Chapter 11: Before Spring Term

The next morning, saw Archie up before Veronica. He was going back to Hogwarts and going into the Chamber of Secrets to take control of his ancestor Salazar Slytherin's basilisk. Archie hoped that he could easily take control of the basilisk since he was a more senior heir than Voldemort, but he wouldn't know until he got down to the chamber.

Before he left, however, he decided to get something to eat and read the morning edition of The Daily Prophet. It had been a couple months since Archie took control of the paper and he was looking forward to seeing what they would do. Mitsey brought Archie the paper and a cup of coffee and he smiled. "Thank you, Mitsey. Oh, before I forget, Veronica has a list of things she needs from Diagon Alley; if you could take care of it for her, that would be great." Archie said.

"Not at all, Master Archie. I live to serve the House of Andrews." Mitsey said before popping away to leave her master in peace. Archie opened up the paper to see the front page article.

PETER PETTIGREW FOUND GUILTY SENTENCED TO DEATH IN ACCORDANCE TO THE LAW.

By: William Wordsworth, Senior Reporter

Peter Pettigrew, once thought killed by Sirius Black was tried before the Wizengamot yesterday accused of treason, terrorism, death eater activities, murder, and using an unregistered animagus form to evade lawful capture. I was there covering the normal Wizengamot meeting as usual. The Duke of Gryffinsmore, Archibald Andrews said this before Pettigrew's trial commenced. "Peter Pettigrew, you sit before the Wizengamot accused of some despicable crimes, three of which if you are found guilty will see you stripped of your magic, kissed by a dementor, hung until death, decapitated and your head displayed on the border of Avalon and the United Kingdom, and drawn and quartered with the pieces of your body being buried in the four corners of the Kingdom of Avalon."

Folks, I will tell you in all my years of reporting for The Daily Prophet I have never seen such anger in any of the previous Dukes or Duchesses of Gryffinsmore before yesterday. When I first started working for this publication, the scariest thing to me, was seeing a look of calm anger on the face of Magical Britain's monarch. This was the first time I saw actual fury on the face of our monarch.

His Grace, Archibald Emmanuel Andrews-Black-Gryffindor-Ravenclaw-Hufflepuff-Slytherin-Le Fey-Emrys-Peverell questioned Pettigrew under veritaserum and brought forth his crimes. As you know, normally prosecution of criminal cases is left to either the Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement or Head of the Auror office however, should the Duke or Duchess of Gryffinsmore wish to he or she can question accused criminals themselves. And that is what Lord Andrews did yesterday.

The evidence was overwhelmingly against Pettigrew, and he was found guilty of all charges and in accordance with Lawbook 3, Paragraph 35, Subsection 15 and the laws of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, sentenced to be stripped of his magic, kissed by a dementor, hung until death, decapitated, and drawn and quartered. The sentence was carried out at sundown that night and was witnessed by the Duke and Duchess of Gryffinsmore, Interim Minister for Magic Amelia Bones, Interim Senior Undersecretary Arthur Weasley,Chief Warlock Dumbledore, Deputy Chief Warlock Augusta Longbottom, and myself.

It is my opinion, that those who do not wish to be given the same fate as Pettigrew and other rampant followers of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, that they walk the straight and narrow.

His Grace, the Duke of Gryffinsmore was unavailable for comment, however I was able to get a statement from Chief Warlock Dumbledore before he left to return to Hogwarts. "It is clear to me, and I speak for both myself and Augusta when I say that this sentence was fair and just for the crimes that Mr. Pettigrew committed. It is time that we as a society realize, that terrorism and treason will not be tolerated. And our current Duke and Duchess of Gryffinsmore have the right idea and will follow the laws set by Merlin to the letter and will not allow criminals to get away with their crimes."

I thanked Chief Warlock Dumbledore and immediately returned to the Daily Prophet offices to write up my story.

I hope to get an interview with His Grace in the coming weeks, and I will of course keep you posted when I am able to get that interview.

William Wordsworth.

Archie smiled and sipped his coffee. He never told anyone this, but when he was born William was named his Godfather and went through the godparent ritual with Minerva McGonagall. Until he turned 17, he had no idea that Professor McGonagall was his godmother, but when he did find out he was happy. Minerva had always been his favorite professor and enjoyed her classes.

After leaving a note for Veronica, Archie took the floo to Hogwarts and went to his office for a moment. Looking at the portrait of Salazar he smiled. "Do you think I'll have any issues with taking control of the basilisk?" Archie asked. Salazar shook his head. "No, since you have more Slytherin blood than Tom Riddle, you should have no problem taking control of Sadie." He said. Archie nodded then left his office heading for the second floor.

Once he arrived, he went into the bathroom trying to avoid Moaning Myrtle. Archie walked up to the sink and hissed in parsletongue. "Open for the true heir of Salazar Slytherin." The sink opened and Archie cast dirt repealing charms on his robes before sliding down the pipe. Casting a feather light charm at the bottom, Archie slid out and walked through the tunnel. When he got to the opening of the main chamber he hissed again. "Open for the true heir of Salazar Slytherin." The snakes unlocked and the door swung open.

Walking into the chamber, Archie looked around and walked up to the bust of Salazar Slytherin and hissed. "Open for your true master." The bust opened and Archie backed up as the basilisk started to exit the bust. Is that you Tom? The basilisk hissed. "No, I am Lord Archibald Emmanuel Andrews-Black-Gryffindor-Ravenclaw-Hufflepuff-Slytherin-Le Fe-Emrys-Peverell. I am the true heir of Salazar Slytherin as I wear his ring. Are you Sadie?" Archie asked. "I am, if you truly are the true heir of my creator, then you'll have no problem with showing me the Head of House ring." Sadie said.

Archie switched the Andrews ring with the Slytherin ring and showed it to Sadie making sure not to look her in the eyes just in case they weren't hooded. Sadie looked at the ring and hissed. "I accept you as my new master, young speaker. I've hooded my eyes so you can safely look at me." She said.

Archie looked at Sadie and smiled before hissing. "Salazar was right Sadie, you are a beautiful creature. Could you tell me a bit about yourself and why you were put in the chamber?" Archie asked. "Yes, over a thousand years ago I was hatched by Salazar Slytherin to act as the last line of defense if Hogwarts was ever attacked. But, in 1943 I was used to kill an innocent muggleborn student named Myrtle Warren. A half giant student was blamed and expelled. Ever since, I've been in stasis waiting for the heir of my creator to release me." Sadie said.

Archie nodded and hissed again. "Well, I will not put you back in stasis you're a beautiful creature that needs to get out, not just stay in this chamber. Are there any secret chambers I should know about?" He asked more to himself than to Sadie or the portrait of Salazar.

"There should be a snake on the side wall, when you say open for the Heir of Slytherin it will open. That's my chambers. When I was alive, I lived in the Chamber of Secrets while I had my classroom in the castle. There are also a couple vaults that hold some precious gems and metals." Salazar said.

Archie nodded and smiled walking to the side wall. He hissed "Open for the Heir of Slytherin." The door opened and Archie walked in and smiled. In the hidden chamber, was a small library, a potions lab, a bedroom, and the vaults. He opened the vaults and was surprised by the contents. In the first vault, were dozens upon dozens of diamonds of different size and colors, emeralds, sapphires, and other gems.

After exploring the chamber for a bit, Archie called a house elf to bring all of his personal belongings to the chamber, he decided to use these as his quarters. He made a note to tell Albus and Minerva about the chamber and Sadie at the start of term.

Archie then took the private floo connection in Salazar's chamber and went home.