Gilderoy Lockhart leaned back in his chair, the pieces of his plan falling into place. He had Medusa's head, the ultimate trump card to defeat the Basilisk or any other creature lurking within the Chamber of Secrets. But as he stared at the enchanted satchel on his desk, he felt an unsettling gnawing at the back of his mind. Something told him that this alone might not be enough.
The Basilisk was dangerous, yes, but what if there was more to the Chamber than just a creature?The original story never delve into what secrets lie there. What if the ancient magic within those hidden walls was something even more potent than he anticipated? And what if, in the depths of the Chamber, other forces were waiting to be unleashed—forces that even Medusa's head couldn't stop?
Gilderoy's mind raced. He needed more power, more security. Something beyond just ancient magic, something… mechanical.
An idea began to form. He had long been fascinated by the concept of advanced technology and its potential when mixed with magic. If he could combine the ancient power he already held with the artificial intelligence and robotics of another world, he would be invincible. He needed an army, something powerful and relentless—something from a world where technology had evolved beyond magic.
His thoughts drifted to a specific point in time, a specific world: the dystopian future from X-Men: Days of Future Past. In that world, an apocalyptic war had ravaged the Earth, pitting mutants against an army of unstoppable machines—Sentinels, deadly, adaptive robots designed to hunt down and exterminate mutants. These machines had once been controlled by a central system, but Gilderoy didn't need that. He could isolate three Sentinels, bring them into his own world, and control them himself. With a combination of Kaleidoscope magic and his own magical influence, he could harness their power for his own purposes.
Yes, Sentinels would be the perfect backup plan.
With a sly grin, Gilderoy stood up, adjusting his robes. He had grown too comfortable in his office, basking in the false security of the artifacts he had collected. It was time to return to the Kaleidoscope, to visit a world in chaos, and retrieve what he needed to ensure his victory. He prepared himself mentally for what he was about to face. The future he was heading to was not a pleasant one—it was a world destroyed by war, but it held exactly what he needed.
The familiar pulse of Kaleidoscope magic surged through Gilderoy as the world around him blurred and shifted. His office at Hogwarts faded away, replaced by a swirling vortex of light and energy. Moments later, the environment solidified once more, and Gilderoy found himself standing in a city torn apart by war.
The sky was a dark, bruised purple, the atmosphere heavy with smoke and ash. Massive, skeletal remains of buildings stretched up toward the horizon, their once-grand architecture reduced to crumbling ruins. Fires burned in the distance, and the air crackled with the hum of energy weapons being fired in sporadic battles. This was the apocalyptic future—a world in which the war between mutants and machines had left humanity on the brink of extinction.
As Gilderoy adjusted to the desolate landscape, he could hear the distant thud of mechanical feet—Sentinels—searching for any remaining mutants. Their presence filled the air with tension. These weren't the simple, outdated Sentinels of the past; these were Mark X Sentinels, created with the ability to adapt to any mutant's power, learning and evolving with each encounter. They were as terrifying as they were relentless.
Gilderoy's heart raced with anticipation. The plan was simple—find three Sentinels, sever their connection to the Master Mold (the AI controlling them), and teleport them back to Hogwarts. But this was easier said than done. He would need to act quickly before they detected him, or worse, adapted to his magic.
He scanned the horizon, his eyes narrowing as he spotted a group of Sentinels patrolling the outskirts of a ruined city block. Their towering forms moved with eerie precision, their metallic bodies gleaming despite the ash-covered landscape. Gilderoy knew he couldn't take them all—he just needed three.
He tightened his grip on his wand, feeling the familiar surge of power as he prepared to cast. The Sentinels were powerful, but they weren't immune to the forces of Kaleidoscope magic.
With a flick of his wand, Gilderoy summoned a blinding flash of light, stunning the group of Sentinels. The machines paused, their adaptive systems struggling to adjust to the sudden magical interference. Gilderoy moved quickly, weaving a complex series of spells designed to disrupt their connection to the Master Mold.
The air crackled with energy as he worked, his magic pushing against the Sentinels' defenses. One by one, three of the massive machines began to shut down, their eyes dimming as their connection to the AI severed. The other Sentinels in the area, unaffected by Gilderoy's magic, continued their patrols, oblivious to what had just transpired.
Gilderoy let out a breath, his heart pounding in his chest. He had done it. The three Sentinels were now cut off from the hive mind, their systems in a state of stasis. But he had no time to waste. He quickly raised his wand again, this time activating a Kaleidoscope teleportation spell. The shimmering energy enveloped the three dormant Sentinels, and in a flash, they were gone—transported back to his office at Hogwarts.
The moment they vanished, Gilderoy knew he had succeeded. But as he turned to leave, he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. A Sentinel patrol had spotted him, their systems detecting the remnants of his magic. Gilderoy cursed under his breath. He wasn't planning on staying in this world any longer than necessary, but it seemed the Sentinels weren't going to let him leave so easily.
The towering machines began to move toward him, their eyes glowing as they prepared to attack. Gilderoy acted quickly, casting a powerful shield spell just as the Sentinels opened fire. Energy blasts ricocheted off the shield, but he knew it wouldn't hold for long.
Summoning the last reserves of his strength, Gilderoy activated the Kaleidoscope magic once more, pulling himself back through the dimensional rift and leaving the apocalyptic future behind.