The days that followed Radwick's grim revelation passed in a haze of mounting tension. The atmosphere at Hogwarts was subtly shifting, as if the castle itself sensed the impending danger. Students went about their routines, oblivious to the storm brewing beneath the Black Lake, but Alex, Imogen, and Lily couldn't ignore the growing unease.
For Alex, the weight of Radwick's words lingered. Days, perhaps. Maybe less. He had replayed the conversation in his mind countless times, dissecting every detail, every possible implication. The Leviathan was not just a threat to the lake—it was a threat to Hogwarts, to magic itself. And though Radwick had told them to stay out of the way, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that they would be drawn into the chaos regardless.
On the third day after his meeting with Radwick, the first signs of the Leviathan's influence began to manifest.
It started in Transfiguration. Professor McGonagall was guiding the class through the intricacies of transforming small mammals into decorative teapots. The task required precision and focus, and even the slightest misstep could result in unintended consequences.
Alex worked carefully, his wand movements fluid as he concentrated on the dormouse before him. It twitched its whiskers nervously, then shimmered faintly as his spell took hold. Moments later, it had transformed into an elegant silver teapot, complete with delicate etchings along its surface.
"Excellent work, Mr. Lorian," McGonagall said, her sharp eyes approving.
But just as Alex turned to observe Lily's progress, a strange ripple coursed through the room. It was subtle at first—a faint distortion in the air, like heat rising from pavement—but it quickly grew stronger. The hairs on Alex's arms stood on end, and a low hum filled the room, eerily similar to the sound they had heard beneath the lake.
All around them, the transfigured teapots began to shake. A faint, silvery glow emanated from their surfaces, and then, one by one, they reverted to their original forms. The dormice squeaked in confusion, scattering across the desks and onto the floor.
"What in Merlin's name—" McGonagall began, but her voice was drowned out as the hum crescendoed.
Alex's gaze snapped to the window. The Black Lake was visible in the distance, its surface rippling unnaturally despite the calm weather.
"Alex," Lily whispered urgently, her hand gripping the edge of her desk.
"I see it," Alex said, his voice low.
The hum faded as quickly as it had come, leaving the classroom in stunned silence. The dormice scurried about, and McGonagall quickly regained her composure, issuing sharp instructions to calm the class. But Alex's focus remained on the lake, a cold knot of dread forming in his chest.
That evening, the trio gathered in their usual corner of the Slytherin common room. The greenish light from the lake outside cast shifting patterns across the walls, creating an atmosphere that felt both intimate and oppressive.
"It's spreading," Lily said, her voice tinged with unease. "That… whatever it was. It wasn't just the lake this time."
"It's destabilizing magic," Alex said, his tone thoughtful. "The Leviathan's influence must be growing as the bindings weaken."
Imogen crossed her arms, her expression skeptical. "Radwick said he was working on a solution. If he knows this is happening, why hasn't he done anything yet?"
"Because he needs time," Alex said.
"Time we might not have," Imogen countered.
Lily leaned forward, her brown eyes fixed on Alex. "We can't just sit here. If the Leviathan's influence keeps spreading, it could affect the whole castle. The students. The professors. Everyone."
Alex met her gaze, his silver eyes steady. "What are you suggesting?"
"We need to act," Lily said. "Maybe not directly, but we can't stay in the dark. We need to know more about what's happening—what Radwick is doing, and how much time we really have."
Imogen frowned. "And how do you propose we do that? Radwick isn't exactly an open book."
Lily's lips curved into a faint smirk. "Then we find another way to get answers."
The plan came together quickly. Lily, with her knack for sneaking around, would shadow Radwick during his evening rounds, hoping to overhear any useful information. Meanwhile, Alex and Imogen would search the library for additional texts on ancient bindings, hoping to uncover anything that might help them understand the Leviathan's nature.
Lily set off first, her footsteps light as she disappeared into the corridors. Alex watched her go, a flicker of admiration in his gaze.
"She's brave," Imogen said, breaking the silence.
"She is," Alex agreed.
"And reckless."
"That too."
Imogen studied him for a moment, then smirked faintly. "You like her."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "She's a valuable ally."
"That's not what I meant," Imogen said, her smirk widening.
Alex didn't respond, turning his attention back to the plan. "We should get to the library."
The library was nearly deserted by the time Alex and Imogen arrived. The towering shelves loomed over them, their shadows stretching across the polished stone floor. The Restricted Section remained locked and warded, but Alex's focus was on the older, more obscure sections of the main library.
Imogen pulled a dusty tome from one of the shelves, wrinkling her nose as a cloud of dust rose from its surface. "I'm not sure what we're supposed to find here. If this thing is as ancient as Radwick says, wouldn't the records be in the Restricted Section?"
"Most likely," Alex admitted. "But Radwick isn't the only one who's studied ancient magic. There might be references elsewhere—something overlooked."
They worked in silence, flipping through faded pages and scanning for anything remotely relevant. After nearly an hour, Alex found a passage that caught his attention.
"Here," he said, motioning for Imogen to join him.
The text described an ancient ritual used to bind entities of immense magical power. The process required not only precision but also a deep understanding of the entity's nature—its strengths, weaknesses, and motivations. One misstep could destabilize the binding, unleashing the entity's full power.
Imogen frowned as she read over his shoulder. "This doesn't exactly inspire confidence."
"It's not meant to," Alex said. "But it gives us a better idea of what Radwick is up against."
Before Imogen could respond, the faint sound of footsteps echoed through the library. Alex tensed, his hand instinctively moving toward his wand.
"Who's there?" a voice called, sharp and commanding.
Alex recognized the voice immediately—Madam Pince, the ever-watchful librarian. He quickly extinguished his wand's light, motioning for Imogen to stay silent.
The footsteps grew louder, and Alex's mind raced for a solution. They couldn't afford to be caught—not now, not when they were so close to uncovering the truth.
Imogen's eyes met his, her expression a mix of frustration and resolve. "Follow me," she mouthed.
With practiced stealth, the two slipped deeper into the library, weaving through the towering shelves until the footsteps faded into the distance.
When they finally stopped, Alex let out a quiet sigh of relief. "That was close."
"Too close," Imogen muttered. "We should leave before she comes back."
Alex nodded, clutching the book tightly. They had found a fragment of the answers they sought, but it was clear that time was running out. The Leviathan's presence was growing stronger, and the fragile balance of Hogwarts was beginning to crack.
As they returned to the common room, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that their next move would be their most dangerous yet.