adored by him | *under editing*

second year × 22

Draco sat, head in his palm, sneaking glances at the dark-haired Ravenclaw as Professor McGonagall stood before the class eyeing each student's animal perched on their desks. "Today, we will be turning animals into water goblets." The Professor explained before tapping the toucan beside her three times with the tip of her wand. "Vera Verto." The class watched with awe as the bird whirled and transformed into a beautiful crystal goblet encrusted with rubies."Now who'd like to give it a try? Mr Weasley?" 

Ron gulped and presented his fractured wand. He then reflected McGonagall's actions and tapped his rat, Scabbers, three times before muttering, "Vera Verto." The spell was only half successful. Scabbers was now a squealing, hairy goblet, his pink tail whipping furiously earning many giggles from the class.

McGonagall silenced them with one look. "That wand needs replacing, Mr Weasley." The boy smiled sheepishly and tucked his wand back into his robes. Hermione then lifted her hand cautiously. "Yes, Miss Granger?"

"Professor, I was wondering whether you could tell us anything about the Chamber of Secrets?" Quiet gasps broke out around the room as McGonagall perched herself on the edge of her desk, nodding solemnly.

"Very well. You all know, of course, that Hogwarts was founded thousands of years ago by four of the greatest witches and wizards of the age: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin. Three of the co-founders existed quite harmoniously, however, one did not."

"Three guesses who." Ron muttered to Harry.

"Salazar Slytherin wished to be more selective of the students admitted to Hogwarts. He believed that magical learning should be kept within all-magical families. In other words, purebloods. Unable to sway the others, he left the school." McGonagall sighed. "According to legend, Slytherin had built a hidden chamber somewhere in the school, known as the Chamber of Secrets. Shortly before departing, he sealed it until that time that his own true heir would return to the school. The heir alone would be able to open the Chamber of Secrets and unleash the horror within, and by so doing, purging the school of those Slytherin deemed unworthy to study magic."

Hermione's face fell. "Muggle-borns." Draco smirked knowingly at Hermione. She narrowed her eyes back at him.

"Yes. Naturally, the school has been searched many times over for such a chamber. It has never been found." Her eyes darkened.

"Professor, what exactly does legend tell us lives in the Chamber of Secrets?" Nadia asked curiously.

"The chamber is said to be home to something only the heir of Slytherin alone can control. It's said to be home to a monster." Ron's eyes shifted nervously to a smug-looking Draco as the lesson bell rang through the castle.

The Quartet plodded through the corridor, their head's swarmed with frightening information. "D'you think it's true? Is there really a Chamber of Secrets?"

"Yes. Couldn't you tell? McGonagall was worried, all the teachers are." Hermione stated.

Ron gulped. "But if there really is a chamber and it really has been opened then that means--"

"The heir of Slytherin has returned to Hogwarts. Question is: who is it?"

Ron hummed in mock puzzlement as Draco and his goons pushed past him. "Let's think; who do we know that thinks all muggle-borns are scum?"

"If you're talking about Draco--" Nadia started firmly before Ron continued.

"Of course it is! You heard what he said: 'You'll be next mudbloods'."

Nadia huffed. "I heard what he said but it isn't him. It can't be."

"Maybe Ron's right, Nadia. I mean, look at his family. The whole lot of them have been in Slytherin for centuries." Harry reasoned gently.