Unspoken
by Teddylonglong
Please refer to chapter 1 for my disclaimer and warnings. Thank you.
Before Harry could do as much as follow her instruction, Connie had already reached over and shut the diary close. She remained quiet for a moment and seemed clearly shocked.
Harry hovered beside her, uncertain what to do, and absentmindedly caressed Lucy's ears. =The book is evil,= the canine informed Harry and growled at the diary, before she gently licked Connie's hands and arms in a faint attempt to soothe the upset girl.
Finally, Connie spoke up. "Oh Merlin." She gently cuddled Lucy close, before she stared at him, wide-eyed. "Don't you know who Tom Riddle is?"
Wondering why she seemed so upset, Harry shook his head. "No."
"It's Voldemort. Tom Riddle is Voldemort's real name. Tom Marvolo Riddle. If you change the sequence of the letters, you get 'I am Lord Voldemort'. I think it's called an anagram or something like that. Lorenzo told me all about it. This book is dangerous. We must take it to the Unspeakables." Tears leaked from her eyes, as she cast Harry a sad look. "He was brilliant. He knew so much."
"But he's Voldemort. My clever wife. You're absolutely brilliant. I wouldn't even have known that it was him, not even from his name. Let's go and speak with Croaker." Turning to Lucy, he instructed her to remain with Regina for the time being, promising that they would be back shortly.
HP
"What are two Mini Unspeakables, who have been ordered to take holidays, doing in my office?" Croaker cast them a mock glare, when they entered his office, however, only for a moment, before he seemed to realise how upset Connie was. "What happened?" he then enquired, as he flicked his hand at two piles of parchment to make space for them to sit down.
'Harry, will you please explain?'
Harry nodded, reassuringly. "Last week, we went to buy our school supplies, and later the same day, Connie told me that there was some kind of diary between her books. She wrote into it, and the diary replied. Apparently, the person replying was very knowledgeable, and Connie thoroughly enjoyed asking him many things. Only a few minutes ago, the person who was replying to her told her his name. It was Voldemort." He handed the diary over to the head Unspeakable.
"That's not all." Connie sounded miserable, as she explained how Tom had wanted to show her the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets. "I felt as if he was talking over my body and I was dying. Then Harry closed the book, and I was all right again. It was beyond scary."
Harry gently laid his arm around her shoulders, and she leaned into his robes.
"It's all right to cry," he said in a soft voice, recalling what Regina had told him, when he was younger and suffering from the after-effects of the Dursleys' treatment of him. He felt that his robes were beginning to get wet, when Connie sobbed into his shoulder.
Croaker nodded in apparent understanding. "That must have been a complete shock, which is understandable. There is one thing, which you must remember for the future."
"Yes sir?" Harry looked at the older wizard in expectation.
"Never trust a magical item, of which you don't know the origin of the magic. A book does not reply. It has to have been charmed. By whom? When? Why? If you can't answer these questions, don't touch it. Let the Unspeakables have a look at it first."
Connie slowly raised her head. "Yes sir. We'll remember that. I am sorry. I was stupid. I should have at least asked Harry to check it for me."
Harry nodded. "I wouldn't have known, but Lucy would. She told me that the book was evil." Turning to Croaker, he asked, "How can Voldemort reply through a book though, sir? Is that one of his nasty objects, of which Rudi told us a few months ago?"
Croaker nodded. "I believe that's what it is. A Horcrux. I shall hand it over to team 5 to deal with it. Thank you for bringing it to me. That was the right thing to do."
Harry and Connie profusely thanked the head Unspeakable, who shook his head. "I am just glad that it ended up with such an intelligent person such as Connie. If a normal Hogwarts student of your age had received it, I am sure that Hogwarts would soon be heading into great trouble. Well done, Turtle and Paws. And now, please enjoy your holidays without looking for any more dangerous artefacts."
"We will," they promised simultaneously, deciding to spend the rest of the afternoon at home flying and playing with Lucy.
HP
When they travelled to Professor Snape's rooms early the following morning, they told the professor about the diary and that, according to Tom AKA Voldemort, the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets had to be in a room with many sinks.
The Slytherin head remained pensive for a moment, before he let out a deep sigh. "It is a hint; however, with four houses with at least fourteen bathrooms in each house as well as several prefects' bathrooms and normal bathrooms all over the castle as well as potions labs such as my own, which might have existed in the time of the founders of Hogwarts at unknown places, the possibilities are wide. While we would be able to diligently visit all bathrooms that come to mind, the unknown factor of what bathrooms Salazar Slytherin could access in his time will be a great hindrance."
"Do we have any other choice, sir?" Harry looked at the older wizard in expectation.
"You might want to ask the Bloody Baron."
"The what?" Connie stared at the professor in apparent shock.
"Have you not met the house ghost of Slytherin yet?" Snape smirked, when Connie shook her head. "He and the so-called Grey Lady from Ravenclaw have been in this castle longer than anyone else. They are both from the generation right after the founders, as the Grey Lady is a daughter of Rowena Ravenclaw."
Harry nodded in understanding. "Sir, will you please help us find the Bloody Baron, when we finish up here?"
The professor gave him a sharp nod, before he laid out a list with Pomfrey's requests for potions that did not afford magic as well as the corresponding recipes. "We need at least one batch of each of these. However, take your time. Harry and I can still assist with this list, too."
Connie nodded in apparent understanding, as she busied herself studying the potions on the list. Snape then placed another list between his own workspace and Harry's, and the three set to work.
Like he had realised before, Harry found it very soothing to brew together with Connie and Snape, and he thoroughly enjoyed himself, pressing all thoughts of Voldemort, the diary and the Chamber of Secrets from his mind.
Only when they finished their work at lunchtime and the Bloody Baron floated into Snape's lab, did he recall that they wanted to search for Slytherin's chamber. 'He must have called him here,' he thought in surprise. 'I didn't even notice it.'
He had never spoken to the Bloody Baron and merely knew that he was Slytherin's house ghost. Several of the students were scared of the ghost, but Harry knew that it was most likely because of his bloody appearance, as the older students had informed them that the ghost had often protected them against pranks from other ghosts or poltergeists.
Snape introduced them to the ghost and asked for his assistance in finding Salazar's chamber.
"Why in the world would two second-years wish to visit the Chamber of Secrets? A girl died by the eyes of Slytherin's pet before."
"I heard that Slytherin had managed to give a Squib or a muggle magic, and I'd like to ask him how to do that." Harry gave the ghost a pleading look, wondering if his explanation sounded lame.
The Bloody Baron let out a deep sigh. "I am sorry, but I don't have a clue, where his chambers are. I suggest that you ask Peeves. If anyone knows about it, it'll be him."
"I am sorry, sir, but who is Peeves?" Harry looked at the ghost in surprise.
At the same time, Snape let out an uncharacteristic snort. "Peeves, that good-for-nothing poltergeist, who is pranking the whole school every now and then?"
The Bloody Baron nodded. "Yes. Ask him." With that, the ghost floated away, leaving the three potioneers to exchange looks of pure exasperation.
Snape sighed. "Peeves does nothing but nonsense the whole day. I'd rather ask Helena Ravenclaw, the Grey Lady."
Harry and Connie exchanged a look.
"I shall accompany you." Snape's voice was firm and allowed no contradiction. "Who knows what Peeves might do to you. He is known for doing nonsense all day; however, he somehow seems to respect the Bloody Baron and in extension me."
"Professor…"
"In private, you may call me Severus, just not in front of other students please."
"All right, thank you, sir. Eh, Severus, would you mind if I turned Connie and myself invisible to everyone but you?"
"Of course not. That might be better if you don't want to spend some time with Professor Dumbledore discussing your Aunt Petunia." Severus smirked.
'Thank Merlin Rebecca took Lucy with her to the team room this morning, so that she could play with Marlin instead of being bored in the potions lab,' Harry thought in relief, knowing that it would not be easy to hide her in case they met the headmaster.
Together, the three walked all the way out of the dungeons and towards Ravenclaw tower, glad that they did not meet anyone on their way.
"The current password to all common rooms is 'Summer holidays'," Severus informed them, before they entered the Ravenclaw common room.
To Harry's relief, the Grey Lady was hovering in front of a bookshelf in a corner of the room.
"Hello. Are you the Grey Lady?" Connie smiled at the ghost in obvious excitement.
"I am Helena Ravenclaw."
Somehow, Harry found that the ghost sounded snobbish. 'Oh well, the expression Grey Lady is not really nice,' he thought in understanding. "Hello Helena. We are Connie and Harry Potter, Ravenclaw and Slytherin second years, and you probably know Professor Snape."
Helena nodded. "What are you doing here during the summer holidays? I thought students weren't allowed to use the common rooms during the summer."
"We are looking for Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets, because we want to ask his portrait something."
Helena let out a scoff. "Why don't you ask Peeves then?"
"Excuse me, Helena, but why would we ask Peeves? We've heard that he's a poltergeist and does nothing but nonsense and pranks the whole day."
"That's for us to know and for you to possibly find out if you speak with him. If he doesn't speak with you, tell him that I've told you about the fairies of Tinseltown."
"The fairies of Tinseltown?" Connie stared at the ghost in apparent disbelief.
"Just tell him, and if he still doesn't speak with you, come back to me." With that, the ghost swept away through the nearest wall, leaving the three to exchange looks of pure exasperation.
"She was kidding, wasn't she?" Harry was the first to find words.
Severus smirked. "Maybe not. Let's see if we can find Peeves."
HP
To their disappointment, they were not able to locate the poltergeist during the following two hours and finally decided to give it up and check the castle for him again the following day, as Harry and Connie wanted to pay the broom shop a visit.
They said good-bye to Severus and headed down to the village, where they decided to have lunch at the Three Broomsticks before heading to the shop.
With the question why all the ghosts sent them to speak with Peeves at the forefront of their minds, they entered the broom shop.
"Remus, Sirius, Jamie, what do you know about Peeves?" Connie stared at the three wizards in clear expectation.
"He's horrible. Pranking everyone, teachers and students alike." Remus shook his head in apparent annoyance.
"I always found him quite funny, even if annoying at times." Jamie shrugged, glancing at Sirius, who grinned broadly.
"Ah, I've played some brilliant pranks together with him. He's very clever, but that's all I know about him."
Harry shrugged. "Oh well, we couldn't find him anyway."
"Has any of you ever found the Marauders' Map?" Jamie cast them a questioning look.
"Right." Remus nodded. "He should show up on the map." Apparently noticing that Harry and Connie exchanged a confused look, he explained everything about the Marauders' Map. "Mr. Filch, the old one who was the caretaker, before Artemis took over using his name, took it from us. You could ask Artemis if he still has it in his office."
"I'll ask him tonight," Harry resolved. "That would be very convenient to have."
Connie grinned, nodding eagerly. "Then, I can always check, where you are, when you're at Hogwarts without me."
"Mind you, Connie, neither the rooms in Ravenclaw nor those in Slytherin are on the map, as we were never able to enter them." Remus smiled at the eager girl.
HP
As soon as Artemis joined them in the evening, Harry asked about the Marauders' Map, receiving a questioning look from his adoptive uncle. After hearing Remus' explanation, however, Artemis popped away, only to return five minutes later carrying a seemingly empty parchment, which he handed over to the Marauder.
Smirking, Remus unfolded the parchment and laid it out on the table. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." He said the incantation in a clear voice, apparently for Harry and Connie to hear.
They observed in excitement how black lines and the occasional black dot appeared on the parchment.
"Show ghosts and creatures," Remus instructed the map, and all of a sudden, hundreds of small dots could be seen all over the school. "They must be the house-elves." Remus smirked, before he instructed the map to show them Peeves.
However, to Harry's and Connie's disappointment, the poltergeist did not show up.
"Perhaps Peeves is not his real name?" James suggested and explained that the map always displayed a person's real name. "Which might be dangerous for Lily and me," he added as an afterthought.
"Do you intend to visit Hogwarts any time soon?" Regina looked at James in apparent surprise.
"Of course, he will come to celebrate Slytherin winning the Quidditch cup next year," Harry quipped, causing his father to glare at him.
"Lily, could you perhaps add a charm to it, so that it'll hide your real names?" Regina cast her a questioning look.
Lily nodded, smiling. "I'll think about. Thanks for alerting us to the problem."
HP
A few days later, during which they had spent some time looking for the poltergeist in vain, the Bloody Baron showed up in Severus' lab to inform him that the headmaster was looking for him.
"I'll be back shortly." With that, Severus left the lab.
"Excuse me, sir," Connie addressed the ghost. "The other day, you told us about Peeves."
The Bloody Baron nodded.
"Is that his real name?"
"No, his real name is Salazar Slytherin."
"Peeves is Salazar Slytherin?" Severus stared at the Slytherin house ghost in obvious disbelief that Harry could understand all too well.
"Excuse me, sir. Are you joking?" Connie mirrored Severus' expression, causing Harry to inwardly chuckle.
"Do you know me as someone to joke? I believe that I've efficiently built up my reputation as the most frightening ghost of Hogwarts."
"True." Severus smirked.
"Anyway," the Bloody Baron sighed, "Peeves does not reside at Hogwarts during the summer months. I believe that he uses to spend his summers at Slytherin manor, probably developing new pranks. He only returns on time for the students to come back, so that he can pester and prank everyone. At least that's what he told me a few hundred years ago."
While the three of them stared at the ghost willing him to reveal more information, the Bloody Baron remained pensive for a moment.
"He will not be pleased that I have revealed his secret to you, and please believe me if I tell you that it is the first time in almost 800 years, after he managed to get himself cursed. However, I believe that you might be able to get through to him as the head of Slytherin house, a potions master at the age of twelve and another twelve-year-old who has taken her Potions NEWT in spite of being a muggle. I believe that he is unhappy, and you might be able to help him. If only to get to terms with his life as it is. In the morning of September 1, I shall introduce you to him. Meet me here in Severus' lab."
"Thank you, sir." Connie was the first to reply, while Severus slightly bowed his head in apparent gratitude.
"Thank you, sir," Harry echoed. "We appreciate it very much."
HP
During the remaining weeks of the holidays, Harry did his best to not show his disappointment of not being able to talk with Slytherin right away. Every morning, he and Connie popped to Hogwarts to assist Severus, before they left for the Unspeakables' office on time for lunch together with their team mates.
The afternoon was spent with the Unspeakables. While Harry supported Felina, Whisker and Dove with the development of a new healing potion for insanity, worked on improved versions of each of his broom models with Archie's support and still had lessons with Nix, Connie usually studied with Lorenzo. One afternoon per week, Croaker taught Harry everything that a Mini Head Unspeakable needed to know. He also introduced him to another team each week.
To Harry's surprise, there was even a team of ghosts; however, none of the ghosts he knew from Hogwarts were on the team, much to his disappointment. 'It would be cool to have some more Unspeakables at the school,' he thought, however, did not voice his wish to anyone but Connie.
HP
On August 31, Regina's and Remus' wedding took place. It was a wedding as it seemed to be usual in the magical world, at least as far as Harry had observed the other weddings within his enlarged family. Under the watchful eyes of his extended family, Head Unspeakable Croaker performed the ceremony – much to Harry's surprise. 'Oh well, probably arranged by Felina and Whisker,' he realised, finding that Croaker did a really good job. 'He's a fantastic Head Unspeakable,' he thought. 'I'm really going to miss him if he's pull through with his retirement plans. I will never be able to fully replace him, considering how knowledgeable, patient and kind he is.'
'Harry? A Knut for your thoughts?'
Harry glanced at Connie, who was sitting on his right side with Lucy being stretched out on both their feet.
'I was just wondering how I'm supposed to step into Croaker's footsteps in about six years.'
'If someone is able to do so, it'll be you. Don't worry about that now. Worry about all the stuff you need to study in your second Hogwarts year, which is going to commence tomorrow.'
Harry rolled his eyes in annoyance. 'My clever wife. Of course, I'll do that, and I'm sure that you and Hermione are going to remind me on a daily basis.'
'Of course. We'll have to keep you on your toes.' Connie sounded pleasant as always, and Harry could not help feeling outright happy at having her at his side.
Harry and Connie had given the happy couple a Paws & Turtle Double broom with the names 'Remus' and 'Regina' engraved into the wood and equipped with a most comfortable passenger seat, and as soon as the broom was revealed, an impromptu series of Quidditch matches took place that lasted until Dolly called everyone down on time for dinner.
Only late in the evening, Regina and Remus excused themselves and left for their honeymoon, for which James and Sirius had arranged. In fact, James had sent Sirius to check out the Potters' wine yard in the south of Germany, and when his friend confirmed that everything was all right and the house-elves were waiting for Regina and Remus to arrive, James had arranged for a Portkey for the newlyweds.
"I'm sorry for leaving in the evening before you're going to leave for Hogwarts," Regina whispered to Harry, when she pulled him into a gentle hug.
"That's fine, Mum. I have Lucy here, and we're not going to take the Hogwarts Express but simply pop to Hogwarts first thing tomorrow morning anyway," Harry whispered back. "Congratulations, Mum. I am very happy to you, and I wish you and Remus a really nice holiday."
"Thank you, son." With that, Regina turned around to face Remus, who carefully wiped an errand tear from her cheek.
"Are you ready, love?"
"I am." Regina smiled, as she waved at the members of the family, before Remus activated the Portkey.
HP
Apparently realising that his two student assistants were much too excited to properly brew potions, Severus led them onto the roof of Hogwarts to show them his own herb garden.
Harry and Connie thoroughly enjoyed not only the herb garden but most of all the beautiful view over the Scottish Highlands. They could even see as far as the coastline.
"This is totally amazing. Thank you so much for bringing us here, sir," Connie breathed, wide-eyed.
"It's beautiful. Thank you, sir."
"You're welcome. Now if you've stared enough, we should return to my lab and wait for the Bloody Baron to come and introduce us to Peeves."
They obediently followed the professor downstairs, only to realise in surprise that the Bloody Baron arrived, as soon as they were back in the potions lab.
'He probably summoned him through telepathy,' Harry realised. 'Perhaps, he's able to do so as the head of Slytherin.'
"Follow me," the ghost instructed them and led them through the still empty corridors over to Gryffindor tower, where they spotted Peeves busying himself casting some kind of spell at one of the portraits.
"Peeves!" the Bloody Baron addressed the poltergeist.
"Oh no! There are ickle students already!" Peeves screamed, before he flicked a hand into their direction and Harry felt a bucket of water pouring over him.
When he looked at the others in shock, he realised that Connie was equally wet with water dropping down from the edge of her robes.
"Sir Slytherin, that was uncalled for. I have informed these three of your identity, just so you know." The Bloody Baron stared at the poltergeist, who let out a loud gasp, before he simply popped away. "He's gone. That imbecile. I am sorry. Trust me, I shall deal with him." Shaking his head in apparent annoyance, the Bloody Baron swept through the nearest wall.