The Serpent Prince

Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Unveiling the Past



The days following their meeting with Professor Radwick passed with an uneasy stillness. The trio resumed their usual routines, attending classes and navigating the daily chaos of Hogwarts, but the weight of their discovery hung heavily over them.

Alex, ever composed, found his thoughts returning to the runes and the faint hum of the lake more often than he cared to admit. Imogen's sharp remarks had grown shorter, more biting, while Lily, though still curious and driven, had become unusually quiet.

Whatever they had awoken in the depths, it had left its mark on all of them.

A Message from Radwick

It was during a rare quiet evening in the Slytherin common room that Alex received the summons. A small, enchanted raven flew through the high window, its feathers shimmering faintly in the greenish light of the lake. It landed on the arm of his chair, tilting its head as it extended a claw holding a folded piece of parchment.

Alex took the note, his fingers brushing against the cool surface of the bird's claw before it dissolved into a wisp of smoke. Unfolding the parchment, he read:

Lorian,

I have found something. Come to my office. Bring only those who were with you that night.

Radwick

Alex folded the note and slipped it into his pocket. Rising, he crossed the common room to where Imogen was sprawled in a chair, her head tilted back as she stared at the ceiling.

"We're needed," Alex said quietly.

Imogen sat up, her expression sharpening. "Radwick?"

Alex nodded. "Find Lily. I'll meet you both outside his office."

Lily was waiting for them by the time Alex and Imogen arrived at Radwick's door. She leaned against the wall, her arms crossed, her face shadowed by the dim torchlight.

"He didn't say much in the note," Alex said as they approached. "But whatever it is, it's important."

Lily pushed off the wall, her brown eyes glinting with curiosity and unease. "Then let's find out."

Alex knocked twice, the sound heavy in the still corridor.

"Enter," Radwick's voice called from within.

The Findings

Radwick's office was dimly lit, the only light coming from a cluster of floating orbs that hovered above his desk. The professor stood behind it, several large tomes spread out before him, their pages filled with faded runes and intricate diagrams.

"Close the door," he said without looking up.

Alex complied, stepping inside with Lily and Imogen close behind. Radwick gestured for them to sit, his sharp gaze flicking briefly to each of them before returning to the book in front of him.

"I've been searching through the archives," Radwick began, his voice low but steady. "Cross-referencing what you described with accounts from Hogwarts' history and beyond. What I found is… concerning."

He turned one of the books toward them, revealing a faded illustration of a massive, serpentine creature coiled beneath a body of water. Its eyes glowed faintly, and its body was surrounded by strange, flowing runes that matched the ones Alex had seen in the lake.

"This," Radwick said, tapping the page, "is what some texts refer to as the Somniorum Leviathan—the Dreamer's Leviathan. A creature of immense magical power, said to have been bound beneath the Black Lake centuries ago by an ancient circle of wizards."

"Bound?" Lily repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

Radwick nodded. "The runes you described—those were its bindings. They're meant to keep it dormant, to prevent it from waking."

"And we disturbed them," Alex said, his tone even.

"You did," Radwick confirmed, his expression grim. "Though it's unlikely the creature is fully awake yet. The bindings are powerful, but they're not indestructible. If the runes continue to weaken…"

He let the sentence hang in the air, the implication clear.

Imogen leaned forward, her brow furrowed. "Why bind it in the first place? What's it capable of?"

Radwick's gaze darkened. "The Leviathan feeds on magic—absorbs it, amplifies it, twists it. In its presence, spells become unpredictable, unstable. If it were to awaken fully, its influence could spread far beyond the lake, potentially destabilizing the magical balance of the entire region."

"So, what do we do?" Alex asked, his silver eyes locked on Radwick.

"For now, nothing," Radwick said. "The bindings are still intact, though they've weakened. I'll need time to investigate further, to determine if there's a way to reinforce them without disturbing the creature further."

"And if we can't?" Imogen asked, her voice unusually quiet.

Radwick's expression didn't falter. "Then we'll have to find another way to contain it. But until I know more, you are not to approach the lake again. Understood?"

Alex nodded. "Understood."

Lily hesitated before speaking. "Professor… why haven't we heard of this before? Surely something this dangerous would be documented more widely."

Radwick's lips pressed into a thin line. "Because some secrets are kept for a reason. The Leviathan's existence has been buried in obscurity, its name erased from most records. Even the merfolk only speak of it in whispers."

"Why?" Imogen asked.

"To protect Hogwarts," Radwick said simply.

Tension in the Ranks

The walk back to the common room was quiet at first. The trio moved through the corridors like shadows, their footsteps echoing faintly in the silence.

It wasn't until they reached the staircase leading to the dungeons that Imogen broke the silence.

"So, we've possibly unleashed a magic-eating monster that could destroy the school. Great job, team."

Lily frowned, her brow furrowing. "We didn't unleash it. We found it. There's a difference."

"Tell that to the Leviathan," Imogen snapped.

"Enough," Alex said, his voice calm but firm.

Imogen turned to him, her gray eyes flashing. "Don't tell me you're not worried about this, Lorian. You're the one who insisted we investigate the lake in the first place."

"I am worried," Alex said evenly. "But blaming each other won't solve anything."

Imogen exhaled sharply, her shoulders slumping. "Fine. But we're in over our heads, Alex. You know that, right?"

"I do," Alex admitted. "But we'll figure it out. Together."

Imogen gave him a skeptical look but said nothing more.

A Private Conversation

Later that night, Alex found himself back by the common room fire, his thoughts churning as he stared into the green flames. The room was quiet, most of the other students having gone to bed.

"You look like you're carrying the weight of the world."

Alex glanced up to see Lily approaching, her Gryffindor tie loosened and her curls slightly tousled. She sank into the chair across from him, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity.

"I suppose I am," Alex said, his tone light but his eyes serious.

Lily tilted her head, studying him. "Do you always take everything on yourself?"

"I find it's easier that way," Alex said.

"That's not sustainable," Lily said, her voice soft but firm.

Alex smirked faintly. "And what do you suggest?"

"Let people in," she said simply. "Trust that they'll have your back."

Alex's smirk faded, his expression growing thoughtful. "It's not always that simple."

"It is if you let it be," Lily said, leaning forward slightly. "We're in this together, Alex. Whatever happens, you don't have to face it alone."

For a moment, Alex said nothing, the flickering light of the fire casting shadows across his face.

"Thank you," he said finally, his voice quiet but sincere.

Lily smiled, her eyes warm. "Anytime."

As the fire crackled softly between them, Alex felt a flicker of hope—a fragile but undeniable sense that, despite the dangers ahead, they might just stand a chance.

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