Chapter Six

"Professor?" Ember was determined to discover if what she heard while in bed was true. She had already suspected that the adults knew what was going on and that night in the infirmary only furthered her suspicions.

McGonagall turned from her pause in lecture to face one of her students, "Yes, Miss Potter?"

"Is it true?" The elder witch blinked as she stared at Ember in confusion, "About what's going on?" Still more confusion, "we were told by Professor Binns that this Chamber is fake, just a rumor that started to explain Salazar Slytherin's sudden change of behavior among the founders. But we all saw the message scrawled across the wall. There are rumors that the Chamber really does exist. So, that's my question, is it true? Are we in danger of being without school?"

McGonagall slowly looked over her class, each sitting up straighter, interested in what was being discuss. Every Professor knew this was coming, though they hoped it wouldn't. The Headmaster had asked no one lie about what could happen as he would just have to make the announcement during dinner. "There is a legend told of Hogwarts. Most of its true as you've all learned. This school was founded by four of the most powerful of witches and wizards in the time it was built. It is said that the four worked well together, each taking part in creating the school you see now, every hall, every corner, every room. It is said that they each built their own secrets into the very foundation but it's never been proven. But it was when the school finally opened its doors to eager students that legend has never proven. Three of the four Founders were willing to teach any who was magical. It is said that Slytherin wished to train those of pureblood and magical ancestry. What legend has gotten correct was that an argument broke out among the Founders leading to Slytherin abandoning the school. What it was about, we cannot be sure but legend says it was their differences that drove Slytherin to leave his lasting mark upon the school before he vanished. All legends say is that it was possible Slytherin created more than just the dungeons. This Chamber of Secrets was just that, a secret. It was hinted that when he created the Chamber he placed a monster inside that only his heir could control. We do not know if this is true as no one has found such a room or what purpose it truly had, despite the rumors."

Ember was as silent as the class after that explanation. She was satisfied for now but she was sure there was more to the so-called legend than what was being said. She was determined to discover the truth. After what happened to Colin and Mrs. Norris meant it existed and that there had to be something inside if Dumbledore was willing to send everyone home and shut down the school.

And she knew just who could help her find the answers.

"Malfoy!"

"What?" Both girls stared at Ron, confused on his sudden outburst right after class was over.

Ron flushed with embarrassment but explained, "Sorry but I bet it's Malfoy."

"Why.." Hermione was cut off with a cry of surprise as she stumbled.

"Hey!" Ron took offense when he realized she had been shoved by Malfoy and his goons.

Malfoy sneered at them as he brushed off his robes with a disgusted look towards Hermione, "Watch were you're going, Mudblood!"

"You did that on purpose!"

Malfoy laughed, "Please, as if I would willingly touch someone like her."

Ron raised his still battered wand to wipe the blonde's smirk right off his face when someone broke through their fight and saved Malfoy, "Draco, we're late." Blue eyes glared heatedly at the male Potter, "Come."

"Jerks," he hissed to their disappearing backs. One day he would see Malfoy get his and not be saved either. "I still say it's Malfoy."

"Well, he might know something, I'll give you that," Hermione murmured while anyone could see she wasn't really there. She seemed distant which meant she would be in the library soon to research again. They knew that look well. "There is a way to discover if he knows anything but, mind you, we will be breaking like fifty school rules and we can possibly be expelled if we're caught. Plus it'll be time consuming before it's ready."

"What are you talking about?"

Ember rolled her eyes at Ron's confusion. She knew Hermione was smart and quite possibly knew all kinds of magical ways to do undercover missions. She just wondered which illegal use she was spouting, as Hermione was the rule concisions one. "How long?"

"A month at most."

"A month! But…"

"Shush!" Hermione quieted her concerned friend, "I'm talking about the Polyjuice Potion. It's a very complicated and time consuming potion to make. Plus we don't have all the needed ingredients in our stock. I'll have to check out the book again to reread the list but some of the items we need will only be in the student potion closet in Professor Snape's classroom." She droned on about what it would do in hush tones before absently adding, "of course, we need the hairs of our chosen targets, someone close to Malfoy that he wouldn't suspect. So, they have to be Slytherin."

"Eww, essence of someone." Ron looked disgusted at the thought as the girls discussed on how they could gain uniforms and access to Malfoy and who would be best or when it should be done. He only thought of what they would be drinking, trying not to be sick.

***Dueling Class***

"Ah, welcome, children, welcome to the very first dueling class in Hogwarts. I was asked, personally, by the Headmaster to create such a club to aid young children in learning their spells." Lockhart smiled brightly at the love-sick sighs of the young witches, "Now for a demonstration of what you will be learning, I have asked my esteemed colleague, Severus Snape, your Potions Professor, to join me." Everyone watched eagerly as the sneering wizard stalked to the platform, mostly the wizards were trembling with excitement that possibly Lockhart was about to make very large mistake they could all enjoy, "I assure you, do not fear, that your Professor shall be quite fine afterwards."

The young pre-teen witches scrambled closer to watch their idol in action. The boys merely scoffed and made quiet bets among themselves on how long Lockhart would actually last against Snape. Draco was one such wizard as he smirked, "Does he honestly think he can win?"

"When one is confident anything is possible." Harry offered his advice just as quietly but frowned as he watched the two men give professional bows, "then again, those overconfident are those who do not know truth from lies. I would suggest cushion charms about the floor and walls."

"Is this something you see, Harry?"

Harry raised a brow as he eyed his Housemates, "One does not need to see to already know the outcome. All one must do is see the behavior of one against another. Watch."

Lockhart smiled as he turned to face Snape, "are you ready, Severus?" The other wizard simply eased himself into a comfortable stance, wand held loosely in one hand. Both seemed to wait on a silent count when Lockhart stepped forward with a flourish in which Snape instantly struck first, "Expelliramus!" Cries of mixed joy and shock rang clear as a red light slammed into Lockhart, knocking him clean off the dueling platform to the floor below.

Snape eyed his struggling opponent in disgust, watching as fawning girls rushed to aid their groaning idol from the floor to his feet, trying to soothe his ruffled feathers. "Perhaps you should have taught the children how to shield themselves."

Lockhart laughed off his pain, "yes, yes, Severus, I was getting to that but I believed the students deserved to see what would happened had I not finished my shielding spell. As you know, had I wished, I could have stopped your spell easily." He suddenly twisted, hands clapping in excitement, "now if I could have two volunteers." He glanced over before picking two, "How about Potter and Longbottom?"

Snape snorted at his suggestion, "Sending either Potter against Longbottom would be sending him to the infirmary."

"Ah, well, then, Potter and Weasley?"

Again another disgusted snort, "Absolutely not. I will not subject my student to Weasley's faulty wand. That would guarantee Harry Potter a one way trip home in a matchbox." He slipped off the platform and grabbed the first student he saw, Draco Malfoy, "Here's a better match, Mister Malfoy and Miss Potter."

Ember whimpered softly as she was gently pushed forward by her idol. A hand rested upon her shoulders, "Just remember your shielding spells you learned in class." She faced a smug Malfoy as Lockhart continued, "Remember this duel is to disarm your opponent only. Bow."

Draco raised his wand in pure blood fashion, allowing him to keep his eyes on his enemy, "Scared, Potter?"

She glared back, repeating his gesture, "You wish."

"Turn and walk to the end of the platform then turn and face each other. Remember, disarm only!" The students exclaimed in anticipation as the two biggest rivals struck out with spells other than disarming. Both went tumbling from their original positions, caught by their respective Professor before reaching the end. "I said to disarm only!"

But Malfoy wasn't happy with being humiliated in front of his House. He swiftly reached his feet, with a little help from his Head of House, and struck like a cobra, "Serpensortia!" He stood back, silent and still, as a viciously hissing cobra actually slithered from his wand, scaring those around the platform. He watched as Potter jumped back with a pale face and wide eyes, summoning her wand lazily, "I win, Potter."

Snape lazily raised his wand, "I'll rid of it, Potter. Stay there."

But Lockhart wouldn't be shown up again, "Nonsense, Severus. Allow me." Before anyone could stop his foolish move, he waved his wand to banish the snake but screwed up his spell once more. Instead of disappearing, it flew into the air only to land before several terrified students, angrily hissing as it rose on its tail, fangs glistening in its open mouth, ready to strike.

No. More cries of fear filled the room as students pushed each other aside to get away from the very person now hissing at the angry snake. Harry cared not for what they thought or said as he concentrated of the lovely specimen of a cobra before him, I said stop. He wouldn't allow it to fatally strike anyone. He would rather not lose the lovely creature from such a mistake.

They disturb my nest.

No, they summoned you. Be still. Be quiet. You shall return. All eyes watched as the cobra settled down, coiling upon itself. "You may return it now, Professor, no more, no less."

Lockhart quickly called for the class to end, hurrying them out the door so he could leave. No one but the Slytherins stayed behind, too afraid to be in the very room with Harry Potter, who just got even scarier to them.

Ron glared back towards the classroom as he harshly whispered, "Why didn't you say your brother was a Parselmouth?"

Ember glared back at him, "Why does it matter?" She refused to confirm whether or not he actually had the ability, considering if she really concentrated, she too could speak it.

"You heard Professor McGonagall, only an heir to Slytherin could control the monster and it's well known that Slytherin was a Parselmouth. It's not a coincidence that Slytherin's House symbol is a snake."

"It isn't him and I will prove it." She turned to Hermione, "With our potion, we'll prove who's the real heir and what the chamber is about."