Forsaken Bloodlines {HP x GOT}

Chapter 2.13: The Chamber of Secrets

Harry led Lyanna, Ron, and Lockhart down a narrow passageway to the right. As they turned the corner, they entered a cavernous room with a massive, lengthy snakeskin lying ominously on the floor.

Harry walked alongside the snakeskin, his eyes widening. "What's this?"

Lockhart, visibly nervous, tried to keep his composure. "It looks like a... snake."

Lyanna, examining the texture of the skin, corrected him. "It's a snakeskin."

Ron looked at the length of it and gasped. "Bloody hell. Whatever shed this must be sixty feet long. Or more."

At that moment, Lockhart fainted from fear, collapsing onto the ground. Ron gave a sarcastic glance at Harry, who turned his attention to Lockhart. "Heart of a lion, this one."

Suddenly, Lockhart sprang up, snatching Ron's wand. Breathing heavily, he pointed it at Harry with a wicked smile. "The adventure ends here, boys. But don't fret. The world will know our story. How I was too late to save the girl, how you two tragically lost your minds at the sight of her mangled body. So..." He aimed the wand at Harry again. "...you first, Mr. Potter. Say good-bye to your memories." He waved the wand wildly and shouted, "Obliviate!"

The wand emitted a green light, sending Lockhart flying backwards into the wall, and he fell to the floor unconscious. The spell's impact caused the ceiling to rumble and rocks to begin falling. Harry and Lyanna took cover as huge rocks flew overhead. Ron backed up against the wall as the rocks formed a massive pile, blocking their path.

Ron coughed from the dust. "Harry! Lyanna!"

Harry and Lyanna ran to an opening in the pile of rocks separating them from Ron. "Ron! Ron, are you okay?"

Ron shouted back, "I'm fine!"

Lockhart groaned and sat up, clearly dazed. "Hello. Who are you?"

Ron turned to him, realization dawning. "Um... Ron Weasley."

Lockhart, bewildered, asked, "Really? And, uh... who-who am I?"

Ron turned back to Harry. "Lockhart's memory charm backfired! He hasn't got a clue who he is!"

Lockhart picked up a small rock, examining it with childlike curiosity. "It's an odd sort of place this is, isn't it?" He tossed the rock in his hand and glanced at Ron. "Do you live here?"

Ron took the rock from Lockhart. "No."

Lockhart's confusion persisted. "Really?"

Annoyed, Ron smacked Lockhart on the back of the head with the rock, knocking him out cold. Harry winked at Ron, who gave a slight nod.

"What do I do now?" Ron asked, looking through the opening again.

Harry instructed him, "You wait here and try to shift some of this rock so we can get back through. We'll go on and find Ginny."

Ron nodded as Lyanna and Harry climbed down from the pile of rocks. "Okay."

Harry and Lyanna drew their wands as they stepped onto the floor and moved forward. Up ahead, they saw a circular door with seven snake-shaped locks. They approached it cautiously.

Harry spoke in Parseltongue again. "Hesha-Hassah." (Open.)

An eighth snake slithered out from the door's mechanical hinge, moving along the door's edge. One by one, the seven snakes retracted. As the final snake slithered back into the hinge, the door slowly opened, revealing the Chamber of Secrets beyond. They stepped through the door, ready for whatever awaited them.

The Chamber was vast, its air thick with an ancient, oppressive presence. They moved forward cautiously, their wands raised, determined to find Ginny and confront the horrors that lay within.