HP: DnD Chapter 27

Chapter 27: Open Chamber, Open Secrets

The entire school had rushed to the second floor, crowding it to the point of suffocation. Professors had to shout and squeeze their way through the massive throng. Even Dumbledore, the headmaster himself, struggled to navigate the sea of students.

The reason for such a gathering was ominous.

Horror was etched on everyone’s faces as they stared at a single wall.

“It’s blood,” the students murmured, horrified at the sight.

“Real blood,” a few whispered, swallowing hard as they read the words.

“Children!” Dumbledore’s voice rang out, “step aside; this is not something you should concern yourselves with.”

In truth, even he was worried.

The words scrawled on the wall, `The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the heir, beware.`, were far too grave to dismiss as a mere prank.

But the professors kept up the pretense.

“Whoever is responsible for this prank, come forward,” Snape called out, trying to downplay the situation. “If we find out before you confess, you’ll face serious punishment.”

The crowd grew tense, each student worried about being falsely accused. Most of them knew Snape was strict enough to punish even the innocent if he took a disliking to them.

“Return to your rooms,” Professor Flitwick finally ordered. “It’s unfortunate, but this year’s Halloween event has to end here.”

No one was happy about it, but they couldn’t argue. They sensed the situation was more serious than it seemed. Although many believed it was just a prank, they couldn’t enjoy it like the usual harmless mischief—not when it had spoiled one of their favorite nights of the year.

“Heir, huh.” One student scoffed as they headed back. “Who else but Potter.”

The sentiment spread like wildfire, and murmurs began about the possibility of Harry being the heir mentioned in the warning.

“There’s always trouble when he’s around,” some Slytherins, especially Draco, muttered darkly.

“Only if he hadn’t come here…”

Unkind words circulated, many of them reaching Harry and his friends, but they held their silence. If they made a scene, they knew they’d only risk getting in trouble.

“Rumors will not be tolerated,” Professor Flitwick announced sharply, taking note of the murmurs. “Return to your rooms. Any further gossip will be dealt with accordingly.”

With bitter expressions, Draco and his friends retreated, while Harry and his companions lingered, deeply unsettled. Unlike the others, they couldn’t dismiss the incident as just a prank.

Damien, standing in the background with a look of worry and curiosity, had a similar feeling.

‘The Chamber of Secrets…’ 

He had seen Dumbledore’s unease at the mention of the name, and he’d noticed the discomfort among the other professors as well. That place can’t be imaginary.

Damien was convinced the Chamber of Secrets was real, yet he couldn’t fathom its purpose.

“Harry,” Dumbledore finally spoke, letting out a sigh. “It’s been a long night. Don’t trouble yourself over childish pranks. Go and rest.”

He turned to the rest of the students, his gaze lingering on Damien. “You as well, Mr. Butler.”

Damien said nothing, his gaze fixed on the ominous message on the wall.

“And don’t pay attention to the gossip, Harry,” Dumbledore added. “People believe what they want, but that doesn’t turn lies into truth. This is nothing more than a prank. Everyone will forget about it soon. So don’t dwell on it tonight—go get some sleep.”

Although Harry nodded, it was clear he wasn’t entirely reassured.

Meanwhile, Daphne had left with the Slytherin students, promising Damien and his friends that she’d keep them informed of any rumors, especially those about Harry.

“Snape, Flitwick, please escort the students to their dorms,” Dumbledore instructed, and the two professors nodded, agreeing it was best to keep the students away from the scene.

“I’ll take Damien to the Ravenclaw dorm,” Flitwick said, standing beside Damien, while Snape reluctantly approached Harry.

“I need to see Professor McGonagall,” he said, glancing at Harry and his friends. “I suppose I can escort them on the way.”

Harry didn’t like the idea—he despised Snape—but had no choice. He and his friends reluctantly followed.

“Good night, Damien,” Harry whispered, with Ron and Hermione echoing the sentiment.

Damien nodded, still too bewildered by the night’s events to respond.

As he walked the empty halls with Flitwick, his mind was racing through everything that had happened in the past few hours.

“It must be overwhelming,” Flitwick remarked. “But don’t worry yourself. The headmaster will handle it.”

Flitwick knew Damien was more perceptive than most, often quick to grasp the bigger picture. He always gave Damien a little extra guidance, not as favoritism, but as a recognition of his unique insight.

He offered all his students the knowledge and support they could manage, but with Damien, he felt he could go a bit further. Had he not recognized Damien’s potential, he wouldn’t have taught him the advanced spells and charms he had.

Flitwick understood his students better than most, which is why so many of them grew to become skilled duelists or aurors. And out of all his professors, Damien respected Flitwick the most.

“Professor,” Damien looked up at him, “is the Chamber of Secrets real?”

Throughout their conversation, Damien had been asking seemingly innocent questions—ones he knew Flitwick wouldn’t answer truthfully. This question was his last, and he expected his skill to activate with it.

“It’s not,” Flitwick replied. “Just a prank, nothing more. Don’t give it too much thought.”

But Damien’s breath quickened. His [Ears of Truth] activated, marking Flitwick's words as a lie. 

The Chamber was real, very real.

His heart beat was faster at the implications of such a revelation. He now needed to be careful, cover his tracks, and ensure no one grew suspicious of him.

Reluctantly, he decided on his next move. He didn’t want to, but he had to.

“Professor,” he said, bracing himself, “I’m sorry.”

“For wh—?”

Before Flitwick could finish, Damien used a skill he wished he didn’t have to.

[Sole Memory Alteration]

For a few moments, Flitwick froze, staring blankly as Damien rewrote his memory.

In this new memory, Flitwick would remember being so impressed with Damien's progress in charms that, after relentless requests from the boy, he had reluctantly taught him a restricted curse—the petrification curse—for self-defense only, with Damien’s promise to use it responsibly.

Less than three seconds later, Flitwick blinked, his focus returning with mild confusion. “Was I saying something?”

“Just about the Chamber being a prank,” Damien replied, watching as Flitwick seemed to grow uncomfortable at the topic’s return.

“Yes… yes, it’s nothing,” Flitwick replied, quickly dismissing it. “Don’t let it bother you.”

Damien gave a nod and continued beside him in silence until they reached his dormitory.

“You should get some rest, Damien,” Flitwick said, sounding tired himself. “It’s been a long night, and you’ll want to be ready for classes tomorrow.”

“Good night, Professor,” Damien replied. He didn’t want to make things any harder on the man and was grateful to end the long night. A few hours of sleep, even if only brief, would be enough.

He slipped into his room, the one place he didn’t have to keep up appearances, and fell asleep the instant he felt the mattress’s comfort envelop him.

…

…

[Ravenclaw Balcony, Hogwarts]

Gazing up at the starless sky, a feminine ghost took a deep breath, savoring the coolness of the night air even in her ethereal form.

"The school has grown so chaotic," she murmured. "And the Chamber of Secrets has been opened once again."

It brought back bitter memories—memories of deception and betrayal.

"I should tell Damien the truth about the Chamber," thought the Grey Lady, Helena Ravenclaw. ‘Perhaps he’s clever enough to uncover its true nature.’

She had a strong suspicion about the Chamber’s contents but couldn’t speak of it without certainty. Yet, with students being petrified, she knew Damien needed to be warned to keep him safe.

“I’ll tell him next time I see him,” she resolved. “He deserves at least that much after all he’s done for me.”

But she knew her gratitude ran deeper. Damien had brought peace to her heart, soothing a pain she’d carried for centuries.

For that, she believed he deserved something far greater.

Something coveted by many.

Something she, herself, had once longed for.

And something for which another had lied, deceived, and ultimately betrayed her.

"He took it," she whispered with a frown. "But where did he hide it?"

Though she didn’t know its exact location, she believed it lay somewhere within the school. After all these years, she was finally willing to let it go.

And she was ready to let Damien claim it. This relic from the past deserved a worthy bearer rather than being lost to time.

Especially one as legendary and magical as this.

The Diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw.