The four found themselves down in the dungeon on the Saturday of Halloween to go to Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington's Deathday Party. A rather... morbid thought, but to each their own, she supposed.
Godric had been the one invited, of course, as Nick was the representative ghost for the man's house. As soon as Godric accepted, he had hurried to them to beg them to go with him as he did not want to go by himself - for the simple fact he would have grown bored alone. That, and he thought it might be of interest to everyone in their own way.
Salazar had been the most difficult to convince, but even he caved to Godric's pleading.
When they arrived at the party they had noticed that Helena, of course, had been absent. As such, Helga did what she could to distract Rowena from thinking too much about her daughter.
However, they had not been there long when Harry, Ronald, and Hermione had shown up - Harry having been invited by the celebrating ghost as well. Ronald and Harry both looked relieved they hadn't been the only ones there. Hermione, it had seemed, had been the only one truly excited to attend out of their group.
By the time it was polite to leave, Nick had made a disastrous mistake.
"I am sorry that you must go, but I understand. I must thank you again for coming, Sir Go-"
"Good gracious me," Helga spoke loudly, drawing all the attention to her and away from the ghost who had nearly said Godric's name.
Thankfully the ghosts already knew who they were and it didn't seem as if the three children caught on. Helga's eyes slipped towards Hermione, the one who paid the most attention out of all of them and who had been the closest to the fumbling ghost.
"I apologize for interrupting, but I hadn't noticed the time until Ric mentioned leaving. We really must be going." Helga shook her arm as if covering her watch after looking at it. She gently cupped Godric's elbow and began leading him to the exit of the dungeon room. "Thank you for the invitation, Sir Nicholas."
"O-of course, Miss. Have a good evening."
Salazar and Rowena followed after bidding their farewells. Helga looked over her shoulder at the three children. "Will you be joining us?"
"Yes!" Ronald jumped at the chance and hurriedly chased after the group while Harry and Hermione gave their hasty goodbyes and nearly jogged to catch up.
The group of seven hadn't made it to the stairs that led upwards when Helga saw Harry tense and Salazar, nearly imperceptibly, cocked his head to the side. The boy asked, "Did you hear that?"
Everyone except Salazar denied it, the man keeping silent. Harry took off after the voice, a voice that Helga could not hear at all, no matter how hard she strained to hear.
Salazar was the first to follow and Godric, Rowena, and Helga quickly followed in pursuit. After a seconds pause, Hermione and Ron struggled to keep up.
They raced through the corridors, up the stairs, took a turn, and...
They all came to a crashing halt.
Helga stared at the cat, but that wasn't what held her concern most.
The words on the wall.
The blood that dripped from each letter.
THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED. ENEMIES OF THE HEIR, BEWARE.
They stood there only moments before others made it onto the scene.
Argus Filch began crying.
Minerva McGonagall looked scared.
Dumbledore seemed calm, concerned, and in control.
Rowena had her lips pursed together and listening to whatever the professors were saying.
Godric looked focused, eyes darting every which way as he looked for an enemy.
Salazar's complexion lacked any blood and Helga feared he would fall.
Helga... Helga couldn't hear anything. Her ears buzzed.
She stepped closer to Salazar, hooking her arm through his, and he twitched as if he forgot anyone else stood beside him. She watched him from her peripherals as he turned towards her and Helga forced herself to focus. She barely heard his whisper of, "We must speak after this. All of us. Immediately."
She inclined her head, but her eyes couldn't leave the blood on the wall.
Eventually they were all ushered away, a screaming Argus Filch demanding retribution for his cat. Harry, Ronald, and Hermione staggered towards their common room after Helga quietly asked for Godric to stay behind.
Once they stood alone, Salazar led them to an empty classroom. The door slammed. Salazar, the last one in, raised the wards. Helga stared blankly at a wall.
The words stared back at her in her mind.
Something died for that message to be written.
Something threatened their school and they had no inclination until it happened.
They hadn't been able to do anything.
"Helga?" Rowena's soft voice had Helga glancing over with a strained smile.
"I'm just a bit shook is all. Give me a brief respite and I will be fine."
Rowena squeezed her hand before joining Godric and began talking to him, but Helga couldn't make out the words.
What did they mean the chamber was open?
The heir of who?
What had been the cause?
Narrowing her eyes, Helga took a breath and tossed her hair over her shoulder and strode to the others. "What do you imagine they meant about the chamber being opened?"
"That is not the issue," Salazar interrupted.
"It has something to do with this attack," Rowena countered as she took a seat in one of the chairs. "They say the Chamber of Secrets has been opened, when it should never have been closed to begin with. How did they manage to find it when I couldn't?" Rowena frowned. "And I don't recall anything being down there that could have done this."
"And what was Harry talking about a voice?"
"That is precisely what I'd like to talk about," Salazar answered in response to Godric's question. "It was a snake."
"A snake led us to the cat? Why?" Helga asked.
Salazar shook his head. "No, she did not lead us to the cat knowingly. She had been tasked with killing, but she was confused."
"A snake did this?"
Helga nibbled on her lip. "A snake, you say?"
"And an extremely large one. One of giant proportions. I can only think of one snake large enough to match what I heard. Though I do not know how it would have been able to come into our school."
Godric pursed his lips. "I have hope it is not what I believe you are hinting at, Sal."
Salazar shook his head. "It probably is exactly what you think."
"Basilisk?"
"It is quite possible."
"But she should not be here!" Helga burst out, hands clasping in front of her.
"Of course not. A basilisk should never have been able to enter the grounds due to the safeguards we put in place," Rowena whispered.
"Unless there is a new type of snake that can be as large as I heard within the walls, then there is no other suspect," Salazar countered.
"Maybe a type of magic that could trick a Parselmouth? Could it be a divergence of sorts?" Godric leaned against a wall, arms wrapped around his stomach as he tapped a foot against the floor.
"Not likely. Why would anyone plan for such an event? The number of Parselmouths are negligible when compared to those who do not speak the language. It would be a waste of time. The benefit does not outweigh the effort to create such magic." Salazar shook his head. "Speaking of Parselmouths, it appears Potter is one. The voice he heard was the snake."
"You do not understand," Helga whispered and the other three looked over at her.
"What do you mean, Helga?"
Smiling wanly at Rowena, Helga said, "Ismanna was born on the property so the wards would not have kept her out. They would not harm her even if she left and came back. The wards saw her as safe."
"Ismanna..." Salazar murmured. "Helga, are you saying that a basilisk was hatched inside Hogwarts?"
"Yes."
"And you named her?"
"Yes."
"And you never told anyone?"
Helga sighed, "Ever since I was thirteen I had been trying to hatch a basilisk. You saw one, Sal, and you adored speaking with him. I remember how much you absolutely lit up when telling me the story when you came back to the castle as I was in no shape to follow you and Ric." She smiled wistfully, hand resting over her stomach. "You claimed you wanted one and so I figured what better gift than that?"
Her shoulders slumped. "Well, I succeeded a few months before... before you were... gone. I was so happy. She was adorable and the sweetest creature I had ever seen. She loved snuggling and she always stayed curled up in my pocket. Diarmid and Lioslaith adored her."
She teared up at the thought of her late husband and daughter.
"How did I never notice her? Even hatchlings are quite large."
"Enlargement and lightning charms on my pocket and a silencing spell around it so you wouldn't hear." She smiled and a lone tear slipped down her face. "Lioslaith would distract you all when needed and Diarmid helped me acquire some of your clothing, all of you, so Ismanna could acquaint herself with all of our scents. I wanted her to be familiar with everyone before I gifted her to you, Sal.
"But then... well, you were gone. I had not the heart to tell Rowena and Godric what I had done so instead I continued to raise her in the forest. She loved swimming with the Giant Squid. Once she had been old enough, I gave her to your eldest and I haven't seen her since. I do not know when or how she came back to the school, but she is a sweetheart, I promise. She only used her eyesight for hunting."
The other three stared at her before Godric started chuckling, "Of course you hatched a Basilisk for Salazar to keep him company."
"Well, he told me numerous times he wanted to meet another one. I thought maybe she could be a protector for our school. The centaurs were fine with her, the Giant Squid adored her, and the unicorns were often found grazing near her."
"You had a basilisk, in your pocket, while at a school where we had young children and families?" Helga shrank back at Rowena's voice, which didn't have inflection.
"Yes. She was quite safe. Didn't have her venom or her killing eyes at that point. She had the petrification portion, but at that age it only lasted a few moments. It's a built-in fail-safe in order for baby basilisks to get their meal and to help teach them when and how to use their abilities. They have an eyelid, you see, that's clear that covers their eyes so they don't accidently kill or petrify anyone. As they have magic, of sorts, it's all based on intent. Besides, they are like constrictors in the first year of their life to grow into their bodies and strength. I... did quite a bit of research on them before I started trying to hatch one, and I did speak with Samuel at length. I really wanted it to be a surprise and I thought all would be well."
"You spoke to Samuel about this?" Godric asked, amusement lacing his voice.
"He is a great conversationalist and we enjoyed many nights speaking. And as I asked him to keep it a secret, he agreed unless someone would become hurt."
Rowena pressed a finger to her temple with a sigh, "Helga, even a baby basilisk had to be quite large."
"She was nearly a meter."
"She could have hunted the children or seriously harmed you."
Helga crossed her arms and cocked her hip out. "And yet she did not. Content as you please to stay where she was loved and knew I would feed her or take her to areas where she could hunt. She was quite brilliant and understood the basics of our language."
"You are sounding quite like Hagrid."
Her eyes narrowed on the other woman. "Unlike him I was quite able to perform magic to keep all my wards, Ismanna included, safe."
Godric laughed, "You will not change her mind, Ro."
Rowena gave a slight smile. "I am aware, I was just hoping to maybe have her see some sense. Sal, some assistance if you will."
Helga glanced over at Salazar who she had been careful not to look at as she wasn't sure how he would take the news. She blinked at the almost blank look on his face and she feared he would be upset with her.
And then his features transformed to something raw and Helga took a tentative step back; disappointing him, when all she wanted to do was gift him his wish, would hurt worse.
He moved much too quickly for her to react and she found herself with an armful of Salazar, the sight of a rare, full smile from him melted Helga. "You hatched a basilisk. For me."
"Of course I did," Helga murmured, tears pricking her eyes when she realized none of them were truly angry with her. "Your wish was one I could give you, why wouldn't I?"
"You spent years, nearly a decade, trying. You could have been hurt," he said, arms still tight around her and seemingly unable to release her. "Why didn't you get at least Aedelric or Oswald to help you? They could have translated and you would have been at no risk."
"You do realize how much your boys loved you, yes? It's the same reason I could not tell Ric. One of them would surely have told you and the surprise gone or you would have noticed them coming by quite a bit more and disappearing into my and Diarmid's quarters which would have caused you to figure something out of the ordinary was happening. Those three were terrible at keeping secrets from you."
She felt Sal nod before he backed up and said, "We must find her. She's been alone for who knows how long."
"And if she's been alone, has she eaten? What do adult basilisks even eat?" Rowena asked.
"Larger mammals." Salazar immediately replied, "Foxes, badgers, owls, and the like. About five or six of them would keep the basilisk full for about three months."
"That would be about the size of a human child," Ric piped in. "Helga, she might have been sweet as a snakeling, but it's been centuries since you've seen her last. A lot can happen in that time."
"And if she's being used as a weapon that brings up another concern. Is it possible she's being controlled, and if so, how?"
"But why didn't she attack Mrs. Norris?" Helga wiped at her eyes. "She didn't eat her, only petrified her. And Sal said she was confused. I truly hope she has not been alone all this time."
"Where could she be?"
"We should use the clues given to us." Ric kicked his leg up so his foot rested against the wall. "Ismanna - if it's Ismanna - petrified the cat and there was writing on the wall nearby. It mentions the Chamber of Secrets being open. I suggest we go there first and see what we can find. Has the room been found yet?"
Rowena wrinkled her nose and blushed deeply when she admitted, "I looked once and didn't find it, but the more I think on it... I may have been looking in the wrong place."
"The castle has changed considerably," Salazar reassured his friend before addressing something else, "I should go alone, as I am the only one who can communicate with her."
"You are not going without me, Salazar." Helga straightened up and stared at her friend. "I brought her into this world, I need to know what happened to her."
"And I will not allow you to have all the fun without me. I wish to see Ismanna, if it is truly her."
"I too will be joining. I refuse to be left behind."
Godric grinned and skipped merrily over to his friends and clapped his hands together, "Shall we go on another adventure?"
Salazar raised his eyebrow, but he looked more amused than annoyed when he said, "Tomorrow is Sunday." He looked at Rowena, "How much time do you need to search for the room?"
"Once I find it, I'll send word immediately," Rowena thought for a moment and stated with conviction, "Meet in our old staff room at dawn."
- - - - Bonus Scene - Rowena - - - -
Rowena had failed to find their library the year before, yet this 'heir' had managed what she could not. That did not sit well with Rowena and she snuck out of the common room after hours. Rowena used her disillusionment spell before moving swiftly and sure footed down the marble staircase.
She traveled to the Entrance Hall, and Rowena purposefully moved past the empty chamber - that she absolutely knew was nothing but the wrong room - and slipped into the Great Hall. The hall was dimly lit by the candles bobbing near the ceiling and Rowena turned a full circle. The room was much larger than their original time.
She felt desperate and was nearly ready to give up when a doorknob she had not noticed before glinted in the low light. Rowena practically ran to the door and threw it open. Inside, she found a room filled with furniture, but the woman only had eyes for the stone fireplace she had been searching for.
Rowena held out her hand and breathed slowly, "Aotrom." The small ball of light illuminated the annex and she ran to the cold hearth. She found the etchings she had been looking for: snake, lion, eagle, and badger. Rowena shook her head and closed her eyes. She had simply gone to the wrong room.
Snapping her hand closed, Rowena stood swiftly and left the room wondering how she was going to live this down. Godric would surely tease her, Rowena Ravenclaw, for being directionally challenged. She smiled, not really concerned with any potential teasing.
Pulling parchment and a biro out of her pocket, she dashed a note for her friends. Rowena weaved her wand in a wide backwards S over the parchment then tapped it thrice, "Dùblachadh."
"Moppsy?" Rowena spoke softly and when the house elf appeared she smiled at her. "Please see that my friends get these messages, you'll have to coordinate with their house elves, but it is important that they receive these missives first thing in the morning. Thank you."
- - - - End Bonus Scene - Rowena - - - -
The following morning had Helga in the Owlery tying a note to Tatiana's leg in response to her father.
A few weeks after they had arrived, Godric had pulled them together in an emergency meeting and told them of some... worrisome news. Ronald had let slip that he, Fred, and George had saved Harry from his aunt and uncle's house. When Godric had asked what he meant by saving him, Harry had swatted at Ronald and Ronald had blushed and apologized, saying he had meant to say, "pick up".
Godric had asked Helga to look into it, maybe talk to Fred and George and see if they were a bit more loose-lipped.
They had been.
When she called for George and Fred by name, accurately, and after she explained how she could tell them apart - Fred stalked where George walked, Fred spoke more firmly, George had a softer smile, and, the easiest give away, Fred's eyes had more green than George's - she asked if they could shed light on the story. They explained the bars on the boy's windows - only his - and the locks on his door keeping him inside the room, the catflap, and the too large clothing that seemed to swallow Harry. The twins said they told their parents, but that they didn't really understand what Fred and George were saying. Mostly because the adults hadn't seen what the two boys had and they assumed all muggles were that way.
Helga assured the two terrors that she knew someone who would help and asked if they would give their accounts to said person in order to help Harry.
They agreed immediately.
That evening, she had sent a letter to her father, who worked in child services in the muggle world, and he had told her he would look into it and asked to speak with Fred and George.
The second letter he sent said he was building a case in the muggle world, but he had to move quietly and slowly so as not to draw attention from the magical world. He also said he needed to find more information on Harry's bloodline to find a family he was connected to by blood so the magical world wouldn't sweep it under the rug. Family blood had more sway than most were comfortable with and her father wanted to be sure that Harry, if they could get him away from the Dursleys, went to a family he would be safe and happy in.
The letter Helga currently tied to Tatiana's leg held her response telling him she would see what the genealogy books at Hogwarts gave. It would take a lot of studying, but she would get back to him with more information when she could.
She quietly exited her common room, Tatiana chirped in Helga's ear as she sat on the woman's shoulder. "Now, do not rush. I do not want you hurt, do you understand?" A beak picked at her hair, pulling a bit, but Helga continued on undeterred, "Rest when you must. I expect to not see you for at least a week. Stay safe and do not tire yourself out."
Tatiana gave an affronted hoot, jumped off her shoulder, and flapped her wings in Helga's face before taking off to find a window, apparently finished with the human.
Helga chuckled and moved to the entrance hall, but paused when she saw a small waif of a child in Ravenclaw colors huddled against the wall and - was the child barefoot? Helga hurried forward, and her heart nearly broke when she saw the girl flinch away from her.
"I apologize for startling you." Crouching, Helga kept a meter between herself and the child, arms wrapped loosely around her legs. "My name is Megan Jones, but you may call me Helga. All my friends do. What are you doing out here without any shoes?"
"The Nargles took them," she whispered. "I had hoped I could find them before they woke up and hid them somewhere else."
"I see. Well, let's fix that problem, shall we? Dippi?"
A small crack and a small creature stood in front of them, a yawn stretching the house elf's mouth. "Pardon, Missy. What can Dippi do for you?"
"Is it possible to find some shoes for... oh, I never caught your name, dear."
"Luna Lovegood."
"Can you perhaps find some shoes for Miss Lovegood? It is not safe or healthy for her to wander about without some. Maybe some slippers as well if you could?"
"Of course, Missy." Dippi disappeared for a few moments, the two girls keeping quiet as they waited. It didn't take long for the house elf to come back. "Here you are, little missy." She clicked her fingers and the slippers moved onto Luna's feet and the shoes sat beside her.
"May I request one last thing from you, Dippi?"
"Of course, Missy."
"Can you put a charm on them that if these are removed from Luna's possession that they find their way back to her?"
"Yes, Dippi can be doing that." Another click of long fingers finished the deed and the house elf bowed before disappearing.
"There, all fixed. If any more nargles come and bother you, please ask for Dippi or come find me."
Luna finally looked up and Helga smiled at the child with the bright, blue eyes and nearly white hair. "Thank you," she whispered before her eyes widened. "You have beautiful Waspiths."
"Thank you!" Helga beamed, even though she had absolutely no idea what the young girl was talking about. However, the words were meant as a compliment and that was how Helga would take them. "I also have a friend in Ravenclaw with you and she'll help you too if you ask her. Just mention me and the Nargels bothering you. Her name is Lisa Turpin."
Luna nodded and stood, moving forward to stare intently at Helga before smiling brightly. "I've never seen Waspiths as old as yours, or as heavy."
Helga blinked, "Truly?"
"They fly around you happily, in long, big waves. They're warm. Comforting." The girl warmed up as she saw that Helga wasn't judging her. "I've never seen anything as large as the ones around you, even the Headmaster's Waspiths are smaller and... frantic? They're also more..." she paused, eyes narrowing. "Calculating, I suppose."
Helga gasped, clasping her hands and standing, stepping forwards as well so the girls were standing close together. "You see magic! How wondrous!"
"Is that what it is? Mummy always said they were creatures." Luna cocked her head to the side, long hair flowing over her shoulder. "Will Lisa's look like yours?"
"Perhaps. Well, for the moment, I imagine you should head back to bed. Or I could show you the kitchens if you're peckish."
Luna nodded. "Food sounds lovely."
Helga took her arm and thanked the stars she had left with time to spare and led the child to the kitchens and let her in.
"You need to leave. Though I don't think you'll find what you're expecting."
Helga tilted her head. "Do you have seer blood as well?"
"Not that I'm aware of. Do they have chocolate pudding?"
"I'm sure they do, but try to have something more healthy this early in the morning. You can always have some later. The house elves will truly be happy to see you, no matter the time of day. Now, as you said, I must away, but I would like to introduce you to my friends. Lisa Turpin, Tracey Davis, and Fay Dunbar. They will adore you, I'm sure."
Luna nodded as Helga tickled the pear in the painting and the door appeared. "Thank you, Megan Jones."
The two parted ways with Helga quickly disillusioning herself before making her way to the annex room in the Great Hall. The room had a large fireplace on the opposite side of the door. Helga quickly went to the fireplace and pressed a palm onto the badger etched onto the stone face and sent her magic into it. The school recognized her magic and reacted.
Moments later, a spiral staircase opened beside her and she took off. As soon as her head fell beneath the floor level, the stones covered the exit and the sconces burned brightly as she walked down into a small, round room that only held a spiraling design on the floor. Helga knew that if she looked close enough that the spiral were actually four connecting animals, repeated over and over and over again: snake, lion, eagle, badger.
Rowena, Godric, and Salazar were already there, waiting for her.
"There you are, Helga. I was afraid you might have still been asleep."
"Oh hush, Ric. I found a lost Raven this morning. Ro, I fear there might be some bullying in your house."
Rowena straightened, eyes flashing. "Which child is being targeted?"
"Luna Lovegood, first year. I remember her sorting now. Quiet, and I believe she can see magic. Maybe even has a bit of seer blood, she told me we won't find exactly what we're looking for."
Godric answered, "Perhaps we can find answers of a sort, even if it's not what we expect."
Salazar stepped into the middle of the room and the other three joined him. "I imagine the password for the professors to call the wards has changed over time. Thankfully, we have our own." He crouched and placed his right palm on the floor precisely at the focal point of the spiral, saying, "Tha mise, Salazar Slytherin, a stèidhich Hogwarts, a 'cur an cèill gu bheil eòlas a chaidh a lorg na chumhachd a chaidh fhaighinn, ach nach bi e a-riamh ann an cunnart chloinne."
For a second, nothing happened, but then the spiral lit up in an emerald color, then burgundy, then royal blue, and then finally a soft yellow. The castle seemed to sigh and the floor under their feet glowed with hidden sigils before the four friends were enveloped in a white light.
When the light faded, the hidden room was shown to them and Helga felt her heart sink.
The library which held all their research, their notes, the knowledge that Rowena had painstakingly etched onto parchment: gone. The walls where all of the books they collected, the other professors collected, and where they had hoped all the professors that followed would keep their books, empty.
"What happened?" Rowena whispered as she stared at the empty tables, ladened with dust. At the chairs that had been pushed in, but were neglected and aged with time. She stepped forward, sneezing, her hand shaking as she reached towards a shelf. "Why is it all gone?"
Salazar turned around in a circle, eyes taking everything in and his feet leaving a trail of dust.
Godric went to the only door in the room and grabbed the handle. He yanked. The door did not move. "Sal, I can't get into the laboratory."
"What?" The other man stepped forward and Godric let him try.
Helga went to Rowena and placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Ro, I do not believe all is lost."
"But what happened, Helga? Did someone take all of this? Why would they do such a thing?"
"Maybe they simply moved it."
"But where would - the Restricted Section." Rowena turned towards her, her hand covering Helga's. "That had never existed in our time. But Helga, if the books were truly moved there, some of those were never meant for children's eyes! They would not understand the repercussions of some of the spells, rituals, runes."
"We will look into it. If they are there, we will do what we can and move that information back here where it was meant to be."
Rowena nodded. "That is wise. Shall we see what became of the laboratory?"
"There is a problem," Salazar answered in response to Rowena's question. "We can't get past the door."
AN-Ajellah: Made up sons of Salazar Slytherin, I picked a couple of Anglo-Saxon names.
ÆÐELRIC - Derived from the Old English elements æðel "noble" and ric "ruler".
OSWALD - Derived from the Old English elements of "god" and weald "power".
A/N-Elipsa: Before anyone says anything, yes, there was a hint that Helga was pregnant when she was thirteen in her old life. Please remember that during their original timeline, they lived in the 900s where girls were married as young as 12 - 12 1/2 ... and were expected to have children. So please don't get all weirded out.
Made up husband and daughter of Helga Hufflepuff.
Diarmid - Irish and Gaelic origin. It means: free man
Lioslaith - Derived from Gaelic elements lois meaning 'enclosure' or garden' and laith meaning 'grey'. So meaning something similar to dwells at the gray fortress.
Google Translate Time:
Tha mise, [name], a stèidhich Hogwarts, a 'cur an cèill gu bheil eòlas a chaidh a lorg na chumhachd a chaidh fhaighinn, ach nach bi e a-riamh ann an cunnart chloinne.
I, [name] , a founder of Hogwarts, do so declare that knowledge found is power gained, but never at the risk of the children.
Dùblachadh - Charm, duplicates item