The Alexander Chronicles Year 4: The Return of Darkness.

Chapter 18: The chamber re-visited

…

The prospect of talking face-to-face with Sirius was all that kept Alex going. It was the only bright spot on a horizon, which had never looked darker.

The shock of finding himself school champion had worn off slightly now, and the fear of what was facing him had started to sink in. The first task was drawing steadily nearer. He felt like he had to walk in a cave where an unknown deadly monster was.

The nerves was so bad, that Alex found it hard to think about his future at all – it seemed sort of pointless, and he was so scarred that he might end up dying.

Although he was happy that Sirius was coming, Alex couldn´t really see how he could help him feel any better about having to perform an unknown piece of difficult and dangerous magic in front of hundreds of people. Yet the thought about talking with his father made him feel better. Alex wrote back to Sirius saying that he and Harry would be beside the common room fire at the time Sirius had suggested; and he, Harry, Neville, and Hermione spent a long time going over plans for forcing any stragglers out of the common room on the night in question. If the worst came to the worst, they were going to drop a bag of Dungbombs, but they hoped they wouldn't have to resort to that - Filch would skin them alive.

In the meantime, life became even worse for Alex within the confines of the castle, because Rita Skeeter had published her piece about the Triwizard Tournament. It had turned out to be not so much a report on the tournament as a paper of Alex´s highly coloured life. Most of the front page was of a picture with Alex and the article itself continuing to page eight, had mostly been about Alex. Krum and Fleur´s name had been misspelled and had been squashed into the last line of the article, and Diggory´s name hadn´t even been mentioned. Not that Alex really cared about the last part, but he apparently proved that he was just trying to steal Cedric´s glory. There was also a bit information on Harry, in the article. It hadn´t affected Harry and Alex´s friendship, but it had made Harry and Ron drift even further apart.

What was really annoying was that Alex knew about how Skeeter twisted every word so she would have a good story, but he had thought he was smarter than her. He had been arrogant, just as Blaise had said he was.

The article had appeared ten days ago, and Alex still felt sick and angry every time he thought about it. First of it had made him and Blaise grew even further apart. When Alex had seen him at the day of the articles realised , he had given Alex a look that had said; I knew you did for the glory.

Then there was the content of the article. Rita Skeeter had quoted him saying an awful lot of things that he couldn't remember ever saying in his life, let alone in that broom cupboard.

I think I get my strength from my mother and my best friends. However not from my so called father, not that I even consider him that. I know that my mother would be proud of me if see could see me … I have to admit that I often cry myself to sleep when I am thinking of my mother´s fate. As for my so called father I can say is that I hate him. He has caused me and my god-brother Harry Potter so much pain. … No I am not afraid of what will happen in the tournament, I am good wizard and I am confident I can handle it.

But Rita Skeeter had gone even further than transforming her "er's" into long, sickly sentences: She had interviewed other people about him too.

And young Alexander has found lots of love at Hogwarts. His housemates from the Gryffindor house, says that young Alex is often seen with Hermione Granger, a stunningly pretty Muggle-born girl who, like Alex, is one of the top students in the school. However our young wizard has eyes for other houses, he is rarely seen without the company of Daphne Greengrass, a Slytherin Pure-Blood student who is also a top student, and a Half-blood student, Tracey Davis also a Slytherin. But not only the Hogwarts´ girls have caught our champion´s eyes as Mr. Finnigan , a friend, also says that Alex is smitten at the French Champion, Fleur Delacour.

From the moment the article had appeared, Alex had had to endure people quoting it at him as they passed and making sneering comments.

"Want a hanky, Black, in case you start crying in Transfiguration?"

"Since when have you been one of the top students in the school, Black?"

"Whose heart are you going to break, Black?"

"Yeah, like Fleur would give you the time of day!"

"Thought you'd have more taste than Granger or Davis! Then again, I suppose they're is the best you can do."

"Tsk assorting with snakes – how sad!"

"You think Daphne would be interested you romantically? I never seen one so out of his league."

"Don´t get your hopes hope Black. No sane girl would ever date you."

"Cry baby – cry baby."

"You know Greengrass only hang out with you because she feels sorry for you."

"You are pathetic."

"You and Greengrass ha there is bigger chance of a self-spelling wand."

"Wah wah oh see the little cry baby´s mum is in prison."

"Hey Alexander!"

"YES," Alex screamed. "I HAVE BEEN CRYING OVER MY MUM, AND YOU KNOW WANT I AM ABOUT TO DO IT AGAIN."

"Uh I just wanted to let you know that you dropped your quill." A girl voice said.

Alex turned and saw that the girl had long black hair tied in a ponytail and brown eyes. It was Lisa Tupin; a Ravenclaw student, that was in Alex´s year. A girl that Alex found very pretty and he had thought about her a few times. She was few inches shorter then Alex and had a few freckles on her face.

She gave him strange look and as she stood with the quill in her hand. "So do you want it back or is it finder keepers?"

"Eh I oh well."

Lisa smiled a bit, Alex noticed she had very cute smile and he found himself starring a bit.

Lisa saw this and giggled, "You better have it back. I have enough quills anyway."

Alex felt himself blushing, as Lisa handed him the feather. "Yeah thanks –and uh sorry about before."

"It is okay. You must be stressed. Frankly, I wonder why hasn´t started to curse those jerks. I would have snapped days ago. It would had gain practice in curses at the same time, so it would be a win-win."

Alex smiled, "well the worry what will happen at the first task takes the edge off."

Lisa laughed," You can tell me that again. Do you have no idea what the task will be?"

"Nope, not a clue."

"Wow you can´t catch a break can you?"

"Yeah so it seems." Alex signed, "hey you do you know what the task is?"

Lisa shock her head, "then I would tell you, but if I hear anything I will let you know."

Alex smiled "Thanks Lisa it means a lot."

"Don´t mention it. Of course I would help you."

"It really means a lot. Do you know if any of the other champions knows?"

"I don´t really know. I don´t think so."

"Okay then," Alex said, "so then we are in the same bout, well kind of anyway."

"I suppose, but I better get going but good luck with everything and I keep my ears open." Lisa said giving Alex a small smile, before leaving.

…

Alex wasn´t the only who was bothered by other students, Daphne and Tracey had come in for their fair share of unpleasantness too, but they hadn't yet started yelling at innocent bystanders; in fact. Alex was full of admiration for the way they were handling the situation. How they just could ignore everything that were being said to them.

Some of the Slytherins were telling Daphne and Tracey that if Alex bothered them; they should say it to Snape, so he could have Alex expelled, and that they should stick to their own house.

And Non-Slytherin students would follow them around too some saying that they all were dark and deserved each other. Others would tell them to stay away from Alex, and say stuff like that he wasn´t good enough for them. But although they didn´t snap at innocent bystanders, Tracey had to prevent Daphne from cursing a third year Gryffindor, who had said a lot of nasty things about Alex. Then had tried getting her to go on a date, if she wanted a reel Gryffindor. It was information that made Alex slightly happy.

Hermione too was getting some unwanted attention, just like the Slytherin girls, although the worst came from Pansy Parkinson whereas the other houses acted the same towards her.

"Stunningly pretty? Her?" Parkinson had shrieked the first time she had come face-to-face with Hermione after Rita's article had appeared. "What was she judging against - a chipmunk?"

"Ignore it," Hermione said in a dignified voice, holding her head in the air and stalking past the sniggering Slytherin girls as though she couldn't hear them. "Just ignore it, Alex."

But Alex couldn't ignore it. All this stuff made him so bloody angry. Not only because he was treated bad, but also because it affected his friends. Simply because they were his friends. And it was all because a stupid article that he had been so stupid to give a statement on.

Then there was the whole thing with Blaise. Alex hadn´t spoken to him since their argument on the grounds, and ever since Alex had seen the look on his face after the article had come out, he really didn´t want to.

Daphne and Tracey were furious with the pair of them; they went from one to the other, trying to force them to talk to each other. However, Alex was adamant: he would only talk to Blaise again only if Blaise admitted that Alex hadn't put his name in the Goblet of Fire and apologised for not believing him.

"Look I am not the one calling my friend a liar. So he can come to me when he ready to grow up."

"But you miss him Alex!" Daphne said in a new attempt to get the two friends to talk again. "He misses you too so you ta-"

"Me miss him? I don´t." But both he and Daphne knew it was lie, because Alex did miss Blaise. It wasn´t because Blaise was a boy and that he missed the male company. No he still had Neville and Harry, but Blaise was a person that Alex truly relaxed with and joked with.

Another problem that Alex was surprised was a problem for him, was that he hadn´t mastered the summoning charm yet, not fully anyway. He could summon small things if he tried really hard, but it was nothing like his school mates could do. Ron made a big deal about taunting Alex about his spell problems.

"Don´t worry you get will get eventually." Hermione said as she, Alex, Harry and Neville left a charms lesson. Alex had been assigned extra work because of his problem with the spell.

"Yeah," Harry cut in, "look you properly just have you head someplace else."

Alex signed he knew that much.

"Hey cheer up at least you did it somewhat," Neville added.

Alex nodded, "but if I can´t do that simple spell, then how – how can I survive the first task let alone the others."

"We help you," Harry said making Hermione and Neville nod, "both with the tournament and the homework."

Alex was glad that he had help. He didn´t just had it from his Gryffindor friends; naturally, Daphne and Tracey helped him too, so he had good help. But reading about spells, leaning about the summoning charm it wasn´t enough, because Daphne was right he shouldn't go down without a fight, therefor he needed a place to train so he could be quicker, stronger, more agile – in short he needed to a better wizard.

Alex could only think of one place to get this done: the chamber of secrets. It would be a perfect place. Alex had come to this collusion while studying with Hermione, Neville and Harry in the library. Not that it was the prefect study place at the moment, Victor Krum spend a lot of time in there as well, not that had bothered Alex in fact the Bulgarian champion were friendly enough, although Alex wondered why he was there, could he be studying for the first task did he know something.

No was annoying was that Krum´s fan girls was in the library also to spy on Krum and giggling when he saw them.

"He's not even good-looking!" Hermione muttered angrily, glaring at Krum's sharp profile. "They only like him because he's famous! They wouldn't look twice at him if he couldn't do that Wonky-Faint thing -"

"Wronski Feint, it is called a Wronski Feint, Hermione." Harry said through gritted teeth, and then sighed. "And he is a world class Quidditch player." Harry continued.

"That is my point Harry. They wouldn't be acting like this if he was a normal person."

"Well you don´t know what he is like. He could be a nice guy." Harry countered.

"Maybe but they doesn't know what he is like either, but those girls isn´t normally in the library. If Krum had been normal do you really think they would be here?"

"Well not really," Harry smiled, "they isn´t as studious as you."

Alex signed, "Look I need a break from all this school work. I see you guys in the common room okay?" As he received a nod from them all he left.

Alex began walking down the corridor and after half an hour, he found himself on the second floor, standing in front of Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. Yes, it would be the perfect place. The chamber had large hall where he could practice spells and maybe there could be other things, which could help as well. But if he wanted down to the chamber then how would he get up? Still he could at least open the passage.

"Hey Alex," a voice said just as he was about enter the girls´ bathroom. It was Erik that had spoken. "So are you planning to go back in the chamber?"

"What makes you think that?"

"You are at the entrance." Erik pointed out.

"What makes you tell that the entrance to the chamber is here?" Alex asked looking at Erik.

He snorted, "Oh please I am not stupid Alex. You told me the story about the chamber. You told me that you that you and Harry Potter had go through a bathroom. Beside there have been two attacks here; the girl who died the first time to chamber was opened and then the cat– so it is here right? I won´t tell anyone."

Alex slowly nodded, "yes it is. However how did you know I was here?"

Erik shrugged, "I saw you walking around. I wanted to hear if I could help you with something about the first task. So were you thinking of exploring it?"

"Uh yeah I was thinking about it."

Erik nodded, "okay cool," he paused, "well uh good luck down there."

Alex nodded and watched begin to leave, and then he made his decision. "Hey Erik wait. Do you want to see the entrance?" He did need someone to talk to about the issue about getting up from the chamber, and Erik could help with that. "Beside I have a problem that you could help me with."

"Eh okay, but eh why me? I mean we are friends but eh, I mean you are closer with the Slytherins. So why not them?"

"Well yeah I known them longer, but I trust you as well. After all you believed me when I said I didn´t put my name in the Goblet of Fire And you are a Ravenclaw and have a thing of solving puzzles?"

Erik smiled, "great, but sure I want to help. Uh what do you exactly need from me?"

"Well uh I need you help me figure out how to get back out of the chamber, and help me explore when that times comes." Alex said while shrugging as he grabbed the doorknob and opened the door. "So are you coming?"

"Okay but what do you mean about ´how to get back up´?

"It be easier if I showed you. So are you in?"

Erik nodded and Alex led him in to the bathroom. It looked pretty much like it used to. The sinks that concealed the entrance was standing in the centre of the room, and the toilets were at the walls. "Come it is over here." Alex said and pointed at the sink and turned to face Erik.

The Ravenclaw looked pretty nervous. "Didn´t you mentioned there was a ghost haunting the bathroom?" he said as he looked around, "I mean what if she sees us and tell on us, because I am guessing it is kind of against the rules for boys to be in a girls´ bathroom?"

Alex looked around looking after Myrtle, but she wasn´t there, "Relax Erik she won´t tell. Trust me on that," he said thinking that Harry had spent much time here and no one knew about that. "Beside she isn´t here right now."

"Okay," Erik said, "but oh how did you get inside? I mean in the chamber."

Alex smiled knowingly, "I show you!"

Alex moved over to the sink with a snake carved on the side of one of the copper taps, then he focused on it and forced himself to speak parseltongue, "open!" He hissed and in the same second the snake glowed, and the sink with the symbol on it sunk in the ground while the two at the sides separated, reviling a large tunnel. Alex looked at Erik who looked at bit awestruck. "Hvor sejt" he whispered.

"Huh?" Alex said with a raised eyebrow.

"Sorry I just said it was cool, and forgot that I wasn´t in Denmark." Erik said giving a small smile, "so back then did you just jump? I mean you wasn´t worried how far you would fall?"

Alex laughed, "well yes and no. Harry, Weasley and I kind of had to get down there, but we pushed Lockhart, our old defence professor, down first to see if it was safe."

"Really?"

"Yup, but to answer your question it is safe, it is like a slide."

Erik gulped a bit, "right of course you have been down there and survived."

"Well I was lucky."

"Lucky?"

"I meant surviving the basilisk." Alex teased.

Erik looked a little embarrassed. "Right, but so you needed me to figure a way back up?"

Alex nodded. "Yes."

"Okay uh doesn´t it have stairs. I mean try asking for stairs."

Alex did as he was told, but nothing happened. Erik frowned at this and then he examine the tunnel, as much as he could without falling down. "Then we might be a problem, because a human wouldn´t be able to claim this, a basilisk could – hmm well maybe if had a robe here." Erik pointed at a spot at the tunnel that was just under the bathroom floor. "Then you could just pull yourself the rest of the way."

"Is but it is a long ride, I don´t think I could claim a rope that far."

"Hmm there might be a spell," Erik said slowly. "Hmm maybe the retraction spell then you could make the rope go up and down."

"So that is the only way?"

Erik shocked his head, "no uh back at my old school I leaned about the claiming spell. Basically it is a spell that allows you to claim up at walls."

"Sounds promising. Is it a difficult spell?"

"Not really, but it takes some time to learn." Erik answered. "Or you could find a way to fly."

Alex nodded, "okay but the idea with the rope can it be used without the rope?"

Erik was silent for a few seconds. "I remember reading about something like it, but I have to cheek. There have to be some way I mean Slytherin would have to have gotten in somewhere."

Alex nodded and was about to close the entrance when he heard a cold voice.

"So this is where the entrance to the chamber is?" Alex span around with his wand raised. It was Draco Malfoy who had spoken. When he saw Alex had drawn his wand at him. Malfoy simply smiled and raised his hands to show that he didn´t mean any harm.

"Malfoy!" Alex said a bit surprised he hadn´t cursed him yet, but Draco had acted different lately. He had sort of been less of a jerk.

"Relax Black; I am not here to fight you."

"Right then why are you here?"

"I saw you and Erik get in here and decided to follow you." Malfoy smiled.

Alex gave a humourless laugh, "that is just great, so I bite. What do you want Malfoy?"

"Nothing," Malfoy said, "well I want nothing from you. In general I want a lot of things like a cool pet, top grades, a house near a breach, an all-powerful wand, and I really wouldn´t say no to a flying carpet or a Firebolt like Potter has." During this little rant, Draco had walked over to Alex and Erik, where he looked at the tunnel that led to the chamber. "Ugh it looks dirty you are actually willing to go down there?"

"What make you think we would want that?" Alex hissed.

"Duh you have opened it haven't you?"

"Well we won´t, but what to stop me from cursing you and prevent you from running to a teacher?"

"I won´t tell a teacher Black." Malfoy said while giving a friendly smile.

"Hmm and why should I believe you?"

"Because I have changed. I am not the old Malfoy anymore."

"Tsk yeah nice try. You are still the same bully as always." Alex said, "and I bet you isn´t sorry about that."

"Actually." Erik begun for the first time since Malfoy had arrived, "He apologised for what he did to me – well not that he really did anything. It was mostly Nott."

Alex looked at Erik then at Malfoy, "Right then be a good boy and walk away. We were just about to close up anyway."

"Uh that too bad. I really wanted to see the chamber."

Alex gave an evil smile, and pointed at the tunnel. "I am not stopping you."

"I'm not stupid, Black," He said, crossing his arms. "Once I drop down there, I know you're going to close the entryway, and since I don´t have your special ability I can´t really open it again."

"You know me so well, Malfoy," Alex said dryly.

"Well, I have to know my family." Draco said, glancing down the tunnel.

"We're not family," Alex hissed through his teeth.

"Yes we are. My mother is your father's cousin." Malfoy paused looking at Alex and Erik, Alex could see that Malfoy wasn´t lying. "So are we going or what?"

"Going where?" Alex asked crossing his arms, and raised an eyebrow

"Down to see the chamber."

"Wow you are still trying. Look Malfoy when I do go to the chamber, you won´t be joining me. Heck I don´t ever see why I would take you with me."

"Yeah yeah you are mad at me I get that." Malfoy said walking in font of Alex, "but-"

"But what Malfoy- hey what arg" Alex yelped as Malfoy pushed him down the tunnel.

"I see you down there." He then smirked at looked at Erik, who starred at Malfoy, before Malfoy grabbed him.

"No wait." Erik tried.

"Oh quit whining Jensen." Malfoy said before pushing a yelping Erik down the tunnel.

Malfoy waited a few seconds then he followed.

…

Alex once again rushed down, the slimy, dark slide, seeing the other pipes branching off in all directions, twisting and turning, sloping steeply downward. He could hear another yelp coming from above and Alex could hear it was Erik, then seconds later here could hear Malfoy had jumped as well. He could also hear Erik and Malfoy, thudding slightly and but none of them were wailing like Weasley had done a year and a half ago.

And then, Alex hit the ground, the pipe levelled out, and he yelped out with a wet thud, landing on the damp floor of the stoned tunnel. Alex quickly stood up, he was covered in slime, but before he could get out of the way, Erik came through the pipe with some speed. Both boys yelped as Erik hit Alex, and both boys were now lying on the ground. "det gjorde ondt (that hurt)" Erik hissed apparently unaware that he was lying on top of Alex.

"Could you move." Alex hissed, "so I can get up."

Erik quickly tried to get up, but he and Alex where pretty tangled. Alex had hoped Erik had gotten out of the way before Malfoy came though, he didn't.

All boys, but mostly Alex groaned in pain, "okay get of now!" Alex turned so the two boys fell off him, he quickly got up and stanched his sore body. He then helped Erik to his feet.

"So will you help me to?" Malfoy said looking up at Alex.

Alex snorted. "Right so you push me down and now expect to be helped. I think not Malfoy."

Malfoy laughed, it wasn´t his usual arrogant laugh, but one that sounded as he was amused. "Really that is kind of rude of you Alex," but he still got up on his own.

"Gross," Malfoy said, looking at his slimy clothes, but then shrugged. "Oh well, I'll just spend some extra time in the shower." Alex growled and moved over to Draco and picked him up by his robes.

"You think this is funny do you?" he said before pushing Malfoy on the ground. "Pushing Erik and me down the tunnel. Acting like nothing after you have acted like a git. I mean what the hell is wrong with you Malfoy?" Alex continued. "I have the half of mind to jinx you for pushing Erik and me down the tunnel."

"I meant no harm Alex." Malfoy said as he stood up and Alex took a few steps back, "I just wanted to see the chamber and I didn´t wanted to go down here alone even if I could."

"Yeah right and why should I help you tell me why I shouldn't curse you?"

"I told you I have changed." Malfoy said simply.

"So you tell me, not sure I believe you. Mostly because you have trapped us in a chamber."

Malfoy smiled, "come on you can get us up right after all you got out the last time."

"Yeah and back then I had a phoenix." Alex said moving over to the wall of rocks that had fallen last time he was here. Both Erik and Malfoy followed him.

"Well I am sure we can find a way up right?" Erik said.

"Well you don´t know those spell you talked about by heart do you?"

"Well from what I saw I starting to think the claiming spell might not be the best choice – I mean we did fall pretty far." He paused, "it would be better if we could find another way out."

"Well I suppose we can check it, but could you teach us the clamming spell?"

Erik nodded just as a noise was heard from above, it was the entrance closing. "Tell me it can be opened from the inside.

"I think it can sense us when we comes back up." Alex said, "we didn´t have problem the last time."

"Of course it can. Otherwise how did Slytherin´s monster get out?"

"Shut it Malfoy!" Alex said while Erik smiled.

"We must be miles under the school," Malfoy said, squinting at the dark, slimy walls. "Under the lake, by my guess."

"It seems so. Did anyone need to have their robes cleaned by the way?" Erik said, taking out his wand and waved it at himself making his robe clean. As Draco and Alex nodded, Erik pointed his wand at them so their robes was cleaned as well.

"Thanks Erik. So do you want to get out now, or would you be up to explore the chamber? Now that we are here?"

"Sure, but will we make it out before curfew?"

Alex smiled, "hopefully, but then we need to get though here." He said pointing at the path that was caved in.

"Right then how do we get through this wall? That hole looks too small for us." Alex looked at the hole him and the other Gryffindors had crawled through when they had been twelve. It was small, too small for him, Erik and Malfoy.

"I have an idea," Alex said, pulling out his wand and the aimed it near the hole and shouted, "Confringo!" And the purple spell shot from Alex´s wand and soared towards the rock wall, exploding the rock, causing Malfoy and Erik to cover his head with his arms. The spell made a loud explosion of rocks, and creating a bigger passageway.

Erik moved his arms, and saw that the hole was bigger. "You know a warning would be nice"

Alex smiled, "sorry but that would have warned Malfoy."

"Oh ha ha Black you are so funny."

Alex rolled his eyes and the three boys continued through the rock passage, and through the cave. Alex lit his wand, and two boys followed suit.

They hadn´t walked very far before Alex saw the dead Basilisk old skin. Malfoy gave a loud scream and covered his eyes, "i-it Slytherin´s monster!" He was in such a panic that he fell over a stone making him falling on his butt.

The little accident made Alex laugh. "You are such a chicken Malfoy. It only the skin. The one Harry killed was much bigger." Alex paused, "how did you know to close your eyes anyway?"

Malfoy snorted, "Oh please I am not that stupid."

"Tsk right just unpleasant." Malfoy chuckled got back on his feet.

"Come on you are just like me. We have the same views."

Alex growled and pushed Malfoy against the wall, "We are nothing alike Malfoy."

"Really we have the same views on muggles." Malfoy whispered, "just like we did at the Quidditch world cup."

"We don't have the same views. Draco" However, Alex was that sure if that was the truth, he was about to say more when-

"Look could you guys deal with your aggressions later?" Erik half-yelled, "like when we are not in in a place that could be in an Indiana Jones movie."

Alex let go of Malfoy and both boys looked at Erik, "a what movie?"

Erik signed "a muggle movie about an archaeologist that finds hidden treasures like the Holy Gail, but never mind that. Right now it really doesn´t matter if your best friends or not. Because right now we are in this together. So let us just find away out of here."

Both Alex and Malfoy nodded, making Erik smile, "so lead the way Alex."

There wasn´t any more talking as the three boys walked deeper in to the tunnel that led to the actual chamber. The tunnel was in a good shape despite the cave in, and somehow Alex was actually happy about that. They soon reached the wall that had the two entwined serpents that were carved on it. The serpent eyes hadn´t lost their emerald shine. Alex smiled a bit as he heard Erik and Malfoy gasp slightly at the sight. "You haven´t seen the best part." He said before he cleared his troth and forced himself to speak in parseltongue "open." The serpents passed and the wall cracked open, the halves slid smoothly out of sight. "So welcome to the Chamber of Secrets."

The chamber looked pretty much like it had done when Alex had last been here, except the room was filled with a stinking smell.

"What the bloody hell is that smell?" Malfoy said, covering his nose with his hand.

"If I had to guess then it is the basilisk corpse that is rotting," Alex said also covering his nose, and began to walk moved forward between the serpentine columns, with Malfoy and Erik following behind him. All boys had their wands lit. Every footstep echoed loudly off the shadowy walls. As they got closer to the statue of Slytherin the stank got worse.

"Yep a rotting corpse," Alex said pointing his lit wand ahead of them to show Malfoy and Erik the rotting corpse of the huge, dead basilisk. Most of the skin was rotted away, showing the bones, and the stench of the corpse was very horrible.

"What were you planning on doing here?" Erik asked.

"Training for the tournament. So I don't die.

"Hmm seems like a good place. It is big and there is stuff you can aim your spell at." Malfoy said looking around, "although it is pretty dark in here, very remote in case you get injured and well it smells worse than Weasley."

Alex snorted, "Yeah right I was planning to clean it a bit. I have studied up on some spells."

"Sounds like a good idea," Erik said, "but should we see if there were some sort of exit or should we just explore?"

Alex nodded and the three boys began walked around examining the area looking for anything interesting, the minutes passed and neither of them had found anything. Alex was beginning to wonder if there really was anything more in here. Alex signed and turned to see what the others were doing, Malfoy was at a wall and Erik was walking at the stature of Slytherin, he kept hitting it at different places places. Erik soon despaired from view and Alex was just about to continue looking when he heard a cracking noise and surprised yell, "Alex Draco I found something."

Both Alex and Malfoy ran towards Erik, when he got passed the statue, Alex could see that there now was tunnel that led in to the statue. "Great job," Malfoy said smiling a bit, "what did you do?"

"There was a metal snake, I pressed in and it opened this secrets pass way," Erik pointed his lit wand in the tunnel, "odd isn´t a place like that filled with spider webs."

"Don´t know what it usually looks like. However I doubt there would be spiders here, since they flee from a basilisk." Alex paused, "so do you want to go in?"

"Yeah after you, you are surpassed to be the brave Gryffindor."

"And you are the sneaky Slytherin." Alex said but stepped in to the tunnel nonetheless. The tunnel was long and there was some turns. There was caved small snakes on the wall, there was also caved a snake on the floor, or at least that is was Alex thought it was so far he hadn´t seen its head. However as Alex assumed it was at the end caved at stone door, where there was another snake, which tall led up to the celling. Alex tried pushing the door open, but it wouldn't butch, and Erik couldn´t find any symbols that could do it.

"Odd."

"Yeah," Erik said slowly, "maybe you could try using parseltongue."

Alex nodded and hissed, "open."

And that was the key, the two snake head´s eyes glowed, and the door slipped backwards and opened. Behind the door was a small office, it had a large bookshelf that filled most of left wall.

Off to the far right side of the room was some selves, a table with some nice chairs. Next to the table was door.

Finally at the wall away from the entrance hung a portrait of a man. The man opened his eyes, and when he saw Alex and his friends, he smiled. "At last visitors, I was starting to think I hid this place to well, although you do come from the backway."

Alex blinked and looked in awe at one of the founders at Hogwarts and his ancestor Salazar Slytherin.

…

Chapter end.

So Alex have found another secret to the chamber, in the next chapter he, Erik and Malfoy will explore this new hidden chamber, but what will they find and will it be something Alex can use.

A big thanks to those who have reviewed, I hope you will continue to take the time to leave one to this chapter.