The Peverell Triplets and the Chamber of Secrets

Author's Note: Here's our third chapter. I really hope the wait will have been worth it. I'm only just getting back into my Harry Potter phase and I'm hoping it stays a while since there are about ten different stories that need to be worked on between me and a couple of my friends. I hope you enjoy the chapter.

Also, while Luna might be mentioned in the story every now and then, it won't be often because Luna is the last person that I want to butcher the character of. She wasn't involved enough for me to properly get a good grasp on her character. I just know that she's unique and lovely. I don't want to butcher her. Sorry if everyone was looking forward to her involvement in the story.

There are a few parts directly- and quite close to directly- from the original book in this chapter. I'm certain you'll be able to tell which ones :P Though there are a lot when it comes to the Defense Class that many probably remember directly from the book.

Chapter 3: Starting Term

The triplets had entered Professor Flitwick's office early the next morning. They weren't surprised to see Professor Athanasius present. "Morning." Ignotus greeted as the trio sat down.

"Good morning. I can only assume you're curious about my absence at the welcoming feast?" Athanasius asked with a knowing look.

"Of course. And we surmised that it had to do with Potter and Weasley missing from the train yesterday." Cadmus added. The two professors nodded.

"It did. Apparently, according to Mr. Weasley and Mr. Potter's testimony, the barrier at the platform had been sealed off and they hadn't been able to get through. The duo, in a moment of shared idiocy decided to fly the Weasley family's Ford Angela to school, breaking the statue of secrecy after being seen by no less than seven muggles." Athanasius replied with a sigh. "In addition to this, they also crashed into the whomping willow on the grounds. While both boys escaped with no more than a couple of scrapes, the willow had been unfortunately injured so Pomona is having to deal with that this morning."

"Idiots. In the case of the barrier being blocked, one is supposed to send an owl to the school in hopes of getting a staff member, an adult, to handle things. In some cases, a teacher would apparate to the station and side along apparate to Hogsmeade and accompany the child or children back to the school while an investigate the situation." Cadmus told them. Filius nodded.

"Since I'm positive that they weren't expelled, what happened? Or did they not get punished?" Antioch asked.

"They weren't expelled. I tried to take 30 points each, as punishment for endangering themselves. However, Albus insisted that since the term hadn't technically started yet, that they shouldn't have points taken. Even Minerva was miffed about it. Professor Potter said nothing on the subject. So, I am unsure about her thoughts on the matter." Athanasius explained.

"Not surprising, to be honest." Ignotus shrugged. "Though the barrier being closed is concerning. We should have someone look into it."

"I'll send a letter off to Ragnok and put in a commission." Filius replied. "Though for now, we should discuss your schedules. Second Years have a couple free periods throughout the week, is it one of these periods and a double class on Saturday that you'll have private defense lessons with us. And if they would like to join, Mr. Longbottom and Mr. Malfoy may do so as their parents already gave us permission. We'll let them know after their first classes with us tomorrow. Of course you can tell them yourselves as well." The triplets nodded.

"We'll start with your first free period next Wednesday, then move on to the Saturday afterwards. Don't worry too much, it's merely going to be a test to see how far you are theory wise, then that Saturday, Filius and I will see about how far you've gotten application wise." They nodded in thanks, their minds already running over what they knew and didn't know, much to the two teachers' amusement.

"Oh! Anti, we need to tell them." Cadmus remembered, immediately drawing the other two out of their thoughts.

"Right."

"Tell us what?" Filius asked in concern. The triplets shared a look before nodding.

"I'm positive that the book the was stolen from the Malfoy's was a horcrux. And I'm almost certain it's found its way to Hogwarts." Antioch explained.

"That is alarming." Athanasius murmured. "Especially since the wards should have prevented it from entering."

"Do you think you could feel it? Since it's an abomination to your realm." Ignotus asked.

Athanasius shook his head regretfully. "I should, however, it's either being cautious, is currently weak, or is still dormant enough for me not to pick up on it. That should change however, if any those changes."

They nodded. "I'm not sure which one it is, but we'll be doing some research about my time here as Tom Riddle... 50 years ago, I believe, give or take a year." Antioch told them. "I don't have much else to go on except that."

"That's plenty for now." Filius assured him. "I'll also look into Tom Riddle, I think I saw some trophies in the Trophy Room with his name on them, so I'll look into that. For now, don't force yourself to remember anything you're not ready to remember and focus on studies as well. I expect that as it was last year, that nothing too extreme will happen until about Halloween. We'll just need to do our best until then."

The group nodded and Athanasius cast a tempus charm. "As for right now, we need to make our way to the Great Hall for breakfast. I believe it's going to be a busy morning." They agreed and the triplets made their way to the hall just in time for breakfast. Keeping an eye on the other tables, the triplets engaged with their fellow housemates, especially the first years, including a little blonde girl that had her own air around her. Her name was Luna Lovegood and Ignotus found himself hitting it off with her immediately after seeing the Quibbler edition discussing creatures that some considered mythical or imaginary.

Antioch and Cadmus shook their heads in amusement but still discussed about whether or not some of the creatures could be considered imaginary just because others hadn't seen them yet. Athanasius could probably tell them, but that would be for later. It was part way through the meal when the mail arrived and with it, a bright red envelope headed directly for a rapidly paling Ronald Weasley. The boy hadn't stood a chance.

"- Stealing the car, I wouldn't have been surprised if they had expelled you, you wait till I get hold of you, I don't suppose you stopped to think what your father and I went through when we saw it was gone-"

All eyes in the hall were on the red-haired boy, who had sunk so low in his seat at this point that only his crimson forehead could be seen by those at the Gryffindor table.

"-Letter from Dumbledore last night, I thought your father would die of shame, we didn't bring you up to behave like this, you and Matthew could both have died-"

They had wondered when the other boy would be brought up. Ignotus cast a glance at Lily Potter- positive that she wouldn't be thrilled about the Weasley Matriarch bringing up her son- but instead he saw she was... Surprisingly nodding in agreement with the howler's words. Huh, it seemed she and Molly Weasley were in agreement on this entire ordeal.

Ignotus couldn't help the slight bitterness he found himself feeling at the sight. It seemed she even cared about Ronald in this case, and he couldn't help but wonder; Where had that been when he had still been a Potter? What had he been so lacking in, that even as her blood son, he wasn't worth the concern she showed towards a child not her own? What had been so unlovable about him that he wasn't even considered deserving of-?

He was snapped out of his slowly spiraling thoughts by his hands being squeezed tightly and comfortingly by his older brothers. A soothing, comforting, and loving wave of warmth spreading through their bond and the bitterness faded away, replaced by a content belonging. It didn't matter, he had something better than the Potters. It was their loss, even if they didn't know it. He squeezed their hands back, silently letting them know he was okay now, as they tuned into the last of the howler's message.

"-Absolutely disgusted- Your father's facing an inquiry at work, it's entirely your fault and if you put another toe out of line, we'll bring you straight back home."

It was silent in the hall as the red envelope burst into flames and crumbled to ash. Then the laughter began and soon the hall was back in a more lighthearted mood as conversations picked back up and the head of houses began to walk down the tables and handing out schedules. Their first-class would-be Transfiguration with Slytherin.

In addition to Transfiguration, they also had Herbology with Slytherin. They shared Charms and History- which had been split that year- with Hufflepuff. Leaving them partnering up with Gryffindor in Potions and Defense. Astronomy was once more for all four houses once a week for two hours- second years on Thursdays. The triplets said goodbye to Luna who waved back, dreamily looking at something only she was seeing, before making their way out of the Great Hall, and meeting up with Neville and Draco.

"I have Herbology and Transfiguration with Gryffindor!" Neville bemoaned to his friends, utterly despaired. Draco snorted.

"I get them for Charms and History." Draco said with disdain, before him and Neville both froze and looked over at the triplets with horror dawning in their eyes.

"Oh gods." the two of them gasped.

"Potions and Defense." Cadmus confirmed, smiling thinly. The two worst classes to possibly be paired with a group of Gryffindors, two of which often harassed and sabotaged them.

"You know what? I'm good with my schedule. No complaints." Neville said before waving goodbye to them so he could go prepare for his classes that day. Draco was quick to follow the Hufflepuff's lead, waving goodbye so he could get ready for their first class.

"I swear those two..." Cadmus trailed off. Ignotus snorted.

"We didn't even get a chance to tell them about the extra defense lessons with Professors Flitwick and Athanasius." he mused.

"Maybe we'll tell them at lunch." Antioch said, heading towards their first class of the new year.

-The Chamber of Secrets-

Transfiguration was transforming a beetle into a button. Animate to in animate transfiguration wasn't as easy as inanimate to inanimate. But not as difficult as animate to animate transfiguration. Saying that, even the Peverell brothers had some difficulty due to their re-growing cores. Had Antioch or Cadmus had their original reserves, they wouldn't have had any issues. After the first half of class turning in their summer work and going over the theory, they began on practical.

While it only took half an hour for Cadmus, then Antioch and Ignotus to get the spell to work- which earned the brothers ten and five points apiece respectively- the older two were especially unsatisfied with how long it had taken. Which amused Ignotus, Draco, and even Minerva who knew over their first year that the triplets, especially the older two, had high expectations for themselves. After they succeeded, she had them work on reversing it, which earned another five points apiece when it was done after merely ten minutes. It was easier than the original transfiguration. The rest of the class was spent with the older two trying to one up each other with their decorative button designs.

By the time the bell was almost ready to ring, and homework given out- three feet of parchment on the theory they had learned in class- Antioch and Cadmus both had a handful of varying buttons ranging from simple buttons to buttons of different material and patterns. Ignotus declared that the translucent blue button Cadmus had made with a sheen of pearl-gray frost was the winner. However, he also grabbed up Antioch's green button that was covered in intricate black curves, claiming it was a very close second and fashioned both onto a sturdy black twine for safe keeping while Minerva was happy to accept the variety of the remaining buttons. She would be using them as a reference for her Gryffindor/ Hufflepuff class. Which Antioch was pleased with if only because he knew it would probably drive the golden trio a bit barmy.

Draco and Neville joined them at the Ravenclaw table to discuss their mornings. "We arrived at the green houses to Lockhart lecturing Professor Sprout about proper care for a whomping willow- which was all wrong, by the way- and then he took Potter aside before classes for some reason. When he got into the class, he looked annoyed about something that Lockhart had no doubt told him. After that, we re-potted mandrakes. It was pretty cool, actually. Though I'm pretty sure one of the Gryffindors got knocked out because he hadn't followed Professor Sprout's instructions properly." Neville regaled them with his first Herbology lesson of the year.

"Mandrakes are mainly used for restorative potions and some antidotes. Not to mention they're expensive. You would think they would save such important ingredients for the older years who are a bit more comfortable in the green houses." Cadmus mused digging into his lunch.

Antioch and Neville both nodded. "I didn't think we'd get to them until maybe third or fourth year." Neville agreed.

"Oh yeah, starting next week Professors Flitwick and Athanasius will start our defense lessons. It'll be during our Wednesday free with a double on Saturday. If you want to join us for them, you can. Apparently, your parents have already given their permission." Antioch told the Hufflepuff and Slytherin. Both boys agreed immediately.

"Anyways, we're getting our first Defense class with the Gryffindors. I guess we'll see just how disappointing it's going to turn out." Ignotus sighed, realizing that lunch was already coming to an end.

"Indeed. Good luck. We'll meet in the library after classes, and you can tell us all about it then. For now, Nev and I need to start heading to Potions." Draco agreed and with a farewell to each other, they all made their way out of the great hall in hopes of getting to their classes on time.

The Gryffindors and Ravenclaws were waiting outside the defense classroom when a small boy in Gryffindor robes, a first year by Colin Creevey, if the brothers remembered correctly. He approached Matthew, stuttering a bit as he asked for a photo, which really, wasn't a surprise. Matthew was more than willing to give the other a photo, but on the condition that he asked first for any others. Cadmus wasn't surprised that Matthew had been taught how to handle press- even school press, apparently- as that had been something James and Lily had worked together on around the time the boy was six.

Then Lockhart appeared and offered up a photo with himself included which was just... Pathetic. After all of that was finally over with, they were all ushered into the defense classroom. The triplets immediately took a desk at the very back of the class, Ignotus in the middle. The Golden Trio, surprisingly, took a seat at the desk across the aisle from them neither actually realizing it until classes were about to start with Lockhart clearing his throat. And by then, it was too late to change seats without drawing any unwanted attention. Ultimately, they decided to ignore each other.

Lockhart picked up a book from Lavender Brown's desk, getting a giggle from the girl. "Me." He indicated the cover of 'Travels with Trolls'. "Gilderoy Lockhart, Order of Merlin, Third Class, Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defense League, and five-time winner of the Witch Weekly's Most-Charming-Smile Award- But I don't talk about that. I didn't get rid of the Bandon Banshee by smiling at her!"

He waited for them to laugh, and while a few smiled weakly, that was all he got. Though the brothers nearly snorted at the man's failing humor. They held it in, preferring not to inflate his already swollen ego. "I see you've all bought a complete set of my books- Well done." The brothers raised an eye as they looked at their empty desk- and several others as he hadn't told them which book to start with. The single set they had between them was still tucked away in one of their bags- though they were a bit unsure whose. Maybe they each had some but with the extension and feather light charms, they wouldn't know unless they started looking for them. Besides, it had clearly just been a ploy to make a lot more money off innocent children. It was gross, especially with it's inconsistency and quite possibly their fraudulent content.

"I thought we'd start today with a little quiz. Nothing to worry about- just to check how well you've read them, how much you've taken in-" When he handed out the test papers, he returned to the front of the class and said, "You have 30 minutes- start- now!"

Ignotus looked down at his paper and read:

1. What is Gilderoy Lockhart's favorite color?

2. What is Gilderoy Lockhart's secret ambition?

3. What, in your opinion, is Gilderoy Lockhart's greatest achievement to date?

On and on it went, over three sides of paper, right down to:

54. When is Gilderoy Lockhart's birthday, and what would his ideal gift be?

'Is it just me, or does it seem like he's trying to groom us or something?' Ignotus mentally asked his brothers, not sure if he should actually complete this quiz or not. He could, all three of them had read the books and memorized them- unfortunately. But did he really want to be known for completing this with a perfect score?

'He might be, it wouldn't surprise me. Anti, can you make a copy of this so we can show it to Athanasius and Filius? I don't think this is... constructive to our learning.' Cadmus asked his older brother.

'Of course. Were we really expecting anything else though. We knew he wasn't going to be worth much. And you don't have to complete this Iggy. I'm going to, but with some more honest answers. Speaking of, how does: 'Getting the position as Defense Against the Dark professor despite having no teaching license, and not having passed either the required O. or N.E. to receive said position.' Sound for question three?' Antioch asked innocently. Ignotus and Cadmus snorted at their older brother's words.

"What's so funny over here boys?" Lockhart asked, causing the trio to stiffen at his close proximity. They had sensed him of course, but he had little presence for them. Though it seemed that small amount was enough when they were invested in more important things, such as discussing things with each other.

"Nothing, sir." Ignotus replied, not wanting either of his brothers to have to lower themselves to calling the other sir.

"See to it that it stays that way. If I suspect even once that you're cheating, I will separate the three of you." Lockhart warned before returning to his circling of the classroom. Blinding smile in place.

'Huh. I think that was the first time a teacher's ever threatened to separate us.' Antioch realized. 'I didn't appreciate it.' The other two agreed before returning to the quiz. Antioch placed his answer down out of spite. Well, the other two would have to come up with something else. Cadmus and Ignotus just answered the questions. Shamefully, but with determination to to get an O in all their classes.

Thirty minutes later, Lockhart collected the tests, unaware of an extra that had been slipped into a bag. He then began to rifle through them at the front of the classroom. The brothers knew when he got to Antioch's paper from the minuscule way he froze up before continuing. Antioch had to give it to the man, unfortunately. "Tut, tut- hardly any of you remembered that my favorite color is lilac. I say so in Year with the Yeti. And a few more of you need to read Wanderings with Werewolves more carefully- I clearly state in chapter 12 that my ideal birthday gift would be harmony between all magic and non-magic peoples- though I wouldn't say no to a large bottle of Ogden's Old Firewhisky!"

He gave them a roguish wink, getting shivers of disgust from the brothers, while others looked on in either disbelief or dreamily in the case of several of the girls and some of the boys, even some of the ones from Ravenclaw which Cadmus had hoped those in his house would have seen through the good looks to the inconsistencies of his books.

"... But Ms. Granger and Misters Cadmus and Ignotus Peverell knew my secret ambition is to rid the world of evil and market my own range of hair-care potions- good job. In fact-" he flipped through the three papers. "full marks! Where are Ms. Hermione Granger and the Misters Peverells?" Granger raised a trembling hand while Ignotus and Cadmus reluctantly raised their own.

'How could getting full marks leave one with so much shame?' Ignotus wondered despondently, even if his face showed no reaction.

Antioch hid his snort, not wanting to attract the man's attentions again. 'It's only here Iggy. Don't let it get you down too badly.'

"Excellent!" Lockhart beamed- mostly at Hermione, but the other two got a glimpse and it was already too much. "Quite excellent! Take ten points apiece. And so- to business-"

He placed a large, covered cage on his desk. "Now, be warned! It is my job to arm you against the foulest creatures known to wizardkind! You may find yourselves facing your worst fears in this room!" And wasn't that a way to foreshadow what they'd be facing next year? Even if none of them were aware of it... yet. "Know that no harm can befall you whilst I am here. All I ask is you remain calm."

In spite of themselves, several of the students were curious as to what the man had brought into their classroom. Antioch and Cadmus tensed in case the man had done something completely stupid. "I must ask you not to scream, for it may provoke them." he warned the students before he pulled off the cover revealing a cage full of... Cornish pixies? The brothers relaxed a bit.

These blue, eight inch pixies while mischievous weren't a real threat. They could bite and scratch something fierce but not enough to really cause any damage to a person. A room, however was another matter all together. As proven when the idiot adult released them into the room with out giving any of them an idea of what to do to stop them. The pandemonium was instant. The pixies darted from the cage and began to destroy the room, causing students to scream and try to take cover. The pixies broke ink pots, tore pages, and so on.

A few poor kids would have been dragged off and hung on the chandelier if the triplets hadn't been quick to cast Petrificus Totalus on the pixie culprits in time. And when Lockhart lost his wand, several students were smart enough to run for the door and make an escape. Thankfully the bell had rang right around then. But before either the Peverell triplets or the Golden Trio could escape as well, like the intelligent rest of their class, Lockhart had spotted them. "Well, I'll ask you six to just nip the rest of them back into their cage." The man swept past them and shut the door quickly behind him, to prevent the escape of any of the six students or any of the 20 Cornish pixies he had unleashed upon them.

"Did he just-?" Ron asked in disbelief, looking at the firmly shut door.

"Yes, he did." Antioch groaned in annoyance, pinching the bridge of his nose as he turned back to the room that looked like the after math of a tornado.

"Can you believe him!" Weasley snarled as one of the pixies painfully bit his ear. He swatted it away.

"He just wants to give us some hands on experience." Granger insisted, immobilizing two pixies at once with a variant of the Glacius spell and stuffing them back into the cage.

"Hands on?" Matthew said in disbelief. "Hermione he didn't have a clue what he was doing-" he argued with the girl.

"Rubbish," said Hermione.

"I'm in agreement with Potter. I can't believe I said that." Cadmus muttered the last part to himself. He seemed devastated at the admittance.

"You've read his books- look at all those amazing things he's done-"

"Says he's done," Ron and Ignotus muttered.

-The Chamber of Secrets-

The next few days passed in a bit of a blur, as they continued on with their classes. The temporary truce they had after that first disastrous Defense class was just that. Temporary. Things were back to normal by the time Double Potions came around on Friday, also the final class of the day. And consequently, the week. "Welcome to your first potions class of the year." Professor Slughorn jovially told the second years. In truth, this was one of Slughorn's smallest classes due to their only being six Ravenclaws in the entirety of the second years. Ravenclaw had seen it's smallest class since the days of the Founders.

Normally, especially in the aftermath of the war, there were still at least ten new students per house. That wasn't the case with their year, having only received 30 total new students. Six to Ravenclaw, seven to Hufflepuff, eight to Slytherin, and nine to Gryffindor. So it was that 15 cauldrons were set up in the dungeons, six on one side and nine on the other. Standing between wooden desks that held brass scales, ingredient jars, and books for the students to follow.

"First thing for today is a little test to see how much you remember. I want each group to work on three potions from last year. I will take and give points based on difficulty, variety, and execution of the potions. Begin, now." he told the class.

Because they had a literal potions master in their group, it was maybe a little unfair to the rest of the second years. But either way, the triplets settled on a potion apiece. Ignotus was making the wiggenweld potion, knowing it was probably going to be important later- especially with quidditch tryouts coming up soon. Antioch chose to brew the herbicide potion- apparently the school had an old herbology corridor somewhere with some devil snare and he wanted to explore it that weekend. Cadmus focused on the Exstimulo Potion, which had been on the final test the year before.

They could hear Ron and Matthew arguing over which potions they should do, going with a boil cure, bruise balm, and Antidote to Common Poisons. That had been Granger's choice, obviously enough. The class passed by mostly quietly when, towards the end, something went flying into the air and would have landed in Cadmus's potion if he hadn't cast a barrier spell that didn't react with the magic of the potion at the beginning of the class. The ingredient seemed to hit an invisible shield before sliding and falling to the ground.

The class was silent in surprise which had disrupted the rhythm and resulted in at least two small scale explosions. Apparently, Ronald Weasley had struggled to cut something. Then he had used too much force causing the piece of ingredient to fly off and towards Cadmus's cauldron directly across the aisle from the Golden Trio.

"Mr. Weasley. Stay after class." Slughorn ordered the boy after making sure the students were unharmed. The boy had received a detention and an extra two feet on cutting techniques and for whatever reason, seemed to think Cadmus had something to do with it. Ah, things were, in fact, back to normal. With that class, their first week had finally finished and the quidditch trials would be the next day. Ignotus was excited. His brothers less so.

Author's Note: And there is out long awaited third chapter. I hope everyone enjoyed it and I really hope it was worth the long wait. Next we have quidditch officially coming into the picture. And while I won't go into too much detail on the matches and training for them, I will try for the matches invovolinf our characters. Until the next chapter. Please Review!