Chapter 17: A Lift, a Basilisk, and a Rooster
When Bellatrix arrived in Harry's quarters she found him looking over a transfiguration manual. On his desk sat a small cobblestone, he was practicing a motion with his wand when he noticed her, "How'd the meeting with the druid go?" He asked her as he set down his wand.
She smiled, "The Druid said that he'd be able to perform the service for us. I was thinking we'd have the binding performed under the oak tree in the front yard." Harry nodded and then pulled her into his lap, where Bellatrix settled comfortably. "So, why are you studying Transfiguration instead of coming home to me?"
"I need to do something that will hopefully save us a lot of trouble later on. I've found evidence of a hidden chamber here at Hogwarts, and inside that chamber is a rather large basilisk." He said, pulling a book from his pile, "Salazar Slytherin himself claimed to have built it...and as the text says "placed the 'King of Serpents' to protect it"...that can only be a basilisk. I don't really feel the urge to try and stab the thing. So I need a rooster. All we've got on the grounds at the moment are hens, so Partum a galli!" He pointed his wand at the stone and where the stone had been there sat a very confused looking rooster. "Silencio! and Stupefy!" He said putting a silencing charm on the bird and then stunning it, "I wanted you to come with me. There's no one else I would trust more to have my back just in case I have to fight a giant snake."
"So, you know where this snake is?" She asked him. Harry nodded, "There's a bathroom where a student named Myrtle was killed by a monster the last time the Chamber was opened. She was 'found' by a Tom Riddle..."
"And what tells you that the opening to this Chamber is in that bathroom?" Bellatrix asked him, sliding from his lap and standing as he rose with the now silenced rooster in his arms. "Something like that could only travel through the pipes and walls. So, it has to come from somewhere that has pipes. It makes too much sense that if someone died in the bathroom the last time the chamber was opened that it was opened there. So, we're going to pay a visit to Moaning Myrtle.."
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Narcissa stared up at the ceiling. I told Harry that I loved him. I do, I love him. He risked his life for me, for no other reason than he didn't want me to lose my freedom. She smiled at that thought, We can make this work if he'll let me. She frowned as she heard two voices going past her quarters. That's Harry and Bella..She rose from the bed, grabbing her wand and wrapping herself in her nightgown.
She opened her door, catching a glimpse of the trailing edge of Bellatrix's robes as they rounded the corner. She hurried forward, catching up with them at the door of the girls bathroom. "What are you two doing going into the girls bathroom?" She asked quietly, "Pringle is prowling the halls.."
"In that case why are you out of your room?" Bellatrix asked, "Harry is a Professor, he won't be questioned.." "And an adult witch who isn't a Professor?" Narcissa replied, "Narcissa, we're handling a threat to the school. I asked Bellatrix to come with me because I wanted her to act as my back up in case something happened.." Harry said. Narcissa went to respond, then froze as she heard footsteps. She pushed Bellatrix and Harry into the bathroom and locking the door with a flick of her wand.
"Apparently I'm going with you now. Pringle is patrolling this floor, so I'm not leaving." Narcissa said. "You can guard the entrance, we're here now." Harry told her.
A silvery head peeked out of one of the stalls, Myrtle frowned, "What are you three doing in my bathroom?" Harry drew in a breath, recalling what he'd decided to tell her, "I know who killed you, or rather what killed you. It was a basilisk. I am here to kill the monster, so that no one else ever gets hurt by it."
"And who are they?" Myrtle asked, "I am an expert in dark curses. I am his fiancee, and his back up." Bellatrix said, "I'm a healer in training. If they are going to fight a monster, I'm going to do my best to keep them safe. I'm also his fiancee." Narcissa replied, feeling that she needed to mention that as Bellatrix had stated her relationship to Harry. Harry, for his part broke from the group looking at the sinks. "We are looking for a sign that Salazar Slytherin made an entrance to the Chamber here.."
"A sign like this.." He said, finding the snake on the sink. Right where you'd be in my second year...He thought. He made a show of pulling and twisting the knobs on the sink. "Salazar Slytherin was a parselmouth..he probably used that skill to lock the Chamber..." Bellatrix said, "But there hasn't been one of those in years, well except for Riddle.."
"What's a parselmouth?" Harry asked. "He can speak with snakes.." Narcissa explained, "It's considered a mark of dark magic."
Harry thought for a moment, "I talked to a snake in the zoo once when I was younger. He said he was bored. I vanished the glass and let him escape." Internally Harry chuckled at the looks on his two fiancee's faces. "I take it, this is like the Black Wards and I did something I wasn't supposed to be able to do?"
"Harry. You can talk to snakes? Like actually have a conversation, not just you're an idiotic six year old who thought he was talking to an animal?" Bellatrix asked him. Harry nodded, "He said Thanks when I vanished the glass, also I was older than six I- what are you staring at?"
"You hissed. Sweet Maeve, you actually are a parselmouth!" Bellatrix said, "Try opening the Chamber.." Harry looked at the sink, "Open" He hissed, watching as the Chamber did just that, revealing a large hole. "Well that's big enough for a giant snake to use as a way into the Castle..but how did Slytherin himself get in there? I doubt a Founder would just hop down the pipe.."
"Try saying 'stairs'...or 'steps'...hell try saying 'lift'." Bellatrix suggested. "Let's see here...Stairs? Steps? Staircase? Lift?" There was a low groaning sound from below them, the massive pipe suddenly had a plug of damp stone. Harry went towards it, followed by Bellatrix and Narcissa. He stood on the stood, helping each of the witches onto it. Once they were all three on the stone, Harry felt it begin to slide back down the pipe. "Lift worked? Really? A man from the Middle Ages knew that lifts were going to be a thing?" Harry said as they traveled down.
"I doubt he knew they would exist Harry. It's not like he was capable to traveling to the future. This stone is probably under a response based levitation charm." Narcissa said, in the darkness missing the look on Harry's face.
The stone settled in a depression in the floor of the chamber that he'd never noticed the first time he was here. The assorted animal bones however, those were still there. As they walked through into the Chamber proper he noticed something was there. The gigantic shed skin. "Merlin, Morgana, and Maeve...it really is a basilisk.." Bellatrix said quietly, "If we survive this, do you know how much just this skin is worth?"
"A lot I take it?" Harry replied. She nodded, "Call your elf here, he can take this back to Pounds House. Tell him to put it in the Ritual chamber in the cellar."
"Dobby?" Harry said. The house elf appeared before him, "Great Master Harry is calling Dobby sir?" Harry sighed, "Please, Dobby just Harry is fine. Master Harry if you absolutely have to use a title, but none of that Great Master Harry Sir' stuff, please. I need you to take this skin to the Ritual chamber in the basement of my house alright?" Dobby nodded, he grabbed the skin with both hands and vanished again. "I'll make arrangements with the goblins. That skin alone is probably worth a few thousand galleons."
"What about the basilisk itself?" Narcissa asked, "Father could probably tell you better than I could..but between the fresh skin, the bones, the venom, the eyes, and the fangs...we could be sitting on enough coin to double our current fortune.." Bellatrix replied, "That said, I don't know if I trust the Black family to be completely forthright in selling this carcass. Hence the Goblins, I know they'll be expensive...but I also know that they will uphold the terms of our contract, whatever the contract says."
Then they came to the giant stone statue of Salazar Slytherin. "A bit conceited isn't he? Puts this big tribute to himself under the school where no one would see it.." Harry said softly. Bellatrix smirked, "He did consider himself the greatest of the 'Hogwarts Four'." "I trust you have a plan to deal with this?" Narcissa said to them. Harry nodded and withdrew from his robes, the silenced and stunned rooster. "First, we need to conjure a shelter.." He said, handing the bird to Bellatrix. Concentrating, Harry used his wand to raise three walls from the stone beneath them.
Bellatrix and Narcissa moved to stand behind the shelter. Harry stood apart from the shelter and spoke aloud, "Speak to me, Slytherin, greatest of the Hogwarts Four!" As Harry saw the mouth open, he ducked back into the shelter. "Alright, wake up and un-silence our rooster friend Bella.."
"Massssster, issss that you? Another hassss came and betrayed your wisssssshhhhhessss.."
Harry frowned, "Wait a moment Bellatrix, I'm going to try something...keep him ready though.." Harry stepped out from the shelter and spoke again, "I am not your master, though I wish to stop the one who came before me. Who was this 'other'?"
"He wasssss a ssssspeaker...he promissssssed that he would let me fulfill my purposssssssse.."
"And what was that?" Harry asked, turning to the others he whispered, "I don't know if the Basilisk is going to be as dangerous as I thought it would.."
"My purposssse wassss to protect the ssssstudentsss brought from the outssssside...the onessss born to the mugglesssss...but he forced me to kill inssssssstead. I have betrayed my massster and musssst pay for that."
"It says that it was put here to protect the muggleborn students..." Harry explained. "How would you pay?"
"I mussssst die. The other left me here asssss a weapon. He would reopen the Chamber and force me to kill again..."
"I have a rooster. Its cry will end your suffering. Are you sure you wish to die?" Harry called out.
"Pleassssssse. He will use hisssss powersss to compel me to kill. I wasss sssssupposssed to be a guardian...he hassss ruined me."
"Your pain will end soon. Come where you will be able to hear the rooster." Harry said and turned to Bellatrix, "Alright. Let's do this."
The conjured bird was revived and given back its ability to make noises. They could hear the basilisk drawing closer. Harry nudged the bird out of the shelter. He saw the rooster peck at the ground, then its head shot up, it began to fluff its feathers as if to fight and it crowed.
The trio heard a crashing sound as the great serpent fell dead. After a few moments, Harry rose and looked at the chamber. "It's dead..." He said softly, "It was worried that Riddle would come back and compel it to kill more students. It had no control over itself the last time.."
They were silent for a moment, Bellatrix went to his side, "There were rumors that Salazar Slytherin hated muggles and muggleborns..but this basilisk-" "Said it was meant to be a protector..maybe he was more worried about witch burnings than he was blood purity.." Harry finished, "Let's go back up to the castle. We'll contact the Goblins and arrange for them to come here on a weekend.."
"You'll have to speak to either Dumbledore or his deputy, McGonagall.." Narcissa said, "Otherwise they won't be able to come in..You also need to claim the beast. Go stand by its head, touch it and then lift your wand. Then state your name and that you claim this beast and the contents of the Chamber by Rite of Conquest."
"Why do I have to do that?" Harry asked as he walked over, Narcissa explained, "If you don't claim it, then technically it only belongs to the school." Harry nodded and placed a hand on the corpse, he raised his wand and spoke, "I, Harry Peverell, Lord of House Peverell, do hereby claim this basilisk and the contents of this Chamber, by Rite of Conquest!" There was a flash from his wand signifying that his claim had been accepted by magic.
"Now, we can go back upstairs." Narcissa said, "I remember a man tried to sell my father a kelpie skin he didn't have claim to. He'd stolen it from some Goblins. It did not go well for that man.." She told Harry then smirked, "Luckily you claimed it, so they won't kill you when you try to sell it to the Goblins."
Going back up the pipe was simple enough. They stood on the stone circle and with a quick "lift" they were on their way. The bathroom was blessedly empty, except for Moaning Myrtle. "You killed it then?" She asked them excitedly. "It's dead. For what it's worth, it didn't mean to kill you..it was turned into a weapon by its former master..."
"Mercy is a quality the world needs more of Professor Fawkes.." Came a familiar voice as Professor Dumbledore stepped out of the shadows. "Myrtle was good enough to tell me someone had opened the Chamber of Secrets again...I take it the Basilisk is no more?"
"Yes Headmaster. I have put it out of its suffering, and have laid claim to it and anything else in the Chamber by Rite of Conquest.." Harry said, "If there are any books that would be useful to the school, I would be happy to let you make copies of them...for now though I want to get Narcissa back to her quarters, get Bellatrix back home, and then get back to bed myself.." Albus smiled, "I see. Will you please come to my office in the morning then? We can discuss the Chamber, I would rather like a tour of it myself if you would be so kind?"
"Of course Headmaster.." Harry said. "Very well then. Good evening Professor Fawkes, Miss Black, Madam Lestrange.." Albus nodded to them before leaving the trio alone. Harry led Narcissa back to her quarters. He kissed her at the door, "Thank you for coming along with us Narcissa.."
"I didn't do anything.." She said, to which Harry shook his head, "You told me how to claim the basilisk..." He embraced her, "One other thing.." He drew in a breath, "I love you too.." He kissed her softly a final time and then left with Bellatrix to go back to his quarters. Narcissa watched him until he vanished around the corner. He loves me! She thought as a smile grew on her face.
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She could see Harry standing in a strange dark room. She could hear a terrible hissing sound. Harry spoke back, there was a great scraping, as if something large was coming forward.
Then the dream ended.
Apolline shot up from her bed. Harry is in danger! She did not think about why precisely she knew he was in danger. But she did. Something within her told her that he needed her. She began to hurriedly dress herself, grabbing her wand she apparated away from her room at the enclave and found herself at the French coast, across the Channel was England. She apparated again, cross the distance and finding herself on the opposite shore from where she began. Harry said that he is teaching at Hogwarts...the book I bought at Diagon Alley says that's near the village of Hogsmeade..She apparated again, finding herself in Hogsmeade. She raced up the road marked 'Hogwarts' and flung herself at the gate, "Please, someone open up! I need to speak with Harry Fawkes!"
The single largest man she had ever seen came up to the gate. "I'm terrible sorry ma'am, but I can't let yeh in ter th' Castle..it's awful late.." Hagrid said, his eyes widening as the woman suddenly began to sprout feathers. "Listen to me, the man who saved my life is in danger! I need to get in, either you open the gate, or with Hera as my witness I will melt this gate!"
Hagrid looked to her, "I'll ask the 'eadmaster, if'n he says yeh can come in, then I'll take yeh to Professor Fawkes' quarters meself." He disappeared from Apolline's field of vision as he made his way to the Castle. No time! Apolline thought as she let the change completely overtake her. Sprouting wings, she took off into the air and flew over the gate. She landed beside the large man and began to shift back, "You can take me to the headmaster, and then I will see Harry." She ordered the larger man.
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Harry had just gotten into his bed when he heard a frantic knock at his door. Bellatrix, at his side, grumbled and rolled over in the bed. "Tell whoever it is to leave us be.." She muttered as Harry rose and slipped on his dressing gown.
Harry went to his door and was hit by a blonde blur, "Harry, it's you. You are safe! I was so worried, I saw you in-" Apolline stopped as she looked up from her embrace and into his eyes, "I saw you in a great dark chamber...and there was a monster.."
"Miss Dubois came all the way from the south of France to speak with you Professor Fawkes..." Albus said, his eyes twinkling, "Perhaps we can hold off our meeting until the afternoon..." He left, closing the door behind him.
Harry found himself between Apolline and a now very awake and very annoyed Bellatrix. "Harry, why is she hugging you like that?" Bellatrix asked, her voice very soft, that dangerous whisper he'd come to know as a sign to get ready to dodge things.
"Madame, I saw Harry in danger..everything in my soul told me I needed to find him.." Apolline explained. Bellatrix let out a curse, "I knew that damn rescue would come back to bite us in the ass...come on Harry, we'll take her to Pounds House, then she can sleep in the guest room." Bellatrix said still in that whisper. "We'll sort out why precisely she could 'feel' you in her soul, in the morning."
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