My One and Only

Chapter 15 - Year 2

RON LEANED OVER MAIA'S SHOULDER, eyes wide with fascination as her hand fitted across her paper. Lines twisted and stretched to form a shape, although from his spot behind her, Ron couldn't quite make out what image she was drawing.

At the front of the room, Professor Binns droned on about the International Warlock Convention of 1289 in a dull, monotonous voice, though the only student who seemed to be paying attention was Hermione. Harry's face was propped up in his hand and his eyes were fluttering as he struggled to stay awake. He didn't notice when Hermione's hand shot into the air, but Maia did, and she had to rush to stop her inkwell from tipping as the desk rattled from the sudden movement. Ink stained her palm where she had covered the top of the jar and she scowled at Hermione, but the bushy haired girl didn't seem to notice.

"Oh, uh, Miss-Miss-"

"Granger, sir." Hermione answered, letting her hand drop as all eyes turned towards her. No one had ever raised their hand during one of Binn's lectures, and even he seemed shocked by the action. Maia briefly wondered if he even noticed the students during his lesson, or if he was just reading aloud out of habit.

"I was wondering if you could tell us about the Chamber of Secrets." Hermione said, and immediately the class shot to attention, the haze that had settled over them lifting and leaving them all alert. Even Maia stiffened and turned to stare at the ghost, who bristled impatiently.

"This is History of Magic, Miss Granger." He said in a clipped voice. "Our goal is to learn about facts. The Chamber of Secrets, is a myth." He cleared his throat and began to read from his notes again, and Hermione's brow furrowed stubbornly. Her hand shot into the air once more and Professor Binns stuttered to a halt, blinking rapidly as if were a piece of machinery that was glitching. "Miss Granger?"

"Please, sir. Don't all myths stem from truth?"

"Well." Professor Binns began slowly, shaking his head in confusion. "I suppose one could argue that." He looked around at the class, that for once was leaning forward in their seats with anticipation, eyes wide as they hung onto his every word, and faltered. Maia doubted he'd ever seen a class eager to listen to one of his lectures, and she noticed his translucent eyes glimmer slightly, though she supposed that may have been because of the lights.

"Oh, very well." He sighed, setting his notes back on his desk. "Hogwarts, as you know, was founded over a thousand years ago by four of the greatest witches and wizards the world will ever know. Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin, for which the four school houses were named. Their goal was to create a safe institution to teach young wizards the art of magic, without arising suspicion from the Muggles. You see, at this time in history, magic was feared by those without it, and it was not uncommon for witches and wizards to suffer from persecution." He paused and looked around the room, as if checking to see if the students were still listening. They were, eagerly so, and he continued.

"For a while, the four founders were able to work in harmony, but then a rift formed between Slytherin and the other three. Slytherin believed that learning of magic should be kept within families of only magic blood, and therefore argued that they should be more selective with whom they allowed to attend Hogwarts. He believed that students with Muggle parents were untrustworthy, and eventually this opinion brought on a very serious argument between Gryffindor and Slytherin, prompting the latter to leave the school."

Maia was leaning forward in her chair now, her fingers curling around the end of her desk.

"That is as far as the reliable sources can tell us. From these facts, however, sprang the legend of the Chamber of Secrets. According to the story, Slytherin had built a hidden chamber in the castle, unknown to the other founders. It is said that he sealed the chamber so that only his true heir would be able to unleash the horror within, and use it to purge the school of all who were unworthy of their places there."