-{Helping Potter}-

(4)

Classes were boring that day. Everything was going well, but no one was looking foreward to Defence Against the Dark Arts.

The fifth year Gryffindor/Slytherin class walked in and sat down, getting out their books. Umbridge stood up.

"Good morning, class." She said sweetly, but her voice had an edge to it.

"Good morning, professor Umbridge." They all said, dejectedly;  several students said 'Umbitch".

"Open your books and start on chapter eighteen, please." She said, smiling. "There is no need to talk."

Harry raised his hand.

"Yes, mr. Potter?" She said, the edge in her voice getting sharper.

"I think we've got quite a bit of knowledge on the theory." He purred. "We should learn the actual wand movements and spells. Don't you agree?~"

She was about to dissagree, but something stopped her. Harry's words danced in the back of her mind, taunting her.

"Very well." Her voice was shaking. "Everyone, put your books away. Get out your wands. We're starting on the Patronous Charm."

After classes, both Slytherin and Gryffindor pretty much worshipped the ground Harry Potter walked on. People whispered through the halls as he passed, followed by Draco, Pansy, and Blaise; Neville, Dean, and Theo.

"Hey, Harry," Theo started. "I never got to ask, why did Umbridge allow you to talk to her like that?"

"I'm blackmailing her." Harry answered.

That was the simple answer. It was true, too. He was. He had her under his thumb. She would do almost anything he wanted if it meant he wouldn't tell Fudge about the detentions. The others looked shocked.

"How?!" Blaise exclaimed.

"She's been using a blood quill on half the student body." Harry said. "And has been using the cruciatus curse on me when I decided to be snappy with her."

Everyone's eyes widened. Neville whimpered at the word and Dean rubbed his shoulder in comfort.

"T-the-" Pansy couldn't say it.

"Yes." Harry nodded. "And if she doesn't want me to tell Fudge she's been using an illegal artifact on students and using an unforgivable curse on the chosen boy, she'll do whatever I say. She knows it too."

Draco and Theo smirked.

"You're acting pretty Slytherin for a little Gryffindor, Potter." Theo said, clapping Harry on the back.

"Yeah, about that." Harry said. "Let's go somewhere more private."

As it was the end of the day, it didn't matter if they ran off somewhere, but Harry's answer piqued all of their interests. They followed him to the third floor girls bathroom.

~Open...~ Harry hissed at the sink.

There was a sound like bricks scraping together as the sink slid in and around the pipe. The Slytherins gaped while Dean and Neville blinked.

"I cleaned everything since second year, so you don't need to worry about it being gross down there." Harry said. "Just slide down. I put a trampoline in the floor to catch your fall."

They nodded and went down one by one. Harry followed last, closing the hatch behind him. As he went down, he grinned at the weightless feeling around him.

When he finally made it down, he saw the others waiting for him. He stood up and brushed himself off. He gestured for them to follow him through the corridor.

As they walked, they saw the walls were a jade green, accented by midnight blue. Along the walls were silver framed pictures of the Slytherin headmasters throughout the years.

When they got to the end of the hall, a massive painting stood on the wall. It was of a handsome man with sleek black hair that hung in silky curtains around his face.

He had a milky complection, free of freckles or any other blemishes. He was dressed in a silk viridian robe with silver and cobalt accents. His eyes were a peicing bluey-grey that seemed to see right through you.

~Lord SSSlytherin.~ Harry said, bowing to the man. ~I hope you are doing well. Will you onccce again grant me entry to your chamber?~

~Of courssse, my young pupil.~ Salazar Slytherin purred. ~I sssee you have brought friendsss. Care to introduccce?~

~Of courssse, my Lord.~ Harry pointed to each as he introduced them. ~This is Pansssy Parkinssson, Draconisss Malfoy, Blaissse Zabini, Theodore Nott, Neville Longbottom, and Dean Thomasss.~

~Thomasss...Isss that?...A muggle name...?~ Slytherin stared at the young boy in apprehension.

~Yesss, my lord....~ Harry murmured. ~But the magicksss that courssse through his veinsss are asss pure asss any I know.~

Lord Slytherin nodded and his silver frame opened to show the Chamber of Secrets. The alexandrite walls glimmered in the torchlight. Harry lead them to a door and stopped.

"As soon as we go in, you must close your eyes or my familiar might...uhm...Well, just close your eyes." They all nodded to him and he opened the door.

They all closed their eyes as he started speaking in parseltongue.

~Amphritrite.~ Harry hissed. ~Would you pleassse put your non fatality eyelidsss down? We have guestsss.~

~Yesss, massster.~ The snake said.

She did so and Harry petted her head lightly.

"You can open your eyes." Harry said.

They did so and started gawking over the beautiful black, jade green, and midnight blue room. Their eyes scanned the entire room, but stopped when they saw the fifteenfoot basalisk lounging on Harry's bed.

They all gasped. Harry smiled at their reactions.

"So, the thing is..." Harry started. "I was supposed to be in Slytherin. But, I met Ronald all-Slytherins-are-evil Weasley and all-Slytherins-are-dark-wizards Hagrid."

There was a long, deafaning silence before-

"WHAT?!"