The Potter Twins and the Chamber of Secrets

XVIII

For a few days after, the entire school could talk of nothing else other than the attack on Mrs Norris. This had upset quite a few people, including Ginny Weasley, who was apparently an avid cat-lover. "Don't worry, Ginny, the mandrakes will grow soon," Ron said reassuringly. "I only hope whoever it is has time to petrify Filch before it happens - I'm joking," he added hurriedly, as Ginny blanched.

For some reason, some people had taken to giving Harry and I a wide berth when we walked down the corridor. There were plenty of whispers about Merlin knows what, and Will had decided that he was going to take on the role my bodyguard, for some reason. Once, when a Slytherin fifth-year barged into me in the corridor, Will pulled out his wand, sent a tickling curse the offender's way and disappeared round a corner before anyone saw where it had come from.

"That's sweet of you," I said when Will told me that he wanted to stop any vengeance for Mrs Norris. Ron overheard and snorted. "You two married or something?"

Somehow I sensed that Will knew something I didn't. Eventually, I lost my patience with him. "Out with it, come on. What is it?" We were in the library, trying to write a three foot long composition on 'The Medieval Assembly of European Wizards'.

Will flinched. "Well, seeing that everyone knows now that you can speak Parseltongue, and you and Harry were found next to Mrs Norris being petrified, and the writing about the heir of Slytherin... I don't know, I guess maybe people will think that it's you."

My heart sank. "That's why they're avoiding us?"

"Maybe. Like I said, I don't know."

"But that's not true," I said, still bemused.

Will shrugged. "Who knows? Nobody can ask your parents, being perfectly blunt. You could be."

I shook my head. "Nope. Plus, if it's me, then it'll be Harry too. It didn't say heirs, plural, did it?"

Will laughed. "You've got a point. Anyway, have you got three feet? I've got three foot five. Here's the measure."

I measured my essay and sighed with relief. "Just. Let's go."

We headed to History of Magic, where we found Ron and Hermione arguing, as usual. "Come on, 'Mione, I just need two more inches," Ron begged, and Hermione, looking unusually stern, shook her head emphatically. "No, Ron, you've had ten days to do it."

However, Ron's too-short composition was in fact the least interesting thing to happen that lesson, surprisingly, as History of Magic was more often than not the dullest lesson on the timetable. This probably had something to do with the fact that it was taught by a ghost, who, in my personal opinion, had not become any more interesting by being dead. Professor Binns had, one day, fallen asleep in front of a fire and just left his body behind the next morning when he rose to teach. He was a walking encyclopaedia of historical fact, which should have been fascinating, but of course, my attention span was not one which worked well with that sort of thing.

Usually, the most exciting thing about History of Magic lessons was Professor Binns entering through the wall. This time, however, Hermione injected some life into the stupor as the ghost was warbling on about something to do with goblins. He looked up to see Hermione's hand waving enthusiastically to and fro (probably something he'd never seen before).

"Miss Grant?"

"Granger, sir," Hermione said breathlessly. "I was wondering, sir, if you could tell us about the Chamber of Secrets?" The class exploded into life again as soon as she mentioned the magic words. Even Will had been dozing off, but he sat up straight again.

Binns sniffed. "I deal in fact, Miss Green, not legend. Now, about the 1255 Convention..."

He tailed off, because Hermione's hand had once again taken on some flag-like qualities. I doubted anyone had dared interrupt him before. "Please, sir, don't legends always have a basis in fact?"

Binns looked stunned. "Well, I suppose... but, there is no evidence of..." he trailed off once again to find the glass hanging onto his every word - again, probably something he'd never seen before. He sighed. "Well, I suppose I can indulge you. One thousand years ago, the four founders of Hogwarts, Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff and Salazar Slytherin, gathered to decide which students they wished to comprise their houses. Gryffindor favoured bravery, Ravenclaw intelligence, Hufflepuff loyalty, and Slytherin wished for cunning. However, Slytherin set another criteria: he believed that only those of pure wizard blood should be allowed into the school. When the other founders refused, Slytherin left the school in anger, but not before - some say - creating a secret chamber, one which only his heir could open, and in which a terrible beast lay to one day rid the school of those impure of blood." Binns looked up again - even I was listening, which surprised even myself. "However, as I said, there has been no evidence of this chamber."

"But, Sir," Dean Thomas said eagerly, "what if only Slytherin's heir could find it?"

"Nonsense, Timothy! Even Dumbledore-"

"But I expect you'd have to use dark magic to open the chamber," Lavender Brown proposed excitedly.

"Just because a wizard does not use dark magic, Miss Black, does not mean they cannot!" Binns said angrily. "I'm telling you-"

"But Sir," I said with a raised eyebrow, "Dumbledore's not descended from Slytherin, is he?" Quite a reasonable suggestion, if I do say so myself.

"Silence!" Professor Binns shouted. "This is a legend! Now, class permitting, we will return to solid, correct, verifiable fact!"

And within two minutes, the class had sunk back into its original stupor.

————

"Well, we tried," I shrugged, as we sat down to eat lunch in the Great Hall. "I'm sure there's something behind that legend," Will said seriously.

Ron nodded. "Got to be."

Harry was being strangely silent, but sat up pin-straight as Hermione said, "but who could be the heir of Slytherin?"

"It's obvious, isn't it?" he said.

"Please reveal what you think is so obvious, seeing as none of us have realised," I said dryly. Harry laughed. "Think about it. Who hates muggle-borns? Whose family have been nothing but Slytherins, ever? Who was laughing when Mrs Norris got petrified?"

"Malfoy," Ron said slowly, and Hermione snorted. "Him? Seriously?"

"Come to think about it," Will said, "he did seem to be rather enjoying himself the other day. And you know how he treats muggleborns."

"Of course," Harry nodded. "And we'd better find out some more about what in Merlin's name is going on, before there are more casualties."

Everyone looked at Hermione, and she smiled. "I might have an idea, now you mention it..."

sorry for the delay!
thanks to LauraSchoenborn who helped remind me get my ass in gear to publish it! happy new year everyone :)
comment and vote 🙏