Dissindere Temporalis

So here we are again!

This chapter was harder to write than some of the others, I'm not sure exactly why. I think it's because it's hitting a plot point that has been coming for a long time. Often when I have these big plot beats, I am harder on myself then otherwise.

The next few chapters are going to be more on the emotion, and the fallout from the previous chapter, and this one.

I hope you all enjoy!

Thanks for reading.

Veritas Semper Exeat

"The truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end; there it is."

– Winston Churchill

It was a surprise to Hermione when everyone seemed to throw themselves into Tom's new project of finding the Founders' tests.

Slytherin's Scriptorium, The Chamber of Secrets, Ravenclaw's Repository and Gryffindor's Gauntlet were their primary topic of conversation as soon as their homework was completed.

The Scriptorium was the easiest, having already been discovered and the path documented, especially since they now had Ominis Gaunt's diary for guidance. Hermione knew Tom was itching to unlock it, to see the secrets of the Founder who was his ancestor, but since it was already solved, his attention was far more focused on the other three.

They'd all gone to the Room of Requirement, and upon seeing how the Room shifted to meet their needs, they'd decided to take some of their studying there. Hermione knew that Harry was quietly pleased at returning there, despite his hesitation to share it initially. It felt more homely than the Undercroft, and it was nice to have two spaces they could retreat to if they needed peace and quiet.

"The Chamber of Secrets is at least something mentioned in Hogwarts mythos," Aurora had grumbled one rainy afternoon while they all studied in the Room, "There is not a single mention of a Gauntlet or Repository. All the books talk about are Gryffindor's sword and Ravenclaw's lost Diadem."

"None of the books mention the Room," Bash pointed out, eyeing her over the top of his book, "And yet that exists."

"And stumbled upon by luck!" Aurora waved a hand, "No one has stumbled upon the Repository or Gryffindor's Gauntlet."

"That we know of." Druella smiled innocently when Aurora glared.

"The Scriptorium is also not mentioned anywhere in these books either," Ron offered with a groan as he stretched, "But we know it exists…"

"It won't be in the Hogwarts Library then," Tom mused quietly, "Otherwise some student would have read about them…"

"You mean you or Hermione would have read about them…," Ross teased from where he was sprawled in a ridiculously squashy armchair, grinning at Tom cheekily.

Tom simply pulled a face at the Gryffindor, but there was a tiny curve upwards at the corner of his lips.

It was strange to see, just as it was strange to realise again and again that Tom Riddle did seem to truly care for his companions. At the very least he saw them as his own, was fiercely protective of them as he was about any of his possessions. But there were moments, moments where Hermione saw a lonely and confused boy, baffled by his emotions. And there were moments, like now, where she saw genuine affection.

Dumbledore had told Harry he believed Tom to be incapable of love.

More and more Hermione found that she disagreed.

For so long, Dumbledore had been the final authority, almost the word of god, for Harry, Ron and Hermione too. He'd been the adult with the answers, the safety net when things went wrong.

He'd been more than a man.

He'd been a legend.

But during that desperate year they'd hunted Horcruxes they'd slowly begun to realise what all children eventually realised about the adults they idolised.

He was human. He was fallible.

He had his own baggage, biases and trauma. It didn't make him bad, far from it. But it did make him human.

He'd been wrong about Tom.

Perhaps he'd been influenced by his own troubled past with Grindelwald. By all accounts the young Gellert had been handsome, charismatic, charming and driven, all traits that he shared with the young Tom Riddle. He had had a natural affinity for darker magic, had a desire to change the world and the callousness to break a few eggs in order to get there.

Dumbledore had once agreed with him, had planned and debated and believed in the world they would build.

And then it had all shattered apart.

Leaving Dumbledore behind, feeling immeasurable guilt for the death of his sister. All of that emotion had twisted up inside him, and set him on a path to oppose everything Grindelwald stood for. To be a champion for muggles, to oppose darkness, to espouse only modern magic.

And then he met Tom.

A handsome, charismatic, clearly powerful child, with already honed ruthless abilities and talents. With Slytherin's famous talent for talking to snakes.

One couldn't blame him from seeing the echoes.

The shadow of a boy he'd once known, once loved.

He may have hoped Tom would choose a different path, but he had avoided forming a connection with him, and had been unsurprised when Tom chose, and fell, to darkness.

He'd condemned him before he could even begin, before he even had a chance.

But he'd done it for the best of reasons.

It was a sobering lesson.

This Tom, their Tom, certainly was on the path of learning to love. Harry had passed along that Tierra believed that he loved but didn't know it, or refused to acknowledge the emotion. Hermione was inclined to believe her, with the addendum that Tom didn't understand the emotion. Not really.

But it was there.

It was a few weeks before Christmas before the quartet managed to find a time to slip away to chat, just the four of them.

They had a lot to discuss.

"The visions," Ron barrelled in, face determined, as the other three winced, "The first two… they were from our past… our future, right?"

Hermione shared a quick look with Draco, whose expression was twisted with regret and guilt.

"Yes," Harry nodded, and she was surprised that he was so calm about it, "At least mine was."

Ron turned to her and Draco, and both of them, after glancing at each other again, nodded miserably.

"Okay…" Ron let out a breath, "Well we know that those aren't going to come true at least. They've been and gone."

"Then why were we shown them?" Draco rejoined sharply, "Surely there must be some danger of history repeating if we saw them."

"I don't think that's it," Hermione shook her head, "I.. don't think they were for us."

Harry and Ron blinked at her, while Draco frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean…" Hermione shifted slightly, "I mean that I don't think it was important for US to see those scenes again. I think it was for the others."

"The others?" Ron shook his head with confusion but Draco's expression had melted into thoughtful consideration.

"Abraxas."

Hermione nodded, "He has been worrying about that first vision, the one in the Manor." She winced, and saw Draco echo her movement, a little colour leaving his cheeks, "He… came and talked to me about it. Assured me that I would never be unsafe in his home."

He'd been rather sweetly earnest, eyes so like Draco's own, but blue instead of grey, expression concerned. She could tell he'd been shaken by what he'd seen, and worried by it too.

"Riddle was shaken by seeing yours," Draco informed Harry thoughtfully, "He's been keeping a closer eye on you. It's sweet, in a rather Riddle-like way."

Ron blinked at them all, "So… you think it was something for the others? Not us?"

"It can't happen again." Harry mused, "It's already happened, and can't again. We're not in the same time, and at least in my case, the Horcrux is gone. I don't think it would be returned."

They all considered this quietly for a moment or two.

"So… they aren't really important now." Ron continued, shaking himself out of his thoughts and ploughing ahead, "The other visions…the girl being killed, Abraxas and that dark haired man… the Founders. Tom…"

Hermione shook her head, "The first one, the girl…something about that is familiar. Like I've read about it. It might be something else from our original time…"

"It could also happen again." Harry pointed out quietly, "We don't know enough about it, we don't even know who she was."

"Do we need to figure that out?" Ron mused, "It might just be another vision from the past… something unimportant for right now."

"Can we afford to dismiss it on the off chance it is?" Draco sneered lightly, "We saw it for a reason,"

"We have a lot to be worrying about already," Hermione gestured, "The Founders, and their 'tests', surely we have to focus on that. I don't think there's anything to be done about the girl until we find some… hint as to who she is. Or was."

"Like the bloody Chamber of Secrets," Ron groaned, "I thought we'd seen the back of that place."

Draco shot him a filthy look.

Hermione hid a grin.

Draco had been exceptionally affronted when he'd learned about their adventures with the Chamber. Especially when he'd learned that all three of them had been in there at least once. And that Harry had killed Slytherin's Basilisk.

"Do we just let them figure it out?" Harry pointed out, "It feels oddly manipulative to withhold information and waste their time."

"And how do you propose we tell them, Potter?" Draco sneered, "Oh hey. Just so you all know, there is a Chamber, there's a Basilisk and you get in there via the girl's bathroom. 'Oh but Harry Potter, how do you know this?'" he put on a wispy falsetto that made Harry punch him in the shoulder.

"You are such a git, Malfoy."

Hermione smiled, "He does have a point. How would we explain our knowledge?"

"So we let them flounder along?" Harry rejoined, a smile still on his lips.

It was strange, Hermione had of course seen Harry happy before. Their original time had had its joys after all. But she didn't think she'd ever seen Harry so content.

He wasn't hunted. He wasn't burdened by expectation, by fame, by reputation or by prophesied greatness. Here he could be just Harry Potter.

The Boy Who lived was no more, even if he retained a lot of the saviour complex he'd developed.

"It would waste their time, and our time," Hermione noted, "Detract them away from finding the Repository and the Gauntlet. Seems wasteful."

"But we can't just tell them." Ron pointed out.

"Honestly, Ron," Hermione huffed, "There are other ways of leading them there other than just out and out saying so. We're friends with Slytherins after all."

She looked over at Harry, who was looking pensive again.

"Potter?" Draco asked, following her gaze, and frowning at the expression on his face, "What-?"

Harry's green eyes lifted to meet theirs, "You're not going to like it."

"I don't like half the rubbish that comes out of your mouth, Potter." Draco sneered, a pale imitation of his former arrogant self. Hermione could see that his brows were beetled a little, a sure sign he was concerned, "So you might as well get it out there."

Harry's gaze shifted to Hermione, and then Ron and then back.

"I think we should tell them."

Hermione's gut plummeted.

"Tell them?" Ron said slowly, "Tell them what exactly?"

"About the… about… Oh Harry you can't be serious?" Hermione whispered.

Draco's eyes widened and his cheeks paled even more, "You're mad, Potter. You want to tell them, tell HIM, about our future?"

"The secret is going to come out at some point!" Harry gestured sharply, "One day they're all going to find out!"

Hermione winced, "It might not…"

"It will." Harry's voice was harsh, "Haven't we learned this yet? Secrets don't ever stay secret! They'll find out, and then they'll feel like we betrayed them…"

"They might feel like that now!" Draco hissed, hand clenching to hide that it was shaking. Hermione pretended not to notice, "Can we be sure they, HE, won't just turn on us?"

"It's only going to get worse." Ron's voice was quiet, but steady and Hermione blinked as she looked over at him. Ron was pale, but his face was determined, "The longer we leave it, the more they'll feel like we've been manipulating them. Hiding all of this."

"It could ruin everything," Draco whispered.

"It will." Harry's voice was sad, "If we leave it too long. We've been given an opportunity. The visions. We come clean, tell them about the visions…"

"It's so risky," Hermione wrung her hands together, "But you're right. This is the time to tell them."

"Um… excuse me," a quiet voice shocked Hermione out of her focus, and she blinked as she looked up.

The Hogwarts Library was quiet, as it was a sunny day outside, despite the thick snow on the ground. It was why she'd chosen to study here rather than in the Room or Undercroft. Despite enjoying those spaces, there was something about the Library that would always feel like home.

She hadn't expected to be disturbed, but when she looked up, she took in the sight of a younger girl, with big dark eyes and thick, black hair.

Black hair that always looked on the verge of greasy, and a thin, familiar, sallow face..

Eileen Prince.

She bore many resemblances to her son, her hair, her sallow skin, those dark eyes. But there was something sad about her thin face. Her nose was a little snub, rather than hooked, her mouth was fuller and warmer than Snape's had ever been.

But there was enough similarity there to startle Hermione every time she saw her.

She was two years behind them, and had always eyed Hermione and Druella with large, worshipful eyes. She never pestered them, not like the Creevey's of the future had pestered Harry, but there was still an air of approval. She certainly spent a lot of time studying in the Library, emulating Hermione's diligence, and she'd seen the younger girl watch the elegant and refined Druella with wistful wishfulness.

Pure-blood Eileen may be; wealthy and refined, she was not.

"She's going to have little value in the marriage market," Aurora noted, of course having noticed the eyes following her friends, and speaking with her normal, rather brutal, form of honesty, "The Prince's are Pure, but not high in the hierarchy, and they've lost their wealth. She's not wealthy, not powerful and not beautiful. And she knows it."

"Aurora." Hermione had been horrified, "That's a horrible thing to say…"

"It's the truth," Aurora retorted, shrugging, "She could be sweet, or kind, or cruel… it's not going to make a difference to how Pure-Blood Society will see her. I'm not surprised she's rather attached to you two. You're everything she wishes she could be."

Now, Eileen stood beside Hermione's table.

"Hello Eileen," she greeted, and noted the blush that bloomed across her sallow cheeks, "How can I help you?"

"You… you know my name…" Eileen looked star struck for a moment before she coughed and shook her head, "I.. you're so smart. I'm… I'm not smart… not like you but…"

Hermione tilted her head to the side, bemused by her fumbling, but deciding to be patient. Hopefully she'd spit it out sooner rather than later…

"Would… would you help me?" Eileen asked quietly, "I.. I'm good at Defence… and potions… but everyone laughs at me in transfiguration. I just… can't do it properly."

Hermione blinked.

She knew a number of people who struggled with transfigurations. Tierra just out and out refused to transfigure anything living, to the point where she'd been sent from the classroom after she'd been sick.

She couldn't bear it.

Hermione tried not to think about it, now that the Hufflepuff had put the thought in her head. The idea that the animals had been scared, or in pain when they were transformed, that they might have been trapped in a half form, or full form. That someone might have neglected to change them back, trapping them for eternity in a static state, not living, not dead.

The thought was horrifying.

Hermione deliberately didn't think about it.

If she did, she'd probably do the same as Tierra.

She was grateful the Hufflepuff hadn't shared her thoughts with Harry. He was sensitive enough to probably be affected by it too.

Eileen's problem might be different though.

So she waved to the seat across from her, feeling a little warm as Eileen's eyes lit up with delight.

"I'm sure I'll be able to help."

A week later and the whole group was clustered in the second floor bathroom in the dead of night, staring at the sink, and the tap with the intricate little snake carved into it.

It had been a surprise, strangely, to see this bathroom clean, and in use. There was no haunting presence, Myrtle Warren was alive and well, although deeply unpopular with her year group.

Hermione had decided to lean into the Slytherin wiles she had, and had seized her chance when she and Druella had come in here after a class.

She'd 'found' the little snake, and Druella had informed the group.

Now here they were.

"If it's a snake it's one of Slytherin's places," Ross pointed out quietly, as Tom waved his wand, locking the door and warding it with a charm that would convince people to go elsewhere.

Hermione loved watching him when he performed magic like that. It was so effortless, natural, like he was born with magic at his fingertips

And it made her pride warm a little that she knew exactly what those spells were that flowed from his wand..

"Scriptorium or Chamber? That is the question," Druella mused, and Tierra pulled a face.

"It's not the Scriptorium."

"Might just be a Slytherin defacing the place," Victoria pointed out, scoffing, "Why would you hide anything in a bathroom?"

"It wouldn't have always been a bathroom," Aurora informed her haughtily, "Ancient castles aren't known for their plumbing, even magical ones."

Tom moved forward, peering at it closely, and Harry moved up beside him.

"What do you think?" Tom murmured, glancing at the boy beside him.

Hermione held her breath.

Harry licked his lips and said something, something in a low hiss.

It wasn't Open, she remembered the sound of that from Ron's fumbled attempts. But it was definitely Parseltongue.

And the little carved snake moved.

Tom's eyes gleamed with delight.

"Open." he hissed, the sound familiar, so familiar and haunting, and Hermione couldn't help it.

She looked over at Ron.

He was looking back. And he winked as the sound of the sinks grinding together, sliding open made everyone gasp.

Silence fell as they stared at the hole.

"I am not going down there," Victoria informed them.

"I second that," Druella shook her head, "We have no idea what this even is!"

"A secret," Ross edged forward, face intrigued, "An adventure."

Tierra's hand gripped Harry's arm and Hermione heard her quiet voice as the others began discussing, "If this is something of Slytherin's it might be dangerous. The Scriptorium locked people to their deaths if they couldn't complete a final task…"

Harry rested his hand gently on hers and squeezed it reassuringly, "It'll be alright. If this is the Chamber, he didn't build it as a test, correct?"

"No he built it for Nathaira," Kel's voice was whisper quiet, and Hermione stepped closer as voices raised on the other side of the bathroom, "Whatever that may be."

Tom turned to them, and Hermione saw, for a quick moment, his dark almost indigo eyes locked onto Harry's hand resting over Tierra's. Something shifted across his face, something indefinable, but it was just a split second before his gaze rose to meet Kel's.

"If it's something Slytherin, it wouldn't hurt one of his own bloodline."

Tierra made a scoffing sound, "Slytherin didn't care about blood, not in this. Not when it came to his secrets. He cared about his descendants, if they were worthy. If you failed… you weren't worthy."

Tom turned to her, "Then I won't fail."

"It's not that simple!"

"I think it is."

Tierra's gaze flared with temper, but she didn't get to retort as Aurora's harsh voice broke into their bubble, "I didn't take you for such a coward, Draco."

Harry's head snapped up, as did Hermione's, and they took in the sight of Draco, cheeks flushed with anger and embarrassment.

Both of them, and Ron, knew how Draco had struggled with his feelings of cowardice. How he'd been ashamed, and also haunted. He wasn't a hero, not like Harry. But he had his moments.

Aurora had, intentionally or unintentionally, struck a very sore spot.

Silence fell as Draco and Aurora stared at each other. Aurora haughty, Draco stung.

And then Draco turned on his heel and stormed out.

Aurora's impassive expression cracked for a moment, guilt, shame, surprise, all were there to see, before she tucked them back behind her cool charm, and she swept from the room, following Draco.

Victoria followed, wishing them all luck quietly, before she slipped away, Ron, to her surprise, followed with Druella, both of them worried about Draco and Aurora.

Which left them with Tom, Kel, Kara, Ross, Tierra, Abraxas, Harry, Bash and Hermione herself.

Tom looked around at the group, and his eyes rested for a moment on Kara.

"Abraxas, Kara… you two stay here. Just in case something goes wrong. We'll need bravery and cunning if it does."

Abraxas nodded, pale, and his eyes flicked towards Kara too.

"We can do that."

The redhead frowned at the group, "Are you sure? We might be able to help…"

Harry shot her a small grin, "Who better than a Gryffindor to stage a daring rescue?"

Tom rolled his eyes as Kara's face relaxed and she nodded.

"Well then, I guess we'll be here to save your sorry behinds. If you need it."

The group chuckled softly, nervously before Tom took a deep breath and stepped up to the tunnel.

"Here." Hermione quickly swished her wand, warding his clothes against muck. It was a small cantrip that would only last a few moments, but it would likely keep most of the muck off him.

He shot her a look of surprise, but a smile to follow it, and then he was gone, sliding into darkness.

They all waited with bated breath, and after agonising moments they heard his voice call up to them, "It's safe."

Hermione shared a worried look with Harry.

It wasn't. There was a Basilisk down there.

But they couldn't say that.

One by one they slid down the chute. Hermione casting her little charm on their clothes.

She was one of the first down, after charming them all, and landed on her feet, expecting the sudden end, and earned herself a smile of appreciation from Tom.

"Why did you ask Kara to stay behind?" she asked him, unable to help herself, needing to know. Or rather, needing to hear him say it.

He arched an eyebrow at her, as though it should be obvious.

And it was, but she still wanted to hear it.

"If this is the Chamber of Secrets, then the Monster within could be dangerous, especially to her."

Was it care, she wondered, was it expedience?

Had he not wanted to risk an asset, or was he actually concerned for the red-headed muggleborn girl.

She couldn't be sure.

But she hoped…

She hoped…

Hermione found herself at the back of the group as they walked to the Chamber, down the long winding tunnel.

She'd run this before, during the battle, with Ron gasping by her side. Both of them knowing they had to get this done.

They didn't have the sword, this was their only option.

It had felt like an eternity then.

It didn't feel much shorter now.

"Knut for your thoughts?"

Sebastian's voice was low, and as she looked up in surprise, he favoured her with his little crooked grin.

"Sorry?"

"Knut for your thoughts," he cocked his head, "You look more serious than usual, which means you're thinking."

Hermione blinked.

"Well… yes." she admitted, "I'm worried about what the Monster might be. I'm worried we're walking into a situation blind. I'm worried we're acting like…"

"Like Gryffindors?" Bash's eyes were wicked, "You've got a bit of Gryffindor in you, Miss Granger, don't think I haven't noticed."

She shoved at him, lips curving up a little against her will, "No self respecting Slytherin would admit that."

Bash laughed softly, "You're too smart to delude yourself."

She felt a flush prickle the back of her neck.

"That doesn't mean that we're not being reckless."

"Hermione," Bash's voice was warm, fond, "We've been researching the Chamber for weeks, there is no concrete information… nothing more than what is known by folklore. Even if we went away now and studied, we'd still be in the same place."

He was right, she knew it, but that didn't make her any less anxious. She knew what was down here, she'd seen the skeleton of the massive beast.

She hadn't seen it alive. Only yellow eyes in a mirror.

She'd hoped never to see it again.

"Do you want to go back?" he asked her softly.

Instantly she shook her head, fierce at the thought, "Not on your life!"

He grinned, "There's my little cat, hissing and spitting as usual."

She glared at him, and stalked off to catch up with Harry, ignoring his low laugh.

And the way her stomach fluttered at his words.

It wasn't long before they reached the door, and then the Chamber itself.

It was just as she remembered, cavernous, huge, with tall pillars decorated with winding serpents.

At the end of the room was a statue tall and grandiose, with a long beard and a face that was strangely monkeyish.

Hermione frowned.

The vision of the Four Founders had shown them Slytherin, a youthful Slytherin, in his peak of power and in his prime. The statue bore little resemblance, but it did look rather like the Chocolate Card…

"That doesn't look like Slytherin…" Tierra whispered to her, echoing Hermione's thoughts, "Not the Slytherin we saw…"

"It's much older…" Hermione murmured back, not really believing it herself.

She looked towards Tom, and saw him gazing around him in fascination, curiosity in full view.

She moved towards him, to ask him something.

But she never reached him.

Slowly the statue's mouth began to slide open, and a low, shushing sound began.

The sound of scales on stone.

Terror filled her, and she froze, halfway to Tom.

Thankfully Harry didn't.

"Close your eyes!" he ordered everyone, and instantly Hermione obeyed, trembling as Kel clutched at her and Bash pushed her firmly behind him.

A low hiss filled the air, loud and throbbing and yet soft.

An answering hiss, smaller and softer, but she knew it was Tom, or Harry. But some gut told her it was Tom.

"It's okay." he said, after long, agonising moments, and Hermione bit her lip, unwilling to open her eyes, "She's lidded her eyes. You won't be hurt."

Slowly.

Slowly.

Slowly Hermione inched her eyes open.

Kel's nails dug in her arm, and the blonde hissed with shock at the sight before them.

The basilisk was somehow even bigger than Hermione had ever imagined.

How was that possible, she thought weakly, when her imagination had already constructed such wild images? When her nightmares had already made the beast so much larger?

The Basilisk was huge.

The candlelight played off scales that gleamed turquoise and purple, with large spines like fins along its body. And Hermione couldn't help looking up at its head.

The Basilisk stared back.

There were four fangs longer than any other and above them were golden eyes.

They were dimmer than she remembered, and with a start she realised that there was a thin lid closed over them. Enough that the snake could see, but enough that the danger of its gaze was mitigated. A sensible evolutionary trait, she thought weakly.

"Oh my," Ross breathed nearby, "That's… that's…"

"A Basilisk," Bash murmured, fascinated, "Of course Slytherin's creature would be a Snake… the King of Serpents."

The Basilisk hissed softly.

"Queen," Harry informed them, cheeks pale, "She's female."

"Oh boy…" Ross whined softly, "This is so…"

The Basilisk slowly lowered her head and stared at them, clearly as fascinated by them as they were of her.

Tom kept up his soft hissing, a conversation none of them, other than Harry, could be part of.

Tierra was the first of them to get over the shock, seemingly her easy going Hufflepuff attitude helped her to just see the snake as any other magical creature and she trusted Tom's word that she was safe. She moved forward, closer, and gazed at the serpent with unabashed fascination and appreciation.

"She's beautiful."

Harry moved towards Hermione, and Kel, and murmured, "She says that Slytherin left her here as a protector of Hogwarts. Much like the other defences, she was here to keep the castle safe from harm."

"What about the whole…hunting Muggleborns?" Ross scoffed, "That's not keeping anyone safe."

Harry winced, "Tom asked about that, she was confused. She said her master wanted to protect the castle from those unworthy of learning magic, those who would betray its secrets."

"And because Slytherin feared muggles, feared persecution, during the rise of anti magic sentiment, the story twisted to being about hunting muggleborns." Tierra breathed, "So… Slytherin didn't just hate muggleborns?"

Hermione wanted to scream in frustration. So much hatred, so much anger…over a valid and sensible fear that had been weaponized to create hate.

Tom turned towards them, and the Basilisk rested her head on the stone beside him, making a noise almost like a purr.

There was a light in Tom's eyes, something bright and pleased.

"Her name is Nathaira. She says she's glad to have company finally, and that none of us need fear coming down here. She will keep her lid closed unless she's outside and hunting."

"That's a relief," Kel murmured weakly, letting go of Hermione's arm slowly to step forward, "She really is beautiful, those scales…"

Nathaira purred again, clearly pleased by the compliment.

"She said Slytherin liked to spend his weekends and Holidays here. That he moved her here when she was a hatchling, and built this Chamber as a safe haven for her, and him." Tom murmured, eyes bright and eager, "There's a series of rooms behind the statue."

"Interesting." Bash peered at the statue, "If this was his home… there might be more information about the other trials and tests."

The speculation halted however a moment later as Nathaira's head slid forward and rested, her nose just touching Harry's face. Their gazes locked, and she hissed softly.

"What did she say?" Hermione whispered, glancing worriedly at Tom, who was frowning slightly.

"She said… She said Harry has Basilisk venom in his body, that it's a part of him." he walked forward, standing beside Nathaira's head, "But that's impossible…"

"Basilisk venom is deadly…" Bash said slowly, "If he had it in his blood he'd be dead…"

Nathaira hissed insistently.

Harry swallowed, and glanced over at Hermione, whose stomach swooped unpleasantly.

Oh no…

"It's not impossible…" Harry admitted, voice quiet but surprisingly steady, "But it's a very long story…"

To Be Continued...

Reviews

Amk - The Founders Tests are going to be fun, trust me...

Shiara - Welcome back! Glad to have your review here and not just in discord! Things are definitely changing, and the next few chapters are going to show a little bit of evolution in this story. Can't spoil more than that!

Rawal4Sky - Thank you! I struggle with details sometimes, I have to make sure I slow down and show what exactly is being visualised in my head.

Guest - Re: The titles of the chapters being in latin/incomprehensible. As I said, each of the chapter titles are in latin/psuedo google translate latin. The reason for this is the use of latin spells in Harry Potter. If people like they can google the titles and get hints about the chapters. Or they can ignore them, that's up to them.

Smithback - Why thank you!

Guest - Dumbledore bashing... interesting that you see it that way. It is not my intention to bash Dumbledore, however he is a deeply conflicted and flawed character who was for most of the book series viewed as almost omnipotent. This story is the Quartets chance to make things right, and that means confronting things that might not have been right, although accepted. I quite like the character of Dumbledore. I think his biases and heartbreaking history make him compelling. However he is not perfect, and in this story he is not the benevolent authority the quartet look to. If you see that as bashing...well...

charlie - Thank you! Yes writing multiple perspectives can be a danger, you don't want people sitting there wishing you hadn't gone to that character or hating that you jump around. I'm glad that you're liking it. It's very fun, delving into each characters headspace.