Lily Evans was not having a good day. First, she'd botched a tricky Transfiguration spell, turning her goblet into a surprisingly aggressive badger instead of a water pitcher. Then, Snape had managed to successfully ignite his potion, filling the dungeon with an acrid, sulfurous smell that still clung to her robes. And now, as she walked past a secluded alcove on the second floor, she overheard them.
"Honestly, can you believe that Hogwarts champion?" a simpering voice, unmistakably Pansy Parkinson, sneered. "He's utterly deranged. Releasing dragons, for Merlin's sake! And now he's got all the Veela wrapped around his little finger. It's disgusting."
"And his hair!" another girl, probably Millicent Bulstrode, added with a snort. "One minute it's blue, the next it's yellow, then black! Honestly, make up your mind, freak."
"And don't even get me started on his obsession with that blasted second-floor girls' bathroom," a third, higher-pitched voice—Daphne Greengrass, Lily mentally identified—chimed in. "I've seen him go in there quite often, actually. I mean, what kind of pervert uses the girls' bathroom?" There was a collective shudder of disgust. "We tried to catch him, of course, to report him, but every time we get close, he just… vanishes. Like a ghost."
Lily's blood ran cold, then boiled. Deranged? Freak? Pervert? She balled her fists, her knuckles turning white. She was seconds away from storming in there and showing those three snobs exactly what a Muggle-born witch could do with her bare hands when the last part of Daphne's comment finally registered.
Second-floor girls' bathroom. Often. Vanishes.
Lily paused, her anger momentarily overridden by a wave of confusion. The second-floor girls' bathroom… that was the one with the ghost of Moaning Myrtle. And Echo… vanishing? He wouldn't do anything dirty. He wasn't that kind of person. There had to be another explanation. But why would Echo be going there? And why so often? Her mind raced, trying to put the pieces together.
Her pondering was abruptly cut short by a soft, melodic voice right next to her ear. "Bonjour, Lily."
Lily jumped, spinning around with a startled gasp, her hand instinctively going for her wand. Standing beside her, with a shy, almost apologetic smile, was Empusa, the younger Veela from Beauxbatons. Her golden hair shimmered, and her captivating eyes, usually so confident, were now wide with a hint of nervousness.
Lily took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. Her ears were still ringing from the mean girls' taunts, and the unexpected appearance of the Veela had her on edge. "Empusa!" she exclaimed, a faint blush rising on her cheeks. "You… you startled me. Is everything alright?"
Empusa nodded, her smile growing slightly more confident. "Yes, Lily. I am sorry to frighten you. I… I wished to speak with you."
"Oh," Lily said, relaxing slightly. "Of course. What is it?"
Empusa wrung her hands, a nervous gesture that seemed oddly endearing on the usually poised Veela. "I… I have some questions. If you do not mind?"
"Questions?" Lily asked, curious. "What kind of questions?"
Empusa looked down at her feet for a moment, then met Lily's gaze directly, a hint of something unreadable in her eyes. "Is your nickname… Skate?"
Lily blinked, completely taken aback. "Skate? No, why would it be?"
Empusa shook her head, a faint blush now on her own cheeks. "No reason. Never mind. Another question, if I may. You and Echo… are you friends? Or… something else?" The unspoken implication hung in the air, clear as a bell.
Lily stared at her for a moment, then burst out laughing, a genuine, hearty sound that made Empusa flinch slightly. "No! Oh, Merlin, no!" Lily gasped, wiping a tear of mirth from her eye. "Absolutely not! Echo and I are definitely not 'something else.' If anything, he's like the chaotic little brother I never had. A pain, but… well, you know. I still love him, but not like that."
Empusa looked relieved, a soft smile returning to her lips. "Ah. I see. A chaotic little brother." She paused, then her eyes brightened with renewed purpose. "Then, perhaps you can tell me. What sort of things does Echo like? His interests, hobbies… that sort of thing?"
Lily's smile faltered. She looked at Empusa, then at the distant, glittering Beauxbatons carriages, a flash of understanding dawning on her. She held up a hand, effectively stopping Empusa mid-sentence. "Whoa, Empusa, hold on a minute." Her voice was firm, though not unkind. "I understand what you're getting at, but you may want to back off."
Empusa looked genuinely confused. "But… you just said nothing is going on between you and him, Lily."
"That's true," Lily confirmed, nodding slowly. "But Echo already has a girlfriend. Her name is Skate."
Empusa's eyes widened. "He does? Then who is this… Skate person?"
Lily smiled, a faint, mischievous glint in her eyes. "Skate isn't a person, Empusa. Well, not exactly. She's a mermaid princess. From the Black Lake. And she and Echo have been dating for close to two years now."
Empusa's initial surprise quickly morphed into a defiant frown. "But… but he holds my hand, Lily! Very often! And he is always so close to me, always touching my arm or my shoulder. If that is not interesting, then what, pray tell, is it?"
Lily made an uncomfortable expression, her gaze shifting to the side. She really didn't want to say this, but it needed to be said. "Empusa," she began, her voice softer, "Echo is a very physical person. His… his love language, I guess you could say, is physical affection. He loves to hug people, hold people, cling to them like a monkey if he can get away with it. But his absolute favorite is holding people's hands." She sighed, looking back at Empusa. "He does that with everyone he likes, even some of the professors."
Empusa deflated, her shoulders slumping. "So… so I am not special to him?" she whispered, her voice tinged with disappointment.
Lily, trying to make her feel better, quickly added, "No! No, that's not what I mean at all! If Echo didn't like you, he wouldn't just ignore you. He'd probably crush your hand without even realizing it. So you are special to him, Empusa. Just… not in the way you expect."
Empusa fell silent, her captivating eyes distant, a thoughtful frown creasing her brow. Lily watched her, uncertain of what thoughts were swirling behind those usually expressive features. Then, Empusa's gaze snapped back to Lily, her expression hardening, her voice losing its earlier softness.
"Mademoiselle Lily," she said, a new, sharper edge to her tone, "what were you doing, listening to those mean girls? Are you... eavesdropping?"
Lily's cheeks flushed. "No! Well, yes, but not on purpose! I was just walking by, and they were talking so loudly that I couldn't help but hear them. And what they were saying about Echo… it was horrible. Calling him a pervert and a freak. But then they mentioned the second-floor girls' bathroom, and how he vanishes... and it just sounded so weird. It didn't sound like him at all."
Empusa's curiosity seemed to pique, her frown softening slightly. "So, you are going to confront him about this? Ask him what he is doing in the girls' lavatory?"
Lily shook her head decisively. "No. Not directly. With Echo, if he's not willing to share something, it means it's a big secret. And the only way to figure out what he's up to is to... well, figure it out on my own."
"You mean...You are going to spy on him?" Empusa asked, a mischievous glint entering her eyes.
"Yes," Lily affirmed, a determined glint in her own.
Empusa clapped her hands together, her earlier disappointment completely forgotten, replaced by an almost childlike excitement. "Oh, magnifique! May I assist you, Lily? This mystery has made me extremely curious!"
Lily considered for a moment. Empusa was quick and discreet when she wanted to be, and she certainly had a knack for observation. Besides, it wouldn't hurt to have an extra pair of eyes. "Alright, Empusa. You can help."
And so, the next time Echo was acting suspiciously—which, to Lily, was simply any time he moved with an unusual air of purpose and secrecy—the two girls followed him. Today, his 'suspicious' activity included carrying a small, magically reinforced cage filled with live mice. He made his way to the second floor, over to the girls' bathroom that Moaning Myrtle haunted. Just before entering, he paused, looking carefully around to ensure he was utterly alone. Once satisfied, he slipped inside. Lily and Empusa exchanged a quick, conspiratorial glance, then crept to the door. They peeked inside, their eyes widening as Echo approached one of the sinks. He bent down, and to Lily's utter shock, began to hiss something in Parseltongue. Lily hadn't even known Echo could speak Parseltongue!
With a low rumble, the very sink began to move, sliding away to reveal a dark, yawning shaft. A long, stone, and metal ladder descended into the depths of the castle, leading into what could only be the legendary Chamber of Secrets. Shimmer, Echo's translucent creature, climbed down first, gently carrying the cage of mice in his tail. Echo followed, descending into the darkness. Before the hidden entrance could fully close, Lily quickly stepped forward, bracing it open with her foot. The two girls looked down the long, daunting ladder, the eerie silence of the chamber echoing up at them.
"Lily," Empusa whispered, her voice tinged with awe and a hint of fear, "do you... Do you know what this is?"
Lily shook her head, her face pale. "I have no idea, Empusa. No idea at all."
Myrtle's translucent form shimmered into existence directly in front of them, her ghostly face a picture of aggrieved indignation. She hovered a few inches off the damp floor, wringing her hands and letting out a mournful keening.
"Oh, it's just awful!" she wailed, her voice echoing mournfully through the cavernous bathroom. "He never speaks to me! Never! He just comes in here, hisses at the sink, and then poof! Gone! And I'm left all alone again! He doesn't even notice me! Everyone ignores Moaning Myrtle, they do!" A fresh wave of sobs shook her spectral form.
Empusa, startled by the sudden apparition, stumbled back, her hand flying to her mouth. "Mon Dieu! Lily, what is that?" she whispered, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and fascination.
"That, Empusa, is Moaning Myrtle," Lily explained, a weary familiarity in her tone. "She's the ghost who haunts this bathroom. She's... well, she moans a lot."
Myrtle, momentarily distracted from her self-pity by being acknowledged, puffed out her chest, a faint glow emanating from her translucent form. "I do not moan a lot! I merely express my profound sadness at the unfairness of my un-life! And he!" She pointed a spectral finger at the now-closed sink entrance. "He's the worst! He comes here all the time, and he acts like I'm not even here!"
Lily sighed. "Myrtle, we need your help. What is Echo doing down there? And what is this place?"
Myrtle floated closer, her ghostly tears momentarily forgotten. "Oh, I'm not sure, dear. Every time I try to remember what it is, my mind just goes... blank! Like someone's put a Silencing Charm on my memory! And as for what he does, I don't know that either! Something always prevents me from going down there to find out! A big, heavy feeling, like a ward, stops me right at the top of the ladder!" She wrung her hands again, looking genuinely frustrated.
Empusa looked from Myrtle to the dark shaft. "Then there is only one thing to do, Lily," she said, her voice firming with determination. "We must go down ourselves and discover this mystery!"
Lily nodded, a grim resolve settling on her face. "Alright. Let's go."
With a shared breath, the two girls began their descent down the long, cold ladder, the metal rungs echoing with each cautious step. The air grew colder, heavier, and the scent of damp stone and ancient magic filled their nostrils. After what felt like an eternity, they reached the bottom, their feet landing softly on a smooth, stone floor. Empusa shivered, looking around at the vast, dimly lit chamber. Massive stone pillars stretched into the unseen ceiling, their surfaces carved with serpentine figures. A low, guttural echo seemed to emanate from the very walls.
"Lily," she whispered, her voice barely audible, "what is this place? It feels... ancient. And dangerous."
Lily shook her head, her gaze sweeping over the ominous surroundings. "I still have no idea, Empusa. But something tells me we're not supposed to be here."
They crept forward, their footsteps muffled by the vastness of the chamber. The path was wide but uneven, strewn with fallen stones and a thin layer of dust. Soon, they reached a section where the passage curved sharply to the right. A short distance before the turn, nestled comfortably on a discarded length of Echo's familiar black robe, Sniffles and Shimmer lay sleeping peacefully. Sniffles was curled into a fluffy ball, letting out soft, rumbling snores, while Shimmer, a faint, translucent glow, rested beside him. Lily and Empusa exchanged another glance, then, moving with extreme caution, tiptoed past the slumbering beasts. They held their breaths, wincing at every creak of their shoes, until they had successfully rounded the corner.
And then they saw it.
Lily gasped, Empusa let out a choked cry, both girls freezing in their tracks, their hearts hammering against their ribs. Before them, in the heart of the enormous chamber, stood a sight that defied belief and twisted the gut with primal fear.
Little, chaotic Echo, his back to them, his dark hair a calm, focused black, stood before the largest, most terrifying basilisk they had ever seen. Its colossal, scaled body coiled in an immense heap; its head, crowned with a bony crest, was easily the size of a small car. Yet its eyes weren't closed; it was looking straight at Echo, and he was looking straight at it, but Echo didn't die. Yet, instead of attacking it, or even cowering from it, Echo was… talking to it. Hissing, in that strange, serpentine language, his small hand resting gently, almost affectionately, on one of its massive, unblinking scales.
"Lily," Empusa whispered, her voice barely a breath, her eyes wide with horrified fascination. "What in the name of Merlin's beard is he doing?! And what is that thing?!"
Lily shook her head, her face ashen. "I have no idea, Empusa," she managed, her voice equally hushed. "But it can't be good."
Suddenly, the colossal basilisk, Pretty, gave a low rumble and nudged her massive snout towards the cage of terrified mice Echo had brought. Echo, without looking away from the beast, gently pushed her head aside.
"No, Pretty," he said, his voice firm in Parseltongue. "You can't eat them yet."
Pretty let out a low, complaining hiss, a sound that made the very air vibrate.
"If you want the mice," Echo continued, his voice unwavering, "you have to work for them. And the only thing I'll make sure you do is look at them."
Pretty let out another disgruntled hiss, rolling her enormous eyes with a dramatic sigh. She shifted her immense body off to the side, settling down like a grumbling, put-out old lady.
Echo then turned and walked to his magically reinforced satchel, pulling out a set of goggles without lenses, clearly big enough to fit Pretty's massive head. He carefully placed them on her head, snapping the straps securely under her jaw and behind her head. Pretty shook her head, trying to get used to the unfamiliar feeling.
"Are they too tight?" Echo asked, his voice still in Parseltongue.
Pretty gave a soft hiss. "No."
Echo then reached back into his satchel and pulled out two light purple lenses, which he carefully snapped into place on the goggles. He then took a single mouse from the cage, placed it on a nearby stone block, and cast a silent Aresto Momentum on it, preventing it from running. He pulled out a quill and a notebook.
"Alright," Echo murmured, writing intently. "First tests of the anti-basilisk death glare goggles. Lens numbers AR-1 and AL-1. First up, AR-1. Begin."
Pretty, with a reluctant huff, turned her head slightly and looked at the mouse with just her right eye. Instantly, the mouse stiffened, then toppled over, utterly dead.
Echo scribbled down the failure in his notebook. He took another mouse from the cage, repeated the Aresto Momentum charm, and nodded. "Next, AL-1."
Pretty let out another complaining hiss, but complied, looking at the mouse with her left eye. The second mouse also fell dead instantly. Echo noted down the failure of both AR-1 and AL-1.
Echo, a flicker of frustration in his black hair, popped out the failed lenses and replaced them with two new ones: AR-2 and AL-2. He repeated the methodical process, took another mouse, cast Aresto Momentum, and nodded for Pretty to proceed. The right eye, then the left. Both mice stiffened and dropped, utterly dead. Echo scribbled the failures in his notebook, a faint sigh escaping him.
He popped out AR-2 and AL-2, inserting another pair. These he labeled AR-3 and AL-3. Again, the ritual: fresh mouse, Aresto Momentum, Pretty's reluctant gaze. The mouse hit by AR-3 instantly died, but as Echo looked at the mouse tested with AL-3, he found it wasn't dead, but petrified. It stood rigid, frozen in place, but undeniably alive.
A spark ignited in Echo's eyes, his black hair flickering with a hopeful blue. "A partial success!" he murmured, scribbling furiously in his notebook. He marked AL-3 as half-successful, though he still noted its failure to completely prevent any effect. He tried a few more, the pile of dead, petrified mice growing steadily on the stone block. Each new lens brought him closer, with more petrified than outright dead.
Finally, with AR-5 and AL-5, both lenses rendered the target petrified but reduced. The mice could still squirm, their tiny bodies wriggling feebly, and faint squeaks of distress escaped them, though they lacked full movement. Echo's blue hair brightened to a triumphant yellow, his excitement growing with each successful test. He leaned closer to Pretty, meticulously adjusting the goggles, his movements quick and precise.
Pretty, however, had clearly reached the limit of her patience. She let out a frustrated roar, shaking her massive head, the goggles askew.
Echo looked up, his enthusiasm temporarily dimmed by the basilisk's protest. "Alright, alright, Pretty! Testing's done. You were a good girl." He grinned, pulling the goggles off her head. "Now, for your reward."
He collected the dead or petrified mice from the stone block and, with a swift flick of his wrist, tossed them into Pretty's open mouth. She swallowed them with a satisfied gulp. Then, taking the cage full of extra live mice, Echo dumped them all into Pretty's waiting maw. The basilisk gulped them down whole, a low, contented rumble emanating from her colossal body.
Echo packed up the remaining mice, his notebook, and the goggles, stowing them carefully back into his satchel. Pretty let out another contented rumble, then her massive head snapped up suddenly. Her tongue flickered, tasting the air. A low, warning hiss escaped her.
Lily and Empusa, hidden behind the pillar, saw her head turn in their direction.
"Did she see us?" Lily whispered, her voice trembling.
Empusa, with incredible speed, extended a clear, keratinous eyelid over her eyes, then cautiously peeked around the pillar. Her eyes widened in alarm.
"Yes!" Empusa hissed, pulling back abruptly. "Run!"
With a shared cry of terror, the two girls broke from their hiding spot and sprinted back the way they had come. But it was too late. Pretty, with surprising swiftness, had already slithered into their path, her enormous body blocking the way back to the ladder. She coiled, her head rearing, her unblinking gaze fixed on them. Pretty gave chase, her massive form gaining on the girls with terrifying speed. As the basilisk closed in, Empusa let out a guttural cry. Her body contorted, feathers and scales erupting from her skin. Her elegant Beauxbatons uniform ripped as powerful, leathery dragon wings burst from her back. Her hands elongated into taloned claws, and her face sharpened, taking on a more harpy-like, avian appearance. With a powerful beat of her new wings, she launched herself into the air, a magnificent, terrifying figure.
"Inferno!" Empusa shrieked, fireballs erupting from her clawed hands. They streaked towards Pretty, striking her scales with concussive force. The basilisk recoiled slightly, but the flames, though hot, seemed to cause no lasting harm.
Echo, who had been about to collect Sniffles and Shimmer, froze, his satchel falling from his hand. His green hair cycled through a kaleidoscope of confusion. Dragon wings? Fireballs? He rubbed his eyes, wondering if the basilisk's glare had somehow affected him indirectly. But then he heard Lily's terrified scream. Lily had tripped and sprawled onto the cold, wet stone floor just as Pretty lunged forward, her massive jaws opening. Empusa, with another shriek, landed directly in front of Lily, her taloned feet skidding on the stone. She unleashed a torrent of fireballs, infused with a raw, desperate power. They struck Pretty's head and neck with incredible force, actually cracking and splintering some of the basilisk's massive scales, even breaking off a piece of one of her bony horns. Pretty recoiled, bellowing in pain and surprise. The basilisk reared up, her colossal body towering over Empusa, preparing to strike down with immense force.
"NO!" Echo roared, his confusion evaporating in a surge of adrenaline and fury. He ripped off his shirt, flung it over the terrified Lily, and launched himself forward, placing himself squarely between the enraged basilisk and the transformed Empusa, who looked ready to tear Pretty's face to shreds with her talons.
"Sileo!" Echo hissed, his voice cracking with Parseltongue, a command so sharp and piercing it seemed to vibrate through the very air. Pretty froze mid-strike, her massive head twitching, her eyes locking onto Echo's. She tried to lunge again, a low growl rumbling in her chest.
"Sileo!" Echo hissed again, louder, his voice resonating with his Beast Magic. Pretty flinched, then slowly, reluctantly, settled back down, turning her massive head away from them and closing her enormous eyes, a low, frustrated rumble still emanating from her.
Empusa, her body still smoking faintly, slowly transformed back to her human form, her dragon wings retracting, her talons softening back into delicate hands. She landed gracefully beside Echo, her Beauxbatons uniform, miraculously, almost completely restored. Lily, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and awe, cautiously emerged from beneath Echo's soaked button-down shirt. She looked from the colossal, still-grumbling basilisk to the panting, half-naked Echo, then to the equally breathless Empusa. The air in the Chamber of Secrets was thick with tension, punctuated by Echo and the two girls' heavy breathing. Lily looked out from beneath Echo's damp shirt, her eyes still darting nervously between the now-dormant basilisk and the two figures beside her.
"Are you two alright?" Echo gasped, his voice hoarse. He wiped a hand across his forehead, sending droplets of sweat and water from his soaked hair and bare chest. His green hair was a disheveled mess, streaked with black and red from the adrenaline.
Empusa, her magnificent transformation receding, slowly took on her more human form. Her elegant Beauxbatons robes, though slightly singed, seemed to reshape themselves around her, and her features softened from their harpy-like intensity. She nodded, her golden hair clinging to her damp face. "Yes, Echo. I… I am alright. Truly." Her voice was a little shaky, but held a firm resolve.
Lily, still trembling, also nodded vigorously, pushing herself up and carefully handing Echo back his drenched shirt. "Yeah, fine," she managed, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes, however, were blazing with a mixture of anger and disbelief. "Echo," she began, her voice gaining strength as she found her footing, "what in the hell is going on down here?"
Echo, seeing the desperate, questioning looks on their faces, and feeling the lingering terror that permeated the ancient chamber, knew there was no point in lying. He took a deep, shuddering breath, trying to compose himself. He looked at them, then at Pretty, who still had her eyes closed, emitting soft, almost purring rumbles.
"This… this is the Chamber of Secrets," Echo admitted, his voice low, almost reverent. "I found it by accident this past summer. That's also how I found out I was a Parselmouth." He gestured vaguely at the massive basilisk. "And this… this is Pretty. She's the monster that lives down here. The one Salazar Slytherin left behind to purge the school of Muggle-borns, to be unleashed by his next of kin or bloodline, whatever comes first."
A stunned silence descended upon the Chamber, broken only by the distant, echoing drip of water and Pretty's soft, rumbling snores. Lily and Empusa stared at him, their faces pale, their eyes wide with disbelief and horror. They had nothing to say, no words to process the enormity of what they had just heard.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Lily broke the silence, her voice a dry, incredulous whisper. "You know, Echo," she said, her gaze fixed on the colossal serpent, then turning to him with a look of utter exasperation, "you really didn't emphasize what you meant when you said you had an 'eventful summer break.'"
Empusa, still reeling from the revelation, finally found her voice, a sharp, disbelieving tone replacing her earlier awe. "But, Echo! If you are a Parselmouth, and you can… You can control this… this monster… then that means you are a descendant! Of Salazar Slytherin himself! Is that not true?"
Echo sighed, running a hand through his now-calm blue hair. He looked at the massive basilisk, then back at the two stunned girls. "Yes, Empusa," he admitted, his voice quiet. "I am. Or, at least, I'm the closest thing to it that the Chamber recognized."
Lily, her eyes wide with a fresh wave of fear, stumbled back a step. Her hand went to her throat, her voice trembling. "Echo," she whispered, a chilling dread in her tone, "are you… Are you planning to continue Salazar Slytherin's work? To… to purge the school of Muggle-borns?" Her gaze was unwavering, filled with a raw, desperate fear.
Echo's head snapped up, his face a mask of genuine shock and hurt. His blue hair flared to a furious red, then instantly softened to a deep, contrite blue. "No!" he exclaimed, the word ripping from him with fervent conviction. "No, Lily, absolutely not! How could you even think that?" He ran a hand through his hair, his eyes filled with a pained sincerity. "I… I understand why Salazar did the things he did," he continued, his voice softening, "the fear of losing magic, the desire to protect a legacy. But I don't agree with them. Not to any extent. What he wanted was… misguided. Cruel." He paused, then a faint, almost wistful smile touched his lips. "Besides," he added, a hint of something unreadable in his eyes, "in a way, I was given Salazar's blessing to do as I will. Even if that means veering far, far away from what he wanted." With that, Echo subtly held out a hand, his fingers brushing against the ancient, silver-green locket that rested against his bare chest, hidden mostly by his unbuttoned, damp shirt. It gleamed faintly in the dim light of the Chamber.
Lily's gaze fell upon the locket, her eyes widening even further. A wave of fresh disbelief washed over her. "You're… you're not lying," she breathed, her voice barely audible. "You actually… You actually went back in time and got that from the man himself, didn't you? You weren't kidding."
Echo gave a wry, almost sheepish smile. "You know I'm not a good liar, Lily. You can always tell."
Empusa, however, still looked bewildered. "Wait, wait," she interjected, holding up a hand. "Back in time? Salazar Slytherin? The locket? What are you two talking about? You went back in time to speak with the founder of Hogwarts? That is... that is impossible, Echo! Even for you!"
Echo chuckled, a weary, almost resigned sound. "Nothing's impossible when you have a knack for finding ancient, ridiculously powerful artifacts that decide they quite like you. But that's a story for another day, Empusa. A very, very long story, involving a magical object that makes time travel look like a walk in the park."
Empusa, her fingers brushing against Echo's bare, wet chest, took hold of the locket. She admired its intricate design, her eyes wide. "Is this the real deal, Echo? It's magnificent!"
Echo chuckled, a faint warmth spreading through him from her touch. "It is," he confirmed.
"What does it do?" she asked, tracing a finger over its surface.
"It's supposed to allow me to use ancient magic," Echo explained, "but I haven't quite figured that out yet. For now, it's just really pretty jewelry. Though," he added, a glint in his eye, "when jerks steal it, it reacts violently. It makes them see their deepest insecurities and fears, and I usually get it back when they can't take it anymore."
Lily, who had approached quietly, raised an eyebrow. "That's all well and good, but what are you actually doing down here, Echo?"
Echo sighed contentedly, looking at the basilisk. "It might sound silly, but I'm just making sure Pretty is fed, healthy, and not lonely." He paused, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Also, hearing about the Veela's second eyelid that protects them from a basilisk's stare gave me an idea for making anti-basilisk goggles. First, I'll use them on the basilisk to make sure they work, then make them small enough for people to wear."
Lily looked confused. "Why?"
"Why not?" Echo countered with a shrug. "Who knows when a dark wizard or another descendant of Salazar might decide to command a basilisk for evil. Plus, it could be used to farm basilisks – harvest their scales, teeth, horns, and venom with ease."
Empusa, her curiosity piqued, asked the big question. "But Echo, how can you look into the creature's eyes without dying yourself?"
Echo chuckled, a wry smile playing on his lips. "That's a whole sorted story, but it has something to do with my magic. So, I'm functionally immune."
Lily shook her head again, a bewildered laugh escaping her. "Only you, Echo. Only you could look at a creature that kills you if you simply look at it, and then decide to make anti-death goggles for its eyes. Probably so you can take it for a walk without killing everything in sight."
Echo didn't disagree, merely offering a small, unrepentant shrug.
Lily continued, a new note of something akin to admiration, if a very frustrated one, entering her voice. "And even with such a dangerous, destructive creature, your only thought is to make sure it's fed and happy."
Echo smiled, a genuine, warm smile. "I'll take that as a compliment, Lily."
Empusa, however, still looked at him with a mixture of awe and trepidation. "But, Echo, this… this is a basilisk. A legendary creature of death! Are you not… afraid? Even a little?"
Echo considered this for a moment, then shrugged again. "Not really, Empusa. Pretty, and I have an understanding. She's not so bad once you get to know her. A bit grumpy, maybe, but she just wants to be loved and fed, like any other oversized serpent." He paused, then looked at Lily. "Plus, she's really good at keeping the mice population down."
Lily let out a weak chuckle, shaking her head. "Of course, she is. And you're just casually keeping a legendary monster in the school's basement as a pet. As one does."
Echo's blue hair flickered with a playful green. "Exactly! See, you get it, Lily." He then turned, his expression growing more serious. "Now, as for you two. This is a secret, a very big one. No one, and I mean no one, can know about Pretty or this chamber. Understood? Not even Dumbledore."
Lily and Empusa exchanged a look. The weight of the secret settled between them.
"We understand, Echo," Lily said, her voice firm. "We won't tell anyone. We promise."
Empusa nodded vigorously. "Oui, Echo. Your secret is safe with us. We would not betray your trust, especially after you saved us from… from that." She gestured vaguely towards the basilisk.
Echo smiled, a genuine warmth in his eyes. "Good. Now, I think it's time we got out of here before anyone else decides to go exploring. And before Pretty decides she's hungry again and wants more than just mice."
Preety let out a painful hiss, a sound that grated on Echo's ears. "Before we leave," Echo said, his voice softening with concern, his blue hair flickering with a gentle, healing green, "I should heal her." He went over to the snake's massive face, where her eyes, usually slitted and dangerous, opened to him, wide and filled with a surprising vulnerability. Echo gently stroked her scales, murmuring, "You'll be fine, Preety, just a little scratch." But Preety winced as Echo's fingers brushed against her raw, injured face. Echo whistled softly, a low, impressed sound. "Wow, Empusa, you sure are stronger than I imagined for being able to hurt Preety like this."
Empusa, who had been watching with a mixture of concern and a touch of pride, gave a small, grateful nod. "Merci, Echo."
Echo then focused, his green hair flaring to a vibrant, almost ethereal blue. He channeled his Beast Healing spell, placing his wand gently against Preety's injured scale. He began to chant, his voice low and resonant, the ancient, sibilant sounds of Parseltongue filling the chamber. "*Sana, sana, serpens vulnerata, sana celeriter.*" As he spoke, a soft, golden light emanated from his wand, washing over Preety's wounds. The raw, angry flesh began to knit itself together, the scales reforming, until, in a matter of moments, the basilisk's face was completely unblemished, as if she had never been injured at all.
After Preety was healed, Echo leaned in, speaking to her once more in Parseltongue. "*Nunc quiesce, Preety. Requiesce in pace.*"
Preety, now fully restored, gave a soft, contented hiss, her golden eyes blinking slowly. She turned her massive head, slithering gracefully back into the gaping mouth of the Salazar Slytherin statue, disappearing into the darkness for a well-deserved nap.
Lily, who had been watching the entire exchange with wide, astonished eyes, finally found her voice. "Did… did you just cast a spell in Parseltongue, Echo?"
Echo turned to her, his blue hair settling into a calm, thoughtful shade. "I did, yeah." He ran a hand through his hair. "When I was… when I was in the past with Salazar, he told me to command my wand with Parseltongue, since it had a basilisk horn core. Now, when I cast spells like that, they come out much stronger than ever before. And when I'm allowed to use my own magic from my magic core, they come out even stronger than that, and with differing effects."
"Differing effects?" Lily repeated, a flicker of understanding in her eyes. "Does that have something to do with that story everyone was passing around for weeks on end? About how you dismantled half of the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, causing it to crumble and fall off the castle, before repairing it with a spell that made the room almost brand new?"
Echo gave a wry, almost sheepish smile. His blue hair shimmered with a hint of mischievous green. "Yeah," he admitted. "That did happen."
Lily shook her head, a small, disbelieving laugh escaping her lips. "This is all way too much information for one day, Echo. I think we should end it here."
Echo nodded in agreement, his smile softening. "Sounds good to me."
With that, all three of them returned to the surface, Echo putting back on his now-dry shirt, collecting Sniffles and Shimmer, who had somehow slept through the entire ordeal, and his robe.
Emerging from the secret passage, the trio found themselves back in the familiar, albeit still somewhat eerie, second-floor girls' bathroom. The air, though no longer thick with ancient magic, still held a damp chill. Echo, now with his shirt back on, though still very much drenched, collected Sniffles and Shimmer, who seemed entirely oblivious to the monumental events that had just transpired, comfortably nestled in his robe pocket and on his shoulder. Lily and Empusa, their clothes also damp and disheveled, looked equally exhausted and disoriented.
As they stepped out of the bathroom, the familiar voices from the alcove earlier instantly cut through the quiet corridor. Pansy Parkinson, Millicent Bulstrode, and Daphne Greengrass stood there, their faces a mixture of smug superiority and outright disgust as their eyes landed on the bedraggled group.
"Well, well, well," Pansy drawled, her lip curling. "Look what the cat dragged in. Or rather, what the pervert dragged out." Her gaze swept over Echo's wet shirt, Lily's disheveled hair, and Empusa's slightly torn robes. A triumphant, malicious grin spread across her face. "Looks like our theory was right, girls. Doing it with two girls in the bathroom, Echo? How utterly shameful and vulgar!"
Millicent snorted. "Honestly, some people have no shame. In the girls' bathroom, too. Disgusting."
Daphne wrinkled her nose. "And look at them. All wet and... untidy. Really, the lengths some people will go to."
Lily, already at her wits' end from the basilisk, the Chamber, and the sheer mental exhaustion of the past hour, snapped. Her eyes, usually a vibrant green, darkened to an almost furious emerald. Every ounce of her calm demeanor vanished, replaced by a raw, unadulterated rage.
"That's it!" Lily roared, her voice echoing through the corridor. "I'm going to pound these bitches!" She took a furious step forward, her fists clenched.
"Ooh, is that what Echo said to the two of you while Moaning Myrtle watched?" Pansy simpered, her eyes wide with mock innocence, just as Moaning Myrtle shimmered into existence, hovering excitedly near the bathroom door, her ghostly eyes fixed on the unfolding drama.
Lily froze mid-stride, her mouth falling open. Echo, who had been about to step in, felt his jaw drop. The implication of Pansy's question, coupled with Myrtle's visible interest, was truly astounding.
Then, a flicker of something dark and dangerous entered Echo's eyes, and his blue hair flared to a crackling, furious black. "You know what?" he said, his voice low and menacing. "I'm going to pound these bitches too! If you want to talk big, then you'd better be ready to fight big!" He took a step forward, his hands flexing.
Pansy scoffed, though a hint of unease flickered in her eyes. "You can't fight us, Echo! We're girls!"
Echo let out a humorless laugh, his black hair sparking. "If you find any girls here, let me know! Because from where I'm standing, I see three walking targets! And just so we're clear, my hands are rated E for Everyone!" He punctuated his statement by holding up his hands, a faint, almost invisible, dark energy crackling around his fists.
Daphne, looking at Empusa, smirked. "And you, Empusa. How vulgar, getting involved in this. What would Madame Maxime say to this news? Being found in such... compromising circumstances with the Hogwarts champion?"
Empusa, who had been listening to the insults with a slowly building fire in her captivating eyes, finally reached her breaking point. The veiled threat and the attempt to use her reputation against Echo ignited a fury within her that surpassed her earlier fear.
"Madame Maxime would say nothing," Empusa said, her voice dangerously soft, "because she wouldn't know what truly happened. But you," she continued, her voice rising, her eyes glowing with a faint, ethereal light, "you are just trying to slander Echo with your pathetic lies! And I, too, would very much like to beat you now!"
Echo looked at Empusa, a grin spreading across his face, his black hair softening to a wicked, mischievous blue. "Do you know how to throw a punch, Empusa?"
Empusa giggled, a delightful, almost predatory sound. Her hand, with a subtle shift, seemed to elongate slightly, her fingernails sharpening just a fraction. "What do you think these claws are for, Echo? Paper-mâché?"
The three Slytherin girls, finally realizing the true danger they were in, paled. Pansy, her smug expression vanishing, took a nervous step back. "Uh-oh," she squeaked.
"Uh-oh is right!" Echo declared, his grin widening.
Lily, a newfound, terrifying glint in her eyes, held out her hand, extending a five-fingered count. "For the sake of fairness, we'll give you five."
"Five what?" Millicent stammered, her voice trembling.
Lily's fingers slowly, deliberately, began to curl. "Four!"
With a collective shriek of terror, Pansy, Millicent, and Daphne turned and sprinted down the corridor, their expensive robes flapping behind them as they ran for their lives. Their screams faded into the distance.
Empusa sighed, a contented, almost purring sound, watching them disappear. "Ah," she murmured, her captivating eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "I do love it when my prey plays hard to catch."