HARRY POTTER :Rebirth in Time.

Daphne kept her expression carefully neutral as Malfoy's gaze lingered on her. The dimly lit chamber beneath the dungeons pulsed with an unsettling energy, and the ancient runes on the altar before them glowed faintly, whispering of dark magic long forgotten.

"You've made the right choice, Greengrass," Malfoy said, his voice low and smooth, but there was a predatory gleam in his silver eyes that made her skin crawl. "Loyalty to the right cause always pays off."

Daphne offered a small, calculated smirk. "I prefer to be on the winning side, Malfoy. And from what I hear, you've got plans worth hearing."

Pansy Parkinson scoffed from the other side of the altar. "And why should we trust you? You've been cozying up to Potter and his little band of heroes for far too long."

Blaise Zabini, lounging against the stone wall, chuckled darkly. "Relax, Pansy. Daphne knows what's at stake. Don't you, Greengrass?"

Daphne met his gaze evenly, choosing her words with care. "I know enough to see that Potter's days of winning are numbered. But if I'm going to be useful to you, I need to know what you're planning."

Malfoy exchanged a glance with Blaise, and for a moment, Daphne feared she had pushed too hard. But then he smirked, waving his wand toward the altar. The runes pulsed brighter.

"Consider this a preview," Malfoy said, his tone dripping with satisfaction. "We're working with forces that even Dumbledore won't be able to stop. Old magic. Blood magic. Power that has been hidden for centuries beneath this castle."

Daphne feigned interest, stepping closer to the altar as her pulse quickened. "And what exactly are you planning to do with it?"

Malfoy chuckled, and Pansy leaned in with a malicious grin. "We're going to reshape Hogwarts, Greengrass. Take what's ours. And once it starts… not even Potter will be able to stop it."

Daphne's mind raced. She needed to get this information to Harry and Hermione—whatever Malfoy was planning, it wasn't just schoolyard politics anymore. It was something far darker.

Before she could respond, a voice cut through the air.

"Greengrass."

Daphne stiffened as a tall figure emerged from the shadows—a cloaked man whose presence exuded authority and danger. His hood obscured his face, but the aura of dark magic surrounding him was suffocating.

"You have much to prove," the figure said, his voice low and dangerous. "Trust is earned, not given."

Daphne swallowed hard and nodded. "I understand."

Malfoy's smirk widened. "Don't worry, she'll get her chance soon enough."

The cloaked figure lingered for a moment, then vanished into the darkness, leaving Daphne feeling like she had just brushed against something far more sinister than she had anticipated.

Later That Night – Gryffindor Common Room

Daphne slipped through the portrait hole with practiced ease, her heart still pounding from what she had seen. She found Harry and Hermione waiting anxiously by the fireplace, their faces etched with concern.

"You took too long," Harry said, his voice a mix of relief and irritation. "We were starting to think something went wrong."

Daphne sat down heavily, running a hand through her hair. "Something did go wrong. Malfoy's not just playing games anymore—he's working with someone. Someone powerful."

Hermione leaned forward, her eyes wide. "Did you see who it was?"

Daphne shook her head. "No. But whoever they are, they're dangerous. And they're using ancient blood magic. They mentioned reshaping Hogwarts—whatever that means."

Harry's jaw clenched. "We can't let this happen. We need to find out what they're planning and stop them before it's too late."

Hermione frowned, flipping through The Forbidden Doctrines. "Blood magic… it's one of the oldest and most dangerous forms of dark magic. If they're using it, they'll need sacrifices, conduits of magic. Places in the castle that still hold ancient power."

Daphne's eyes darkened. "Like the Chamber of Secrets."

Harry exhaled sharply. "That's where we start, then. We'll go down there and see if they've already started their preparations."

Hermione hesitated. "The entrance is still in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. If they've been using it, there might be signs—residual magic, disturbances."

Daphne stood, her expression set. "Then let's not waste time. We don't know how long we have."

Harry nodded, determination hardening his features. "Tomorrow night. We go in prepared."

The Next Night – The Chamber of Secrets

Under the cover of darkness, the trio moved swiftly through the empty halls of Hogwarts, their footsteps echoing eerily against the stone walls. Harry led the way, his wand gripped tightly in his hand, while Daphne and Hermione followed closely behind.

The bathroom was deserted, save for the ever-present wails of Moaning Myrtle.

"Oh, it's you again," Myrtle sniffled when she spotted Harry. "Come to have another adventure, have you?"

"We don't have time, Myrtle," Harry said, approaching the sink with the snake engraving. He spoke in Parseltongue, and the sink slid away, revealing the dark tunnel leading down to the chamber below.

Taking a deep breath, he led the way, sliding down the chute into the cavernous depths. The air was thick with the scent of damp stone and something far more sinister.

As they entered the Chamber of Secrets, the sight of the towering serpent statues sent shivers down their spines. The atmosphere felt charged with dark energy.

Hermione knelt, running her fingers over the damp floor. "There's been recent activity here," she said. "The magic is still lingering."

Harry's gaze swept the chamber. "Stay alert. We don't know what we're dealing with."

Daphne stepped forward, her wand light casting long shadows. "Look," she said, pointing to the far end of the chamber.

Carved into the stone floor was a series of runes, identical to those she had seen in the dungeons. Hermione's face paled. "This is blood magic preparation. They're getting ready for something big."

Suddenly, a noise echoed through the chamber—footsteps.

"Hide!" Harry hissed, and they scrambled behind the massive snake statue.

Through the shadows, they watched as a group of hooded figures entered the chamber, their voices hushed but urgent.

"We're almost ready," one of them said. "The sacrifice will happen soon. The Dark Lord's will shall be fulfilled."

Harry's blood ran cold. "They're planning a sacrifice?"

Hermione looked terrified. "We have to stop this."

Daphne grabbed Harry's arm. "Not yet. If they see us, we're dead. We need a plan."

Harry clenched his fists, his mind racing. The battle ahead was growing darker by the moment, and time was running out.