Uh, just in case you didn't know, this takes place during CoS...

"I win." Shouts the small little Ravenclaw. He puts his fists up in the air, taking in his victory.

Playing a game of Gobstones, the little boy was knocked each marble with impressive precision. The loser sitting on the other side were busy wiping some foul liquid substance from their robes. There was a small crowd around them, the curious spectators giggled and some cheered at the victor. It was a close game but overall, the first-year ravenclaw, Harold Hummy, rained victorious.

"Good job, Hummy." Mordred congratulated him, even offering a peaceful handshake.

The boy, Hummy, shakes his hand. "Thanks - For moment there, I actually thought I was going to lose." His toothy grin peaks when Mordred removes a piece of trickling slime from his ear.

"Heh -" He chuckles. "I was this close." Bringing his fingers together so that they were almost touching. "Butter fingers, I'm afraid."

"Well, you played a good one!" The boy would start gathering his marbles. "Let's play again some other time, yeah?"

Mordred nods his head. "Absolutely. I plan on winning, so don't expect me to go easy on you, Hummy."

The ravenclaw, Hummy, makes a snarky grin. "Do your worst - I'll still win."

With one swoop, Mordred gathered his own marbles, tossing them inside his silver pouch. The crowd disperses soon after once the game finishes. A few stayed behind to play and watch another round of gobstones. Mordred was the first to leave, brushing his hair back to make sure there weren't any remnants of putrid ooze.

The summer season was drawing near, the weather was getting warmer, and the flowers were starting to bloom again. Since then, all sorts of exciting things have happened. Another attack would occur, one of the victims was a ravenclaw prefect by the name Penelope Clearwater and the other - the most surprising of them all was the annoying gryffindor, Hermione Granger. There was enough fear around the castle that some muggleborn students refused to come out of their common rooms. They'd still attend class nevertheless, but you'd hardly see them walk around the halls after sundown. It was times like these Mordred couldn't help but laugh. It was absurd how the staff have yet to solve the problem, letting children get attacked, not having an ounce of clue as to the culprit. There were more questions being asked and no answers to show for it.

Mordred was constantly being watched as the perpetrator, he knew this for sure. But thankfully, he was seen at the great hall, competing with Fred Weasley when the attacks took place. There was a large crowd of slytherins cheering Mordred on when he started gobbling down four plates of marshmallow smores. His face was stuffed like a hamster, but that didn't stop him from taking down the older Weasley. Mordred would come out as the winner and collect his prize from George, a box of dungbombs.

News would later come out about the attacks against the muggleborn. Everyone would stop, looking around in fear. He half-expected them to accuse him or chase him down the school grounds - He'd be halfway to Mexico by now. Surprisingly, no one ever did call him out. But he did receive the title, S'more champion, along with a nifty little pin that said, 'S'mores Power to You'.

Anyone brave enough would sometimes ask him if he knew anyone that could be responsible. Mordred likes to play with them, telling them, 'Yup - he's upstairs taking a nap - he'll be down shortly.' Seeing them run away, Mordred knew he was only making it worse on himself, but he couldn't help it, it was simply too entertaining.

Over the months, he's kept up with his studies - it wasn't much of a challenge, sad to say. Being a Gaunt, he was bred for this sort of stuff. No matter how much you looked at it, it was clear that Mordred was no fool - even if he pretended to be. As curious as he was, Mordred did very little to look for the actual person. Yet, he was positive that Potter and friend - Ron Weasley, would solve it in no time. Sure, Granger was the brains of the group, in spite of that, perhaps Potter and Weasley, will surprise him and the two will grow a brain and figure it out.

In other news, the groundskeeper, Hagrid, had been essentially banned from the school while he was under investigation. There were some who believe it was the half-giant. The scruffy looking old man seemed alright to him, Mordred didn't believe it was him either. He seemed too weak, kind-hearted to the point that it made him sick.

Just how long will it take to resolve this whole issue? The curfew Snape had placed on the slytherin house was becoming a real nuisance. How else was he supposed to sneak out with all the alarms? Mordred was able to get pass at least four before he was finally caught by the potion master. He didn't think he could serve another detention with Snape. His knees still hurt from scrubbing the classroom floors.

Regardless, it was a new day.

Which meant, new opportunities.

Following the wind, it told him to head right. Which he did before taking a quick glance at the concrete floor. It was there that he notices a train of spiders, traveling in a row, headed right out into who knows where. Should he follow? Pressing his lips into a thin line, Mordred shrugs and walks away. Let some else solve it, he thought.

Eating a box a flavored bean, Mordred was walking alongside his buddy, Theo. "Go on, take one." He said.

Theo scrunches his nose, he replies, pushing the box away. "No thanks, last time I took one, it tasted like dirty underwear."

"Well, that's because it was dirty underwear flavor." Mordred snickered.

"You purposefully did that." Theo accuses.

Mordred shakes his head and chuckles. "That's right Theo, I conducted the plan to make you throw up out of spite."

"You were always jealous of me." Folding his arms, Theo raises his chin high in confidence.

They both laugh, jeering their way to the great hall when a sudden announcement is made, making the two stop in their tracks.

"All students to return to their House dormitories at once. All teachers return to the staffroom. Immediately, please."

"Aw - What?" Tilting his head, Theo said. "What do you suppose has happened?"

Mordred didn't respond, instead, a smile slowly stretches right across his face. "The plot thickens."

Theo was weirded out once Mordred start rubbing his hands together. "Wh-what? what on earth are you talking about?"

Clearing his throat, Mordred composes himself. "Nothing, Theo. But I do believe that the issue is about to be resolved."

"The chamber of secrets." Theo whispered with huge eyes.

Nodding, Mordred looks around. "Exactly."

"What are you going to do?"

For a second, Mordred stood there, musing over the question. "Me?" Placing a hand on his chest and then, "Absolutely nothing."

"But..."

"Butt what?"

"But," Theo scowls. "You're the heir!"

Mordred responded after taking a brief pause. "So?" His smile broadens.

"I can't believe this!" For a moment, he thought Theo was about ready to rip his hair out.

Putting a hand on his shoulder, Mordred start to steer Nott into the direction of the dungeons. "Worry Nott," He giggles. "Things are about to go back to normal. So, stop worrying so much - you really should lay down, you don't look too good."

Theo's face was in fact fuming with a red and disbelief. But Mordred tries to soothe his friend by patting him on the back, telling him to quit worrying so much. It was ridiculous, Theo was more worried about Mordred's reputation rather than him - You'd think it was Theo who was the heir.

When they enter the slytherin common room, the area had been packed with students. No one could seem to understand what was happening, there was chatter and questions being asked. Everyone was asking what was going on. The slytherin Prefects were doing their best to calm everybody down, but to no avail, they were talking over each other and some had fearful expressions.

"Everyone just calm down!" One of the prefects yelled, she used her hands to get their attention. "The situation is being handled as we speak. There's nothing to worry about."

"You're just as clueless as the rest of us!" Yelled the seventh-year boy.

Another girl speaks up, shouting to the crowd. "It's the heir, isn't it? He's taken another victim."

There was more shouting and noises of panic.

"What is everyone even worried about?" Draco finally said "It's after muggleborns! We should all be safe."

For a moment, nobody says anything. There was a following silence when they all share a look, perhaps it was to see if there was an outsider among them.

"But... What about half-bloods?" A girl by the name Annie Holter asks bravely.

Draco nose becomes wrinkled, almost like he was repressing the urge to gag. "Even so... Its main target are those filthy muggles."

While everyone seemed to be in agreement, there were some who weren't entirely convinced but didn't say anything.

Mordred could be seen in the back, watching everything unfold. His smile never seemed to die down; he found it all quite amusing. Theo appeared worried and rather confused standing next to him.

Draco must have sensed Mordred because soon the blond turns over to Draco and points. "You! How can you stand there and laugh while the real heir out there and you - an imposter - are here posing. You should be ashamed."

A few whispers, they turned to look at Mordred. Theo jumped on the stop, wishing he could slide away. But strangely, he stood next to Mordred who didn't appear bothered. His arms were folded and funnily enough, shrugs in respond.

A tall, bulky boy by the name of Marcus Flint says. "Lay of him Malfoy, he's a Gaunt."

Flaring his nostrils, Draco went on. "He is not! He's gotten all of you fooled by and I for one, won't fall for his lies." With a sharp glare, they were directed at Mordred. "I've had enough of the charade. It's time you've prove it here, to everyone here that you really are a Gaunt."

As much as the prefects wanted to intervene, there was curiosity. Not just from them, but every slytherin peer. All in one room, they watched with much anticipation. The situation was getting more tense with Mordred's silence. He hadn't so much said as a word but kept staring at Draco with sheer amusement.

Without blinking, Mordred would respond. "And exactly how am I supposed to do that?"

Smirking, Draco hatches an idea on the spot. "Isn't it obvious, open the chamber of secrets."

A few of their gasps, there was a murmur of curiosity, looking at Mordred with huge interest. The task was too big for anyone, even the slytherin students would agree, but no one did come forth to stop Malfoy from putting it into motion. The prefects really should put an end to the situation but before anyone could say anything the young Gaunt boy sighed.

He huffs in annoyance and his shoulder slumps. "Fine. . ."

"Wh-what?" An older boy, Cassius Warrington, says out loud. "You're not really going out there, are you?"

The crowd become loud again, tossing questions. Mordred was being bombarded by comments, calling him insane, telling him not to listen, some even tried to prevent him from taking a step outside.

But Mordred had made up his fine. "No, no, no - You heard, Malfoy. I have to prove myself you all." Raising his hand, he commanded their silence. "I will leave and I'm not coming back until I show everyone that I am who I say I am."

"And who would that be?" Theo asks.

"A Gaunt." Mordred smiles.

"Hold it right there, Gaunt." The female prefect said. "You aren't going anywhere, no one is leaving!"

The male prefect agreed as well when he steps forward address the mob of slytherins - none looked too pleased. "Everyone, to your dorms, all of you - Let's go! Get a move on." Clapping his hands, he gestures his hands with a wave, shooing them like flies.

There was a noise of disapproval. They booed and groaned, huffing in disappointment, the crowd slowly starts to disperse and soon after everyone started making their way towards their dorms.

"You got off lucky, Gaunt." Draco sneers with his nostrils. Both Goyle and Crabbe, follow him from behind, giving Mordred and Theo a deeming glare.

Mordred and Theo were one of the last few people in the common room. "Well, we should head to bed..." Theo said, scratching the back of his neck. "Not much left to do, I guess." He starts to move in the direction of the dorms.

Mordred however stayed in place. "Mordred?" Theo asks, stopping in the middle of the room. "Are you coming?"

His expression was neutral. "You go on ahead." His tone was stale. "I'll be there shortly."

Theo knew his friend well, he knew what face meant, what his tone was intending, what his words were planning. None of it was good. "Oh, no," Shaking his head, Nott was against his idea. "You aren't really going to listen to Malfoy, are you?"

Mordred had shrugged. "You heard what he said, I have to prove myself. What better way than to find the chamber."

"And then what?" He retorts rather harshly. "Suppose you find the chamber of secrets, it isn't like you can bring the room here, now, can you?" His disapproval was immense. "I thought you didn't care what Malfoy thinks."

"I don't." Mordred's clicks his words. "But I can't very well let this go. He practically called me out... in front of everybody." Closing his eyes, he pouts. "I will not stand for it, or my name isn't Mordred Murdoc Guppy Gaunt!"

"Guppy?"

"I'll be right back." Ignoring Theo's calls, Mordred marches right out of the slytherin common room.

The wall opens and closes, once he steps outside. The dungeon was empty and dimly lit. No matter, Mordred was determined to venture forth. The problem now was, "How the hell am I supposed to find the chamber?" He slumps in defeat and exhales as he realizes the dilemma he's in.

Maybe he should've thought this through.

Scratching the top if his head, he looks around. For a couple of minutes Mordred could be seen just standing there. Lost in thought, he tells himself that he can't give up now. Fiddling with his fingers and lifting his pants up to his stomach, he proceeds to his journey. He begins his search by looking behind the trophy cases - checking under the rugs, lifting several portraits (they all scolded him), fondling sculptures and rubbing the bust of previous headmasters, one of them even tried to bite his hand.

The audacity.

When he failed the dungeon, he made his way up to the first floor, searching for any signs of the chamber. What sort of signs should he be looking for anyways?

Rubbing his chin, the whole area was empty, sound was not present. Pacing the corridor, he scans the floor and ceilings, but again, there was nothing. By the time he made it to the second floor, Mordred was about ready to give up. But then he spots something. A ghost. Not just any ghost. But the Bloody Barron himself. Floating across the corridor, he seemed lost in thought.

"Hey!" Mordred calls. "Bloody Barron, over here!" Waving his hands up in the air he runs to catch up to the ghost.

A very pale man, you could hear his clanking chains whenever he moved. The only color present was his robes that were drenched in blood. Hearing his name, the ghost turns his head slightly. "A student? Here? Alone?" His voice reverberates. "You should not be here, boy. Return to your quarters, it is not safe."

Mordred doesn't listen but takes a few steps closer. "I know that." He smiled. "But I was wondering if you could help me. I'm looking for the chamber of secrets."

"The chamber of secrets?" He repeats. "No! What you seek..." Shaking his head in desperation. "It will bring you nothing but misfortune. Return to your peers, I fear I may not be able to protect you, should things become dire. There has been an attack, have you not heard?"

Titling his head, Mordred asks. "Really? Who?"

"A gryffindor - frail thing really." Pitying the poor victim, he lowers his head.

This only seemed to excite Mordred more. The prospect of getting close, he just had to ask. "Where did this happen?"

"Here!" The bloody barron yells at Mordred's lack of concern. "On this very floor." Pointing harshly on the ground. "Leave, boy, leave and do not come back until its safe."

Mordred knows he should listen. Afterall, should he come face to face with the attacker, what was he going to do? Confront the person? Fight them? He was looking for the chamber not the perpetrator. It was dangerous to be going at it alone and yes, he is aware of the risks.

Will it stop him?

No.

He'll take his chances. "Thanks, but I'll see for myself."

"No!" The bloody barron screams. "You do not understand!"

Going through the ghost, he shivers at just how cold it felt. He keeps walking, ignoring the Barron's pleads. His voice disappears into the distance as Mordred walks further down the corridor. The sounds of his footsteps turn wet, he looks down and sees that he was walking in a puddle of water.

"Ew." Mordred grimaces, lifting one foot, he looks around to see where it was coming from.

His eyes follow the puddle, it leads him to the girl's bathroom. He was stepping on toilet water. "Gross." Sticking his tongue out in disgust.

Trying to brush out the sickening idea, Mordred decides he should go inside. See something weird, follow it. He tells himself.

When he opens the door, his feet become immediately wet. The toilet had flooded the entire bathroom but that wasn't what was important. Mordred gasps and his eyes become wide; it would appear that someone had already opened the chamber. A large sink had been moved to the side and a large pipe was exposed, this had to be the entrance, it just had to be!

"Oh, look." Mordred hears a voice above him. "Another visitor."

"Oh, look." Mordred answers. "Another ghost."

The ghost in question happened to be a student, like him. But she was much older and wore ravenclaw robes. Thick round glasses, she had visible pimples over her face. "Come to make fun of me, have you?"

Peering up, Mordred watches her as she floats, shaking her fist at him. "I would never." He gasps. "Actually, I've come to look for the chamber."

"You and that other boy." The girl says, folding her arms, she glances away and huffs. "No one ever comes to see Moaning Myrtle. It's all about them! What about me? I have feelings too, you know. But does anyone bother listen to me? No! They don't. They don't care that Myrtle's in the bathroom sulking, again..."

Hearing the ghost complain, Mordred rolls his eyes. He didn't come here to hear her sob story, and he didn't plan to let her ramble on. "How terrible it must be for you." He said, slowly he begins to walk near the pipe.

"It is!" She agreed.

"Tell you what, if I die." He says before taking a short pause. "I'll become a ghost and share a toilet with you."

Her eyes suddenly got big. "Will you?" She said with glee. "Really?"

"Yes." Mordred nods. "But I call dibs on the middle toilet, and I want full reign on the sinks - oh and no crying after nine, I get cranky if I don't get a full night's rest."

For a moment, the ghost just floats there, thinking about his demands before deciding. "Deal!" She squealed.

Glad to be on the same page, Mordred peeks down at the hole. As he positions himself, he could hear her say. "I'll see you real soon."

In one swift move, Mordred falls and slides all the way down. He screams in excitement and puts his hands in the air as if he were in an amusement park.

He couldn't wait to see where it will take him.

Harry quickly backs away when he hits the wall. He had closed his eyes shut for the fear that was about to happen. He heard a loud, heavy thump. Something has just landed on the floor, and it made him shudder in response. He couldn't see but he could sure damn hear it. Like a sixth sense, he could tell he was coming face with the gigantic creature. Its heavy body, he can hear it slither and hissing, sounding monstrous, Harry's had frozen on the spot.

Was this the end for him?

Harry didn't want to believe.

Blind as he was, he begins to run away. He looked like a chicken without his head, running in different directions, he can hear the basilisk chasing after him. Getting closer to him, there was no way he could ever outrun it.

With no clue as where to go, Harry suddenly trips. Slamming onto the ground, he could hear the laugh coming from the boy known as Tom Riddle. The person responsible for all these attacks. The boy that would grow up to be the dark lord. The dark lord that killed his parents.

"Hold it right there foul creature!" Shouts the voice that was coming from a long distance.

The arrival of a third person was unexpected. Even the basilisk had stopped moving as it too was caught off guard.

Mordred steps forward, holding one hand up in the air. "It is I, Mordred, coming to put an end to this problem." Pacing down the chamber hall, he sees Harry. He was currently on the wet floor, gasping for air. There also happened to be a mystery guest. standing in the middle of area. Mordred then point at him. "You. You are the one behind the attacks, aren't you? Well, I command you, to stop this."

"You command me?" The mysterious boy spat. "Do you have any idea to whom you are speaking to?"

Mordred was surprised to find out that the attacker was none other than a slytherin peer; one of his very own. Truth be told, Mordred was at a loss, he doesn't recognize him at all. He didn't even think he went to this school. "Uh..." Tapping his chin, he squints his eyes as he tries to remember where he might've seen him. "I can't say that I do... Were you at Pauly's wedding last year?"

"What?" Hissing with anger, he shouts. "You fool! You dare to challenge me? A great and powerful wizard?"

Mordred glances over to Harry, he was still on the floor, looking just as baffled as the boy standing in front him. "Hey, Potter, what are you doing laying on the floor, can't you see that it's all wet?"

"Gaunt -" Harry utters out, lowering his head.

"Gaunt?" The name triggers something out of the boy. "You." He says with a dark voice. "You're a... Gaunt?"

Mordred looks over to the older boy. Yes, he notices the giant snake and yes, there was a little redheaded girl who was probably already dead. But he could only do one thing at a time, he was doing his best here. "Yeah..." He said lamely while blushing at the same time. "I am."

"How is that possible?" He growls.

Mordred feels a tad embarrassed when he explains it to him. "When a man really likes a woman..."

"No, you idiot!" The boy instantly stops him. "How is it that a Gaunt still lives. You should all be dead!"

"How would you know?" Mordred retorts. "You're like what, seventeen? You weren't even born when the Gaunts were around."

As if his eyes couldn't have grown any bigger, he rages on. "Stupid boy, I am much older than you are led to believe. I am all powerful - It is I that carries the blood of Salazar Slytherin. Me! The greatest wizard in the world, Lord Voldemort!" Shouting to the ceilings, he shoots Mordred a deadly glare. "You are no Gaunt. You are a nobody. . . and you will die like one. By my own hand."

There. It was finally said. The boy that stood before Mordred was none other than the dark lord himself, well... at least some strange version of him. Should he be in awe? Did he expect Mordred to start shaking in his shoes? Cower back in fear? Mordred won't lie, everything about him felt foreign - Like somehow, they weren't supposed to be in the same room, something forbidden. It was one Mordred really couldn't describe.

But what he found most insulting was the questioning of his lineage.

He knows who he is, this fool has no right to tell him otherwise. "I am a Gaunt." Mordred said in a low tone.

His statement caught him off guard. "I beg your pardon?"

He stood his guard, refusing to let his words get to him. "I said I am a Gaunt."

The tall boy was quiet but soon, slowly starts to chuckle. A chuckle that soon turns into a full-blown laughter, echoing throughout the chamber.

Harry hasn't moved since Mordred has entered; he wasn't even sure if the basilisk was still behind him. Everything seemed so chaotic that it was hard to know if he was still in danger. He was confused. He didn't know who should be trusted, who should he be rooting for. Mordred? Even Harry can say, the boy was a total wildcard. And Tom? The answer was obvious. But who's to say that Modred will be any worse.

He didn't know what to do.

Mordred watches the young dark lord wiping the corners of his eyes, recovering from laughing so hard. Once he stops, Mordred simply stares at him, angrily and with sheer malice.

"What?" The dark lord perks up, still grinning. "Did I hurt your pathetic feelings?" He peers away and looks over to Harry who was motionless. "You're in luck Potter; you've bought yourself a little time - Now, watch as I kill off this, this... imposter."

With his hissing words, Tom commands to the creature. "Kill him!"

A loud, sharp hiss, the basilisk slithers away from Harry and instead goes in the direction of Mordred. He closes his eyes the moment it turns to face him; he knows enough that staring into the eyes of such deadly beast will result in his own death.

"Mordred, run!" He hears Harry yelling at him from the side.

But where the hell is he supposed to go? His eyes were closed, he'd rather stand here than faceplant on the floor just like Potter did not too long ago. No, he rather save face and see where this goes, maybe some of that Gaunt magic will rub on him and he'll be hit with an idea and everything will be ok.

A loud sharp shrill scream, Mordred was hit with a blast of hot air, sensing that the basilisk had opened its mouth.

Yeah, everything will be ok...

Even Modred didn't sound too convinced.