HARRY POTTER :Rebirth in Time.

The captured forms of Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zabini, and Pansy Parkinson lay motionless in the Room of Requirement, bound by thick magical ropes conjured by Hermione. The faint glow of the amulet pulsed eerily from its protective case, a reminder of the dark power they were all fighting against.

Harry paced back and forth, his thoughts racing. "This won't hold them for long. Malfoy's lackeys will notice they're missing soon."

Daphne leaned against a nearby pile of broken furniture, arms crossed, a smirk playing at her lips. "We should make them talk before we let them go. Find out what Mulciber's next move is."

Ron frowned. "Do we even want to know? The more we learn about this, the more I feel like we're playing right into their hands."

Hermione, flipping through The Legacies of the Dark, shook her head. "Knowledge is the only way we're going to stop this, Ron. We need to know what Mulciber is planning. We don't have the luxury of ignorance."

Harry knelt beside Malfoy, whose icy glare burned into him despite being bound. "Alright, Malfoy," Harry said, his voice low and firm. "We know you're working with Mulciber. What's his plan?"

Malfoy's lips curled in defiance. "I don't have to tell you anything, Potter. You think you've won because you caught us? Mulciber's already ahead of you. You have no idea what's coming."

Daphne crouched next to Harry, her voice smooth and dangerous. "You see, Draco, here's the thing—you're in a lot of trouble right now. And Potter here? He's feeling charitable tonight. But I don't share that quality."

Malfoy's sneer faltered slightly.

Blaise, lying nearby, groaned. "You lot are fools if you think you can stop this. The amulet is just the beginning."

Hermione stiffened. "Beginning of what?"

Blaise's dark eyes gleamed with something like pity. "Hogwarts is built on more than stone and magic. The Founders left something behind… something we intend to reclaim."

Harry's stomach tightened. "What do you mean?"

Malfoy's sneer returned. "I mean that you're wasting time chasing us when the real danger is already moving."

Ron scowled. "Stop talking in riddles, ferret!"

Daphne rolled her eyes. "Malfoy loves his dramatics. He's just trying to throw us off."

Malfoy smirked. "Believe what you want, Greengrass. But Mulciber will come, and when he does, Hogwarts won't be the same."

Harry exchanged a glance with Hermione, whose face had gone pale. "We need to get them out of here before Filch or Snape finds them," she said urgently.

Harry sighed. "Fine. We'll wipe their memories of tonight."

Malfoy's eyes widened in alarm. "You wouldn't dare, Potter—"

Harry raised his wand. "Obliviate."

A soft golden light engulfed Malfoy's expression, blanking it into a momentary stupor. Hermione did the same to Blaise and Pansy, who slumped slightly before Harry loosened the bindings.

"Let's get out of here," Harry said, motioning to the door. "We don't have much time."

Outside the Room of Requirement

The four of them hurried through the corridors of Hogwarts, hearts pounding. Daphne glanced over her shoulder. "I still think we should have pressed harder."

Ron shook his head. "I don't know. Malfoy looked way too smug for my liking. Whatever's coming, he thinks he's already won."

Hermione's face was drawn with worry. "That's what bothers me the most. What if we're too late?"

Harry stopped in his tracks, running a hand through his hair. "We can't be. We won't be."

Daphne sighed. "You're stubborn, Potter. But it's part of your charm."

Ron rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure. Charming."

Hermione ignored them. "We need to dig deeper into the Founders' secrets. If there's something left behind that can be used, we have to find it before they do."

Harry nodded. "We'll go to the library first thing in the morning. For now, we need to get some sleep."

Daphne smirked. "You Gryffindors and your obsession with sleep."

The Next Morning – The Library

The dusty tomes stacked in front of Hermione formed a small mountain, while Ron had his head buried in his arms, groaning every so often. Harry skimmed through an old text titled Hogwarts: Secrets Yet to Be Unraveled, while Daphne flicked through a slim volume on dark enchantments.

"I found something," Hermione suddenly whispered, eyes wide.

Harry leaned closer. "What is it?"

Hermione pointed to an illustration of an ornate door buried deep within the bowels of the castle. "The Chamber of the Forgotten. It was rumored to have been sealed by the Founders themselves to protect the most powerful artifact of Hogwarts—the Heart of Magic."

Ron lifted his head. "And… what exactly does that mean?"

Hermione read on, her voice filled with awe. "The Heart of Magic is said to be the core of Hogwarts' magical foundation. If someone were to control it, they could shape the castle's magic to their will."

Daphne frowned. "Let me guess… Mulciber wants to use it to rewrite Hogwarts in his own image?"

Harry's stomach churned. "It makes sense. If they get to it first, they could turn the castle into something… dark. Corrupted."

Hermione nodded grimly. "We need to find the Chamber before they do."

Ron groaned. "Fantastic. Another hidden chamber. Just what we need."

Daphne tapped the page. "According to this, it's hidden somewhere beneath the dungeons, but the entrance can only be found by someone who understands the castle's magic on a fundamental level."

Harry sighed. "Which means…?"

Hermione smiled faintly. "It means we need to think like the Founders."

Daphne raised an eyebrow. "Potter's not exactly a scholar, Granger."

Hermione shot her a look. "No, but he's connected to the castle in ways others aren't. The Chamber of Secrets, the Resurrection Stone… it all ties back to him."

Harry shrugged. "Guess I'm your tour guide, then."

Daphne smirked. "Lead on, hero."

Later That Night – The Entrance

Armed with Hermione's notes and their wands at the ready, they found themselves standing in the shadowy depths of the dungeons, facing an unassuming wall marked with faint carvings.

"Parseltongue, Harry," Hermione prompted.

Harry nodded, placing a hand on the cold stone. "Open," he hissed in the serpent tongue.

The wall rumbled, splitting down the middle to reveal a dark, spiraling staircase leading deep into the earth.

Ron gulped. "Why is it always stairs?"

Harry looked at his friends, determination in his eyes. "This is it. No turning back now."

As they stepped into the darkness below, the door sealed behind them with a finality that sent a shiver down their spines.

They were one step closer to the truth—and to whatever darkness awaited them in the Chamber of the Forgotten.

End of Chapter 21.