Chapter 5 — The Heir of Slytherin
The creature I had seen in the Black Lake had not been trying to attack me.
It had been looking for me.
That conclusion remained in my mind as I sat in front of the enormous window in the Slytherin common room.
The water moved slowly on the other side of the glass.
Dark.
Deep.
Silent.
I could not see anything.
But I knew something was there.
Something ancient.
Something that had been waiting for far too long.
Something that had spoken a word that kept repeating in my mind.
Heir.
I opened my eyes.
—It doesn't make sense...
I had spent practically the entire night thinking about it.
The creature had not behaved like an animal.
It had not tried to bite me.
It had not tried to attack me.
It had simply watched me.
And when I approached...
it had spoken.
In Parseltongue.
A language I had not even known I could understand until recently.
I stood up.
—System.
[Yes, host?]
—I want all available information about Salazar Slytherin.
A blue window appeared in front of me.
[Searching for information...]
[Salazar Slytherin]
[One of the four founders of Hogwarts.]
[Founder of Slytherin House.]
[Specialist in serpent magic.]
[Parselmouth.]
[Advanced knowledge of Dark Magic, enchantments, and magical creatures.]
[Creator of the Chamber of Secrets.]
My eyes stopped on that last line.
—Chamber of Secrets?
[Confirmed.]
—Where is it?
[Location unknown.]
—Who can open it?
There was a brief pause.
[Primary requirement: Parseltongue.]
I frowned.
—Then...
I looked toward the window.
—Can I open it?
[High probability.]
I did not like that answer.
Too many things were beginning to fit together.
The creature.
The voice.
Parseltongue.
The strange sensation I had felt near certain parts of the castle.
And now the Chamber of Secrets.
But there was a much more important question.
—Am I a descendant of Salazar Slytherin?
The window remained in front of me for several seconds.
[Insufficient information.]
I sighed.
—You always do that.
[The system cannot provide information the host has not yet discovered.]
—Convenient.
[Thank you.]
I remained silent.
Then I smiled.
—At least you have a sense of humor.
---
The next morning, as soon as I entered the Great Hall, I noticed that something had changed.
The students were speaking in hushed voices.
Far too quietly.
The usual conversations had disappeared.
Instead, there were whispers.
Rumors.
Theories.
I looked around.
The professors also seemed more tense than usual.
Dumbledore was speaking with McGonagall.
Snape remained seated with his usual expression of absolute indifference.
But I knew him well enough to realize that the indifference was fake.
He was alert.
Very alert.
I sat down at the Slytherin table.
—Good morning.
A second-year student looked at me.
—You haven't heard?
—Heard what?
—They found something strange in one of the corridors last night.
—What did they find?
The boy looked around before leaning closer.
—A mark.
—What kind of mark?
—A snake.
Another student interrupted.
—My brother says it has something to do with the Chamber of Secrets.
—Don't be stupid —a girl replied—. That story is just a legend.
—A legend?
—Of course.
—Then explain why the professors are acting like they've seen a ghost.
The conversation continued.
I barely listened.
Because something inside me had activated.
It wasn't magic.
It was a sensation.
The same one I had felt at the lake.
Something was calling me.
I looked toward the enormous doors of the Great Hall.
For a moment, I thought I heard a hiss.
Come.
My expression changed.
I stood up.
—Michael?
I didn't answer.
I left the Great Hall.
---
I walked through the corridors without knowing exactly where I was going.
I didn't need a map.
Something seemed to be guiding me.
I climbed one staircase.
Then another.
I turned left.
I continued walking.
Finally, I reached the second floor.
I stopped.
There was a door in front of me.
A bathroom.
The girls' bathroom.
I frowned.
—Seriously?
The sensation was coming from there.
I entered.
The place was completely empty.
The sinks were covered in dust.
Some of the mirrors were cracked.
The air was cold.
Far too cold.
I walked slowly.
Then I heard it.
A hiss.
—...
I turned around.
Nothing.
—Where are you?
Another hiss.
This time it came from the sink.
I approached.
There was a small snake carved into one of the faucets.
I stared at it.
It was identical to the symbol I had seen during my research.
—So it's you.
I leaned closer.
The snake seemed to be looking at me.
A strange sensation passed through my body.
Then I spoke.
—Open.
Nothing happened.
I sighed.
—I suppose it wasn't that simple.
But then I heard a sound.
Click.
The sink began to move.
I immediately stepped back.
The stone slowly rotated, revealing a huge dark opening.
I stared at it.
—The Chamber...
A cold current of air came out of the tunnel.
I had found the entrance.
But something was wrong.
There were no visible stairs.
Only a huge passage.
I approached the edge.
—That must go pretty far down.
[Confirmed.]
—Can you detect what's inside?
[The magic surrounding the location interferes with the analysis capability.]
—Of course.
I smiled.
—Then I suppose I'll have to find out personally.
I was about to enter when I heard footsteps.
I turned around.
Someone was approaching.
I immediately closed the entrance.
The sink returned to its original position.
I hid behind a pillar.
The footsteps grew louder.
A figure appeared.
Black robes.
Black hair.
Cold eyes.
Severus Snape.
The professor stopped.
He looked around the bathroom.
His gaze traveled across the sinks.
Then it focused exactly on the place where I had opened the entrance.
My heart remained calm.
But my magic reacted.
Snape narrowed his eyes.
—Recent magic...
I said nothing.
He raised his wand.
—Homenum Revelio.
A magical wave swept through the bathroom.
I held my breath.
The magic passed over me.
For a moment, I thought he had detected me.
But he hadn't.
Snape lowered his wand.
—Curious...
He approached the sink.
He examined it.
For several seconds.
Finally, he left.
I waited.
Ten seconds.
Twenty.
Thirty.
Only then did I step out of my hiding place.
—That was too close.
I looked at the sink.
—And Snape definitely knows something.
---
The library.
That was my next destination.
If the Chamber existed, there had to be information about it.
I sat at a secluded table and began searching.
History of Hogwarts.
Founders.
Slytherin.
Chamber of Secrets.
Parseltongue.
Descendants.
I read for hours.
Most of the books repeated the same information.
Salazar Slytherin had built a secret chamber.
He had placed a creature inside capable of cleansing Hogwarts of those he considered unworthy.
But none of the books specified what the creature was.
Nor how the chamber could be opened.
Nor who could open it.
Until I found a different book.
It was old.
Much older than the others.
The cover was practically destroyed.
I opened it.
The pages were written in ancient Latin.
Fortunately, I could read it.
I began translating.
Then I found a sentence.
"Blood recognizes blood."
I turned the page.
Another sentence.
"The heir will not always bear the founder's name."
I froze.
I read it again.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
—What does that mean?
I continued.
There was a family tree.
Slytherin.
Then several generations.
Some branches had been erased.
But one remained visible.
Black.
My heart began beating faster.
I continued reading.
A secondary branch led to another family.
Rosier.
And finally...
White.
I stared at the document.
Black.
White.
Rosier.
The three families were connected.
But there was something I didn't understand.
My family.
My blood.
My name.
Everything seemed to be part of something much older than I had imagined.
—Michael?
I slammed the book shut.
Hermione was standing in front of me.
—You scared me.
—Sorry.
She sat down.
—I was looking for you.
—Why?
—Because you disappeared after breakfast.
—I was researching.
—I can see that.
She looked at the pile of books.
—What are you looking for?
I hesitated.
Then I showed her one of the books.
Hermione began reading.
Her expression changed.
—Does this talk about Salazar Slytherin?
—Yes.
—And why are you researching him?
I looked at her.
—Because I think I can open the Chamber.
Hermione went pale.
—What?
—I found the entrance.
—Michael...
—And I can speak Parseltongue.
She remained silent.
—You can speak Parseltongue?
I nodded.
—I discovered it recently.
—That means...
—Yes.
Hermione swallowed.
—That you could be a descendant of Slytherin.
—That's what I'm trying to find out.
She took the book.
—But it says here that the heir doesn't necessarily have to carry the Slytherin name.
—Exactly.
Hermione continued reading.
—Black...
Her eyes moved across the page.
—Rosier...
Then she looked at me.
—White.
I nodded slowly.
—My families are mentioned here.
Hermione placed the book on the table.
—Michael, this is huge.
—I know.
—Do your parents know anything?
I remained silent.
I didn't have an answer.
My mother probably knew more than she had told me.
And that bothered me.
Because I was beginning to suspect that my family had deliberately hidden things from me.
—I will have to ask her.
Hermione nodded.
—And what are you going to do about the Chamber?
—Enter it.
—No!
I looked at her.
—Hermione...
—You can't go in there alone.
—I can.
—That doesn't mean you should.
I smiled.
—Are you worried about me?
She looked away.
—I'm just being logical.
—Of course.
—Don't smile.
—I'm not smiling.
—Yes, you are.
I looked at her.
—A little.
She shook her head.
—You're impossible.
---
That night, I returned to the bathroom.
This time, I wasn't alone.
Hermione stood behind me.
—We can still leave —she said.
—I know.
—Then we should.
—No.
She took a deep breath.
—Fine.
I approached the sink.
The carved snake seemed to be watching me.
—Open.
The mechanism activated.
The stone began to rotate.
The tunnel appeared.
Hermione stared at it in horror.
—This is a terrible idea.
—Probably.
—Probably?
—Definitely.
I laughed.
She lightly hit my arm.
—It's not funny.
—A little.
I looked down.
—Stay here.
—No way.
—Hermione.
—If you're going down, I'm going down too.
I looked at her for several seconds.
Finally, I nodded.
—Fine.
I jumped.
The tunnel swallowed me.
I slid down a long stone passage.
Hermione fell behind me.
The journey seemed endless.
Finally, we were thrown out.
I landed on a pile of bones.
Hermione landed a few meters away.
—Ow!
I stood up.
—Are you okay?
—Yes.
We looked around.
The chamber was enormous.
Green torches ignited automatically.
Huge columns shaped like serpents rose toward the ceiling.
And at the far end...
stood a gigantic statue.
The face of Salazar Slytherin.
I slowly approached.
I could feel the magic.
It was incredible.
An amount of power I had never experienced before.
Then a voice echoed through the chamber.
—At last...
Hermione froze.
—Who said that?
I didn't answer.
The voice spoke again.
—You've taken too long.
I looked toward the statue.
—Salazar?
Silence.
Then...
A shadow appeared behind us.
Hermione raised her wand.
—Michael!
I turned.
Two yellow eyes appeared in the darkness.
A gigantic body slowly slid forward.
A snake.
No.
It wasn't a snake.
It was an enormous creature.
A basilisk.
Its eyes locked onto mine.
Hermione screamed.
—Don't look at it!
I closed my eyes.
The basilisk hissed.
But it didn't attack.
Instead...
it lowered its head.
Until it was directly in front of me.
I felt something strange.
Not fear.
Recognition.
I raised one hand.
—I don't want to hurt you.
The basilisk remained still.
Then it spoke.
—Heir.
Hermione's eyes widened.
—What...?
I stepped closer.
—Were you looking for me?
The basilisk tilted its head.
—Ancient blood.
A sensation passed through my body.
The magic of the chamber began reacting.
Runes on the walls lit up.
My right arm began to burn.
—Michael!
I looked at my hand.
A symbol had appeared on my skin.
A serpent wrapped around a crown.
The system appeared.
[Warning.]
[An extremely ancient blood connection has been detected.]
[Analyzing...]
[Black: confirmed.]
[White: confirmed.]
[Rosier: confirmed.]
[Slytherin lineage: ...]
The screen disappeared.
—What the hell?
I tried to open it again.
Nothing.
Then the statue began to move.
A door behind it opened.
Inside was a room.
And in the center...
was a pedestal.
On it rested a black locket.
I approached.
Hermione followed me.
—Michael, don't touch it.
But it was already too late.
The locket reacted to my presence.
A voice came from it.
A childish voice.
Cold.
Empty.
—Who are you?
A chill ran through me.
—Who are you?
The answer came.
—Tom Riddle.
My eyes widened.
Tom.
Riddle.
The name was far too familiar.
The locket began to vibrate.
—You don't belong here —the boy said.
—We'll see about that.
Tom smiled.
—Your blood is interesting.
I stepped closer.
—What do you know about me?
—More than you can imagine.
Hermione stepped back.
—Michael, this isn't normal.
—I know.
Tom spoke again.
—Your family made a mistake.
—What mistake?
—Letting you live.
The room filled with Dark Magic.
My wand appeared automatically in my hand.
—Then I suppose we'll have to correct that mistake.
Tom smiled.
—So you're arrogant.
—No.
I raised my wand.
—I just have confidence.
The locket began releasing dark energy.
But before I could do anything...
The basilisk roared.
The creature slammed its tail against the ground.
The magic in the chamber exploded.
The locket flew off the pedestal.
I caught it.
The darkness entered my body.
For a moment, I saw memories that weren't mine.
A boy.
An orphanage.
A dark room.
A voice.
Tom Riddle.
Then another image.
Salazar Slytherin.
And a mysterious figure standing before him.
A man with white hair.
The same eyes as mine.
The vision ended.
I fell to my knees.
Hermione ran toward me.
—Michael!
I took a deep breath.
—I'm fine.
—You're not fine!
She helped me stand.
I looked at the locket.
It was now completely black.
The serpent symbol had disappeared.
—What did you see? —Hermione asked.
I didn't answer immediately.
Because I had realized something.
Something that completely changed the story.
Salazar Slytherin had not had only one heir.
He had had several.
But one of them...
had eventually become part of my family.
And if Tom Riddle knew who I was...
then he had probably been waiting for this moment.
I put the locket away.
—We need to leave.
Hermione nodded.
Before we left, I looked at the basilisk one last time.
—Will you let us leave?
The creature lowered its head.
—Heir...
Then it disappeared into the darkness.
---
When we returned to the castle, it was already early morning.
Hermione walked beside me in silence.
Neither of us knew what to say.
Finally, she spoke.
—Michael.
—Yes?
—What are you going to do with the locket?
I looked toward my pocket.
—Find out what it is.
—And Tom Riddle?
—Him too.
Hermione frowned.
—Do you think he's connected to the Chamber?
—I'm certain.
We walked a few more steps.
Then I stopped.
There was something written on the wall.
It wasn't the message we had seen before.
It was different.
Smaller.
More recent.
And it was written in Parseltongue.
Hermione couldn't read it.
I could.
"We will meet again, heir."
My expression became serious.
It wasn't over.
It hadn't even really begun.
Because now I knew that the Chamber of Secrets wasn't simply a room.
It was a legacy.
A legacy that someone had protected for centuries.
And apparently...
I was part of it.
But there was one final thing that worried me.
Tom Riddle knew I existed.
And that meant someone else could know about me too.
Someone who had been moving the pieces from the shadows for years.
I looked toward the windows.
Dawn was beginning to appear over Hogwarts.
—This is going to get interesting.
Hermione looked at me.
—How can you say that after everything that just happened?
I smiled.
—Because now I have more questions than before.
And as I walked toward the dungeons, one final window appeared before my eyes.
[Main Quest Updated.]
Discover the true identity of the Heir of Slytherin.
[Unknown reward.]
[Warning: the discovery will significantly alter the future.]
I closed the window.
I didn't know what I would find.
I didn't know what Tom Riddle wanted.
And I didn't know exactly what my connection to Salazar Slytherin was.
But one thing was clear.
From that night onward...
Hogwarts was no longer simply my school.
It was the place where I would begin discovering who I truly was.
And perhaps...
the place where the war for my blood would begin.