1163 Warding Rite Aftermath

In the darkness, Rowan waited in thoughtful silence until she was certain she was safe. She repeated the ward rite in her mind. She had carefully worded out her request to permit her descendants or those of the Prince Household, Slytherin, or any other house to find the spot if they needed sanctuary. However, it would be untouchable by those with unstoppable greed or malice.

Rowan had intentionally spoken so to ensure that someone like Tom Riddle would not have access to the chamber. She doubted anyone would ever find the chamber considering it required parseltongue to even enter, but she couldn't ignore the possibility.

There would come a day when Rowan would leave Hogwarts and take all her belongings with her. The chamber would remain empty but maybe someday in the future, someone would come across it. She cannot deny the possibility that should she or Severus or Rodrigo ever have children one of their descendants would be a parselmouth. Not to mention the fact not all parselmouths are descended from Salazar Slytherin for other parselmouths exist as well such as Paracelsus.

Feeling what felt like forever, "Lumos," Rowan chanted and failed to notice that she did not wince in pain from the wandless magic as a bright light appeared before her lighting the tunnel. Her eyes smarted for a bit until slowly her gaze as she lowered her aching left hand. With a gasp of pain, she unclenched her fist feeling her nails rip some flesh away.

Through gritted teeth, Rowan gasped and healed the painful wound on her hand, "Episkey." The wound began to slowly heal but left behind a long thin red scar on her palm. She should have known that a silver goblin forged by the king of the goblins, Grok Gringotts had been forged to defend from wizards and witches. It made sense that a wound from a true goblin-forged weapon would not easily be healed without a price.

Feeling a cramp rapidly forming, Rowan winced at the knots as she messaged her arm until she felt she could move her numb fingers again. Glancing around, she saw that the sand was entirely gone. The candles had melted into nothing, the crystal had turned into dust, and the herbs/twigs burned up into ashes. The only trace left behind is the 14 carved runes that had neatly sunk into the stone floor as though it was quicksand.

Quickly walking over to her mokeskin pouch, Rowan grabs the flashlight and turns it on. "Nox," she tiredly croaked as the light vanished and the tunnel remained lit by the light of the flashlight. Tucking her mokeskin pouch back into her satchel, she said, "Open for the heir of Slytherin, heir to the greatest of Hogwarts Four."

A soundless rumble is heard as the door swings open. Rowan stepped into the cool stone chamber and immediately turned on the various lamps as the door silently closed behind her. It wasn't that she didn't trust wax candles, but she didn't trust them to not go out in the chill of the chamber. Nor did she especially want to suffer from carbon monoxide poisoning considering the closed-off location of the hidden lair within the Chamber of Secrets.

Flicking the flashlight off, Rowan tucks it back into her satchel and observes the cozy stone chamber with a satisfied expression. There are thick rugs to keep warm and elegant, but comfy furniture. The large bookcase against the end of the chamber is filled with ancient volumes, manuscripts, forbidden dark arts grimoires, and rare tomes. Past an uncovered stone area is the laboratory with carefully stored vats filled with Basilisk parts and countless other creature parts which Rowan thoughtfully took possession of from Bellatrix's vault in the quest to destroy the Hufflepuff Cup.

Taking a lantern with her, Rowan moves past the laboratory to a small passageway without a door. She had never really gotten around to replacing the door, but she really had not seen much of a point in doing so since there was nothing of value left behind in the reading room. Even though there was now, she thought there wasn't any need considering she was the only one with access to the chamber for the time being.

 Rowan wrinkles her nose at the dust in the air and violently sneezes, before wiping her nose clean on her sleeve. Through the winding narrow passageway, she finally turns the corner to find a small reading room. The ancient fireplace bursts into flames and immediately lights the room. Despite thousands of years the enchantments in this place had yet to completely fade away.

Having amply prepared beforehand, Rowan vanished the crumbling furniture in the chamber that smelled of moths and mold. She reached for her mokeskin pouch and removed out tiny items, before enlarging them again with her wand. She rolls out the carpet and sets the chairs in place with a grunt. A reading lamp goes on a small reading table between two comfy chairs.

Despite having cleaned the last time she was here, there is still a smell of mildew in the air. Rowan performs a quick cleaning smell, and the air becomes much lighter and fresher than before. The smell of mildew is almost gone but not quite.

The only furniture remaining in the reading chamber is a medium-sized chest made of snakewood. The chest was as always locked with a great black snake curled around the hinges biting its own tail. With practiced ease, Rowan hisses in parseltongue, "Open for the heir of Slytherin, heir to the greatest of Hogwarts Four." With a soft hiss of its own the snake on the lock releases its own tail as it slides loose and curled on the side of the trunk.

Setting the lantern down, Rowan leans down and carefully slides the mostly empty trunk open. Inside the wooden chest is a glittering dagger with intricately carved runes, the last remnant of Rowena Ravenclaw. Upon her death bed Rowena Ravenclaw had forged the blade. "Liga est magicae, Brilliance, Wisdom, Intellect. The one that should possess this dagger shall dive into great mysteries and resolve them to destroy that which should not exist."

Leaving the dagger carefully tucked in the trunk, Rowan hesitated before reaching for the small onyx colored Basilisk egg that had a large white spot on the shell. She gently holds the egg before placing the small, smooth egg next to the dagger. Satisfied, she closes the chest yet unbeknownst to her and the dagger begins to softly glow as if warming the egg.

"Close for the heir of Slytherin, heir to the greatest of Hogwarts Four," Rowan commanded as the snake lock becomes animated and opens its mouth revealing sharp metal fangs. The metal serpent curls around the hinge and tightly bites its own tail. The lock grows firm and stiff clattering against the wooden trunk.

 With relief, Rowan turns away and departs from the chamber. The fire automatically goes out behind her as she makes her way back to the laboratory area. She needed to grab a few ingredients before heading to the next location.