snake in the lions den|| WTM

fourteen

Transfiguration class the next day "Could I have your attention, please? Right. Now, today, we will be transforming animals into water goblets." Draco shrugs "Like so." McGonagall turns to a bird resting on a post to her right, tapping it with her wand as she speaks "One, two, three, Vera Verto" A stream of magic emits from her wand, and the bird becomes a goblet; the other students express amazement "Now it's your turn? Who would like to go first?"

She approaches Ron "Ah! Mr. Weasley. One, two, three, Vera Verto."

"Ahem!" Ron silently taps his wand towards Scabbers three times "Vera Verto." His wand causes Scabbers to turn into a furry goblet with his tail moving around while squeaking; Ada and some of the other students grin and laugh.

"I hope that hurt." Ada scowls causing Ron, Hermione, Mattheo, Sirius and Remus to nod.

McGonagall sighs as Ron picks up the Scabbers-goblet "That wand needs replacing, Mr. Weasley." Hermione raises her hand "Yes, Ms. Granger?"

"Professor, I was wondering if you could tell us about the Chamber of Secrets." Draco gives Hermione a surprised look.

McGonagall glances around the room and seeing that the students look somewhat interested "Very well. Well, you all know, of course, that Hogwarts was founded over a thousand years ago by the four greatest witches and wizards of the age: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin. Now three of the founders coexisted quite harmoniously. One did not."

Ron turns to Ada "Three guesses who."

"Imagine if Godric and Salazar were lovers and now they have the two most rival houses." Ada thought out loud as people turned towards her. "What it's just a thought." She shrugged.

"Salazar Slytherin wished to be more selective about the students admitted to Hogwarts. He believed magical learning should be kept within all-magic families. In other words, pure-bloods." Hermione and Draco glare at each other "Unable to sway the others, he decided to leave the school. Now, according to legend, Slytherin had built a hidden chamber in this castle, known as the Chamber of Secrets. Well, shortly before departing, he sealed it, until that time when his own true heir returned to the school. The Heir alone would be able to open the Chamber, and unleash the horror within, and by so doing, purge the school of all those who, in Slytherin's view, were unworthy to study magic."

"Muggle-borns." Hermione says, Professor McGonagall points her wand at her in an affirmative gesture. "Well, naturally the school has been searched many times. No such Chamber has been found." She turns and walks back to her desk.

"Professor," Professor McGonagall turns around "what exactly does legend tell us lies within the Chamber?"

"Well, the Chamber is said to be home to something that only the Heir of Slytherin can control. It is said to be the home of a monster." Hermione feels a sense of dread at these words; a horrified Ron turns around to look at Draco, who grins smugly at him.

Ada, Ron and Hermione walk down the corridor "Do you think it's true? Do you really think there is a Chamber of Secrets?" Ron asks, Hermione nods "Yes. Couldn't you tell? McGonagall's worried. All the teachers are."

Mattheo, Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle walk down the corridor behind them "But if there really is a Chamber of Secrets, and it really has been opened, then that means..."
"The Heir of Slytherin has returned to Hogwarts. The question is, who is it?"

Mattheo, Draco and Goyle walk past them, with Crabbe running to keep up. "Let's think..." Ron glances at their adversaries as they pass. "who do we know who thinks all Muggle-borns are scum?"