(Harry Potter) Lost in a game

§"Talking in Parseltongue"§

§Spells in Parseltongue§

System UI

"Powerful beings talking"

"Normal conversation"

Thinking deeply

"Non-English conversation"

September 14, 1977

POV: Antares Hecate

The Gryffindor common room was its usual chaotic self. The

fire crackled in the hearth, casting warm flickers across the stone walls, and

students lounged on mismatched chairs or sprawled on the thick, worn rugs. The

air smelled faintly of butterbeer and parchment.

"Come on, Potter, it hasn't even been a month, and

you're already trying to traumatize the first-years," I said, crossing my

arms and leveling James Potter with a disapproving glare.

Potter, ever the confident troublemaker, shrugged

dramatically. "Hey! That's not true. It's just a harmless prank. So what

if they turn pink for a week? They'll laugh about it when they're older. It's

all in good fun!"

Sirius Black, sprawled across an armchair with his boots

resting on the table (again), jumped to his best mate's defense. "James is

right, Antares. It's not going to give them trauma—it's school! Besides,

they'll laugh it off. And if they don't, well, it's not serious... because I'm

Sirius."

I groaned, running a hand down my face. "Black, how

many times do I have to tell you that joke isn't funny? Get some new material.

And don't come running to me or Remus when you two get caught, like

always."

"Hey!" Sirius sat up indignantly, knocking over a

quill. "We don't get caught. We're experts, Antares—true artists of

escape! And why won't you call us by our first names? It's Sirius, not Black.

We've known each other for six years! Six years, Antares! We've shared a bloody

room!"

I smirked, thoroughly enjoying his frustration. The truth? I

only called him "Black" because it drove him mad. As for Potter?

Well, calling him "James" would be far too friendly for such an

asshole using his 'Pranks' as cover to bully people. Not to mention the way he

thought stalking Lily Evans was a viable way to win her heart. Honestly, the

guy was one failed love potion away from a restraining order.

"Antares," a softer voice interjected. Remus

Lupin, perched on a nearby sofa with a book in hand, spoke up. "How was

your summer? I heard your elder brother gave up the lordship. That must have

been... an adjustment?"

I liked Remus. I just didn't understand why someone as smart

and decent as him hung around with Potter. Sirius, I got—family pressure could

drive anyone to seek an escape. But Remus? A mystery.

"It was... fine," I said, waving a hand.

"Lots of dull parties I had to attend as the new heir. Mostly skipped

them, though. But enough about me—what about you? Anything fun? Maybe found

yourself a cute girl?" I added with a teasing grin, nudging his shoulder.

Predictably, Remus turned bright red. "N-no. No cute

girls," he stammered. "Just a normal summer. I mostly read about

magical creatures and their weaknesses." His blush faded as he began

animatedly describing the books he'd read, eyes lighting up. Definitely a nerd.

I laughed. "That's good, Remus. Well, I'm off to class.

See you later." I gave him a friendly wave and a nod to Potter and Black

before heading out of the room.

---

The corridors of Hogwarts were quiet, save for the faint hum

of magic that seemed to linger in the air. As I walked, I heard muffled voices

coming from one of the empty classrooms. I smirked, thinking it was probably

some fifth-years sneaking in for a bit of "fun." Time to give them a

good scare.

I approached the door and knocked loudly. "Oi! Break it

up in there!"

But instead of the embarrassed scrambling I expected, there

was a sudden, blinding flash of light. The world seemed to freeze, the torches

along the walls flickering in midair.

"What the—?" I muttered, pushing the door open

cautiously.

Inside, the room was bathed in an unnatural glow, and

standing in the center was... a figure. A childlike figure with mismatched eyes

and an unsettling grin.

"Welcome to the game, young one!" the

figure chirped. "I'm Tet, the God of Games. I've decided your world

needs a little excitement, so I've started a Game here. Yay! It's going to be

so much fun!"

I stared, utterly baffled. "What the hell are you

talking about? What game?"

Tet's grin widened. "Oh, it's simple: don't

die."

And with that, the figure vanished in a "pop."

Before I could even process what had just happened, a

strange ding echoed in the room. Words appeared in front of me, floating in the

air like a magical parchment.

---

WELCOME TO THE GAME, YOUNG WIZARD.

MAIN MENU: SKILLS AND PERKS

Antares Hecate

95% Wizard / 5% ???

Level 21

SKILLS:

Transfiguration: 26

Potions: 31

Defence Against the Dark Arts: 36

Charms: 23

Herbology: 17

Astronomy: 32

Care of Magical Creatures: 44

Divination: 0 (requires perk Seer)

Arithmancy: 30

Ancient Runes: 24

Dark arts: 0

PERKS: Locked (unlock at level 50)

---

"What the hell is this?!" I shouted, but there was

no response.

Suddenly, pain exploded through my body, and the world went

dark.

---

September 17, 1977

Waking up in the hospital wing is never fun, especially

after whatever the hell just happened.

The room was quiet except for the soft rustling of curtains

and the occasional clink of potions bottles from Madam Pomfrey's office. The

air carried that unmistakable medicinal tang—peppermint, dittany, and something

sharp that made my nose twitch. The pale morning sunlight filtered through the

tall windows, casting long shadows across the rows of neatly made beds. The

sheets beneath me were stiff and scratchy, the pillows too firm to be

comfortable.

"Ah, Mr. Hecate. You're awake."

I turned my head, groaning slightly at the stiffness in my

neck, to see Madam Pomfrey bustling toward me. Her apron was as pristine as

ever, though there was a worry line etched deep between her brows. She carried

a tray of potions with her, the various hues glowing faintly in the dim light.

"How are you feeling?" she asked, setting the tray

down on the bedside table with a soft clatter.

"Like I've been trampled by a herd of

Hippogriffs," I mumbled, attempting to sit up. My muscles protested, and I

winced.

"Lie back," she said firmly, pushing me back onto

the bed with surprising strength for someone her size. "You've been out

for nearly two days, and I'll not have you undoing all my hard work. Now, tell

me exactly what happened."

Her tone left no room for argument, but my mind scrambled to

come up with a version of events that didn't include a self-proclaimed God of

Games.

"I... don't really know," I started, glancing at

the ceiling as if it held the answers. "I was walking down the corridor

near the Charms classroom, and I heard some noises coming from one of the empty

rooms. It sounded strange, like voices that weren't really there."

Madam Pomfrey's frown deepened, but she didn't interrupt.

"I thought it was just some students messing around, so

I opened the door to check. That's when—" I paused, trying to phrase it

without sounding insane. "That's when there was this... blinding light.

Like nothing I'd ever seen before. It hurt to look at, and the next thing I

know, everything went dark."

Her lips pressed into a thin line as she studied me, her

eyes sharp. "You didn't see anyone? No students, no creatures?"

I shook my head, wincing at the motion. "No. The room

was empty."

"Empty," she repeated, almost to herself, as she

placed the back of her hand against my forehead. Satisfied, she straightened

and began scribbling something on a piece of parchment at the foot of my bed.

I glanced around, trying to ground myself in the normalcy of

the hospital wing. The faint hum of the castle's magic was still there, but

something felt off. The air seemed heavier, the shadows a little darker than

they should have been. It wasn't enough to set off alarms, but it gnawed at the

edges of my mind.

Madam Pomfrey snapped me out of my thoughts. "Well, you

seem stable now, but I'll be keeping you here for the rest of the day for

observation. You'll take these potions—no arguments—and if you feel anything

strange, you're to call me immediately. Understood?"

"Yes, Madam Pomfrey," I said dutifully, though my

mind was far from the potions she placed on the bedside table.

As she walked back to her office, I let out a slow breath.

The menu I'd seen two days ago flashed briefly in my mind. Was it real? Or had

I imagined the whole thing?

I glanced at my hands, flexing my fingers as if expecting

something to happen. When nothing did, I leaned back against the stiff pillows,

staring at the ceiling.

Whatever was going on, I wasn't getting answers lying here. As

I lay back on the uncomfortable hospital bed, staring at the ceiling, I thought

back to the menu I'd seen when all this started. I had no idea what it was or

why it had appeared, but if this game was real, then ignoring it wasn't an

option.

Think menu.

I focused, willing the skills and perks page to appear

again. Instead, something new popped into my mind—a Quest.

---

Quest!

Find a safe room

to practice your spells and abilities from the game.

Optional

Objectives:

1. Find the

Chamber of Secrets.

2. Find the Room

of Requirement.

Rewards:

50 Galleons

3 Skill Points

Optional Rewards:

Natural Perk

Natural Perk

---

My eyes widened as I reread the text in my mind. This was

new. And it wasn't just an arbitrary challenge; the rewards included something

called "Natural Perks," which, as far as I could guess, might let me

bypass the level 50 requirement to unlock my locked perks. That alone made this

worth pursuing.

Of course, there was the small matter of no one knowing

where either of these rooms were—or if the Chamber of Secrets even existed.

"Welp," I mut tered to myself, throwing off the covers,

"guess it's time to hit the library."

---

The Hogwarts library was a haven of quiet, its towering

bookshelves packed tightly with volumes of every shape and size. The faint

smell of old parchment and dust filled the air, and the dim lighting gave the

room a cozy, mysterious atmosphere. I made my way past students quietly poring

over their homework until I reached the front desk, where Madam Pince stood,

stern as ever, her sharp eyes scanning the room for any signs of book abuse.

I cleared my throat. "Excuse me, Madam Pince?"

She looked up, her gaze immediately suspicious. "Yes?"

"I'm looking for books about the Chamber of Secrets," I said

as casually as I could manage.

Her expression soured instantly, and she straightened her

spine. "The Chamber of Secrets does not exist," she said curtly, her tone

making it clear she thought the matter was closed.

"But—"

"No buts, Mr. Hecate. The Chamber of Secrets is a silly myth

invented to scare first-years. There's no evidence to support its existence,

and I'll not have students wasting time chasing fantasies."

I wasn't about to give up that easily. "But doesn't it

strike you as odd," I began, leaning on the desk slightly, "that the other

three Founders all have rooms associated with them? Gryffindor has the Tower,

Ravenclaw has the Library Annex, and Hufflepuff has the Kitchens. Why wouldn't

Slytherin have a space of his own?"

Madam Pince's eyes narrowed.

"Look," I continued, holding up my hands in a placating

gesture, "I'm not saying I believe in the monster or anything. That's obviously

ridiculous. But the idea that Slytherin, of all people, wouldn't leave behind

something as a mark of his legacy? I don't buy it. Even if the Chamber doesn't

exist, there might be clues in the books about his work or his life."

She hesitated, her lips pressing into a thin line. After a

long pause, she finally sighed. "Fine. If you're serious about this nonsense,

you'll want to look in the section on Hogwarts' history. Third row from the

back, middle shelf. And don't you dare damage the books."

I grinned. "Thank you, Madam Pince. You're the best."

She muttered something under her breath that sounded

suspiciously like "insufferable," but I ignored it and headed off toward the

indicated section.

---

The bookshelves loomed overhead as I scanned the spines for

anything useful. Titles like The Founders' Legacy and Secrets of Hogwarts

caught my eye, and I pulled them down into a growing stack. The atmosphere was

quieter here, away from the main study areas, and the faint hum of magic seemed

to resonate in the walls.

I flipped open the first book, skimming through passages

about the Founders, the castle's construction, and early students. If there

were clues to either the Chamber or the Room of Requirement, they had to be

here somewhere.

After reading for a few hours everything I learned was

leading to this one book the problem is that someone has it. The book does have

its own spot clearly marked now I just need to find them after hyping myself up

for a long search made me feel embarrassed when not even 2 minutes I found the

student who had the book when looking at him something from my menu popped up

Name: Regulus Black

Level: 15

Age: 14

Reputation: 0 [none he does not know you]

I know Black has a younger brother, but unlike the rest of

his family, he doesn't make a splash in any way that's so possible. Honestly,

for a moment I thought Potter somehow de-aged Black in the few hours since I've

seen them.

He didn't look up from his table even if he did hear my loud

footsteps in the ghost town of a library, and I had no plan to interact with…

he had the book I needed…

I fucking thought my luck was one of my few good stats, yet

it keeps forcing me to interact with fucking people.

Or I bet that bat did this on purpose.

"Excuse me."

The younger boy let out a tired sigh as his gaze slowly rose

up from the book, he didn't make eye contact, and instead, his gaze fell on a

loosened tie, "Let's get this on with."

My face scrunched up in confusion, "What are you on

about?"

"You're not… what do you want?" He caught himself.

I flicked my fingers towards the book resting on the table,

"May I borrow that?"

His eyes narrowed with a strange gleam in them, sadly in my

time in Hogwarts I've seen that look directed at me a numerous amount of times

by two Blacks, one is usually followed by pain and the other is followed by a

prank of some sort.

"Why do you want it?"

A fucking book, he's asking me why I want a fucking book,

"I want to wipe my arse with it." I sniped.

His passive stare was almost impressive, "I was here

first, so wait your turn." He waved me off, and I swear to any gods that

are listening I'm about to launch someone out of a window if I get waved off

one more time.

"Listen hear you twerp-"

"You know I may just check out this book," He gave

me a sly smile.

My eyes peered into his and I could feel them twitch at the

amused gleam in his, I was forced to take a calming breath as I sat down on the

adjacent seat to his.

"I need it for a project for Binns' class."

Persuasion Check Failed

He pulled out his wand the tip of his lit with fire,

"You want to tell me the truth."

I gave myself a blank stare, "You're going to set fire

to it because I'm not telling you why I want it, it a book, I just want to read

it."

"I would've believed it if you didn't get so defensive

about it in the first place."

"You would risk getting in this much shit for what…

you're insane."

He almost smirked, "I'm

a Black."

My options, well I had no

options here really, the bint would be on his side no matter what, and the

snakes had a unity that no other house did, even former members of the house

showed solidarity even still. And what could I do, beat up the twerp for a book,

what kind of angry fucking loser would that paint me as.

Even still frustration

welled up in me but I let out a steady breath, "I'm looking for something

in Hogwarts, and it's considered a legend by today's standards," I

motioned to the book, "hence."

"What are you looking

for?" He questioned with genuine interest.

"Curiosity killed the

cat."

This time he smirked and the

uncanny mirror of Sirius was shattered, my dormmate never looked so unnerving,

"And satisfaction brought it back."

My fingers wrapped against

the table and the boy just leaned back with the book on his lap waiting for me

to go on, I don't know how much time passed but eventually, I opened my mouth.

"The Chamber of

Secrets."

I expected him to scoff or

even laugh out loud but instead, he looked intrigued, "Why would a

Gryffindor be looking for the Chamber of Secrets?"

Taking a pause, I chew on my

words, "Call it morbid curiosity,"

He shrugs his shoulders and

lets out a huff, "Do you know what? I don't care why you want to find it,

but I will say you won't," Before I could reply he cut me off, "Not

on your own at least." I don't like where this is going.

"You want to

help?" He nods and waits for my answer, "Why would I need it?"

He rolled his eyes and for

the time since I've met him, he acted like his brother, "What chances does

a Gryffindor have finding the chamber?"

First time for everything

because I felt the need to defend my house, "Better chances than a

Slytherin apparently, seriously how does it feel as a house to lose the last of

your founder's residences?"

He opened his mouth to

retort but he raised a hand and clenched it closed alongside his mouth, taking

a calming breath, showing more restraint than the other two of his family I

know, "I feel like we're both better than this, or at the very least I

am." He mumbled the last part under his breath, "The both of us are

better off working together and could find it."

"You know I could just

take that book away from you." I flexed my wand hand for nothing as he

wasn't the slightest worried.

"Then why didn't you?

Why not act like a brash lion and take what you want, typical of your

house?"

I tried to formulate an

answer but for the life of nothing came forward. Maybe I'm trying to convince

myself that I am that much of a bastard and just take what I want.

"If we work together, I

have a condition."

"I figured."

I raised an eyebrow,

"You may not like it."

He shrugged his shoulders,

"As is the way of my life."

"When we find the

Chamber,"

"if"

I continued as if he didn't

put doubt in my plan "when we find it we keep it to ourselves"

"Why should I do that" he questioned

with a neutral tone

"Look, I need a safe

place to train, and not to be an asshole, but I don't really know you. You

could ruin the whole point of me finding it. Now, as for why you should keep it

to yourself—one, it's the Chamber of Secrets. It's old and probably has a lot

of illegal stuff that would be raided if anyone found out. Two, for that same

reason, it's ancient, so there's probably lost magic in there that only the two

of us would know about in the entire world. Good enough for you? If so, I'm

going to need you to swear an oath of secrecy—with the condition that if I tell

you, it's okay, you can share it." I explained, laying out why he needed

to keep it to himself.

The tension in the air

between Regulus Black and me hung heavy, the dim library lighting casting long

shadows over our faces. I wasn't thrilled about the situation, but with the

book I needed practically held hostage by Sirius' quieter, sharper younger brother,

my options were limited.

Regulus didn't speak

immediately, his calculating eyes studying me like I was some kind of puzzle.

He still held the book on his lap, fingers lightly tapping the cover, as though

he were testing my resolve.

Finally, he raised a brow.

"So, you want me to swear an oath of secrecy about something that hasn't even

been found yet?"

I leaned back in the chair

across from him, crossing my arms. "If we're doing this, I need guarantees.

You're a Slytherin, you get it. A deal without terms isn't a deal at all."

He smirked faintly, the

expression unnervingly reminiscent of his older brother but somehow sharper,

colder. "Fair enough. Let me get this straight: if we find the Chamber—and

that's still a big if—you want to use it as your personal training grounds and

keep it hidden from everyone else, including, presumably, your Gryffindor

pals?"

I nodded. "Pretty much.

Think about it. It's the Chamber of Secrets. If we make it public knowledge,

it'll be swarmed by professors, Aurors, and Ministry officials. Everything

inside—artifacts, history, even potential magical discoveries—would be picked apart

and locked away. You'd lose access to all of it, too."

Regulus tilted his head,

considering my words. "And you think there's something worthwhile in there?"

"I do," I said firmly. "If

it's real, it's Slytherin's legacy. The man was a genius—and, let's face it,

paranoid. Whatever he left behind isn't going to be mundane."

His lips twitched into a

ghost of a smile. "You make a decent argument, Hecate. Still, you want me to

take an oath. What's to stop you from breaking your side of the deal first?"

I rolled my eyes. "I'll

swear the same oath. Neither of us reveals anything about the Chamber or its

contents unless we both agree."

Regulus leaned back in his

chair, tapping a finger against his chin as he mulled it over. "And what if you

find something dangerous in there? Something too powerful to be kept secret?"

"Then we handle it," I

replied, though I wasn't entirely sure how I'd back up that confidence if it

came to it. "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, do we have a

deal?"

He stared at me for a long

moment, his piercing gray eyes betraying just a hint of curiosity and

amusement. Then, slowly, he extended a hand across the table. "Fine. But don't

think I'll let you have all the fun in there. If we find something valuable, I

expect my share."

I shook his hand, feeling

the weight of the agreement settle between us. "Done. Now, about that oath…"

Regulus pulled out his wand,

the tip glowing faintly. I followed suit, and together we performed a simple

magical oath of secrecy, binding us both to the terms we'd agreed on. The glow

of the spell lingered briefly in the air before fading, sealing our pact.

"Right," I said, standing

up. "Now, give me the book."

He smirked, handing it over

without a fight. "Don't mess it up, Hecate. If you're as reckless as my

brother, this will be a short partnership."

"Don't worry," I replied,

clutching the book tightly. "I'm nothing like your brother."

As I turned to leave, I

glanced back at him one last time. Regulus was already pulling another book

toward him, his expression calm and composed. Whatever I'd gotten myself into,

I had a feeling this wouldn't be the last of our unlikely alliance.

And now, with the book in

hand, the real hunt for the Chamber of Secrets could begin.

I sat hunched over in a

quiet corner of the Gryffindor common room, the book Regulus begrudgingly

handed over now spread across my lap. The pages were old and brittle, the ink

faded in places, but it was clear that whoever wrote it was meticulous.

The chapter on Slytherin's

legacy was dense, littered with cryptic references and half-completed theories.

Still, after nearly an hour of scanning, one passage stood out:

"The chamber is said to

lie in the depths of Hogwarts, beneath the castle's oldest sections, accessible

only to those deemed worthy by Slytherin's standards. It is believed to be tied

to the castle's original plumbing system, which was modernized in the late

1700s."

"Plumbing system?" I

muttered to myself, flipping the page. The next few paragraphs theorized about

its location but kept coming back to one conclusion: somewhere in the dungeons

or possibly beneath the bathrooms installed during the renovations.

I leaned back, a sense of

determination creeping over me. If this was accurate, then Regulus and I might

have a real shot at finding it.

---

The halls of Hogwarts were

alive with noise as I made my way to Transfiguration, students laughing and

talking as they bustled to their respective classes. I weaved through groups of

Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, barely avoiding a collision with a tiny first-year

carrying an armful of books.

The Transfiguration

classroom was already half-full when I arrived. At the front, Professor

McGonagall stood with her signature stern expression, her robes pristine as

always. James Potter and Sirius Black sat near the middle, chatting animatedly

with Marlene McKinnon, while Remus Lupin flipped through his notes beside them.

I found a seat near the

back, preferring to stay out of their line of sight for now. A few other

Gryffindors were scattered around the room, including a shy girl named Edwin

Thatcher and a confident guy named Cassandra Fawley, who always seemed to have

a knowing smile.

McGonagall clapped her

hands, drawing the class to attention. "Today, we'll be continuing our study of

human-to-object Transfiguration. Can anyone remind us of the core principle

involved in this spell?"

Lily Evans raised her hand

instantly. "It's the concentration of intent and visualization, Professor.

Without a clear image of the desired object, the spell can backfire."

"Correct, Miss Evans,"

McGonagall said with a nod.

The lesson progressed

smoothly, with McGonagall demonstrating the spell before letting us attempt it

ourselves. My attempts to transfigure a quill into a candlestick were

decent—though the candlestick was a bit lopsided—but it was enough to avoid any

unwanted attention.

---

After class, I made my way

toward the library to meet Regulus. He was waiting in the same spot as before,

his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp.

"Find anything?" he asked as

I slid into the seat across from him.

"Yeah," I said, pulling the

book from my bag. "The chamber is supposedly tied to the school's old plumbing

system. It's probably somewhere in the dungeons or beneath one of the

bathrooms."

Regulus smirked faintly,

clearly impressed. "Good. I've been doing some digging of my own, and guess

what? The chamber isn't just a myth. It's been opened before."

I raised an eyebrow. "What?

When?"

"1943," he replied, lowering

his voice. "A student died—a girl named Myrtle Warren. She's the ghost that

haunts the second-floor girls' bathroom."

I blinked. "Myrtle? You mean

Moaning Myrtle?"

He nodded. "If anyone knows

what happened, it's her. We need to talk to her."

---

The second-floor girls'

bathroom was as eerie as I remembered it, with cracked tiles and dripping

faucets that never seemed to stop. The faint sound of sobbing echoed through

the room as we stepped inside, the ghostly figure of Myrtle Warren floating

near one of the sinks.

"Who's there?" she wailed,

spinning around. Her glasses were askew, and her expression was one of

exaggerated misery. "Can't you leave me alone?"

I stepped forward

cautiously. "Myrtle, we're not here to bother you. We just want to ask you some

questions."

Her translucent eyes

narrowed. "Questions? About what?"

Regulus stepped in, his

voice calm and steady. "About the night you died. We think it might be

connected to something we're trying to find."

Her expression softened

slightly, and she floated closer. "You mean… how I died no one has ever asked

me before"

My heart skipped a beat for

the poor girl. "What happened?"

Myrtle sighed dramatically,

floating down until she was level with us. "I was sitting in that stall"—she

pointed to the farthest one—"crying because Olive Hornby made fun of my glasses

again. Then I heard someone come in. I opened the door to yell at them, but…"

Her voice faltered, and her

ghostly form shivered. "I saw these big yellow eyes. And then… nothing."

Regulus frowned. "Yellow

eyes? That sounds like…"

"A basilisk," I finished, my

stomach twisting.

Myrtle nodded solemnly. "I

didn't even have a chance to scream. And then I woke up like this."

Regulus and I exchanged a

glance, the weight of the discovery settling over us. If the Chamber of Secrets

had truly been opened before, and it housed a basilisk, then finding it wasn't

just about curiosity anymore—it was about survival.

The dim, eerie glow of the

flickering torches along the bathroom walls cast long shadows across the

cracked tiles as I scanned the room. The air was damp, heavy with the faint

metallic scent of rusted pipes and stagnant water. The sound of the ever-dripping

faucets echoed softly, amplifying the stillness around us.

My eyes caught something

unusual—a small snake etched into the metal of one of the sinks in the row at

the center of the room. It was subtle, almost easy to miss, but once I saw it,

the symbol seemed to pulse with a strange energy, as though it were waiting for

me to notice.

I approached cautiously, the

feeling of something otherworldly creeping up my spine. The air around the sink

felt charged, like static before a storm. As I reached out to touch the

carving, a familiar ding sounded, and the Game interface appeared in front of

me once more.

---

Quest!

Find a safe room to practice your spells and abilities

from the game.

Complete!

Rewards Earned:

50 Galleons

3 Skill Points

Optional Rewards:

Natural Perk: Parseltongue (Earned)

Natural Perk: Parallel Thought (Lost)

Added Stat:

Parselmagic: 0

Perk Unlocked:

Parseltongue: Whoever said snakes don't have thoughts

was so far off—they can talk! User can now communicate with any creature that

appears snake-like and can command all snakes, minus their King.

I blinked at the

notification. Parseltongue? I thought. The weight of what that meant hit me

like a brick, but there was no time to process it fully. I called out to

Regulus, who was still by the door, scanning the room with a curious but

cautious expression.

"Over here, Regulus! I found

something!" I said, my voice echoing slightly in the empty space.

The fourth-year made his way

over, his steps quick but careful. His usual air of calculated composure was

tinged with curiosity as he approached. "What is it?"

I hesitated, taking a deep

breath. "Okay, listen. What I'm about to show you stays between us, got it? For

your own good."

Before he could respond, I

focused on the snake engraving and said, almost instinctively, "§Open§"

The words felt foreign on my

tongue, as though they weren't entirely my own, but the effect was immediate.

The snake etching glowed faintly, and with a deep groan, the sink began to

shift. The porcelain split apart, revealing a dark, spiraling tunnel beneath.

"What!" Regulus whispered

harshly, stepping back in shock. "You're a Parseltongue?"

I shrugged, trying to feign

nonchalance, though my heart was pounding. "I guess so."

Regulus stared at me, his

eyes wide with a mix of awe and disbelief. "You guess so? Antares, do you know

what this means? Only one wizard in history has been known for this ability,

and he was a big deal!"

I swallowed hard, trying to

downplay the significance. "Well, my family did marry into the Slytherin line a

long time ago. A female member, I think, but no one in my family has shown this

ability before… until now."

Regulus paused, processing

that. His excitement dimmed slightly as he nodded. "That makes sense. My family

has Slytherin blood too, but it hasn't manifested like this. Not yet, anyway."

The subtle pride in his

voice was unmistakable, but he quickly masked it with his usual composed

demeanor.

"Well," I said, gesturing to

the tunnel, "I guess we know where to start looking now. Ready to see if this

really is the Chamber of Secrets?"

Regulus glanced at the dark

hole, his face unreadable for a moment before he smirked. "Let's find out…"

"§Stairs§" I hissed in Parseltongue, the word rolling off my

tongue with an eerie ease. Immediately, the smooth, spiraling tunnel beneath

the sink began to shift, stone steps emerging one after another, forming a

steep staircase leading down.

Regulus let out an impressed

whistle as he peered down. "Good call. Honestly, I probably wouldn't have

thought to try that."

I laughed, though it came

out more awkward than I intended. "Yeah, well, I figured sliding down might not

be the best option if we're trying to get back up later."

The two of us descended

cautiously, the sound of our footsteps echoing off the stone walls. The air

grew colder with each step, carrying a faint metallic tang mixed with the damp

scent of earth. The dim light from the open entrance above barely reached us

now.

When we finally reached the

bottom, the tunnel opened up into a massive, shadowed chamber. The oppressive

silence pressed down on us like a physical weight. Pulling out my wand, I

raised it high and cast, "Lumos."

The light flared to life at

the tip of my wand, illuminating the vast room around us. The sight stole my

breath for a moment. The chamber was cavernous, its vaulted ceiling

disappearing into darkness. The floor was uneven, strewn with rubble and debris

from centuries of decay. But what truly caught my attention—and sent a shiver

down my spine—was the enormous, shed snakeskin coiled near the far end of the

chamber.

It was massive, easily

dwarfing anything I had ever seen or read about. The pale, translucent skin

glimmered faintly in the light, its scales ghostly and unnerving.

"That's… that's like twice

the size of the largest known basilisk," I said, my voice shaking slightly as I

glanced at Regulus.

He nodded, his face pale but

his eyes alight with a mix of awe and unease. "If that thing's still alive

somewhere…" He trailed off, leaving the ominous thought unspoken.

We both stayed still for a

moment, as though even the slightest sound might awaken something lurking in

the shadows. Then, with a deep breath, I shook off the unease and gestured

toward the rest of the chamber. "Come on. Let's look around. There's bound to

be something else here."

We began to explore, moving

carefully around the space. The floor was littered with an unsettling mix of

objects. Bones—animal and human—were scattered across the chamber, some gnawed

and splintered, others intact and eerily pristine. I crouched to examine one, a

human femur, my stomach twisting at the thought of how long it had been here.

Regulus, meanwhile, had

wandered toward a pile of glinting objects near the chamber's edge. "There's

gold here," he called out, his voice tinged with surprise. "A lot of it."

I joined him, the light from

my wand catching on the dull gleam of coins, goblets, and ornate trinkets. The

pile was enormous, a veritable hoard that looked like it had been stolen or

accumulated over centuries. Some of the items were rusted and worn, while

others appeared almost untouched by time.

"This isn't just gold," I

said, picking up a small, intricately carved dagger that looked more ceremonial

than practical. The blade was encrusted with emeralds, and its hilt bore runes

I couldn't immediately recognize. "This is treasure. Ancient treasure."

Regulus nodded, sifting

through the pile. "Makes sense. If Slytherin built this chamber, he probably

used it to stash more than just his monster."

As we continued searching,

my light fell upon a cracked, faded mural carved into the wall near the

basilisk's shed skin. The artwork depicted a great serpent coiled around a

tall, hooded figure holding a wand. Beneath the figure, strange runes were

etched into the stone, their meaning just out of reach.

"I think we're getting

close," I muttered, my eyes lingering on the runes. "There's got to be another

door or passage somewhere."

"Agreed," Regulus said, his

tone sharper now as he straightened. "But we need to be careful. Whatever's

down here… it wasn't meant to be found easily."

We shared a look, an

unspoken agreement passing between us. If one of us runs the other does too

As we continued searching

the chamber, Regulus suddenly called out from across the room. "Hey! Over

here—I think I found something!"

I hurried over, my wand's

light bobbing as I crossed the uneven floor. He stood near an ornately carved

archway set into the far wall, partially hidden behind a pile of fallen stones.

The design was intricate, with serpentine patterns twisting along the edges and

runes etched into the stone.

"This has to be it," he

said, his voice tinged with excitement.

We pushed open the heavy

stone door together, the air beyond rushing out, cold and stale. The room was

enormous, the columns lining the space carved into the shapes of towering

serpents, their heads raised as if to strike. At the far end, the imposing statue

of Salazar Slytherin loomed, his stone features severe and unyielding. The damp

air felt almost alive, and the faint echoes of our footsteps made it feel as

though we were not alone.

We stepped further into the

chamber, our wands illuminating piles of debris, scattered bones, and ancient

relics. I shuddered at the sight of a massive basilisk skin coiled along one

corner, a chilling reminder of what once lived here. As we explored, I suddenly

froze as a voice echoed faintly in my mind.

"§Someone is here. Who is

it? Food… or speaker?§"

I whipped around, my breath

catching in my throat. "Regulus," I whispered urgently, "did you hear that

voice?"

He frowned at me, confusion

written all over his face. "What voice? What are you talking about?"

I cursed under my breath,

realizing what it meant. Only Parseltongue could hear it.

"§Speaker… not food. Not

food.§"

The voice sounded closer

now, and I instinctively responded. "§Speaker. Not food.§"

Regulus's eyes widened as he

watched me speak. "You're speaking Parseltongue again," he hissed. "Whatever it

is, you better make sure it knows I'm not lunch."

I held up a hand to silence

him, tension coiling in my chest as I heard the voice again.

"§You are a speaker… but not

the master.§"

The words sent a chill

through me. Then, from the shadows, a massive serpent slithered into view, its

scales gleaming like wet emeralds. It raised its head high, its yellow eyes

gleaming as they scanned the room.

"Close your eyes!" I hissed

at Regulus, panic lacing my voice. "Now!"

He obeyed instantly,

squeezing his eyes shut as he pressed himself against one of the columns. "You

couldn't have warned me sooner?" he whispered harshly.

"§Who are you?§" the serpent demanded, its voice reverberating in my

skull. "§You are not my master. Why do you speak his tongue?§"

My heart pounded, but I

forced myself to respond, grasping at straws. "§I… I have his blood. I am a

descendant of Slytherin.§"

The serpent hissed, its

massive head lowering slightly to regard me more closely. "§His blood…

diluted. Weak. You are no master.§"

I swallowed hard, trying to

stay calm. "§Even so, I carry enough to be recognized as a speaker. That is

why I am here.§"

The serpent seemed to

consider my words, its tongue flicking out as it tasted the air. "§A

trace, perhaps. It is faint. But enough to protect you.§"

It lowered its head

slightly, but I kept my eyes shut tightly, unwilling to take any chances. "§What

do you want, Speaker?§"

"§We need a safe place to

train. This chamber is perfect for that. We mean no harm.§"

The serpent's voice turned

cold. "§You tread on masters ground. This chamber is not a plaything.§"

"§We know,§" I replied quickly. "§That's why we're here. To grow

stronger, to learn. Like the master intended this room for after all it's what

your master wanted it to be used for§"

The serpent's tone shifted,

softer now, almost curious. "§You speak as though you understand his

will. Very well, Speaker. You may remain. But you must respect this place, or I

will end you, blood or not.§"

I felt a flicker of relief,

though the serpent wasn't done.

"§You may open your eyes. I

have lowered my second eyelids. It is they, not I, that bring death.§"

I hesitated, my pulse

racing, but after a moment, I cracked one eye open and then the other. The

serpent's massive form filled my vision, but I felt no immediate threat.

"§What is your name?§" I asked cautiously.

The serpent tilted its head

slightly, a glimmer of curiosity in its golden eyes. "§Name? Only the

first master called me by such a thing. It has been many lifetimes since I was

addressed so… Itzaphal.§"

"§Itzaphal,§" I repeated, committing it to memory.

"Is it… done?" Regulus

whispered, his voice tight with anxiety, his eyes still firmly shut.

"It's safe now," I said,

stepping closer to him and placing a hand on his shoulder. "You can open your

eyes."

He did so hesitantly, his

gaze flicking to the massive snake before us. "Bloody hell," he muttered under

his breath.

Itzaphal regarded us both

for a moment before retreating back into the shadows. "§Do not squander

this chance, Speaker. Or I will not show mercy again.§"

Before she left I was concentrating

on her body

before the same screen that popped up for Regulus popped

up for her

Itzaphal

Level ???

Age 3173

Relationship 20/100

(Nice like first master wish he

doesn't leave me like him)

As she disappeared, the

oppressive tension in the room seemed to lessen. Regulus exhaled a shaky breath

and turned to me. "You've got some explaining to do. But… I guess we found what

we came for."

I nodded, though my mind was

racing. The chamber was ours now, but the danger was far from over who knows

what Tet will throw my way.

Secret Quest complete!!

Survive the queen of snakes

Rewards

-5 levels (10 skill points

added)

-10 levels into Parselmagic

Spell variant unlocked – Serpensortia (now whenever you use this spell you

will have the option summoning magical

snakes depending on your summoning level when maxed even a basilisk will answer

to your call and

obey your orders)

(Optional Quest Failed)

Kill the basilisk

Rewards

-50 levels (100 perk points)

-200'000 Galleons

Perk – (king of the snakes)

lost

(Optional Quest succeeded)

Befriend the basilisk

Rewards

Heir Slytherin

(They said the line died out but the truth was they

simply forgot the test)

500 Galleons

Perk – Friend of the Queen

(Parselmagic can now reach

level 200 every 2 levels pass 100 increases

the power of

spells by 1% up to 50%)

"Well let's actually do what

we came to this room for train" I say to Regulus after comprehending the quest he

simply nodded.

The chamber stretched vast

and silent around us, its eerie stillness broken only by the hiss of spells and

the faint hum of magic. Regulus and I stood across from each other, dummies

conjured between us with a flick of my wand.

The first spell fired was a

Stupefy. My wand crackled as a bright red bolt of energy burst forth, striking

the dummy with a dull thud and sending it sprawling backward. Regulus responded

with Expelliarmus. The blue light from his wand zipped past the dummies,

dissipating into the air when it missed.

"Sloppy," I called, stepping

forward to cast again. "Petrificus Totalus!"

A sharp burst of white light

enveloped the dummy, locking its limbs in place with a rigid snap. Regulus

smirked, raising his wand.

"Finite Incantatem."

The counter-spell glimmered

faintly green as it hit the dummy, freeing it instantly. The hours dragged on

as we fired spell after spell, taking turns as both attacker and defender.

---

The chamber's floor,

littered with conjured debris and scorch marks, mirrored our mounting fatigue.

I raised my wand again, casting Protego as Regulus launched Rictusempra. The

pale silver light collided with the shield, rippling like water before dissipating

into harmless sparks.

"Your shields are holding,"

he commented, his voice strained as he flicked his wand toward the dummy. "But

they won't hold against Bombarda. Watch this."

With a sharp motion, Regulus

cast Bombarda. The spell erupted from his wand in a burst of fiery orange

light, slamming into the dummy with a deafening crack. The construct shattered,

bits of stone and wood skittering across the floor.

I winced, throwing up an arm

to shield my face. "Alright, alright, maybe we don't destroy the training

equipment!"

"Your turn, then," Regulus

said, leaning on his wand with a smirk.

I raised my wand, summoning

a new dummy with a quick flick. "Confringo!"

The dummy exploded in a

bright burst of fire and smoke. The chamber walls groaned as the shockwave

echoed back to us.

---

The more spells we cast, the

more exhaustion seeped into our bodies. Regulus's movements slowed, his precise

wand work becoming sloppier with each attack. I wasn't much better. My aim

wavered, and more than once, I cast Expelliarmus at the wrong target, sending

debris flying instead of striking the dummy.

Lumos lit the area dimly as

the chamber grew darker, the faint glow of our spells casting long, distorted

shadows on the walls. I wiped sweat from my forehead, my hand trembling from

the strain of holding my wand.

"Last round," I muttered,

watching as Regulus nodded wearily.

I fired Stupefy one last

time. The red bolt of light connected with a dummy, sending it collapsing onto

its side with a soft groan. Regulus retaliated with Rictusempra, the shimmering

silver light sparking harmlessly against my hastily conjured Protego.

"Call it a day?" he asked,

lowering his wand.

I nodded, the weight of

exhaustion pulling at my every limb. "Yeah, before we collapse. We'll pick it

up tomorrow."

Regulus conjured a chair

with a flick of his wand, slumping into it with a heavy sigh. I dropped to the

floor, leaning against a pillar as the adrenaline of spell-casting faded into

bone-deep weariness.

The silence returned to the

chamber, but this time, it was comforting. Just the steady sound of our

breathing filled the room as the day's effort caught up with us.

I pushed myself off the

pillar, my wand heavy in my hand as I surveyed the destruction we'd caused.

Scorch marks marred the floor, shattered dummy fragments littered the chamber,

and bits of dust and debris hung in the air like a stubborn fog.

Regulus tilted his head

back, watching me through half-lidded eyes as I raised my wand. "You sure

you've got the energy for that?" he murmured.

"Just watch," I muttered

back, taking a deep breath.

I pointed my wand at the

nearest pile of rubble. "Scourgify."

A ripple of white light

spread outward, clearing away dust and grime in its path. The blackened scorch

marks faded, and the chamber's smooth, cold floor reappeared beneath. With

another flick, I summoned the fragments of dummies into a neat pile.

"Reparo."

The shards quivered before

snapping back together, each dummy returning to its original form as if they'd

never been destroyed. The air cleared as the last of the debris vanished, the

chamber gleaming like the moment we had first stepped into it.

I lowered my wand, panting

slightly, and turned to Regulus. "Good as new."

He let out a low whistle,

dragging himself to his feet. "You know, for a Gryffindor, you're oddly

meticulous. If you keep that up, I might start expecting this every time we

train."

I shot him a tired smirk.

"Don't push your luck."

Author's Note:

Hey there! Thanks so much for taking the time to read the first chapter. I really hope you enjoyed it and that it gave you a taste of what's to come. This story is something I've been super excited to write, and your thoughts mean the world to me.

If you have a moment, I'd love to hear your feedback—whether it's about the plot, characters, or even just a favorite moment. Reviews really help me make improvement and keep me motivated, so don't be shy!

Looking forward to hearing what you think. See you in the next chapter!

Also this is copied and pasted from word so if anything looks like its missing it's on webnovel end so just leave a chapter comment right above so I can put in.

— God-loves-reading or should it be God-loves-writing