The tunnel was cold. Damp. Ancient.
Tony lands down successfully hovering himself—then a crunch. He glanced down.
Bones.
The bones scattered beneath him. Rodents. Birds. A few skulls too small to be comforting. He turned on his helmet lights and muttered, "Well, that's not horrifying at all."
Johnny stand behind him with a grunt, looking around with mild disgust. "Ugh. I knew Hogwarts was creepy, but this is another level."
Remus crouched down, brushing fingers over the stone and the bones. "Incredible," he whispered. "This place... it's older than any map of Hogwarts I've ever seen.... And... These bones... Some humans, animals..."
Tony paced ahead, eyes scanning the tunnel through his HUD. "And people just thought it was a plumbing issue. I swear, wizards and building codes don't mix."
Johnny's wand already drawn, eyes sharp. "No one's ever charted this place. This isn't just forgotten. It's meant to be hidden..."
"What a shame, I uncover it"
"You have no shame, Tony"
They walked deeper into the darkness, the walls pulsing faintly with residual magic. Then, as the tunnel curved, the group halted.
Because lying across the tunnel—massive, dried out, and rotting—was the long, slithering shed skin of a snake.
Sirius took a slow step back. "Okay. That's… that's not a normal snake."
Tony stared at the skin, scanning. "This thing's over fifty feet long. And I think it's... fresh-ish."
Johnny raised his wand defensively. "We need to keep moving. If the girl's in the Chamber... Let's just go"
Sirius turned to Remus, deadpan. "Should've brought roosters."
Remus gave a weak chuckle. "The only known predator of a Basilisk. A bloody chicken."
Tony snorted, not looking up from the scan. "So wait—magic snake is allergic to farm birds? Why not just keep a rooster in the hallway?"
"Because we're wizards," Sirius said dramatically. "We ignore the obvious."
Remus added, "And this one is Salazar Slytherin's monster. It wouldn't go down easily."
Johnny kept walking, jaw tight. "Argue later"
The group pressed on, faster now.
And there, A metal heavy door with snake design and with no keyhole.
Tony's scan pinged. "I'm picking up a faint life signal. Two, actually—one is very faint... Oh! Yeah, I think there is another one..."
They had reached the Chamber of Secrets.
The stone door to the Chamber loomed ominously, covered in serpentine carvings. Sirius narrowed his eyes at it.
"Any bright ideas on how to open this thing?" he asked.
Remus was already stepping forward, wand out. "Alohomora!"
Nothing.
Johnny step forward and did a spell, nothing, he did another one.
Still nothing. The door didn't budge.
Johnny glares at the door like it offended him and mutters another spell. Still nothing.
"Nothing," he muttered.
"Pureblood!" Sirius piped up. Still nothing. "Okay, I am gonna hate myself... mudblood!" Nothing.
"Death eater!"
"Supreme blood!"
"Snake!"
"Slytherin!"
"Taxes!"
"Taxes? Really, Sirius?"
"What? Taxes are scary"
Remus roll his eyes. "Don't joke around"
"Okay, Okay... Mm... Oh! Woman!"
Remus slap his head. "Sirius!"
"Geez fine! Supreme Darkness! Rubber duck! Voldemort nosy! Hairy! Snape took a shower! Dumbledore more like dumplings!"
Johnny had a look of disbelief, Remus is just done and cover his face.
"And am so done with you..."
As they began debating what ancient Slytherin password might open it, Tony stepped forward, raising his arm.
"Guys, please. We're wasting time."
Before anyone could stop him, he aimed his repulsor and fired. A high-pitched blast echoed off the tunnel walls as the explosion hit the door.
BOOM!
Debris flew as the heavy door shuddered—then cracked—then collapsed backwards. All three wizards dove for cover.
"Are you mad?!" Johnny barked. "We're in a bloody cave! You can't just blast ancient structures—"
Tony just walked forward through the settling dust. "You lot were taking forever."
Sirius grumbled, brushing dust off his coat. "Tony, you're impossible."
Inside, the Chamber opened up in all its eerie majesty—dark stone walls, towering pillars, and a giant statue of Salazar Slytherin at the far end. Well, half since chamber itself is drowning. The atmosphere was thick with enchantments, oppressive and cold.
And near the base of the statue lay Ginny Weasley—motionless, deathly pale.
Standing beside her was a boy. Sixteen at most, dark hair, pale skin, and eyes filled with eerie confidence.
Sirius raised his wand instantly. "Step away from the girl!"
Johnny, Remus, and Tony moved in beside him. Johnny asked. "Who are you? What happened here?"
Tony's HUD pinged—JARVIS' voice cut into his ear.
"Sir, the girl's vitals are unstable. Life signs are diminishing."
"Damn it." Tony stepped forward. "We're losing her. Do something!"
The boy smiled. "I'm afraid it's too late."
His voice was calm. Too calm.
Remus narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"
The boy tilted his head, then turned to the side where the basilisk statue loomed.
"I am... Tom Marvolo Riddle."
He waved a hand. Letters burned into the air. The anagram shifted.
"I AM LORD VOLDEMORT."
The room fell silent.
Sirius' face drained of color. "No. No, that's not possible" Then he looks at Remus. "He was hot?!"
Now, It's was Johnny's turn to slap him upside down.
Tony, however, wasn't fazed by Voldy Jr name revealing. His scanners picked something up. He squinted at the HUD overlay.
"Jarvis? What's that movement on my left?"
"Massive serpentine lifeform detected. Coiled. It's waking up."
Tony's gaze snapped to the shadows beyond the statue.
Then the hissing started.
Low. Ancient. A sound that vibrated through their bones.
Sirius flinched. "What in Merlin's name is that?"
Remus tensed.
Riddle smiled cruelly and turned toward the shadows. "Speak to me, Slytherin, greatest of the Hogwarts Four…"
The ground trembled.
"Don't look in its eyes!" Johnny suddenly yelled, paling. "It's a Basilisk!"
Tony didn't hesitate.
He raised his palm and fired.
A beam of repulsor energy blazed through the Chamber, exploding against the statue's base—just as the massive serpent uncoiled.
A deadly long ancient and horrific snake ready to have it's lunch.