The Serpent Prince

The next few days passed in a blur of classes and whispered conversations. The strange disturbance in the Black Lake lingered at the forefront of Alex's mind, its memory vivid and unyielding. Every so often, he found himself glancing out of the nearest window, searching for some sign that the water might stir again.

Lily had been no less preoccupied. Though she maintained her usual sharp wit and easy smile, Alex noticed her glances growing more thoughtful, her questions more pointed. Whatever lay beneath the lake, it had captured her curiosity as much as it had his.

Their investigation began in earnest on the third night after the disturbance. With Lily's encouragement—and Imogen's reluctant agreement—they decided to take their first real step toward uncovering the truth.

The Slytherin common room was quiet that evening, the greenish light from the Black Lake casting shifting shadows across the stone walls. Alex sat by the fire, his silver eyes reflecting the flickering flames as he reviewed their plan.

"You're sure about this?" Imogen asked, breaking the silence. She was perched on the arm of a nearby chair, her arms crossed.

Alex looked up at her, his expression calm. "We won't get answers by sitting idle."

Imogen sighed, brushing a strand of dark hair behind her ear. "You realize this is the kind of thing that gets people into trouble, right? Not that I'm complaining—it sounds like fun—but it's still reckless."

"I prefer to think of it as calculated risk," Alex said.

Imogen smirked faintly. "Of course you do."

Before she could say more, the door to the common room creaked open, and Lily slipped inside. She moved quickly but quietly, her Gryffindor scarf tucked into her cloak to avoid detection.

"Everyone's in bed," Lily said, her voice low. "The prefects are patrolling, but they shouldn't be a problem if we're careful."

Imogen raised an eyebrow. "Bold of you to assume we're ever careful."

Lily grinned. "I like to think we can manage when it counts."

Alex stood, his movements smooth and deliberate. "Let's go."

The castle was eerily silent as they made their way through the dimly lit corridors. The torches flickered faintly, their light casting long shadows on the cold stone walls. Alex led the way, his wand held loosely at his side, its tip glowing softly to light their path.

Imogen followed close behind, her sharp eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of trouble. Lily brought up the rear, her steps light but purposeful.

"Are you sure we won't run into Filch?" Imogen whispered, her voice barely audible.

"He's on the other side of the castle," Lily replied. "I overheard him grumbling about Peeves near the Astronomy Tower."

"That's convenient," Imogen muttered.

The trio reached the castle's entrance hall without incident. The massive doors loomed before them, their iron hinges gleaming faintly in the wandlight. Alex pushed one of the doors open just enough to slip through, the others following silently.

Outside, the air was cool and crisp, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and lake water. The grounds were bathed in moonlight, the Black Lake shimmering in the distance like a sheet of liquid silver.

Lily pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders. "It's colder than I expected."

"We won't be out here long," Alex said, his voice calm but firm.

Imogen shot him a skeptical look. "That's optimistic. You do realize we're about to wander into freezing water, right?"

"I'm aware," Alex said evenly. "Which is why I've prepared for it."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small vial filled with a shimmering blue liquid.

"Gillyweed in liquid form," Alex explained, holding it up for the others to see. "It'll allow us to breathe underwater for an hour."

Lily raised an eyebrow. "Where did you get that?"

Alex smirked faintly. "I have my sources."

Imogen sighed. "Of course you do. All right, let's get this over with."

The shore of the Black Lake was quiet, the only sounds the gentle lapping of water and the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze. Alex uncorked the vial and handed it to Lily, who took a cautious sip before passing it to Imogen.

The potion tasted faintly of mint, its coolness spreading through Alex's chest as he swallowed his portion. Almost immediately, he felt a strange sensation in his throat, as if tiny gills were forming just below his jawline.

"You weren't kidding," Imogen said, her voice slightly muffled as she touched her neck. "This feels… weird."

"You'll get used to it," Alex said, setting the empty vial aside.

Lily stepped closer to the water, her boots sinking slightly into the damp earth. "Are we really doing this?"

"We are," Alex said, his tone steady.

Without another word, he waded into the lake, the cold water quickly soaking through his robes. The chill was bracing but not unbearable, and he felt a surge of determination as he pushed deeper into the lake.

Lily and Imogen followed close behind, their expressions a mix of apprehension and resolve. When the water reached Alex's shoulders, he took a deep breath and let himself sink beneath the surface.

The underwater world of the Black Lake was both beautiful and unsettling. The water was murky but not impenetrable, faint beams of moonlight filtering through to illuminate patches of sand and clusters of aquatic plants. Schools of silver fish darted through the water, their movements quick and fluid.

Alex felt a strange calm settle over him as he adjusted to the sensation of breathing underwater. The gills on his neck worked seamlessly, drawing in the water and extracting the oxygen he needed.

He glanced back to see Lily and Imogen swimming close behind, their movements tentative but steady.

"Stay close," Alex said, his voice emerging in a strange, watery echo.

The others nodded, and they began to swim deeper into the lake. The water grew colder and darker as they descended, the light from above fading into a faint, silvery glow.

After what felt like an eternity, they reached a wide, open expanse of the lakebed. The sand here was darker, almost black, and the plants grew taller and denser, their fronds swaying gently in the current.

Alex paused, his silver eyes scanning the area for any sign of movement. The faint hum he had felt during his earlier encounters with the lake seemed stronger now, resonating in his chest like a heartbeat.

And then he saw it.

A faint glow emanated from a cluster of rocks ahead, its light pulsating softly like the rhythm of a living thing. Alex gestured for the others to follow as he swam toward it, his heart pounding with anticipation.

As they neared the source of the light, the glow intensified, revealing a series of intricate runes carved into the surface of the rocks. The symbols were unlike anything Alex had seen before, their shapes fluid and organic, as if they had been grown rather than carved.

"What is this?" Lily whispered, her voice echoing faintly in the water.

"I don't know," Alex said, his fingers brushing against one of the runes. The stone was cold and smooth, its surface faintly vibrating beneath his touch.

Imogen swam closer, her brow furrowed. "This feels… old. Like it's been here forever."

Before Alex could respond, the runes flared brighter, their light casting eerie shadows across the lakebed. The hum grew louder, filling the water with a low, resonant sound that seemed to emanate from the stones themselves.

And then, without warning, the ground beneath them began to tremble.

"Move!" Alex shouted, his voice distorted by the water.

The trio swam backward as the rocks shifted, their surfaces cracking and splitting open to reveal a dark chasm beneath. The light from the runes spilled into the chasm, illuminating its jagged edges and the faint, shifting forms within.

For a moment, Alex thought he saw something move—something massive and coiled, its shadow flickering just beyond the light.

And then the hum stopped. The light faded, and the lake returned to its eerie stillness.

"What the hell was that?" Imogen demanded, her voice shaking.

"I don't know," Alex said, his chest heaving as he struggled to process what had just happened.

Lily swam closer, her eyes wide but steady. "Whatever it is, it's not just a legend. It's real."

Alex nodded slowly, his silver eyes fixed on the dark chasm below. "And it's waking up."