Author's Note:

Hope you enjoy! Love, MysticSong

Chapter Six:

Severus sat stiffly in the Headmaster's office. He and Albus had spent several hours discussing seeing the writing on the wall, as it were.

"Albus," Severus ground out, "you know as well as I do that only a Parselmouth could open that chamber. I am not suggesting that the Dark Lord has regained a corporeal body without our knowledge, but I am suggesting that someone in this school knows more than they should."

"Severus, I simply fail to see how anyone in this school could have located the Chamber of Secrets. You know as well as I do that it has been extensively searched for and nothing came of it." The Headmaster was close to losing his usual goodwill.

"Yes, it has been searched for – by non-speakers! How could a non-Parselmouth hope to find it? Perhaps it isn't even visible unless you speak Parseltongue in front of it."

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While the two continued their argument, a curious group of students huddled in the library discussing the latest event in Hogwarts.

"What is the Chamber of Secrets," Harry questioned his more knowledgeable friends. "And why did it look like the writing was in blood?"

"I really think the blood effect was just intended as a scare tactic," Blaise said thoughtfully, "and I'm fairly certain it was just some sort of paint."

Draco nodded. "I agree. As to the Chamber of Secrets, legend has it that Salazar Slytherin, one of the four founders of Hogwarts, created the Chamber of Secrets as a way to protect the Pureblooded & Muggleborn children from the Muggleborn families. He kept a snake, I believe, that others considered a monster, in the chamber to protect the inhabitants from intruders. Slytherin was a Parselmouth, so he could speak to the snake and keep it from harming those whom the chamber was designed to shelter."

Hermione had frowned when Draco mentioned Purebloods, but when he finished his sentence, she just looked confused. So did Harry, Ron. Neville looked as perhaps he was remembering something long forgotten (not completely unusual for him) and the other Slytherins were nodding agreement.

"Why would Muggleborns need protection from their families?" asked Ron.

"Your family is wonderfully accepting and loving, correct?" asked Pansy seriously.

"Of course!"

"My family is as well," said Hermione. "My Mum and Dad were certainly surprised when Professor McGonagall came with my letter to explain it all, but they were quite proud of me."

Pansy nodded. "I'm not surprised, really, having gotten to know you, but what about families like Harry's aunt and uncle who think magic is dangerous? Or, what about families who initially agree, but then learn something happened to their child while that child was off at a school of magic. Maybe a similar calamity would have befallen them at home, at a Muggle school – but all they see is their child is injured or dead, and their grief pushes them to lash out at the one thing they can, the one thing they don't understand – magic."

Understanding dawned on Hermione's face. "Witch burnings!"

"You got it," said Blaise. "The Salem Witch Hunt in America may be more widely known, but it happened here in the UK and throughout Europe long, long before America did the same. Personally, I think whether you know history or not, you are doomed to repeat it. Sometimes humans can be really stupid."

"Then," Harry mused, "magical children, regardless of their heritage, were in danger from parents who didn't understand and attacked because of their lack of knowledge."

"Right," said Hermione. "It would be like if I joined a gang," she rolled her eyes when the others laughed. "Yes, unlikely, I know, but bear with me. If I joined a gang, of which my parents disapproved of, and then were killed, even if my death had nothing to do with the gang, my parents, theoretically, are going to place the blame on the gang. Then they may start a committee of some sort to get gangs eradicated, first from their local area, but then expand the idea to be as far reaching as possible."

"Is that why Hogwarts has a charm on it so Muggles can't see it?" wondered Harry.

"Yep," answered Neville. "I remember Gran talking about it one time when I was little, when they uh . . . didn't think I was going to be able to attend. She was lamenting that I would never get to see the gloriousness of Hogwarts."

"Why didn't she think you could attend," asked Pansy.

"I was a late bloomer magically. One of my uncles did awful things to me trying to get my magic to show itself."

"That's awful!"

Neville shrugged. Pansy took the hint and dropped the subject.

"So, how many of these Parselmouths are running around?"

"Not very many, Harry. It's a pretty rare gift. In addition, it's considered Dark Magic because snakes are seen as evil. I don't know if that's because of the Dark Lord, or if it was believed before he came into power, but there may be more Parselmouths out there than the Wizarding world is aware of, because they're afraid they'll be classified as a Dark Wizard. Even the Headmaster would be under suspicion if he announced he could talk to snakes."

"I see."

"You don't look so good, Harry," Neville commented. It was true. Harry's skin was pale and he felt a bit clammy.

Harry looked around. "Do you think we could take this chat somewhere more private?"

"What did you have in mind?"

"We could go back to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom," offered Pansy. "No one uses it for a loo unless they're desperate. She really does flood it all the time and it's unnerving to be sitting there and know she could pop out of the drain – any drain, mind you – at any given moment."

A round of nods and the seven were on their feet and exiting the library silently and respectfully as to not rouse Madam Pince's suspicions.

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An hour or so later, but certainly no less than that, found Ron and Hermione entering the Headmaster's office and partaking of a cup of tea that Hermione strongly suspected was laced with a calming draught of some sort.

"I shall take my leave, than, Headmaster," Severus stated, but as he slipped gracefully towards the door, Ron spoke up.

"Sir? Professor Snape?"

Severus sighed internally. He was tired. He wanted to rest. He wanted a nice drink of . . . something that wouldn't interfere with the damnable tea the Headmaster had served him.

Schooling his expression to something in between neutrality and a sneer, he turned to face the two young Gryffindors. "Yes, Mr. Weasley? What may I do for you?"

"I – we think, we think Harry's opened the Chamber of Secrets."

Had the Potions Master not been completely flabbergasted himself, he would have taken delight in the fact that the Headmaster had dropped a scalding hot cup of tea in his own lap out of unmitigated shock.

"Just now, do you mean?" asked Albus, a hint of pain evident in his voice as he spelled his robes dry and fumbled through his desk for a burn salve he kept handy.

Not that he was prone to pouring hot tea into his lap.

Usually.

"Yes, sir, just now," confirmed Hermione. "He didn't mean to do it, I assure you. He was as surprised as the rest of us."

"How many people saw this . . . potential catastrophe?"

"Just the seven of us, Professor. The rest of our group are still with Harry, and Draco cast a Notice-Me-Not charm on the door to keep other students away from the bathroom."

The Headmaster looked up in alarm. Second years typically were not old enough for experimenting, but . . . "Miss Granger, I apologize if I am intruding on any private moments, but what precisely were the seven of you doing in one bathroom?"

Hermione looked confused; less social by nature than her classmates she completely missed why the Headmaster was so concerned. "Harry needed a private place to talk, somewhere more secure than the library, sir. Pansy suggested the girls' loo on the second floor. It's haunted, you see, so no one ever goes in there unless they have to."

An audible sigh of relief escaped Albus' lips, and he motioned for Hermione to continue.

"Once we had the room secure enough for Draco's tastes, Harry told us about how . . ., well, that he remembered several incidents growing up where he would talk to snakes in the Dursley's garden, and more specifically, one at the zoo shortly before attending Hogwarts. That one got him in loads of trouble. Not because he spoke to a snake, but because he vanished the glass holding the snake inside; it escaped, Dudley, his cousin, fell into the tank, and the glass reappeared."

"Why were you discussing speaking to snakes?"

"Well, after you dismissed us, Professor, we went to the library to talk, and Draco explained to me, Harry, and Ron, about the origins of the Chamber of Secrets and about how a large snake supposedly guarded the chamber. Harry got a bit ill at this time, clammy and out of sorts, and suggested we move somewhere more private."

She took a sip of her tea as she mulled over what had happened in the bathroom.

"Moaning Myrtle was delighted to have so much company at first, but then she went on and on about how she died, well, sort of, and I think it got Harry rather depressed. He was pacing around the bathroom, especially around the sinks that are inset around a pillar in the middle of the room. I remember him leaning up against one of the sinks and just staring at it. Around this time, Myrtle realised that no one was paying her any mind, and splashed her way down a pipe, getting a few of the boys rather wet. Draco was particularly upset, but Harry didn't seem to notice. Pansy or Blaise, I forget, realized it appeared Harry was talking to the sink and asked if he was taking the Mickey. Before anyone could react, the sinks started to pull apart from each other, starting at the one Harry was standing at, which come to think of it, has never worked since I've been a student here."

Albus and Severus exchanged grave looks.

"Ron and I decided to come and tell you all what was going on. The rest of them are sitting nervously in the bathroom. I think there was interest expressed in going down the hole by Harry, but Draco told him to stop being so 'outlandishly Grffyindorish' and squashed the thought before Harry could work up much steam about it."

'Thank Merlin,' thought Severus.

"I think, Severus that we need to accompany Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger back to their friends and determine the best course of action," stated Albus firmly.

Severus nodded wearily.

There was no rest for the wicked.

Except that . . . with Harry in his House, he suddenly had seven students who seemed to like him. Well, six, at least, Draco, being his godson, was quite fond of him since he was a young child but . . . he wasn't quite sure how he had managed to lose his fearsome reputation. He'd have to work on that. At least, he thought he should consider it, at the very least.

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Neville startled when the door flung inwards, but relaxed back to his sitting position on the cold floor when he realized it was simply the Headmaster and Potions Master returned with Ron and Hermione.

Whatever Severus had expected to see, it was not five children sitting around an enormous hole in the middle of the floor. He turned to Harry, and with a gentleness that surprised the Gryffindor students, placed a hand on the boy's shoulder and asked what happened.

Harry looked a bit sheepish. "I got a bit tired of listening to Myrtle go on and on, and as I tuned her out, I noticed that one of the faucets looked distinctly like a snake. I thought I was muttering to myself, but Blaise told me after the fact that I wasn't speaking English, and that the snake-faucet obeyed something I said and pulled the sinks apart. I think . . . I think I'm what Draco called a Parselmouth, sir!" This last bit was spoken in an agitated whisper. Another thing to set him apart from his age mates was not what Harry wanted. Not at all.

"What did you say to the sink, Harry?"

"I asked it why it was different from the rest of the sinks. I guess it moved to show me that it was different because it was guarding what I suppose is the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets." He paused a moment then asked his Head of House. "It is, isn't sir?"

"Honestly, Harry, I don't know. Headmasters and professors of Hogwarts have searched for the chamber for years without success. I've maintained the belief that only a Parselmouth could locate and open the chamber. You may have proven me correct; but without further investigation, which I believe is best left to another day, I cannot say for sure."

Albus had been studying the dark tunnel that descended far under the school. "We must not leave it sitting here open where students may discover it, nor can we make this toilet completely off limits for an unknown length of time. It has happened before, and . . . well, it caused a lot of fear. I would rather not do that again. Are you able to close the chamber, Harry?"

Harry shrugged. "I can try." He studied the sink. "Thank you, for—"

Draco had poked him. "It's still English."

Harry frowned, and then remembered he had been so close to the sink before, it was nearly all he could see. He stepped closer, and placed his hands on either side of the snake. "Thank you for showing me what you guard. Please return and close the tunnel up once more."

Severus shivered as Harry hissed to the sink. It had been many years since had heard the sibilant snake language, and although Harry's tone carried no ill-will, it still brought unpleasant memories.

When the sinks were returned to their regular position, the Headmaster elicited a promise that the seven students would only discuss this amongst themselves where they would not be overheard, or with himself or Severus. Then he shooed them out of the bathroom and sent them back to their dormitories.

Intent on removing Mr. Malfoy's carefully constructed notice-me-not and silencing charms, while pondering this latest development, Albus failed to notice the small head watching him from around the corner at the far end of the hallway.

As the Headmaster slipped away to his office to research the Chamber of Secrets once again, he missed the flash of two small bodies that raced into the loo, a small parcel clutched between them.


Author's Note:

I hope you enjoy this quick follow-up to chapter five. I was actually working on a completely original story when an idea for this story came to mind, so I switched gears and got writing.

Since I have been in graduate school, it has been very unusual for me to get two chapters out so close together, so I hope (beg) to get many nice reviews for it as an early holiday gift. I'd love some real feedback – I love you even if you just say "great story" but reviews with content are even better and really make me smile - and often you may provide me with inspiration for the next chapter. Gives the author the impression you didn't just skim through the chapter. (smile)

Readers of my other stories know that I'll often weave ideas in that are left in reviews. 

Please note that it is highly unlikely I'll get another chapter out before 2008, even if every review says, "update soon". I have lots and lots on my plate.