Chamber of secrets
Chapter 32: Chamber of secrets
For the next two days, Harry immersed himself in experiments with memory magic. His primary subject was a rat he had "borrowed" from the school’s supplies, intent on exploring the effects of memory spells on animals. It was tedious work, requiring precision and a keen understanding of both magical and psychological principles. Harry’s previous experience in physiology came in handy, allowing him to approach the task with a methodical and scientific mindset. However, his attempts yielded inconsistent results; while he could implant and alter simple memories, the effects were unpredictable, often leading the rat to behave erratically.
During this time, Harry also entrusted Dobby with a crucial task: to keep an eye on Ron's rat, Scabbers. Dobby, ever loyal, took to this task with enthusiasm, his large, expressive eyes narrowing in determination. For two nights, Dobby observed Scabbers closely, noting his movements and reporting back to Harry. He discovered that the rat exhibited unusual behaviour, slipping out of the Gryffindor dormitory at the same time each night. Harry, already suspicious of Scabbers’ true identity as Peter Pettigrew, found his suspicions confirmed.
On the third night, under the cover of his Invisibility Cloak, Harry and Dobby stealthily made their way to the girls' bathroom on the second floor—Myrtle's bathroom, where the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets lay hidden. The castle was quiet, the only sounds being the occasional creak of floorboards or the soft rustle of the wind against the windows. The tension in the air was palpable, but Harry remained focused. Dobby, though visibly nervous, remained close to his side, ready to assist.
Once inside the bathroom, Harry approached the sink where he knew the entrance was concealed. Speaking in Parseltongue, he commanded the hidden entrance to reveal itself. The sink moved aside, and the entrance to the dark tunnel below yawned open before them. The sight of the dark, forbidding tunnel sent a shiver down Harry’s spine, but he pushed the fear aside. He had a task to complete.
“Dobby,” Harry said, turning to the house-elf, “can you teleport us directly into the Chamber from outside? I need to know if it’s possible to get in and out quickly.”
Dobby hesitated, his large eyes widening further. “Dobby can try, Great Wizard Harry Potter, sir, but the Chamber is full of dark magic… Dobby will try his best!”
With that, they both descended into the tunnel, Harry sliding down first, with Dobby popping down beside him a moment later. The tunnel was as cold and damp as Harry remembered, but he pressed on, determined to reach the Chamber. The stone serpents lining the walls seemed to watch their every move as they entered the vast, echoing chamber.
Harry paused near the centre of the Chamber and turned to Dobby. “Let’s try teleporting out from here. If we can do that, we’ll know it’s safe to move freely in and out.”
Dobby nodded nervously and grabbed Harry’s arm. With a sharp *crack*, they both vanished, reappearing at the tunnel’s entrance. The teleportation had worked, albeit with some difficulty—Harry felt the strain of the dark magic resisting their departure. Satisfied with the test, they quickly descended back into the Chamber to begin the real task at hand.
In preparation, Harry had brewed a potion that would help enhance his mental focus and energy, using a recipe Naddle had told him about. It wasn’t the ideal potion, but it would serve its purpose. He downed the potion quickly, feeling a slight tingle as it took effect. With renewed clarity, he turned to the matter at hand.
Dobby had informed Harry earlier that Scabbers, or rather Peter, had been sneaking out at a particular time each night. They waited patiently for the rat to emerge. When the moment arrived, Harry was ready. As Scabbers scurried down the corridor, Harry stunned him with a swift, non-verbal spell. The rat froze in place, momentarily paralysed. Dobby quickly grabbed Scabbers and, with another *crack*, teleported them both back into the Chamber of Secrets.
Harry stood over the unconscious rat, pondering the complexity of what he was about to attempt. Peter was no ordinary rat—he was an Animagus, and as such, his mind was different from that of a typical rodent. Memory magic on an Animagus was a delicate and complicated affair, further muddled by Peter’s dark and twisted nature. Harry knew that Voldemort was exceptionally skilled in memory magic, and any significant alteration could be detected. Therefore, he needed to be careful, subtle even, in his approach.
For the next half-hour, Harry worked tirelessly, delving into Peter’s memories. It was a daunting task; the memories were fragmented and distorted, a result of Peter being in his animal form. The process was further complicated by what seemed to be some mutation or enhancement in Peter’s magic—likely a result of his prolonged association with Voldemort. But Harry pressed on, using his Seer abilities to navigate the tangled web of Peter’s mind.
Eventually, Harry found the memory he was looking for. It was a relatively recent memory, where Peter had overheard a conversation about Harry Potter having Seer powers. Carefully, Harry began to alter the memory, not erasing it entirely but downplaying its significance. Peter would remember Harry as having Seer abilities, but he would view it as just another minor aspect of the boy, nothing worth reporting to Voldemort. Peter’s focus would instead be redirected towards Sirius Black, reinforcing the rat’s existing obsession with his former friend.
When Harry was finally done, it was nearly dawn. The Chamber, once cold and foreboding, felt oppressive, as if it were pressing down on him after the exhausting task. Harry staggered slightly, drained from the intense mental exertion. Dobby, sensing Harry’s fatigue, immediately offered his assistance.
“Dobby will take you back to Gryffindor Tower, Great Wizard Harry Potter, sir,” the house-elf said softly, his voice full of concern.
Harry nodded gratefully. “And return Peter to where we found him. Make sure everything is as it was.”
With a nod, Dobby grasped Harry’s arm and, with a final *crack*, they disappeared from the Chamber, reappearing in the boys’ dormitory in Gryffindor Tower. Dobby placed the now-unconscious Scabbers back in Ron’s bed, tucking the rat under the covers where he had been before. Harry removed the Invisibility Cloak and climbed into his own bed, utterly exhausted.
As he drifted off to sleep, Harry’s mind was filled with thoughts of the coming days. The memory alterations had been successful, but he knew that this was only the beginning. The shadows of doubt and the strings of fate were entwining more tightly around him, and he would need every ounce of his strength and cunning to navigate the challenges that lay ahead.