A/N: YAY I'M BACK! My busy schedule keeps getting in the way so I'll probably only be able to write twice a week now instead of every day. Oh well..NEXT CHAPTER!
Chapter 11
"What do you propose to do about it, Headmaster?"
"Severus, if I've told you once, I've told you time and time again; call me Albus."
"Fine, then! Albus, who do you believe is responsible for this and what do you plan on doing?"
"I have no idea who could possibly be responsible. You said Harry was hearing voices?"
"Yes."
"You should've sent him directly to my office, Severus. No matter, I'll floo Minerva and have her send the boy here," Dumbledore put a comforting hand on Severus's shoulder.
"Should I stay, Headmaster?"
Dumbledore sighed. "Call me Albus, Severus. And yes, I think it would be better for both your sakes."
HPSSHPSSHPSSHPSS
Harry had only just walked into the Common Room when Professor McGonagall entered.
"Potter, the Headmaster wishes to see you in his office."
"Right now?" Harry asked.
"Yes, Potter. Immediatley."
Harry sighed, and made his way down the corridor to Dumbledore's office.
HPSSHPSSHPSSHPSS
Severus drummed his fingers anxiously on the desk while Dumbledore stared at him as if he were some interesting sort of specimen he'd never seen before.
"Do you mind?" he snarled.
At that moment there was a knock on the door.
"Ah, Harry, come in my boy!" Dumbledore said, sounding a little bit too cheerful for Severus's liking.
Harry didn't bother asking how Dumbledore had known it was him at the door.
"Professor Dumbledore, it wasn't me! I swear I-"
"Harry, my boy, I don't believe you had anything to do with what happened tonight. I just wanted to ask you a few questions."
"Oh," Harry said softly. He felt extremely stupid for jumping to conclusions.
"Have a seat, Harry," Dumbledore said gently.
Harry sat next to Severus.
"Is Mrs. Norris going to be allright?" he asked; he had to know.
"Yes. She's been petrified, and Argus is understandably angry, but otherwise, she should be returned back to her normal state in a few days," Dumbledore replied.
"But, what was with that..that message on the wall?" Harry asked shakily.
"Harry, have you ever heard of the Chamber of Secrets?" Severus asked urgently.
"No, never. What is it exactly?"
Dumbledore looked at Severus, "Tell him," he said quietly.
Severus sighed, and began to explain.
"Hogwarts was founded over a thousand years ago by four of the greatest witches and wizards of the age. You already know that the school Houses are named after them: Godric Gryffindor, Helena Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin. For a while, the founders worked together in peace and harmony, but then disagreements sprang up between them. Slytherin wished to be a bit more selective about the students admitted to Hogwarts. He disliked taking students of Muggle parentage, believing them to be untrustworthy. After a while, there was a serious argument on the subject between Slytherin and Gryffindor, and Slytherin left the school."
"But what does any of this have to do with the Ch-"
"I'm getting to that. There was a legend that, before he left, Slytherin had built a hidden chamber in the castle, of which the other founders knew nothing. Slytherin, according to legend, sealed the Chamber of Secrets so that none would be able to open it until his own true heir arrived at the school. The heir alone would be able to unseal the Chamber of secrets, unleash the horror within, and use it to purge the school of all who were unworthy to study magic."
"What exactly do you mean by 'the horror within,' Professor?" Harry asked, uneasily.
"That is believed to be some sort of monster which the Heir of Slytherin alone can control," Severus explained.
Harry felt a cold chill run down his spine. "And, who would the heir be?" he asked.
"I think it's time you headed back to your own Common Room, Harry," Dumbledore said. The twinkle was gone from his eyes.
"Headmaster-" Severus began.
"Go on then, Harry, get some rest," Dumbledore said, shooing him out.
The door slammed firmly shut behind him.