Enchanted Chaos (Mattheo Riddle)

Chapter 17: Into the Unknown

The passage ahead was dark and uninviting, its stone walls slick with moisture and ancient magic that seemed to pulse with every breath. Y/n could feel the weight of the hidden room's secrets pressing down on her, as if the very air was heavy with the knowledge they had uncovered. Mattheo's hand was firm in hers, a steadying presence in the midst of the uncertainty.

"This place gives me the creeps," Blaise muttered, his voice echoing off the walls as they ventured deeper into the unknown.

"Tell me about it," Pansy replied, her eyes darting around as if expecting something to jump out at them. "It's like the castle's alive or something."

"It probably is," Theo said dryly, though there was a hint of nervousness in his tone. "Wouldn't be the first time Hogwarts pulled something like this."

Mattheo led the way, his wand lit to cast a faint glow that barely pierced the darkness. Y/n stayed close, her senses on high alert. Every shadow seemed to move, every whisper of wind carried an unspoken threat.

"How much farther do you think it goes?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

"No idea," Mattheo replied, glancing back at her. "But we'll find out soon enough."

As they continued, the passage began to widen, the walls shifting as if alive, revealing a massive chamber ahead. The air grew colder, and the sound of dripping water echoed through the space.

"Okay, this is officially freaky," Draco said, his usually calm demeanor cracking just a bit. "What the hell is this place?"

"It's like a whole other part of the castle," Pansy observed, her voice tinged with awe and fear. "A hidden one. We must be deep under Hogwarts by now."

The chamber was unlike anything they'd seen before. Ancient runes covered the walls, glowing faintly with an eerie light. At the center of the room was a stone pedestal, upon which rested an old, weathered book bound in dark leather.

"This has to be it," Mattheo said, his eyes narrowing as he approached the pedestal. "The source of all this madness."

"Wait," Y/n said, grabbing his arm. "What if it's another trap?"

Mattheo hesitated, glancing at the book.

"It might be. But we can't stop now. We need to know what this is all about."

The group exchanged uncertain looks, but no one spoke up to stop him. Slowly, Mattheo reached out and touched the book. The moment his fingers brushed the leather, the chamber shuddered, and the runes on the walls flared to life, casting the room in a sinister red glow.

"Shit!" Blaise cursed, drawing his wand as the ground beneath them began to tremble.

"Get ready!" Pansy shouted, her wand already at the ready.

Before anyone could react, the book flew open, its pages flipping wildly as if possessed. A voice, ancient and powerful, echoed through the chamber, speaking in a language none of them could understand.

"The hell is that?" Theo demanded, backing away as the voice grew louder, more menacing.

"It's the book!" Mattheo yelled over the noise. "It's trying to summon something!"

"Well, that's just fucking great!" Draco shouted, his face pale as he tried to steady himself.

Without warning, the room went still, the air thick with anticipation. Then, from the pages of the book, a dark mist began to rise, swirling around them like a storm.