History Strongest Magister Harry: Hogwarts Year 2
Chamber of Secret
Several hours after the incident with the petrified cat Harry was up in his private dorm sitting in front of his magical computer. All around the room there was cluttering of holographic books floating around the room on subjects as the Chamber of Secrets, Gorgons and all the edition of Hogwarts: A History. Most of the information that told of the chamber stemmed from Slytherin's hatred for muggles-borns and how he wished to only take in those who were not muggle-borns.
What everyone failed to see was the miss connection to the real Slytherin and that of a character that was created to instill fear in everyone who opposed him. For Harry's part he knew the truth, well, the widely unknown truth that is. Slytherin's coat of arms were that of a snake but his familiar on the other hand were that of bird but it's mostly agree that it was a hawk. At times the young mage would shake his head and wish he didn't find any hard evidence that contradicts modern day perception of their past heroes and villains.
If Harry had to guess the Chamber of Secret might be added after Salazar Slytherin's death. A descendent perhaps or someone who'd used or viewed Salazar as a symbol for his or her own ideals.
A flash of fire appears on his shoulder and one would think he would be freaking out but Harry knew that sensation of sudden combustion.
"Evening, Fawkes-sama," Harry said turning towards the firebird of legends.
"Your respect is noted but please call me Fawkes," Fawkes said and gently drop the sorting hat in Harry's hand who then magic a hat stand on top of his table.
"I thank you for the honor Fawkes, Flynn-dono I have many questions and only you could help me," Harry said and the hat's brim flutter in pride and smiled telling Harry to fire away. "How many children did the founders have?"
"Lady Hufflepuff sired six boys and three girls," The Sorting hat began, "Lady Ravenclaw had only two girls. Lord Gryffindor only had one on and Lord Slytherin had five girls and three boys."
"Out of all of those who survived to have children after Lord Slytherin died?" Harry asks again mentally writing his findings down.
"Only four total children of the founders were able to sired children of their own," the Sorting Hat sadly said and it watched Harry's eyes and knew that look. "There was sieged by the lowland Woes. Ireland back then was a savage place before any powerful forces could bring order to the land. There were 1 adult to 5 children and the school would get more crowded every year and the ratios would change. It was a savaged time back then."
"I know, thank you Flynn-sama," Harry said.
"Are you trying to find the Chamber of Secrets?" Flynn asks.
"Yes and no," Harry said getting up and saw the time.
"There was a rumor in the 40s that the chamber was opened and the perpetrator was caught and expelled for the death of one student," Flynn said. "Rubeus Hagrid was accused and expelled for bringing in dangerous creature in the castle and it got loose and killed, I believed, Mirtle Warren."
"Ever since that day, has the search for the Chamber stopped?" Harry ask.
"Yes and now there'll be looking for the Heir of Slytherin," Flynn said knowingly.
"Why's that? Lord Slytherin wasn't versed in blood magic," Harry said and already knew the answer. History turns into tales and for every retelling of the story someone misinterpret or add something new to the tale to make the hero bigger and the villains ever more diabolical.
"I know the look," Flynn said seeing Harry's eyes soften. "You've already know the answer but everyone seems to forget Blood magic was very common back in the days."
"Thank you," Harry said getting ready for bed but he stopped dead when he saw Orochi looking out the window like a statue, "Orochi?"
"Harry, please be careful this year," Orochi hissed out and turn towards Harry, "There's another snake in the castle and it's powerful."
Harry stare into Orochi's yellow eyes and knew that the Madara that was in front of him wasn't making any jokes. That glare in itself told Harry this year was going to be far more dangerous than last year.
Harry silently created a plan in his head and slowly said, "I'll keep Oracle with me at all times."
Oracle was a Kit or pack that was enchanted to hold far more than the size of the bag could physically hold. The pack's size is an eight (20.32 centimeter) by three (7.62 centimeter) inches by five inches (12.7 centimeter) high in the shape of a square that has a strap to wrap around his waist. There was a simple flap cover with two leather straps to hold it down. The pack was designed and created by his master Negi Springfield. It has several well known wards and spells to keep thieves away and only allow Harry to reach inside without getting hurt. What's inside was something totally different.
Negi had stocked piled it with all the necessity for war and at the same time for survival in any and all terrain. Also it housed stockpiles of healing potions, bandages and food to feed an entire platoon for half a year. Furthermore, his ever over prepared master, has weapons, ingredients for ritual purposes and a potion kits. His master has created three packs of this kind and gave one to him for emergency only. The most important of thing about this pack was its protection runes.
"Good," Orochi said seeing Harry pull out the pouch and his eyes glimmer to see if it was still good, "Never take it off."
"I won't," Harry said placing the pack on his bedside table and then notice Orochi slithering on the windowsill, "Where are you going?"
"To see if I was right," Orochi said opening the window and jump out.
For the next couple of days Harry would go to class and carry his oracle with him wherever he went. His friends would ask about it and Harry would answer truthfully saying that the pack was for an emergency. Angelina and Katie noticed that Orochi wasn't with Harry and asked about it. Harry would reply that his friend was off investigating about something. Then there was the youngest Weasley boy who tried to act like he was doing something else besides following Harry around. It was really sad and at the same time entertaining to watch Ron Weasley try to act all incognito.
It wasn't a big surprise to see Ron alone and without friends, well friends, his age and Harry had notice Ron's constant interactions with the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Mister Cormac steer clear of Ron hoping there weren't another repeat of last year. From what he'd heard Cormac's father had been trying to instate his son in second year boys but Professor Dumbledore didn't move one bit. Only way for young McLaggen to move up a grade is if he took his first year exams and passes it with an Outstanding or be stuck where he is.
History of Magic class has never been livelier than Harry could remember. Students would ask Professor Binns about the chamber and he would answer the best he could when his students pass his quiz at the end of his lecture. Harry's class surprisingly passed the class and Professor Binns retold the story that everyone knew before then some more.
"Professor Binns, why does everyone assume that the Chamber of Secret was Slytherin's creation?" Harry asks after class.
"You already know the answer Mister Kousaka now run along," Professor Binns said and usher the boy out.
Indeed, the Professor was right, Harry already knew the answer and it was a simple mistake of repetition of false information.
"Hermione, you've had that smirk on for a while, give it to us, what's the joke?" Fred said at the Culture Club meeting.
"Well, I actually witness Madam Pince literally pulling out her hair in frustration because of the influx in students using her library to find out about the Chamber of Secret," Hermione said giggling.
"That IS funny," George said laughing.
"Girls can I ask you a personal question?" Harry asks turning to face the group by the chalkboard. The girls consist of the Patil twin, the Gryffindor Chasers, Su and Hermione nod their head in agreement, "This new ward, how is it working for you girls?"
"Actually a lot better compared to last year," Katie said smiling and both her friends were in agreement with her. "Why?"
"Curiosity more or less," Harry said downcast his eyes and thought and begin to mumble.
"Are you suggesting adding a new ward over the existing one to warn the targeted student from real life and death danger?" Padma asks and then said. "Ward's are tricky thing and labeling thing such as intent to harm could very well be to vague for the ward design. An attempted prank could be misconstrued as an actual attack on the victim."
"I see your point Padma-san," Harry said and did a double take on the girl.
Padma saw his double take and shyly blush and said, "I've been broadening my knowledge in Ancient Runes and branched out in Wards."
"I'm proud of you," Harry said and that made the young Indian girl scarlet with pride.
"Hey Harry, are you going to tutor us this year?" Parvati ask.
"If you need help by all means bring it up but you should know that there are other students in school who are more passionate in their own studies than I," Harry said.
"Anyone I could ask about Potions?" Parvati asks.
"These two," Harry said pointing to Fred and George.
"What?" "Whuaaaaat?" "Say that again?" Everyone in the room thundered while the Weasley twin's were looking at each other to see if they had changed into a broody greasy black hair man with no life outside the potion dungeon.
"Fred and George are in fact a creative type when it comes to Potion brewing," Harry said off handedly.
"They're barely passing Potion Class," Angelina harshly said, "I don't mean to be rude but I should know, I'm in that class."
"Fred, if you stir a constant rate of one rotation per three seconds in standard potion pot that has the diameter of eight inches in the final brew of the Boiling Cure, what color does it turn to and why?" Harry asks noting even facing the twin.
"Blue because of the Asher's roots," Fred answered knowingly.
"How do you change its colors to red without affecting the cures potency?" Harry asks pulling out a second year potion book and finding the page for the Boiling cure and Modifications and it's affects.
"Sage if you boil it for three minutes, dry it and added to the potion," Fred again replied in a knowing manner.
"What about green?" Harry asks walking up to Parvati and place the book down in front of her where she could see the possible outcome from adding different basic ingredients into the Boiling Cure's potion.
"Boiled thyme with roots of dander and add the broth not the plants," Fred shot in.
"Gold?"
"Grounded garlic cloves dipped in powder cinnamon."
"That wasn't in the book," Parvati said.
"No, it isn't," Harry said pulling out his school bag and place three burners on the table and pull out the ingredients to make Boiling Cures, the basic and easiest potion to make. With a wave of his hand he magical had the mortars and pestle to grind ingredients. Another burner lit up to boil hot water. "What about Purple, the colors of kings."
"That's simple, plain dried ginger," Fred said watching a spectacle that was in front of him.
"Any other color you want that isn't said in the book?" Harry asks Parvati.
"Rainbow!" Alicia shot in out of the blue.
Fred and George look at each other as if they were communicating and after fifteen seconds Fred said, "Ginger root coated with charred lilac, parsnip and thyme. It needs to be added five minutes after the potions cools down."
Six minutes later the potion was made right in front of them and every instruction that Fred spoke were followed and the results were right in front of them. There were three vials of gold, purple and rainbow color sitting there staring back at all of them.
"But, but, we're failing potions," Fred said scrambling out of his chair and up to the potions and testing it out.
"I said creative type, meaning those who thinks outside of the box," Harry said watching his friends examine the potions. "There are three definition of Genius in my book. The First are those who can retain anything they are given and use it to their fullest for example Hermione. The Second, the hard working Genius who never gives up even though they struggled or are still struggling and their success will show, for example Oliver-san who has no talent in Quidditch but over came that struggles. Third, the creative genius who takes things and play with it, not because it's right or wrong but because they needed to know before they could move on."
"Where do you fall under those criteria Kousaka?" Su asks,
"I think I land pretty evenly," Harry said smiling at the girl.
"You're too humble," Oliver said.
"How does that help me with my potion predicament," Parvati asks.
"Why don't you start from what you don't understand and our dear Professors could fill in the blanks," Harry said and transfigure Fred and Georges clothes into that of a professional teaching robes.
"Did we just?" Fred said looking down at his clothes.
"I think we just were," George said and but busted out laughing. Later Parvati would be somewhat tutored but the two.
The next day Harry was making his way to Defense class with Hermione who was showing signs of sleep depression and that worried the young Magister. Before they went into the classroom Harry offer Hermione a pepper up potion and that got the girl refreshed the girl.
"Today class, I know all of you can read a book and at the same time you all could retain it!" Professor Lockhart said smiling and flashing his white teeth like a lighthouse. "For that I allow you to write a foot roll on what's your favorite spells are, how it was created, when it was created, how can you perform it and finally you will perform it in two weeks."
For ones this might be a good class to attend, Harry thought, watching the celebrity strutting around the room and at times smile at the girls who had stars in their eyes.
"But that doesn't mean we're not going to talk about my success and I hope it will rub off on you," Professor Lockhart said smiling and then pull out his book and open to one page. "I need an assistant for this, Mister Kousaka if you will?" Harry shook his head and all the while his previous thoughts were thrown out the window. "Now I need you to pretend to be the werewolf and howl. Yes like that!"
The two-hour block period came and went. Professor Lockhart would poke and prod at Harry while reenacting his triumphant victory. At the same time Professor Lockhart would mention his publications as if pandering to the crowd of teens. For Harry's part he was seeing the man in a new light. Professor Lockhart would be classed as a bumbling fool who brandish his fame like a fan on a hot day. The way Harry noticed how the man hold his wand would indicate a duelist and how he flourish it was by all means of an experienced wand user.
Maybe it was the publishers fault for changing thing too much to appease the wider audiences, Harry thought, after all, all of those animals were popular during those time when the book came out. There might've been some truth to Professor Lockhart's exploits after all and yet the man had him played the villain and if this wasn't a passive aggressive action then Harry doesn't know what to call it. Professor Lockhart's eyes would glare at him and he would range his voice as if Harry was the dark lord reincarnated.
"Now remember I don't like assigning homework but I must assign projects," Professor Lockhart announces when the class ended, "Remember a foot long about your spell, it could be any spell! Good day class."
Harry made his way down the courtyard to find Hermione running across the courtyard in a hurry. All the while Hermione was right behind him struggling to stay awake. He shook his head and grab the little girl and gently guide her to the Hospital Wing. It was a problem when Hermione wasn't really responding to where he was leading her.
"Is there a problem?" Madam Pomfrey asks seeing Hermione and Harry enter her domain.
"Two problems Pomfrey-sensei," Harry said pointing to Hermione, "One, she needs a good night sleep and a hearty meal. Two," he said taking off the small silver beaded necklace and pulled out a small hourglass attached to a outer ring. "She needs to stop using the Time Turner."
"Miss Granger!" Madam Pomfrey shrieks and guides the girl to a vacant bed. "Stay!"
"I have class!" Hermione tries to argue but was met with a stern look from the woman that was the school nurse.
"You will have a good night's rest and I will talk to your Head of the House about this!" Madam Pomfrey said snatching the time turner out of Harry's hand. "Giving kids time turners, what were you thinking Minerva?" She then turns to Harry said, "Thank you Mister Kousaka I will take it from here."
Rumors started to fly and Harry was hearing about a Dueling Club. Thinking back he'd thought that there was already one but couldn't really remembered attending one. It didn't help that Professor Lockhart was organizing the new Dueling Club. Like flies to light the new club gave new life to the already dreading atmosphere in Hogwarts.
Then there were the rumors on who could be the Slytherin Heirs. It didn't surprised Harry to find his name being the prime suspect and Ron Weasley the most vocal about it. Ron's reasoning is sound and evidence was found but with limited evidence doesn't mean he's really the Heir. The only evidence Ron has on Harry was his ability to talk to snakes or Parselmouth and it was instantly dismissed when Professor Kettleburn told the students that Harry can speak with other creatures. It was really amazing to see the student populace forget that tidbit when something new and scary came along.
Yet Ron didn't budged on it on bit citing that Harry could be faking it or using dark magic to control innocent creatures.
At this moment Harry was making his rounds around the lake and came upon to Hagrid hut and the man looks fluster and nervous. The giant man's face was well hidden behind his large beard but Harry was taught how to read body languages. This man was fidgeting and couldn't keep still. All the while he was arguing with his blue boarhound. Another sign of a nervous break down. He was outside near a fenced off cage where Harry spots a pile of dead chickens.
Making up his mind he made his way towards the hut in his work out clothes.
"Hagrid-san, you look nervous," Harry said gaining the man's attention.
"OH, it's yah," Hagrid said in relief like he was expecting an executioner. "Whatcha been doing?"
"Researching," Harry said softly and pulls a log to stand up to sit on. "Hagrid-san, can I ask you some uncomfortable questions?"
"Shure," Hagrid said."
"How did Myrtle-san died?" Harry asks and Hagrid's eyes widen and his posture changed.
"I-I, where did yah hear that?" Hagrid fidget.
"The Sorting Hat," Harry said in a matter of fact one.
"Course, he woulda known," Hagrid said, "Well, they found her dead in the girls bathroom. Just there, dead."
"That doesn't tell me how she'd died," Harry said thinking a little bit about the newspaper that ran the stories some forty years ago, "All the newspaper told me was that she died like she was hit by a Killing curse."
"No one, knows," Hagrid said.
"Did they do an autopsy?" Harry asks.
"A what?" Hagrid asks.
"Examine her body and see how she died, diagnostic spells, verification of any harm done to the body or examine her body to see if she ingested any potions?" Harry asks and the man stare down at the teen with looks that told Harry all he need to know. "That's troubling." For a moment Harry fell silent and then he looks up to the man and asks, "What were you accused of Hagrid-san?"
"I-I-I don't wanna talk about it!" Hagrid said making his way to his door.
"If the Chamber's involve then you will be the first suspect, soon they will come for you," Harry said and the man stop before he could reach his wooden door, "They've already contacted you?"
Hagrid sigh and answered, "It was an Arcomantula and only oh couple months old-"
"At the age their venom couldn't have even kill a rat much less a human," Harry finished and then a thought came to his mind, "What was the reason for your expulsion Hagrid-san?"
"Bringing a dangerous animal and killin ah student," Hagrid said.
After hearing Hagrid's confession all Harry had to say was, "That's not right."