'Enjoy,' Harry smiled, knowing Neville genuinely did take pleasure in helping and teaching the DA members. He hoped that once it had served his purpose for him that it could be in re -instated officially. He was almost tempted to go just to make remarks to Neville about the plant Harry had bought him while Hannah was listening, but it wasn't worth putting up with the other students. They'd almost certainly try to rope him into teaching them something.
He passed Ron and Lavender talking just outside the portrait, and, unable to resist temptation, caught Ron's eye. The red-head looked away immediately, but Harry had long enough to glimpse a fragment of conversation with Hermione about her terrible taste in necklaces and the constant aching sadness that clouded his thoughts.
Harry hadn't really lied to Neville, he been a bit misleading, but he hadn't lied to his friend. That was a line he was trying not to cross if he could help it. The chamber was directly below the lake after all.
Glancing back down the stairs he caught Lavender's back disappearing into the passageway behind the Fat Lady. Binns wouldn't notice if he was absent from History of Magic should he not come back in time. Neville wouldn't say anything about Harry's absence.
'Hello, Myrtle,' Harry greeted calmly, glimpsing a flash of pearly white through the door of her cubicle. 'How have you been?' He asked, opening the chamber.
'Harry,' she floated shyly over. 'I've been ok.'
'Seen anything in the Prefect's Bathroom?' Harry inquired, smirking. He face went silver, and a slightly dreamy look came over her face. 'Actually, I'm not sure I want to know,' he decided playfully.
'Are you sure?' Myrtle looked disappointed.
'If you must tell me,' Harry smiled, 'then go on.'
'Cedric Diggory was in there yesterday when he came back after christmas. He had a really long bath,' Myrtle sighed, 'all the bubbles ran out.'
'You're incorrigible,' Harry grinned. 'Didn't he see you?'
'No,' Myrtle giggled. 'I can be sneaky if I want to.'
'Well no peeking on me if get made prefect next year,' he laughed, starting down the stairs.
'No promises, Harry,' Myrtle called after him. He could practically hear her blushing.
The Chamber of Secrets was colder than he expected and Harry was shivering by the time he had crossed the thorough the gaze of serpent effigies lining the hall to reach Salazar's study.
'Cold?' The painting asked.
'It's not warm down here,' Harry commented, casting a couple of warming charms over himself to remedy things. 'Why couldn't you have included a fireplace or something?'
'Where would I put a chimney for the smoke?' Slytherin countered.
'You're Salazar Slytherin,' Harry retorted. The founder gave him a flat look and shut his mouth before breaking out into a smile.
'Nobody's turned that line around on me since Godric got himself killed chasing myths.' He stroked the head of his snake, smiling nostalgically. 'Why have you come?' 'To learn, of course,' Harry responded dryly. 'And maybe discuss a few ideas with you.'
'Well if you want to learn something it would be best for it to be blood magic,' Salazar decided. 'That or you can try and improve your duelling skills.'
'Why not both?' Harry asked, gesturing at the time-turner.
'As long as you don't overuse it,' Slytherin agreed. 'You were using it too much last year, but we didn't have much choice to make sure you were skilled enough to survive. It would be best to only use it once or twice a week, just to avoid putting to much stress on your mind and driving you insane.'
'We wouldn't want that,' Harry agreed. 'Then there'd be two senile people in here.' 'That's why you should only use it sparingly,' Salazar quipped, 'best to only have one of you at a time.' Harry laughed at the retort, and sat down at the desk.
'Blood magic first,' he decided. 'I can learn in here for a bit, while future me practices wand motions outside.'
The founder nodded approvingly. 'Before we start on blood magic have you got anywhere with the mind arts?'
'I'm capable of utilising passive legilimency now,' Harry answered proudly. 'I haven't tried it on more than a handful of unprotected minds to avoid the risk of detection, but I can do it.'
'It shouldn't make too much difference,' Salazar shrugged. 'The connection is so faint and slight it takes a very competent practitioner to detect or prevent.'
'I noticed Dumbledore's,' Harry disagreed.
'You're naturally gifted at this branch of magic, all our family is, you're more than very competent.'
'Thanks,' Harry smiled. Most of the compliments he got from the painting were down to being a part of his bloodline and family. Salazar Slytherin had been a very family orientated man from what Harry could see. Proud too.
'The truth is the truth,' the portrait nodded. 'Now, blood magic. Do you remember what I taught you before.'
'You pretty much told me that it used blood as a medium and was often sacrificial based,' Harry summarised.
'I doubt I said it so simply and inelegantly,' the painting remarked snidely, 'but that is a very basic paraphrasing of a rudimental understanding.'
'I'm happy to listen to a more elegant definition,' Harry told him flatly, putting his feet on the desk. Salazar eyed his raised toes distastefully, but relented.
'Blood magic is any magic that uses blood as a medium, sacrifice or focus,' he explained. 'Most commonly it is used as a sacrifice, and a medium simultaneously. Not many wizards do more than dabble in such a dangerous branch of magic, but those that do normally utilise it for rituals, wards and enchanting.'
Fleur might find this interesting, Harry noted, wondering if he should tell her, or if she might be safer not messing with it.
'You're not listening,' the painting snapped. 'I was considering the applications to enchanting,' Harry retorted.
'You were thinking about Fleur Delacour again,' Salazar corrected, smiling softly despite the acid remark. 'You had that silly smile on your face.'
'I'm listening now,' Harry conceded, trying not to flush at the founder's remark.
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