37: The Chamber, and Wrackspurts

[3rd Pov]

For a few days, the school could talk of little else but the attack on Mrs. Norris. Filch kept it fresh in everyone's mind by pacing where she had been attacked, as though he thought the attacker might come back.

When Filch wasn't guarding the scene of the crime, he was skulking red-eyed through the corridors, lunging out at unsuspecting students and trying to put them in detention for things like "breathing loudly" and "looking happy."

As Noon approached, red and green-robed students entered the History of Magic classroom. Taking their seats, they waited until the greyish-silver apparition of Professor Bins floated into the room from the chalkboard.

Professor Binns opened his notes and began to read in a flat drone like an old vacuum cleaner until nearly everyone in the class was in a deep stupor, occasionally coming to long enough to copy down a name or date, then falling asleep again.

Suddenly, someone put their hand up.

The professor looked up from the scroll he was reading from and looked amazed that someone had an actual question in his class.

"Miss...?"

"Granger, Professor. I was wondering if you could tell us anything about the Chamber of Secrets," Hermione said clearly.

Her question caused most of the students who were zoning out to jerk out from their trance.

Professor Bins blinked, confused.

"My subject is History of Magic," he said in his dry, wheezy voice. "I deal with facts, Miss Granger, not myths and legends,"

He cleared his throat with a small noise like chalk slipping and continued, before stuttering to a halt, seeing another hand up.

"Miss—"

"Davis. Please, sir, don't legends always have a basis in fact?"

Professor Binns was looking at Hermione and Tracey in amazement. No student had ever interrupted him before, alive or dead.

"Oh, very well," he said slowly. "Let me see… the Chamber of Secrets…"

The whole class was now hanging on Professor Binns's every word. He looked dimly at them all, every face turned to his.

Alaric, who sat in the back of the class beside his sister, chuckled. He knew the Professor was completely thrown by such an unusual show of interest.

"You all know, of course, that Hogwarts was founded over a thousand years ago — the precise date is uncertain — by the four greatest witches and wizards of the age. The four school Houses are named after them: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin. They built this castle together, far from prying Muggle eyes, for it was an age when magic was feared by common people, and witches and wizards suffered much persecution,"

He paused, gazing at the students, before continuing. The Grindelwald twins, who mostly didn't bother to pay much attention to such classes, were also attentively looking at Professor Bins, who passed up and down the classroom while talking.

"The founders initially collaborated, seeking talented young individuals with magical abilities and educating them in the castle. However, disagreements arose, causing a division between Slytherin and the others. Slytherin wanted to limit admission to Hogwarts to only those from magical backgrounds, distrusting students with Muggle parents. This disagreement led to a heated argument between Slytherin and Gryffindor, resulting in Slytherin's departure from the school,"

Professor Binns paused again, pursing his lips, looking like a wrinkled old tortoise.

"The story goes that Slytherin had built a hidden chamber in the castle, of which the other founders knew nothing. Slytherin, according to the legend, sealed the Chamber of Secrets so that none would be able to open it until his own true heir arrived at the school. The heir alone would be able to unseal the Chamber of Secrets, unleash the horror within, and use it to purge the school of all who were unworthy to study magic,"

There was silence as he finished telling the story, but it wasn't the usual, sleepy silence that filled Professor Binns's classes. There was unease in the air as everyone continued to watch him, hoping for more. Professor Binns looked faintly annoyed.

"The whole thing is arrant nonsense, of course," he said. "Naturally, the school has been searched for evidence of such a chamber, many times, by the most learned witches and wizards. It does not exist. A tale told to frighten the gullible,"

This time, it was Ron's hand that raised.

"A-And what's this 'horror within' the Chamber?"

"That is believed to be some sort of monster, which the Heir of Slytherin alone can control," said Professor Binns in a much somber voice.

__________

[Alaric's Pov]

A chamber specifically made to kill all muggle-born students at Hogwarts. Pathetic.

Those that believe in this blood-purity nonsense are the cause of the constant decrease in the wizarding population.

It's funny if somebody stopped to think about it. Two of the three most powerful wizards of our generation and possibly ever, are half-bloods.

Albus's mother was a muggle-born, and Voldemort's father was a muggle.

However, I found it hard to believe that the chamber's true objective was the extermination of those with muggle origins.

I've studied a plethora of books Salazar Slytherin himself published, courtesy of Grandfather's library. And in all of those tomes, while he shows his dislike towards Muggle-borns, he doesn't outright hate them.

He believed in the purity of one's blood but also believed that muggle-born wizards were essential for the survival of wizardkind.

That's why, if the Chamber of Secrets actually existed, its true purpose had to be something else.

__________

"Off for another one of your late-night walks?" Tracey teased.

The sun had recently set, and the floating candles gradually illuminated the once-dark common room.

Blaise and Theo were engrossed in a chess game, while Daphne remained absorbed in her book on blood magic. I had to cast an illusionary charm on the book to keep her out of trouble.

With a sly smirk at Tracey, I made my way up the stairs to exit the room.

Navigating the dim dungeon corridors, I skillfully avoided any Prefects on patrol after curfew as I passed the entrance hall.

Ascending several flights of stairs, I eventually found an unlocked window near the Charms classroom.

Without hesitation, I opened it and swiftly took flight, transforming into my animagus form as I soared away from the castle, in the direction of the dark forest.

The wind howled through the forest, causing the treetops to sway in response. The air was filled with the diverse calls and sounds of numerous animals and creatures, creating a characteristic ambiance in the dark woods.

I noticed a serene spot nestled deep within the forest, and in my raspy raven form, I muttered, "That's a nice spot."

My eyes fixed on a large open area, a clearing that beckoned me to explore further.

Returning to my human form, I felt the softness of the grass beneath my boots. At the heart of the clearing, a small pond glistened, fringed by an assortment of plants. The tranquil water surface flawlessly mirrored the glow of the moon, casting a mesmerizing reflection.

From my pouch, I retrieved a wooden box of medium size, carefully crafted with runes that maintained its coolness. It served as a container to keep things fresh or, if necessary, refrigerate them.

With a subtle click, the box opened, revealing a piece of meat stained with blood. Raising my hand, I gracefully waved it over the box, causing the meat to hover in mid-air. Without hesitation, I flung it into the center of the grassy clearing, where it landed softly.

I waited patiently, ensuring that unwanted creatures stayed away from the bloodied piece of meat. The scent of blood attracted them to the clearing, but I swiftly defended myself with a variety of curses.

After a while, reptilian-winged horses emerged from the dark bushes that surrounded the area. I whispered to myself, "Finally," as the Thestrals approached the meat.

With a simple wave of my hand, more meat floated from the box, drawing the attention of the creatures. According to Hagrid, Thestrals had a carnivorous nature and were often enticed by the smell of blood.

Throughout this last month, the fact that I could see Thestrals without personally witnessing death had remained at the back of my mind, a lingering mystery that I couldn't shake off.

The weight of problems and unanswered questions continued to burden me, leaving me searching for a way out. If I could unravel the reason behind my ability to see these beasts that were one of the many symbols of death in the magical world, perhaps some of that weight would be lifted from my shoulders.

These particular Thestrals were not as domesticated as Hagrid's, so I approached them cautiously as they feasted on the meat I had brought. My wand was securely held in my right hand.

One of the Thestrals, closer to me, eventually glanced up from its meal, its white eyes meeting mine. We locked eyes for a moment before it neighed and resumed its chomping on the meat.

I chuckled softly, amused by its apparent lack of concern for the potential threat I posed. Smiling, I gently stroked its black fur. My gaze lingered on the wisps that occasionally emanated from its body, likely the magic that kept the creature invisible to those who had not yet witnessed death.

There was a sense of familiarity at that moment.

Lost in thought, my mind was consumed by this feeling and the howling winds that echoed through the dark forest. However, my reverie was interrupted when someone placed a hand on my shoulder.

At that very moment, my instincts kicked in, and I swiftly apparated to another spot within the clearing. We were far from the castle, granting me the freedom to embrace my dark magic without restraint.

With a small *POP*, my wand was pointed toward the figure, emitting an eerie glow at its tip.

"I seem to have interrupted a deep thought, haven't I? I can see it fading in your eyes," the figure spoke, turning to face me.

She possessed disheveled, waist-length, dirty blonde hair, pale eyebrows, and eyes that bulged slightly, giving her a perpetually surprised appearance. Her wand was tucked behind her left ear, and as she glanced at me, her dreamy and absent-minded demeanor was evident.

Noticing her untidy Ravenclaw robes, I lowered my wand and placed my hands on my hips.

"What brings a firstie here in the middle of the night?" I asked, my curiosity piqued about her presence and how she managed to arrive unscathed.

However, the girl paid no heed to my question and began fondly caressing the same thestral that had captured my attention earlier.

"Aren't they beautiful?" she remarked, her hand tenderly scratching the thestral's chin, eliciting a contented neigh from the creature.

"You can see them?" I inquired, growing increasingly curious about the girl before me.

Instead of answering directly, she retrieved a pair of spectacles from her back pocket. The circular lenses displayed an array of colors, encased within a silver frame, giving her the appearance of a "demented, multicolored owl."

"That was what I was going for," she smiled, extending her hand for a handshake. "Luna Lovegood, Hogwarts student and editor for the Quibbler magazine,"

It seemed I had voiced my thoughts aloud. Nonetheless, Luna did not seem bothered by it.

"Alaric Grindelwald," I responded, shaking her hand.

"Is it true that you're the Heir of Slytherin?" Luna inquired, tilting her head curiously.

Heir of Slytherin? That was a new twist. I believed that I had somewhat dispelled the stigma surrounding my name. Sigh... This is what happens when I stop using legilimency on students.

"What makes you think I'm the heir?" I asked, genuinely intrigued.

In response, Luna placed a hand on her chin, appearing lost in thought.

"My housemates mentioned it," she replied. "But you have far too few wrackspurts to be him. You're just as sane as I am,"

With that statement, she turned around and skipped away, her steps light and carefree, in the direction of the castle.

I stared at where she left for a while, stunned. Shaking off the surprise, I laughed, causing the thestral nearby to stomp its hooves in disapproval.

I gently caressed its fur one last time before deciding to follow the enigmatic Luna. It wouldn't do for her to get lost or meet with any mishaps in the middle of the forest.

__________

A/N: Another character that's fun to write. Luna!

Did you know Dumbledore has a scar above his left knee that's the perfect map of the London Underground? Now you know.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter!