Chapter 15 - Heir

Lunch didn't go as Tonks and Alder expected. Although there was no palpable tension, since they had not many common interests, they ran out of topics to talk about quickly. Even if they wanted to discuss about their studies, it was a dead end too, since they had only one class for now.

Even though Alder was bored, he was not regretting arranging this gathering. It was always good to know each other and have at least some sense of unity.

…

The second class of the day was history of magic. And to their surprise, their teacher was no ordinary man but a ghost.

Although the topics Professor Binns covered was interesting enough, the tone of his voice was making all of the students drowsy. Even the Ravenclaw students were failing to resist it.

But Alder's thoughts were wondering outside the study of History, so Professor Binns was unable to affect him.

The thing he was thinking about was the Chamber of Secrets. He knew the Slytherin had put a basilisk to the room, but he always felt like that chamber was much more than just containing a basilisk. He knew the founders were getting along quite well at the start of the school, but they probably would not live in the same place. He knew about only one Headmaster office at Hogwarts. So they're bound to stay in different parts of the castle, right? Maybe the chamber was Salazar Slytherin's dwelling.

Professor Binns' class was quite simple. He would just stand floating or take a seat as much as his form let him and tell his lesson plainly. There was no question asked to the students, nor there was no question asked to him.

But the peace in the classroom dissipated with the rise of a hand when Professor Bİnns has finished talking about Soap Blizzard in 1378.

Even Professor Binns was surprised but asked calmly "Yes, Mr.?".

"Alder Gray, Professor. Please pardon me, because my question is irrelevant to today's class but I'm simply curious and excited. I heard there was no Headmaster during the era of four founders. I wonder if you know anything about where they worked. The thought of maybe bypassing such a place full of history is haunting me since I had this thought." said Alder. Although he was trying to trigger a quest and check out if they had anything useful in their offices, he had to sound sincere to get a similarly sincere answer.

"A good but futile thought, Mr..Elder. Although there are rumors surrounding the founders, it's still unknown where their dwellings or researches lie." said Professor Binns.

"But there is a clue for one of them, isn't that right, Professor?"

"And which clue might that be, Mr. Aldo?"

"Chamber of Secrets…".

"Nonsense. It's just a legend without facts.". rejected Professor Binns without even letting him complete his sentence.

"But I heard it also opened during your stay at Hogwarts, Professor?" said Alder like it was a matter of fact. The whole class was wide awake now. Some Ravenclaw students were whispering, the chamber sounded familiar, as if they've seen it somewhere while most of the Hufflepuffs were clueless.

"There was such a rumor some time ago but I can assure you there is no such secret room at Hogwarts. Many great witches and wizards searched the whole castle before and after the start of the rumor. Even Dumbledore searched thoroughly. I advise you to discard such thoughts." said Professor Binns. Disregarding Alder completely, he started telling some information about the topic that was going to be covered in the next class, Elfric the Eager.

Alder interrupted the professor no more, because he had achieved what he wanted. A screen was standing before his eyes.

--Side Quest: Heir--

--Description: It's rumored that Salazar Slytherin left a weapon to his heir to realize his cause. But is it only that he left behind? And is it only him searching for an heir? There are many questions to be answered that could lead to knowledge that may be long forgotten. This quest has different requirements and rewards for each of them.--

--Find The Office of Godric Gryffindor.

Reward: +2 Free Stat Points, +2 Free Talent Points, 20000 Experience.

Find The Office of Rowena Ravenclaw.

Reward: +2 Free Stat Points, +2 Free Talent Points, 20000 Experience.

Find The Office of Helga Hufflepuff.

Reward: +2 Free Stat Points, +2 Free Talent Points, 20000 Experience.

Find The Office of Salazar Slytherin.

Reward: +2 Free Stat Points, +2 Free Talent Points, 20000 Experience.--

Alder was very content with the rewards, he had found ways to get stat points and talent points but this time, experience was also one of his concerns. Having delved into divination; he had a fear, like with Potions, he will need to do a successful prophecy to level them up. He felt goosebumps imagining himself doing divination in the circuses among muggles. He had to mix the real prophecies with fake ones to make him believable and he didn't want his fellow students have such a treatment.

Having triggered the task, although he was happy, one of the tasks was as good as a blank line for now. He had no intention going to the Chamber of Secrets without enough strength. Even with strength it felt like pure lottery to successfully defeat the basilisk. One look from his eyes, he would be dead. But he decided to find a way to learn parseltongue, language was one of the subjects he was interested in. Although Hogwarts had no problems about it, other schools around the world had to solve the problem of language barrier. For example, Beauxbatons Academy of Magic had students from countries like France, Spain and Portugal, possibly many more Alder couldn't remember.

In the end, having excluded Slytherin's Office, he decided to start with Gryffindor.

…

For the rest of the day he took a seat in the library after grabbing 'Hogwarts: A History'. He took a quick look at the book to find any clue about Godric Gryffindor.

And with the closing hour of the library approaching, his speed increased notably.

Finally, he found something interesting.

Godric Gryffindor was the last one to die of four founders, at least among those stayed at Hogwarts. There was little to no knowledge about Salazar Slytherin, but there was a whole section that is been dedicated to legend of the Chamber of Secrets.

'He probably has become a Headmaster even before the first Headmaster recorded in the book. Maybe the Headmaster's office is his own office…' thought Alder. Both the Gryffindor common room and the Headmaster's office had a password to pass. Although Slyherin common room also needed a password, Salazar Slytherin's office was almost decided. Also the Headmaster's office also was housing the sorting hat, although it might not be a reliable clue since it was used by all of the founders, it was Godric Gryffindor's hat nevertheless.

'It's worth a try.' thought Alder, decided to think about how to approach Dumbledore.

But to his horror, Dumbledore found him. When he came back to his room, he found a letter was sent by an owl to Alder Gray. When others have found it, they were also curious what this was about.

Alder checked the letter which was written in a polite language, asking if he has time for a tea. Alder clenched the letter and started sweating. His mind was overworking for possible reasons and he could not think anything else other than the mention of 'Chamber of Secrets'. He quickly wrote a reply, he had two hours before the curfew starts and asked if Professor Dumbledore was free to accommodate him.

'I've let my guard down. Even though suspicions about my origins, if there was any at all, should be gone with my sorting to Hufflepuff, the chamber is still a sensitive subject…' thought Alder.