HARRY POTTER :Rebirth in Time.

The cold, damp air of the Chamber of Secrets clung to Harry's skin as he crouched behind the massive serpent statue, heart pounding in his chest. Hermione and Daphne were pressed against him, their breaths shallow and tense.

From their hiding spot, they could see the hooded figures gathered around the carved runes in the chamber floor. The dim green glow of the serpentine carvings gave the scene an eerie, sinister atmosphere.

"The sacrifice will happen soon," one of the figures whispered, their voice echoing off the damp stone walls. "The bloodline must be honored."

Harry exchanged a glance with Hermione,

- 105 - whose face had gone pale. Bloodline. The meaning of the word sent a shiver down his spine. They weren't just dealing with dark magic; they were dealing with something ancient and deeply rooted in Hogwarts' history.

Daphne leaned closer to Harry and whispered, "We can't stay here for long. If they finish the ritual, it might be too late to stop it."

Harry nodded. He risked another glance around the chamber, counting six figures. Malfoy was among them, his distinctive platinum blonde hair visible under his hood. Beside him stood Blaise Zabini and Pansy Parkinson, while the others remained unrecognizable. But it was the shadowy presence at the head of the group that unnerved Harry the most.

"Is that the same figure you saw in the

- 106 - dungeons?" he murmured to Daphne.

She nodded grimly. "Yeah. Whoever they are, they're the one pulling the strings."

As they watched, the hooded leader raised a wand, and the runes on the floor pulsed with dark energy. The air crackled with power, and Harry felt a sickening tug in his gut.

"We have to go," Hermione whispered urgently. "If they complete this, we may not be able to stop it."

Harry clenched his jaw. "Not yet. We need to hear more. We need to know exactly what they're planning."

The figure in the lead spoke again, their voice

- 107 - laced with authority. "Tomorrow night, under the full moon, we will reclaim what was lost. The blood of a true descendant will awaken the ancient power."

Daphne inhaled sharply. "A descendant… they're targeting someone specific."

Harry's mind raced. "Who would they consider a 'true descendant'? The founders? Pureblood families?"

Hermione's eyes widened in realization. "Harry, they might be after Ginny again. She was involved with the diary before—she's been marked by Slytherin's influence once."

A cold chill swept over Harry. "No," he whispered fiercely. "I won't let them get near her."

- 108 - Before they could react further, one of the figures suddenly stiffened and turned their way. "Did you hear that?"

Harry's stomach dropped. "Run," he whispered, grabbing Hermione and Daphne by the wrists and bolting toward the tunnel entrance.

Hogwarts Corridors – Escape and Revelations

They sprinted through the winding tunnel leading back to the bathroom, their footsteps echoing off the stone. Behind them, voices shouted, spells sizzled through the air, but they didn't dare look back.

Bursting into Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, Harry slammed the sink back into place with a hiss of Parseltongue. They leaned against the

- 109 - cool stone, panting and trying to catch their breath.

Daphne was the first to speak. "We need to warn the others. Now."

Hermione nodded, pressing a hand to her chest. "Tomorrow night… if they're planning to use blood magic, they'll need a descendant of one of the founders or someone connected to them."

Harry's hands curled into fists. "Ginny's in danger. If they even think about touching her—"

"Harry," Hermione said gently, placing a hand on his arm, "we'll protect her. But we have to be smart about this. Rushing in blindly won't help."

Daphne

straightened.

"We

need

more

- 110 - information before we act. We need to know who they think their 'true descendant' is. If it's Ginny, we have to get her out of Hogwarts before it's too late."

Harry nodded. "Right. First thing tomorrow, we talk to Ron and Luna. They need to know."

The Next Morning – The Great Hall

Breakfast in the Great Hall was usually filled with the clinking of plates and the excited chatter of students, but for Harry, Hermione, and Daphne, the atmosphere felt suffocating. They sat at the Gryffindor table, their plates untouched, eyes scanning the crowd for their friends.

Ron arrived, plopping down beside Harry with a grin. "Morning! What's with the serious faces?

- 111 - Planning another one of your grand adventures without me?"

Harry forced a smile. "Ron, we need to talk. Now."

Ron's grin faded as he noticed Harry's tense expression. "What's going on?"

Hermione leaned in. "Ginny might be in danger. We think Malfoy and his group are planning something… and it might involve her."

Ron's face went pale. "What do you mean, 'involve'?"

Harry placed a hand on Ron's shoulder. "We overheard them talking last night in the Chamber of Secrets. They're planning some

- 112 - kind of ritual—something that involves blood magic and a descendant."

Ron looked sick. "Ginny… we have to get her out of here."

Hermione shook her head. "If we pull her out suddenly, they'll know we're onto them. We need a plan. Luna might be able to help—she's good at spotting things others don't."

Daphne nodded. "She's also less likely to raise suspicion. The Ravenclaws won't be on Malfoy's radar."

Ron swallowed hard, his face grim. "All right. But if they so much as breathe near my sister, I swear—"

Harry interrupted. "They won't. We'll stop them."

- 113 - At that moment, Ginny walked past their table, waving briefly at them before sitting with her friends. Harry's stomach twisted in knots—he could see the carefree smile on her face, completely unaware of the looming danger.

"We don't have much time," Hermione whispered. "Tomorrow night is the full moon. Whatever they're planning, it's happening then."

That Evening – Gryffindor Tower

Harry stood by the window in the Gryffindor common room, staring out at the darkening sky. The weight of the world pressed down on him, heavier than ever before.

Daphne joined him, leaning against the frame.

- 114 - "We'll stop them, Harry. You know that, right?"

Harry sighed. "Yeah. But it never gets easier, does it?"

Daphne gave him a wry smile. "No. But you're not alone this time. We're in this together."

He looked at her, grateful for her presence. "Thanks, Daphne."

She smirked. "Don't mention it, Potter. Just try not to get us killed tomorrow."

Harry chuckled, though the weight in his chest remained. "I'll do my best."

As the moon rose higher in the sky, he knew that tomorrow would bring the battle they had been preparing for. And he was

- 115 - ready—because this time, he wouldn't fail.