"Wh-what is this place?"
"It's the Founder's Room, young man." Neville turned quickly to see where the voice came from.
"By Merlin's beard! Is...is that Godric Gryffindor?"
"It truly is wonderful to meet another Lion." Arte gently guided Neville to one of the chairs, in case he passed out. His face was pale and shaking, his mouth agape, eyes froze on Gryffindor.
"Neville, I am the Founder's heir. Gryffindor by blood and Slytherin by conquest and I am in House Ravenclaw due to the sorting. This room, or as I call it, the Den, was built for the Heirs. I trust you enough and wanted to open up to you a bit more. I'm sorry for keeping this a secret for so long."
"Harry, it's fine. This is a pretty big secret. What's that board there for?" asked Neville, finally recovering and gaining color in his face once more.
"It's just my plans for the year. You can't tell anyone what you see on it though. And I don't feel ready quite ready to explain all of it but feel free to ask questions. I won't lie but I'll tell you if I'm not gonna answer it."
"Why is Lockhart on the board?"
"He's a terrible teacher and something is fishy about him," Artemis giggled at what Harry said and he rolled his eyes.
"Animagus? You're training to become one?"
"Yeah. I am. But please don't tell. I have someone helping me with it and on standby, if something happens."
FLASHBACK
It was the third night back at school and Harry was meditating in the Den. The calming headspace was now very familiar. He could almost feel the wind rushing over him and whistling in his ears. His animagus form stopped its flight and sat on one of the top branches of a tree near a lake. Suddenly, there was movement under the water of the lake. He took off wings beating powerfully, as he reached the right spot, his wings moved closer to his body, allowing him to rocket towards the water at an alarming rate. Just before he hit the water, his talons stuck out from under him and he hit the water and caught a fish. His momentum, however, caused him to go under the water. His wings beat faster, struggling with each beat, attempting to get himself back above the water and to the branch, he was sat upon earlier-
"-ry! Harry!" He was pulled out of his meditative state by the frantic calls of Helga and Salazar.
He felt...strange. Something was wrong- 'Wings!' Harry thought 'I grew wings?!'
"Helga! How do I turn back?"
"Sweetie. Just relax. Take a deep breath. Imagine yourself transforming as you do with your siren form."
It took Harry longer than he would like to admit but he did turn himself back to his usual human form. At least he now knew what his animagus form was.
FLASHBACK OVER
"What's the Chamber of Secrets?"
Salazar finally spoke up, "I believe it would be best for me to explain this Harry. Each of us Founders has a special room. What and where they are is a secret, it is up to the Heir to find them. The Chamber of Secrets is my room or rooms. Under the castle is a place for the students to go if there was ever a siege or other danger to Hogwarts. My Familiar Asha lives down there as protection from other magical beasts and a tool for my Heirs to use if the danger cannot be handled by the teachers and staff of Hogwarts. The Chamber also holds my collection of books along with the research done by Rowena and me."
"What type of creature is Asha?"
Here, Salazer looked sheepish, "She's a basilisk. But we have a plan to keep the school safe. And she will not purposefully endanger the students here."
Harry cast a Tempus charm and suggested that they all head to their dorm rooms as it was nearing curfew. "Neville, you're welcome here whenever, just let me know beforehand, so you don't have to answer the knocker's riddle every time."
_Saturday (the next morning)_
Harry' s tempus alarm went off at six o'clock, waking him from a strange dream he had about his animagus form playfully trying to catch his Siren form despite being way too small to do so.
Harry got up and took a quick shower, dressing in his Lordship robes and putting his, now shoulder-length hair into a low ponytail. Another tempus telling him it was now an hour later. He had just enough time for a quick breakfast before he had to get to Professor Flitwick's office to meet Remus before leaving for the trial.
Casting a quick glamour over his clothes, to make them seem like his usual weekend robes, he left for the Great Hall.
The hall was fairly empty but there were some tired eyed students at every table. Harry sat down and started filling his plate. He grabbed some toast, an egg, some bacon, and an apple.
As he almost finished his plate, someone walked up behind him. And brushed their hand across the back of his shoulders. The scent of the ocean and the warmth that filled him told him that it was his Mate. She sat down on the far end of the table and looked towards him for a brief moment where she nodded her head slightly, then turned to start filling her plate.
He shook his head to remove himself from his stupor. He had to get to Flitwick's office now.
Just as he entered the Charms Professor's office, Remus flooed in.
"Harry, it's so nice to see you again."
"Yeah. I missed you, Remus. But we'd better get going, lest they close the doors before we get there."
The two of them arrived in the Ministry's entrance hall at exactly eight o'clock. The doors to the courtroom would close in thirty minutes and the trial would begin a half-hour after that.
A tired-looking Ministry official checked them in. Looking surprised at Harry Potter at the Ministry, yet he continued on and directed them to the correct room.
The doors to the courtroom were large and imposing. Harry took a deep breath, and released his glamour, showing his Lordship robes and rings. Lifting his head up high, he motioned for Remus to open the doors and he walked through. A mask of calm indifference on his face.
The room was already filled with people. The quiet murmurs of the witches and wizards that had already arrived stopped once they saw just who had entered the room. After a brief moment, the talking resumed, louder than before, the subject of these conversations being one Harry James Potter.
Harry paid them no mind and headed right for his seat. Due to his status as both the godson of the defendant and a witness along with having been the one to bring up the case, or lack thereof, he was seated on the main floor along with his guardian for the trip. Who coincidentally was Sirius' Mate? Boyfriend? Fiancé? Husband? They were together.
The Minister for Magic entered the room and everyone took their seats. The judge for this case was Amelia Bones. Once she entered, two Aurors came through the doors holding chains that no doubt had magic suppressants woven into them. The defendant of the case was attached to said chains. His hair was ratty, knotted and greasy. The eye bags under his eyes and his pale face made him look sickly, his thin frame didn't help either. He still wore the Azkaban robes which were almost grey-white and had tears and frayed edges. His face lit up however when he saw Remus and Harry sitting there, supporting him.
Madam Bones hit the gavel against the stand and said, "The case of Black vs the British Ministry of Magic is now underway. You may now begin the opening statements."
sorry, not sorry for the cliffhanger. I really didn't wanna write the court scene.
Can you guys guess what his animagus form is? A hint: it's in the raptor family.
On the topic of the poll in the previous chapter, it is a tie of 11 votes for both Neville and Ginny. So,,, the poll will stay open until one of them get two more votes than the other.