Severus Snape tore through the halls of Hogwarts as fast as his legs could carry him. It was Friday afternoon and the damn Marauders had to ruin the rest of his day. It started well enough, all his work was done, classes went well and now he had the rest of the day free. He was going to spend it with Lily but now he'd have to find a place to hide.
Running through the halls and ending up in Myrtle's bathroom he managed to hide but he kept wishing for a better place. A safe Slytherin friendly place. He buried his face in his arms but jolted up as he heard the idiot troop running past the entrance. He wiped his face with his sleeve and went to the sink. Washing his face, he wiped off some of the blood that was from his split lip and cleaned his now darkening bruise. His hand turned the hot water faucet on, getting some blood on it.
The snake accepted the sacrifice and sink stopped working.
Severus sighed but stepped back in shock as the sinks moved, rose, sunk and shifted to reveal a dark tunnel.
The student looked down and was hesitant to enter the tunnel but he heard just outside the door, "I think he's in here, James." Damn it!
Severus took the plunge.
The entrance went back to normal. The blood gone and sinks shut off as if no one was there.
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Landing with a thud Severus got up slowly shaking off the dust and webs. He groaned as he stretched his legs from the quick decent, allowing his eyes to adjust. It was dark obviously. But some light was visible and bones. Many bones of animals were around.
Severus gulped and walked forward only to hiss in pain...his leg was cut. This was his new pair of trousers. It was his lot in life.
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He came to a massive door that had snakes all over it. Making what looked like a locking mechanism and an intricate one at that. Severus placed his hand on the door but stepped back quickly as it began to open. The snakes locking the door moved away as another snake slithered around the circle of the door, it opened with a groan of misuse.
The timid Slytherin stepped through the door and as he walked further, he took in the sight like a firsty. Water lined the stone path and massive open mouth statues greeted him and to the farthest wall was a massive statue of Salazar Slytherin himself. Severus smiled and gleefully ran forward, finally something untouched and tainted by those Marauders! This would be his space...wait. shouldn't he tell a teacher? The Headmaster? Instantly Severus shook his head. This would be his till he died.
He stepped into the water towards the massive statue only for a loud grating sound to be heard as the mouth of Slytherin opened up. Severus ran back only to stop as the mouth stopped. What else was hidden here? Oh, Severus and everyone knew about a 'monster' hidden but for all anyone knew it was rumor or the monster died. Oh, how wrong he was. slithering. scales moving along stone softly, and gently Severus looked with horror filled eyes as he beheld an animal of mythic proportions. This Basilisk was over 20 feet long possibly 30. No plume on the head meant it was a female. The student turned to run only to be blocked by the massive body of the snake. Severus closed his eyes and hunched, waiting. Only to hear, "Calm child, what isss wrong?" He looked up to meet the yellow eyes of the Basilisk. "You can speak?" he whispered "Of couresss. I am old and this is a ssschool iss it not? Salazar taught me many things and when he was gone I learned more." was her reply "You knew Salazar Slytherin? I am one of his house!" said Severus happily not being able to hide his joy The Basilisk chuckled as a snake can, "Yess, he was my friend and sibling, I can smell him on you child. You look a bit like him as well." Severus blushed replying, "Thank you ma'am. But, I thought only Parselmouths could get in here?" Curling up further and moving the stunned student into a warm embrace of scales, the Basilisk got comfortable. "That iss true. However, Sssalazar made another way and that was of blood. It isss powerful you know." She replied "What was the process? How does it work?" asked Severus eagerly The Basilisk hissed out a sigh and chuckle again, "Hatchlingsss alwayss wanting to learn. However, I do not know the magicsss of the act. For it was only Salazar who knew it and he only did it one time. I can only think of one way...you mussst of been desssperate to hide from being hunted. That fed into your blood and therefore fulfilled the requiermentsss to enter the Chamber." Severus sighed and took to think, only to be disturbed again when he felt a gentle tug on his shirt and a mouth full of teeth grasp his clothes and lift him into the air. "Hheyy! Where are we going?" shrieked Severus indignantly flailing his arms The Basilisk entered the mouth of Salazar, which closed behind them as her tail entered last. There in a corner was a massive nest of straw and old rags, the nest looked incredibly old and obviously was. The snake curled up, swinging Severus around gently and laying him down in her scales.
As the old Basilisk told her tales to help the young Slytherin sleep, she could not help but believe that Salazar sent him her way.
After all, it seems history had repeated itself.