Elementals are Earth, Wind, Fire and Water in any of their forms. Glad you are still reading.
Melbell: Thanks for the kudos. If you like short chapters, maybe I should cut the one where Ginny goes to the Dark Lord in 3 instead of 2. OH dear, then when would I cut it? Before or after Lucius is crucioed? Maybe when Tom—no. That wouldn't work. I guess I'll just have to keep it at 2 and cut it right when she gets to the portkey, That's OK with you, right?
Elfmoon87
Glad you got the review in. Fanfic is sometimes so tiresome, but I try to be patient. OH yes, the twins are Soooo different. Yep. Doing that on purpose.
Melbell. You are right. Mrs. Longbottom is Alice, not Anne. But I already had it written as Anne when OotP came out and I kinda liked their names to be Anne &Frank. HEHEHE.
DanielG715
Thanks for your comments. Please continue to review. You keep me on my toes. Looking forward to seeing one of your stories soon.
jager
Glad you finally reviewed. Welcome.
Ilwinterhofal
Thanks for your review. Glad you like Harry's dream. Some aren't thinking of Harry as one of the Seers in this Seers' Truth. Also I appreciate your saying my characters are rounded with definite personalities. I try. I like the Quit game too. I wanna play. Sniff. OH, yeah. Ginny's aura is really fun. As far as going to sites to see the aura colors, it's hard to say what some of them mean. Some of the sites contradict one another. If you just search Aura colors in Google or something, you'll find lots of stuff.
So, have you reviewed yet? Well, get to it! Imperio!
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