It seemed colder than usual. Rey rubbed her shoulders as she descended. They kept going without a second thought as to where they were going or why. She swore that she could hear more of the footsteps, but never saw a thing. Every nerve was electric, ready to jump at any dancing shadow or misplaced creak.

It was only adrenaline and sheer will that kept the two Gryffindors from bolting and never looking back. The person (or people) behind this had killed people and had turned them to stone. They were in control of a basilsk. Whenever they heard a hissing sound, they whipped out the mirrors.

Finally, they'd found the room, but the shadow of a person in candlelight was obvious. Rey slowly drew her sword. The figure froze at the almost silent sound of the sword sliding from its sheath. She froze herself and waited for a moment. After the figure sighed and resumed activities.

She lifted her mirror instead of her sword. She first caught the flicker of fire, then the figure, searching through some files. Thankfully, no basilisk showed up in the reflection. Then the figure stiffened and drew the strangely glowing sword. Rey quickly stowed away her mirror and raised her sword. The figure stepped out.

As a knee-jerk reaction, Finn shot a Stunning Spell, only resulting in it being absorbed by the sword. He started stepping back to analyze further, while Rey launched herself at him. Their blades collided in an unholy battle of light and dark.

He blocked her swing and pushed her back, causing her to stumble backwards. She gritted her teeth and swung again, only to be blocked again. She tried a quick feint, then actually swung to her left rather than her right the last few times. He barely blocked, then hit again, pushing her further back.

She began to ascend the stairs as Finn shot more spells, only to be effortlessly blocked by the sword. The man chased them up to a level of the dungeons. He and Rey hit at the exact same time, pushing their blades against each other in a match neither wanted to lose.

"Get help!" Rey yelled. "Save yourself, Finn!"

"I'll come back for you," Finn swore, and he took off without a second thought. His heart pounded to his heartbeat, reminding him of a piece of poetry Rey liked to recite. "Step follows step. Hope follows courage. Set your face towards danger, set your heart towards victory."

In order to make this victory happen, he had to run. And he hated himself for it.

Rey held out as long as she could. The pure force of his strike made her blade snap back and the momentum carried her to the ground. She let go of her sword and it skidded on the cold stone. The figure held the sword inches from her face.

"You won't get away with this," she snarled. She reached to get her wand out of her vest. Before her fingers could brush against the rowan, she heard a deep voice say, "Stupefy," and she felt nothing at all.

Finn's footsteps immediately alerted the patrols in the Great Hall.

"What are you doing out here?" A woman demanded.

"I-I-"

"Minister Skywalker-Solo demanded to see any kid that tried to sneak out," another said.

"I need help!" Finn interrupted.

"You certainly do," one adult snidely remarked. "Minister hasn't been that easy."

"No, you don't get it," Finn said. "Rey Sunrider's down in the dungeons and got captured by the guy that we think is behind the Chamber of Secrets."

"What?" An elderly woman in white robes took off her hood, revealing her iconic hairstyle.

"Minister Skywalker-Solo," they chorused and bowed their heads in respect for the regal leader.

She ignored them and walked straight to Finn.

"Miss Sunrider is down there?" She asked.

"You know her?" Finn asked.

"I heard as soon as she was confirmed, Mr. Calrissian," Minister Skywalker-Solo confirmed. "I know of her bloodlines as well. Wonderful Aurors in both of her bloodlines, and her parents were no exception."

"We've got to help her," Finn added insistently, his puppy-eyes begging.

"I promise, we will," Skywalker-Solo said. "Come with me."

She led him to her brother's former office, and opened the door with the password. She then ascended the stairs with all the grace of a princess and all of the commanding presence of a general. Finn marveled to be meeting the most beloved Minister of Magic!

Inside the office, Skywalker-Solo went immediately to the Sorting Hat and held it out to Finn.

"I know it doesn't look like much," she acknowledged. "But it has strong ties to the Founders, Gryffindor in particular. My brother always stressed that if a student was in trouble, the Hat would come to their aid. You'll lead our Aurors into the dungeons to find your friend. This ends tonight."

Finn nodded, even though he had no idea what he'd do with a bloody hat. He knew he just had to do this to save Poe and Rey. No one else in the school mattered as much as they did to him. They were his only friends. Poe was the popular flyboy, and he had a few fans from Quidditch, but Rey was pretty dependent on him, and he on her. They'd been friends since their first train to Hogwarts.

He was about to place the hat on his head when he felt something heavy. Carefully, he stuck his hand in. He pulled out an elegant sword with rubies, made of goblin silver. The name, Gryffindor, stood out in the reflection of the firelight.