"!" Harry jolted awake with a violent start, his body shooting upright as if struck by lightning.
He sat there gasping heavily, cold sweat beading on his forehead as his heart hammered against his ribs. Around him stretched an eerie silence that made his skin crawl. He couldn't locate the owner of that ethereal voice that had pulled him from unconsciousness.
Only scattered bodies lay motionless around him, silent as tombstones in an ancient graveyard. The sight made every hair on Harry's body stand on end, his spine turning to ice!
What exactly happened here? What evil force attacked them all?
Could it be Voldemort striking again?
Outside the tall windows, pitch blackness pressed against the glass. But this wasn't natural darkness illuminated by moonlight. This was pure, writhing blackness that seemed almost alive, as if the entire castle of Hogwarts had been swallowed into the belly of some indescribable creature.
"Ron, Hermione!" Harry called urgently, scrambling across the stone floor to reach his friends. He slapped Ron twice across his pale cheeks with sharp cracks that echoed in the silence.
After confirming they were merely unconscious, breathing steadily in what appeared to be deep, peaceful sleep, Harry released a shuddering sigh of relief.
Just then, he noticed something clutched tightly in Hermione's fist. A crumpled piece of parchment, as if hastily scrawled before she lost consciousness. A quill pen lay fallen beside her outstretched hand, its tip still wet with ink.
Harry carefully pried the note from her fingers and read aloud with growing amazement: "Third floor girls' bathroom, Chamber, snake...?!"
The third-floor girls' bathroom is the entrance to the Chamber?! That haunted bathroom with the crying ghost Myrtle!
Instantly, all the scattered clues clicked together like puzzle pieces finding their proper places. Fifty years ago, when Hagrid had been framed as the Chamber opener, the student who died during that incident was Myrtle herself!
"You want me to go to the Chamber, don't you, Hermione?" Harry pressed his lips together, gripping the note until his knuckles went white.
He didn't understand why he alone had awakened from this supernatural slumber. Perhaps the unwanted "Saviour" title that had been thrust upon him was finally proving useful.
But Harry vividly remembered how his fellow students had ostracized and targeted him after he revealed his Parseltongue abilities. Even his parents' heroic sacrifice protecting him from Voldemort had been twisted into something sinister by suspicious minds!
Yet asking him to risk his life to save these very people who had turned against him...
Harry didn't hesitate for even a heartbeat. He turned toward the Chamber with determined steps!
Even if misunderstood, even if slandered and accused, he would never allow himself to cower when confronting pure evil!
Harry's emerald eyes blazed with determination and courage that would have made his parents proud. His footsteps echoed through the empty corridors with urgent purpose.
He failed to notice a slender figure slip silently from the shadows behind him, moving with the fluid grace of a hunting cat.
"'Little Lion' has departed for the Chamber, over." Luna whispered into a smooth communication stone held delicately in her palm.
The magical device hummed softly with short-range enchantments. Her dreamy blue eyes tracked Harry's disappearing form around the corner, completely unaware of her surveillance.
Everything is proceeding exactly according to Ethan's plan, she thought with satisfaction.
Chamber of Secrets
"Received, well done, Luna." Ethan spoke into his matching communication stone, his lips curving in anticipation.
It had been his idea to have Luna wake Harry at precisely the right moment. How could any perfect finale lack the classic hero-versus-demon-lord confrontation that audiences craved?
"I'll use an intense battle with the legendary Saviour to announce 'my' existence to the entire wizarding world," Ethan murmured with barely contained excitement, his cobalt-blue eyes sparkling like stars. "Show them exactly who orchestrated this grand performance from the very beginning!"
"Hiss..." The original basilisk slithered slowly to Ethan's side with serpentine grace.
Following his earlier commands, the ancient creature obediently closed its deadly eyes, lowered its massive head, and allowed him to drape the gossamer-white veil across its features.
When it reopened those eyes, the formerly lethal orange-yellow pupils would no longer pose any threat to human observers.
Ethan nodded with deep satisfaction, admiring his handiwork. "The goddess's skirt really does have many practical applications..."
Just then, the manhole-cover-like gate behind them rang with the metallic clanging of ancient mechanisms activating.
Here we go. Ethan's eyes lit up with theatrical anticipation.
He withdrew a bottle of Malfoy family special ageing potion from within his robes and gulped the contents down in one swift motion.
"Whew!" Ethan grimaced at the taste, taking deep breaths as the potion's effects took hold.
Like swallowing a ball of concentrated fire, scorching heat slid down his throat and ignited his internal organs with magical transformation.
"Crack, crack." Ethan watched in fascination as his field of vision continuously rose higher.
His limbs stretched and lengthened with audible pops, even his pants becoming uncomfortably tight around his newly expanded frame.
Ethan looked down at his reflection in a nearby puddle of Chamber water, and his heart jumped with pleasant shock.
Merlin's beard! I'm devastatingly handsome!
He touched his transformed face with wondering fingers, hardly believing that appearing in public with these features would drive every girl in the school to distraction!
"Sigh, I'm such a sinful man. Hehe~" Ethan couldn't help grinning with shameless self-satisfaction.
That handsome, dignified face immediately transformed to resemble a wealthy landlord's foolish son.
"Creak..." The gate's opening mechanism rang out with finality.
Ethan collected his scattered thoughts, donning a pure white mask with no decorative elements. Turning toward the entrance with dramatic flair.
Sure enough, he spotted Harry's familiar figure cautiously entering the Chamber.
At this moment, Harry seemed to understand the basilisk's deadly characteristics. He was squinting severely, one hand extended before him as he groped forward like someone navigating in complete darkness.
Ethan thought with mild embarrassment: Did I look equally ridiculous back then? Thank goodness the only witness has become a commemorative painting.
"Ahem." Ethan cleared his throat softly, the sound carrying clearly through the vast space to capture blind Harry's attention.
Seeing Harry jolt in alarm and immediately squeeze his eyes shut even tighter, Ethan couldn't suppress a slight smile of amusement.
When he spoke, his voice emerged as deep and elegant as aged red wine: "Harry Potter, open your eyes. I've been waiting for you for quite some time."
Harry cautiously and carefully opened his eyes in gradual increments, his heart pounding like thunder in his ears. Something about that voice carried subtle familiarity, but he couldn't place where he'd heard it before.
Through the dim lighting, he saw a tall figure standing within eerie green mist between stone pillars carved with serpentine forms on both sides.
The towering columns cast strange, writhing shadows across the mysterious man, as if he had become countless monsters merged into one. Or perhaps, he was indeed the master commanding countless monsters.
The masked figure observed Harry through that featureless white facade, making Harry inexplicably break out in goosebumps as every hair stood on end.
Beside this enigmatic man, a massive serpent flicked its forked tongue with predatory interest, fierce yet swaying obediently like a well-trained pet. Its pupils wore a layer of white gauze that blocked the deadly curse.
Harry swallowed hard, gathering his Gryffindor courage to shout: "You... did you open the Chamber? Who exactly are you!"
"Oh, please allow me to introduce myself properly, Mr. Harry Potter." The masked man spoke with elegant but somewhat theatrical pronunciation:
"My name is Mr Lamp. You may address me as [Mr Lamp]."
With this declaration, he swept one hand from mid-air to his chest in an elaborate bow that belonged on a stage before countless admiring eyes rather than in this cold, ancient chamber.
...What a complete show-off.
Harry cursed internally while simultaneously feeling overwhelming relief.
Thank Merlin it's not Ethan.
Harry couldn't imagine the devastating emotional breakdown he'd experience if he'd mentally prepared himself for this confrontation all the way to the Chamber, only to see Ethan's familiar face smiling and cheerfully saying, "Surprise~"
Not being Ethan is truly wonderful. Indeed, Ethan still retains his humanity deep down.
Harry thought with genuine gratitude and relief.
Just then, Harry also recalled where he'd heard the title [Mr Lamp]. Wasn't he the infamous figure who'd made the Daily Prophet's front page for ruthlessly slaughtering an entire company of Dark Wizards in Knockturn Alley?!
The newspaper report had described him as [Extremely Dangerous]. If encountered, immediately Apparate to safety. Can't Apparate? Then you can only pray Merlin opens his eyes and shows mercy.
Why would this notorious [Mr Lamp] appear here? And why is he the one who opened Slytherin's Chamber?
Harry felt completely bewildered by this unexpected development.
Across from him, seeing Harry's puzzled yet wary, completely unfamiliar gaze, Ethan struggled mightily not to burst into hysterical laughter on the spot.
He spoke with gentle menace: "Don't be nervous, dear boy. I merely intend to destroy Hogwarts completely and claim your life."
Harry's throat constricted. "..."
This familiar speaking style that delivered death threats as casually as discussing the weather reminded him strongly of a certain someone.
Must be my imagination...
"As long as I can obliterate the world-renowned Hogwarts and nail the symbol of the wizarding world's future, the legendary Saviour, to a cross for all to witness..."
Ethan began pacing with leisurely confidence; though these were carefully rehearsed lines, delivering them now felt remarkably smooth and natural.
Seems I possess genuine acting talent.
Ethan suddenly whirled around, spreading his arms wide in a gesture of supreme theatrical triumph: "This way, my name and the title [Mr Lamp] will surely resound throughout the entire world!"
His voice echoed thunderously through the spacious chamber, bouncing off ancient stones with dramatic effect.
Harry stared in pure shock. All this destruction and terror merely to make his name famous worldwide? Though he appears more human than Voldemort ever did, his extremism surpasses even the Dark Lord himself!
"I absolutely won't let you succeed!" Harry gritted his teeth, his voice trembling with righteous fury.
Hogwarts was his true home; his dearest friends were all sheltered within its walls. And Ethan was there too.
Ethan, who had trusted him unconditionally, kind and tolerant as the best sort of elder brother! Though his thinking could be peculiar, he'd welcomed Harry into the Morning Star Club, providing tremendous support and encouragement when everyone else had turned away!
How could I possibly allow this madman to destroy everything precious?
Harry's emerald eyes blazed with fighting spirit that could have melted steel.
Just then... "Chirp!" A magnificent cry accompanied by brilliant firelight filled the Chamber!
It was Headmaster Dumbledore's phoenix, Fawkes! The legendary bird dropped something heavy onto Harry's head before attempting to attack the basilisk's eyes.
It pecked twice with determined fury but discovered it couldn't penetrate that seemingly delicate white veil. Instead, its golden beak ached from the futile impacts.
The phoenix tilted its head in confusion. Nobody mentioned there would be protective armour.
Ethan watched Harry's frantic scrambling and laughed with villainous glee: "Haha! The assistance you received amounts to nothing but a worn old hat? How utterly ridiculous!"
Hiss... saying classic villain lines feels surprisingly satisfying. What's wrong with me?
Harry frantically grabbed the Sorting Hat when something heavy tumbled from its depths, striking his skull with a sharp crack.
Looking down through watering eyes, he discovered a gleaming silver sword with a hilt set with a magnificent ruby that caught the Chamber's eerie light.
Harry gripped the legendary blade, feeling ancient power flow through his arms and strengthen his resolve.
Facing the threatening [Mr Lamp] ahead, his pupils sharpened with deadly focus!
He roared a battle cry and lunged forward with the sword raised high!
"Splurt!" The blade passed through the masked man's chest with a surprising lack of resistance.
Only when warm blood splattered across Harry's face did he return to his senses in amazement.
...That was simple? But if people die when killed, then this [Mr Lamp] should also...
"Heh." A soft chuckle drifted down from above like autumn leaves falling.
Harry looked up in stunned amazement, meeting amused eyes glinting behind the pure white mask.
The next second, the mysterious man suddenly raised his hand with fluid grace, gripping Harry's sword wrist in an iron-strong hold!
"By my calculations, the timing should be just about perfect now." Ethan murmured, tasting copper in his throat as warm blood trickled down his chest.
But his eyes remained fixed with laser intensity on the empty air above them!
Until ghostly blue text materialised like words written in starlight!
[You used your magnificent artwork to leave an indelible shock on everyone present!]
[You have greatly spread the mysteries and legend of the "Lamp"!]
["Breaking Out of Shell" progress significantly increased!]
["Breaking Out of Shell" progress: 87% → 100%]
Crack. An invisible sound like crystal shattering rang through dimensions.
Brilliant radiance began seeping through cracks in a pitch-black eggshell that existed beyond normal perception!
Then burst forth in an explosion of pure, blinding light that transformed everything!