Meanwhile
After leaving the office, Harry wandered aimlessly. However, he soon stopped when he realised just where his subconscious had taken him. Looking around, Harry cast a silencing charm on himself before he disillusioned his body. Stepping through the bathroom door, Harry glanced briefly around and noticed Myrtle wasn't about but he knew that the ghost girl was probably lurking somewhere hoping to jump out or catch a free show. Really, the dead girl was a menace! She had practically stalked Harry after watching him bathe in the prefect's bathroom after his fourth year she took being a peeping Tom to the next level.
Flicking his wrist, Harry placed a repulsion ward around the first floor bathroom doors. The obscure ward was one he had read about over the summer and acted rather like a muggle repelling ward. It wouldn't stop people from entering if they really wanted to, but it would make them not want to come in and instead find another bathroom. Flicking his wrist so his wand was back in his holster, Harry approached the sinks and focused on his Parseltongue.
"Open," he hissed, looking at the snake carving in the sink.
Harry took a step back and watched as the Chamber of Secrets opened. Swinging his legs into the slide, Harry pushed himself off the floor and allowed gravity to work, casting a wandless cushioning charm just before he reached the bottom.
Standing up properly once he had landed, Harry looked around as he cleaned his robes. The place was much like he remembered, but this time there wasn't a giant shedding—most likely because Aithusia was still locked behind the giant statue of Slytherin.
Walking down the hallway he remembered lead to the main area, the place Ginny Weasley had almost died, Harry cast a few Incendios to light the torches around the room. Once the room was bright enough for him to see, Harry looked around in fascination. The stone carvings in the walls and the overall rustic beauty of the Chamber greatly appealed to him; it needed cleaning, but Harry liked the open space.
Walking into the middle of the room, Harry closed his eyes and opened his mouth as he tried recalling what the apparition of Tom Riddle had said in his second year. "Speak to me, Slytherin, greatest of the Hogwarts four."
With his eyes closed, Harry heard the stone creak before he heard movement of soft scales dragging against stone.
"Who calls for me?"
With his eyes closed, Harry could feel something approaching him. "Hello Great One, Queen of Serpents."
"Who are you, Speaker? You are not the same boy who came last time. Your scent is similar, but different."
"My name is Harrison Potter-Black." Harry felt something flicker against his face and fought the urge to open his eyes.
"Where is Tom? Tom used to visit me often - he would bring me food and warm my tunnels with his magic."
"Tom is dead," Harry admitted but instantly regretted it when he felt the snake's body suddenly surround him.
"Who killed him?! I will destroy them. Kill them," Aithusia hissed angrily.
"It's okay, Great Lady, I'm working on bringing him back." The snake seemed to still and Harry felt something flicker against his face again. "Why?"
"He is my soulmate."
Silence fell and Harry decided to speak, "Is it possible for me to look at you without harm?"
"Yes."
Harry took a deep breath and opened his eyes. He knew he couldn't die, but he didn't want to be petrified and trapped down here for millennia, just waiting for another Parselmouth to find the secret chamber. As soon as his eyes opened, Harry jumped and let out a breathless squeal before he could stop himself. Aithusia was directly in front of him, the serpent's massive head just inches from his own face, her yellow eyes boring into him.
"You are a strange child," the snake said, flicking her tongue against Harry's face. She was scenting him, he realised.
Harry gulped. "May I ask your name, Great One?"
"I am Aithusia."
"A beautiful name. May I ask how is it I am looking at you? It is thought that the gaze of a basilisk is deadly." "If you thought it deadly why do you risk yourself to look at me?" the snake asked.
"I had a suspicion," Harry said honestly.
"It's true the gaze of my kind is deadly, but only when we want it to be so. We have a second set of eyelids which we use to cover the deadly gaze."
Harry nodded. It made sense as he doubted Salazar Slytherin interacted with his familiar with his eyes closed, let alone Tom doing so.
"Why are you here, Little One?" the snake asked.
"I wanted to find the Chamber." "Why?"
"I want a place that I can come and practice my magic without being caught in the school wards. There is another room, but in this one I can be completely alone - I can be myself."
"I see."
"Would you be able to tolerate my presence?" Harry asked.
"If you warm my tunnel and allow me to wander and bring food, I shall allow you to build your nest here."
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