Year Three at Hogwarts
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Excuse me. I know that I usually save notes till the end of the story but this won't take long. I just realized that I haven't put a Disclaimer for this story like for my others. Well, nothing here belongs to me and is the rightful property of JKR except for the prospect of the Seekers and so on and so on. Thank you.
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Chapter 7: The Secret of the Creation
Tyler had closed the door behind him and already had one of the expanding ropes from the secret floor compartment in the bathroom. Thankfully, the ghost Moaning Myrtle wasn't there which Tyler thought was something not short of a blessing. He hissed the password for the sinks to break apart and before they could finish revealing the hole, the door to the bathroom opened. Tyler blood ran as cold as ice when he heard the door open and dropped the rope and map down on the floor. He turned and went for his wand but stopped at the sight of his fellow seekers who looked just as surprised as he did.
"What are the three of you doing here?! Trying to give me a heart attack."
"What are we doing here? What are YOU doing here?" they asked simultaneously.
Tyler was starting to find that the way that two or more of them said the same things together was starting to get a little creepy. Jacke was also starting to think that this was strange as well. Reggie and Brad thought it was a little funny and bonding.
Tyler spoke. "No, first you guys answer my question. How did you find me here?"
"We followed you," Brad said in the most simplest tone any of the other three ever heard. Then this was followed by light laughter by all of them at how Brad told Tyler their answer.
"We wanted to find out what was up with you. You've been looking distracted ever since this morning," Jacke added after he got out of the humor fit he was in.
"It was just the article this morning," he said trying to sound convincing before he remembered that the entrance to the chamber was wide open behind him making his story completely unbelievable and stupid.
"Yeah," Reggie said slowly like someone speaking to a small child. "It wouldn't also be about the tunnel or hole behind you too right?"
"First things first," Tyler said a little annoyed at himself. "Why were you following me?"
"We wanted to see what you were up to," Brad answered.
"Please, why would you think I was up to something?"
Reggie went up to him. "Because, you told me that you were going to be hanging out with Regulus, Carroway and Stellers when we caught each other yesterday but Regulus came to me earlier today and asked if anything interesting happened with all four of us yesterday because he thought you were with us, that's why."
'Damn Reggie's brains,' Tyler thought in annoyance. "Okay, okay, you caught me," he said in surrender.
"So, what's with the tunnel?" asked Jacke.
"Oh, I found this map at the secret spot at home that I got the "books" from and it led me here. According to this map, it's called the Chamber of Slytherin."
"The Chamber of Slytherin? That wouldn't happen to be your ancestor Salazar Slytherin wouldn't it?" Brad asked.
"Yeah, the same one. Apparently, this is here because he placed it here."
"This seems very familiar to me," said Brad. "Don't you guys move, I'll be right back."
Brad ran out of the bathroom and the remaining three friends looked at each other in wonder.
"What do you think Brad thinks?" asked Reggie.
"Don't know."
"No clue."
Brad came back after about ten minutes with a book in his hand that looked like one of the school's books. He was breathing hard. Apparently, he had run to avoid any teachers and prefects since the patrols were going to start soon.
"Brad, what do you got there?" asked Reggie.
"Oh, this is a book that I bought last year. It's called Hogwarts, A History. This has everything about the school's history and legends."
"Why did you bring that?"
"Well Jacke, when I came to Hogwarts I was really excited but I decided to find out more about this school and I bought this book. I just finished reading it the week before we came back here during the summer."
"You're rubbing off on him Reggie," Tyler said with his smile smirk combination.
"Oh shut up. Anyway, what does this book have to do with this chamber Tyler found Brad?"
"Oh, well, I remember something about a chamber being mentioned in this book. Hold on." He opened the book and began turning the pages looking for the right one until he seemed to have found it. "Here guys, I found it. "The Legend of the Chamber of Secrets"."
"The Chamber of Secrets?" repeated Jacke, Tyler and Reggie simultaneously.
"Yeah, well let me read the passage."
Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry was founded about a thousand years ago by four greatest witches and wizards of the age. They were Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin. They built this school together and to this day have the four houses named after them. For years, they worked in harmony until the subject of bringing children with non-magical parents to be taught was brought up. A serious rift began to grow between Slytherin and the others. He believed that these sorts of children were untrustworthy. This resulted in a serious debate between Slytherin and Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin left the school. According to legend, Salazar Slytherin had built a hidden chamber in the castle known as the Chamber of Secrets, which has never been found. The chamber is said to have a hidden horror in the form of a monster, which Slytherin or an heir of Slytherin could control, and use to purge the school of those who were unworthy to study magic in Slytherin's eyes.
The four of them looked blank when Brad finished the passage. This was until Tyler spoke out against what he was sure was on their minds.
"Oh come on. You guys don't seriously believe that that's what I was planning to do with this chamber right?" He was sure to say it in a tone that made the thing seem like a big joke and by a miracle, it seemed to have worked.
"Of course not. You're not like that," Reggie said.
"Yeah, I shouldn't be afraid of this. I mean, we're friends and I know you would never hurt me or anyone like me because of blood type," said Brad.
"Come on mate, give us some credibility. We're not accusing you of anything. That story is rubbish," said Jacke.
"Thanks, for a second, I thought you guys thought I was going to kill of muggleborns for sport." Tyler said with a relief outtake of air. "It's strange though, the map says that this place is called the Slytherin Chamber. I wonder how it was changed. It's probably nothing to think about. I've seen down there and I think the map gives the more accurate name. I was about to go down there when you guys showed up. You don't have to wait around here. You could go back to your common rooms now that you know what I was doing."
"I am curious what's down there," Reggie said after a while looking over to the hole.
"I could show you guys if you want," Tyler insisted.
His friends' expression immediately changed from joking to downright worried and scared.
"Er...there really isn't a monster down there right?" Jacke asked with a squeaky voice sounding a little worried.
"Er...well...there is a beast down there but he isn't a monster...not much."
"Not much?" Brad asked starting to shake a little.
"Don't worry, it won't hurt you if I command it not to hurt you. Remember, I'm an heir of Slytherin, that means it will listen to me."
"Are you sure?" Reggie asked still with his eyes on the hole.
"Trust me. I've already been down there before with Chaos yesterday."
"Are you absolutely sure that you have full control over it?" Reggie asked with even more tension then before.
Tyler realized that the three of them were very curious about what was down there but they were scared senselessly. He couldn't really blame them even if he was a little annoyed at their unnecessary worry. The passage in the book really made it out to be a torture and execution chamber. Then Tyler got a little plan into that cunning head of his and decided to use a trick, which he picked up from Regulus.
"Look, if you don't want to go in then you don't have to. I didn't let you guys in on this discovery because I knew that you might not handle going to a chamber which my ancestor built. You don't have to be scared for me."
The effect of his reverse back talking seemed to hit Jacke immediately.
"Scared? Scared? Who says I'm scared to go down there?"
"Reggie said it himself. You guys aren't sure I have full control over it. I don't blame you especially since Brad read that passage in the book. If you want to go and avoid anything then I'll completely understand."
"What?!" Brad said just as insulted as Jacke was. "You think we can't handle it? You make it sound so easy but you think we can't do it."
"Your words, not mine," Tyler said trying to hold back a smile.
"Come on Tyler," Reggie said with a surprisingly annoyed tone. "The reverse psychology won't work on me."
"Reverse pyscogy?" asked Jacke and Tyler.
'Right' thought Reggie. 'They wouldn't know it that way.' "I meant reverse back talking."
'Damn his brains again,' Tyler thought in annoyance. 'Why did Reggie have to be so smart in catching this stuff?'
His friends stood there looking at Tyler and then the three of them huddled together to talk privately which Tyler assumed was about going down to the chamber with him.
Tyler thought about whether he would like to have them come or not. He thought of the good and bad side of the galleon and was trying to make up his mind. Part of him thought that them going would be bad since this was a little personal family stuff. But...he felt that going with them would help him better understand what he found out when he further investigated the chamber. They could help him with their point of views on things and would give him the feeling that he wasn't amazed or confused all by himself.
Tyler was starting to feel that the more that he let his friends in on his life then the better he seemed to feel. He felt All his life he was told this and that of how to be an honorable parselmouth but he had to do it completely alone (without any human support). He couldn't go to anyone to see if they needed help or help him with something that was confusing or hard to put up with. With his friends, he went through two magical transformations with their help and company. He wasn't alone in trying to learn how to control an element or transforming himself into an animal. His friends were there lost or ahead with him.
Jacke, Reggie and Brad discussed going into the alleged Chamber of Secrets or Slytherin Chamber or whatever it was truly called with Tyler.
"Well, Tyler did say that he went down there with Chaos so maybe it is safe," Brad argued.
"I'm with Brad Reggie," Jacke said. "Besides, he wouldn't lead us to a place where we would get hurt. I know him better than that. You know him better than that."
"I do but we have to think this rationally. First of which is that I'm sure that Tyler wouldn't intentionally harm us but what if whatever is in that chamber doesn't hurt only parselmouths and Tyler doesn't know that. Besides, we don't know what this Beast is down there anyway."
"Well, then just ask him," Brad said simply.
"That would make it sound that we don't trust him."
"Oh please Reggie." Jacke then turned to Tyler. "Tyler, we were wondering what beast is exactly down there so we know it's okay, really," he said tactlessly.
"Jacke!" Reggie said as if he had no manners. Brad simply put his face in his hand and shook his head inside it.
Tyler shook his head at Reggie's reaction to Jacke's question and Brad's action toward both. "It's okay. The creature that's down there is a basilisk. A giant snake."
Jacke and Brad looked a little intrigued but Reggie opened his eyes wide at that. "A Basilisk? I think I've read about them. Yeah, aren't they the snakes that can kill you with a look?"
"The same one, but don't worry," he added at their opened eyes. "I have full control over it. The basilisk won't use the power in his eyes if I tell him not too. He could control it."
"Are you sure?" Jacke asked putting a brave front but a slightly nervous voice at the prospect of killing eyes.
"Yeah...I've looked directly in his eyes and I'm still here. Don't worry," he repeated comfortingly. "The basilisk told me itself that it's bound to serve people that are of my ancestor's blood. That would include me guys."
His friends let out oh's at this, which made Tyler feel guilty that he lied. Basil said that people born with the gift of parseltongue like himself are immune to his power. But...he did say that he could control it so it didn't affect anyone if he wanted so he could simply ask Basil to hide the power in his eyes away from his fellow seekers.
The three remaining seekers went into another small group talk and came up with an agreement. If Tyler can truly control the basilisk then it must be safe to go.
"All right," Reggie said catching Tyler's attention again. "If you say it's safe then we believe you. We decided to check it out too."
"Alright then." He led them to the passage. "Just jump down, it's really fun. The whole thing is just one big slide."
Jacke looked really excited at this which Tyler could very well agree with on the prospect of going down a big slide to a secret chamber would be the best of fun and adventure.
"How do we get back up?" asked Brad.
"Oh, I just throw this rope that my ancestor left which magically pulls us back up here."
He tied the knot of the rope to the hook at the entrance and then slid down to show his friends how harmless and fun it was. When Tyler paid attention to the actual trip down into the chamber, he didn't realize that it was fun. He was so caught up in going down there that he didn't take the time to enjoy the trip.
When the other three jumped into the hole, they screamed out loud in panic or joy, Tyler couldn't tell which without looking at their faces. They all landed in big clumps on the dirt floors.
"Reggie looked on ahead and then looked directly up. "How far are we under the school?"
"Er...I don't really know. Maybe a few feet under the lake probably," answered Tyler.
Then Tyler went to the box on the wall next to where they fell to seal up the entrance and then led the way through the chamber. He could sense they were still tense about going so Tyler continued to try to make small talk to them so that they wouldn't just think about facing a giant snake. After about 4 minutes, the seekers found themselves at the door with the emerald green snakes locks.
"This is the entrance guys," Tyler announced.
Jacke looked at the entrance and then looked at Reggie and Brad. 'Reggie seems so uptight. Sometimes, he could think just too much. Tyler said that it was okay and I believe him but I still can't blame him or Brad at that. He's going to be the first muggleborn to ever actually be in there according to that book. Tyler's trying so hard for us not to be afraid...maybe he needs a little help.' "Tyler, we guessed that," he said simply trying very hard to make it seem like a joke.
Reggie and Brad's faces went from worried to stifle laughter. The place soon filled with their low laughter and Tyler's voice saying "Very funny, very funny" in annoyed tones.
Tyler turned to the door and started to hiss, "Open" to it. His friends just saw that he hissed something, which just sounded like he had a snake in his mouth, which they've seen him do before, but still freaked them out a little, especially here. The door opened with a good metallic creak and they entered right after Tyler did.
Tyler then extended his hands outward in showing fashion. "Well?"
His friends looked around the chamber and had the appearance of people who were just sent to live in this world. Everyone was quiet until one got the courage to speak and it was Jacke.
"Your ancestor really had a one track décor sense didn't he?"
Once he said this, all of them laughed themselves silly at silliness in his question. Reggie and Brad started to forget why they were so worried about and just joined in on the fun.
"Oh guys," Tyler said suddenly. "There is still someone for you guys to meet, that is unless you don't want to," he added quickly so there would be no pressure.
Reggie, Brad and Jacke exchanged looks and then as one, they nodded. Tyler went over to the statue of his ancestor. "Speak to me Slytherin, Greatest of the Hogwarts Four." 'I still think that my ancestor was a little too big headed,' he thought in amusement.
"Hey Tyler," Reggie asked while the statue was opening. "What did you say to it to open it," he asked curiously.
"Oh right, you don't understand. I just said the password, Speak to me Slytherin, Greatest of the Hogwarts Four."
The three of them raised their eyebrows at that which Tyler couldn't complain about since he just thought the same thing. 'What an ego.'
"Whose there?" hissed out Basil from within the statue.
"Oh, it's just me Basil, Tyler. Listen, before you come out, you must not use the power in your eyes. I have three friends here and I don't want them harmed at all by you, do you understand?"
"Of course master."
Tyler let out a frustrated breath at this while Basil started to come out. Jacke, Reggie and Brad backed up at the sight of the huge snake coming out of the statue's mouth. Reggie was looking straight down as soon as the sight of the snake met his eyes. Brad wasn't even blinking as he analyzed the size of the snake's body. Jacke was looking from the basilisk to Tyler over again to feel what to expect.
"Guys," Tyler said in meeting. "This is the guardian basilisk of Slytherin. I call him Basil for short."
Jacke lifted his eyebrows again. "Basil?" he asked trying not to ask.
"Don't start with me mate."
Reggie and Brad smiled again at the antics of Jacke and Tyler. Even in awkward situation like this, they always find ways to joke and eliminate the need for worry.
"Oh let me tell Basil who each of you are."
His friends watched as Tyler hissed to the Basilisk which he called Basil and used his hands to point to each of them in an introduction like matter. Then the giant snake made an unmistakable bow not so unlike which they've seen Chaos do when they first saw him last year.
Brad looked Basil straight in the eyes and was really entranced and curious. "Tyler, do those eyes really kill? They don't seem all that special to me."
"Of course, since I told Basil not to have them use their powers. Of course, I could tell him too so you could see for yourself," he said with a wave of his hand.
"Oh no. Never mind," Brad said with his hands up in surrender.
"Hey Tyler," Reggie started. "Can I see that map you mentioned? I want to see how big this place is."
"Oh sure." Tyler handed Reggie the map.
While Reggie was looking at the map and the Basilisk at the same time, the others were crowding around Basil.
"He doesn't really look that bad. I expected something gruesome from what the book and Reggie said," said Brad.
"Honestly, Reggie and books can be so unhealthy. Why do you think me and Tyler don't like reading school books so much?" Jacke said.
"Because the two of you just don't like to study at all period." Brad countered.
"He's got you there," Tyler said petting Basil.
"Anyway," he said annoyed that he lost that argument to Brad. "This snake doesn't seem that bad."
"That would be because I'm not bad," Tyler said.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I'll tell you later Brad."
Then Reggie's voice interrupted. "Hey Tyler, come here."
He went over followed by Jacke and Brad leaving Basil standing there stationary since he hasn't had any commands to.
"Tyler, I think there's another folded piece to this parchment. I went to turn it over when my finger slipped and crumpled up the top and I saw another part under it."
"Really? Give it here."
Tyler put a finger in the small space between the papers and slid it to the side and opened it up. Brad pointed to a dark spot on the new side.
"Look, that looks like wax or something. Someone must've folded this parchment over it when it was still wet or something."
The new half of the parchment had another map. It showed the entire chamber itself unlike the other side with directions to it. "Hmm," Tyler said calculative. "It says on this map that there's a secret storeroom to the left of the statue behind a pillar."
They walked over the water to the pillar that was shown on the map where Tyler read that there was a password to open it in Parseltongue. "Let's see, say "Storeroom open" in parseltongue," he read aloud. "Storeroom Open."
The bottom half of the pillar magically disappeared into thin air leaving a big space entrance. They walked in and what a sight they found. There was a collection of weapons, which Tyler thought, looked similar to the ones in the mansion but there weren't as many. There was a stack of books in a shelf above them and a chest, which he opened and found, filled with wizard clothes that still looked unaffected by any parasites or moths.
"Hey guys," Brad said suddenly shaking Tyler, Jacke and Reggie up. "Look there's some beams of light ahead.
Brad showed them to a cut off corner in the wall that led to a small room with three wooden display pedestals in the front. All three had beams of light concentrated on them filling the room with a powerful aura. It was as if they stepped into a sacred land all held within the room itself. Reggie had his mouth open at the feeling that the room gave off. Brad had his eyes clothes to feel the energy and breeze given off in the room. Jacke was looking completely around and up the room admiring it completely. Tyler's attention however was on the pedestals that the lights were focused on.
The pedestal on the furthest left had a glass medallion about the size of two fists there with markings and a circular clear glass center. The furthest right had another weird item. It looked like small metal tablet and Tyler could distinctly see an hourglass like design in it. Tyler didn't really pay any heed to either of these objects. He was paying most of his attention on the thing, things on display on the middle one. There was a parchment in a glass covering there and alongside it was a little black book.
Tyler went over to the black book and went to pick it up until he felt Reggie's hand stop him.
"Hold on Tyler. You shouldn't touch that. We don't know what will happen if you do."
Tyler gave an annoyed and exhausted look at his friend. "Reggie, you worry a little too much."
Jacke broke his attention off the small room and decided to back up his best friend. "Yeah, honestly Reggie, sometimes you are too cautious. Don't think too much."
Brad also joined in. "No offense mate but I think they're right. Maybe...you shouldn't think so much." Reggie gave Brad raised eyebrows which clearly said "Are you serious?" until Brad finished. "Well you do."
"Traitor," Reggie said in a playful low voice.
"Just telling the truth."
Reggie let go of Tyler hand and Tyler picked up the book and opened it but before he could read he said, "See? Nothing."
Reggie just folded his arms and Tyler took the situation with the book in his hands as a good life saving distraction. It seemed like they're diary entries which dated to about a thousand years ago. The first page of the book however said 'Property of Salazar'.
"Guys, I think this might be a diary of my ancestor, Salazar Slytherin."
"Really?" they all asked.
"Yeah," Tyler said too stunned to comment on their ability to all speak together. "But all it really talks about is him starting to leave to explore the world and leaving his village."
"Quick, turn to the last entry to see how far it goes," Reggie suggested.
"Good thinking," Tyler complimented.
"And you guys said that I do that too much."
"Shut up Reggie," they all countered making Reggie stifle a laugh.
Tyler turned to the last entry and was shocked at what it said. "Guys, listen to my ancestor's last entry. It finishes the pages in the book."
My three friends and I had made our vision a wonderful reality. We harnessed the power of the most magically powerful item ever seen on this plain and used it to shape the land. We poured it onto the earth and let our minds and plans shape it up. A glorious lake sprung up from nowhere. Then came the sight that we four longed to see. A castle, a giant castle came magically onto the spot just like the four of us had hoped and prayed for. It was beautiful. Helga and Rowena were in joyous tears at the sight. Godric and I have each other one armed hugs and opened our eyes and mouths to the sight, which lay before us. We now have a school to teach young ones of our ways and see them grow to be promising people. This new school still needs a name and we are still discussing it. But there is a problem. We had two vials of the power and we only needed to have one. This extra bit needs to be hidden. Godric, Rowena and Helga agreed that I should was the best one to hide the last of it because of my witty and tricky mind. I decided to place it back to the place where we had earned it. But to make sure that it is not completely lost forever, I will stash a map to it away within the school when I find a place where I am sure no student of the upcoming and future generations would find it. I feel this potion might still be found but I hope that it is by those who are worthy. This power is the most powerful thing that I could imagine existing in our world. This power of creation, which can create such wonders and miracles, is what will help us make a true difference in the world of magic. The four of us are thankful and forever in the debt of the magic in the Potion of Fecundity.
After Tyler finished reading the last entry, the seekers could only just marvel at the knowledge they just learned of the beginning moment of their school of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
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End of Chapter 7I'm not the Weakest Link and Tigercub15: I'm glad to see that you're still updating yourselves on what's going on. Hope to hear more of you though it would be nice if you give me a more detailed opinion on what exactly you like or don't like. That's what Reviews are for.
Author Notes:
Finally! This chapter was very hard to write. For those of you who are curious. The word Fecundity means productive and creative or simply: to make or create. Also, I remembered that the old Care of Magical Creatures Teacher back then was Professor Kettleburn so be ready to hear more of his name. Don't be worried. I know that this is my seventh chapter and it's still not even the end of their first week at Hogwarts but I give you my honest word that I'll move things along. Don't' worry I say again.
Review.