Magical Origins
Year 2: The Chamber of Secrets
May had finally arrived, and there's been no new attack. Lockhart was walking around convincing people he had stopped the attacks. To everyone's surprise, Hagrid was arrested; and Dumbledore was sacked.
Some students in Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Gryffindor were voicings their disbelief that Hagrid was the Heir of Slytherin.
The greatest support for Hagrid came from the Slytherin's. None of them actually cared that Hagrid was rotting away in Azkaban. They felt insulted that a drunken oaf was proclaimed the Heir of Slytherin. The Slytherin's took that statement by the Ministry as insulting. When Lily was passing a petition to have Hagrid released, almost everyone in Slytherin signed it. No one in Slytherin believed that Hagrid was the Heir of Slytherin.
However, with Dumbledore gone, it sent an ever-growing sense of panic in the students. Fear seemed to grip the student body as if the attacker had secured a massive victory. Even though some Slytherin's were happy, many showed great concern with the Headmaster's departure. No Slytherin admitted it, but they too showed signs of concerns over the attacks.
No more so than Harry. With the school convinced he was the attacker, his reputation had hit rock bottom. This caused him to be in a foul mood and pissed off.
It got worse as the Hogwarts hired extra staff to deal with the massive student body. Escorting them to classes and closing off many areas.
"I have good news!" Professor McGonagall said one morning.
"Dumbledore's back!" Several students cried out happily.
"Quidditch is back!" Wood shouted excitedly.
"You've caught the Heir of Slytherin!" Several people shouted at once.
"Professor Sprout has informed me the Mandrakes are ready for cutting. In a week, all the petrifies students will be revived again." Professor McGonagall said happily. "Once they awake, they will be able to tell us who or what attack them!"
People cheered and clapped.
The school spirit seemed to be lifted as many were excited to talk to their petrified friends. Harry hope one of them would be able to clear his name.
The next morning Harry walked in the Great Hall and was about to dig into his breakfast when a Hufflepuff fifth year witch screams.
In the resounding silence following her scream, it could be easily heard across the room as one of her classmates asked her what was wrong. Not saying anything, she merely points to the wall where the High Table was.
Everyone look and a lot of people paled.
A portrait of Ginny Weasley was there. Enhanced so everyone could see her. Words were written in blood hang above her large portrait.
'Her Skeleton Shall Remain in the Chamber Forever!'
The teachers all almost simultaneously take a step back as they understand just what has happened. Many of them paled significantly. Professor Sprout and Flitwick were actually crying.
"Everyone return to your dorms immediately." Professor McGonagall shouted.
Everyone got up, but as soon as Harry turns the corner, he threw his invisibility cloak on. He waited for all the Slytherin's to pass before heading towards the Gryffindor line.
He could see Lily and Ron trying to sneak around.
Quickly as he could, he sneaks up behind Lily and puts his hand over her mouth as he throws the cloak over her. He pulls her back to a suit of armor just in the nick of time.
The Professor was walking back.
"Weasley," Snape said as he looks at Ron. "What are you doing?" Snape asks.
"We were…" Ron said as he looks back, but Lily had vanished.
"Return to Gryffindor Tower at once, Mister Weasley. Or you will be expelled." Professor McGonagall said. Ron, with his head down, walks back to Gryffindor Tower.
"Do not say a word," Harry hissed in Lily's ear the moment Ron was out of earshot.
Lily nods her head as Harry removes his hand.
Slowly the two follow the Professor.
They said nothing as they enter the staff room with Harry and Lily in tow. They quickly hid in a corner and did not move or make a sound.
"We should not have announced the Mandrakes were ready." Professor Sprout said as she blows her nose.
"No, the Heir of Slytherin was clearly angry and knew at once he or she had been caught once the students awoke." Professor Flitwick said in a soft but weak voice.
"We shall send the students home tomorrow. This is the end of Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall said sadly.
At that moment, the door burst open, and both Harry and Lily thought it was Dumbledore, but instead, it was Lockhart who came in beaming with his ever-so-present smile.
"So sorry must have dozed off, what did I miss?" He said in a charming voice.
None of the Professor's seemed happy to see him. He appeared to neglect the fact they were glaring at him with pure hatred. Snape took a step forward; a large smirk was on his face.
"The man of the hour," Snape said in a fake sweet voice. Lockhart finally seemed to have realized something was wrong. "A girl has been taken into the Chamber of Secrets itself. Your moment has come at last."
Lockhart gaps at Snape.
"That's right, Gilderoy," Professor Sprout said. "Weren't you saying last night you've known all this time where the Chamber of Secrets is?"
"Well, I…" Lockhart stuttered.
"Yes, I seem to have recalled you telling me you were certain you knew what was inside." Professor Flitwick pipped up.
"D-did I? I don't recall…" Lockhart said weakly.
"I remember, you telling us that you were sorry that you didn't get a crack at the monster before Hagrid was arrested," Snape sneered. "Didn't you say the whole affair had been bungled, and that you should have been given free rein from the start?"
"You must have misunderstood…" Lockhart said weakly.
"We'll leave it to you, Gilderoy." Professor McGonagall said in a firm voice that left no room for argument. "Tonight, we eagerly awake the news of your victory over the Monster."
Lockhart looks around and could see all eyes were on him. He gulped when he realized what they were asking of him.
"Very well," he finally said in a weak voice. "I'll… I'll go get ready." He said as he left the room.
"Right," Professor McGonagall said as she turns to her colleagues. "That got him out of our hair. The Head of Houses should return to their students and have them pack. We'll have them go home tomorrow." Professor McGonagall said.
The teachers nodded, knowing at once what to do.
The moment the coast was clear, Harry and Lily left the room.
Snape walks in the Slytherin Common Room to see all eyes on him.
"The School will be closed. The latest attack was the final straw. Hogwarts will be closed as we are no longer able to protect the students." Snape said.
"Only muggle-born students were targeted." Pansy Parkinson protested.
"You forget that Miss Weasley is a pureblood," Snape replies.
"But she's a blood traitor!" Pansy cried out.
"According to legend, only muggle-born students would have been targeted. Now a pureblood witch has been taken. No, it's safe to say no one is safe at Hogwarts any longer." Snape said.
Snape looks around. It was then he notices something strange. An empty chair.
"Is everyone here?" Snape said softly.
"Harry's missing," Draco said.
"Wynter is freaking out, she checked his dorm and the lavatory, but she can't find him. She locked herself in her dorm." Blaise said.
Snape's blood ran cold.
The door behind him opens.
"Good Severus you're here, have you've seen Miss Morris?" Professor McGonagall asks.
"No," Snape said. "Have you seen Mister Potter?" He asks.
"Don't tell me…" Professor McGonagall said.
"Everyone is not to leave. I'm locking the entrance behind you." Snape said. The two professors left, and a loud clicking sound could be heard knowing they've been locked inside.
"I know where the Chamber of Secrets is," Lily said as she runs down the corridor.
"How?" Harry asks as he keeps up with her. Harry had the invisibility cloak stuff back in his robes.
"I visited Hagrid the night he was arrested. He told me if I wanted answers, all I had to was follow the spiders." Lily explains.
"So," Harry said.
"Well, I did. Followed them in the Forbidden Forest, and well, I met a colony of Acromantula!"
"Those are vicious spiders!" Harry said in shocked.
"They are, I ended up burning half the colony just to get away. Not before the oldest, the father of the colony told me that fifty years ago, the Chamber of Secrets was open, and he begged Hagrid to take him away. It wasn't until a girl had died that Hagrid finally agreed, but Hagrid was wrongly caught with Aragog. Aragog then explain Hagrid has always been kind to him. Find him a wife, and they have children; lots of children." Lily said as she shudders at the thought. "It got me thinking, what if the girl who died, never left? And stayed behind where she died."
Harry's eyes open wide.
"Moaning Myrtle." Harry breathed.
"I also think there is a good chance that the Chamber of Secrets might be located in her bathroom," Lily said.
"We still don't know what the monster is, though," Harry said as the two turn the corridor.
"Actually, I do, thanks to Hermione," Lily said.
"How?" Harry asks.
"I never told Hermione I'm a parselmouth. Nor Ron, for that matter. Ever since you were revealed as one, Ron has done all he could to label you as a Dark Lord. The next Voldemort. I wasn't sure how he would react to me being one as well."
"If they can't respect you for who you are, then you need new friends," Harry said in a cold voice.
"Perhaps I do. Anyway, I kept telling Hermione every time I heard a voice that I felt something was nearby. Hermione, on the day of her attacked, went to the library to get something. It wasn't until last night when I manage to visit her that I notice something in her hand." Lily pulls out a piece of paper that appeared to have been torn out of a book.
Harry grabs it and reads.
'Of all the most fearsome beast and monsters that roam our lands, there is none deadlier or powerful than the Basilisk. Also known as the King of Serpents. This snake, which may reach gigantic size, is capable of swallowing a giant whole. It can also live for hundreds of years. Its method of killing is its venomous fangs that currently have no cure, can kill any witch or wizard in a matter of seconds. All those who fix themselves upon its murderous glare shall suffer instant death. Spiders flee before it, as it is their mortal enemy and the Basilisk flees only from the crowing of a rooster, which is fatal to it.'
Underneath this description was a single word, written in Granger's handwriting.
'Pipes'
"So this basilisk is using the school's plumping to move around. That explains why it hasn't been seen. As well as too, why we're the only ones who can hear it." Harry said.
"It doesn't explain how no one has died," Lily said. She goes up the flight of stairs; Harry right behind her.
"Actually, it does," Harry said slowly. "Creevey saw the Basilisk through his camera. Mrs. Norris saw the basilisk's reflection in the water. Justin saw it through Nearly Headless Nick."
"Hermione had a mirror on her," Lily said in an excited tone of voice. "She must have warned the first person she came across to use the mirror to check the corridors before venturing forward. You should thank her." Lily said.
"I am not thanking Granger," Harry growled out.
They burst open the door and walk into Gilderoy Lockhart's office.
"Who's that?" Lockhart shouted. "Oh, you two." He said as he puts his painting down into his suitcase. Two trunks were also full.
"We thought you could use some help," Lily said.
"I didn't," Harry mutters.
"Going somewhere?" Lily asks, noticing that Lockhart was packing everything.
"Yes, I just got a call, urgent business. So sorry," Lockhart mutters.
"You're running away," Harry stated.
"Yes," Lockhart admitted weakly.
Harry narrows his eyes.
"But you're the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor. You can't run away." Lily tried to reason.
"It also means he can't charm Artemis anymore," Harry said.
"You know about that," Lockhart said.
"So, it's true, you've been trying to bewitch her," Harry said as his wand slowly slides into his hand. Lockhart didn't seem to have noticed.
"Yes, she never did drink any of my love potions. She was always on guard. I tried using seductive charms on her, but she resisted a great deal. I nearly had her last month."
"You honestly think I would have allowed it. Have you no shame! First, her mother, now her…" Harry snarled.
"Who?" Lockhart said honestly.
"You really are shameless. You once tried to sleep with Artemis's mother. She rejected you."
"Now I remember, the beautiful witch with snow-white hair. She would have been a fine catch in my collection." Lockhart said.
"You're disgusting," Harry said.
"Harry, you don't understand. A witch like Artemis Wynter would make a great trophy wife. She comes for a rich background, knows the right people, and she's beautiful. Easily one of the most gorgeous witches in all of Britain. Do you honestly believe that I wanted her for her academic personality? No, I want her the same reason any wizard does. A beautiful trophy wife to call their own. She's the greatest of them all. I would have had it all with Artemis Wynter as my wife. Fame, fortune, and connections."
"She's my Vassal!" Harry shouted.
"Yes, that would have been problematic. I would have had her abandon her oaths to you so I can claim her. If only my charm had worked." Lockhart had admitted weakly.
"You're sick," Harry said.
"But you've already done many great things, why stoop to such levels for an underage witch?" Lily asks.
"My dear, you don't even know the half of it. Artemis Wynter has it all. Any wizard that ends up with her will be set for the rest of their life. She's the very witch countless wizards dream about. When I tried to explain to her… my deeds, she was uninterested. She seemed to be repulsed by me. Of course, that's natural. I mean, how could I compete with the Great Harry Potter?" Lockhart said, glaring hard Harry. "I tried to take you under my wing, hope you would warm up to me so I could claim Artemis. Many even have you set me up with her. That was before you stopped attending my classes and started avoided me like I was a plague. You even got Artemis to avoid me, as well. It was difficult to track her down and place those spells on her. A couple more weeks and she would have been mine."
"Why, you have already…" Lily asks.
"Because he's a fraud. Aren't you?" Harry said.
"Yes," Lockhart admitted.
"Then, are your stories all lies?" Lily said. "Hermione believed in you."
"Granger, she's a weak one. Let's herself be misguided. That's how I got her to explain to me in great detail about your deeds. She never knew I was simply using her."
"I can't believe you…" Lily said. "So, none of your stories are true?"
"You don't understand, those things that happen were indeed true. Do use your common sense. Do you honestly believe people would buy my books if they knew it was an old warlock that saved a village from Werewolves? Or a witch who banished the Bandon Banshee? The warlock would not have been a good cover as he needed both a fashion sense and a new face. The witch also needed a new face as she was hard to look out."
"So, you've been stealing the credit of other people's work," Harry said.
"Harry, you don't understand. I had to track these people down. I had to find out exactly how they manage to do it, and then I put a memory charm on them so they would forget ever doing it." Lockhart said as he pulls out his wand. "If there is one thing I pride myself in is my memory charms. I wanted it all, I was destined for greatness. But I never wanted my life in danger. Unfortunately, I can't let you two go around telling my secrets. I'll wipe your memories then modify them. With luck, I can still have Artemis Wynter. Farewell… Obliviate!"
Harry and Lily both raised their wand, throwing up a shield. The memory charm hits the shield before bouncing back at Lockhart. He falls backward with a dreaming look on his face.
"Told you he was useless," Harry said.
"Let's go," Lily said.
They took off to the second floor.
"Myrtle," Lily shouted as soon as they enter.
"Oh, it's you," Myrtle said as she comes out of her toilet.
"How did you die exactly?" Lily asks.
Myrtle started to cry.
"No one has ever asked me that before. Well, when that day happened, I was in here crying because Olive Hornby was teasing me about my glasses. Then someone came in, a boy. He started hissing… I open the stall to tell him off only to be met by a big yellow eye looking at me. I don't know how I died, just that I did."
"Where did you see the eye?" Harry asks.
"Right there, by the fountain," Myrtle said, pointing at the fountain.
Harry and Lily walk over to it.
"Lily," Harry said, pointing to the wall. Two serpents could be seen eating a gem.
"Open," Lily said.
"You need to practice," Harry said. "Open." Harry hissed.
The gem grew wider until it was big enough for something massive to slip through.
Lily, without pause or hesitation, jumps down.
"Oh, Harry," Myrtle said as Harry turns to look at her. "If you die, you're welcome to share my toilet."
Harry said nothing as he jumps down. The entrance seals itself shut as Harry slides down.
Harry lands on the ground with Lily looking around. It was dark and damp.
"Rat skulls. Must be its feeding pit." Harry said as he gets up.
"Don't…" Lily said.
Harry says nothing as he activates his mystic eyes, followed by Lily. The two stared into the darkness. Without a word, Harry walks forwards with Lily behind him.
Author Notes: Special Thanks to AresLaw, who beta the chapter. I hope everyone enjoys as the Second Year is coming to a close. Please R&R and leave suggestions. I do take them.
