Harry's P.O.V

He was utterly horrified. The steady pat, pat, pat, of blood sounded overwhelmingly loud to Harry. The first students that had arrived stared fearfully at him, they had noticed he was by himself staring seemingly directly at Mrs. Norris' body without reaction. Air would not come into his lungs, and Harry's vision swam.

Someone was in his face, their breath hot and stinking as they shouted in his face, but he couldn't hear them. All he could hear was that horrible noise.

*Pat* *Pat* *Pat*

Suddenly, he was pulled away from the shouting person, and his head was pressed into something soft, warm, and smelling of burned holly logs. The warm thing shouted, it's clear bell-like voice admonishing the person who had been yelling at him.

'Fleur,' His mind posited unhelpfully.

*Pat* *Pat* *Pat*

A wizened voice broke through Harry's shock," Harry? Did you see what did this?"

He turned his gaze to the voice, it was Dumbledore, his waist length beard swaying as he stooped down to Harry's level. Harry shook his head, he at least had enough sense about him to stop himself from ousting Rina.

He stopped to think about that,' should I really not say anything about her though? I have to, someone could die if I don't.'

Harry opened his mouth to warn the headmaster, but before he could, Lockhart came forward," come now headmaster, he's quite frightened. He is just a student after all, perhaps someone should accompany him to Madam Pomfrey?"

"I-I'm f-f-fine," Harry shivered uncontrollably as his eyes fell over Mrs. Norris yet again.

Frantically, Harry felt for Cobalt, worried he might have taken off and could be killed next. But thankfully the cat was still around his shoulders, and didn't complain much when Harry pulled him down to hug him close to his chest. The cat squirmed a bit, but eventually settled in Harry's arms, purring reassuringly to calm his owners nerves.

"I will take 'Arry to Madam Pomfrey," Fleur's hands guided Harry through the mass of students by the shoulders. Dozens of eyes followed him fearfully, Harry sighed turning his gaze to the floor shamefully. No doubt many of the students would see that as an admission of guilt, and in a way it was.

If he had only warned Dumbledore about Rina when he realized she was being controlled, all of this could have been avoided. But he had been full of himself, convinced that he was the only one who could resolve the situation, because it was something only the heir of Slytherin could do. Harry should have remembered, he had never done anything by himself, at least not anything significant.

Well, that wasn't entirely true. Hadn't he defeated Voldemort one on one the previous year?

Harry grimaced,' yeah, but if Fleur hadn't been with me, I would've never even made it to the Philosopher's Stone.'

" 'Arry, are you alright?"

Fleur's low whisper caught him off guard. He had forgotten she was behind him, guiding him toward the Hospital Wing; her hands lightly pressed into his shoulders.

"I-I'm fine." Fleur dug her heels in trying to stop him, but Harry, forgetting his new strength, pulled Fleur slightly forward with him as he took another step.

"Oh my! 'Arry, 'ave you gotten stronger?"

Harry smiled to himself cheekily," I hit a growth spurt."

Fleur turned him around and looked Harry up and down. Her blue eyes running up and down his body appraisingly," you are taller, and your clothes don't fit you anymore. What did you do?"

It sounded like a question, but Harry could hear the demand for an explanation in her voice. Her chin grew sharper, and her lips became decidedly more beak-like.

Harry gulped lightly at her predatory stare," I may have used ritual magic to catch up with everyone else my age."

A crown of feathers sprouted to frame her face, and she squawked indignantly," 'Arry! Zat is dangerous magic! Why do you think so many countries outlawed its use?"

Harry, very pointedly, avoided eye contact. He was sure she wouldn't be any happier about the fact he had slept all night on the hard flagstone after passing out from the most excruciating pain he had ever felt in his life.

So, he would keep that to himself.

"Well, it worked out. I mean look at me," Harry gestured to himself; his pants fit haphazardly, the buttons of the school dress shirt strained against his fuller frame, and his robe's sleeves rode up anytime he stretched his arm out.

Fleur's glare only intensified, and her eyes flickered with blue flame," what irresponsible fool taught you zis? Surely not Dumbledore, even zat fool would not teach you something so dangerous."

Fleur paced back and forth until she realized all at once," zat person you said you were learning a few things from, perhaps?"

Harry averted his gaze again, he wasn't about to throw Salazar under the proverbial bus. Even if it was his ancestor that had suggested Harry learn ritual magic.

Fleur glared at him, staring into his eyes with such intensity Harry was surprised he didn't just burst into flames, but after a few seconds her stare relented and she huffed," fine, don't tell me, but I expect an explanation eventually. You cannot expect me to always take zese things so… graciously."

'That was gracious?' Harry cringed to himself, he didn't want to know what she was like when she was ungracious.

He gulped and turned his head to and fro, looking to see if any of the students were in earshot. When he was satisfied that Fleur had taken them far enough aside Harry steeled his nerves and stared into her still smoldering eyes," I-I know what did this. I've known for… for a while now."

"Quelle?! You 'ave known for a while! Why 'ave you not said anything?! Merde, 'Arry we must tell Dumbledore!"

Harry panicked when she turned to march back toward the Headmaster. Before she got too far away he took a hold of her wrist, bringing her purposeful stride to a halt.

Fleur looked at him, half annoyed and half curious.

"It— she is, or was my friend."

"Excusez moi? What did you just say?"

If Fleur didn't look baffled at his deceleration of knowing what the creature was, then she was down right befuddled now.

"I-I know what did this, and she has been my friend for over a year now. I met her that day I went into the second-year girl's bathroom with you last year."

Gears seemed to be turning in Fleur's head as she thought," so, zat day you 'ad been gone for ze better part of an hour, was because you met some monster?"

"S-She isn't a monster! Well… I guess in most people's strictest definition she is a monster, but she would never hurt people willingly!" Harry paused, thinking about how Salazar had said Rina was intended to be a defense for Hogwarts in case of a siege," well, not any of the students or staff."

" 'Arry, are you 'earing yourself? Zis creature is dangerous, and must be dealt with!"

Harry bit at his lip, knowing Fleur was right, but it felt wrong to leave such a thing to someone else," I can't let someone else handle this, Fleur! Rina is my responsibility, and it doesn't feel right to leave her to anyone else! I know I need to tell someone, but if I do they won't let me help at all, and they would need me."

Fleur paused," why? Why is zis… Rina your responsibility? 'Ow could such a thing be ze responsibility of a twelve-year-old?"

"Because, she is a basilisk, and as the Heir of Slytherin I must handle this. I don't entirely understand it, but I know this is my duty. If anyone wants to deal with her they will need a Parslemouth, and that's me."

Fleur's P.O.V

She could not believe what Harry had just said. A basilisk? Heir of Slytherin? He was a Parslemouth. And this was his duty?

Fleur laughed," do not joke about such things, 'Arry." When the younger boy did not say anything Fleur paled, his jaw was set and his mouth was a thin line. Fleur drew a sharp breath in," you are not joking."

"I'm not."

Memories flashed in her mind: Harry pushing her away in fear after Christmas last year, her seeing Harry's dull lifeless eyes in the then empty room he had found the Mirror of Erised in, and him lying half dead on the stone of the chamber he had confronted Voldemort in.

"No."

Harry blinked," what do you mean 'no'?"

"I mean, I refuse to let you deal with something like zat again! I will not let you attempt to throw your life away out of some overinflated sense of duty to a name zat 'as not been relevant in centuries! I do not care if you are ze second coming of Merlin 'imself, I will not let you deal with something so dangerous again!"

"Fleur I get how you feel but—"

"You do not!" Harry jumped slightly at her shout, and a few students farther away looked at the pair quizzically; a few stared at Harry fearfully," you do not understand 'ow it felt to see you like zat! I was afraid you 'ad died, and zat it was all my fault. I 'ad let you go to face zat bastard Voldemort without me, and it 'ad gotten you killed! I refuse to feel zat way again, so yes even if it angers you, I will not let you face such a creature."

"Fleur… I'm sorry. I-I didn't know you felt so horribly about what happened back then, but I guess I should have known. If something like that happened to you when I could have helped; I would feel just as terrible."

Fleur could feel tears flowing down her cheeks as he grew closer, his hands lightly gripping her crossed forearms.

"But please, try to understand. She's my friend, and I can't leave her the way she is. You can't hear her. She's being driven mad, I can hardly recognize her; she sounds insane."

Fleur wiped the tears from her eyes," If she was your friend zen what changed?"

"She's being controlled, by the self-proclaimed 'true Heir of Slytherin'."

"But who—" Fleur groaned," it is Voldemort again, isn't it?"

Harry nodded solemnly," yeah, it's him again."

"And I suppose zat makes you feel even more like you must stop 'er."

He nodded.

"Of course," Fleur sighed heavily," very well, zen I will be 'elping you."

Harry did such a comical double-take that fleur nearly laughed at his expression," e-excuse me?"

Fleur flipped her hair over her shoulder and angled her nose up a fraction," of course I will not let you 'andle such a dangerous matter by yourself, but on one condition. You must tell Dumbledore."

Harry started to protest, but Fleur held up a forestalling hand.

"I must insist. You must at least tell ze person who is more than qualified to 'andle such a beast; it is common sense."

"But if we tell Dumbledore, he won't let me be involved when he tries to handle Rina."

"Zat is why we tell 'im, and make 'im think we 'ave stopped all involvement with ze matter," Fleur grinned at him," I am quite curious to observe a basilisk, after all."

Harry nodded, seeming to see the sense in her reasoning; although he didn't look happy about her involvement," alright, let's got talk to Dumbledore then."

Fleur nodded.

Dumbledore's P.O.V

How did the muggle saying go? He was getting too old for this?

Yes, Dumbledore nodded sagely to himself, stroking his significant beard as he consoled a furiously sobbing Argus Filch. The man was blubbering and babbling incoherently to himself, his eyes never straying to far from his poor deceased cat.

But who could blame the man? Dumbledore himself had been inconsolable when his own owl, which he had gotten as a student, died of old age.

"There, there, Argus. Perhaps it would be prudent to collect Mrs. Norris so that you might give her a proper send off?"

The man turned to the Headmaster and nodded shakily.

Dumbledore nodded, produced his wand, conjured an ornate ebony box with a wave, and with yet another wave the body of Mrs. Norris neatly collected itself and was sealed into the box. Filch collected the box with shaking hands, tears streaming down his face, and his nose running madly.

Dumbledore swept his arm around the man's shoulders guiding him through the crowd of students that hadn't been completely dispersed," come, Argus. I will help you bury her if that is what you wish."

"T-Thank you, D-Dumbledore," Filch sniffled.

"Of course." Dumbledore inclined his head, but as they began to descend the stairs a pair of familiar students approached them," ah, hello Harry, Ms. Delacour. How might I help you both?"

"Well—" Harry trailed off looking pleadingly with the older girl who seemed to stare unblinkingly back," I… might know what's done this."

Dumbledore's bushy eyebrows rose into his hairline," oh? Is this an educated guess, or is there a bit of substance to this claim?"

Harry chewed nervously on his bottom lip," I-I know for a fact what did this."

Argus drew a breath in and glared at the boy," of course you know what did this, because it was you wasn't it? I always knew you were a little monster from the first minute I saw you Potter!"

"Argus!" Dumbledore started to chastise the man as if he were one of the students," I understand you are grieving, but please do not take out your frustrations on a student. In the meantime; Harry, please wait for me outside of my office as I help Mr. Filch."

"O-Okay."

9:08 p.m.

Helping Argus had taken longer than Dumbledore had expected, he had been asked to say a few words, and who was he to deny a grieving colleague?

But, once again left to his own devices, Albus found himself contemplating Harry. He would be lying if he said he didn't see Tom in the boy more often than he would like, but other times he was so very much like his parents; particularly Lily. Of course when surrounded by his friends the boy was remarkably like his father; playful, sarcastic, and outgoing.

It was truly a stark contrast to the small timid boy that had arrived in the magical world only a year ago.

"Professor?"

Albus was broken from his musings, and was startled to see he had arrived back at the entrance to his home office. Harry was staring quizzically; his ever faithful friend, Fleur Delacour, was silently watching the exchange," ah, please forgive me, Harry. You see, I often become lost in thought, in my old age."

"That's alright, sir."

The boy was clearly uncomfortable, and Albus supposed he had the oldest Delacour daughter to thank for Harry's sudden trust.

'Even if I don't deserve it.'

Albus had never made such a monumental mistake in his life, at least not since his sister Ariana. Perhaps his past with Grindelwald was a close third, but Harry's suffering was squarely on his own shoulders. There was no one to blame but himself, and he would attempt to atone; if Harry would allow it.

In the meantime, Albus ushered the pair into his office; the whirring, spinning, and ever noisy devices around his office filling the silence as the two students sat down.

It didn't escape his notice that Ms. Delacour shot Harry quite the significant look, or the returning look he gave her.

'Is he taller?' Dumbledore observed the boy, his previously thin frame was decidedly fuller, and his perpetually sick paler had improved,' perhaps the result of an improved diet, and exercise routine?'

Albus smiled at the boy," I am happy to see your health is improving, Harry."

"Huh?" The boy was decidedly confused until he was elbowed in the ribs by Ms. Delacour, and seemed to remember something," ah, thank you, sir."

"Hmm," Albus stroked his beard thoughtfully," perhaps now is not the time to discuss your health. Given the severity of the situation."

"Y-Yeah, I guess." He was fidgeting with the hem of his robe, not making eye contact with the aged wizard.

Seeming to be fed up with the boys indecision, Ms. Delacour sat forward with a stern look," ze creature is a Basilisk."

"Good heavens!" Albus ran his hands against the smooth wooden surface of his desk thinking about such an unexpected assertion," and I assume one, or both, of you has proof of such a claim."

Harry nodded," I-I've been friends with her for the better part of a year."

Albus blinked, not understanding," yes, I'm rather well aware of your friendship with Ms. Delacour."

"No, I mean the basilisk. Her name is Rina, and I've been talking to her since the beginning of first-year."

'Talking to? He doesn't mean—'

"Could you please clarify something, Harry? Are you saying you Oi can converse with the creature?"

"Y-Yeah, I'm told it's called Parsletongue."

This was surely an ill omen, if it meant what Albus thought it meant. The ever unsettling presence of Voldemort even after his body had been destroyed, his apparent ability to posses a willing host, and now Harry's ability to speak with snakes. These were ominous signs, there was no doubt about that, but could it mean what Albus thought it meant? He'd had his suspicions, but he would need something far more concrete before he jumped to a definite conclusion.

"I must say, Harry. This is quite troubling news, both the presence of such a creature, and your willingness to hide such knowledge from me. I must say I am disappointed in you, but dwelling on such matters will do little in the way of solving them. Why did you think it acceptable to hide such a thing from me?"

The boy took in a shaky breath, his chest heaving as he seemed to collect himself," honestly? I didn't know if I could trust you. You have to admit, I didn't have the best upbringing, and trusting someone could mean a beating or worse. I took a gamble on Septima, and that paid off, but I wasn't about to try rolling those dice again. I haven't had the best experience with adults: between the Dursleys, Quirrell, and Voldemort; I'm not liking my track record. Quite frankly, the only reason I'm here is because Fleur told me to, and the fact Rina has deteriorated so fast."

Albus could feel his heart growing heavy, of course the boy wouldn't want to trust authority figures. The only examples he had of such people were probably disinterested teachers, willingly ignorant neighbors, and his abusive relatives. If he was in the boys situation he wouldn't have even trusted Septima, but Albus supposed the boy had suffered so much that he didn't think his life could get worse.

'Oh, how I wish that could be true. I fear his life will only be all the harder, because of his one moment of blind faith.'

"I understand why you could not confide such things in people you hardly know, and I must apologize yet again," Albus bowed his head to the boy," my willing ignorance has cost you the benefit of innocent trust, and for that I am sorry."

Harry inclined his head," thank you."

"Now, approaching the topic at hand. The basilisk has a name?"

Harry paused for a fraction of a second, but it was long enough for Albus to notice," yes, she told me Salazar Slytherin named her. She was meant to be a defense of the school was ever under attack."

"Hmm, well I assume the founder never imagined the serpent would be used in such a manner. But then again the man was well known for his distaste for muggleborn witches and wizards." Harrys jaw was set and he seemed to be restraining himself for some reason," I can only assume this is yet another scheme on Voldemort's part, but I must say I did not expect him to be active so soon."

Harry stared open mouthed, clearly surprised," I-I figured you would have asked me if I was the one controlling her, after keeping this from you."

Albus rose an eyebrow," you may share some similarities with Tom Riddle, Harry. His startling intellect, his knack for magic, and you even share somewhat of a resemblance to him, but do you know how you are different from him?"

Harry shook his head, his eyes downcast at Albus' comparison.

"You are far more kind, compassionate, and outgoing than Tom ever was. Oh yes, he had acquaintances, but he never had someone he would ever refer to as a friend. All of his interactions with others was a means to an end for him, and he only ever valued a person for their usefulness. And he arrogantly thought himself the pinnacle of what a wizard could be. Now Harry, does that sound like you?"

The boy covertly looked over to Ms. Delacour, his cheeks glowing slightly, "N-No. I didn't even think I could make friends when I first came here, I thought I would stay to myself, and only talk with Fleur. But when I got here, I was so overwhelmed and excited that I started to forget I was so hesitant. I made friends, I had fun in classes, and I genuinely wanted to learn more about more people. Even now there are so many people I want to talk to, so many friends I want to make, and so much I want to improve on myself. I don't think I'm the best out there, but I want to be better; even if I have to admit I'm not the greatest to do it."

Albus sat back in his chair, nodding approvingly," then you have already surpassed Voldemort. He could never wrap his head around such concepts as trust, camaraderie, and humility; inevitably it was his downfall. He did not believe such an innocent existence posed him any significant threat that he could not destroy, and that was inevitably his undoing. I believe that one day, Harry, you will be greater than any witch or wizard of this age. Even greater than myself, foolish old man that I am."

The boy was speechless, and his friend seemed just as flabbergasted if their faces were anything to go by.

"And I believe you will do quite great things as well, Ms. Delacour." The girl jolted at him addressing her," I am quite sorry for my incessant doting upon young mister Potter, I see him as a bit of a grandson you see, but that does not mean I haven't seen your remarkable abilities. All of your teachers have nothing but the highest of praises for you, and I hope you continue to excel."

A few feathers broke through the girls neckline as pink rose to her cheeks," oh, merci."

Albus smiled," now that this old man's ramblings are done, would you please explain in detail what had been happening, Harry?"

Harry's half dazed nod brought a smile to the Supreme Mugwump's face.

Harry's P.O.V

10:40 p.m.

"That took forever," Harry complained," I was so on edge the entire time."

Fleur snickered," not used to such high praise are we?"

He snorted," like you are? You were practically billowing steam at Dumbledore's praise."

Fleur turned her head to the side, her nose up in the air," I 'ave received praise for my skill most of my life. But obviously it is a bit different when someone of Dumbledore's caliber acknowledges your work. And you are one to talk 'Mr. Future Greatest Wizard of our Age'.

Harry laughed at the feathers peeking through the neckline of her shirt," alright, alright. You're right, I was just as surprised at what he said as you were."

The pair walked to Ravenclaw Tower in a contemplative silence. Before they ascended the stairs to the tower Harry sighed, his eyes downcast," I don't think he's right about me. Most days I don't know what I'm doing, and the rest of the time I'm just going through the motions. There's no way I could ever be so unimaginable. I'm just… Harry."

Fleur frowned at him," 'Arry?"

When his head rose, a sharp flick to the nose made him yelp," Oi! What was that for?!"

"You are already unimaginable to most witches and wizards, and I don't mean because of your past defeat of Vildemort. You 'ave confronted Voldemort at ze young age of eleven, carried out a successful use of ritual magic, seemingly befriended one of ze wizarding worlds most dangerous creatures, you manage to stay ahead of your class while doing zese things, and I am sure zere is far more I 'ave not mentioned or do not know about. I could not imagine such things if I did not know you."

"Alright! I get it," harry could feel his face heating up worse than it had during Dumbledore's praise," Good lord, I've never received so much praise in my life."

Fleur's tinkling laughter filled the hall," well, I suppose you will need to grow accustom to it, no?"

"Between you and Dumbledore, I'm gonna have a hernia at twelve-years-old," Harry grumbled to himself as they ascended the tower stairs.

November, 4th

8:30 a.m.

Days had passed since Harry and Fleur had talked with Dumbledore, and just as he had expected; they had been shut out of the whole matter entirely. Now here he was, sitting at the Ravenclaw table, eating breakfast like nothing was going on.

*click* *click* *click*

Well, he wished he could pretend nothing was going on, but that incessant clicking was driving him barmy.

"What are you doing, Colin?" Harry sighed, down at the first-year boy.

The boy was a small Gryffindor, with mousy brown hair, and a camera never to far from his hands," I've just heard so much about you from the other students! I wanted to get a few pictures, if that's alright."

'You didn't ask me before you started taking them?' Harry glowered at Fleur, who was snickering to herself beside him.

"Oh! And I've heard all about your girlfriend, Fleur too!" He beamed over at the girl, with a look so innocent and wide, it made Harry smile evilly as the camera flashed yet again to get a picture of her.

"Not so funny now is it," Harry smirked at her grabbing a piece of bacon as she rubbed her eyes from the sudden flash of light.

"You know, Harry, you're a lot nicer than everyone says you are! You don't seem like the sort to be the Heir of Slytherin everyone keeps talking about."

Harry sputtered, his bacon flying across his plate, and a fit of coughs filling his side of the table," w-what? E-Everyone thinks I'm the Heir of Slytherin?!"

'Well they aren't wrong, but I'm not the one they need to worry about.'

"Oh yeah! I was talking to some of my house mates, and they reckon it's about a sixty percent chance that you are."

"The Gryffindors figure there's a sixty percent chance I'm evil? Yeah, that sounds about right." Harry sighed solemnly.

" 'Arry! You are not evil!"

"Well I know that, but people I don't speak to often only have rumors to go off of. Honestly, I'm surprised their percentage is so low."

Harry drank a bit of pumpkin juice to clear his throat as Fleur stared at him; obviously annoyed with his nonchalance.

"I really do not see 'ow you can be so blasé about zis." Fleur rested her chin against her palm, watching Harry as he shooed Colin away.

"Well, quite frankly I have as many friends ad I need right now. I know I told Dumbledore I wanted to make more, but any that would be worth befriending will either ignore those baseless rumors, or come to find out from me themselves."

She blinked owlishly," you are quite more mature zan you 'ave any business being."

He smiled cheekily," trust me, I know."

"I take it back, you are a smug brat."

Harry laughed.

11:45 p.m.

Harry absently composed notes as Professor Binns droned on about the International Warlock Convention of 1289. This was a common occurrence, the professor would absently recite historical facts, and Harry would just as absently write them down. Terry was beside him in the process of trying to pretend he was paying attention, while simultaneously falling asleep with his head resting on his arms atop the desk.

But, for once as Harry pressed his quill to parchment to continue his notations, the professor did not continue. Harry's head rose lazily in confusion, and then his confusion turned to disbelief as Hermione's hand was in the air.

Professor Binns seemed just as astonished as he stared at the bushy-haired girl," Miss- er—?"

"Granger, sir! I was wondering if you could tell us anything about the Chamber of Secrets," she said it in a clear and concise tone, the innocent look on her face belying her downright devious question.

Many other students in the room who had been nodding off, talking to one another, or doing homework from other classes were now paying close attention.

Professor Binns blinked.

"My subject is history of magic, I deal with facts, Miss Granger, not myths and legends." He cleared his throat, clearly wanting to pretend the question had never been posed," in September of that year, a sub-committee of Sardinian sorcerers—"

His attempt to continue the lecture was brought to a halt, Hermione's hand was waving furiously in the air; again.

"Miss… Grant?"

"Please sir, don't legends and myths always have a basis in fact?"

The ghost was staring at the girl with an open mouth so wide that it made it clear to Harry that this was the most interaction he'd had with a student during class in a while.

"Well," he blinked slowly," yes, I suppose that one could argue that." He peered down at Hermione as if he had never seen a student before," However, the legend of which you speak is such a sensational, even ludicrous tale…"

He was surely about to go on a diatribe so intense that he took a breath in, despite being dead and not needing it, but he stopped when he noticed everyone's attention on him. He stared out absently at the sea of young faces with bemusement. This was surely the most attention he'd had from students in years.

"You all know, of course, that Hogwarts was founded over a thousand years ago - the precise date is uncertain - by the four greatest witches and wizards of the age. The four school houses are named after them: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin. They built this castle together, far from prying Muggle eyes, for it was an age when magic was feared by common people, and witches and wizards suffered much persecution."

Salazar had mentioned once that they had founded Hogwarts to be a safe haven for young witches and wizards during difficult times, but he'd never gone into great detail.

Binns paused, gazed blearily around the room, and continued, "For a few years, the founders worked in harmony together, seeking out youngsters who showed signs of magic and bringing them to the castle to be educated. But then disagreements sprang up between them. A rift began to grow between Slytherin and the others. Slytherin wished to be more selective about the students admitted to Hogwarts. He believed that magical learning should be kept within all-magic families. He disliked taking students of Muggle parentage, believing them to be untrustworthy. After a while, there was a serious argument on the subject between Slytherin and Gryffindor, and Slytherin left the school."

Professor Binns paused again, pursing his lips, looking like a wrinkled old tortoise.

"Reliable historical sources tell us this much, but these honest facts have been obscured by the fanciful legend of the Chamber of Secrets. The story goes that Slytherin had built a hidden chamber in the castle, of which the other founders knew nothing. Slytherin, according to the legend, sealed the Chamber of Secrets so that none would be able to open it until his own true heir arrived at the school. The heir alone would be able to unseal the Chamber of Secrets, unleash the horror within, and use it to purge the school of all who were unworthy to study magic."

Harry sat in his seat, his whole body felt numb, and his ears were buzzing. If any of what Binns was saying was true, then Salazar's past was more sordid and tumultuous than Harry could have known. And now that he knew more about his ancestors past, Harry felt that he could understand why Salazar had been so dejected when speaking about the other founders and how he had left things between them.

"The whole thing is arrant nonsense, the most learned witches and wizards have searched the school dozens of times. The chamber simply does not exist!" Professor Binns seemed very annoyed at this point, clearly he did not find the topic amusing.

Harry snorted,' I guess no matter how smart the witch or wizard is, it won't help if you need a language almost no one speaks to open the chamber.'

Hermione's hand was in the air again," sir, what do you mean when you say the 'horror within' the chamber?"

"That is believed to be some sort of monster, which only the Heir of Slytherin can control," Professor Binns sighed irritably.

A few eyes around the room fell on Harry, making him tense slightly. Sure, he was the Heir of Slytherin, but he wasn't the one controlling Rina. He might have told Fleur he didn't care, but getting those looks from his own housemates didn't feel very good.

"It's alright mate," Terry nudged Harry's shoulder with his own," they just don't know you. I'd say there's a sixty percent chance you're evil, so I've got fine odds."

Harry let out a breathless laugh," thanks."

Terry nodded wisely," you're welcome."

Professor Binns seemed to be taking the looks exchanged between the students as unease," I tell you, the thing does not exist! There is no chamber, and there is no monster!"

"But, sir," said Seamus Finnigan, "if the Chamber can only be opened by Slytherin's true heir, no one else would be able to find it, would they?"

"Nonsense, O'Flatery," said Professor Binns in an aggravated tone. "If a long succession of Hogwarts headmasters and headmistresses haven't found the thing—"

"But, Professor," piped up Parvati Patil," you'd probably have to use Dark Magic to open it—"

"Just because a wizard doesn't use Dark Magic, doesn't mean he can't, Miss Pennyfeather," snapped Professor Binns. "I repeat, if the likes of Dumbledore—"

"But maybe you've got to be related to Slytherin, so Dumbledore couldn't—" began Dean Thomas, but Professor Binns had had enough.

"That will do," he said sharply. "It is a myth! It does not exist! There is not a shred of evidence that Slytherin ever built so much as a secret broom cupboard! I regret telling you such a foolish story! We will return, if you please, to history, to solid, believable, verifiable fact!"

'Well, there is proof it exists, and he's sitting right in the room with everyone. Not to mention Rina slithering around, Voldemort who is somewhere in the castle, and the portrait of Salazar Slytherin that would guffaw in Binns' face.' Harry snorted, imagining how that interaction would go. Maybe it would shock Binns so much he would be brought back to life.

Harry shook his head, hoping all of this would be solved soon, so he would have a chance to speak with Salazar. This was all so confusing, and he wanted to have things cleared up by the man himself. As it was now, all Harry had was paranoid conjecture and his own worries.

'I'm so tired,' Harry sighed as Professor Binns continued his lecture, and he once again fell into a daze as he copied notes.

A/N: So here we have a few original scenes for the story and a similar scene with a bit of different views from our Harry that differ from canon. I think it was a bit interesting writing more from Dumbledore's perspective, and I hope his way of thinking and speaking came off as different from Fleur and Harry's because I always have a hard time of judging that.