The Serpent Prince

The Black Lake seemed quieter than usual as Alex, Lily, and Imogen emerged from its frigid waters. Their breaths came in ragged gasps, the gills granted by the potion fading as their bodies adjusted back to breathing air. The faint, resonant hum they had heard beneath the surface still lingered in their minds, its vibrations etched into their thoughts like a haunting memory.

"What was that?" Imogen hissed, her voice trembling despite her usual composure. She pushed her soaked hair out of her face, her sharp gray eyes fixed on Alex.

"I don't know," Alex said, his tone steady but his expression distant. "But it's alive. And it's powerful."

"No kidding," Lily muttered, wrapping her cloak around herself. Her hands were trembling, but her voice carried a hint of determination. "That thing… it felt ancient. Like it's been waiting for something."

"Or someone," Imogen added darkly.

Alex met her gaze, his silver eyes narrowing slightly. "It reacted when we touched the runes. That can't be a coincidence."

"Reacted? It practically tried to swallow us," Imogen said, her voice rising.

"Whatever it is," Lily interrupted, her tone firm, "it's dangerous. And it's waking up."

They stood in silence for a moment, the weight of their discovery pressing down on them like a physical force. The lake behind them lapped gently at the shore, as if mocking the chaos they had witnessed beneath its surface.

"We need to tell someone," Lily said finally, breaking the silence.

"Who?" Imogen snapped. "You think the professors are going to believe us if we tell them we found a glowing chasm in the lake that tried to eat us?"

"They might," Alex said calmly.

Imogen turned to him, incredulous. "Might? That's your plan?"

"We don't have another choice," Alex said. "If we keep this to ourselves and whatever's down there decides to wake up fully, the consequences could be catastrophic."

Imogen opened her mouth to argue but closed it again, her jaw tightening.

Lily sighed, her breath visible in the cold night air. "Fine. But if we're doing this, we need to be smart about it. We can't just walk into Radwick's office and dump everything on him."

"Agreed," Alex said. "We'll start with the facts. Keep the speculation to a minimum."

"And if he doesn't believe us?" Imogen asked, crossing her arms.

"Then we'll find another way," Alex said, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

The Morning After

The next day dawned gray and heavy, the sky threatening rain. Alex barely slept, his mind replaying the events of the previous night in vivid detail. By the time breakfast rolled around, he felt restless, the weight of their discovery pressing heavily on his chest.

Lily joined him at the Slytherin table, ignoring the curious glances from nearby students. Imogen arrived shortly after, her expression unreadable as she slid into the seat across from Alex.

"We're doing this after breakfast," Alex said quietly, his voice low enough that no one else could hear.

Lily nodded. "Agreed. Radwick's office should be empty until mid-morning."

Imogen glanced around the table before leaning in. "I still think this is a bad idea."

"It's the best option we have," Alex said. "We need answers, and Radwick is our best chance at getting them."

Imogen sighed but didn't argue further.

Radwick's Office

The corridor leading to Professor Radwick's office was as quiet as the grave. The stone walls seemed to absorb sound, and the flickering torchlight cast shifting shadows that danced along the floor.

Alex stood in front of the heavy oak door, his hand hovering over the iron knocker shaped like a serpent's head. He glanced back at Lily and Imogen, both of whom looked tense but resolute.

"Ready?" he asked.

Lily nodded. Imogen muttered, "As I'll ever be."

Alex rapped the knocker twice, the sound echoing faintly through the corridor.

"Enter," came Radwick's voice, low and commanding.

Alex pushed the door open, stepping inside with the others close behind.

Radwick's office was exactly as Alex had imagined it: dark, orderly, and filled with artifacts that hinted at a life spent exploring the unknown. Shelves lined the walls, crammed with books and trinkets that radiated faint traces of magic. A large, weathered desk sat near the center of the room, and behind it, Radwick himself stood, his sharp eyes fixed on the trio.

"Lorian," he said, his gaze flicking briefly to Lily and Imogen before returning to Alex. "What brings you here at this hour?"

"We need to speak with you," Alex said, his voice calm but firm. "It's important."

Radwick gestured to the chairs in front of his desk. "Sit."

They complied, and Radwick leaned against the edge of his desk, crossing his arms as he studied them.

"Well?" he prompted.

Alex took a deep breath before speaking. "There's something in the Black Lake. Something… alive. We encountered it last night."

Radwick's expression didn't change, but Alex noticed the faintest flicker of interest in his eyes.

"Explain," Radwick said simply.

Alex recounted the events of the previous night, starting with their descent into the lake and ending with the glowing runes and the opening of the chasm. He kept his tone even, his words measured, careful not to embellish or exaggerate.

Lily and Imogen chimed in occasionally, filling in details Alex might have missed.

When they finished, Radwick was silent for a long moment, his gaze distant as he processed their account.

Finally, he spoke. "You said the runes reacted to your presence?"

Alex nodded. "When I touched them, they glowed brighter. That's when the chasm opened."

Radwick frowned, his expression thoughtful. "And the hum you described… did it feel like it was coming from the runes themselves?"

"No," Alex said. "It felt like it was coming from deeper within. Like it was… waiting."

Radwick straightened, his arms falling to his sides. "You're not the first to encounter something unusual in the lake," he said, his tone measured. "But this is… different."

"What do you mean?" Lily asked, leaning forward.

Radwick hesitated, his sharp eyes scanning the room as if searching for the right words. "The Black Lake is old—older than Hogwarts itself. It's seen countless generations of magic, and some of that magic has left its mark. What you encountered… it could be a remnant of something long forgotten. Or something that was never meant to be found."

"Can you help us?" Alex asked.

Radwick's gaze settled on him, piercing and unflinching. "I'll look into it. But you three need to tread carefully. Whatever lies beneath that lake is not to be trifled with."

He paused, his expression hardening. "And for Merlin's sake, don't go back down there without my permission."

Imogen muttered something under her breath, but Alex nodded. "Understood."

Radwick straightened, moving toward one of the shelves and pulling down a thick, leather-bound book. "If I find anything, I'll let you know. Until then, keep your heads down and focus on your studies."

Alex stood, followed by Lily and Imogen. "Thank you, Professor."

Radwick didn't respond, his attention already on the book in his hands.

Aftermath

As they left Radwick's office, the tension that had hung over them began to dissipate, replaced by a tentative sense of relief.

"Well, that could've gone worse," Imogen said, breaking the silence.

"At least he didn't accuse us of making it up," Lily said.

"Radwick doesn't strike me as the type to dismiss something like this," Alex said. "He knows more than he's letting on."

Imogen sighed. "Of course he does. They all do. Professors love their secrets."

As they made their way back toward the Great Hall, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that their encounter with Radwick was only the beginning. The lake's secrets ran deeper than he had imagined, and whatever lay beneath its surface was far from finished with them.

And Alex intended to be ready when it surfaced again.