Chapter 17: one down

The school was talking about Halloween, even taking away some of the usual excitement of the first quidditch game of the season, which was usually the top. Harry saw victory for his team for the first game of the season, and the stands were as packed as ever, as it was still the best entertainment. Harry's dads had come, and they had brought Adrian with them, Lucius thinking his son had no chance to not be a fly boy like his brothers were. Lucius had always liked watching a good game, and he could fly decently but he had never played the game, Sirius was the only one of them who had.

Remus and Severus had been honest with their nephews, but they did not have much to tell, no one knew where the chamber was meant to be. Hagrid had been expelled from school last time it was, but few people believed he had done it, but not even Albus seemed to be able to help.

Harry thought of something when they spoke. "Could the animal who killed her have been an acromantula?"

Severus shook his head. "It would have eaten her and others in the school."

Sharing a look with his brother, Harry told their Uncles about their trip into the woods, with Hagrid at the start of the year. They had been told about the different animals in the woods, and Harry could not remember any mention of them in the woods, unless he missed it. He had only seen a baby spider, but Harry knew there was more, and he had the sense Hagrid had a bond with them, like some kind of pet.

Their Uncles shared a look, from what Severus knew, Hagrid had claimed what he had was a harmless pet of some kind. Tom had been the one to turn him in, and they were not certain why no one looked into it since, to clear a man's name. They had a feeling Albus never thought Hagrid enough of a concern, to worry about him.

Severus spoke. "The chamber belonged to Salazar, and it is said only his heir could open it. Tom Riddle, now known as Voldemort, is the last of the line."

Harry went pale. "But he did not have any children did he? And he is dead."

The men reminded Harry that there was some concern he was not totally gone, but he was not here at school, that was for certain. There was a chance one of the kids whose parents were on that side in the war, had been told about it, and were attempting to cause problems. Lucius and Severus had been spies in the war, and had never heard of any mention of the chamber and where it might be found in the school. Neither had any ears in that world, they had been outed of course as spies, and they were aware because of Quirell, not all of them were dead or good now.

Harry knew some about their founder. "He was a Parselmouth like Tom and..."

Remus knew why Harry stopped. "There is nothing wrong with your skill Harry. It was once far more common, and in other countries it is south after."

The issue here was Tom, and even Salazar had been known as being dark, he had been kicked out of the school. Until Tom, not a lot of people knew the reason for the snake on the house crest, or even on the house painting. Unfortunately it made people bias, and in the war, people who even had a pet snake, were suspicious. Among the students, there were few in their house there was any concern over, only one their age whose dad may still be a part, Theo.

Severus noticed the time. "The two of you need to head home for curfew. But please be careful, and if you notice anything else odd, come to us."

Draco nodded. "We promised our dads, like you, that we would come to you if we were worried."

Lucius could come to school often as a governor, and Sirius was an auror, but they were not here around the clock. They found comfort their brothers were though, and made sure the boys would turn to them, especially after last year. They knew Harry had not been alone, and he had sent for his Uncles, but their dads were all too aware how close they came to losing their two older sons. They had both suffered enough loss in their life, they could not stand the loss of their sons.

Draco looked to his brother as they headed home. "It could be some hoax, a kid playing a prank. I bet it is not even a Slytherin, just making us look bad."

Harry had wanted to think the same as his brother, it would have been so much easier if it had been a hoax of some kind, but he had bad feelings. After what happened with the stone the year before, Harry knew almost anything could happen, and he worried how bad. He knew what many others didn't, Myrtle was the girl who had been killed last time, the teachers not wanting the word to spread. Albus had told the teachers not to talk about it, hoping it would die down, but that hadn't worked out.

The twins had their own concern, their sister was acting odder than normal, and while Ron did not care, Percy noticed as well. They were not in her house, but she was always slumped over some book, and her friends had mentioned she had been talking to herself a lot.

Fred ran into Harry the first weekend in December. "I paid one of her roomies to try and steal the book, but she had it booby trapped."

Harry was not sure that was a sign to worry about. "She was raised with six older brothers. I'm sure she learned how to keep things safe."

Shaking his head, Fred admitted she had her journal read all of the time, she had never bothered to use a privacy spell at home. She was babied by her brothers, all but Ron who resented her for stealing the role as baby of the family, his one claim for attention with five brothers.

Harry knew how protective he felt about his brothers, and a sister would likely be harder. "Draco and I will help. You helped me with my brother last year."

Fred was relieved. "If anyone knows this school as well, if not better than us, it is the two of you. I know I could be wrong, but I worry about my little sister."

They were talking and coming around a corner, when they heard a scream, coming from down the hall. It was female, and though it was not her scream, they both had their minds so on Fred's sister and all that could be happening with her. It was Hermione they found around the corner.

Hermione was pointing not at the newest note on the wall, but a prone form on the floor."Blood, so much blood."