My Godfather

Chapter XXI: The Chamber of Secrets

I received a message from one of my readers regarding Harry's emotional character in this story. I just want you'll to know that by no means is he a weak character. That is absolutely not how I've portrayed him. He was abused in this book so there is a certain lack of self confidence which exists within his mind. He's overcome that almost completely. Harry is not weak. He's just very open and trusts Sirius completely. Which is why he is comfortable with being vulnerable in front of his father. He doesn't run from him.

Random question: Any Originals fans out there? I'm totally waiting for March 17. Season 4! Finally!

Random thought: Whenever I read about Sirius and Harry in the muggle world, wearing muggle attire, I imagine Sirius wearing a leather jacket like Damon Salvatore and start swooning.

R&R!
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"Pipes! What the heck does that mean?" Ron asked. "I don't know, Ron." Harry replied. He was truly baffled since he had no idea what that one word meant. He had tucked that little parchment into his pocket and picked up his bag. He'd think about it later on.

Harry couldn't concentrate that day on any of his lessons, neither could Ron. Mcgonagall took one look at their miserable expressions and cut them some slack. After lessons, the two of them shut themselves up in Harry's room, wondering what that one tiny word could possibly mean. "What we need to know is how this huge monster managed to come out from the Chamber of Secrets, attack people and go back unnoticed. I mean, think about it. Dad told us about this monster the other day so according to him, it's nothing small. It's got to be impossibly large and yet it's invisible. How?" Harry finished, looking more confused than ever.

They pulled out a couple of books that they'd borrowed from the library and poured over it. Reading up books was Hermione's job. The two boys had never done it before so they found it extremely boring and tedious. "Maybe there's a secret passageway or something that helps this monster get about the castle without being spotted." Ron suggested. Harry's eyes widened with realisation. Of course! "Pipes! That's what Hermione meant. The pipes serve as a passage for the monster to operate. It comes out through the opening when a student is alone and attacks!" Harry exclaimed, looking rather pleased with their discovery.

"But how could such a large monster fit inside the pipes? I mean the pipes are not that narrow but they aren't all too wide, mate." Ron pondered aloud. Harry bit his lip in thought. That was a valid point. "Maybe it's the kind of monster that can change size." Harry offered. "Yeah, maybe."

"Or maybe its thin enough to squeeze into the pipes?" Ron suggested. "What kind of demon can be that thin? It's most certainly not an ogre, a dragon or a troll."

"Maybe it's a snake." Ron suddenly quipped. Harry stared at his best mate like he had won a lottery. That was the smartest thing he had ever said. "Ron! You're a bloody genius!" He shook the other boy's shoulders in excitement. "The monster has to be a snake. That's why I was hearing those voices! They weren't in my head after all!"

"Hermione had figured it out! Good old 'Mione." Said Ron. "But what snake could attack someone so badly that the victims were petrified?"
They decided to go to the library and research that particular topic. Fortunately, the book that they needed wasn't in the restricted section so they were able to access it. The whole time, a tiny bit of guilt had crept into Harry's mind. He had promised Sirius that he wouldn't go looking for trouble. He'd promised him that he'd stay away from the Chamber of Secrets completely and yet here he was, researching the very topic. But he wasn't actually risking his life so this didn't exactly count. Right?