Gaunt ~ Book 2

Nineteen~Gaunt

a/n: Same reminder as usual, I'm combining J.K. Rowling's work with my own. Hope you enjoy!

"Well," said Professor Binns slowly, "yes, one could argue that, I suppose." He peered at Malfoy as though he had never seen a student properly before. "However, the legend of which you speak is a very sensational, even ludicrous tale —"

But now the whole class was hanging on Professor Binns' every word. He looked dimly at them all, every face turned to his. Marvolo could tell he was completely thrown by such an unusual show of interest.

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

"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: Goodrich 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 blearily around the room, and continued.

"For a few years, the founders worked in harmony together, seeking out youngsters who showed signs of magic and bringing them to the castle to be educated. But then disagreements sprang up between them. A rift began to grow between Slytherin and the others. Slytherin wished to be more selective about the students admitted to Hogwarts. He believed that magical learning should be kept within all-magic families. He disliked taking students of Muggle parentage, believing them to be untrustworthy. After a while, there was a serious argument on the subject between Slytherin and Gryffindor, and Slytherin left the school."

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

"Reliable historical sources tell us this much," he said. "But these honest facts have been obscured by the fanciful legend of the Chamber of Secrets. The story goes that Slytherin built a hidden chamber in the castle, of which the other founders knew nothing.

"Slytherin, according to the legend, ceased the Chamber of Secrets so that none would be able to open it until his one 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' 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 just 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 to frighten the gullible."

Malfoy's hand was back in the air.

"Sir — what exactly do you mean by the '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 his dry, reedy voice.

The class exchanged nervous looks.

"But, sir," said Pansy Parkinson, "if the Chamber can only be opened by Slytherin's true heir, no one else would be able to find it, would they?"

"Nonsense, Paddington," said Professor Binns in an aggravated tone. "If a long succession of Hogwarts headmasters and headmistress haven't found the thing —"

"But, Professor," piped up Millicent Bulstrode, "you'd probably have to use Dark magic to open it —"

"Just because a wizard doesn't use Dark Magic doesn't mean he can't, Miss Toadstool," snapped Professor Binns. "I repeat, if the likes of Dumbledore —"

"But you've got to be related to Slytherin, so Dumbledore couldn't —" began Blaise Zabini but Professor Binns had had enough.

"That will do," he said sharply. "It is a myth! It does not exist! There is not a shred of evidence that Slytherin built so much as a secret broom cupboard! I regret telling you such a foolish story! We will return, if you please, to history, to solid, believable, verified fact!"

And within five minutes, the class had sunk back into its usual torpor.

"I always knew Salazar Slytherin was a twisted old loony," Ron told Harry, Hermione, and Marvolo as they fought their way through the teeming corridors at the end of the lesson to drop off their bags before dinner. "But I never knew he started all this pure-blood stuff. I would be in his House if you paid me. Honestly, if the Sorting Hat had tried to put me in Slytherin, I'd've gotten on the train straight home —"

Hermione nodded fervently.

The reason they knew all this was because Marvolo had accosted them after their Herbology lesson and told them everything. Now, he was waving good-bye to them on the top of the stairs leading to the dungeons.

As he threw his book bag onto his bed, Draco Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy Parkinson, Millicent Bulstrode, and Blaise Zabini surrounded him.

"So," Malfoy grinned. "The Chamber of Secrets,"

"What about it?" Marvolo asked.

"Do you know who the Heir of Slytherin is?" asked Zabini.

"How am I supposed to know?" Marvolo demanded. 

Malfoy glanced between Zabini and Parkinson.

"None of us know," said Malfoy, "so we assumed you did."

"I don't know," he said. "I've never even heard of the Chamber of Secrets before. It hasn't been in any of the books I've read."

"Has any of your parents ever talked about it?" Pansy Parkinson asked.

Everyone shook their heads. Parkinson looked disappointed.

"We'll just ask the teachers," said Malfoy. "But not Binns again, I think he'll explode if another student asks a question."

"I was wondering about that," said Marvolo. "How did you know that whole 'don't legends have to stay on the basis of fact' thing? And how were you even still awake?"

The Slytherins turned on Malfoy, all wondering the same thing.

"I had just woken up to write down a couple notes," Malfoy began, "when I decided to ask Binns about the Chamber of Secrets. It was a good idea, right?"

"Of course it was a good idea," Parkinson soothed him.

"Answer Gaunt's other question," Zabini said. "How did you know to say that? I didn't know you studied."

"I don't," Malfoy said bluntly. "I just heard Granger talking about it after Potions."

"And you remembered it?" Marvolo asked.

"She said it yesterday!" said Malfoy. "I don't forget stuff that easily!"

As Marvolo followed Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle to the Slytherin table for dinner, he saw Harry, Ron, and Hermione sitting at the Gryffindor table. They were talking avidly and Hermione was making crazy hand gestures as she spoke. They noticed someone was watching them and looked up to see Marvolo with a grin on his face. Harry and Ron smiled back and Marvolo thought he saw a bit of a blush on Hermione's face.