Squib On The Run (sequel to Squib In The basement)

13. Chamber Of Secrets

Cassiopeia really would have hurt the Dursleys to find out where Harry was.
But in the end, she didn't need to, for it turned out that Harry was safe and sound with the Weasleys.
Lucius had bumped into the Weasley clan at Borgin and Burkes, and had seen Harry with them. He also got into a fist fight with Arthur, which he angrily spoke about in detail to Narcissa. Which meant that Narcissa was then able to pass this information onto Cassiopeia.

Although Cassiopeia was relieved that Harry was safe, she was sad as she wouldn't be able to see him for the rest of the summer. And she had no idea when she would see him next.
Since she couldn't exactly pop over to the Burrow to visit him, as she was supposed to be on the run.
She decided that writing to him was too much of a risk, in case the Weasleys questioned who was sending him letters. Even going to King's Cross on the 1st of September would be too risky, in case the Weasleys caught sight of her.

Cassiopeia didn't hear from Harry until he was back at school, and could sent her secret letters. And as it turned out, he had a lot to say in his first letter.
For some reason him and Ron had been unable to get through the barrier onto Platform 9 and ¾, so they had decided to drive Arthur's enchanted car to Hogwarts, instead of waiting for an adult to help them. This had gotten them seen by numerous Muggles, and almost got them expelled from Hogwarts.
But luckily Dumbledore decided that detention was enough punishment for them both.
Harry's care free attitude and lack of self preservation worried Cassiopeia. But it was his Halloween letter that really scared her.

'To Cee,
Things are going well at Hogwarts, and I'm glad to be back.
Defence Against the Dark Arts is a bit rubbish at the moment though, as Lockhart doesn't seem capable of actually teaching us anything. But this doesn't stop Hermione and all the girls from being obsessed with him. Ron and I just don't get it.

Anyway, the real reason I'm writing is because something strange has happened.
On Halloween after my detention with Lockhart, I came across Filch's cat Mrs Norris hanging by her tail to one of the lanterns on the wall. Dumbledore said that she had been petrified.
The scary part was the writing on the wall beside the cat that said, The Chamber Of Secrets Has Been Opened, Enemies Of The Heir Beware. And the writing was written in blood.

All the teachers seemed terrified by the message, but they won't explain why. I know you didn't go to Hogwarts, but I was wondering if you had ever heard of the Chamber of Secrets? If so, can you write back quickly and tell me what you know.

All the best, Harry'.

After recieving Harry's letter, Cassiopeia wished that she had access to the Black library once again, as it contained information on all things dark and gory.
But she had vowed never to set foot in 12 Grimmauld Place ever again. And the pursuit of knowledge was not enough of an incentive to re-enter her family home.
So once again, talking to Narcissa was Cassiopeia's only course of action.

"So Cissy, how is Draco doing at Hogwarts?" Asked Cassiopeia, when Narcissa was over for tea one afternoon.
"Very well, I'm pleased to say. He is thoroughly enjoying training with the Quidditch team. I know he will make a splended Seeker" boasted Narcissa.
"I thought you said that Lucius had to bribe the team captain to get Draco onto the team" replied Cassiopeia.
Narcissa frowned, "He bought the Slytherin team new broomsticks, that is not bribery. It was just a generous donation".
"Very generous" mumbled Cassiopeia.

"McGonagall bought Harry a broom last year, so I don't think that what Lucius did was out of order" admitted Narcissa.
"McGonagall bought Harry a broomstick because he has no parents who could buy him one. And she only bought Harry a broom, she didn't buy Nimbus 2001's for the entire team to ensure that Harry was chosen as a Seeker" countered Cassiopeia.
"I thought you cared about Draco. I thought you would want him to be happy" frowned Narcissa.
"I do. Which is why I'm not sure him knowing that Lucius bought his way onto the team, will make him happy, since everyone else was chosen for their talent"
"Well, you're wrong. Because Draco is very happy to be on the team".

"Alright then, I won't say anymore about it. We'll just have to see how the boys do in their first match against each other" said Cassiopeia.
"Draco is a good player, he will not let his team down" insisted Narcissa.
"I never said he would. I just pointed out that everyone else on the team is there because of their talent, and not because their daddy waved his money around. But I'm sure that Draco will rise to the occasion as he will want to chance to beat Harry, since the boys are still not getting along" sighed Cassiopeia.

"Does it bother you that your godsons hate each other?" Quizzed Narcissa.
"It does, as it makes me feel like I'm stuck in the middle. But they are just children, and they are entitled to hate whomever they like. And I don't want to make them feel bad about disliking each other, by revealing that I am the godmother to both of them. Harry is a true Gryffindor and Draco is a true Slytherin, so they are never going to get along, and I just need to accept that" answered Cassiopeia.
"Speaking of being a true Slytherin, has Harry mentioned the Heir of Slytherin to you in his letters?" Asked Narcissa.
"Yes, the Chamber of Secrets did come up in his last letter" replied Cassiopeia, glad that Narcissa had brought the subject up and not her.

"Well, what do you think about it all?" Quizzed Narcissa.
"I never went to Hogwarts, so I don't know about any chambers there, secret or not. As for the Heir of Slytherin, I was lead to believe that there were no more heirs left, as the Gaunt family died out years ago, and they were the last true descendents of Salazar Slytherin" replied Cassiopeia.
"Well, many years ago there was a lot of talk that the dark lord was a descendent of Slytherin" Narcissa said quietly.
"I assumed that was all just lies to make him seem important. But even if it was true, You-Know-Who died 11 years ago. He can't be the one opening this Chamber of Secrets"
"No, he can't be".

"So, you really don't know any more about this stuff than I do?" Questioned Cassiopeia.
"I might not know who is opening the Chamber now, but I do know that the Chamber was supposedly opened 50 years ago, and that last time, the beast inside the Chamber, killed a Muggle-born girl" revealed Narcissa.
"Wait, I assumed that this Chamber was just a myth. Are you saying that it is actually real?" Quizzed Cassiopeia.

"Maybe... There was a rumour that Slytherin himself created a secret Chamber inside the castle, and left a beast in it, which would kill all the Muggle-borns, since he didn't want them in his school. The Chamber has supposedly been opened several times throughout history, the last time being 50 years ago. But no one has ever found it, which makes me question its legitimacy. The Chamber could just be a scapegoat that students are using to get away with using dark magic. For all we know, some Slytherin student has read about the Chamber of Secrets in some book, and has deicided to prank everyone at the school, into believing that it's real" informed Narcissa.

"I really hope you are right Cissy, because I can't spend another year worrying that Harry isn't going to make it until the end" sighed Cassiopeia.
"You won't need to worry about Harry. Because even if it is real, Harry is a half-blood and not a Muggle-born, so he has nothing to fear" reassured Narcissa.
"You don't know my godson like I do. If there is a dangerous creature going around petrifying his fellow students, he will do everything in his power to stop it. He has a bit of a hero complex. Because no one has ever stood up for him in the past, he views it as his personal goal to stand up for his friends, and fight against evil, despite his young age, since he doesn't think that any adults are going to do it for him" admitted Cassiopeia.

"Well then, I hope for your sake that this is all just a big prank, so that Harry doesn't end up getting himself into danger" said Narcissa.
"Knowing Harry, even if he doesn't go looking for danger, it has a habit of finding him, as he is a bit of a danger magnet" replied Cassiopeia.
"Maybe this year will be different to last year, and he will keep his head down and out of trouble" suggested Narcissa.
"Seeing as how he turned up to school in a flying car, I seriously doubt that he is going to have a quiet school year. But I guess I'm just going to have to wait and see".