The moon cast a silvery glow over the Hogwarts grounds as David and Harry made their way back to the Gryffindor common room. The night was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze. Earlier, they had sent Dobby off, and now, as they walked, David shared the troubling details of Lucius Malfoy's plan that they had uncovered through Dobby's memories.
Harry's face paled as he listened. "The Chamber of Secrets was opened to kill "me"? And it's connected to… "him"?" he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Ron, who had been walking beside them, exchanged a worried glance with Harry. "So, you're saying Harry's not the heir after all? He's the "target?"
David nodded grimly. "According to Lucius, that's the plan. He's using the diary to reopen the Chamber and unleash the basilisk."
Harry's heart raced. "Then we have to find that diary! We can't just sit around and wait for him to come after me!"
David sighed. "I've been searching, but I haven't found it yet. Lucius is clever—he's hidden it well."
Harry's frustration was evident. "So, what? We just wait for him to release the basilisk and hope I don't get petrified—or worse?"
David placed a reassuring hand on Harry's shoulder. "That's why I've been having you practice Parseltongue. If we can control the basilisk, Lucius's plan falls apart. Even if he opens the Chamber, we'll be ready."
Harry's eyes widened as the realization dawned on him. "So, we're going to "subdue" the basilisk?"
"Exactly," David replied with a small smile. "We'll take away his weapon before he can use it."
Harry's determination flared. "When do we start?"
"When you're ready," David said firmly. "You need to master Parseltongue first. Going in unprepared would be suicide."
Harry nodded, his resolve hardening. "I'll practice every day. I'll be ready."
Over the next few weeks, Harry threw himself into his training. His dormitory echoed with the hissing sounds of Parseltongue, much to the discomfort of his roommates, especially at night. Despite his efforts, progress was slow, and David began to wonder if Harry's connection to the language was as strong as they had hoped.
Meanwhile, another surprising development was unfolding at Hogwarts. Professor Gilderoy Lockhart, once known for his vanity and incompetence, had undergone a remarkable transformation. Since his impassioned speech a few weeks prior, he had become a dedicated and knowledgeable Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. He introduced new spells in every class and shared practical strategies for dealing with dangerous creatures. His charisma and newfound expertise quickly won over the student body, and his popularity soared.
By mid-December, the weather had turned bitterly cold. The north wind howled across the castle grounds, and most students preferred to stay indoors by the warm fireplaces. However, Lockhart had other plans.
"Professor, where are we going?" David asked, shivering as he tightened the collar of his robe. The class had been led out onto the open grounds, and the icy wind cut through their layers of clothing.
Lockhart turned with his trademark smile. "Patience, my dear boy! You'll see soon enough. I've prepared something special for today's lesson."
Ron leaned over to David and whispered, "What do you think he's up to this time?"
David shrugged. "Who knows? But at least he's teaching us something useful now. It's better than reading from his books."
Ron groaned. "I liked it better when he just made us copy from his books. Now he's giving us homework as hard as McGonagall's!"
Hermione, overhearing their conversation, shot Ron a disapproving look. "Professor Lockhart is trying to help us improve. If you don't take this seriously, you'll be lucky to get a job sweeping streets after graduation."
Ron rolled his eyes. "McGonagall praised me in Transfiguration last week. That's something, isn't it?"
Hermione smirked. "Oh, you mean when she said, 'Mr. Weasley, it's a miracle you made it to class on time. I might reconsider turning you into a pocket watch'? Yes, very encouraging."
David chuckled as Ron's face turned red. Before the argument could escalate, he pointed ahead. "Look, Hagrid's here."
The group turned to see Hagrid standing by the edge of the Forbidden Forest, his usual cheerful demeanor replaced by a somber expression. Lockhart approached him with a bright smile, seemingly oblivious to Hagrid's discomfort.
"Ah, Hagrid! Thank you for your assistance today," Lockhart said, clapping Hagrid on the back. Hagrid flinched but said nothing.
Lockhart turned to the class and gestured toward a row of ten wooden doors, each about two meters wide. "These, my dear students, are the surprises I've prepared for you today. Inside, you'll find a series of challenges designed to test the skills you've learned this term. Work in groups of ten, and remember—your performance today will count toward your final grade!"
A collective groan rose from the students. Hermione's eyes widened in panic. "He didn't tell us we'd be tested today! I'm not ready!"
David tried to reassure her. "Relax, Hermione. You'll do fine."
But Hermione was already muttering to herself, reviewing every spell Lockhart had taught them. "What if he tests us on that example from the second week? I can't remember the details!"
David sighed. "You'll be fine. Just focus."
As the class lined up, Harry whispered to David, "When you finish, let us know what's inside so we can prepare."
Hermione shot him a glare. "That's cheating!"
David grinned. "Don't worry, I'll make sure it's fair."
When it was David's turn, he stepped through one of the wooden doors and found himself in a dimly lit room. The first challenge was a locked door, which he easily opened with the Unlocking Charm. Beyond it, he encountered a group of mischievous iron-blue pixies. Instead of using the Freezing Spell as intended, David conjured a small Norwegian Ridgeback dragon, which quickly intimidated the pixies into submission.
The next challenges included a magical swamp, a fiery barrier, and a moving stone statue. David navigated each with ease, using a combination of spells and quick thinking. Finally, he reached the last challenge: two floating platforms with a book that needed to be moved from one to the other. David used the Shifting Phantom Spell to complete the task and emerged victorious.
As he stepped out of the final door, the timer showed four minutes and twenty seconds. David couldn't help but smile. "Hermione's going to be thrilled when she sees this," he thought.
And indeed, when Hermione saw his time, her eyes lit up with a mix of admiration and determination. "Well done, David! Now it's my turn."
David chuckled. "Good luck. I'm sure you'll do great."
As the class continued, David couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Despite the challenges ahead, they were making progress. And with Harry's growing mastery of Parseltongue, they were one step closer to thrawing Lucius Malfoy's plans.
"She must be very happy," David thought, watching Hermione prepare for her turn. And for the first time in a while, he felt a glimmer of hope.