Unspoken
by Teddylonglong

Please refer to chapter 1 for my disclaimer and warnings. Thank you.

Harry and Lucy arrived in the Hogwarts dungeons, and Harry was just about to knock at the door of the Potions professor's office, when he reconsidered. 'Professor McGonagall would be a valuable ally,' he recalled Snape's words. 'Perhaps, I should speak with Granny first.'

Knowing that Lucy did not overly like to pop, he transformed into his canine Animagus form. 'Let's go and speak with Granny Minerva first,' he thought to his familiar, who dashed ahead with obvious pleasure.

'Let's see if I can catch up with her,' Harry thought and ran after his familiar, only to realise that she had more stamina than he did, when they reached Minerva's office after several flights of stairs.

"Why in the world do we have two dogs in front of a feline professor's office?"

Harry looked up in surprise only to notice the portrait of an old wizard guarding the door next to Minerva's office. 'Probably her private rooms,' he thought, surprised that he had never wondered where they were situated.

Before Harry could do as much as transform back, the door opened and Minerva looked outside.

"Harry and Lucy." She sounded pleasantly surprised. "I was wondering what Godric was talking about. Come in please."

Harry and Lucy followed her into a bright living room, which was surrounded by alternately windows and white bookshelves similar to the living room at Regina's and his house. He swiftly transformed back.

"Granny, I am sorry for intruding and for coming in my Animagus form. I didn't want Professor Dumbledore to see me."

The edges of Minerva's mouth bent upwards. "That was very wise, and I am happy to see you. Congratulation to your Potions mastery, by the way."

"Thank you." Harry smiled, feeling very happy. "I'm glad that it's over and I can spend more time researching other topics."

"Such as?" Minerva asked, kindly.

"Wait a moment."

They turned to the portrait of what Harry assumed was Godric Gryffindor in surprise.

"How old are you, boy?"

"I am twelve, and I'm going to be a second-year soon."

Gryffindor shook his head in apparent confusion. "You're a dog Animagus and have already taken your Potions mastery at the age of twelve?" he asked in apparent disbelief.

Harry nodded, pensively. "Excuse me, Professor Gryffindor. You must have known Salazar Slytherin quite well I suppose. I've once heard that he managed to give a Squib or a muggle, I'm not sure which, magic. Is that true?"

The founder nodded, seemingly thoughtful. "Yes, there was that young girl; Tabitha I think was her name. She was a Squib, but she saved two Slytherin first-years' lives. As a thanks to her, Salazar invented some kind of potion, spell or whatever and gave her magic. Don't ask me how he achieved that, as he never told my colleagues or me."

Harry let out a deep sigh. "Do you believe that he would tell me if I managed to travel to his time?"

The ancient wizard remained pensive. "Well, considering that you're a potions master at the age of twelve, he might be impressed enough to tell you, especially if he gets to know that you're in Slytherin."

Harry smiled. "Thank you, Professor," he replied, when a sudden thought crossed his mind. "Do you perhaps know if there's a portrait of him somewhere at Hogwarts?"

Gryffindor let out a deep sigh. "There must be one in his Chamber of Secrets, but I neither know where it is nor how to get into it. The only thing I know is that one probably has to be a Parselmouth to get into it."

"Excuse me, sir. A Parselmouth?"

"Someone capable of speaking with snakes."

Harry nodded in understanding, when the founder continued, "As to the Chamber itself, maybe Helga knows more. Have you met her? Her portrait is overseeing the hospital wing."

"I'll ask her then. Thank you so very much for the information."

With that, he turned back to Minerva. "Sorry, Granny."

"That's fine, Harry. I'm glad that Godric was able to give you some input." Minerva smiled.

Harry pulled a parchment out of his robe pocket. "I received a letter from Professor Snape," he explained, holding out the letter for her to read.

While she engrossed herself into her lecture, Harry hurriedly thought to Connie, 'I'm sorry, Connie; I am at Hogwarts and got to talk to Godric Gryffindor. I might not be back yet, when you'll be there. Sorry.'

Her response was pleasant as ever. 'No problem, Harry. I will just do some more studying using my new diary. It's really interesting.'

Minerva smirked, as she handed the letter back. "So, he finally found out."

Harry sighed. "Lily went to see him using the portrait in his office and told him that I'm an Unspeakable and was going to take the Potions mastery during these holidays."

"Ah, all right, then he figured it out, when the article in the Daily Prophet listed Unspeakable Paws as the youngest Potions master of all times." Minerva grinned. "I am glad that he seems to be willing to keep it a secret from Albus."

Harry shook his head in annoyance. "While I appreciate it, I am not really ready to keep everything from Dumbledore at any price. Why should I? What can he do to me? Let him send me back to the Dursleys. I'll just pop away."

Minerva nodded in understanding. "While that is true, it wouldn't be good to make him your enemy, considering that he holds multiple important positions. Shall I call Professor Snape here? Are you sure that he swore Lily a wizard's oath?"

"Yes, I am certain, as I invisibly listened in to their conversation."

"Oh Merlin. I'm glad that you're not in my house." She smirked.

"Me too," Harry quipped.

"I'd always have to worry that someone would accuse me of not treating all students alike, especially if Gryffindor had one the Quidditch cup with you on the team and the house cup as well."

Harry sighed. "On the one hand, I like being in two houses; but on the other hand, I like Slytherin more, because all students are nice. In Ravenclaw, the older girls are real bitches towards Hermione and also towards Connie, when I once took her with me to the Quidditch victory party."

"Did you inform Professor Flitwick about the matter?"

Harry shook his head. "Not yet, as it wasn't important, considering that Hermione is spending the evenings with us anyway, but if they do anything to her, I will tell him."

"All right, now, shall I call Professor Snape here, so that we can include him in the discussion?"

"Yes please." Harry gently cradled Lucy close, not only to give her comfort but also to seek comfort from her at the thought of having to meet Professor Snape who had been anything but nice to both of them from the first time they had set foot and paw into Hogwarts.

HP

Harry looked up, when Professor Snape elegantly stepped out of the fireplace.

"Mr. Potter." He sounded surprised. "Or should I say 'Unspeakable Paws'?"

"No sir. I am just Harry. Thank you for your letter, sir. May I assume that you're the only one who figured it out at this time?"

Snape gave him a reassuring nod. "I believe that I was only able to figure it out as you said, because your mother visited me a few weeks ago and gave me some information about you, for example that you've been studying with the Unspeakables for years and were going to take your potions mastery this summer. Considering these facts, it was not difficult to guess."

Snape glanced at Minerva. "Is it correct to assume that you've known the whole time?"

Minerva smirked. "His guardians have informed me the evening they took him from the Dursleys apparently knowing that I wouldn't support Albus in this matter."

Harry let out a sigh. "I am not going to inform Professor Dumbledore about it, but I don't really care if he finds out."

The two professors nodded in understanding. "As to your offer to make Harry your student assistant, we don't really need Albus' consent, as I would be able to set up the respective contract." Minerva remained pensive for a moment, only to add, "I don't think that Harry has the time to work for you outside of class though."

Snape quirked an eyebrow in silent question.

"My friends and I use to study together in my suitcase, which is equipped with a library, a potions lab and several other features," Harry explained, hesitantly. "It also has a fireplace, which my girlfriend uses to join us, and twice a week, I have to travel to the Unspeakables' quarters for meetings."

"I suppose that you have been doing so all the time during your first year?" The professor sounded surprised.

"Yes sir." Harry pondered the matter for a moment; however, decided that he was not willing to waste any moment he could spend together with Connie. "Perhaps, I could simply assist with the brewing for the hospital wing during my own class time? I really wish to spend the evenings with my girlfriend, but as she is not a Hogwarts student…" He slowly trailed off.

"Harry, I believe that you can tell Professor Snape the truth about Connie." Minerva smiled.

Harry sighed. "Connie is not my girlfriend but my wife, as I cast some kind of bonding spell at her at the age of five. She is an Unspeakable just like myself and has also finished her Potions OWL and NEWT together with me, but she's a muggle."

The professor's eyebrows shot upwards. "She has taken the Potions NEWT exam as a muggle?"

"Yes, she has." Minerva sounded strangely proud of Connie. "She even unofficially wrote all the theoretical end of year tests and came into the first place, even before Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger."

"If I allowed her to assist you with the brewing of potions for the hospital wing, you would be willing to officially become my student assistant? Is this assessment correct?"

"I'd have to ask Connie of course, and as I said, I need to be present at the Unspeakables' office on Tuesday and Saturday evenings."

"Harry, why don't you ask Connie to come over for a few minutes? She can use my fireplace. The address is Minerva McGonagall's quarters, Hogwarts."

Harry nodded. 'Connie, can you come over for a discussion with Granny Minerva and Professor Snape?' he thought to his wife and let her know the address of the fireplace.

'Of course. I'll be there in two minutes.'

"She'll be over in a moment," Harry informed the professors, making Snape look at him in obvious surprise.

"She shouldn't be able to use telepathy as a muggle, so I suppose that your bonding is strong enough for you to communicate through telepathy?"

Harry nodded. "Yes sir." He could not help feeling very proud of his wife, when she stepped out of the fireplace, much more elegantly than he could, wearing her favourite dark blue robes. She looked like a normal, young witch, just like his classmates.

"Good morning, Professors," she said, pleasantly, before she gently hugged Lucy close.

From that point onwards, the conversation proceeded quickly, and an hour later, Minerva had made contracts with Harry and Connie as Snape's student assistants.

"Apart from assisting with the brewing of potions for the hospital wing, I might occasionally ask you, Harry, to hold a class in my stead. I will, of course, not ask Mrs. Potter, as it would be too dangerous. The teacher of a Potions class must be capable of casting all possible charms and spells to ensure the safety in the classroom."

Connie nodded in understanding. "Professor, please just call me Connie. No one but Granny Minerva and Hermione know that I am Harry's wife."

"I think Neville and Draco know, too," Harry added, smirking. "Professor, do you perhaps know if there's a portrait of Salazar Slytherin somewhere at Hogwarts?"

"If there is one, then I am not aware of it." Snape looked from him to Minerva, questioningly.

"According to Godric Gryffindor, Slytherin was able to give magic to a Squib or muggle," Minerva explained. "He suggested that Harry should speak with Helga Hufflepuff in her portrait in Poppy's office."

"Harry, can we go there right away? I'd love to speak with Professor Hufflepuff."

"I shall accompany the two of you to the hospital wing. Poppy will be happy to hear that I have two student assistants. She has been pestering me to do something about my workload for years now."

"And she's right." Minerva nodded, firmly. "Well, Harry, Connie and Lucy, good luck and I'll see you on Sunday."

"Bye Granny Minerva," Connie replied, pleasantly.

"Bye, Professor and thank you," Harry echoed. "Should I turn us invisible?"

Snape smirked. "If you don't want Professor Dumbledore to see you, I'd say yes; otherwise, it doesn't matter."

Harry nodded. "All right, sir. Come Lucy."

HP

Two Potions masters, a muggle and a dog, happily walked through the empty castle to the hospital wing, where Madam Pomfrey was just clearing out her potions stock.

"Severus, Mr. Potter, Lucy," the healer greeted them in obvious surprise, giving Connie a questioning look.

"Hello Madam Pomfrey. This is my wife, Connie Potter."

"We are here for two reasons." Severus smirked and explained about his student assistants as well as their wish to speak with Helga Hufflepuff about her late husband's method of giving a Squib or muggle magic.

The ancient witch nodded in understanding. "Yes, my husband once managed to do so. There was that girl, Tabitha. She was a life saver in spite of being a Squib. It took Sal the better part of a year to find a way to give her magic. Unfortunately, I don't know how he achieved it. You'd have to find his portrait, which is in his so-called Chamber of Secrets. The problem is that he never told any of us where it is situated. He had a basilisk familiar living in his chambers. Perhaps, she's still alive. That I don't know either. He only told me that only a Parselmouth would be able to get into the chamber."

"My Animagus form is that of a chameleon," Snape replied, matter-of-factly, "and as such, I am able to communicate with snakes."

"Well, then you'll only have to find how to get into the chamber. Good luck, dears."

"Thank you, Professor." Harry nodded in understanding. "I'll look for it."

"Now, if you find it, please don't go inside before coming to see me again. You'll need to cast a spell, so that you won't die if you look into Amaterasu's eyes. Sal always cast the spell over the grounds to keep the whole school safe."

"Of course." Snape sighed. "The deadly view of a basilisk. Thank you for your help, Professor Hufflepuff."

The three profusely thanked the ancient witch, promising to return to her to be taught the spell if they managed to locate Salazar's Chamber of Secrets.

HP

When Harry and Connie offered to the professor to remain at Hogwarts for a few hours to assist with the brewing of Madam Pomfrey's stock, stating that they had been forced to take a week's holiday from the Unspeakables' office anyway, the professor hesitantly agreed.

"I shall gratefully accept your assistance; however, only up to lunchtime, as it is probably for a reason that you were forced to take some time off."

Harry nodded. "All right, sir. That's fine, because we wanted to go to Hogsmeade and spend some time in the shop anyway."

"The two of you are the developers of this new series of brooms?" Snape quirked an eyebrow.

"Yes, sir. We were taught Alchemy since the age of five."

Snape shook his head in apparent confusion. "Why all this secrecy? Only to keep Professor Dumbledore in the dark?"

Harry shook his head. "No, sir. Can you imagine how the other students would fawn over me knowing that Connie and I are the developers of the Paws & Turtle brooms? They make enough of a fuss asking me if I had a scar."

Snape smirked. "Remember that your scar is the symbol of your fame."

"The scar? Which I never wanted, never asked for and don't have anymore?"

"Harry?" Connie cast him a surprised look.

Harry nodded in understanding. "I am sorry, sir. This is not solely my secret."

"You could ask Lily." Connie smiled. "She seems to have trusted Professor Snape enough to share your secret with him."

"Then she can tell him this one as well," Harry replied, just when they reached the Potions classroom.

"Let's head to my private lab, which is about the only room in this school, where Professor Dumbledore would never set a foot in."

Harry and Connie agreed and followed the professor into a very bright room with the wall opposite of the entrance completely covered by windows. The walls to Harry's left and right were full with shelves with ingredients on the left and batches of potions on the right. The door, in the centre of the wall behind him was framed by two large sinks with all possible kinds of cauldrons on the left of it and other potions equipment on the right. Harry squinted, as he looked around in amazement. 'This is the complete opposite of the dark Potions classroom,' he thought in surprise that only intensified, when Snape conjured a large, soft cushion in front of the window, motioning Lucy to lie down on it.

Lucy quickly headed over to the professor and gently licked his hands in apparent gratitude, before she lay down in front of the windows that allowed the view onto the grounds and the lake. Soon afterwards, Harry could hear her light snoring.

During the following three hours, the three potioneers busied themselves brewing several batches of potions for the hospital wing.

Harry noticed that the professor seemed to watch Connie like a hawk; however, he did not utter a comment but only sniffed and tried every finished potion, just like he did with Harry's.

Finally, Snape thanked them profusely for their assistance and instructed them to return home and enjoy their afternoon.

Harry and Connie agreed, promising to return at seven o'clock the following morning, just when Minerva strode into the room.

"Severus, Albus sent me to fetch you for lunch. Oh," she interrupted what Harry was sure was going to be a small tirade upon seeing them, and the edges of her mouth bent upwards. "I see, you already worked together with your soon-to-be student assistants."

"We were just leaving anyway," Connie reassured her, only to add, "We have some research to do."

'I thought we were going to Hogsmeade and spend some time at the broom shop,' Harry thought to her, once they had left the professor's lab.

'All right, we can do that, but I can't wait to ask Tom if he, by chance, knows where the Chamber of Secrets is.'

'Oh, all right, then we can just pop home. We can always head to the broom shop tomorrow.'

Connie seemed to be pleased by his suggestion, and Harry swiftly popped them and Lucy home.

HP

"Let's head out into the living room. Your mum is always happy, when you're at home." Connie smiled, as she snatched the black book and a quill from Harry's desk and hurriedly left the room quickly followed by Lucy.

Grinning, Harry followed his two girls into the living room. "Mum, did you already have lunch?" he asked his mother, seeing that she was working in her office.

"No dear, I waited if you'd come back to have lunch together." She abandoned her work and joined them. "How did everything go at Hogwarts?"

Harry grinned, knowing that Connie would make sure to tell his mother every detail about their agreement with Professor Snape, their granny and Madam Pomfrey.

In the meantime, he called Dolly and asked for something to eat. After a quick lunch, Connie opened her diary in obvious excitement. She readied her quill and began to write.

'Hello Tom.'

'Hi Connie.'

'I have a question. You know so much about Hogwarts. Do you perhaps know where the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets is?'

'Of course.'

'Can you tell me?'

'I can show you.'

'I am not at Hogwarts right now.'

'That doesn't matter. Wait.'

'What?' Harry thought in disbelief, looking from the book to his wife.

She stared at the book and suddenly, her eyes began to glaze over, almost as if she were in some kind of a trance. Harry's eyes widened in shock, and he reached over and hurriedly closed the book. When he looked at his wife, her face slowly returned to normal.

"What happened?" she asked in apparent confusion. "I was at Hogwarts. Together with Tom. He was handsome. Almost like you, but a bit older. He led me into a room with many sinks and hissed at them. Then, suddenly, I was back here."

"Connie, this is very strange." Harry remained pensive for a moment. "May I talk to him for a moment?"

Connie nodded.

Harry slowly opened the book.

'Hello. I am Harry Potter, Connie's boyfriend.'

'Hello Harry Potter. I am Tom.'

'Tom? Do you have a surname?'

'Tom Riddle.'

'Riddle? That sounds more like a circus than a pureblood wizard.'

Connie let out a gasp. "Harry, close the book. Now!"