Chapter 16

Chamber of Secrets

Martin was dead.

He played his hand too loose and found out. Harry's secret was safe, but the problem remained all the same with him.

A discreet investigation had been launched into the matter with Aurors poking around Hogwarts. Worst of all, he seemed to be one of the suspects given how long he had been questioned and how carefully everyone in the faculty was watching him.

It was subtle. Inquiring about his whereabouts in between conversations, greater interest in parents and history, and straight up asking if he knew anything suspicious.

The official cover story floating now was that Martin had died of a violent allergic reaction to a designer drug. After all, Morrigan Riddle had reported confiscating narcotics from Martin's personal belongings.

Still, the storm clouds were moving and once again, Hogwarts was witnessing battle lines being drawn in the sand. It was neither as bad nor open as his time, but it was there in the making.

Harry pondered that even if all goes right, they will still need a scapegoat for this. A pureblood, a fallen house, but pureblood nonetheless had been found dead in the hallways. There were no signs of a struggle or remnants of dark magic. It was as if Martin had simply stopped breathing and died.

Even the killing curse left behind traces of dark magic. This was something else entirely.

The rumor mill amongst the more politically connected Slytherins informed Harry that a team of Unspeakables would be arriving to investigate the phenomenon. The most common ragdoll would be him.

An alleged nobody who arrived from Russia with a sealed record in the Justice Department. All it would take is for a militant committee to veto the sealed record protections and force his plea deal to be made known. Harry prayed in the vain hope that for once the system would hold in the face of entrenched corruption.

His cynical side was that this was it and Harry was forced to agree.

Speak to me Slytherin Greatest of the Hogwarts Four

He was confident Dumbledore would take care of Grindelwald just like he had in his timeline.

The whole chosen business demanded Harry take care of Riddle. It was time to strike down Riddle and then escape Hogwarts and ultimately Britain via the tunnels below.

Shame, I was hoping to change her ways. Harry thought. The new Riddle, while still scaring Harry in the wrong way, also felt different. Harry knew she was up to something behind the scenes, but still couldn't get into her club. The tutoring she had talked about still hadn't materialized due to conflicting schedules and weird events.

Heir. You return. The immense basilisk slithered outside of its cave and loomed over Harry.

Harry forced himself not to shiver as he stared at the behemoth looming in front of him.

I have names. Harry said.

Nargulith stood silent.

Von Neumann. Einstein. Oppenheimer.

The snake bristled at the names and for a brief moment, Harry thought it would strike him.

I can't do that, heir. Nargulith said.

Why not?! Harry demanded. You have a name! I am the heir and per Salazar's orders, you must do what I say!

The basilisk didn't reply, but merely rustled in further agitation.

Why won't you do as I say?! Harry yelled again at the snake's silence.

"Because, Mr. Petrov, as per the rules, Nargulith can't act without his mistress." A voice spoke from behind him. Harry whirled around wand in hand.

"Expelliarmus" The voice calmly said, and his wand was torn from his hand. Harry stood there in stunned silence. The figure then chose to emerge from the shadows and Harry's blood froze.

"I believe it's time we finally had our meeting, Harry." Morrigan Riddle said with a triumphant smile on her face. "Although I would have preferred it under different circumstances."

She smiled widely and fired a red stunner. Harry fell back into a summoned chair. Invisible restraints held him firmly in place.

Mistress, he is young….. Nargulith began but was silenced when Riddle held up her hand.

"You have been a naughty boy, Harry." Riddle said. "All over Hogwarts, you slink in the shadows. I admit if we didn't share our talent for serpent tongue, I would have never been able to keep track of you."

"That means a lot coming from someone like you." Harry drily remarked.

"It does, doesn't it?" Riddle said. "Although, I am most curious as to what Mr. Martin did that warranted his demise."

Harry suddenly found his head immobile, and Riddle stared into his eyes. Harry's internal panic returned with full force.

"He learned about the chamber and needed to be silenced," Harry said. A phantom slap struck him across his face and Harry gritted his teeth in pain.

"Lies" He turned up to see Riddle no longer with a smile and lazily pointing her wand at his neck. "The next one will be more hurtful, Harry."

Harry sighed.

"He was blackmailing Charlus Potter. I did not like that." Harry said.

"And that justified killing pureblood nobility right in the middle of Hogwarts's corridors?" Riddle asked in a calm voice. "Blackmailing or being blackmailed, is an essential part and parcel of the Hogwarts experience None of it which has previously involved an Auror delegation to pay us a visit."

Riddle took a deep calming breath before continuing.

"None of it, which involved a fucking unspeakable pay us a visit."

Harry knew he was standing on thin ice before Riddle got to work on him. He needed to come up with an excuse fast.

"He was my brother, Morrigan," Harry said. "I had to do something."

Riddle's eyes menacingly narrowed as she opened her lips to curse him. But Harry was one step further.

"His father doesn't know!" Harry spoke quickly and Riddle wavered. Harry took this as his cue to continue,

"Their marriage was already troubled. Henri Potter spent an increasing amount of time away from home on official duties. Sophie Potter was frustrated as merely being a Pureblood housewife." Harry said. "She wanted adventure in life, so she convinced Henri to use his money to secure her a research grant to Siberia. There she met my father and got pregnant with me."

"Pray to tell why Henri Potter is unaware of his wife's adultery?" Riddle inquired, still not lowering her wand from his neck.

"I don't know all the details of it. Lily, my stepmother, was loathe to talk about it. But my father during his drunken moods said that she felt too guilty about the entire affair and committed suicide."

"Sophie Potter's death was ruled a medical accident." Riddle said. The pressure on his neck grew.

"A perfectly convenient excuse to cover an extra-marital affair." Harry countered. "He never knew about me since Sophie forced my father to cover for me. As far as he knows, she died after contracting some rare flu in the Siberian wilderness."

A pause followed between the two as Riddle was too distracted by this juicy bombshell. Nargulith merely shuffled uncomfortably in the background.

"I presume the blackmail had something to do with the disappearance of Henri Potter?"

Harry nodded in affirmative. "Apparently Martin ran an underground market for goods here on Redwood's behalf. And he had things Charlus wanted."

Harry internally smirked in satisfaction as he saw her twitch at the mention of her rival's name.

This is going great. Harry thought.

"I want to believe you." Riddle said and Harry stumbled internally. "But something about is off."

She aimed her wand at him. "Do forgive the intrusion here."

A voice inside him roared to fight back and Harry struggled against the restraints.

"Leglimens!" Riddle confidently intoned. Harry screamed as he felt sharp pangs of pain in his brain.

His consciousness was ripped as he felt a warming feeling in his brain. A deathly green aura surrounded him as Riddle watched in amazement. The aura crackled with energy and exploded. Riddle was flung away from him, and Harry faded in and out of consciousness as the pain subsided.

The restraints opened up and Harry grabbed his fallen wand and aimed at Riddle. But she was faster on the recovery and easily deflected his spell.

Harry felt exhausted by the entire affair.

STOP! Nargulith urged but didn't interfere in the fight between the heirs.

His core pulled at the ambient magical energy from the atmosphere but the dead veins didn't yield. He couldn't cast a spell, but Riddle was relentless. A long flying rope aggressively wrapped itself around him in a hogtie and Harry was immobile once again.

Once he had stopped thrashing in futile resistance, Riddle had walked over to him.

"You are full of surprises, Mr. Petrov." Riddle remarked before knocking him out.

Headmaster's Office.

In a warmly lit office at Hogwarts, Auror Henrieta Jones sat across from Harry Petrov, her penetrating gaze fixed on him as she began her questioning. Headmaster Armando Dippet stood nearby, observing the scene with a mix of concern and frustration.

Henrieta inquired, "So, Harry, where were you at 9 AM last Thursday?"

"I was at the owlery, sending Christmas presents to my friends," Harry said.

Henrieta leaned back, her gaze intensifying. "Witnesses saw Martin leaving the owlery at 9:30, just moments before he was found dead."

Harry maintained a poker face, though his heartbeat quickened slightly. "Witnesses, you say?"

Armando interjected angrily, "Henrieta, you can't possibly be implying that Harry had anything to do with Martin's death!"

Henrieta shot an annoyed glance at the headmaster but said nothing else.

After a brief pause, she inquired further, "What did you and Martin talk about before he left the owlery?"

Harry replied in a neutral voice, "We just ran into each other and exchanged early Christmas greetings. I assumed he was sending gifts to his people."

Henrieta leaned forward, her tone serious. "Martin had no close family, and investigations show he wasn't in touch with his extended family for years."

"I merely assumed," Harry said.

Henrieta continued, "Students have spoken about how Martin was one of the boys you spoke to regularly in Slytherin. Did he ever mention any threats to his life or property? Anything weird?"

"What do you mean by 'weird things'?" Harry asked.

Henrieta leaned back again, maintaining her focus on Harry. "Was Martin acting strangely?"

Harry paused for a moment before replying, "I don't recall anything particularly strange about him during our conversations."

Armando interjected with a worried tone, "Henrieta, please understand that Harry and Martin were just acquaintances. There's no reason to suspect him of any wrongdoing."

Henrieta responded, still focused on Harry, "I'm just doing my job, Headmaster. We need to explore all possibilities."

Harry composed himself, trying to maintain his composure. "Of course, I understand. I'm happy to cooperate in any way I can."

Harry paused for a moment before he interjected, "Well, now that I think about it, Martin did make some jokes that were a bit weird. During a study session in the library, he joked about being afraid to death of Ashley."

Auror Jones raised an eyebrow in inquiry, prompting Harry to elaborate, "Ashley Redwood. He mentioned her by name."

As soon as the name was mentioned, the temperature in the room seemed to drop drastically. Auror Jones was now rapt with attention, and Headmaster Dippet slowly whispered to himself, "The minister's daughter," before shutting his eyes.

Auror Jones stated in a serious tone, "This is a bold accusation."

Harry raised his arms defensively, "I'm just answering what you asked me. Martin had a bit of a Casa Nova reputation in Hogwarts. He had many girlfriends before officially committing to Rachel Parkinson. The common rumor in the boy's dorm was that Ashley Redwood had a bit of a crush on Martin and felt deeply insulted over his relationship with Rachel."

Auror Jones's voice now lowered to a quiet tone, "Tying two pureblood family's daughters into this..."

Harry interrupted, "I'm just answering your questions. Martin and Rachel put up a front of a feud in public to avoid angering Ashley and her influential family. They were afraid of Ashley's father and his wealth."

Auror Jones paused for an agonizing minute, seemingly contemplating something in her mind. She then asked, "You seem to know Martin intimately. How did you get close to him?"

Harry replied, "I tutored him in potions, and Rachel frequently joined us. They got intimate with each other when studying, but we had to keep it private in Hogwarts. In fact, Martin even promised to introduce Rachel to his grandmother."

Auror Jones noted, "Not many know of Martin's grandmother."

Harry answered, "As I said earlier, we were somewhat close."

As Auror Jones moved to question him further, Headmaster Dippet intervened firmly, "That's enough, Auror Jones. The questioning is over for now. Hogwarts students have rights, and Harry is a minor. If you wish to speak with him again, it will be in my presence. He is not a prime suspect."

He handed Auror Jones a fistful of floo powder, a signal that she should leave.

Auror Jones graciously accepted the offer, though a hint of annoyance flashed across her face. She used the powder in a fireplace to teleport to Ministry HQ, leaving Harry and the Headmaster in the room, the tension still lingering in the air.

The headmaster angrily turned to stare at him.

"Next time, stick to our agreed script, boy before committing perjury." He spat out.

"Headmaster, honestly I was just trying-" Harry started but Dippet interrupted him.

"Get out." He said Harry didn't need to be told twice.

Abandoned Classroom

Harry walked towards the room where Morrigan had scheduled their meeting. After their encounter in the chamber, Morrigan had reverted back to her "diplomatic" phase. Initially, Harry had been skeptical, but she had greater leverage on him than otherwise.

She had attacked him, but beggars can't be choosers. He had woken up to find an apology noted addressed to him with a journal containing mentions of arcane magic known as "Occlumency"

Besides, in a show of goodwill, she had volunteered herself to come to Harry's aid in the murder investigation and he wasn't going to say no. Moreover, it now made him a part of her circle.

For now, he would have to bide his time for revenge. It was after all a dish best served cold.

Blonde hair gleaming in the light, Harry hurried through the dark corridors and towards her.

"It went just as planned," Harry informed her when he saw her sitting. "Although the headmaster was none too pleased about me going off script."

Morrigan nodded in understanding. "His concerns are irrelevant. What matters is the Aurors start pushing into Redwood."

That was the ultimate prize here. Riddle had turned this from a defensive position into an offensive aimed at Ashley Redwood. Implicate her in the murder and hurt Abraham's political credibility.

Then gently nudges a recovering Lord Potter to force a Wizengamot investigation and leading to the minister's resignation.

Morrigan gets rid of an annoying rival and Harry doesn't have to spend life in Azkaban.

Harry marveled at the genius of the plan and shivered; Morrigan was truly something when she put her mind to it.

Both of them assumed dug into their essays as Morrigan drilled into him the finer intricacies of Defense.

"Banshee's wails are psychic in nature that seek to immobilize their prey." Morrigan intoned. "Theorists believe that their wail is an echo of their past life's trauma being projected by accidental magic."

Harry nodded.

Morrigan continued, "Banshees possess a keen sense of hearing and are incredibly agile. They can move with unnatural swiftness, making it difficult to evade if they set their sights on you."

She paused for a moment before adding, "However, like many creatures, they do have vulnerabilities. Banshees are particularly sensitive to iron, silver, and certain protective charms. Iron repels them, while silver can weaken their powers. And, of course, knowledge is a powerful defense against them."

"Spooky creatures," Harry commented. Morrigan nodded in agreement. "Would a massive barrage of incendiary spell fire stop them?"

"Most likely," Morrigan said.

A thoughtful pause followed as Harry made quick notes. Morrigan broke the silence first,

"Speaking of all things incendiary, were you ever caught up in Muggle bombing raids on London?" Morrigan asked.

"I wasn't in London. When the Germans invaded the Soviet Union er Russia, we faced frequent bombings." Harry said. "My two friends passed away one night in one of these assaults."

"My condolences." She said and Harry nodded.

"Is that why you were trying to get Nargulith to kill Muggle scientists?" Riddle asked and Harry felt an ice cube run down his spine.

Harry didn't reply.

"Admittedly a stupid idea trying to get a 20 feet tall basilisk to navigate muggle cities to find a single man," Morrigan said.

"I wasn't in the best of mental states, Morrigan," Harry said. "In case you forgot, there are Aurors trying to get me thrown in prison."

"How very Grindelwald of you," Morrigan said.

"I am nothing like him." Harry snapped.

"True enough. He is much more resourceful than you." Morrigan said. "So where do you stand on this whole war business."

"A man can be known by the company he keeps. His friends leave much to be desired." Harry carefully said. "He has allied with dark creatures and despite his equity rhetoric, he is being bankrolled by pureblood families. While muggle-borns die in the trenches."

"A very refreshing point of view, Harry. Albeit a dangerous one to hold in Slytherin." Morrigan said.

"What about you?" Harry asked.

"Grindelwald bases his entire premise on taking the war to Muggles. That is simply a suicidal order. I rot away in the orphanage during my summers and had to run to the shelters whenever Germans bombed us." Morrigan said. "Mages at large simply don't have the stomach for such a large, protracted fight."

"So, you don't agree with Grindelwald?" Harry asked.

"I think he is an existential threat to our way of life. Not that we aren't heading to our own extinction anyway."

"A very refreshing point of view, Morrigan. Albeit a dangerous one to hold in Slytherin." Harry said and Morrigan merely chuckled in response.

ECLIPSE Meeting.

Secret Bunker.

In the dimly lit underground bunker, Henri Potter, Lord Sirius Black, and Lord Edward Greengrass sat around a circular table, their faces stern yet relieved. The meeting began with Lord Black and Lord Greengrass congratulating Henri on his recovery.

"Henri, it's good to see you up and about again," Lord Black said with a nod.

Lord Greengrass echoed the sentiment, "Indeed, we were worried there for a moment."

Henri nodded gratefully, "Thank you both for your good wishes. I'm feeling much better now."

Without wasting any time, Lord Potter got straight to the point, "Now, about my son. I still have no idea where Charlus got those basilisk scales from. He's been laying low, just in case Grindelwald starts sniffing around."

Lord Greengrass looked troubled by this revelation, "If Grindelwald traces the purchase back to the Underworld, it could compromise our entire existence."

Henri opened his mouth to rebut, but Lord Black interjected firmly, "What's done is done. We can't change the past. What we need to focus on now is the present and the future."

He turned towards Lord Potter and spoke with a sense of urgency, "Henri, you need to stay vigilant and investigate your son's actions further. We can't afford any loose ends right now."

Henri nodded, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. "You're right, Sirius. I'll get to the bottom of this. Charlus needs to understand the consequences of his actions."

Lord Greengrass added, "We've all made sacrifices to keep our society hidden from the rest of the world. We can't let one careless act undo all that."

Henri's jaw tightened with determination, "I won't allow that to happen. I'll personally look into this matter and make sure there are no traces left."

Sirius nodded in understanding and summoned a tray full of cool drinks to calm the tension in the room.

Lord Black turned his attention to Lord Greengrass, inquiring about the latest intelligence report they had received. Edward collected himself before speaking, his expression serious and contemplative.

"This might shock both of you, but we need to brace ourselves," Edward began. "The information we've gathered from the French underground, coupled with Henri's successful raid against Grindelwald's bio-labs, all points to one thing: there's a high-level mole within Grindelwald's ranks."

Both Lord Black and Lord Potter exchanged glances.

Edward continued, "This mole seems to have unfettered access to both military planning and research and development. These aspects of war are usually compartmentalized, but this individual seems to have access to both."

Lord Black's eyes narrowed with concern, "That's highly unusual. It implies that whoever this mole is, they are a major stakeholder in Grindelwald's inner circle, someone he trusts implicitly."

Edward nodded solemnly, "Precisely. It's likely that this person has been with Grindelwald since his early days, earning his trust through loyalty and dedication. But now, they have committed treason against him."

Lord Potter spoke up, "Given how brutal Grindelwald can be with traitors, this mole must have witnessed something of incredible significance to be willing to turn against their lord."

Edward nodded, "Exactly. Whatever it is they've seen or discovered, it must be something powerful enough to sway their allegiance."

"Now the million-galleon question is, what is it?" Henri asked a question to which none had an answer.

Somewhere in Russia

Inside his protective base, Grindelwald sat in silence, the heavy din of wards humming merrily against his magical senses. The small tent in the vast Russian wilderness was bathed in the pale moonlight.

Signs of the earlier battle still littered the site, but for now, it was mostly peaceful. Grindelwald took in a whiff of fresh air and turned his attention to the two guests sitting nervously in ornate chairs behind him - Abraham Redwood, the current interim Minister of Magic for the United Kingdom, and Irma Black, a powerful representative of the Black family.

"Ah, the serenity of the Russian wilderness is truly remarkable," Grindelwald began, admiring the tranquil surroundings. The two guests shuffled nervously, uneasy about being out in the open while a war raged a few kilometers away.

He turned to Abraham and sighed, "I must say, I'm disappointed with how things are turning. I expected more progress by now."

Abraham nervously stuttered his response, "Well, you see, the political opposition is stronger than I anticipated. Both Potter and Black's political blocs are preventing me from canceling the elections."

With a scowl, Abraham pointed an accusatory finger at Irma, "If only you had taken control over the Black family, I would have enough sway to pass whatever legislation I wanted."

Irma's voice rose with anger, "Don't you dare blame your incompetence on me! If you had taken power earlier, none of this would have happened!"

Grindelwald's patience wore thin,

"And whose fault is it that you've failed to assassinate the new Lord Black?" Abraham shouted back.

Tempers flared, and the argument escalated, with both Abraham and Irma shouting at each other.

Annoyed, Grindelwald rubbed his eyes and raised his wand, "Crucio!".

The sudden hush settled over the tent as the two guests glared at Grindelwald in silent agony as they writhed.

"I will not tolerate this bickering," Grindelwald said calmly, though his eyes held a dangerous glint. "We are allies, and we need to act as such."

He then relinquished the curse. Abraham and Irma exchanged wary glances but remained silent, understanding that Grindelwald would not tolerate any more interruptions.

"Now," Grindelwald continued, "let us refocus on our goals. The time is ripe for change, and we must seize this opportunity. The chaos in the wizarding world is our chance to establish a new order, to bring about the world we envision."

Irma took her chance.

"I completely agree my lord. Even as we speak, my agents are moving once again to strike down my cousin. We will not fail again my lord." Irma spoke.

Abraham not wanting to be left behind,

"I have taken measures to reduce vigilantism in Britain my lord, but Dumbledore…"

Grindelwald smiled painfully at the mention. "My dear minister he will be taken care of in due time."

"With that said my dears, I will be needing a favor from the two of you," Grindelwald said.

The two leaned forward

"I need Henri Potter under surveillance. He has something that rightfully belongs to me. A cloak of unique properties, you see." Grindelwald ordered. "If needed, you may deliver him to me, alive."

English Countryside

In the tranquil English countryside, a peaceful night was settling in, far removed from the turmoil of the Blitz-stricken London. The air was still, and the moon cast a silvery glow over the landscape. All seemed serene until, without warning, the very fabric of reality seemed to ripple and shudder.

Arcs of electric energy crackled through the air, and with a deafening thud, a portal snapped open, revealing a mysterious figure dropping through it. The being appeared metallic, gleaming under its skin, as it landed with an unsettling grace. A nearby farmer, drawn by the strange occurrence, moved forward to investigate.

His eyes widened in astonishment and fear as he beheld the being's metal body parts beneath its skin. Curiosity getting the better of him, the farmer tentatively reached out and poked the figure with his rake. In an instant, the being whirled to life, reacting with terrifying speed. Before the farmer could comprehend what had happened, the figure struck him with lethal precision, and he fell to the ground lifeless.

Inside the being's mind, a voice spoke, "System initializing." In response, the cyborg let out a gasp as flesh covered his exposed metal body, blending in seamlessly. "Synchronization complete," the voice declared, and his eyes glowed a sinister shade of red. His expression turned blank as he spoke in a monotone.

"Prime Directive realized. Eliminate Harry Potter."

With his mission clear, the cyborg rose from the ground and moved with an eerie, mechanical grace toward the nearest town. Electricity danced around him, enhancing his unnatural presence. His identity was hidden under the façade of flesh, he was a perfect predator, relentless in pursuit of his target.

Author Notes: Apologies for the delayed update. I was abroad and not in the best mental health conditions. If you like the story, please review. Thanks and have a great week ahead. Also, some of you maybe concerned by mass collision of both universes.

Second Update: Rest assured, no Harry Potter character will be crossing over in this universe from the old one. In case you forgot, the old one was hit by a nuclear bomb. So relax and have faith in me. That's all I ask.