Suspicions

Thoughts swarmed through Sasuke's mind. Of course, he had heard of the room created by Salazar, the founder of the Slytherin faculty, but he thought it was an invention.

"Maybe it's just someone's prank ..." - Madame Stebel interrupted the youngest Prince's musings.

- Go away! Go away! There's nothing to see here! Quickly return to your drawing rooms!

Without waiting for personal invitations, the brothers returned to the drawing room.

- We were thinking of going to the Dean!

Lovegood and Eden, who had spotted them in the crowd, rushed to the twins with Wilson.

- What's wrong? - Dakota asked.

- Someone decided to play a joke, put a spell on Filch's cat, and paint the wall," Sasuke replied grimly.

- Poor Mrs Norris! Is she alright? - Luna asked worriedly.

- She's petrified right now, but the professors will probably be able to unravel her," Itachi said soothingly and took her hand, "Dumbledore is a powerful wizard, Professor Flitwick is a master of charms, and Professor Snape is a master of potions.

The girl smiled gratefully at him. All the while, the students continued discussing what had happened and theorising what enchantments had been used. Not wanting to be in such an uproar, the friends said goodbye to Lovegood and headed to their dormitory.

It had been quite a busy day, so Theo and Dakota fell asleep quickly, and the brothers, having put on Muffliato, were finally able to discuss what had happened.

- What do you think about what's going on? - Sasuke asked his brother.

- I have three main theories. One, it's someone's evil prank in honour of All Saints' Day. Second, someone wanted to get back at Filch and, not wanting to arouse suspicion, disguised it as a prank. Third and most improbable, the Chamber of Secrets really is open. The first explanation is the most plausible. Perhaps the culprit just wanted to make an inscription, but the cat caught him at work, and he, knowing that it would lead Filch, cast a spell on it. As for the second theory - why did it have to be done with such theatricality, and why was all the theatre needed in the first place? Some too many people dislike the storekeeper to be able to deduce the circle of suspects. And everything is done with excessive pathos. The third theory raises too many questions. For example, why did the heir only turn up now after all these years? Who did he leave a message for if we don't know his name? What enemies? Muggleborns? Does he expect everyone to be frightened by the inscription and run home? If so, he's overconfident; if not, we're in for some demonstration of his power soon. I wonder if the monster is alive. Still, it must be something of a class four or five dangerous creature, but then that begs the question of how the Slytherin descendant controls it.

- It would take a really strong wizard to control such a thing... There are some capable ones among the upperclassmen. Still, I haven't heard of anyone who stands out much," Sasuke said thoughtfully, "Sure, he could be hiding his abilities, but judging by that inscription, he must be suffering from megalomania that wouldn't allow him to keep a low profile.

- I agree, and all the teachers except Locons have been here for a long time and have already fulfilled their plan if they wanted to.

- Hmmm... Mr 'Shining Smile' can be disregarded. Judging by his behaviour, he'd run away at the first sign of a serious threat. I have a sneaking suspicion that he didn't do everything he writes about in his books or didn't act alone. One of his high school groupies may help him with everything, and then he appropriates all the achievements alone. He must have fooled her with his promises," Sasuke said grimly.

- Well, we can't say anything for sure yet. We can only wait for further developments. If everything is quiet for the next month, it will most likely be just a prank. I don't think a perpetrator with such a penchant for theatrical gestures will have the patience for long.

- I don't think so, either. I'll have to ask my dad tomorrow. The Gryffindors may have spotted something, and the culprit has already been caught.

With that, the brothers went to bed.

The next day in the evening, the twins snuck over to their father's house. Severus wasn't surprised to see them and invited them to the table, which stood a teapot with three cups.

- I knew you'd want to find out if anything had come to light," he began when the children were seated, "Potter, Weasley and Granger were returning from a ghost fest when they came across the inscription. All three of them claim they didn't see or hear anything, but they're clearly not telling us something, though I'm pretty sure they didn't bewitch the cat. It's black magic, and it's not available to a sophomore," Severus grimaced.

- So the culprit has yet to be found," Itachi said thoughtfully, "And Mrs Norris will be all right?

- Yes. I'll brew the necessary potion. And please only try to dig up something on your own. Black magic is no joke," Severus looked at the children seriously.

The brothers nodded, and they began to drink their tea.