Heirs of the Founders 6
The Legend
Disclaimer: I do not own SM or HP.
Note: Finally I'm taking this story off hold. I was busy with other stories so I had to put some on hold. Sorry for making you all wait but I hope you'll forgive me and keep reading the story (and reviewing would be nice too!). Oh by the way, I'm going to jump to year 2 in this chapter and jump to year 5 in the next. That's where most of the action is supposed to be anyway. Hope you don't think I'm rushing the story. I don't want to drag the story on but you'll get bored if I go through each year.
Raye looked over her course schedule during breakfast the next day. "Let's see, what're we starting with? History of Magic, Potions…what the? History of magic?" She spat her breakfast out of her mouth and stood up. "History is the first thing? History shmistery, it's the future that's really important!" she pointed in the air and put her other hand on her hip.
"History?" Myrtle inquired, swallowing a mouthful of eggs and leaning over her schedule. "Oh, that sounds nice! I've always loved history!"
"Speak for yourself," Raye groaned, "history is dead and so is our history teacher!"
"What?" Myrtle asked. "Dead?"
"Yeah, Professor Binns is a ghost!" Raye exclaimed.
"Why is a ghost teaching here?"
"I don't know," Raye moaned as she put down her schedule and went back to eating. "I just hope he doesn't bore us to death and the whole class ends up as ghosts too."
Myrtle chuckled. "Oh, it can't be that bad. I'm looking forward to it. Maybe I'll find out where I got magic from. I was wondering that since I got my Hogwarts letter."
Myrtle's attitude got better at the start of the morning. She got over her nervousness and was ready to learn all she could about magic.
"Good luck with that," said Raye, "there are many Muggleborns here and there may not be a wizard or witch in their family for centuries."
"What else do we have today?"
"Transfiguration, Potions and Herbology," Raye answered, "sounds like a pretty good day."
Raye was still a little tired from History of Magic when she got to Potions. She kept yawning as she worked on her boil curing potion. She hadn't slightest idea what she was doing.
"All right," said Slughorn after everyone had brewed their potion, "let me see how you did."
He passed each cauldron and gave some criticism. When he came to Raye's cauldron, he raised an eyebrow and Raye chuckled nervously.
"I think I added too many nettles," said Raye.
"No, you didn't crush the snake fangs enough," Slughorn stated.
"Oops," Raye said, "sorry Professor. I just came from History of Magic. Guess I'm still a little tired."
"Ah, say not more," Slughorn waved his hand, "Professor Binns has been teaching her for centuries, even as a ghost. I assume when he was alive he was still boring. I suggest you take an Alertness Draught before you take his class. That may keep you awake."
"Thanks Professor," said Raye.
"Whew!" Raye breathed as Slughorn continued to inspect everyone's cauldron.
"Good thing Professor Slughorn is so lenient," Gwendolyn Morgon stated. "Can you imagine if we had a real nasty teacher?"
"He'd take points away left and right I bet," Raye said.
When Slughorn arrived to Tom's potion he howled and called everyone over. Tom looked confused. Had he done something wrong? But Slughorn looked excited. Slughorn put his arm around Tom and pulled him to his side.
"Professor?" Tom asked. "Something wrong?"
"No dear boy," said Slughorn, "look, everyone! Look at this potion. See how it is thick and yellow…something about it looks different however. What exactly did you do?"
"I followed the directions listed," said Tom, pointing back at the blackboard which had the directions. "I waited five minutes after I took the cauldron off the fire then I stirred the potion with the porcupine quills instead of just dropping them in."
"I think you just improved the Boil Curing potion, my boy!" Slughorn patted him on the back. "Ten points for Slytherin!"
"Thank you sir," said Tom.
"Congratulations, Tom," said Myrtle as she returned to her seat.
"Thanks," Tom looked at his recently brewed potion. He just did a couple simple steps and he earned ten points. In his previous class, Transfiguration, he also earned ten points when he answered a question correctly. Tom never earned any type of points in the orphanage. No one gave him any praise. His day had barely started and already people were treating him with respect, like he actually made a difference. Tom wasn't sure how to feel.
"Class dismissed," Slughorn announced and everyone packed up to leave.
It didn't take long for Tom to become a good student. Being in Hogwarts gave him a new attitude. He wasn't so angry and cold like he was before he came to Hogwarts. He was much more polite, even for a Slytherin. As Myrtle was walking to the library to study one day, Myrtle tripped and dropped her books.
"Oh no!" she cried.
"Let me help you," said a male voice and Myrtle looked up to see Tom Riddle bending down to help pick up her books.
"T-thanks, Tom," Myrtle said shyly. Myrtle swallowed. Her heart started to beat hard in her chest. She was certain that Tom could hear it. He is so handsome! Myrtle couldn't help but think as Tom handed her the rest of her books. Myrtle got to her feet.
"You're not hurt, are you?" Tom inquired.
"I'm fine," Myrtle said softly.
"Good, I'll see you in Potions on Monday."
"Yes, see you."
Myrtle stood in the middle of the hall staring at Tom's retreating figure. Before realizing it, she had a crush on the handsome halfblood. She smiled to herself, held her books close to her and stepped into the library. It wasn't easy to study with her mind still on Tom Riddle. She thought that one day; Tom Riddle just might study with her.
The year at Hogwarts finished in a blur. Tom didn't want to go back. When Tom boarded the train back o London, his attitude went back to how it was. He was rude and he snapped at other students when they went by his compartment. They were acting all too happy. If he was feeling miserable then all should be miserable. He couldn't watch all the children act excited to come home and tell their parents everything they had learned at Hogwarts when Tom had no one at home that gave a damn. What would Mrs. Cole think when he told he learned how to make sleeping potions? Even if she did have insomnia, she wouldn't care. No one would.
Tom looked out the window from the compartment he was sharing with Olive Hornby, Ryan Nott and Bernard Rosier.
"Tom, what's wrong?" Olive Hornby asked sweetly. I don't like the Hufflepuffs either but you're being so mean that I just might go to a different compartment."
"Go ahead," Tom muttered, disappearing behind his Potions book. "I don't care."
"What's the matter?" Olive inquired. "You've been acting this way since we boarded the train. Actually, since the farewell feast."
"Yeah," added Nott, "something's obviously bothering you.
"I just don't want to go home," said Tom, "that's all."
"I don't either," Olive admitted, "It was plenty of fun meeting you and being away for a while. But I miss sitting at home and doing nothing. I also miss the shopping trips that I went on my mother. Oh, she promised to take me shopping as soon as she came to get me!"
"That's fabulous, Olive," Tom said dryly, not bothering to look at her.
"Do you have problems with your folks?" Olive asked him.
For someone so dumb, Olive could be pretty smart sometimes. Was Tom that transparent or could she really tell what was on his mind? Tom grimaced and put down his book.
"In a matter of speaking," he replied, "I don't have any."
"What?" Olive asked. "No problems?"
"No, no," said Tom, "I don't have parents. My mother died giving birth to me and I don't know who my father is."
"That's horrible," Olive said, "so who do you live with? Grandparents?"
"I live with a bunch of orphans," Tom answered.
Tom's friends stared at him. He had never told them about his past. Now they finally understood why.
"I don't know of any orphanages for wizards," said Rosier thoughtfully, "so you must live with Muggles."
"Must be, because I'm the only wizard from the orphanage," Tom said, looking out the window.
Olive broke into tears of sympathy and put her arms around Tom. "Forced to live with Muggles! How sad!"
"Olive!" Tom yelled in surprise. The other boys looked at Tom buried under Olive's arms and chuckled. Tom started to feel heat rise into his cheeks.
"No wonder you don't want to go back," wailed Olive. "You poor thing. I'm going to get you some sweets!"
"Could you get me a pumpkin pasty, Olive?" Bernard Rosier asked with a wink.
"No!" Olive retorted and she exited the compartment. Tom sat back into his seat, wishing he hadn't told his friends the truth.
"So, what's it like?" asked Ryan, leaning forward in his seat.
"What?" Tom demanded.
"Living with Muggles, of course," Ryan said. "I've never even met one."
"Yeah, Riddle," Bernard said, "tell us. What'd they say when they found out you a wizard?"
"They said I was a freak," Tom answered, "Of course, they always said that, since I learned of my abilities."
"What do you mean?"
"I always knew I was different from the other children," Tom said with a smirk. "I could make things move without touching them and even make animals do what I want them to. Bill Benson and I had an argument on which radio station to listen too…
"Radio station?" Bernard inquired.
"It looks like a box that plays music," Tom explained, "Billy won but I got him back. I hung his rabbit over the rafters, but I didn't even touch the thing. I just told the stupid rabbit what to do. You should've seen the kid's face."
"How long ago was this?"
"I was nearly ten," said Tom, "but that wasn't the first time. I was probably three when I first did magic."
"That's impossible," Ryan shook his head. "I never heard of wizards that young performing magic, especially when they were brought up by Muggles."
"Exactly," said Bernard, "I didn't do anything until I was like nine or something. My dad scared me and I made him trip."
"But I did," Tom said proudly, "I learned that I did things when ever someone made me angry. Then I focused on it and I made things happen."
Bernard and Ryan exchanged glances and looked back at their friend.
"Riddle, come on," Bernard said, "no kid can do that. It's only when a kid gets really scared or really angry when they make a spell happen. They can't do it whenever they want."
"I can," Tom insisted, "and I did. Now I'd like to see those muggles try something now."
"Magic outside of Hogwarts is banned," said Ryan.
"I know," said Tom, "but the muggles don't know that."
Tom gave the other boys an account of every little horror he did on the muggles and his friends, though they were impressed, were quite shocked. They never knew of other wizards their age having such skill. Tom's attitude about coming home changed a little bit. The other orphans were already scared of him. Now they had more reason to fear Tom Riddle.
Olive Hornby returned to the compartment with her arms full with many sweets. "Here, Tom, I wasn't sure what I like so I got two of each."
"Why thank you, Olive," said Tom, picking up a Chocolate Frog. "I'm starting to feel better already."
Serena got off of the train with her friends and looked for their parents.
"Mum!" Serena exclaimed.
"It's so good to see you, Serena dear," Mrs. Moon said, hugging her daughter. "How was Hogwarts?"
"Wonderful!" Serena exclaimed. "I had so much fun. I made lots of friends."
Serena stepped back and nodded to Raye, Amy and Myrtle.
"Mum, this is Raye Potter, Amy Faucet and Myrtle Mason."
"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Moon," Amy said politely as she shook her hand.
"My dad's told me all about the Rabbit in the Moon," Raye said. "Good things of course!"
Mrs. Moon smiled. "Why thank you, Raye."
"Hi," said Myrtle shyly.
"Hello, Myrtle dear," said Mrs. Moon.
Out of the corner of her eye, Serena saw Tom walk past her.
"Tom!" Serena exclaimed. "Tom, I want you to meet my mother."
Tom stopped and put down his large trunk. He put on a fake smile and stuck out his hand. "Hello."
"Tom's the boy I met at Ollivanders," Serena explained. "He didn't have enough money for his wand so I helped pay for it."
"Oh yes, I remember," said Mrs. Moon.
Tom's insides squirmed and his face went warm. He didn't know whether to be embarrassed or angry. Serena told her mother that he didn't have enough money to buy his own wand? Who else did she tell? Did all of Hogwarts know that he was a penniless orphan?
"Yes," said Tom, "I'll pay Serena back one day."
"Oh, don't worry about it," Serena said.
"I have to leave," Tom said quickly, picking up his trunk.
"Er, see you next year, Tom," Mrtyla said after her crush, but she said it too late and he didn't' hear her. Mytlre tuned to her friends. "See you next year then."
"Bye, Myrtle," said Serena as Myrtle went to meet her parents.
"Myrtle's certainly a lot more confident than she was when she first came to Hogwarts," Raye said, "I bet being in Gryffindor did her some good."
"Yeah, poor thing was so nervous, Mum," said Serena, "she got sick on the boat."
Mrs. Potter pushed her way through the crowd with Raye's younger brother, Harold. "There you are, Raye. Let's go. I need to go home and make supper."
"Okay," said Raye, "Harold, want to carry my trunk for me?"
"Okay!" Harold replied, grabbing the handle with both hands and pulling it with all his might.
"Raye, stop teasing your brother…" Raye's mother scolded.
"I'm not," Raye muttered, rolling her eyes and looked at her friends. "See you next year."
"I wonder where my mother is?" Amy wondered.
"Let's leave the platform," said Mrs. Moon, "she's probably waiting for you there."
"Good idea," Amy said and she followed Serena and Mrs. Moon through the wall to the rest of the platforms in Kings Cross Station. Amy scanned for her parents but all she found was her father, trying to convince one of the station workers there was indeed a platform nine and three quarters.
"Sir, I've worked here for ten years and never did I ever see a platform and three quarters," the station worker said tiredly.
"Oh, there's my father," Amy said, "why'd he come?"
"Well you must not have a child in Hogwarts or you would know about it!" Mr. Faucet shouted.
"Gaah!" Amy yelled in shock though Serena and Mrs. Moon chuckled.
"I take it Amy's father is a Muggle?" Mrs. Moon asked Serena.
"Yes," said Serena. "You should hear the story how her parents got together. It's so romantic!"
"Dad, Dad!" Amy pushed her cart toward her father. "What're you doing? Where's mum?"
"Ah, there you are, Amy!" Mr. Faucet said, putting an arm around her and pulling her to him. "I was going to come greet you on the platform, but this man here wouldn't help me find it!" he glared at the station worker, who shook his head and walked away, seeing that his assistance was no longer needed.
"Dad, muggles can't get onto platform nine and three quarters," Amy said, "anyway, where's mum?"
"She picked you up for Christmas and I told her that today it was my turn!" Mr. Faucet. "She's working at the hospital today so she couldn't make it. George!" Mr. Faucet called to a boy that was looking at the departure times. "What're you doing?"
"I thought this thing would tell us if the train was delayed," George replied, walking to his father and sister. "I didn't tell me a thing."
"Oh let's go," Amy said, grabbing her brother's hand and asking her father to carry her trunk for her.
"All right," said Mr. Faucet and he pushed the cart, following Ami and George.
"Bye, Amy!" Serena yelled.
"See you!" Amy called over her shoulder then groaned at her younger brother. "No George, I can't show you any magic—I'm not allowed."
"Come on, let's go," Mrs. Moon said, "we should be home too."
"Yeah, I've been dying to see Bella!" Serena laughed. "I want to tell her everything!"
--
Serena came home to a party. There was a large banner that said "WELCOME HOME, SERENA!" and Serena's father was serving the finest drinks. Serena had never seen the pub so full. Many of her friends were there, including people that were just passing by. They thought it was quaint.
"This is the most unusual pub I've ever been in," muttered a wizard, slugging down his drink.
"At least the drinks are good," said man he was drinking with.
Not only was half the village there, but so was Professor Slughorn. Serena was astounded to see him.
"Professor Slughorn?" Serena gasped. "What're you doing here?"
"You know I keep saying that you're ale is the finest, Serena," the professor said with a smile.
"Oh, thanks," Serena chuckled and she introduced Arabella to him. "Belle, this is Professor Slughorn. He's my Potions teacher."
"Hi, sir," said Arabella, "Serena said you were the best teacher in Hogwarts."
"Well, if she thinks so, she should be in Slytherin," joked the Slytherin Head. "I haven't seen you in school. Will you be coming to school next year?"
Arabella's smile fell. "Uh, no sir, I'm a squib."
Professor Slughorn frowned and he found no reason to continue the conversation. "Oh, I see. Excuse me, girls, I think I'll go get another drink."
"Bye, Professor," Serena mumbled as the professor walked to the bar, even though he already had a full cup in hand. Serena looked at Arabella.
"See, even the professors don't want to talk to me," Arabella frowned.
"Oh come on," Serena said, "just because you're never going to be a student at Hogwarts doesn't mean you're worthless."
"easy for you to say," Arabella said, "look at you, Serena. Your family owns this pub, everybody came to honor your first year at Hogwarts. Since your dad opened the pub here, everyone opened a business. Pretty soon this will be a new Diagon Alley. Your dad may even own the village."
"My dad's a pub owner, Arabella," Serena muttered, "not the Minister of Magic. Come on, let me show you some of my pictures from Hogwarts."
Serena led Arabella up to her room and showed her pictures of her friends, the interior of Hogwarts and the four Quidditch games.
"Hufflepuff came in second," Serena explained as she showed her the Hufflepuff Quidditch team. "But we just can't compete with Gryffindor. They're some of the greatest fliers I've ever seen."
"Yeah, that's what Jed always says," Arabella said. "I wonder. If I can't use a wand, maybe I'll be able to use a broom. Then I can at least become a professional Qudditch Player."
"I think you should go for it," Serena told her. "You've always seemed to like flying."
"I don't even have a broom," Arabella said, "and Jed doesn't fly. He never liked Quidditch so he can't teach me."
"Hey, maybe we can get some brooms this summer when I do my school shopping," Serena suggested, "then we can practice flying together. There might even be a flying school somewhere, or even someone professional that can teach you."
Arabella smiled. "That'd be nice."
"The Applebee Arrows only hire witches," Serena said, "you can try out for their team."
"I have to try out for something," Arabella said, "or I might have to go to Muggle school."
Arabella stood to her feet. "Well, I should be going now. I'll ask my parents about the brooms."
--
Serena left for another year of Hogwarts and she got more homework than she did when she was a first year. She tried not to complain and did her best, though she'd much rather spend time with her friends. She had missed them. All of the students were happy to be back at Hogwarts, especially Tom Riddle. He saw Hogwarts as his only home in the world.
While his fellow Slytherin classmates were nodding off in History of Magic, he was listening intently. Professor Binns was talking about the founders of Hogwarts. Tom felt a desire to know everything about the founder of his house, Salazar Slytherin. His desire was much deeper than just curiosity of how Salazar formed Slytherin House. He wanted to know because somehow, he felt connected to Salazar Slytherin in ways that theother Slytherisn didn't. To his knowledge, he was the only Slytherin with the ability to speak Parseltounge, just like Salazar Slytherin.
"Because Salazar Slytherin did not want students of muggle parentage to join Hogwarts, he left the school," Binns said, "but before he did so, he told the other three students a hogwash story of a secret chamber."
"What do you mean by Hogwash, sir?" Tom questioned, raisi9ng his hand. Tom was offended by Binn's comment and if the teacher wasn't already a ghost, he'd probably kill him. However, he covered up his anger with curiosity.
"Because, Mr. Riddle, the secret chamber, or what is actually called the Chamber of Secrets, does not exist," Professor Binns explained.
"What makes you say that?" Tom inquired. "If Salazar Slytherin said he built one, then there must be a Chamber of Secrets somewhere in the school. Why was it called the Chamber of Secrets? Why did he build it?"
"He didn't' build it," professor Binns said, "it is only a legend."
"Well, please tell us how the legend goes, sir," Tom said.
With Tom's questions and comments, some of the Slytherins perked out of their dozing and looked at Tom.
"Yes, Professor," said Bernard Rosier, "after all, if our house comes from the name of Slytherin, then we should know everything he did…or at least he said he did."
"Oh, very well," sighed Professor Binns, "just keep in mind that the Chamber of Secrets was only a legend, Slytherin's chance to nonplus the other founders. He placed something that will have the power to destroy those that were unworthy to study may study magic. Only his true heir would be able to open the chamber and unleash the power from inside."
"What power?" Tom asked. "Some kind of forgotten magic?"
"No," Professor Binns replied, "I believe the legend says that the power is some kind of monster."
All the Slytherins grinned in delight.
"What k ind of monster?" said Nott?
"There is no monster!" yelled Professor Binns. "The whole thing is a legend."
"Professor, what if someone opens this "legendary" chamber and let's the legendary' monster out?" Tom asked.
"Then Hogwarts would be in danger," Professor Binns said, "but that will not happened. The school has been checked many times and no such chamber has been found."
"But you said yourself, Professor," Tom said, "that only the heir could open the chamber."
"Correct."
"So, how would the teachers know what to look for if only the heir of Slytherin can open this chamber?" Tom demanded with a sly grin.
The ghost teacher looked at Tom in surprise. He did not know how to answer. The students looked from Tom to Professor Binns.
"He's got a point, Professor Binns," said Olive Hornby, "Salazar Slytherin sealed it so only his heir could find it so everyone would pass right by the chamber without knowing what it really is."
"Class dismissed," Professor Binns moaned, exiting the room through the ceiling.
Bernard checked his pocket watch. "We still had ten minutes left."
Tom picked up his bag, threw his books in and hurried out of the room. He ignored his classmates' words. His mind was on the so called legend of the Chamber of Secrets. It wasn't a legend. It was real. Tom knew it. He did not know why he knew it was real, he just knew. Something inside him, far deep inside, told him he had to find the Chamber of Secrets and open it. Something was telling him he was the Heir of Slytherin. Tom always knew he had a destiny, a purpose. He thought that he understood his destiny when he first set foot in Hogwarts. He was to be a wizard. Now his destiny took a turn. He was the Heir of Slytherin. He had to open the Chamber of Secrets and prove to everyone that it wasn't a legend. The monster inside the chamber had been waiting centuries to be let out. The time had come for Tom let the creature do its purpose.
Tom rushed to the library and pulled out every book he could find having to do with Salazar Slytherin, the history of Hogwarts, Parslemouths, everything he could think of to help him find the Chamber of Secrets.
'I don't care if it takes me five years,' Tom thought as he sat at a desk with an armload of books, 'I am going to find the Chamber of Secrets.'
TO BE CONTINUED
Haha! Yay! The story is back on! I could continue and make this chapter a wee bit longer but 8 pages seem about alright. I just took this thing off hold, after all. Can't expect super huge chapters right off the bat! This story wont' be updated very often, just so you know. I'm at school again. I'm actually finishing this chapter at a school computer! I'm such a bad college student. Using the library computers to write my fanfics instead of doing homework!