Chapter 23: Secrets of the Past

Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter. I'm glad to see so many of you enjoy the last chapter, but wait until you see what I have in store for you now. I've been planning this chapter for a long time. Please Review and Enjoy.

It had been a few days since Sam had got the last pieces but he had yet to take a look. Luckily there had been no more attacks since Nick and Justin.

Many had hoped the Heir of Slytherin had encountered some obstacles and couldn't attack, however most still have the thought in their head that Harry is the Heir of Slytherin.

Luckily Hermione had finally gotten out of the Hospital Wing and things were slowly calming down.

The morning of February 20th, Sam's birthday but he was in no mood to celebrate with what's going on. He finally had the pieces to find out the truth and while he was eager to know part of him was nervous.

At the Slytherin Table, Sam was sitting down writing notes with his lunch nearby when Harry was walking up behind him.

Reaching out Harry tapped him on the shoulder startling him. "Whoa!" Sam said turning around.

"Hey, it's just me Sam." Harry said holding his hands up.

"Oh Harry, sorry about that." Sam said.

"Just wanted to wish you a happy birthday. Sorry we're not throwing you a party like last year." Harry said.

"I'm actually kind of glad you aren't. With what's going on right now I'm not really in a celebrating mood." Sam said.

"Sam, it's your birthday you should at least do something." Harry said sitting next to him.

"Alright, well Martha is probably sending a birthday cupcake like every year. Guess I'll have that." Sam said.

"Don't you want anything?" Harry asks.

"Yeah answers, but right now I am just too nervous to be happy." Sam said.

"Why's that?" Harry asks.

"Well what if I do find the answers but it's not something I was hoping for?" Sam asks.

"I know that feeling. Imagine if the answer is I'm the Heir of Slytherin? I don't know what I'd do." Harry sighs.

"Speaking of, any luck with finding anything in Tom Riddle's diary?" Sam asks as Harry took it out.

"Nope, just can't seem to find anything." Harry said opening it to reveal blank pages.

Sighing both sit down lost and confused.

"Want some?" Sam asks offering part of his sandwich.

"Sure." Harry said as Sam reached over but when he did he ended up knocking some ink onto the journal.

"Oh man. Harry I'm so sorry." Sam said but when Harry was about to clean it they both saw the ink disappear upon contact.

Eyes widening Harry looks to the diary and then to Sam with a smile.

"Sam, it may be your birthday, but I think you just gave me an amazing present." Harry smiles grabbing the journal.

"Hmm well at least someone's happy." Sam chuckles finishing up his lunch.

Packing his things up, Sam made his way out when he noticed Prof. Snape down the hall.

"Professor?" Sam said surprised.

"Come with me." Snape said walking away.

'Wait is today a lesson?' Sam thought following him into the dungeons.

Entering the Potions room, Sam saw there was nobody else there.

"Uh is everything alright? Am I in trouble?" Sam asks.

"No not this time." Snape said closing the door. "I saw your Quidditch match. You did good."

"Wow, thanks. I guess I got lucky." Sam said rubbing the back of his head.

"Luck had nothing to do with it." Snape said turning to him. "You won because you worked for it. You tried hard and overcame it. You've earned the spot as Seeker."

"Wow thank you." Sam said.

"For some reason you don't seem as proud of your accomplishment as I thought you would be." Snape said.

"I just have a lot on my mind. Things are getting hard and scary, and I'm not going to lie sometimes I wish things would just fix itself." Sam said.

"Sit down." Snape said.

"I'm not really in the mood for—"

"Sit down." Snape repeats and Sam immediately sits down. "Now look here, I don't know what is going on in your head but whatever you're dealing with may seem scary well guess what? Life is scary. Get used to it." Snape said as Sam looked at him surprised. "We may live in a world of magic but there is no magic that fixes everything. In the end it's all up to you. If something needs to be done, you have to get up and do the work yourself."

"But what if I mess up, what something goes wrong or I've gotten myself into something that's too much?" Sam asks.

"Sam, I have no idea what has you so confused but listen. Nothing in this world that's worth having ever comes easy. I've watched you rise to every challenge life has thrown at you." Snape said causing him to smile and all his nervousness went away.

"Thank you." Sam said standing up.

"Oh and Happy Birthday." Snape said surprising him. "I remembered when I met you that two years ago today was your birthday."

Overcome with joy, Sam moves in and hugs Prof. Snape. He had given him the drive to see this through and even remembered his birthday.

"Thank you, thank you so much." Sam smiles.

"Just…just get going. I have classes to get ready for and so do you." Snape said letting go.

"Thanks Da—I mean Prof. Snape." Sam said quickly correcting himself.

Looking at him, Snape watched as he walked out and smiles. He had almost called him dad again.

That night back in the Slytherin Common room, Sam sees Noctis had put his wrapped-up birthday cupcake on his bed.

"Thanks Martha." Sam smiles.

Unwrapping it, Sam takes a big bite out of it before reaching down and pulling out the three objects and his penesive.

"Okay time for the moment of truth." Sam said finishing his treat before getting everything ready.

Opening the music box, Sam put the tooth inside the centerpiece and then put in the number code from Ravenclaw.

"Let's see 3851." Sam said plugging in the code and instantly the music box started to work and a soft melody played.

As the tooth spun it slowly started to glow blue as the top part of the necklace opened up revealing a memory inside it.

Using his wand, Sam brought the memory to his pensive and drops it in.

Taking a deep breath Sam looks down at it.

"Nothing worth having comes easy." Sam said before looking inside diving into the memory.

Landing down, Sam looks to see he was in a familiar room.

"Hey the Dueling Club." Sam said when two spells were launched causing him to yelp.

Looking to one side he saw a Ravenclaw teenage boy and on the other was William, but he looked at least 3 years older than when Sam first saw him and wearing Slytherin robes.

"Flipendo!" William said blasting the other student knocking him back.

"Whoa, is that same nervous kid?" Sam said impressed.

Stumbling back the other student tried to recover when William waves his wand. "Petrificous Totalous!"

Freezing up the other wizard fell to the ground unable to move.

"And William wins!" The ref said as the students cheered.

Nearby Godric and Salazar were watching.

"Hmm not bad. He made it to the last round." Godric said.

"He might win this." Salazar said.

"Oh? His next opponent is a 7th year and someone you know quite well. You really want to doubt him?" Godric asks.

"Hmm I'm not sure. Lately that one has been a little…difficult." Salazar with venom in the last word.

Walking up to face William was a 7th year Slytherin with black hair.

Meeting in the middle both raised their wands.

"Best of luck Junior." William said.

"I don't need luck and don't address me like we're friends. We're not." Junior glares before both walked to opposite sides.

"Ready begin." The ref said.

"Stupefy!" Junior yells firing a powerful blast.

Yelping William flicks his wand blocking the attack. "Incendio!" William said as fire emitted from his wand trapping Junior in a ring of flames burning his robes.

Grabbing his robes, Junior smacks it putting out the flames causing everyone to laugh and Salazar even chuckles.

"Depulso!" Junior yells blasting William back with a powerful spell making him crash near the end of the arena.

Groaning William looks up to see Junior fire another spell at him.

"Whoa!" Rolling out of the way, William gets up dodging the attack.

"Confrigo!" Junior said.

"Melfors!" William said giving Junior a pumpkin head stopping him. "Flipendo!"

Using this opening William knocks Junior to the ground knocking the pumpkin right off his head.

"Hey I use that combo." Sam chuckles.

As Junior gets up he growls staring William down.

"You are going to get it." Junior glares.

"What? It was funny." William said.

"Diffindo!" Junior said as William's robes were cut slightly.

"Expelliarmus!" Firing the disarming spell, it hit Junior's wand sending it flying into the air. "Accio Wand!"

Before Junior could grab it, his wand was yanked into William's free hand leaving him completely defenseless.

"Loss of wand. William wins!" The ref declares as everyone cheers.

Walking up to Junior, William holds out his wand. "Good duel."

"Shut up." Junior said taking it back before storming off.

Afterward, William was being congratulated by the other students as Salazar approached him.

"Excellent form back there. Not many 4th years can say they've won this on their first try." Salazar said.

"Thank you sir. I really put the time and effort into learning as many spells as I could." William said.

"I could tell. Mind walking with me? I'd like to ask you something." Salazar said.

"Sure." As William followed Salazar out Junior noticed them and narrowed his eyes.

In a small corridor, Sam watched Salazar look at the school crest with William behind him.

"You know when my mentor Merlin left this school to me and my friends I was honored beyond words to be apart of all this. Passing the knowledge of magic to the next generation. My Master was so impressed he was actually a member of my house." Salazar said.

"Wow, that must have made you feel special." William said.

"It did. You're coming up on your 5th year. That's when we encourage our students to start considering life when they leave Hogwarts. Have you given that any thought?" Salazar asks.

"Not yet, figured I would think about that over the summer." William admits.

"Well in my opinion it's never too early to start. How would be interested in a career at Hogwarts?" Salazar asks.

"You mean like a teacher? Because that would be incredible." William smiles.

"Well being a teacher is fulfilling but I have something else in mind." Salazar chuckles before reaching to his belt and pulls out the Viper Fangs.

"Wow." William said in awe.

Looking to his hip, Sam saw the same daggers were strapped to his belt.

"I call these the Viper Fangs. They're not just weapons but a symbol of my house and my strength, but I won't always be around forever. William, how would you like to be my apprentice?" Salazar asks shocking William and Sam.

"Me? Be your apprentice?" William asks.

"You would spend your time after graduation assisting me and learning everything it takes to do my job here at Hogwarts and should you accept you could even replace me one day." Salazar said.

"You mean it? But aren't there more qualified students out there?" William asks.

"William, you're a hard worker. I've seen you around the school, you carry attributes of all the houses here. But more than any of that you have heart." Salazar said putting the Viper Fang in his hand. "What do you say?"

"This…this is unbelievable. I need to write my parents and tell them all about this." William said excited. "Oh uh here you go." Turning back William handed Salazar back his weapon before walking out cheering.

Sam looks at William and smiles before remembering the last memory. "Wait a minute. There's no way Salazar Slytherin made the Chamber of Secrets. Why would he kill someone who was going to be his apprentice?"

"I don't believe this." Salazar turns to see Junior storming towards him.

"Hey it's him." Sam said when Junior walked right through Sam causing him to shiver. "Still can't get used to that.

"I can't believe you actually offered the Viper Fangs to him of all people!" Junior snaps.

"Why not? William is one of my best students. By next year, he could even be Prefect." Salazar said.

"Why not? He's a mudblood! He is a disgrace to wizardkind. He shouldn't even be here. If anyone deserves the Viper Fangs it's me, Father!" Junior said shocking Sam.

"Wait no way. So that's why William called him Junior. That means he's…Salazar Slytherin the second." Sam said blown away.

"I offered him the chance to learn from me because William has worked hard these past 4 years to prove he's worthy. What have you done to prove your worth?" Salazar said.

"My worth? I am your heir. That's far more worth that-that Mudlblood! It is my birthright to take your place and be given the Viper Fangs. Just that fact that I am alive means I am entitled to them." Junior said trying to grab them but Salazar grabs his arm and stops.

"You may be my son, but you have not done one thing to prove yourself to me. Don't think I've seen you, bullying those who come from muggle families, hardly putting in any effort in your classes, all you've done is carry my name. You are far from worthy." Salazar declares letting go. "I hope you use these last months to clean up your act."

"Ugh that guy reminds me of Malfoy the way he described him." Sam cringed as he watched Salazar walk away.

"Father wait!" Junior calls out. "Let me have one more chance to prove my worth."

"What could possibly do now? The school year is almost over." Salazar asks turning to him.

"Trust me father, when you see what I have in store it will change Hogwarts forever." Junior vows.

Pausing Salazar crosses his arm. "One more chance. If you fail, you will never question me again. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes father." Junior nods.

"Good, I better go tell William about my decision. Hopefully, he at least respects my choice." Salazar said walking away.

As Sam looks to Junior he heard him mumble something before the memory started to change.

In the Gryffindor Common room, Harry was at a desk looking at the diary.

Thanks to the clue Sam showed him, Harry had a theory he could test.

Taking out some ink he wrote in it. "My Name is Harry Potter."

Waiting Harry looked to see a message appeared. "Hello Harry Potter, my name is Tom Riddle. How did you come across my diary?"

"It actually works." Harry said amazed before he wrote again. "I'm a student at Hogwarts. Horrible things are happening. Do you know anything about the Chamber of Secrets?"

Pausing Harry watched as the ink disappeared. "Please, please." Harry begs when more sentences appeared.

"Of course I know about it. When I was a 5th year it was opened and several students were attacked before two students were killed. I caught the culprit but the headmaster Prof. Dippet ashamed of this forbade me to talk about it."

"Please, there have been three attacks and I need to know. Can you tell me what happened?" Harry asks.

"No…but I can show you. Let me take you back 50 years ago."

"Show me?" Harry said confused when suddenly the diary glowed and like Sam with his pensive Harry was pulled inside.

Looking around Harry saw he was in the middle of the hallway.

"How did I get here?" Harry asks when he noticed a teenage boy around 16 at the end of the hall. He wore Slytherin robes and had short black hair. This was Tom Riddle.

"Excuse me what's going on? Are you Tom Riddle?" Harry asks walking up to him but Tom said nothing. "Can you hear me?"

Looking up Tom saw multiple staff members carrying two bodies covered by sheets but Harry could see one of their hands dangling from the side all lifeless.

"Riddle!" A familiar voice calls out getting Harry and Tom's attention.

Turning around they saw a young Dumbledore walking over.

"Prof. Dumbledore." Tom said acknowledging him.

"Dumbledore?" Harry said surprised.

"What are you doing wandering around this late, Tom?" Dumbledore asks.

"Forgive me sir, I had to see for myself if the rumors were true." Tom said.

"I'm afraid they are Tom." Dumbledore nods.

"Did Prof. Dippet get my letter?" Tom asks.

"Yes, Tom but I'm afraid in good nature you cannot stay at Hogwarts while such a monster is on this loose. You will have to go home." Dumbledore said.

"Sir I cannot go back to that Orphanage. I hate it there." Tom said quickly.

"An orphan? Just like Sam." Harry said looking at him.

"I'm sorry Tom but we have no choice." Dumbledore said.

"But what if…what if the person behind all this was caught?" Tom asks.

"Is there something you wish to share?" Dumbledore asks suspiciously.

"No sir." Tom denies.

"Very well, off you go." Dumbledore urged.

"Yes sir." Tom said walking away with Harry right behind him.

Heading down into the dungeons, Harry saw Tom lead him to a room.

Slowly, Tom took out his wand and opens the door to reveal a very large student.

"Get in the box quick." A familiar voice said before closing it.

"Evening Rubeus." Tom said as Harry looks inside to see a young Hagrid inside.

"Tom? What are ye doing here?" Hagrid asks startled.

"I'm going to have to turn you in, Rubeus. They're talking about closing Hogwarts if the attacks don't stop. I don't think you meant to kill anyone." Tom said walking in.

"You don't understand, he wouldn't kill anyone." Hagrid said.

"The dead students' parents will be here tomorrow. The least Hogwarts can do is make sure the thing that killed their children is slaughtered." Tom said.

"It wasn't him. Aragog didn't hurt anyone." Hagrid begs.

"I'm sorry Hagrid, but monsters don't make good pets." Tom said.

"Please no!" Hagrid said but Tom flicks his wand causing flames to hit the box and from it a large spider scurried out.

"Aragog no!" Hagrid yells as Tom tried to blast it but Hagrid pushes him allowing the spider to scurry away.

Hagrid tried to follow but Tom stops him.

"You're coming with me Hagrid. I'll have your wand for this." Tom said causing Harry to gasp before he zoomed out of the memory and appeared back in the Gryffindor common room.

"I don't believe it. Hagrid was the one who opened it 50 years ago." Harry said in shock.

With Sam, he was still in the memory as we see Salazar walking down the hall before stopping on the second floor.

"Alright now where is this big surprise that's most to make me change my mind?" Salazar said looking around.

Behind him, Sam was just as eager and nervous to see what it was when suddenly they heard a scream.

"What was that?!" Salazar gasps as he ran up the stairs and turned a corner only to see Junior waiting for him.

"Father no wait!" Junior said stopping him.

"What is going on?! I heard screaming!" Salazar said.

"Hang on it's almost complete." Junior said.

"It? What's it?" Salazar asks.

"Help!" A familiar voice yells causing Sam and Salazar's eyes to widen.

"William!" Salazar gasps trying to run but Junior stopped him. "Unhand me at once!"

"I told you I had something big planned for this school and it's because of your gifts that it's possible." Junior said.

"What are you talking about?" Salazar asks when suddenly Junior said something in parslemouth and slowly Salazar steps back.

"Surprised?" Junior asks.

"It took 7 years but it's finally ready." Junior said grabbing a torch and tossing it down the corridor.

As a torch rolls down the hall they looked to see a large shadow got closer before William's scream was silenced and a body hit the ground.

"NO!" Salazar yells as he shoves Junior out of the way and runs down the hall only to see William's cold dead body lying on the ground but the monster was long gone.

"Oh no." Sam said in horror as Salazar ran to William.

"William wake up. Please, wake up." Salazar said shaking him.

"It's no use father, he's dead." Junior said walking it. "Now you have no choice to make me your apprentice."

"How could do this? What could possibly have driven you to create such a thing?" Salazar said looking up at his son.

"You father, you drove me." Junior points. "Ever since I was born you told me of your accomplishments and the things you valued in your house more than anything: cunning, resourcefulness, leadership, and ambition. Well, I used all of them when I came to Hogwarts and created my secret chamber. I was going to do something you could never bring yourself to do. Rid this school of all mudbloods and leave only the students who truly come from wizarding families."

"Why?" Salazar asks trying to surpress his rage.

"Because father, Muggles have no right to be part of our world. They don't deserve to stand as our equals they belong under our feet groveling at us. I had everything ready accept one thing. I couldn't figure out which Mudblood to use it on first until this one showed up." Junior hissed looking at William. "For four years I watched you shower this mudblood with praise. Praise that rightfully should have been mine! And you disgraced us by offering him the Viper Fangs! Well now look at him father! He'll never wield your treasure!"

"Oh my god…he's a monster." Sam said stepping away from Junior.

"No he won't…and neither will you." Salazar glares drawing his wand surprising him.

Firing a spell, Salazar blasts Junior down the hall.

Drawing his wand, Junior tries to retaliate but Salazar draws a Viper Fang sand slashes the spell in half.

As Junior fires spell after spell, Salazar blocks with his dagger before disappearing into the shadows.

Appearing behind him, Salazar fires a spell knocking him forward before disappearing and reappearing in different sides and angles overpowering Junior.

"Bombarda Maxima!" Junior yells.

Drawing his second dagger, Salazar grips them tight causing the daggers to glow green before blocking the explosion stopping them with ease.

"I never thought of using them like that." Sam said

As smoke surrounds him, Junior took a defensive stance.

"I did all this for you father! You wanted proof well here's your proof! You were a fool!" Junior calls out when out of the shadows, Salazar appears behind him.

"I suppose you are right." Salazar said as Junior turns to see Salazar blast him from close range knocking him into the wall.

Groaning he tries to get up only to see Salazar hold a Viper Fang to his neck. "Father?" Junior said looking up to see a look of rage on Salazar's face.

"You're right. I was a fool. A fool to think you could ever be worthy, but I will not make that mistake again." Salazar declares pressing the dagger closer to him.

"Father please. I am your son." Junior said in fear.

"No, I only had one son. And his name wass William. Now get out." Salazar hisses.

"What?" Junior said in shock.

"GET OUT! Salazar Slytherin the second you are unworthy of my name!" Salazar declares ripping the Slytherin logo off his robes. "You are worthy of your powers!" Taking his wand, he breaks it in half. "And you are unworthy of this school! I expel you from my home and from Hogwarts! Should our paths cross again I will kill you!" Salazar declares throwing Junior down the hall.

"Father please I beg you—"

"You're not my son, you're a disgrace to the very name Slytherin." Salazar said as Sam watched Salazar throw his son out of the castle.

Standing behind Salazar, Junior watched Godric, Rowena and Helga stand alongside him.

"You just wait father. You will not live forever and one day my heir will return to this school and prove to you how wrong you are. He will bring glory to Slytherin and eliminate all mudbloods who dare show their face here!" Junior snaps before storming off into the darkness.

Making their way back inside, Salazar leads them to William's dead body and needless to say they were horrified.

"How did this happen?" Helga asks.

"It's all my fault." Salazar said.

"No Salazar it's not. It's Salazar Slytherin the second's fault." Godric assures.

"But had I known about this sooner I could have stopped him. I could have saved William. And what's worse there's a secret chamber somewhere in this school holding the monster that did this responsible." Salazar said.

"Salazar we have to report this." Rowena said.

"No!" Godric said stopping her. "Rowena if word gets out that we let a student build a secret chamber to kill muggleborns Hogwarts could be shut down."

"We can't just ignore it. We have to search the castle or all the other students will get in danger." Rowena said.

"But if we report this we could all be fired and there would be no more Hogwarts." Helga said.

"What do we do? By tomorrow everyone will know a Slytherin released this monster." Rowena said.

"Then we shift the blame." Salazar said looking up. "They'll know a Slytherin did this, but not which Slytherin did it. I'll take the heat for this."

"What?!" The three founders said shocked.

"Salazar do you know what you're doing?" Rowena asks.

"Think about it, if I take the fall you three can keep the school going and by removing me Hogwarts will survive. Everything my son said about muggleborns, the chamber, blame it all on me." Salazar said.

"But Salazar, this will ruin your name, ruin your house." Godric said.

"My name is already ruined." Salazar said looking down at William. "It's the only way and I think you all know that to be the truth."

Slowly all three founders hang their heads sadly knowing what was going to happen.

Zooming out we see, Sam land back in his room exiting the memory.

Panting Sam had a look of shock on his face.

"I don't believe this everything that we know about the Chamber of Secrets…is wrong." Sam declares.