Written for QLFC

Round: 2

Team: Caerphilly Catapults

Position: Keeper/Captain

Prompt: Write about something untraceable

Word count: 2421

Betas: Queenie, Ikuni and Lily

Warnings: Brief mention of blood towards the end of the fic.

OoO

May 26, 1943

Dear Diary, I've been wandering around for a while, exploring the secrets and hidden depths of the castle while deep in thought. My mind is a little overwhelmed right now, because I have discovered my true lineage. My true self.

And I know what I want.

I just need to find it.

Legend says, my ancestor, the Salazar Slytherin, built a secret chamber. Only the true heir of Slytherin can open it. I'm the true heir. I'll find the chamber. I know it.

June, 4 1943

Dear Diary, there's something I need to find. Something to help with my future. I will find it, I swear.

I'm exhausted. It's been a month since my discovery, a month trying to find my heritage, my birthright and it was only making me want to find it more. I've looked everywhere. I even thought there might be a secret passage in the lake, hidden underground. But nothing.

I'm not going to give up.

It's just, I need to plan other things too. My future, every single detail. They always say you need to think ahead, but I guess that's not what a fifth year Hogwarts student should be doing. I'm planning everyone's future; I think it's in my blood to do that, just like Salazar did.

Exactly like he did.

As I stroll down towards the kitchens near the entrance to the Hufflepuff common room to order the House-Elves to get me something to keep me going, I pause mid-step. I spot the statue and then look further along the corridor. There's a faint hum ringing from one of the portraits behind the main entrance to the kitchen and a light glow.

But then I hear footsteps behind me and I sigh internally before turning around, putting on my well-crafted mask, my eyes widening when there is a girl in front of me, looking shy.

"Sorry, I was just heading to get something to eat—"

She has a shrill voice and it sounds sad, too. I don't have time for this. I raise my eyebrows and bring my hand up to my school robe, showing my prefect badge to her, somewhat proudly.

"It's just after curfew. You should be in your common room," I state, leaving no room to argue.

She looks at me, sadly, as she looks down to the floor.

"I didn't have anything today, the bullies made it so I can't. Please, I'll be quick!"

Her voice wobbles halfway through that speech and I internally roll my eyes. I hear the hum of the portrait calling out to me and that's all I'm thinking about.

"I can't make any exceptions, Miss Warren. If you don't leave now I'll have to give you a detention."

"I haven't eaten in a couple days, just something to keep me going and then I'll make my way back, I promise…"

At the look on her face, I look around and sigh, actually rolling my eyes this time. I feel a twinge of sympathy for her, not sure why I do… normally I just don't care. So I make my way over to the painting and tickle the pear. The door opens and I call for one of the House-Elves. They immediately come to me and I nod my head at the girl who was sniffling behind me.

She better not be crying.

"Can you make her a sandwich and make sure that she is getting food at the Ravenclaw Table? It seems some classmates are starving her. And I will have the same," I order, straight to the point.

"Yes Master Riddle!" the House-Elf squeaks and he gets to work.

"Thank you—"

"Tell anyone about this…" I start to say, with a threatening, low tone to my voice.

"I won't!" she interrupts, wiping her eyes with a thankful smile on her face. "I swear."

It doesn't take long and she leaves as she said she would. I relax as she goes and I continue my journey, leaving the kitchen. I spot a statue to the left of me, but don't pay much attention to it.

The glow is back and I swallow a dry lump in my throat.

It has me mesmerised and I can't help but follow, my wand out just in case I need to do any Dark Magic to protect myself. What? I'm way ahead of my class and I've been researching. It's only Dark because the Light wizards are too scared of the unknown.

I feel warm, all of a sudden. And happy. A sense of pride and love, like… like I imagine "home" means to a lot of people as I reach the portrait. I look at the label with a sly smile and before I do anything or think about what to do next, the portrait creeks open.

Huh.

After all this time all I had to do was get a snack. This isn't how I planned to find the chamber… but… sometimes accidents happen for a reason.

I slowly step inside, taking a breath as I do.

"Lumos," I mutter, making sure I can see where I'm going.

At first glance, it's just a tunnel. It's dark, and the stone surrounding me is a dark grey. I shiver. The grey reminds me of the Orphanage walls… but I push that thought to the back of my mind. It's honestly freezing and there's a very distinct smell, but I continue to walk and notice the tunnel is sloping down. I start to wonder what happens when I get to the chamber. What will happen? How will I use this to follow the work of Salazar Slytherin?

Finally, I arrive at a big open alcove. I'm assuming it leads into the chamber, so I reach out to the carvings on the wall, which have the same grey stone as the tunnel and I spot a bowl in the middle of it. There is writing that says: The blood of the true heir shall open the chamber. One who isn't who dares to try; fear the monster within.

I grin and mark a cut on my hand. It stings, but I don't let that show as I turn my hand into a fist, making the blood drop into the bowl. I hold my breath as it lands.

There is movement and a hole opens up, big enough for me to fit through. Without hesitating, I enter.

Suddenly I'm falling and I think quickly, "Arresto Momentum!"

It works just in time but I'm still landing heavily onto the ground with a thump. Once I get up, I look back at the entrance I arrived through and my mouth drops open from shock. It's Salazar Slytherin's face carved into the same dark grey stone from before.

I'm home.

June 6th 1943

Dear Diary, it's been a few days since I found the chamber and the girl, the one I helped… she got in the way of my discovery of the other way into the chamber. The snake, she didn't mean to kill her. I'm not saying the basilisk is innocent, but Miss Warren being there when I opened the chamber hadn't been part of the plan.

I sigh as I sit up, putting my diary away; I run a hand through my hair. I can't sleep. Haven't since that day. I'm sure exhaustion will overcome me or I'll get used to it soon. It's not the first time that sort of thing has happened. It's not just that that's keeping me up. Something else keeps nagging at my mind. There are two ways to get into the chamber — the one I found first and the other one through the pipes to the second floor bathroom. That entrance I'm not worrying about because honestly, who would ever think to look there?

No one, that's the beauty of it.

That's how Salazar Slytherin explains it in his diary, the one I found in the portrait passage. That room before I fell had many old artefacts and I want to preserve them; to leave them the way they have been kept safe for all those years.

And the entrance isn't very practical, unless I modify it… but I'm not going to modify any of the magic that Slythrin has done.

So, that leaves me with a choice.

Going back to where it all began. I need to make sure any trace of that entrance vanishes.

June 8th

Dear Diary, it's easier said than done. This spell is difficult, but it's necessary. I will master it, no matter how long it takes.

I go to ask for help in the end. Professor Flitwick. It's the end of the lesson, so I wait till everyone leaves and I give the Professor a well-crafted smile.

"Oh, Mr Riddle. What can I do for you?" he asks kindly.

"I need help with my essay, I'm doing it on Evanesco, but I could do with assistance casting the spell," I explain, not afraid to ask him. He'll think nothing of it, which is why I went to him and not someone like Professor Dumbledore.

"Ah, that one is a tricky one, Mr Riddle. One that needs some practice and concentration. It helps if you really focus on the object you would like to disappear and the wand movement is not quite as described in the books. Here, let me show you…"

He doesn't need to know that I will be using it to conceal a secret passage. To make the chamber completely untraceable.

I try to hide my smile as I listen to him.

He has the answers I need.

After I leave my fellow prefect, I head towards the patrol I say I will do, which, conveniently, is right where the first entrance is. I'm ready, I've been testing the vanishing spell. This will work. It has to. The power of knowing all about the chamber, the Basilisk and the plan for the future has got to my head and nothing will change my fate.

Not something as simple as someone else accidentally finding the chamber.

So I make sure that no one else is around and I take a breath and get to work, pretty sure that this will vanish the portrait and to hide the whole thing from view.

I mutter "Evanseco" but it doesn't work. The painting is still there, staring proudly at me. What do I do now? I scratch the back of my head and step back in surprise.

Alright, apparently I need to go back to the drawing board.

I hate being wrong.

June 9th, 1943

Fidelius. That's what I'm going to do today. It didn't take long to master that one, I worked all night to make sure I'd get it right. I read somewhere that it takes ages for people to get this one right. But I'm Salazar Slytherin's descendant. If I took any longer than one night it would be a disappointment to his memory.

I'm on patrol again, same place as last night. I rub my eyes and yawn as I get to the painting. This will work. But something stops me from doing it straight away. I open the painting and step inside, looking at the grey gloomy tunnel one last time. I close my eyes for a moment, taking it in.

My mind goes elsewhere, though.

I'm walking into the Orphanage. It's dull and horrible and I don't want to be here. I run my hands along the grey walls and stop moving. I glare at the person taking me to my room.

"Stop it. Stop it," I stomp my feet. After a year at Hogwarts, a year where I've made my mark, Hogwarts is my home. Not this place. Not these walls. "I want to go back to school. I can stay there! I'll find a way."

"You have to stay with us during the summer holidays, Tom. Those are the rules."

I glare at her, long and hard. I feel magic stirring in me. And then, she screams and falls against the cold, grey walls of the Orphanage, splashes of blood marking it.

People crowd around, wondering what happened, while I run the other way, the grey walls getting further and further away from me.

I swallow and leave the tunnel, there is no way I'm going in here again and there is absolutely no way I'd let anyone else do the same.

I get my wand out and do the Fidelius charm, and with no surprise, I manage it on the first try. I then quickly look around to double check that no one is watching.

I move one of the light grey statues of a previous head of Hufflepuff and place it in front of the painting used and use a Confundus charm to make sure one would feel confused around this area.

The entrance is now untraceable, no one will end up finding it. No one will ever know this is even a way to get in, because they can't get to it from inside the chamber.

I smirk and nod to myself as I walk quickly back to the kitchens, my mind going elsewhere again as I wonder if I can—

"Mr Riddle."

I almost jump out of my skin at the sound of Professor Dumbledore's voice. How does that man seem to always be onto me? I never know, it makes me feel… weird. I use my well-crafted neutrally grey mask to make my face remain neutral as I nod to him.

I'm actually relaxing as I see him. He doesn't know about the chamber. He won't ever find out what I'm going to do. Best of all, he won't trace it back to me.

"Hello, sir." I smile at him. It pains me to do it.

He smiles back.

"Hello. What are you doing here this fine evening? It's unwise to be wandering about so soon after the terrible incident," he says, using his grandfatherly voice. "You should make your way back to your common room."

I frown a little and ask him in a slightly challenging tone. "I was on patrol. Does the curfew apply to us now too?"

"Yes, the other prefects will be made aware of this in the meeting tomorrow. Off to bed now, Mr Riddle. Unless you have something you wish to tell me?"

Professor Dumbledore looks at me through his half moon glasses and I stare back at him, knowing this isn't the last time I'll say these words to him.

"No sir, nothing."