Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Harry Potter. Characters and main plot are property of J.K. Rowling. However, in this story the main plot will be manipulated to fit my imagination.
A True Heart of Darkness: Chapter Three
A Serpent is Found
After last year with Harry having his first memorable encounter with Voldemort sparked a new anxiety. He now had to make sure that this crazy lunatic didn't try and kill him all the time. No big deal for the great Harry Potter, sure. After the year ended Harry was shipped back to the Dursley's to endured another summer of servitude, that is until a crazy house elf by the name of Dobby came in and ruined the semi-peace he had. The elf got bars placed on his window and almost made him not able to go to school this year. Which in the end was Dobby's main goal. Harry was furious and the only reason he didn't use magic to blast the bars off and just run away was to keep people from knowing the true extent of his powers. He knew wandless magic could not be traced, but he was not taking any chances.
Thankfully Fred and George Weasley came and rescued him with their father's magical flying car. Let's just say the Dursley's were mortified after that night and next summer looked more appealing than it had before. The Weasley family let him stay, that is after the twins got a good hounding from their mother. And while Harry was having a grand time at the Burrow, the Weasley home, things with Ron had not gotten better. Ron would ignore him completely or make sarcastic remarks to Harry because he was still mad about Harry choosing Hermione over him the year before. Thankfully he had Fred and George to hang out with till the bushy haired girl made her appearance at the home.
Another person he had met at the Burrow had been their youngest sister, Ginny. She would always watch Harry from afar and blush when he tried to talk to her. Harry believed she could be a valuable asset in the future, if she got over crushing on him that is. He would catch her a few times and saw there was something else behind her copper eyes. The only other person who annoyed Harry was Mrs. Weasley. She was always trying to be Harry's mother and try and over feed him. Harry may look scrawny and starved, but since becoming a wizard the threat was enough to get him ample food at the Dursley's. The over protectiveness of her was wearing on his nerves as much as Ron's bipolar attitude. After his initial ignoring stage he started complimenting and trying to spend time alone with Harry, or being a little git, and said boy was tired of having to lie to get past him. Fred and George, even Ginny once, usually came to his rescue. Though this only seemed to make Ron try harder or put him in a sourer mood after being told no. Harry knew he would really have to watch him from now on.
At breakfast the week before they had all gotten their Hogwarts letters informing them of this years new school supplies and were off to Diagon Alley today. Thankfully Harry flooed along with the twins, just so he wouldn't get lost and look like a nutter in another part of well, anywhere. While out walking the three boys ran into Hermione who hugged Harry and than told him all about her summer and how he had to come and meet her parents. She also apologized again for not making it to the Burrow. Her family had taken a surprise vacation, which she would tell about at a later time. Harry had accepted her apology, for the third time, and tried to get out of meeting her muggle parents by asking her countless questions.
"Now be nice Harry. I know they are muggles, but I promise they are good and kind hearted." Hermione said after he gave a great sigh. Harry then nodded his head in silent agreement and followed behind her. He knew that he would give them a chance since without them he would have never met her. They walked into the bookshop, Flourish & Blott's, and Harry introduced himself to Hermione's parents. While he was talking to them in the shop he saw Mr. Weasley was getting in a scuff with a tall, blonde longhaired, man.
"Excuse Mr. and Mrs. Granger I'll be right back." He said with a charming smile before heading over to the now growing group of red heads.
"A donation to the obviously lacking library. Maybe it will help with the cost of adequate books for your dozens of children. " The older man sneered at the family as he dropped a couple books into the cauldron Ginny was carrying.
"Such a disgrace to wizarding kind, people like you Arthur, and they don't even pay you enough for it." Mr. Weasley only smiled and answered him in a polite tone.
"We think very differently what a disgrace is, Malfoy" Harry looked hard at the man now. He didn't enjoy his attitude toward the family. Though they were poor, disregarding them in a public place and in that manner showed he was overconfident and weak minded. A pity, he would have loved to have a Malfoy on his side. His thoughts caught up with him and Harry's eyes widened. A Malfoy, which must mean Draco is nearby! His emerald green eyes scanned the shop till he found the blonde ripping a page out of a book. Harry was still not quite sure what it was that made his breath catch at the sight of the blonde, but he could not wait to find out. As if feeling eyes on him Draco looked up and scowled at Harry. While the Boy-Who-Lived just smiled back in a sly way that, as Harry saw, sent a shiver down the young Malfoy's spine, taking away the scowl that had been adorning his face.
"Draco, we are leaving!" yelled the elder Malfoy. He turned to Mr. Weasley before leaving.
"See you at work Arthur." Draco came up behind the group and sneered at them like his father.
"See you lot at school" and followed obediently behind his father. Harry watched after them, then looked to Ginny. It was her first year and Harry was sure that he would need to take care of her. The whole argument seemed to have made her narrow her eyes in anger. 'Good, it shows she has some fire behind her soft face. Though she also enough restraint to keep her emotions in check. Very good.' Harry thought before placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't let them get to you Ginny. They'll see our way soon enough." Harry smiled at her and then went back to Hermione's parents. No one saw the harm that extra book from Lucius would cause them all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~TimeSkip: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To say that Harry was annoyed with most of the population of Hogwarts was an understatement. After being taken by Gildaroy Lockhart at Florish and Blott's to 'make the front page', the man seemed to have an even more foolish way to teach. The first exam had been all about his favorite color and his greatest life's ambition. Harry could care less. Then the moronic professor released a flock of pissed off pixies into the classroom, lost his wand, and left his students to catch them. Thankfully Hermione and Harry had caught them all with an imobulous spell. Poor Neville had to be levitated off the ceiling though.
Now along with Ron trying to sucker up to him a new boy, Colin Creevey, kept taking pictures of him. The new Gryffindor would follow him at any chance and try to get him to sign the pictures he had taken. ' Stupid child' Harry thought at breakfast one morning while the boy once again tried to get his picture. However, one particular Slytherin was walking up to the group and he sighed. Draco had been poking fun recently and now Harry was about fed up with his antics.
"So Potter, giving out signed autographs? So famous you feel the need to gloat so much." He sneered as his gang, Crabbe and Goyle, flanked his sides. Harry gave a sinister grin before looking at the blonde.
"Well if you could get rid of him for me be my guest." He hissed in frustration. Draco was not expecting this and was speechless for a moment.
"Can't do anything for yourself can you? Why would I lower myself to helping you Potter?" He got in Harry's face, trying to make Harry believe his distaste for him. Harry only got closer and looked Draco from his lips to his eyes.
"I could make it worth your wild," He said with a smirk, loving the way the blonde Slytherin paled and quickly backed away. He sneered and then left the table. Colin looked sad and followed suit. Harry could hear Hermione trying not to laugh next to him.
"Harry must you be so seductive?" she giggled behind him. Ron looked mortified as Harry just shrugged his shoulders.
"Malfoy should learn his place. He is not allowed to humiliate and belittle me. However, his attitude could come in handy later." He smirked and then looked down to the parchment he had been writing on. Harry then looked around then straight into her eyes.
"Meet me in ten minutes," he said with a sigh and with that Harry left the table and headed out the Great Hall. Hermione only rolled her eyes and went back to her breakfast. Ron narrowed his eyes at her.
"What would Harry want with you Hermione?" He asked her
"That would be none of your business Ronald and I would appreciate you not eavesdropping on our conversation."
Ron only turned red in embarrassment then tried to sneak a look at the head table. 'I'll have to let Harry know about this new development' Hermione thought as she left the table a few minutes later. Leaving a seething Ron behind her.
Hermione made her way to the Gryffindor common room, but instead of going to face the Fat Lady, she stopped a few portraits before her. She stood in front of the painting of a large serpent holding a staff that seemed to glow as she got closer. The staff had a large stone in the middle that shifted from emerald to diamond every few seconds. The staff appeared to be made of wood twisted on itself making a strong base and twisting around the hanging crystal.
"Though pure blood not run through my veins, the true king is my ruler. He has called me upon certain matters only snakes can speak of. May I enter?" She finished her speech as the serpent nodded and the portrait moved to the side to reveal an open passage. Hermione walked through and the portal closed immediately behind her. Ron came from around the corner and stood in front of the portrait. He repeated Hermione's words, and expected for the portal to open. The snake only hissed at him
"Liar!" it hissed before moving to another portrait.
"Stupid snakes!" Ron bellowed as he ran back down the staircase in a rush.
Harry was inside the painting sitting in a lavish room filled with a couch and bedroom, a few tables with different potions or books, and a whole wall filled from roof to ceiling with different books and manuals. The couch was a three seat that was covered in a beautiful green; while the tables that held the potions and books were made of a dark rich wood. There was also a dining room type area that had a long table filled with chairs. The bedroom was off to the side behind a door, but it was also lavished with a large king bed, walk in closet, and large bathroom fully equipped with a shower and tub.
Harry frowned right as Hermione came into the room. He was sitting on the green couch reading a book on potions when he told her.
"Ron followed you here and tried to get in. Good job Hermione, but don't let him hear the password next time okay?" He said with a hint of sarcasm.
"Harry really he will never be able to figure it out on his own why the serpent did not let him in. However…" She then went to sit next to him, making sure to get his attention.
"I believe he is working with someone on the staff more so now than before. Right when Ron asked me what you wanted he glanced over his shoulder to the head table. I couldn't tell exactly who it was, but I have a few ideas. Though I will have to develop the theories more through the year." She finished explaining as Harry listened with calculating eyes.
"Alright," Harry finally said. "We need Ron to keep thinking we are just close friends, not sneaking around. We can still meet here once a week. I'll let you know what day in notes in your books. He will never look there. I'll also get Fred and George to distract him. They really do love pulling the most heinous pranks. Neville will be our eyes and ears in the common room, and we just have to play clueless." He finished thinking over his plan.
"We can play off using this passageway to get to the Library faster. He will at least believe me on that account and I'll just tell him I am helping you with potions or something." Harry grinned at her plan.
"Brilliant Hermione. Now we better actually get to class or cause more suspicion." And with that the two Gryffindor's left the room in two-minute intervals as to not get caught. Though the two missed the two grey eyes watching their exit.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~TimeSkip~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'This is the worst thing that could happen' Harry thought after the duel he just had.
While he had been facing Draco, which Harry had no qualms about, the boy had released a snake to attack him. While Harry knew he had a gift with speaking to them, he never knew what it meant. The snake had gone to attack a Hufflepuff, though Harry didn't know whom exactly, and he had ordered the snake to back off. While he should have been given a good pat on the back, he only got confused and frightened stares from everyone. After Hermione had practically dragged him away, he was still puzzled as to what the big deal was.
"Harry that had to be the worst idea ever!" She scolded him.
"What are you talking about Hermione? I only told the snake to stop attacking that Hufflepuff." He asked her
"Harry you spoke in Parseltounge, snake language. If you wanted to keep your cover before, well you just shot it. Everyone is going to think you're the Heir of Slytherin, and I know you'll actually enjoy that, but now your Golden Gryffindor mask will have a chink in it. " She huffed and sat down to think. Harry tried to hold in a smirk.
"Well I can't say I won't love the attention on the inside, but I still think we can swing this. I didn't really know that I spoke in a different language; maybe I can play the victim of the situation. I mean I don't hate muggleborns Hermione you know that. I only have a large distaste for their lineage. They can't know just how far from the mask I am. As a matter of fact." He looked around to see if there were any listeners. "I would prefer going over the plan in our usual place. Please meet me tonight after dinner. I will also make sure Fred, George, Neville, and a new member who I will reveal tonight, are there. " He said as the duo took their leave.
Though while the two were having their discussion another unlikely pair were having one quite similar.
"He talks to snakes sir! How could he not be a Dark Wizard? I bet You-Know-Who tried to kill him to destroy his potential competition! I don't understand why you keep wanting me to be his friend." Said an exasperated red head. The man before him only sighed.
"It is so I can make sure he is heading in the right direction. I only want the best for him and while I presume Ms. Granger is a good role model I just think he needs a more…true hearted Gryffindor's around him, do you understand?" Ron still had his confused look, but nodded his head. The man smiled
"Good now tell me about this room and how often you can catch them going?" Ron then went into detail about what portrait he saw Hermione go to and that she had to say some password to get in, but he couldn't remember the words exactly.
"Though they never go on the same day of the week or time, its always changing so I only ever catch them once or twice every few weeks. They're pretty good at hiding it. I asked Harry about it while she was away and he told me it was a shortcut to the library so I don't think its worth much at all sir…" And he would have gone on to more meaningless talk till the man interrupted him.
"Very good Ronald, now I must be off to the dungeons for some business. I will contact you again soon." He then waited till the red haired boy left to head the opposite direction. ' Stupid, clueless child, to bad I didn't get to Granger fast enough or I could have had her spy for me since she seems closer to the boy than that mindless Weasley' And with that thought the man turned round and left without a glance behind him.
Right before dinner ended Harry stood up from the table and gave a nod to Hermione telling her he would be in the room. As he left the Great Hall he saw a blonde follow behind him, though it was not the blonde his friends would expect. He turned to the blonde and held out his hand.
"Since you are new would you like me to lead the way?" He asked in a gentlemanly tone.
"Oh the honor would be mine," came the light voice of a girl. Harry laughed and led the young girl to the portrait.
"Her blood be pure and her mind wide, please welcome my new ally. She will see past pretense and always know more, do not be fooled or be used in our ploy. So I say it so mote it be, for I am the true king." Harry ended and the serpent hissed in joy before opening and letting the pair in. The girl laughed silently and looked around the room with disinterest, as if she already knew all about it.
"Harry I did love that introduction, but must I repeat it every time I enter?" Harry gazed at her from a table piled with papers.
"A form of it I will have to program into the lock so it will recognize your magical signature along with the written words, so sadly yes." The girl only nodded and went to take a seat on the emerald couch. After about ten minutes all six of them were gathered around the table.
"Well first things first I would like to introduce our new ally, a Ravenclaw by the name of Luna Lovegood." The girl just looked at Harry and he took that as a sign to continue.
"She has a wonderful ability to see into the far future and is here as one to help us. She saw the end result, though she won't tell me, and said this was the side she favored the most. So now that we have gotten past that, we need to discuss some rather troubling news." He looked to Hermione.
"As you know I just revealed to the whole school I have a dark trait, the ability to speak to snakes. Now I didn't know beforehand that this was a bad thing so I really screwed this one up for us. Also the attacks, though devious, I am not behind I promise. Plus why would I attack muggleborns I don't even know? Ridiculous. I do want to know the rumors about the incident though and also what has been going on with Ron."
"Well Ron has been telling the Gryffindors that'll listen in the common room not to think you're the Heir of Slytherin. He tells them you are trying to fool the Slytherins or make them mad that a Gryffindor would be suspected to be the Heir and not someone in their house. Other than that he has been disappearing at night once a week or twice and coming back all red in the face. I can't say where he goes, but it's a start?" Neville said nervously. Harry nodded his head and then wrote something on a paper on the table.
"That is something to start with and it adds to some of Hermione's ideas on who he has been meeting on the staff. Though I do hate him standing up for me. Fred, George, any news on the prank end, or no?" The two shook their heads.
"We haven't got anything about who the real Heir is. The few Slytherins we took overnight didn't know anything about it. They all mostly screamed to be let go, quite annoying actually." Fred sighed
Harry just took another piece of paper and wrote on it. They all looked that he had a list of names with possible places the Chamber of Secrets could be.
"I put a few Slytherins you two already caught, but I have a Ravenclaw or two and a Gryffindor I think fit the bill of something strange going on with them. Fred, George, can you talk to Ginny. Something is going on with her that I just can't put my finger on. Plus I found this diary in the girl's bathroom right after she had run out and it was some person named Riddle's diary. I'm concerned she at least knows something and is just afraid to tell us. Especially if she had this diary. It made me see this Riddle character help in arresting Hagrid and I know for a fact that the oaf couldn't hurt anybody let alone kill someone. So keep on the look out, and Luna," He turned to face her.
"Look out for any clues on the Heir and watch your dragon, yes I know," She said with a knowing smile. Harry blushed a little.
"Yes please, the Heir could be a worthy ally in helping me grow stronger. I do need to defeat the 'Dark Lord' Voldemort after all. Might as well get as much help as possible." The group laughed as Harry rolled his eyes and sighed. Harry joined in the laughter soon and then told the group he would contact them the usual way for next meeting. The group left at their appropriate intervals after they all had spent some time just talking. Harry stepped out of the portrait and was about to make his leave, after he added in Luna into the wards, when he was stopped in the corridor by none other than his dragon.
"Potter what are you doing with that portrait?" The Slytherin asked with narrow eyes.
"Wouldn't you like to know Draco." He attempted to leave but was again stopped by the boy.
"Potter, you need to watch where and who you associate with or some might think you are the Heir of Slytherin." Was all he said before he took his leave.
Thank you all for your support of my story. I thought it was a bit risky having Luna in so soon in the story since she doesn't officially appear till much later in the books. I wanted her insight to help further the story and I hope Luna fans out there are happy she is here ahead of schedule . Also if Harry seems too mature in this fic, sorry I am making him really more mature since him growing up being a manipulative mastermind made him grow faster. On the outside mostly he acts his age, but inside and during the meetings he is much older than he looks. In my original plot line this wasn't as jumpy but by third year it should get more interesting with how Harry develops. Draco and Harry will also get closer at third year so keep reading to find out how close :P Thank you all for your reviews! It means a lot that I know how you feel about the chapters.
ENJOY!
The next chapter will be up shortly
Kakeru