Chapter 9

"Potter, might I have a word?"

Hari stopped midstride, books propped against one arm. She had just come out of the library to borrow a book about rearing basilisks in the Restricted Section (Looking through the Eyes of Death: A Study of Basilisks by Cushman Slyhardt) and took three other titles on Magical Creatures so she wouldn't look suspicious. Madam Pince had explained that, since they were in their last year at Hogwarts and given their prior experience, it was quite silly to prohibit Hari from perusing the Restricted Section. Besides, the headmistress had already given her permission.

It still made Hari a bit uncomfortable to borrow a book about basilisks, especially since she was going to take care of one.

"Of course, Headmistress."

"Excellent. We'll go to my office – I believe your classes are done for the day?"

"Yes, ma'am." Hari followed the older witch to the Headmistress's office. Once they were seated McGonagall conjured a steaming pot of tea and two cups. "Biscuit, Potter?"

Hari couldn't help the quirk of her lips. "That's alright, Headmistress. Tea is fine."

"Very well."

The headmistress busied herself pouring tea—by hand. Hari inwardly sighed. McGonagall only did this when she was buying time to compose her thoughts, or take into consideration the next words she would say. Or, as is often the case where Hari was involved: both reasons apply.

After Hari had accepted her cup and took a sip (it was a strong Earl Grey, the headmistress's favorite), McGonagall put down her tea and cleared her throat. "How are your studies, Potter?"

Hari tucked the small pile of books closer to her hips, making sure the basilisk title was on the bottom. "It's coming along well, headmistress."

"That's good to hear. Have you considered signing up for the Auror orientation program? It starts after summer next year, which will still give you time to put your affairs in order."

Hari already had half a mind to sign up for it. They will be finishing school in three months, and after their finals Hari had already scheduled a meeting with the Potter, Black, and Peverell family solicitors. After that, she would be focusing on her Auror training. She just hoped she had enough time, given the large number of unopened letters she had waiting for her at Grimmauld Place.

"I do want to get a head start on Auror training," Hari replied. "The Auror program seems a good choice."

"You've already decided?"

Hari shook her head. "I want to sort out…other things, first," Hari hesitated at the end. The headmistress gave her an understanding smile.

"Of course. Take your time. I am the last person to push you to do things simply because the public expects it of you," the headmistress replied crisply. She flicked her wand in the direction of her desk. A thin roll of parchment floated over to her, which she promptly handed to Hari. It was tied with a thin, black ribbon. "Here."

"What is it?"

"It would be best explained if you read it first, Potter."

Hari could feel her stomach drop. This was the real reason McGonagall had called her to her office. She was sure of it. Hari slowly pulled the ribbon and unfurled the parchment, which was yellow and cracking on the edges. It read:

To the Esteemed Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry:

Please consider this as my letter of resignation as the Resident Ghost of Slytherin House; as you may well know, all the ghosts that reside in Hogwarts are not magic-bound (voluntary or otherwise) to remain inside the school. Since the time of the Founders no spiritual being or apparition has been held inside the Castle against their will. Helga Hufflepuff offered sanctuary to all spirits and specters with no home, and the offer remains open to this day.

It is thus with deep regret that I relinquish the title I have held for several centuries.

It is not common knowledge, but I was honor-bound to serve Salazar Slytherin since I returned to Hogwarts after my death. And now that the heir to his name has been chosen, I am now honor-bound to serve the Lady Harielle Lily Potter. Once she graduates, I shall haunt her abode and continue to serve as her butler and chief attendant.

PS: If I may, I suggest offering the Black Knight the position of Slytherin House ghost; he is an honorable man, with a firm sense of justice, and has no qualms about sticking his lance into Peeves's backside when the poltergeist has become unruly.

Sincerely,

Bloody Baron

Hari read the letter two more times before putting it down on her lap. She looked at McGonagall. "What?" was her insightful comment.

The headmistress took a sip of tea. "Apparently, the Bloody Baron has decided to follow you—I assume to Grimmauld Place or the Potter estate—to become your…butler."

Hari knew there was something else in that sentence that she needed to pay attention to, but at the moment all she could really focus on was the Baron (or else her brain might stutter and die). One thing at a time, Hari, that's it. It's a lovely day today, so let's not get started on hyperventilating just yet. She sighed and pinched her nose.

"Something you want to tell me, Potter?"

"Er…"

McGonagall sighed. "Does this have anything to do with the Chamber of Secrets opening six years ago?"

"Um…" Hari tried very hard not to fidget.

"And the basilisk you defeated?" McGonagall pressed.

"Uh…" The books were now digging into her left hip. Her eyebrow twitched.

The headmistress stared at her, eyes stern, before she sat back and shook her head. "Only you, Potter," she exhaled ruefully. "I've consulted with the paintings of previous headmasters," she gestured to the row of paintings that hung on the wall in the back of the room, out of earshot. "And this has never happened before."

Hari swallowed. "What hasn't happened before, headmistress?"

McGonagall shot her a look. "Slytherin's heir. You have met all the qualifications to be officially proclaimed Slytherin's heir."

"I thought that was just—"

"A legend? Certainly the legends contain some ridiculous notions, but there is a kernel of truth in them." She waved her fingers at a tall bookshelf. Another roll of parchment flew out of it and into the headmistress's hand. This one was thicker, more brown that yellow with age, and wrapped securely with a thick, dark green ribbon. It had a seal in silver wax, which was now broken.

"This is the only known copy of Slytherin's last will and testament. The original is of course kept inside Gringott's, but Hogwarts has a copy in case situations like this arise," McGonagall explained. "The founders each left behind their own will—most of them bequeathing their assets to their children and grandchildren, but Slytherin kept his most prized possessions in the school, to be given to the one witch or wizard who possess the qualifications he has listed here." She patted the roll of parchment in her lap. "And as I am now Headmistress of Hogwarts, I am also the executor of this will."

Hari remembered the hidden rooms underneath the Chamber, the shelves upon shelves of books, tomes, rare potion ingredients, and the lone basilisk egg now being kept warm by the fireplace and with the copious use of Warming Charms. The Baron was there right now, tending to the egg.

Hari tried to swallow her tea and still keep a calm face. "What does Slytherin's will contain, headmistress?"

McGonagall opened the parchment and laid it down on the table for Hari to see. "As you can see, Slytherin is bestowing all his possessions, hidden in the chamber, for the person who meets the following qualifications: that the witch or wizard must be a Parselmouth, that they defeat the guardian of the Chamber, and the last is…well, it's written in Parseltongue, so I cannot read it." She tapped a portion of the parchment, near the bottom.

Hari leaned over to see. Heir to Slytherin, you must be able to raise a guardian of your own to pass the test of ownership. Hatching a basilisk egg is no easy task; you must have enough magic for the hatchling to survive. Once you touch the egg the process will begin. Succeed, and all my possessions in the Chamber are yours. Fail, and you will die. Remember: fortune favors the bold, but the ambitious rarely rely on Luck alone.

McGonagall watched Hari's face slowly grow pale, her expression worrying. "Potter? Are you alright?"

Hari sat back, away from the parchment. Her mouth felt like ash. "I'm fine, headmistress."

The older witch was silent for a moment, studying her face. Hari gave her a weak smile, hoping to hide the unease she felt at reading Salazar Slytherin's words. "Were you able to read the last part of the will?"

Hari nodded. "It…it says to be able to keep the Chamber of Secrets hidden from outsiders," she answered, making an effort to keep her voice steady. "Looks like Slytherin was not fond of people nosing around his stuff."

McGonagall grunted. "An understatement, I assure you. Of all the founders he is by far the most paranoid. Each of them had their office in one of the main towers of the castle, except for Slytherin. Plenty of past graduates have tried searching for it, and rumors say it's inside the Slytherin dungeons, but neither the students nor their Head of House would say anything on the matter, saying it's a House-confidential matter. Not even Professor Slughorn." She snorted to show what she thought of that.

Hari made a noise of agreement as she sipped tea.

"In any case, I don't see anything wrong with fulfilling Slytherin's will. The Chamber has been searched top to bottom and we've found nothing in there except the carcass of the basilisk you have killed and several animal bones picked clean, presumably by that same basilisk. I'm sorry to tell you Potter, that the only thing you will be inheriting is a great underground chamber filled with absolutely nothing – you can, of course, do whatever you want with it. After graduating, you are free to visit the Chamber should you wish it."

"That's…thank you, headmistress."

McGonagall smiled. "Think nothing of it, Potter. After all you have been through, an unexpected windfall is the least you should be getting." She set down her empty cup. "By the way, have you thought of getting another owl?"

Hari shook her head, shoulders easing some when the topic has shifted to safer subjects. "No, but maybe after Hogwarts?"

"That will have to do. In any case, we are still able to filter out the post you've been getting since the start of term. None of them are pressing at the moment, and we have thrown out those that contain nasty surprises and items of…er, dubious content. Everything else is kept in storage, and you can peruse them at your earliest convenience." She rolled up Slytherin's will and let magic return it to the shelf. She gave Hari an amused smirk. "Although I highly doubt you would touch those letters."

Hari tilted her head. "What kind of letters are they?" she asked, curious. Hari was aware that all letters and posts coming to Hogwarts were being screened meticulously as part of the heightened security, so she was not overly worried. But to think that the school had set aside some correspondences for her...?

"Marriage proposals, Potter."

"What!"

"Yes." Hari saw the corner of McGonagall's mouth twitch.

"How many of those have you—"

"We've lost count after about a hundred. I have them gathered up and put into bags so if you want—"

"No. Burn the lot of them."

McGonagall raised an eyebrow. "All of them?"

"All. Of. Them." Hari's voice was flat, but firm.

Yes, the headmistress was definitely smirking now. Hari shot her a look, but McGonagall was unaffected. "Very well."

"Is there anything else, headmistress?"

"No, Potter. You may go." McGonagall chuckled. "Do lighten up, you silly girl."

"It's not funny!" Hari exclaimed, hotly. "And I'm only eighteen! Why would they think that I would consider getting married?"

"Prestige, power, money, the bragging right to say they have snatched the Heroine of the Wizarding World – take your pick," McGonagall listed off.

"Well, those people are stupid," Hari declared with a sniff. It was not too long ago that they were accusing her of lies and being completely off her rocker, and now they want her married to their sons?

McGonagall sighed. "I am inclined to agree."

Hari gathered up the books into her arms and stood. "Thank you for having my letters sorted out, headmistress."

"You're welcome, Potter. And do try to keep you and your friends' nightly walks around the school to a bare minimum."

"Um…yes, headmistress," Hari said, sheepish.

"And," here McGonagall raised an eyebrow. "If you are planning to keep your Animagis forms under wraps, I would like to suggest practicing somewhere discreet."

Hari almost lost her footing. "You…you knew about that?!"

"I am the Headmistress of this school," McGonagall said, quite simply. "I know everything that goes on in these walls."

Except whatever goes on in Slytherin's personal office, looks like. "We'll keep that in mind, ma'am."

"Please do, Potter. I would hate to put you, Granger, and Weasley in detention. Merlin knows what mishaps you three would get into given the chance."#

A/N: As always, I appreciate a review after reading. I may not be able to respond to all of them, but I love getting reviews. JThis story updates every Wednesday.