THE DESCENDANT OF SLYTHERIN

CAHPTER 13 : PARSEL TONGUE

LAIA'S POV

I had my special secret classes with Professor Hecate, so I was on my way to the Room of Requirement. When I entered, I met my professor staring back at me.

"Come on, Percy, it's really been a long time."

"Yes, Professor."

"I heard you got involved in the Halloween night. Are you alright, dear?"

"Er—fine, Professor. Do you possibly know about the Chamber of Secrets?"

"I do, dear, but you guys need to work on it. I can't help you with that. I know I can't interfere directly, but all I can say is, myths are myths until we find proof. Without evidence, the fact is also seen as a myth."

I think she wants to imply the Chamber of Secrets is not a myth; it is very much real. Then she continued,

"I hope you read about the origin of the wizarding world. Take one more week and give me your report in the next class."

"Okay, Professor. What are we up to this semester?"

"Since you have already completed Occlumency, we are going to continue with the advanced level. You are going to stop others from reading your mind, but they have to think they succeeded. You have to implant thoughts in your mind to distract them. The main concept is, your mind should not be empty, but you have to prevent your thoughts from being detected. Got it?"

That is not that easy. It's another hell. I still haven't succeeded. Then Quidditch match, Bludger, then today, Sunday, Harry came to us in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, where we started to make Polyjuice Potion. He told us everything, Dobby, the Chamber of Secrets opened before.

"The Chamber of Secrets has been opened before?" Hermione asked.

"This settles it," said Ron in a triumphant voice. "Lucius Malfoy must've opened the Chamber when he was at school here, and now he's told dear old Draco how to do it. It's obvious. Wish Dobby'd told you what kind of monster's in there, though. I want to know how come nobody's noticed it sneaking around the school."

"Maybe it can make itself invisible," said Hermione, prodding leeches to the bottom of the cauldron. "Or maybe it can disguise itself—pretend to be a suit of armor or something—I've read about Chameleon Ghouls—"

"You read too much, Hermione," said Ron.

"So Dobby stopped us from getting on the train and broke your arm . . ." He shook his head. "You know what, Harry? If he doesn't stop trying to save your life, he's going to kill you."

"We need to add lacewing now, Laia," said Hermione.

But my inner instincts told me otherwise. "No, Hermione, we need to wait a few more minutes."

"But, Laia, the book says—"

"Hermione, trust me with Potions, not your books. I know it sounds ridiculous, but trust me."

"Weird, but it's Polyjuice Potion. You never did it before—"

"Just one more minute. Then it will become pale orange. I think that's in your book."

"Yes, it said before five minutes. We've passed the time."

"Give me that. Let's add it now. If it becomes pale orange, then you have to trust me with this potion. No instructions from the book, deal?"

"Okay." We added it, and it changed into pale orange. "How? But it said . . ." asked Hermione.

"I told you, I don't know how, but it always works. It's like potions talk to me. I know it's crazy. Books don't always tell you exactly what to do; they just give us a lead."