"He will return! As long as there are those who believe in him!"
Harry's unwavering voice rang out, accompanied by a haunting melody and crisp bird calls echoing from the direction of the Chamber of Secrets entrance.
Harry and Ron turned their heads toward the sound, missing the fleeting, knowing smile that flickered briefly in the man's eyes. But Hermione noticed it — that familiar, chilling look.
Meeting her gaze, the man, known to all as Voldemort, fixed his eyes on Hermione. Their stare held for two tense seconds, Hermione's expression gradually hardening with quiet menace.
Then, without warning, the man raised an index finger to his lips, tilted his head slightly, and winked with a mischievous glint.
Rather than surprise Hermione, this rare playfulness from the legendary Dark Lord only earned a faint pout from her as she turned back to where the sound had come from.
There, perched in the gloom of the Chamber of Secrets, was a magnificent bird—its feathers a blazing red like burning embers. It let out a clear, melodious call, then danced through the air, singing a wondrous tune from its beak. Its long tail feathers, reminiscent of a peacock's, shimmered brilliantly, casting faint light in the dark chamber.
With a graceful sweep of its wings, the bird arced through the dome before dropping a dark object toward Harry .
Harry caught it deftly, lowering his head to examine the item — an old, worn hat.
"The Sorting Hat?!" Ron exclaimed.
"Heh," the man sneered with disdain. "A bird and a tattered hat? Is that all Dumbledore's allies can muster?"
Harry flipped the Sorting Hat over carefully, searching for hidden enchantments or concealed weapons, but found only an ancient, battered hat, worn by time.
"That's better than you!" Ron retorted, stepping forward to shield Harry .
"You're nothing but Harry's defeated shadow—a lonely ghost sustained only by a broken diary!" Ron spat, voice trembling but fierce. "At least we're still alive, and we can wear the hat! And there's a bird too!"
Hermione, standing behind Ron, touched her forehead in exasperation. This felt like a childish quarrel between schoolboys. Typical Ron.
The man's face darkened, a mixture of anger and forced amusement crossing his features.
"You're still alive? For now, yes."
He gestured sharply to his side. From the darkness came a grinding sound—stones crumbling and shifting.
"Though the Basilisk's eyes have been blinded, robbed of its deadly gaze, it remains a deadly predator—easy prey for you all."
Before Harry and Ron could react, a deafening roar echoed behind them.
They spun around just in time to see the massive snake lunging forward with jaws wide open.
"Move!" Hermione shouted, pushing them aside and leaping away herself.
The Basilisk crashed into the spot where Harry and Ron had stood, sending dirt and stone flying.
The great serpent's tail lashed violently, cracking the chamber floor as Voldemort vanished without a trace.
Harry's eyes darted to the Basilisk's blind eyes—they were scarred and bloodied, clearly burned by some powerful spell.
"It really was blinded…" Harry murmured.
Ron covered his mouth, understanding immediately.
But it was too late.
The Basilisk suddenly ceased its rage, lifting its massive head and tilting it as if listening closely.
The three of them froze, lips sealed.
Then, a cold, familiar voice rang out behind Harry:
"Kill Harry Potter !"
Harry whirled around, but the space behind him was empty.
The Basilisk had found its target. Its enormous body coiled and shot forward.
Despite its size, the serpent's movements were surprisingly swift but slightly clumsy, allowing Harry to dodge narrowly.
Yet his hurried steps gave him away, and the Basilisk lunged again.
Harry darted desperately around the chamber.
"You monster! Go to hell!"
Ron, without hesitation, grabbed a chunk of broken stone and hurled it at the Basilisk's head.
The stone struck the eye area, making the serpent recoil with a furious roar.
Ron's face fell, but he didn't hesitate—he turned and ran.
The Basilisk lunged after him.
"You're a wizard! Use your wand!" Hermione screamed, pulling out her wand.
"Incendio!"
A blazing wall of fire erupted, blocking the Basilisk's path.
Though blinded, the serpent recoiled from the heat, shrinking back before lunging at Hermione herself.
Hermione didn't flee. She cast swiftly:
"Impedimenta!"
A golden chain shot from her wand and wrapped tightly around the Basilisk's massive neck.
The serpent flexed its strength and shattered the chain effortlessly—magic dissipating into thin air.
But the chain slowed it just enough for Hermione to evade.
Harry and Ron reacted quickly:
"Avifors!"
Small birds appeared from thin air, circling and then flying directly at the serpent's head.
The birds struck, distracting the Basilisk, which snapped angrily at them before lunging at Harry once again.
"I'm helping too!"
Ron raised his wand.
"Impedimenta!"
But Ron's wand was broken in half, held together crudely by tape.
Luck was on his side; the spell cast successfully—though it landed at Harry's feet.
Harry tripped over the conjured magical effect, falling to the ground just as the Basilisk's jaws snapped shut above him.
"Harry!" Ron's voice cracked with panic.
Harry's heart pounded fiercely, breath caught in his throat, but his hand scrabbled desperately on the floor—reaching, grasping, fighting to survive.
Clang!
Something fell from the Sorting Hat Harry still held. Without hesitation, he grabbed it and thrust it into the open jaws of the serpent.
Thud!