The Chamber of Secrets was vast. It never ceased to amaze Adrian every time just how far his echoing footsteps rang. Interspersed with the occasional hollow drip, humidity seeping through his cloak until it chilled his skin.
Despite the eerie atmosphere, Adrian walked over the expanse with no worry. He halted his steps, peering at a few of the stone statues of various serpents curiously. He hadn't ever investigated the statues; the craftsmanship was impressive.
"Adalonda!" Adrian called out cheerfully, his hisses reverberating like hundreds of whispers. "I've returned!"
"Great serpent!" Lutain crowed in turn, flicking his tongue wildly in the musty air. Despite the location and the cold, Lutain always looked happiest in the chamber.
The tunnels and clearing remained empty, dark and thrumming silently with pulses of something ancient. Adalonda was clearly not there, which was somewhat a disappointment.
Adrian frowned, allowing his disappointment to bubble obviously as his lip twitched into something of a pout. He wanted to talk to the serpent, especially since it had been so long since he had seen her last.
Realistically it was foolish to assume she stayed in the Chamber of Secrets all the time, especially with how the tunnels opened to the Forbidden Forest or even further. It was childish of him to assume and be annoyed when she didn't come at his single beckon.
"Ah well," Adrian sighed, trying to dispel his frustration as he looked at the box in his hands, rattling slightly in his grip. The box was a recycled one which had held a pack of Pumpkin Pastries, although the squeaking inside signified there was certainly no sweets in it anymore.
The box Adrian was holding squeaked incessantly.
Lutain scoffed sourly when the giant basilisk failed to appear, although he seemed to be in calmer spirits.
"Set down rat and practice." Lutain sulked, although the two of them had agreed on the plan prior to venturing down.
Adrian did so, setting the spare box on the cold ground and lifting the lid to remove the sticking charm.
Immediately a large rat sprang out and darted across the floor, pausing a few feet away with one leg in a puddle and his nose twitching incessantly.
"Shift back," Adrian ordered with a small frown, twisting and incantating a light charm, allowing the peals of sunlight to permeate the vaporous mist in the shadowed corners.
The rat squealed, scrabbling across the ground as it could see so much better. Its scaly tail, completely unlike Lutain's, thrashed across the ground.
Adrian felt the prickle of annoyance as he pointed his wand at the rat; it froze.
"Change back or I will force you, Wormtail." Adrian seethed between clenched teeth.
"Should have just bit him," Lutain sighed wistfully.
The rat's flesh bubbled, morphing and twisting before it exploded outwards and began to reform. It was by no means attractive, and quite horrendous. Adrian had seen Sirius Black shift into his dog form once or twice, the movement for that was smooth and almost mystifying to watch. Even James Potter seemed to leap into his transformation, not having any unsettling midway.
Wormtail was a hunkered mass of distorted skin and gory details, something Adrian wrinkled his nose at. The man whimpered, it was testament to the hideous visage that Adrian could not tell if the whimper was from pain or fear.
Wormtail curled down on himself, anxiously lifting his gnarled fingers towards his mouth. His fingernails were brittle and shattered.
"Wormtail," Adrian smiled thinly, "This is the Chamber of Secrets."
The man's eyes widened in horror as he began to choke out stuttered sounds. Adrian ignored them.
"You'll be staying here, as part of my orders. You won't be detected by the school wards here, not to mention there is plenty of room."
"Tell him about Adalonda!" Lutain hissed excitedly, lounging about contently.
"Of course, do not bother the basilisk and you'll get along swimmingly."
"Basilisk?" The cowering man shrieked, eyes bulging obscenely, "You- you're leaving me here with a basilisk?"
"Oh, I'm sorry my father's accommodations for you aren't gilded in gold and ivory." Adrian snapped out, feeling a primal sense of satisfaction when Wormtail paled and flinched at the idea, "Obviously, if you teach me the transformation faster, the sooner you'll be out of here."
Wormtail pawed his fingers, folding them over and over as if to soothe himself.
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