"For God's sake, we're fine!" Rigel complained. Apparently, Lupin sent a letter to McGongall about Rigel's Patronus and she wasn't impressed.
"Yes but, you three were at close proximity now be quiet." McGonagall snapped.
"Setting Dementors around a school, he won't be the only one who collapses. Terrible things, they are, and the effect they have on people who are already delicate..." Rigel saw the nurse look at the twins.
"I'm not delicate!"
"I didn't collapse."
"Of course, you're not." Said Madam Pomfrey, moving over to Eliza.
"Should he perhaps spend the night in the hospital wing?" McGonagall asked the nurse.
"No please!" Eliza pleaded a little bit dramatically. She fell on her knees begging Pomfrey.
"Alright calm down drama queen." Rigel rolled his eyes.
"You don't need to stay in the hospital wing, Miss Potter, especially not in that mood," said Madam Pomfrey moving over to Harry and taking his pulse. "They'll be fine, you should at least have some chocolate."
"I already gave them," Rigel spoke up.
Madam Pomfrey looked impressed. "Well...I wish I had more students that would act like you." Madam Pomfrey said as she continued casting spells. After several minutes she had finished. "Hmm, you lot seemed to be fine, you may leave now, but I want you to head straight over here and inform me if you experience any problems, is that clear Mr. Potter, Miss Potter, and Mr. Black?"
"Crystal."
"Thank you, Poppy, Potter's please go back to the Great Hall; I need a word with Miss Granger and Mr. Black."
"Right well, Mr. Black." McGongall said after the twins left "I need you to sign this form to say that you are happy to take OWL Transfiguration at the end of this year." She indicated the form and Rigel signed it without hesitation. "The lessons will be moved to Wednesday afternoon this year, is that ok with you?"
Rigel nodded, assuming that McGonagall had checked his timetables.
Dumbledore's speech was far more serious than the previous year and all the students were giving it their undivided attention. When he announced the appointment of Professor Lupin and Hagrid, Rigel joined the applause but couldn't shake the feeling that Professor Lupin had been trying to avoid eye contact on the train.
By the time he climbed into bed he had put thoughts of Professor Lupin and the Dementor out of his mind and was concentrating on the comfort that only a Hogwarts bed could provide.
Rigel was eventually able to sneak out, he walked under his invisibility locket. Where was he going? It was quite simple really, he was going to the chamber of secrets. Of course, he was going to investigate the place, he would have done so last year if not for the fact that he knew he would have likely been caught with so much attention being brought to it.
"Open," he commanded, the door opened and he walked inside. He saw that the chamber looked untouched since the last time he was here, the statues were still damaged.
During the last time he was here he had summoned a snake and had sent it off to look around the chamber for him. The next day it found him and reported what it found to him, including several secret passages, a small library, and a door that would not unlock with parseltongue. The door was where Harry was heading to first, who knows what could be behind it? Another basilisk? Another magical creature? Some actual secrets?
"Open," Rigel hissed to the wall statue in the shape of Salazar Slytherin's face, the mouth opened and he prepared himself. Rigel's bracelet on his left hand shifted and a second later Rigel's hand and forearm were covered in a silver metal as Slytherin's sword appeared in his hand. In his other hand his wand lit up, Rigel could see a large part of the corridor but was not sure what was past it. He aimed into the dark tunnel inside Slytherin's mouth. "locus resonare". Rigel said, a bright blue wave shot out of his wand and mapped out the tunnel in the darkness. He saw there were no immediate threats so he slowly but carefully entered, using his wand for light.
Once he was inside he walked forwards, keeping his head on a swivel and constantly looking around. Eventually, he had discovered the door that the snake had mentioned, it was on his right, it was a grey and metal door but the oddest thing about it was the lack of a keyhole
The hole was too big for a key, yes, but it was not too big for Rigel's sword.
"Alright, let's hope this doesn't end up killing me." Rigel sighed before he pushed the sword tip first into the hole. He heard a soft noise when it entered, Rigel waited several moments to see if something would happen, when nothing happened Percy twisted the sword and was rewarded with an unlocking sound. He let out a small breath before he pushed and the door opened.
When Rigel entered he found himself in another hallway, this one covered in tapestries with the Slytherin symbol, there were several torches along the walls, there was a brown, wooden door at the end. Percy walked forwards, sword and wand ready, Rigel cast an unlocking charm on the door, when it unlocked he pushed it open with a small wind blast. Rigel entered the room. it reminded him of the description of Harry and Ron's description of the Slytherin common room. low backed black and dark green leather sofas, greenish lamps and chairs, and a grand yet cold atmosphere. The largest item in the room, however, was Salazar Slytherin'spersonal library, and taking the first journal which was Salazar's personal life, he skimmed through the first one which was Salzar's family before him. Woah, he couldn't believe one of the Hogwarts founders was a greek!?
When Rigel was about to pack up, he noticed a pedestal that wasn't there before. It also had a piece of parchment. Rigel guessed that this must be blood activated and made a small gash allowing a few drops of his blood onto the parchment until finally, after the seventh drop, writing appeared on the parchment. Oddly he could understand it.
"They killed mother and father...if only I had been there, the non-magicals will pay for taking my family away..."
"Persecution is rising...the non-magicals seem to lust for the chance to lynch one of us, they always target the same ones...the elderly, the children, those who cannot defend themselves...Godric and I will change that..."
"The others and I have finally finished...Hogwarts has been completed, a joyous day that we now have a haven of safety to teach others to defend themselves and use their magic...history will not repeat itself..."
"Godric and the others...they don't understand, they have not seen the horrors...always defending non-magicals, there always seems to be a reason for the persecutions...always an excuse, they don't realize how vulnerable it will make our school..."
"We need to isolate ourselves...a closed community, opening our doors to the children of non-magicals will expose us, they don't understand...those children will betray us to the non-magicals, we cannot survive against such a vast united enemy...and Godric would, of course, defend their fear of us, defend their persecutions of us...the non-magicals will think we are kidnapping their children...they don't understand...they don't understand..."
"I cannot believe they are allowing it...and they say that I've lost my mind! Godric thinks we can live peacefully with the non-magicals...he thinks tolerance, acceptance, and justice for all would make it worth the risk but he doesn't understand...it is the non-magicals who must become tolerant of magic...it is the non-magicals who must accept us...justice for all means the persecutions cease! He doesn't understand...Ravenclaw and her intellectual interest of the non-magical children's point of view...Hufflepuff who would welcome anyone into our home...they don't understand...they don't understand..."
"The preservation of wizard-kind rests on my shoulders...I am the only one who understands...the safety of Hogwarts must be ensured...these muggles...I will not allow them to invade our haven...the persecution ends here!"
My dear descendant, please accept the ring and magic of the Slytherin family. It shall help you in your future endeavors as I'm sure you'll go on to do great things. My blessings are with you always.
May you always succeed and Mother Magic be by your side.
Rigel looked at the piece of parchment, his eyes brimming with tears. Here was a wonderful man who did his best for the people of the country, but he has now been vilified and hated for nearly a thousand years. He felt like ripping apart Hogwarts: A History for all the lies it has sprouted about his ancestor Salazar Slytherin. His ancestor. . . Oh, his mum was probably laughing at him right now.
Rigel got his emotions under control and stood up. He would not fail Salazar. He looked at the parchment in front of him and said in a clear voice in parseltongue –
"I, Rigel Sirius Black, Heir to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black and Heir of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Sayre, scion of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Slytherin, do hereby solemnly swear by wearing this ring to uphold the values and traditions of the Slytherin family. As Lord Slytherin, I swear to bring back my family's honor and strive for the betterment of my magical brethren. This I swear, so mote it be!"
Rigel didn't know where the words came from but he wasn't complaining.
A green aura surrounded him as if testing his worth. Rigel stared ahead, with determination swirling in his eyes, and soon the family magic accepted him. A ring with a silver band and a large emerald set on it with a snake engraving appeared on his left ring finger. The green aura slowly seeped into his skin as the magic of the Slytherin family entered Rigel. The Slytherin motto flashed in his mind 'in quo percussit inimicum timet maxime', which meant 'Strike where the enemy fears most.
He opened his eyes and crossed over to the other side of the room and said "Open in the name of Lord Slytherin."
The wall parted and Rigel's eyes went wide. Inside were tomes of books and tonnes of gold and precious stones. He was now probably the richest man in the world with the fortune of all three families put together. He could use a lot of this for the development of the magical world and to protect the magical and non-magical creatures. At least, he and his family wouldn't have any financial problems, ever.
But for now, he would be preserving it. Come down here from time to time. Hogwarts will definently need it at some point.
"So let me get this straight" Eliza asked. "You're the actual heir of Slytherin and he found out his true origins and correct me if I'm wrong you found tons of money."
Rigel nodded.
Eliza grinned. "Brilliant!"
Rigel looked down at his timetable critically. As if it insulted him.
"Oh, look we're starting some new subjects today!" Exclaimed Hermione happily.
"Hermione, they've messed up your timetable look!" Said Ron pulling the parchment away from her, "they've got you down for about 10 subjects a day, there isn't enough time." He laughed as she pulled it away from him.
"Let me worry about that but Harry, don't let Malfoy get to you!" She said sternly, Harry was gripping his fork tightly as he watched Malfoy doing a dramatic interpretation of the train ride,
"It's not you that he's taking the mickey of," He said looking at her coldly.
"Just forget it, it's only Malfoy!" Said Rigel jokingly. "His last name literally means bad faith."
"Can I borrow a quill for Divination? I left my quills at home and Gran hasn't sent it yet, are you all doing Divination?" Neville asked. Hermione passed him a quill as he sat down next to Eliza and began to compile his breakfast.
"Rigel isn't, he's got Arithmancy but the rest of us will be there."
"It's in the north tower you know, I think we should go." Said Hermione examining her timetable again, Neville looked at her with his mouth full of egg.
"Ok, but only a few more minutes. It will take ages to get there." She conceded, allowing Neville to swallow.
"So, are you going to tell us how you can come to Divination with us and go to Arithmancy with Rigel?" Asked Ron sarcastically.
"No," said Hermione simply.
"I don't even want to know." Rigel signed
Rigel sat at the Gryffindor table alone, it was rare that he was left alone without the rest of his group, he looked around the Hall at the laughing students and then up at the staff table, as soon as his eyes reached Professor Lupin he immediately got up to leave, he had the strangest feeling that he had been watching him.