Reaper's Heir (Book 2)

Chapter 5

Chapter V

Students whispered and stared as I made my way out of the common room the next morning. I wasn't sure if they were whispering because of the message on the wall and the rumors about Harry and me or if they were whispering about my altercation with Malfoy. Daphne met me in the great hall for breakfast and we chatted while we ate. Eventually, Blaise wandered over and joined us, though he ate very little before we got up to go to class. I slowed down and looked over to the ravenclaw table, searching for blonde hair but was pulled away by Daphne before I could get a good look.

We entered the transfiguration classroom and sat down, Blaise and Daphne talking as I pulled the book I'd checked out from the library out of my bag. Other students filed in as I flipped through the pages, skipping over chapters about redcaps and something called an acromantula until I found a passage about thestrals. Most of the information I'd already heard from Luna when I'd followed her into the forest, but I noticed after a minute that thestrals were classified as "Beast XXXX" by the ministry of magic. I had no idea what that meant so it didn't do me much good and frankly, I was starting to get the same feeling I'd had last year when I'd been fruitlessly searching for information about Gringotts. I read through the passage again, noting that thestral hair could be used as a wand core and had been at least once in the elder wand, whatever that was.

"Hey Daphne, have you ever heard of the elder wand?" I asked.

She rolled her eyes. "The elder wand is from a fairytale. It's not real."

Before I could ask her to elaborate, Professor McGonagall walked in and began writing notes on the board. "Could I have your attention, please?" She asked. Everyone quieted down and faced her as she pulled her wand out and pointed it at a bird I hadn't noticed until now. "Right. Now, today, we will be transforming animals into water goblets. Like so. One, two, three, Vera verto. Now it's your turn. Well, who would like to go first? Ah! Mr. Weasley. "One, two, three. Vera verto."

Ron cleared his throat before starting, looking somewhat uncomfortable, "Vera verto!" Sparks flew from his wand and Scabbers morphed into a furry water goblet with a tail, squeaking in alarm. People chuckled throughout the classroom.

"That wand needs replacing, Mr. Weasley." Professor McGonagall said, turning away. "Yes, Miss Granger?"

Hermione put her hand down. "Professor, I was wondering if you could tell us about...the Chamber of Secrets?"

Professor McGonagall pursed her lips. "Well, 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."

"Three guesses who," Ron said, leaning towards Harry to keep from being overheard.

"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.' 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. Though, 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 said matter of factly.

Professor McGonagall shrugged. "Well, naturally, the school had been searched many times. No such chamber has been found."