Discovery

The walls were wet and dark. It was cold and stone serpents lined the walls facing each other creating an eerie passageway down which she walked. She wasn't afraid however, she would never be afraid in the chamber. Her chamber. Slytherin's chamber would only ever open for her, his monster only ever obey her commands. Slytherin's purpose and mission was clear...make the school once again pure...leave only those who deserved the magic running through their veins. Muggles should never be allowed to enter Hogwarts let alone their children...who were magical by accident, by some other means.

She continued walking down to the large statue that held the horror within. The proud face of Salazar Slytherin himself looked down upon her, his face impassive, chiselled to perfection the way only stone could produce. She would release his monster, and complete his mission. She was the heir of Slytherin...

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Anya woke with a start. Glancing around she saw the familiar curtains of her bed at Hogwarts, could hear the breathing of the girls who shared her dormitory. She ran her hand over her face. Her dreams were becoming more vivid now and they all were about the chamber, yet she still had no idea of its whereabouts. Did she really want to open it? Was it really up to her to protect the pureblood lines...of which she wasn't even a member. Did she really need to release a monster on her fellow students?

Her brother would be completely for the idea. He believed that the muggleborns should not be allowed to walk Hogwarts noble halls, learn the ancient crafts then pass them on to their children. Still something didn't seem so right to her...could she really do it?

Deciding that she didn't really have a chance of falling back asleep she got up and put on her robe and slippers and began to climb up to the common room. The fire lit as she entered and she sat down on one of the sofas and looked into the flames. She had accepted that she was the Heir of Slytherin, there was too much evidence, her line, her mother's necklace, and the constant dreams... they all pointed to that explanation.

"You had the dream again didn't you?" Came the familiar voice of her brother. He was standing in by the entrance fully dressed and looking like perfection as always. He was taller now having grown over the summer and his hair was neater.

"Yes, I've had the same one for months now. Still...I'm no closer to finding it then I was before, yet something tells me I have seen it...but been unaware at the time." She explained not bothering to make an excuse, there was no point he'd find out somehow anyway. Plus there was no reason not to tell him, it's not like she had found it or anything.

"About the chamber? Hmm maybe it senses your presence...I'm sure when you need to you'll be able to find it. Then you can do your task"

"My task? I don't have to do anything. Why must it be my job?" Anya demanded, why did she have to be the one to purify the world? There had been other ancestors here before, why not them?

"Anya everyone must do their job to perfect this world, to purify those who have been corrupted...it is your duty." Tom replied forcefully standing next to her, his eyes gleaming in the dark light and reflecting the fire. To anyone else he would have seemed frightening. Anya looked down, she couldn't believe that she was the chosen one to do the task...there must be some other reason...something she hadn't found yet. As for the chamber she wouldn't search for it...she wouldn't act till she had too...

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Nothing happened for many weeks, and the chamber was forgotten as exam studying filled her time. Anya hardly had anytime to see Zarian and she was missing him fiercely. She had attempted to speak to her Defence Against Arts teacher Prof Lint, but he had only told her what she had already discovered but that was all she had attempted, she couldn't be seen showing too much interest lest when she did find it she was under suspicion. Not that anyone would ever suspect the O student.

She was so deep in thought that she didn't notice the 7th year Ravenclaw until she had bumped right into her, sending them both to the floor. Anya swore and stood up, brushing her robes down and looking at the other girl.

"Hey! Watch where you're going!" the girl screamed at her."Slytherin snob! Go kiss your snake!"

Anya had to stop herself from cursing the girl to the end of next year. How dare she speak to her like that, god she had no idea who she was dealing with, pathetic little mudblood. Anya paused...did she just think that? Shaking her head she walked into the girl's bathroom and splashed her face with water, the dreams were keeping her awake and with all the exams she was always tired. She turned the taps off after splashing her face one more time.

Something caught her eye. A flash of silver, on the tap face in the shape of a snake. Quickly checking the other taps she noticed that it was the only one to bear the symbol. Anya heart began to race, surely this could not be the entrance to Slytherin's chamber, someone would have found it? Anya quickly looked behind her and made sure the door was shut, everyone would be at dinner, now might be here only chance. She locked the door, conjuring an out of order sign before turning towards the sink again.

Her long hair fell down her back as she took out her wand. Slytherin's snake's venom lay within its core, now it would return to its lair.

"The heir has come...open for me" she commanded the sink. For a while nothing happened but soon the sink had moved away revealing a large hole. Casting a charm on her wand to make her fall safely Anya jumped enjoying the free fall before hitting the bottom.

"Lumos" she said, glancing around at what lay before her, a tunnel led off the round room she was in and following instinct she walked down it, wand always ready for whatever she may come across. There was nothing the chamber was silent except for the occasional drop of water from the pipes. She came across another passage that was locked and spoke in parseltongue; it was if the chamber had been waiting for her, the lamps lit as she walked down the corridor from her dream. Once again looking at the great stone head of Salazar Slytherin himself...She truly was the Heir of Slytherin.