The Boy Who Believed - Neville Longbottom x OC

Chapter twenty-six: the Chamber

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Everyone seemed to be devastated and scared of the writing on the wall and about Mrs. Norris. All of the students were whispering things to each other when Harry and I walked into the Great Hall.

"Just ignore it." I said to Harry. He nodded and we went to the Gryffindors. I first wanted to sit next to Lisa, but then I remembered I needed to give her some space, so I sat next to Neville.

"What happened last night? Did you get detention or any punishment?" Dean asked.

"No. Filch wanted really bad, but Dumbledore said we're guilty until proven." Harry answered.

"You two didn't do it, right?" Seamus asked.

"No we did! And we will murder you all when u are sleeping!" I joked. Everyone laughed, except for Lisa.

"What's wrong with you? Petrified a cat last night?" Ron said to Lisa as a joke. She didn't seem to like his joke and stood up and left. I wanted to go to Lisa and help her, but Neville reminded me too give her the space.

"She probably hadn't any sleep last night, I guess..." Ron said. "She didn't have to be rude and walk away like that.".

I wanted to tell him off, but Neville said: "It's okay. If you mingle, it will get worse.". I nodded and calmed myself.

The rest of the day was boring. Especially History of Magic. He spoke in his usually flat drone, which made everyone fell into sleep. After half an hour of him teaching, Hermione raised her hand.

"Miss...?" Professor Binns said.

"Granger, Professor. I was wondering if you could tell us anything about the Chamber of Secrets." Hermione said. Everyone seemed to wake up.

"My subject is History of Magic. I deal with facts, Miss Granger, not myths and legends." Binns said. He cleared his throat and continued his lesson: "In September of that year, a subcommittee of Sardinian sorcerers.". Hermione raised her hand again.

"Miss Grant?" he asked. "Please, sir, don't legends always have a basis in fact?" Hermione said.

"Well, yes, one could argue that, I suppose.
However, the legend of which you speak is such a very sensational, even ludicrous tale." Binns said. Everyone listened to every word he was saying. Professor Binns looked surprised by the sudden unusual show of interest.

"Oh, very well. Let me see... the Chamber of Secrets... 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. 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. 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." Binns told and paused.