Chapter 98

Chapter 98

Silence followed Professor Binns’s story.

The students preferred the fantastic legend to reliable history and wanted him to continue. The old ghost grew angry.

“The entire thing is nonsense! If such a chamber existed, generations of headmasters would have found and emptied it.”

“Only the feeble-minded could be frightened by it.”

Hermione’s pale arm rose.

“Sir, what did you mean by the horror inside?”

“People claim it was a monster controllable only by Slytherin’s heir,” Professor Binns said in his dry, reedy voice.

A basilisk, Suer thought. His foreknowledge made that much obvious.

“But it does not exist. There is no Chamber and no monster.”

Another hand rose.

“If only Slytherin’s heir can open it, perhaps nobody else could find it?”

“Nonsense! If all those headmasters failed–”

“Perhaps it requires Dark magic,” a girl suggested.

“Headmasters may refuse to use Dark magic, but that does not mean they cannot. Even a man like Dumbledore–”

“Perhaps only someone related to Slytherin can–”

“Enough!” Fury appeared even in Professor Binns’s faded eyes. “It is a legend. History says it does not exist, therefore it does not exist!”

He returned to the scheduled lesson and, within five minutes, Justin stared blankly out of the window, Neville buried his face in his arms, and a nearby girl began nodding over her hand.

Suer’s own eyes closed.

No insomnia could survive Professor Binns.

His head struck the desk with a bang.

Despite his vehement denial, the students considered the Chamber confirmed. A new rumour soon spread.

“Harry Potter defeated You-Know-Who because he’s Slytherin’s heir and was born with incredible magic.”

“I heard Slytherin never died. He lives inside Harry and emerged when Harry was in danger to defeat You-Know-Who with one spell.”

Suer stared speechlessly at Justin, who believed every word and nervously urged him to avoid Harry.

“He may release the basilisk and purge the castle. I’m thinking of leaving school early. What do you think?”

“I think that’s ridiculous.”

“The Heir is coming!” Justin suddenly fled without looking back.

Suer turned. Harry, Hermione, and Ron were approaching.

“What happened to him?” Harry asked.

“Nothing.” Suer faced him solemnly. “Great Heir of Slytherin, please warn me before releasing your monster. I should like time to remove Hermione from the castle.”

Harry froze. “Don’t, Suer.”

Hermione laughed.

“Justin is frightened by the rumour,” Suer explained.

Harry did not smile. No matter how often he denied being Slytherin’s heir, people remained suspicious. Remembering what the Sorting Hat had told him only worsened his mood.

That afternoon brought another blow.

“So your young admirer believes the rumour too?” Suer asked.

“Don’t,” Harry groaned. “Colin isn’t my admirer.”

“People here believe anything,” Ron complained.

“It’ll pass,” Suer assured Harry.

Several students walked by, whispering and pointing.

“I can’t bear it now. Will you come somewhere quieter?”

The four left the library, avoided the crowds, and rounded a corner–straight into the corridor where Mrs. Norris had been attacked.

The silver writing still shone. The petrified cat was gone, but an empty stool stood beside the wall.

“Filch often sits here,” Ron whispered.

“Let’s search for clues.” Harry dropped to the floor.

The other three exchanged looks, placed their bags against the wall, and helped.

“Scorch marks,” Harry said. “Here, and there…”

“Perhaps a Dark wizard entered the castle and Mrs. Norris caught him,” Ron speculated. “He had to silence her.”

“It could be. Remember last year.”

“You mean You-Know-Who?” Ron whispered.

Suer ignored their guesses. He and Hermione remained upright, scanning aimlessly.

“Look.” Hermione pointed to the window beside the writing. “Interesting.”

Harry sprang up, only to find about twenty spiders climbing a silver thread into a crack beside the window.

“They’re only spiders.” Ron backed away.

“What’s wrong?” Harry asked.

“You’ve used dead spiders in Potions,” Hermione said.

“I know this story.” Suer laughed. “Fred told me they once turned Ron’s toy into a giant spider.”

“Don’t remind me!” Ron cried. “If you’re holding your teddy bear and it suddenly grows all those legs–”

Footsteps approached.

“Filch,” Ron whispered. “If he catches us, we’ll never escape.”

They seized their bags, opened the nearest door, and hid inside.