HER POV~
I plopped down on my bed. Damn, it took me hours to complete the homework. It was past 8:30 now.
I stretched my abused right palm, poor thing. I was left-handed and harry right-handed, Therefore I could write with both hands but I had difficulties, firstly my left hand had no muscle memory of writing secondly I barely had any idea how to write with the right hand. This had been a pain in the ass for weeks now but I was slowly getting used to writing with both hands. Though I only used the right hand in public and the handwriting is shitz.
I got up and pulled out the marauder's map
from my satchel. I haven't used it yet.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good"
Slowly, the entire blueprint of Hogwarts appeared on it. Giddy with excitement I started looking for every person from the harry potter universe that I know.
Snape in his class ;
McGonagall in her office ;
Dumbledore in his office ;
Neville in Hupplepuff common room along with Justin Finch-Fletchley;
Ron, Dean, and Seamus in Gryffindor's common room ;
Hermione, Mandy Brocklehurst, and Morag Macdougal in the library ;
Flitwick in his classroom, sprout in greenhouse 4 ;
Aurora Sinistra in what I assumed was her quarters ;
Binnis in the staffroom, Quirrelmort in his classroom;
Terry Boot and Lisa Turpin in Ravenclaw common room ;
Draco Malfoy in the 2nd-floor hallway with Blaise Zabini, Crabbe, and Goyle;
Millicent Bulstrode, Nott, Greengrass, and Pansy Parkison in Slytherin common room;
Susan and Hannan in Hufflepuff girls dormitory;
Wesley twins alone in a classroom probably setting up pranks ;
filch in the 3rd-floor hallway ;
Cedric in the 4th-floor hallway alone may I add ;
I also spotted the Patil twins in the 5th-floor girl's bathroom.
There were others too like wood and Angelia johnson etc.. but I didn't pay them any mind.
Apart from Filch, there was no other person on the 3rd floor, I could easily go down the trapdoor using disillusionment charms and the ancient-looking musical box that I found in Grimmauld place, The Devils snare was no problem either, I also knew the levitation charm to get myself out, I already knew the answer to the potion riddle and the mirror of erised or desire. My only obstacle was the flying key room. I was apt at chess so the murderous chess trap was no problem either but I had to be careful there; The troll could possess a challenge too but I will soon get my answer to it this Halloween.
Looking at the map I saw a first-year puff getting surrounded in the level 1 dungeons by 2 Slytherins that were not 1st years. I looked at it for a moment. maybe they were friends? all of my thoughts stopped as I saw the puff break into a run while the 2 others chased him.
The heck!? were they bullying her!
I went down to (in?) my trunk and switched on the monitor, I changed the channels till I found the one where the puff was headed on the map. and Indeed I spotted The puff run past the camera while the Slytherins chased after him while shooting jinxes at him.
Jumping into action, I cast a disillusionment charm on myself along with a silencing charm on my shoes, seizing the chloroform spray from my nightstand I bolted outta my room. passing the common room that only had a couple of older years up at this point. I only had to wait a few moments before someone entered the common room and I took the chance to slip out.
I broke into a run as I felt eyes on my back, I didn't need to look back to know it was the portrait of Helga Hufflepuff who apparently had the magical sight.
using the map I reached the puff and the Slytherins within minutes, that was a great feat considering I was in a castle where everything just didn't like being immotile.
I found the puff facing the Slytherins in a dead-end hallway with her back touching the wall as well as his wand held in front of him defensively if such a thing was possible. one of the Slytherins by his looks was either 13 or 14 while the other could be older or of the same age, it was had to tell with his bulky stature.
" Oh so little puff can't even protect himself huh?" one of the Slytherins, that reminded me of Bellatrix in away, teased in a mocking baby voice, was he really expecting a first-year who for goodness sake hadn't even learned any spells to defend himself?
" Well give us your wand weakling, you have got no use of it" the other one who looked a bit too big.
" I-It's my wand! It won't even work for you why would you even want it!" The puff said trying to hold her ground but the blatant fear on his face and the shaking of his voice gave it away. poor lass, the first thing you do when confronted with bullies is not to show fear. It always ended with a black eye and not-the-kind-i-prefer bruised lips.
" You think you are smart, brat" Bellatrix male version jr snarled.
Bellatrix jr tried to lunge at the 1st year puff but I stopped him with my foot.
" who's there?!" alarmed and worried about his friend ( who was now sprawled out on the floor) the other Slytherin who I had dubbed hulk jr said.
" well, your question can be answered in many ways, like who am I to you or who am I to the puff or perhaps who am I to the wizarding world?" I said fully aware that my voice was coming out several octaves deeper with my Indian-french accent messed up with Harry's British accent. I'd like to believe it was due to my need to keep my identity secret and not because I was really pissed off.
" but does it matter who I am, non?" I pulled out the chloroform can which was also disillusioned.
" Who are you " back on his feet Bellatrix jr snarled in the direction of my voice.
Shacking the can as prescribed I chuckled " I am " I paused for a moment, the urge to say Batman was great but I resisted
" What!? what's that noise!?" hulk jr looked around wildly
" Duncan " I sprayed both of them with the spray and watched as they fell to the ground heaps, after making sure ( prodding them with foot ) that they were soundly out, I turned towards the little puff.
" Are you fine little one ?"
" y-yeah," the girl said looking right past me.
" Stand up," I said looking at the cm deep cut in her palm
Looking nervous she stood up
" Hold out your hand" I commanded, the girl did what was told but looked utterly confused and terrified.
I took her palm in mine and traced the injury with my finger, I willed my magic to heal it and both of us watched as the wound knitted itself and stopped with only a faint scar in its wake.
satisfied with my work I let go of her hand and turned toward the unconscious snakes. With the amount of chloroform I had sprayed them with, they will not be waking up for another half hour. And how much of a jerk they may be but I just couldn't leave them here like this.
I pulled out the map from the folds of my robes, It was, to my utter relief, still disillusioned.
Spotting a name who I clearly knew and remembered as one of the Hufflepuff prefects I turned towards the puff who was still there looking at the two unconscious boys with uncertainty.
" Walk straight, you will find a Prefect, tell her that you found these kids unconscious, do not mention me"
The puff with pigtails nodded " But what if they tell about you?"
" They can't tell about me unless they reveal about bullying you " though they may just lie about it and go quaking about 'the dark protector'
the girl nodded again and I left.
I had just rounded the corner when I caught glimpse of tonks and heard the badger run past me towards her.
Duncan? really I think I stayed a bit too long in the presence of my Scottish friend, He would have been pleased to know that I used one of the names he had proposed for his baby brother.
I did not wait long after that and headed toward the ground floor. Now that I was invisible and my plan was soundproof ( get the pun?) I could go on an adventure and explore the magnificent castle.
I was confused about where to go first, and between everywhere and nowhere I settled on the Chamber of secrets. Going to the 3rd floor abandoned bathroom was ridiculously easy, I passed flinch and did not encounter Mrytle whose last name I think is Warren
locating the basin with serpent headed tap I hissed a command at it ~open~
I watched in fascination as the basin slid over revealing a tunnel big enough for a man to slide in.
Transfiguring a hair into a stone, I dropped it in the tunnel...after 2 minutes I heard the clank of stone on stone and decided that I was not suicidal enough to jump in an approximately...
s=ut half at square
s = half (10) (120)
that is 600 meters. I had self-preservation instincts and jumping down an almost half km long tunnel, magical or not, was not on my things to do to survive list.
Nope, I really hope this works after all Salazar Slytherin did not sound like the type of person to enjoy a nice big slide ride.
'~Stairs~
I watched as stone slabs emerged from the sides of the tunnel and arranged themselves in a spiraling staircase.
I started descending the stairs while counting them
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11I paused as I heard the harsh sound of stone on stone as the basin slid back in its place.
I was completely descended into darkness
" Lumos " I watched as a sphere of light similar to a mini sun formed in my palm, magic it was always so fascinating, so so...exciting.
I descended the steps further
12
13
14
By the time I reached the bottom, I had counted up to 147 steps.
I looked around the empty cavern, Nothing was visible further than the stone floor illuminated by my light sphere.
Maybe it will light up if I hiss a command in parseltongue, just like the tunnel perhaps?
Feeling unsure I hissed out to the empty room.
~lights~ nope, nothing. feeling disappointed I made a move to walk further in the cave but stumbled upon a carcass of...something. it was hard to tell and I was no zoologist.
I grunted as I landed face-first on the dirty floor, my wand slipping from my hand and flying away.
Grunting and sitting up I tried to look for my wand but it was pointless in the obsidian blackness that was not unlike the one when I first entered my mind.
I was just about to magic another sphere when a thought crossed my mind. I know it was not the time to think about magic theories but I just couldn't help it.
To do magic I had to just think and when I got really familiar with the spell I just had to say the spell and my magic will subconsciously do the spell. Will it work the same way if the language was different? after all it was the need and purpose that was necessary to do the spell and not the language.
~Lumos~ I hissed and watched as nothing happened I stood up and was about to cast the same spell in English or rather say Latin when I noticed that the room was getting brighter.
My eyes slowly adjust to the light as the room became more visible within moments, But How? I did not feel the warm and slightly draining sensation of my magic leaving my core, yeah I felt the almost non-existent frizzle of the magic on my fingertips but it was not the same as when I cast the Lumos charm.
deciding to look into it on a later date, I stood up and noticed how dusted my hand was, I also noticed that my robes were in the same state while there was a harry shaped print on the dusty floor of the cavern.
without giving in any thoughts I said the cleansing spell.
~scourgify~ I watched and felt the tendril of my magic leave my core and travel the length of my arm before it reached my fingertips and frizzled out.
I watched as the dirt disappeared out of my hand and watched in fascination as not only I but the entirety of the cavern was cleaned.
I looked around the beautiful cave, the floor as black as obsidian, the walls glinting in a strange sort of green.
I closed my eyes and felt the magic in the air. it was heavy in the air and melodious like a low drone of a hummingbird, It was unfamiliar but yet something about it reminded me of the castle's magic. I facepalmed as soon as the thought crossed my mind, the sound resonating in the cavern, of course, it was familiar, Salazar Slytherin was one of the founders hence his magic along with the other founders and perhaps all the people who ever came to Hogwarts was embedded in Hogwarts' walls.
I opened my eyes and took in the sights once more, burning the image in my mind, storing it behind my occlumency shields, I breathed in an awed breath.
No matter how much of a jerk and narcissist Slytherin was I could not deny the fact that he was a genius.
Creating Voice err I mean spell activated cavern that had its own magic I didn't know how many centuries ago was brilliant. but then again he wouldn't have been the founder of Hogwarts if he wasn't brilliant.
I looked around once more, the only thing ruining the scenery and stopping from giving the cave an ethereal look was the giant snakeskin and, skeletons almost dog-sized and some even bigger than that animals, and I couldn't even count the number of mice skeletons that littered the floor.
I should have vanished them but on second thought I just shrunk them down and placed them in my pouch after all snuffles were/was not a puppy that couldn't even protect himself, was he a he again, or was it a she or they? sorry I was getting sidetracked.
snuffles was/were a three-headed Cerberus that could ( and can ) digest bones therefore he could do with a nice chew toy. every dog needed one or well at least that's what my best friend said.
I shrank the basilisk skin, god knows how much that cost Afterall balisik was a rare and extinct creature. I wonder if the goblins can make basilisk skin armor?
I left the chamber and headed towards the hallway right in front of me. It looked like not only the cavern but everything compromising of the chamber of secrets was light and scourgified.
stopping in front of the ancient wooden doors I gazed at the snake handles and their epic but strangely intricate details.
~open~ I waited with anticipation as the magic flared in the air and the doors began to open.
I did not know what I was expecting on the other, maybe the balisik itself or perhaps small snakelings or some shitz like that
I looked around the empty room, Touched and examined the snake statues, felt the magic in the air, and picked up two signals. One was Salazar's magic while the other one was unfamiliar. It was perhaps the balisik but I wasn't sure, there could be anything here.
I walked towards the gigantic statue of Salazar Slytherin
He was portrayed in a manner that screamed Superior, egoistical and dangerous.
~stairs~ I smirked in victory as stairs sprouted along the length of Salazar's robes. The stairs ended at a disc-like platform along the length of Salazar's head like a crown, it had a decorative railing along its circumference.
I didn't know what possed me, what was I doing here? what I was doing now?
I knew I had to face the balisik before the end of the year but I sure as hell wouldn't do that without a pair of roosters and Phantom or an elf to immediately teleport err apparate us back to the safety of my room at a moment notice. perhaps I could bring Azure along but I didn't know how the balisik will react to another snake in its premise.
~ Hungary, ssso ssso hungry, kill, hunt, prey, need food ~ I heard the faint hiss that almost sounded frustrated and desperate as I neared the top of the statue.
~Hello~ I said, keeping my voice bare of any emotions. It wouldn't do well to me if the balisik sensed uncertainty and fear in my voice.
~A ssspeaker!?~ The balisik who I was almost sure was a female hissed, her S's all dragged out
~ what makesss you think I'm not another sssnake~ Damn I should stop but it was fun messing around with people or err snake in this case
The balisik let out a noise that could have been a huff ~ You sound different~ ~ smell different~
she continued after a moment of silence ~ young, you are a hatchling, a male one at that~
~you are correct. I am all of thossse thingsss~I replied to the snake finding no reason to say otherwise.
~ ssspeaker, I am hungry, let me free, let me hunt ~ She hissed almost desperately.
~No can do~ I hissed back feeling sad for the snake, but It wouldn't do good to the wizarding world if I died, no not with Voldy and dumbles around.
~ I can, however, provide you with food given that you won't hurt me and mine~ I continued
~Will do ssspeaker will do anything for food ~ I heard the stone mouth of the statue rumble, looks like she just moved closer.
~ what are you waiting for ssspeaker, release me ~ I sighed if only things were that easier?
I couldn't and wouldn't face the balisik without appropriate protections but I had another way to give food to the snake.
" Kreacher " I watched as the creature popped beside me, looking scared beyond his shit to find himself 20 meters above the ground.
Regaining his composure, Kreacher looked around before his eyes focused and unfocused upon where I stood, could he still look at me despise my disillusionment charm?
"m-master?" He asked almost hesitantly
" Yes Kreacher, It's me " He bowed towards the direction of my voice
" What can Kreacher do for kind master harry "
" I want " I ordered " You along with Grafo and caedes to go into the forbidden forest disillusioned, silenced and scent masked by spells to find and report to me about any recently dead or dying creature" he nodded looking confused
" On a better note you need not search the whole forest for every single dying creature, find just enough to feed a balisik" his eyes widened but he made no further move to go against me.
After a moment's silence, he popped away and I was left alone. the balisik didn't make any further comments about anything she had heard in the conversation between me and Kreacher after all.
~ ssso what'sss your name ~ I asked her
~ long ago I was named Regina by my master ~she hissed
~ The queen in Latin, befitting of a majestic creature like you~ I hissed back
Our hissed conversation was interrupted by 3 pops.
The house-elves bowed, Kreature was standing in the middle flanked by Grafo and Caedes, showing his position as their head.
" Kind Master harry, We followed your order and found two recently dead wolves and a dying deer "
" Can you bring them here " I said and I knew it was more of a command than a request.
Kreature nodded and popped away along with Caedes and Grafo. I moved closer to the railing of the disc platform, making some space.
Moments later my house elves popped in, each holding a dead, or dying in Kreatures case, creature.
" Thank you that will be all " I dismissed the elves and they bowed and popped out one by one.
I looked at the limp dear, it was beautiful even though blood was flowing out of its several wounds, then I looked at the dead wolves. They didn't smell rotten but by the looks of it, they weren't exactly...fresh either.
I knelt beside the deer and checked its pulse, it was small but it was there.
" episky"
" episky"
"episky"
~episky~
~episky~
I watched as the wounds knitted themselves and stopped halfway through.
The deer was dead. magic couldn't and wouldn't work on the dead.
I stood up wiped off the blood on my hands And willed my magic to teleport the carcasses to inside the statue, near the balisik.
My magic flared, I felt the warm sensation travel along the length of my arm, along the length of my fingers, and then into the air.
I felt the tendrils of my magic wrap around the carcasses. and then the carcasses disappeared out of my sight.
~ Thank you ssspeaker ~ she said with a pleased hiss ~ what are you called again~
~ I'm called many things among my peers but you may call me...Nagraj ~
~ An interesssting name, it meansss lord of sssnakes dosssen't it?~ she hissed back amused
~ You are a very intelligent Being~
~ My master wouldn't have a dumb being as his familiar~ she hissed indignantly
~ That he would, Very well Regina I won't keep you from your food any further~ I stepped back from the ledge and started descending the stairs
~ Come again ssspeaker and Come with fresssh hunt, I'm not a vulture ~ She hissed
~ Indeed ~ I smirked and continued down the steps.Going back proved to be a harder task than coming out. I almost ran twice in prefects and narrowly avoided snape while coming back on the ground floor.
I stopped in front of the barrels and the portrait of Helga Hufflepuff who was looking at me with concern and interest. I had to remind myself that I was still invisible.
I checked the watch, it was already way after curfew.
" What are you waiting for?" Helga Hufflepuff or rather her portrait asked.
" Please, I can't go in like this people, will be suspicious"
" you need not worry, Mr. Potter, The common room is empty as of now but you will have to answer my question if you want me to let you in without alerting Professor Sprout," She said softly but with a hint of steel daring me to say otherwise.
" A fair deal " I nodded to her
" Does your lateness have anything to do with Miss Sally-Anne's Injury ?" She said with a raised painted brow
" Perhaps," I said mentally smirking
" You should make yourself clear Mr.potter Had it been anyone else they might accuse you of causing the injury rather than healing it, " She said softly with concern flickering across her painted face.
" Indeed " She narrowed her eyes at me
" You were testing me, weren't you Mr.Potter, you wanted to know how much I could see with my magical sight" it was a statement, not a question. I had to stop the mental smirk from becoming a physical smirk
" I believe," I said trying my best snape imitation " That I was only entitled to answer one question"
" Indeed " she replied and the barrel door opened.
Author's Note
I'm not criticizing Slytherins , This is just a part of the full picture so please kindly wait and hold your judgment till you read the next chapter and know all the facts. Once again I don't hate slytherins and I'm an approved Slytherin my self.