Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J.K Rowling.

Chapter 53: The Historian

-Hermione-

"When you look at someone for the first time, where do you look?"

Helena and I were seated inside the dark classroom. The ghost's pale silhouette floated around eerily.

"The face?"

"Indeed, and more exactly, the eyes, right?" Helena looked into mine. "Most people, when you talk to them, will look you in the eyes."

I nodded, leaning forwards in anticipation. "Yeah, they will."

Helena smiled. "You said that you didn't want people to dislike you. Well, take advantage of people looking you in the eyes."

"How? How will that change anything?"

Helena smiled and her eyes sparkled. "The eyes are exceptionally important to any witch or wizard. Do you know why?"

I shrugged. "We obviously see through them, but I assume there is something else?"

Helena nodded with an innocent smile. "Oh yes, the eyes are the windows to the house which is one's mind, Ms. Granger. Therefore, use those windows to enter. Then, simply refurbish the inside to be how you like it."

I frowned. "I change their thoughts?"

Helena exhaled slowly. "No, you will simply change how they perceive things, how they perceive you." She chuckled. "You could make a boy think you are pretty, for example. You could make someone think you are abhorrent. You could make someone willing to jump in front of a curse for you"

"That sounds very powerful."

Helena hummed. "It is, and also exceedingly difficult. Doing something that drastic requires time, Ms. Granger. It requires you to refurbish their house more than once. Because they don't want it to look the way you showed them, so they will simply restore it when you've left. After a while, they will get tired of restoring what you do. Then they will simply listen to how you tell them to place every single piece of furniture. It is not something you will be able to do for at least a few years, but I can get you started on the basics."

"Can it make any difference here and now? Otherwise I would like to focus on other things."

Helena shrugged. "I will, of course, let you choose what I teach you. However, it can certainly make a difference. Your peers are young, their minds are easily influenced, and, if you do it with someone who knows and trusts you, it is almost easy."

I smiled in anticipation. "Then teach me, master."

-()-

-Harry-

"Hello Harry, please come in and have a seat."

It had been a couple of weeks since I had met with the headmaster; but now, we were back to business.

"Good evening, professor. Have you found Mundungus?"

Dumbledore smiled. "Indeed, I have. I found him the day after we last spoke."

"So why wait so long?"

"I decided that you could sit out the next few steps, you've been a great help Harry, but quite frankly, I don't believe you would have gotten much out of these last few weeks."

I sighed. "I doubt it, but okay, what've you found?"

"Mundungus didn't have the locket on him, unsurprisingly. No, he had sold it a few weeks before I paid him a visit."

I sighed. "So it's still gone… Have you found out who he sold it to?"

Dumbledore smiled weakly. "I'm still working on that. In the meantime, I have another lead worth looking into."

I raised my eyebrows. "About the last horcrux, apart from Nagini, I mean?"

"Indeed. There is a historian by the name of Annabelle Corner who specialises in the time of the founders."

"Really? Do you think she knows where the last item is?"

Dumbledore hummed. "We can hope so, but I think she can tell us what it is, if nothing else.

I nodded. "I guess so. Just one question, is she Michael Corner's mother?"

"No, his grandmother, actually."

I nodded. "Are you sure she won't help Voldemort in any way? If we tell her something and she goes to him…"

Dumbledore looked outside the window, his face forlorn. "Her daughter and her son-in-law were killed by Mr. Malfoy about sixteen years ago. Mr. Malfoy was under the imperius curse when it occurred, of course."

I scoffed. "Of course." A frown appeared on my brow. "The daughter and the son-in-law Michael's parents?"

Dumbledore met my gaze for a few moments. "Yes. Yes they were." He cleared his throat with a rasping cough, my eyes were drawn to the blackened hand. "Mrs. Corner will come here tomorrow to meet us. In exchange for her information, we will provide her with our own." He glanced at the resting sword with red rubies. "Mainly, she will get to inspect that."

"I understand, I'll be here, then."

"Good. Good evening, Harry."

-()-

-Daphne-

"How was Slughorn's party?"

Me and Tracey were alone in our dorm shortly before dinner. I was waiting for her to finish her makeup before we could finally go and eat.

I rolled my eyes at Tracey. "Not great, and I don't think it can be qualified as a party either. It's more of a…public conversation between Slughorn and his favourite students."

Tracey pouted. "Easy for you to say, you're actually invited. I don't even think he knows I exist!"

"Well, just go with someone who is invited as a date, if it is that important for you. I'm sure Slughorn will be blown away by your charm," I said dryly.

Tracey glared at me through her reflection in the mirror. "It's only a bunch of idiots in that club."

"Thank you."

"You know what I mean. Half of them would probably accept it if Granger asked them."

I raised my eyebrows. "What's wrong with Granger?"

Tracey gave me an incredulous look. "Even if she hadn't done all of that shit last year, which she has. She has also got zero personality and doesn't care about how she looks."

I shrugged. "Maybe, but she actually appears to have some friends nowadays. Half of the Ravenclaws in our year are following her every step."

Tracey frowned. "Yeah, I've noticed that too." She shrugged. "Anyways, it doesn't matter. The point is that I want to go with a boy who has standards, not with someone who will accept anyone just because they are deprived of female attention."

I held my hands up. "Okay then, good luck chasing after a boy with standards."

Tracey stood up and we left the dormitory. "Everyone doesn't get one handed on a shining, silver plate, like you did. Some of us actually have to work for it."

I gave her a warning look and scanned my surroundings for any eavesdroppers. "I can assure you that I would rather work hard for one I want than to get someone I don't want forced upon me."

Tracey shrugged noncommittally. "I guess you're right, but he seems nicer now, eh?"

"That's like saying that it's great to be stung by a bee because you're used to the cruciatus curse."

She raised her eyebrows. "And what has he 'stung' you with?" Tracey asked with a smug smile.

I shook my head and hastened my steps. "You know what I'm trying to say. He's nicer now, yes, that doesn't mean he's nice."

"Is he?"

"Is he what?"

"Is he nice?"

I exhaled in frustration. "Occasionally." I frowned. "Rarely."

She smiled at me. "He must be a hero then, if you say he's 'occasionally nice'. Do I even qualify as that?"

I glared at her. "Pestering me like this, definitely not."

Tracey shrugged. "So you won't attend the Christmas dance Slughorn arranges then?"

"Eh, I don't know. Do I really need a date?"

"Yes," Tracey emphasised with a nod. "You definitely need one, okay?"

"Okay. I guess I'll ask Draco or something then."

Tracey stopped in her tracks and gave me a pointed look. "You're going to ask Draco? Really?"

"Yeah. What's wrong with that? Me and Potter are not dating or anything close to that."

"What's wrong with it?" Tracey scoffed. "Draco likes you, Daphne. Don't you think it is rather cruel to just lead him on when it will never lead anywhere?"

I swallowed. "Maybe, but who knows, perhaps it will lead somewhere." I forced a smile. "Someday."

-()-

-Harry-

The woman walking through the door was exactly what I expected from someone called 'historian'. Her old face was weather worn and wrinkled, her eyes tiredly brown. She carried a small handbag made of grey leather. The most striking feature was the scar running from her left cheek to her right ear.

Dumbledore and I stood up. My headmaster shook her hand. "Mrs. Corner, thank you for coming."

She forced a smile. "When one is offered a look at the Sword of Gryffindor, there is little to stop one from coming. Annabelle Corner turned to me with a serious look. "And you are Mr. Potter, I guess?"

I nodded and shook her shrivelled yet strong hand. "Indeed."

She shrugged and sat down in the offered seat. "You didn't mention that one of your students would sit in, headmaster."

Dumbledore seated himself gently. "Mr. Potter is working on a project for his defence against the dark arts classwork. As he is our most outstanding student, I felt he deserved this opportunity."

Annabelle shrugged again. "If you say so, though, I fear that what we will talk about won't be much about the dark arts."

Dumbledore smiled. "Perhaps not, we'll see."

She nodded and glanced at the shelf where the sword was resting. "May I have a look at it?"

"As long as you remember our agreement."

Annabelle nodded jerkily and stood up. Over the next couple of minutes she muttered spells and jotted things down in an old notebook. The frown on her features only deepened as time went on.

"I have a few questions," Annabelle said as she sat down.

Dumbledore gestured for her to continue.

"Where was this sword found?" She took an extra look at her notes. "The sword is imbued with basilisk venom, basilisk venom which is younger than 15 years old, I'd say."

Dumbledore nodded. "Indeed, that sword was used to slay a basilisk about four years ago."

The woman's eyebrows rose into her fringe. "A basilisk? Four years ago? I find that doubtful, there hasn't been any spotted for years."

Dumbledore smiled. "This one was hidden, had been for some while." He cleared his throat with a benign smile. "Unfortunately, I am not able to divulge too much information."

Annabelle pursed her lips. "Hmm. Well, I'll take that into account when I'm answering your questions, then," she answered, a little sourly.

I scoffed. "You asked for a look at the sword, you've got it. Now, it's time for you to hold up your end."

She raised her eyebrows. "Is that so? I'm sure this deal is crucial for your 'defence essay'?"

I nodded with a sweet smile. "That's right. So, now, please tell us about the items connected to the founders, like you promised you would."

Annabella tilted her head and looked at me. "I'll be looking forward to reading your essay, then," she said. She turned back to the headmaster. "What items do you already know about?"

"Assume we don't know about any of them."

"Okay then, there aren't many of them left after a thousand years, as you can understand. There is the Sword of Gryffindor, obviously. A goblet of Hufflepuff's also exists, last I knew of it, it was in the possession of the Smiths."

We nodded. "As for Slytherin, there isn't anything concrete to speak of. The Gaunts claimed to have a locket from their ancestor, but they're about as credible as a man caught with adulterating." She stroked her chin. "As for Ravenclaw, there could be two, there could be none."

Dumbledore gestured for her to continue. "One of them is the diadem, I presume?"

She nodded. "Yes, the lost diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw. It could exist, but as far as I know, it is a mere myth." She frowned. "It is said that anyone who wears it will be granted the wisdom of Ravenclaw, but even if it exists, it is doubtful that this particular trait is true."

I made a mental note to find out.

"You mentioned another object?"

She nodded. "Well, this one is even more ambiguous." Annebelle chuckled weakly, turned to me. "Do you know that the grave of her daughter, Helena Ravenclaw, still exists?"

I raised my eyebrows. That was genuinely surprising.

"Yeah, I know? After a thousand years," she continued. "I managed to stumble upon it during my own days here at Hogwarts, it was what sparked my curiosity for the subject of the founders."

My eyebrows rose even higher. "It is here, at Hogwarts?"

She smiled. "Indeed, though I believe you've sealed it off, headmaster?"

He nodded. "Yes, I haven't been able to find anything dangerous inside, but rather safe than sorry."

"Anyways," Annabelle continued. "The grave is empty, it is more of a memorial, really. There was this letter inside though, written by her mother."

I felt a shiver run down my spine. My master had written something and left it in her daughter's grace. Her daughter's empty grave.

"The letter is ambiguous, as can be expected, but it mentions a book." She paused and gathered her words. "According to the letter, there is a book which contains all of Rowena's knowledge…"

I nodded mutely, it felt like there was a ringing in my ears. Could that book be the book I thought it was?

"It doesn't say where the book is, how it looks or why this piece of information is to be found in her daughter's grave. It only says that it will be a final help for those in need."

I froze like bitten by frost, I prayed Dumbledore didn't notice it.

I am a help to those in need.

It really was her, not some kind of prank. That letter must have been written by her. That letter could tell me what happened between Helena and Rowena. I knew Rowena better than anyone alive, literally. If there was any clue in there, Annabelle could very well have missed it.

Or withheld it.

"That's all that is said about it," Annabelle continued. "I've asked for permission, since I got my degree, to investigate the castle for any signs or clues for where this book could be, but the headmaster always refuses my requests." She gave him a pointed look.

Dumbledore smiled. "I see, is there anything else?"

"I mean, this whole castle was built by those four, this is their thing too."

"You're correct in that," Dumbledore said slowly.

I frowned. "Do you know how this castle was built?"

She smiled at me brightly. "That's a very good question." Annabelle licked her lips. "The answer is no, I don't know. How four people were able to build something this big and create defensive enchantments which are to this day unrivalled is a mystery."

If only she knew the answer: a rock.

"Hmm. I guess they were pretty good, building a castle which hasn't been penetrated, ever," I said, a little proud of my master.

She shook her head. "Oh no, it definitely has. Only once that I know of though." She sighed, torn between excited and tired. "Do you want to know?"

I shrugged, but internally, I was curious. "Please tell us, perhaps the defences have a weakness somewhere."

Annabelle snorted. "Not likely, this happened in the beginning, just a few years after it was completed." She frowned. "The records are, as you can imagine, dubious. However, for some reason, the defences failed and a lot of kids who studied here died."

I frowned, that was something I should ask my master about. "Do you know who did it?"

"Who broke into the castle? No. Though it is implied that it was a dark lord, or lady, I suppose, from the time."

"I see."

Dumbledore stood up. "Thank you for the help, Mrs. Corner." He smiled at me. "I just need a word with Mrs. Corner before she leaves, Harry."

I left without a word.

That was suspicious. Dumbledore couldn't have suspected something, could he?

Either way, I needed that letter. I needed to talk to Annabelle, away from any torches. A plan formed in my mind. It could work.

No. It would work.

-()-

Immediately after I left Dumbledore's office, I swung on my invisibility cloak and went down to the gates and waited. I prayed and hoped that Dumbledore wasn't accompanying her down.

A lonely figure appeared through the doors and descended down to the gates of the wall surrounding the castle. I cheered internally and took the cloak off and hid.

As soon as Annabelle was level with me, I took a step out into the open. The woman flinched. "Mr. Potter!" she exclaimed. "What do you think you're doing?" she said, surprised.

I smiled sweetly. "The letter by Rowena, I want it."

The smile slid off her face, she looked into my eyes for several moments, searching for something. "That's too bad, you won't get it," she said with steel in her voice.

I smiled and walked to stand between herself and the gate. "I think you will, actually." I met her resolved, amber eyes. "You see, I have something you want, too. It would be in both of our interests to make a trade."

She raised her eyebrows. "Is that so?"

I nodded. "Oh yes. You remember that the Sword of Gryffindor was used to slay a basilisk, right?"

Annabelle narrowed her eyes and looked at me. "Yes."

"Well, the thing is…" I took a forceful step forward. "I killed the basilisk, Annabelle. I killed it." I took a step back and smiled. "Do you know where I killed it?"

The furrow in her brow deepened. "No," she whispered, shifting her weight uncomfortably.

"The Chamber of Secrets, I killed it in the Chamber of Secrets all by myself."

She shook her head with a mirthless smile. "No, you did not. It was killed four years ago, you would have been–"

"Twelve. I was twelve years old." I arched an eyebrow. "Why do you think he allowed me to sit in during the meeting? Because of a defence essay?" I scoffed. "No. I own that sword. It is mine."

She exhaled slowly. "So in exchange for the letter, you will show me the Chamber of Secrets, is that it?"

I smiled. "Yes. A prosperous deal for both of us."

She clenched her jaw and I could see her shoulder tense. "I'm sorry, Mr. Potter, but I will have to decline." Annabelle smiled forcedly and took a couple of steps towards the gate.

I flicked my wand and her feet were frozen to the ground. I sighed and walked to be right in front of her. "I wished that I didn't have to go here, but you gave me no choice."

Her eyes screamed fury. "The aurors will hear about this, one does not simply assault me without consequence." She took her wand out of her pocket and tried to undo the spell, to no avail. "Let me go, now!"

My lips curled into a condescending smile. "No, not before we have come to an agreement."

She sighed and pointed her wand at me. "I will fight you if you don't let me go."

I raised my eyebrows. "Fight and you will lose."

"This is your last chance," she said, her face twisted with anger.

I gestured for her to go ahead. "Please, try if you want."

A spell soared for my chest.

"Lustragio."

I disappeared. One second later I appeared behind her and tugged the wand from her grasp. "That was your own fault, Annabelle," I said and returned to be in front of her.

"How…? You can't apparate inside Hogwarts."

"I know," I said with finality. "Now, can we discuss this, without resorting to violence?"

She glared at me. "Fuck you," she spat.

I chuckled. "Oh well, I'll make it simple for you." I licked my lips and took a menacing step closer to her. I could almost feel her breath against my face, her hands trembled slightly. "Your grandson lives in the castle, I see him every day." I smiled and could see the spark of fear in her eyes. "It would be such a tragedy if he were to disappear, or worse."

She swallowed. "You…you can't do that. The aurors, the headmaster will catch you."

I smiled the most evil smile I could muster. "That's where you're wrong. Remember Cedric Diggory from the Triwizard Tournament?"

I could see the fearful realisation in her eyes.

I gestured around myself casually. "He's dead, and yet here I am."

Her lower lips trembled. "You– you killed him?" she stuttered.

I smirked.

I could see her Adam's apple bulge, the sweat on her forehead.

"This is an easy choice now, eh? You give me the letter and I show you the Chamber. As an added bonus, your grandson will continue to walk through the halls with a spring in his step."

Annabelle shook violently. "Please don't hurt him," she begged. "He's– he's the only family I've got left."

"Then make sure that you keep it," I said coldly. I smiled. "Do we have a deal?"

She gulped loudly and nodded. "Yes. Yes, we have a deal."

"Good!" I exclaimed and released her from the spell.

She staggered forward a couple of steps. Annabelle stared at the ground in front of me. "When do you want it?" she whispered.

"The next Hogsmeade weekend. You give me the letter and I sneak you into the castle to show you the Chamber." I extended my hand for her to shake it. "Understand?"

Her trembling hand shook mine weakly.

She began to walk away on troubled steps.

"Just one more thing, Annabelle."

She froze in her steps. "What do you want?" she said hoarsely.

"Don't even think about telling anyone about this." I muttered a spell at her. "I'll know if you do." I tossed her wand to her. "For Michael's sake, please behave Annabelle. I would miss seeing his face every day."

"You're a monster." Her eyes looked at me with something I had never had directed at me before.

I stared after her for a long while.

I was a monster.

I really was.

When I was sure she had apparated away, I fell to my knees.

What had I just done?

Blackmailed, threatened to kill a sixteen year old, pretended to have killed someone else.

I was a monster.

I stood up again.

But I won, so why did it really matter?

-()-

I still couldn't quite believe what I had done when I returned to the castle. The inside greeted me with a warm embrace after the late October winds.

I sighed, I didn't want to see my master now. No way, not right after this.

Yet my feet guided me to the fourth floor, but past the shining sliver door to another corridor altogether.

I knocked on the door gently. It swung upon with a loud whine.

Greengrass was immersed in a castle of books, more titles than one could possibly consume.

"I think you should get more books," I said dryly. "You clearly don't have enough of them."

She rolled her eyes, but her lips curled into a small smile. I found myself pleased.

"You're friends with Granger."

"Yeah, and I don't have to worry that she spends all of her time secretly learning spells to kill me."

Daphne frowned. "Is that what you think I am doing?"

"Well, you'll probably torture me first, right?"

"You forgot the flaying."

I hit myself on the head. "Of course, how could I forget the flaying. You're a specialist in that field now."

Greengrass closed her book and smiled proudly. "Yes. I can do it perfectly, apparently."

I snorted. "If I would have known that you would repeat that constantly, I never would have said it."

"Doesn't make it less true." Greengrass paused for a second. "Can you do the sequence for McGonagall's homework?"

"You want me to show it to you?"

Greengrass smiled sourly. "Maybe."

I chuckled. "I thought you were good at transfiguration."

The girl glared at me.

I stood up and walked over to the space she used for practical work, I could hear her following me. I turned around and found her staring at me, she looked away with a faint blush.

"I'm beginning to think that you only keep me as a friend because you need me for homework."

Greengrass smiled. "Your thoughts are correct, and I am not your friend."

I pouted. "Oh no, I'm devastated," I said. "So what is the homework?" I said and ran a hand through my hair.

Greengrass narrowed her eyes on me. "You– you don't know what the homework is?"

I smiled sheepishly. "Maybe."

She shook her head and muttered something under her breath. "Conjure a rock and transfigure it into a large mouse and then back."

I nodded. "Right, now I remember. So what do you struggle with?"

Greengrass walked over to the table and conjured a rock silently. I raised my eyebrows and walked to stand her. "That went well, it's the next step, I presume?"

She nodded. I felt her pleasant perfume wash over me in the proximity. My heart started to beat just a little bit faster.

"Yes. I can't get it completely right." She flicked her wand at the rock and it grew legs and a tail; the limbs twitched, but the body remained rock.

I smiled at the hideous creature. "Well, everyone can't be so good at transfiguration that they almost win a tournament with it."

She rolled her eyes. "How humble of you." Greengrass gave me a pointed look. "And don't you think it is rather shameless to walk around and brag about getting second place?" She batted her eyelashes.

I huffed. "Technically, we share second and first place."

"Please show me the trophy for first place then."

I shook my head and a smile broke out. "Fuck you, Greengrass."

I pointed my wand at the rock-mouse. It turned into a mouse. Another flick, it was back as a rock.

Greengrass shook her head. "You really had to do it, didn't you?" She pursed her lips. "You're an idiot."

"Thank you for your kind words. Now, do you want to learn this spell?"

"Yes, Potter. That's why you're not flayed yet."