HARRY POTTER :Rebirth in Time.

The weight of their discovery settled heavily on Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Daphne as they gathered in the Gryffindor common room late that night. The flickering fire cast long shadows on their faces, reflecting the tension that clung to the air like a thick fog.

"The Chamber of Secrets," Hermione whispered, her eyes scanning the book they had taken from the Restricted Section earlier. "It's the only place left where Slytherin's magic could still be hidden. If the relic is there, Malfoy will go after it soon."

Ron shifted uneasily, his expression dark. "We barely made it out of there the first time, mate. If they're using blood magic, there's no telling what's waiting for us down there now."

Daphne leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "We don't have much of a choice, Weasley. If Malfoy gets his hands on that relic, Hogwarts won't be the same."

Harry stood, his jaw set with determination. "We go tonight. We can't risk waiting any longer."

Hermione nodded. "Agreed. But we need to be careful. The basilisk may be gone, but who knows what else is lurking in the chamber."

Ron sighed in resignation. "Brilliant. Another trip down the snake-infested nightmare tunnel."

Daphne smirked. "You Gryffindors really do have a flair for the dramatic."

Moments Later – Moaning Myrtle's Bathroom

The eerie quiet of the abandoned girls' bathroom was unnerving as the four of them stood before the sink with the carved serpent engraving. Moaning Myrtle hovered nearby, her ghostly form shimmering under the dim torchlight.

"Oh, it's you again," she sighed dramatically, twirling a translucent finger through her hair. "Here to stir up more trouble?"

Harry ignored her and stepped forward, placing a hand on the cool porcelain of the sink. Taking a deep breath, he hissed in Parseltongue, "Open."

The sink shuddered violently before spiraling away to reveal the dark, yawning entrance beneath. A gust of cold, stale air rushed up from below, carrying with it the scent of damp stone and something older… something darker.

Hermione swallowed hard. "We're really doing this, aren't we?"

"Yeah," Harry muttered. "Let's move."

One by one, they slid down the dark, winding tunnel, the slick stone walls rushing past them until they landed with a dull thud at the bottom. Daphne landed gracefully, brushing dust off her cloak while Ron groaned from where he lay sprawled on the floor.

"I hate this place," he grumbled, getting to his feet.

Harry ignited his wand. "Lumos."

The chamber stretched out before them, its snake-carved columns rising ominously into the darkness. The lifeless, rotting husk of the basilisk still lay in the shadows, its immense form a grim reminder of past horrors.

"Keep your guard up," Hermione whispered, stepping forward cautiously.

Daphne's eyes scanned the chamber with cold precision. "If Malfoy's after something, it won't be out in the open. We should check deeper inside."

Harry nodded and led the way, his footsteps echoing through the vast chamber. As they ventured deeper, the air grew thicker, almost oppressive, as if the walls themselves were watching.

They reached the giant statue of Salazar Slytherin, its stone eyes glaring down at them. Hermione hesitated. "If there's a hidden passage, it has to be here."

Harry stepped forward and, speaking in Parseltongue, whispered, "Reveal."

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a deep groan, the stone shifted, and an ancient doorway slid open at the base of the statue, revealing a spiral staircase descending into pitch blackness.

Daphne whistled. "Nice trick, Potter."

Ron groaned. "I was really hoping it wouldn't work."

The Forgotten Sanctum

The stairs spiraled downward for what felt like an eternity, each step sending a whisper of cold air rushing past them. Finally, they reached a large chamber, its walls lined with ancient tomes, glass cases filled with decayed artifacts, and a raised stone pedestal in the center.

Upon the pedestal sat an ornate silver amulet, engraved with Slytherin's crest—a coiled serpent set in emerald. The moment they saw it, a low hum of dark magic filled the air.

Hermione's eyes widened. "This must be it. The relic."

Harry approached cautiously, reaching out slowly. But before he could touch it, the chamber shuddered, and a deep voice echoed through the room.

"You are not worthy."

Suddenly, the torches lining the walls flared to life, and shadows coalesced into ghostly, robed figures—guardians of the sanctum.

"Brilliant," Ron muttered. "I knew it wouldn't be that easy."

The shadowy figures raised their hands, and dark tendrils of magic shot toward them. Hermione barely managed to cast Protego! in time, deflecting the onslaught.

Daphne spun, casting Confringo, sending an explosion toward one of the figures, but it merely reformed, advancing with eerie grace.

Harry gritted his teeth. "We need to get that amulet and get out of here!"

Hermione flipped through the book she had brought along. "It says here the relic can only be claimed by someone who possesses Slytherin's qualities—cunning, ambition, and strength of will."

Daphne smirked. "Sounds like me."

Before anyone could stop her, she strode forward, eyes locked on the amulet. The dark figures swirled around her, but she didn't falter. She reached out, fingers brushing the cool surface of the silver.

The chamber seemed to hold its breath.

Then, with a blinding flash of green light, the amulet pulsed and Daphne gasped, her eyes briefly flickering with an eerie emerald glow before the relic settled against her palm.

The shadowy figures halted, their forms dissipating into the air.

Ron gaped. "You've got to be kidding me."

Daphne smirked, holding up the amulet. "Looks like I'm more Slytherin than Malfoy will ever be."

Harry didn't smile. "Let's move. If Malfoy finds out we have it, he'll come after us with everything he's got."

Back in the Gryffindor Common Room

Safely back in their dorm, the four of them sat around the amulet, which pulsed softly on the table. Hermione studied it carefully, flipping through the book for more answers.

"It's infused with old magic," she said. "But it's dangerous. Slytherin wouldn't have created it without safeguards."

Daphne sat back, twirling the amulet between her fingers. "We have it now. That means Malfoy doesn't."

Harry nodded. "But he won't stop looking for it. We need to figure out what it does and how we can use it against them."

Ron sighed. "You mean how you can use it against them. There's no way I'm touching that thing."

Daphne smirked. "Smartest thing you've said all night, Weasley."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "This is serious. If Malfoy was willing to go to these lengths, it means this amulet holds the key to whatever dark magic they're trying to unlock."

Harry's gaze darkened. "Then we stop them before they get another chance."

As the fire crackled in the hearth, they all knew one thing for certain—this battle was far from over.

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And the real fight was only just beginning.