The both of them reached the designated seventh-floor corridor in just a few moments. Apparently Riddle hadn't been able to figure out the secret of the Room of Requirement yet as he stood there with an expectant look. Seraya sighed. She just really wanted to get this over with. Pacing in front of the wall thrice she thought 'We require a place to talk'. The door to the mysterious room appeared in the brick-wall and Riddle's eyes grew slightly in astonishment.
The Ravenclaw opened the door and entered a cozy room that looked similar to Salazar Slytherin's study. The only really noticeable difference were the two plush armchairs that stood facing each other before a grand fireplace. The rustling magical fire within shrouded the room in warmth and a flickering golden light. Seraya didn't bother to look back at the Slytherin and moved swiftly to take a seat.
A moment later a click sounded as the magical door shut and the entrance to the Room of Requirement disappeared from other onlookers' eyes. Tom Riddle took five large steps and sat to face her in the other chair. It remained quiet for a few minutes, the tension in the air noticeably increasing. She sighed again. There was no use in putting the conversation off for any longer. "Ask away, Riddle." The young witch was watching the dance of the flames with great interest but didn't fail to notice the calculating and intrigued look the boy was directing at her.
"Honestly, I have so many questions I can't quite decide where to begin," the other admitted truthfully. "Perhaps it would be most appropriate to ask how you can possibly be a parselmouth? I researched the Slytherin bloodline quite thoroughly and it is unquestionable that I am the last heir by blood." "I believe that in order for this discussion to work out I should make some things clear beforehand. Don't try to cut me off while I'm talking, Riddle", she said as the heir of Slytherin opened his mouth in protest.
"As I was saying, I will be setting certain boundaries. Sure, you may ask me anything during this get-together however I will not answer if things get too personal for my liking. Are we understood?" Riddle reluctantly nodded in agreement; he must have been aware that it was either that or nothing. "Good. Now, you are indeed correct that I am not an heir of Slytherin. Nevertheless, parseltongue was not entirely an ability sole to Salazar Slytherin and his descendants. Have you ever heard of 'Herpo the foul'?"
The boy shook his head. "Herpo the foul was considered a dark wizard who lived in Ancient Greece many centuries before the great Salazar Slytherin was even born." "I do not see how this is relevant to my question. Unless-", Tom interjected but was cut off by Seraya. "Precisely. Herpo the foul was the first recorded parselmouth and also the first person to ever breed a basilisk. Now, I am not saying that I am a descendant of this man; I merely wish to employ that one mustn't be the heir of Slytherin to be a parselmouth."
"Granted, Miss Cassedy. Explain to me however how you managed to find the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets only shortly after you arrived at Hogwarts?" Riddle looked bitter at the fact that she had found the Chamber of his great ancestor before him. "What makes you believe that I've been to said Chamber?", she feigned innocence and watched in amusement as Riddle's expression morphed into one of annoyance.
"The spell you performed stemmed from an old book from the study of Salazar Slytherin himself", the young wizard deadpanned. "They truly didn't lie when they warned that your wit was not to be underestimated. True, I have both been to the Chamber of Secrets as well as the study. As to how...I merely relied on the parselmagic in my core to lead me. It follows the basic law of resonance and attraction: like attracts like," Seraya answered, her voice smooth and clear.
Riddle seemed to understand: "We've established some reasonably sensible answers to my previous questions but explain to me how you could get into the study with the basilisk quite literally guarding the door? Only the true heir of Slytherin can control it and is subsequently the only one immune to its lethal stare." Seraya had expected for that question to arise. The answer was a rather sensitive matter, something she hadn't even revealed to the ancient serpent itself.
YOU ARE READING
Madness- T.M.R.
Fanfiction"There is no good and evil, only power and those too weak to seek it." "You're wrong, there is only madness and those too scared to admit it."
