Tuesday, September 1, 1992 (continued)
Hadrian and his friends enjoyed their first sorting as returning Hogwarts students. Neville and Hermione had groaned a bit, quietly, when Ginevra, the Weasley girl, was sorted into Gryffindor. The twins were obnoxiously loud while cheering for their baby sister and had to be called to order by their 6th year Prefect brother, Percy. Ron completely ignored it, preferring to complain to Roger, and anyone else within earshot, that he was hungry and couldn't the sorting hurry up already. Hadrian and Draco exchanged long-suffering eye-rolls, wondering when the twins would decide to start the prank punishment for Ron they had decided on during the train ride.
The only other interesting sorting of the evening was little Luna Lovegood, who floated to the stool, and proceeded to sit there for nearly ten minutes before the hat started laughing and called out, "RAVENCLAW!"
Luna made her way to the blue and bronze table, lightly seating herself next to Hadrian, who as usual, was seated a bit away from his peers. She didn't seem to feel the need to fill the silence between them with chatter, which Hadrian appreciated. After the feast, and Dumbledore's usual announcements, they made their way to the common room, Hadrian alone, and Luna with the other first years. Once inside the common room, Hadrian made his way to his room, went immediately into his trunk, and to sleep.
Wednesday, September 2, 1992
The next morning, Hadrian made his way to the Ravenclaw table for breakfast by 6:30. His habit of being up early continued, and he had his breakfast and was finishing his tea as he waited for Professor Flitwick to arrive with the schedules. Hermione and Neville stopped by to say good morning while he was waiting, and Draco waved as he sat down. Luna popped up beside him, said good morning in her dreamy way, and began eating some fruit. Flitwick finally made his way to the second year students, and Hadrian looked over his schedule.
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
8A Wix Health Wix Studies Wix Health Wix Studies
9A Transfiguration
10A Transfiguration DADA DADA
11A Transfiguration Charms DADA
12P Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch
1P Herbology Potions Herbology Potions Charms
2P Herbology Potions Charms
3P History History
4P
11P Astronomy
The library is open from 7am-12 pm and 1pm-9:00pm Monday through Friday, and from 9am-12 pm and 1 pm-8pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Breakfast is served from 6:30-8:30 am, lunch from 12-1pm, and dinner from 6-8 pm every day.
Curfew for all students is from 10pm-6am every day. All students must be in their dormitory or common rooms during this time.
Well at least his first day was pretty light. He made his way to the classroom next to the infirmary and wished the matron good morning before finding a seat and taking out a book to read. He was joined a few minutes later by his friends and they sat through their first Wixen Health class. With no homework, and nothing to do until lunch, Draco and Hadrian retrieved their brooms and the whole group made their way to the quidditch pitch for some relaxation in the sunshine.
Luna found them outside after her history class and they all proceeded to enjoy lunch at the Ravenclaw table as they had the previous year. A stuttering Neville led them off to the greenhouses after lunch to his favorite class, and they all worked on the Herbology essay during History of Magic, which again, they would be self-studying. Hadrian and Draco were well pleased with all the resources Mr. Morgan provided them as they were basically teaching their peers. Not much in the mood for more socialization, the entire group separated for their dorms after dinner.
The remaining two days of classes before the weekend passed quickly. Hadrian's group had picked up the petite blonde first year, and she was already settling in with them, doing school work as soon as it was assigned, and studying in the library after classes.
That weekend, the group was wandering around, looking for an empty classroom they could use for spell practice, and a general group hang-out space. Hadrian had wandered off from the others, distractedly thinking about the red-headed Weasley girl who had started following him around. In his distraction, he nearly walked into a wall at a dead end of a third floor corridor. The life size portrait of a rather severe looking woman with sharp cheekbones, night-black hair pulled into a rather tight-looking and intricate braided style, and deep green and silver robes sneered at the boy who had nearly run face first into her. Hadrian looked up at her intending to apologize when he caught sight of a snake slithering up to the woman from the background of the painting.
§You're beautiful§ he hissed to the snake.
§An heir!§ the beautiful, iridescent green snake hissed happily.
The woman hissed §What is your name, young heir?§
§My apologies, my lady, for my clumsiness. I am Hadrian Potter§ the raven responded.
§I am Salana Slytherin, eldest twin daughter to Salazar Slytherin.§ "I see you wear the robes of another house. Tell me, young heir, why did you deny your placement in Slytherin House?" The haughty woman continued, this time in English.
"I can't say here," Hadrian whispered, stepping closer to the portrait. "My friends and I are looking for someplace where we can practice spells and just be together. We are from several houses, so it is difficult to be together other than in the library. Do you know of somewhere that might work? We could use it for our discussion as well..." he trailed off uncertainly.
"I cannot say if there is a room available. I have been locked to a handful of portraits and few venture far enough to speak to me. My bonded twin sister, Zara, might know more as her portrait is on the 5th floor, and her binding is slightly more relaxed than mine. While we can visit each other's portraits, there are few other portraits we are able to access."
"I will find Zara then, and ask her. I will come back and visit, Lady Salana," Hadrian said with a small bow before dashing off to the fifth floor.
While Hadrian was making his way up to the 5th floor, Salana disappeared from her portrait, and joined her beloved in their shared portrait in the Chamber of Secrets. Their father had ensured that his space would be preserved for his heirs through some rather clever blood binding magic, and the assistance of the various heirs who had made their way to the chamber. It had been some time since the previous heir, about fifty years, and even longer from the next previous heir. The enchantments weren't failing per se, but it was good to have an heir to re-power them. And he was clearly young, Salana thought perhaps a first or second year, so they should have a number of years for the child to work on infusing the wards with power.
§Zara, my love?§ Salana hissed as she entered the library in the chamber.
§Salana, I am with Father§ the slightly softer version of her answered.
Salana flitted into the portrait of her father, Salazar, who was seated at a smallish table with four settings. Salazar and Zara were already seated. Salana took her place, and gestured to the four place setting, §Will Dominic be joining us, then?§
§Yes, mother, I am here§ another masculine voice answered. The young man of about thirty slid into his seat and began fixing himself a cup of tea.
§A new heir has entered the castle§ Salana dropped the bomb all at once.
§A new heir, my daughter?§ Salazar pierced his eldest with a firm stare.
§Yes, father§ she continued. §He nearly stumbled into my portrait on the second floor, and noticed the painted form of Zelena and hissed a comment on her beauty before apologizing for his clumsiness.§
§It has been too long since we have had an heir in the castle§ Zara remarked.
§Let us hope he is here long enough to reinforce the warding. Thomas was unable to fully power them in the short time he was with us§ Dominic said with feeling.
They were all feeling the strain of their warded boundaries closing in. Without the power of another heir to push them back, eventually they would all be locked in the chamber, unable to look for future heirs, and entirely reliant on an heir locating one of the several, well-hidden chamber entrances. Thomas had only located the chamber near the end of his 5th year, and while he was powerful, and the two years of power he poured into the wards had granted them access to the castle again, without the influx of fresh magic, their portraits would continue to be forced into portraits on lower and lower levels of the castle until they were unable to leave the painted rooms hung throughout the Chamber.
§I sent him to your fifth floor portrait, Zara, you must judge for yourself.§ Salana instructed her sister, her beloved, her wife.
Zara immediately excused herself from their tea and made her way through the painted passages to her portrait on the fifth floor. Zelena was already waiting in the portrait, having made her way here first to be ready in case the young heir should arrive before Salana was able to send Zara. Zara bent to allow the serpent to slither up her arm and around her shoulders. She could hear running footsteps which appeared to be getting closer, and hoped it was the young heir Salana had mentioned.
When the boy rounded the corner into yet another dead end, he briefly slumped as if disappointed, and then, recognizing the snake, and seeing the similarity in features, ran up to the portrait with wide eyes.
"Are you Zara?" Hadrian asked politely, not using Parseltongue since he didn't know who might hear.
The softer version of Salana nodded regally.
Hadrian stepped even closer to the portrait so he could hiss quietly, §It is a pleasure to meet you Lady Zara, I am Hadrian Potter. Your sister Salana said you might know of a classroom or other unused space where my friends and I could practice spellwork and hang out together. We are in three different houses, so finding space together outside the library is difficult.§
§I might know of such a room§ the regal lady replied. §But I need something from you first.§
§It won't hurt or otherwise prevent me from returning to my dorm or classes?§ Hadrian confirmed somewhat suspiciously.
§Of course not, child. Father built this school for wixen to learn, we would certainly not require something that would be of detriment to your development§ Zara said amusedly.
§Okay, then. I can probably do whatever it is you need, though of course you'll have to tell me for me to be certain.§ Hadrian acceded to the request.
§We would like you to meet our father, and our son. They await you in the Chamber of Secrets.§ Zara began to make her way to the back of her portrait.
§Wait!§ Hadrian managed to say before she disappeared. §I have no idea where the chamber is! I read about it in Hogwarts: A History, but there was no information on the location.§
§Ah. Yes, well...§ Zara trailed off, weighing the decision to inform the heir of one of the entrances and gaining further mobility through the school with the strengthening of the wards on the chamber, or the usual family requirement of locating the chamber personally. Making her decision, she spoke again. §There are entrances on each floor of the school, depending on your love of stairs I would caution you to look lower.§ And with that she, and the gorgeous snake wrapped around her shoulders like a stole disappeared from the painting.
Zara returned to the tea room where her family awaited her.
§He was interesting, sister.§ she hissed to Salana. §Zelena likes him.§
§I want to meet him, mothers§ Dominic interjected.
§I know, sweetheart. I gave him a hint that there were entrances to the chamber on each floor and suggested he look lower depending on his love for stairs.§ Zara soothed her adult son.
§It would not do to forego all our usual requirements, though if he seems to take too long, I suggest we give him another nudge§ Salana continued.
§I agree with both your assessments, daughters§ Salazar hissed in contemplation. §It would not do to lose our access to the castle. Zelena is already stirring. We shall wait no more than a month§ he decided.
§As you wish, Father§ the two girls replied.
§Yes, Grandfather§ said Dominic, somewhat mollified that though his portrait in the main portion of the castle was nearly impossible to find through several labyrinthine passages of the dungeons, that hopefully soon the young heir would locate the chamber and be introduced to them all. Though it would all be easier if he had a snake to assist with locating the Parsel passages… Oh well.
Sunday, September 20, 1992
Hadrian had been looking for the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets since his conversations with the two Slytherin daughters. He had so far been unsuccessful, and so, with his friends, set aside the search for one night to celebrate Mabon. Since the actual equinox was Tuesday, and they would have classes, they had opted to celebrate as close as they could. Hadrian had explained his plans to his friends, and they had all gathered in his trunk flat, having been snuck in under the invisibility cloak. At dinner they had all grabbed apples, ears of corn, baked potatoes, pumpkin pie, treacle tart, and other harvest foods. Hadrian asked Dobby to get them some grape juice and apple cider.
They set up a yellow candle in the center of his living room, and took turns thanking Mother Magic for her gifts. They all performed a spell which they had previously struggled with to show their harvest of hard work before presenting their plates of food. The charmed windows of his trunk showed autumn trees with leaves blowing and the clear, crisp night outside. They all set aside bits of each thing they were eating, and enjoyed their time giving thanks together with friends. When they were done eating and drinking, Hadrian gathered the plate of offering and the chalice they had each poured a bit of apple cider or grape juice into, while Draco picked up the candle. Neville, Hermione, Luna, Fred, and George followed them up the stairs out of the trunk and into Hadrian's room. Draco placed the candle on the window sill and Hadrian set the food next to it. Each bowed before the plate and candle, giving thanks to Mother Magic once more before they all said their goodnights, and all but Luna were smuggled back out of Ravenclaw tower.
The next morning, each of Hadrian's group picked a shiny apple from the breakfast table and they all went and presented them to Professor Sprout, whose first name was Pomona, in honor of the apple harvest. Several other wixen raised had done the same, and Professor Sprout had a growing pile of apples in front of her plate. She thanked all the students graciously, and placed preservation charms on the apples. The herbology classes this week would be harvesting more apples, and for each apple she received from a specific student, they would receive a magical golden apple. They would be using the harvest to make applesauce which they could keep or share with their families.
Saturday, September 26, 1992
With the clarity gained from the Mabon ritual, small though the ritual had been, Hadrian had started shrinking and taking Zils with him to class. The snake had commented more than once during the week about feeling a large serpent, smelling snakes in the halls, and generally not making much sense until Hadrian had finally been alone when Zils mentioned smelling snakes. He stopped dead in his tracks in the middle of a rarely used third floor corridor on the opposite side of the floor from the Lady Salana's portrait to have a conversation with his serpent familiar.
§You keep saying you smell snakes, Zils, but there are no snakes here.§ Hadrian bit out, somewhat frustrated with his familiar's strange ramblings.
§No, no snakes, old snake smells.§ Zils responded.
§Okay...I'm not sure what that means, Zils. Is there something you can show me, or can you only smell it?§ Hadrian asked, thinking he might finally have gotten somewhere.
§Let me down§ Zils ordered.
Rolling his eyes, Hadrian unwrapped the shrunk snake and set it on the ground in front of him. Zils immediately began slithering around, tongue darting out to evaluate the scents surrounding himself. Finding a particularly high concentration of scent, Zils slithered over for a closer inspection when Hadrian's eyes widened in shock at his familiar disappearing through what appeared to be a solid stone wall. Hadrian reached out, but his hand met stone. He knelt where he last saw his familiar and tried pushing and hissing at the wall, but it remained solid.
§Zils§ Hadrian hissed, now concerned that the castle had somehow eaten his familiar. §Zils, can you hear me?§ He could still feel the familiar bond, and nothing was bleeding through to indicate that Zils was in any sort of pain or distress which Hadrian clung to like a lifeline.
§Yes?§ the snake said, his head suddenly reappearing in front of Hadrian's face.
§Zils… you're half in and half out of a solid wall...§ Hadrian managed to get out.
Zils shifted his body, but even with his magically enhanced sight didn't see anything around himself. §There is nothing around me, Hadrian.§
§Um...Zils?§
§Yes, Hadrian?§
§Why don't you show me where the space ends on both sides of where you are right now?§ Hadrian was starting to get a theory about this space.
Zils slithered around a bit, and stuck his head into the corridor right next to the wall on one side, making sure Hadrian saw him before slithering down a bit to the wall on the other side. Hadrian was nodding and called for Zils to return. He slithered up his arm and back around his neck for warmth. The castle floors were really rather chilly.
Hadrian made his way down through the corridors to Lady Salana's portrait since it was nearby.
§Lady Salana?§ he said, after ensuring there was no one nearby to hear him use Parseltongue. He waited a few minutes and called her name again.
The brilliantly green snake Hadrian had seen in both Salana and Zara's portraits came slithering into view.
§Mistress will be along momentarily, young heir.§
§Thank you§ Hadrian replied. §It's nice to talk to you again, but please, tell me your name!§
§I am Zelena, young heir§ the snake hissed at him. §Familiar to Salazar Slytherin, and protector of the family line.§
Hadrian bowed toward the painted snake and hissed, §Well, you're gorgeous, and it's lovely to make your acquaintance, Zelena. My name is Hadrian, and this is one of my familiars, Zils.§
The bright blue snake popped further out of Hadrian's collar and gave a snakey nod to Zelena. §Well met, Queen Zelena§
§Queen?§ Hadrian inquired.
§I am a basilisk, Heir Hadrian§ Zelena's hisses took on a fondly amused tone. §The basilisk is the queen of all snakes, and we can live for thousands of years. My true form is waiting for you in the chamber. I think you will be pleasantly surprised§ she finished with a hissing laugh.
The Lady Salana had by then entered her portrait, and was chuckling lightly at the shock and awe on Hadrian's face.
Hadrian shook himself out of his shock and bowed again to the portrait. §Lady Salana, well met.§
§Well met, young heir§ she replied, inclining her head.
§Please, my lady, you may call me Hadrian§ He blushed a bit as he offered his name.
§Then you may call me Salana, Hadrian. Why have you called me today?§ she questioned.
Hadrian hummed a bit before replying, §Zils found a passage up on the third floor. It is large enough for a human, but I was unable to get into it. Zils went through it without even realizing it, but it remains stone when I attempt it.§
Salana nodded, knowing which passes he was referring to.
Seeing her indication for him to continue, he went on, §Since I know you want me to find the chamber quickly, I thought you might be amenable to providing the password, or a hint as to accessing it?§ This was accompanied by the most adorable puppy dog eyes, and Salana nearly cooed at him.
§I will not give you the answer, Hadrian, as you already know the answer.§ She gave a pointed look at both Zelena and Zils, §Think, young heir. Your snake was able to go through. You know it is a possible entrance to the Slytherin Chamber of Secrets. How would we have protected our familial legacy? Hmm?§
Hadrian pondered for a few moments and got a calculating look in his eye. He nodded to himself and straightened up in front of the portrait. §Would you open the entrance behind your portrait for me to enter, Lady Salana Slytherin?§
A very approving look greeted his words, along with a nod and the portrait swung open silently before him.