He returned as steady as the Mountain Wind

Chapter 12: "Entrance into the Chamber of Secrets"

"As soon as you seen movement, close your ees." Harry said as they prepared to spread out into the surrounding tunnel systems. "Snakes have a good sense of hearing and smell, with the echoes its hearing shouldn't be a problem, but I have absolutely no idea how to hide from its sense of smell. So stay together. Created some noise to confuse it. And keep your eyes closed." He repeated at the end. Once more he had to hope. Hope that this bout of Gryffindor courage – more like insanity, but whatever – wouldn't get them killed.

Surprisingly, the tunnels were pretty linear. Little to no pathways led away from the main tunnel. But they were on the right way. Slowly the sewage pipes became older, tiles missed from the walls, until they stopped altogether. They wandered through a barren stone tunnel, akin to a mine drift. The skeletons of the Basilisks victims slowly became bigger. They were now in a part of the tunnel system that had already existed when the Founders' Heirs were still openly at Hogwarts. For a short moment Harry wished Hermione were with them. She would have enjoyed mapping the tunnels and noting down every crook and nanny of the path system.

Lost in thought, Harry almost stumbled over the end of the tunnel. The smooth stone of the shaft had opened into a natural cave. They had to be miles beneath the school.

He felt the twins at his back. Reassured, he moved further into the cave, the bones in this part of the underground tunnels had long since been scattered into the many rifts in the ground. The cave in general gave a rather instable impression. He heard Blaise gasp and that was all he could realize before the twins pressed their hands across his face. Angrily, he fought them off, when his foot knocked against something.

The skin was massive. And in the shadows of the cave, no one could be blamed for thinking it was the actual basilisk. Curiously, he followed the shed scales, carefully watching his step. He heard Regulus give a squeak – "Something just touched my arm!" – before the young Black was already next to him. Harry couldn't blame him. He was quite terrified as well and if he was honest with himself he would be clinging to Regulus right now. Or to Blaise. Or the twins. Anyone, really. So, he ignored the advantage of having both hands free and grabbed Regulus' hand. For both their comfort.

"The adventure ends here boys!" Lockhart yelled all of a sudden, holding out Regulus' wand, "But don't fret. The world will know our story."

Harry saw the twins pulling Blaise behind them. George had his wand at the ready.

As Harry urged Regulus further away, Lockhart continued: "How I was too late to save the girl," He pointed the wand towards Fred, "and how you lot tragically lost your minds at the sight of her mangled body." Harry saw the twins turn pale at the mental image. Lockhart smirked. Then he turned towards Harry and Regulus. "Now first the ring leader. Say goodbye to your memories, Mr Emrys-LeFay."

"Obliviate!"

A yell.

A thud.

And then a rumbling from above, the sides and below.

Without thinking, Harry turned, pulled Regulus close to him and threw them both forwards, away from Lockhart and the others. Behind them he felt, rather than heard the cavern ceiling give in. He threw up a shielding spell as the debris tumbled around them.

When the dust finally cleared, the two Slytherins got up, climbing to rocks towards the voices of their worried friends. "Are you alright?" yelled Blaise. The incubus had been oddly subdued after they had entered the tunnels – he had been just as terrified as the rest of them, Harry thought.

"We're fine. What about you guys?" Regulus yelled.

"The memory charm backfired. Reg's personality wand didn't take kindly to being pointed against its owner. Lockhart completely barmy." One of the twins yelled. Through the rocks Harry couldn't tell which one, "Otherwise we're fine."