Hey there,

this is the last chapter from Elliott's POV for now, and for new moon, we'll accompany Tom again ;)

Have fun and thanks for reading!

"It's going to be fantastic tomorrow," Harper mumbles, entering the girls' lavatory after me. "I'll curse him for this birthday, and if he dares to die … I'll bring him right back, just to send him into the afterlife myself!" From one second to the other, she suddenly gulps and glances at Leonora. "I'm so scared for him …"

Of course, my badger hugs her tightly in the middle of the washing room while Hagrid follows us without a second thought, saying, "Actually, before the holidays, he claimed that he was hiding a surprise for you in the tower. But maybe that was just … an excuse?"

"A bold-faced lie," Harper claims as she pulls herself together once more to join us with Leo. "So let the search begin?"

Indeed, and we do search for quite a while.

"It's pretty in here," I find after we've inspected the bathroom sinks and toilet cubicles no less than four times. "It's a really nice toilet."

The ladies only raise their brows at me.

"You can't stop talking for the life of you," Leonora giggles and winks at me. "And be it about toilets."

"What?" I spread my arms. "Come on, our toilets aren't that nice at all, are they now, Hagrid?"

Hagrid stoutly nods.
There they go …

"All fine," Rouvenia languidly sighs, eventually turning her gaze to Harper. "But what exactly are we looking for? This isn't going anywhere."

Harper lets her fingertips waver over yet another wall in hopes of finding some kind of gap. "I wish I knew."

"Shouldn't we perhaps find us a professor and –"

"Leo, are you crazy?" Rouvenia grumbles. "If we mention any of this, we'll all be expelled!"

"Let's not be so quick to give up," I stop the both of them. "Just let me … I need to … think. You, too. Be creative!"

"Come on, Bryant." Rouvenia crosses her arms over her chest and lets her gaze wander across the high room in glorious impatience. "This can't possibly be where the entrance to the infamous Chamber of Secrets is located! We're clearly in the wrong place. I mean … Look around! This is a toilet!"

"It has to be here, I'm certain," Harper says, keeping an eye on the basins. "Somewhere in the 18th century, a remodeling and installation work throughout the castle took place, to integrate a pipework system. And there are plenty of pipes in toilets … That's also how she moves through the entire school."

"She?" Hagrid swallows.

"Echidna," Harper says under her breath, as if absently. "The mother of monsters, who happens to hear really well … Hence, we should be quiet."

"All right, but don't use that word," Rouvenia rebukes her. "She is no monster. Monsters are … not monsters. We're all just the product of our circumstances."

Harper simply nods, but only I notice it. She looks like Rouvenia had actually spoken about Tom …

"Even a huge murderous basilisk is only what the world has made it," Rou adds. "And I'm sure … Echidna is … quite tame? If Tom is still alive after all?"

"Yes," Hagrid merrily agrees, "I'm also sure she is."

"Pipes … wait a minute," I say. I feel l have an epiphany. "Harper, before the holidays – what were you reading about at the Black Lake? That Corvinus Gaunt bloke, right? Among other things."

She seems to be caught off guard.
A good sign. So my own research was in the right place.

"I also borrowed that book," I quickly add, "just the other day, I thought I might be able to make some sense of Tom's strange behaviour. And that's when I came across that name again, Corvinus Gaunt."

"The name Gaunt also came up at the lake, yes," Leonora says. "But who was that?"

"A Slytherin in the 18th century," I'm quick to explain. "He formed a committee in Muggle Studies – supposedly to help with the construction work for that pipework system. Right after …" I pause. That detail of the story gets me every time …

"After what?" Hagrid asks, tensely leaning against the wall of the lavatory.

"After two workers disappeared without a trace," Harper spills the beans for me, looking as though it had been her fault back then. "I don't think they disappeared. I think they were …"

"Eaten?" Rouvenia suggests, shuddering.

Harper stares at the ground. "I guess so."

"Well, anyway," I continue, "Corvinus and his little group helped in here – in the girls' toilet on the second floor, installing the taps and basins."

"Good for Corvinus," Rouvenia says, her irritation obviously welling up. "But what does that prove? Just because he was a student of Slytherin and helped here doesn't mean that the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets is in this toilet! And just because Tom once said to Harper that the entrance is here, doesn't mean it's true either! He's lying all the time. And even more so when he thinks he's protecting her. I suggest we finally look somewhere else and –"

"He's clearly heard her in here," Harper protests, pointing ahead. "When I was standing at this basin. He literally dragged me back to the corridors, away from … her … I'm sure we're in the right place."

"What do you mean, he heard her?" I ask, perplexed for good. "Heard whom? The giant snake?"

With plenty of hesitation, she meets my gaze, nodding vaguely.

"Oh, for hell's sake, Sully!" Rouvenia snaps, putting her arms on her hips as though she couldn't take it any longer. "You know a lot more than you're telling us! Put your cards on the table now, otherwise we'll get distracted by details every two minutes! We have to be able to trust each other, don't you get that!"

"No, I … I do." Harper blows out her cheeks, clearly having a hard time accepting just that. "I'm sorry, you're right. But do you swear you won't tell anyone?"

"What are we not supposed to tell anyone?" Leonora anxiously asks.

Harper takes heart. "Listen, Tom's a –"

She doesn't get to finish her sentence, though.
We all freeze as we hear a hissing sound behind us – as if from a snake.
The dragging noise of scales on stone floor – slow, but deadly – sends shivers down our spines.

"Close your eyes!" Rouvenia shouts. "Close your eyes, now!"

We all do so immediately – until the grinding comes much closer and Harper suddenly whimpers.

"What's wrong?" Leonora whispers in utmost urgency. "Say something!"

"You can open your eyes, my gaze won't harm you," we suddenly hear a pleasant, calm female voice.

And it's like a reflex, her words actually cause us to obey.

Where a moment ago we thought we were being approached by a huge, deadly reptile, now a beautiful Asian woman dressed in a midnight blue, loose-fitting trouser suit is standing in front of us at a basin.

We all stare at her, she, however, only looks at Harper.

"You must be Edwin's little raven," she says, a hint of a vague smile all over her features. She's so graceful, but her movements, her glances … I gulp. She seems like a … snake … "You look a lot like someone who also cared about Tom," the woman almost hisses without even acknowledging the rest of us, completely focussed on Harper. "Her name was Faye, but everyone just called her Shirley …"

Harper is usually not at a loss for words, but that seems to be the case right now. She's just as wide-eyed as we are – because who is that, how does she know her, what is she doing here?

"You're Nagini, are you not," Harper then almost whispers while we all have to hide our surprise. "I've seen you before, in Tom's mind," Harper adds. "And Faye, or Shirley, helped his mum back then, didn't she? That, in turn, was in Merope's memories. Did you come to London with Vinda? To look for the child of the prophecy?"

What prophecy?

"The Dark Lord sent me to Soho after Vinda failed to find the kid, yes," the lady says. "He'd hoped I might better identify an heir of Slytherin …"

Harper sniffs. "And likewise, you were present when Tom was where … the dogs were. Isn't that right?"

The dogs? What the blazes is she talking about?
The stranger just nods, gravely at that, as if she knew exactly what Harper's getting at.

But by now, Hagrid has shaken off his shock to clear his voice as well. "How did you do that, Ms Nagini?"

She immediately frowns at him. "What do you mean?"

"You were … I could've sworn I heard scales on the floor …"

She's reluctant at first, but she soon gives him a bored smile before she suddenly transforms into the biggest snake I've ever seen in my entire life. A snake of that calibre could easily kill a human, so we all back away mechanically.

Except for Harper. She freezes.
Whatever happened at the beginning of the holidays – she's been terrified of snakes ever since …

As Nagini aims at her and comes to a halt in front of her, looking deep into her eyes, she seemingly can't make but a move. Nagini begins to wrap herself around her legs and promptly bends over her shoulders and around her neck. The weight is certainly not to be underestimated, and yet that's probably not why Harper is breathing so heavily – she's about to panic.
A while passes, though, during which Nagini simply holds her gaze, and eventually Harper seems to relax a little. She raises her hand, despite the fact it's shaking, to Nagini's head and forces a smile as the majestic body wraps itself around it, too, only to soon make its way back down to the floor.

She disappears behind the sinks, only to come back on the other side as Ms Nagini – not a snake.

"You're an Animagus," I assume, but she just shakes her head.

"It doesn't matter what I am. Only what I can do. And what I can't do. I can help you get into the catacombs and, with a bit of luck, keep the basilisk off your back, but I can't undo an occult ritual. Only witches can."

"How do you know that?" Rouvenia is quick to ask, defiantly raising her chin.

"Wait," I, on the other hand, throw in. "Only witches? Not me?"

"That's what I was told," Nagini confirms. "So – what were you up to in here?"

"What we were up to?" Rouvenia repeats, her tone one of wary disbelief. "Ma'am, excuse me, but you're the one walking … or … crawling? In here, into Hogwarts, when nobody knows you, nobody knows your motives … And now you're asking us questions? No. What are you up to?"

"Not that we had the time for explanations," she retorts. "But I stand before you on behalf of a handful of people who were unable to gain access to the castle unseen."

"And what kind of people are you talking about, ma'am?" Leonora asks.

"Edwin," Harper mumbles. "And the two women, right?"

"Queenie and Vivian," Nagini confirms, whoever that may be … "We know about Tom's plan. And that it can't work because of you."

"Because he loves her," Leonora whispers triumphantly. "I knew it!"

Nagini smirks, almost like a mother. "Love can be very cruel, though. So cruel, in fact, that you think you don't deserve it." Once again, she raises a brow at Harper.

"I don't understand half of this, but – what's in it for you?" Rouvenia asks, her eyes narrowing even more. "Why do you want to help us?"

Nagini straightens. "Tom will be the only person I can talk to one day."

"One day?" Leonora asks. And I hear it in her voice, she's combining details in a flash. "If you're not an Animagus, you can only be a Maledictus. And as such, at some point you won't be able to choose your form. So if you turn into a snake for good, and you can only speak to Tom then … that inevitably means that Tom … must be a Parselmouth! Isn't that so? Harper? That's why Tom could handle that Runespoor so well. And why it works with Echidna … right?"

Harper hesitates, but eventually, she nods.

"There aren't too many people capable of speaking with a split tongue, as you may know," Nagini groans. "That's why I don't want Tom to die. And after he simply vanished a few weeks ago –"

"Typical of him," I sigh in amusement, even though I only understand half of it.

Even Nagini chuckles along before she says, "After Albania, Edwin, Queenie, Vivian and I soon realised what was going on here at Hogwarts, and when. So we did our research." More seriously, she adds, "Considering the legends we were able to gather, it probably starts with a full moon – and ends tomorrow …"

"Rouvenia's right – there's more to it than that," Harper backs away. "You're not entirely honest. Are you?"

"I also want revenge," Nagini bluntly admits. "We all want that. We've lost a lot, for the Greater Good, and if Tom really is the one the Dark Lord wanted to find back then, then he mustn't die …"

I swallow hard, just like the others.
The Greater Good?
It's a concept in our world of magic that scares all of us. And it's inextricably linked to none other than Gellert Grindelwald.

What even is Tom involved in? What prophecy are they talking about?

"Are you speaking of the Greater Good that Gellert –"

"Shhh!" Nagini hisses. In shock she adds, "The name has a magical taboo attached to it. Doesn't Dumbledore teach you that?"

We shake our heads, Nagini just sighs. "But indeed. That one. It turns out that Tom is the child who, according to a prophecy, is either instrumental in bringing down the Dark Lord – or very useful to him."

"Then why didn't he kill him when he had the chance?" Harper asks.

"He thinks him to be helpful," Nagini says. "Because he already was."

"The ring." Harper briefly closes her eyes, but we don't understand a word.

"What ring?" Rouvenia shouts, close to despair due to her unanswered questions. "Why would a man famously hunting the Deathly Hallows care about a –" She pauses and shakes her head in dismay. "What's going on here? What was he even up to while we were all innocently bathing in the Black Lake?"

I shrug. "I'm sure he'll explain it to us at some point."

"As if!"

Nagini stifles a smile. "Well, see, what the Dark Lord fails to realise is that Tom can be both. Helpful and the reason for his fall. But only if he's alive. What's his condition? Do you think he'll survive the fifth ritual tomorrow?"

"No," we all say as though we had one voice. We are very much in agreement.

Harper anxiously adds, "And that's not an option!"

"That's what Queenie and Vivian said, too," Nagini claims. "The last ritual is supposed to be the worst, but I'd have tried it if there was a chance that he –"

"He's already more dead than alive." Harper bites her lower lip only to eventually add, "He simply can't bear a fifth – worse – ritual. So the question is, how can we undo what he's done so far?"

"Three witches, as I said," Nagini states, handing Harper a piece of parchment. "This is your great-uncle explaining his theory."

"Read it to us!" Rouvenia demands.

Harper sighs and nods. "He's writing: My dear Harper, the reason for my letter is a rather urgent one, and therefore, in the haste and gloom, I suppose any enquiry as to how you may feel is redundant. Since as you read this, there won't be much time left. And assuming that you've been informed by and through Tom about only the bare minimum – he truly plays his cards close to the chest – I'd now like to tell you briefly about my findings." She looks up with a tired smile. "Briefly? It's a novel …" She clears her throat to continue, nevertheless, "In hopes that the ladies and I are right and that the sources are trustworthy – we have recently spent sleepless nights researching banned books organized from Knockturn Alley – here are some ideas that, especially in combination with Nagini's skills, should help save the son-in-law that your parents want so much for you. (Do you still love him? Whatever the answer to that may be – please tell Tom, in case his premature demise can actually be avoided, that he should beware of my walking stick in the future! Especially since I read that the ritual requires seven deadly sins – and I'm afraid that you were heavily involved in one of them in particular, my dear …" Harper looks up at us, flushing from embarrassment. "He's just rambling on – but it gets interesting again down here. The only sources we could find were ancient Greek, which fits with the fact that the inventor of the black magic we're dealing with was from antiquity. The scriptures all tell us that the ritual is an analogy to unauthorised and foolish gambling with fate – something we mortals are not entitled to under any circumstances since it comes with disastrous consequences. In Greek mythology, fate is personified by a triad of Moira, the witches who determine life and death independently of the gods. Klotho, who spins the thread of life, Lachesis, who decides the fate of life, and Atropos, who cuts the thread of life. Anyone who challenges fate, namely these three witches, can only – symbolically – come back into harmony with fate through them. As far as we can judge from the information given, it seems necessary to recite the incantation in reverse and repeatedly, by three representatives of fate in utmost concentration. However, and this could become precarious and time-critical, only when the last part of the soul splits off and is about to finally fill the lifeless object sufficiently with life. Only at the last moment, when the soul, the object and the black magic are in harmony and about to merge, is a reversal of light and darkness possible."

"That will be a close call," Rou says, visibly concerned.

Nagini nods. "The way back into light is difficult when you come from darkness."

"And that's not everything yet," Harper says, reading on anxiously. "It might be even more difficult that, judging by the scriptures, Tom has to agree to the revision and apparently the seven sins need to be balanced out by the seven virtues. Sapiencia – wisdom, Justitia – justice, Caritas – love, Fides – faith, Temperantia – temperance, Fortitudo – courage, Spes – hope. Tell the darkness when Tom takes these virtues to heart before you begin and – if we have not overlooked anything – we hope that you will succeed. Good luck!"

"Good luck," Rouvenia snorts while shaking her head. "Marvellous … Justice, faith, temperance? We're talking about Tom Riddle! How are we supposed to find examples for that?"

"I'll come up with something," Harper decides. "I'm just glad there's any hope at all …"

"If we don't waste any more time, that is," Nagini reminds us. "So once again – what were you up to just now? Going for a stroll in the catacombs?"

Harper groans in frustration. "We're a bit desperate by now, so … yes!"

"More than foolish without a Parselmouth." Nagini smirks. "And also impossible. The chamber can definitely only be opened with a password."

"We thought we'd just hiss something."

"Yes, Hagrid," I chuckle, "that was the plan …"

"Don't bother." Nagini winks. "I've always wanted to talk to a snake bigger than me. Where is the entrance?"

"We haven't found it yet," Leonora admits. "But Harper, which basin were you standing at when Tom pulled you out of here?"

She points to it and, as if on impulse, I walk towards it.

I take a quick glance at myself in the frosted mirror, then, out of curiosity, I open the tap. I try to open the one next to it as well.

But nothing happens.

"That one doesn't work," Harper says, matter-of-factly. "It's broken." She comes closer and looks at it as well, lost in thought. "Or not broken at all, rather … exactly as it should be …"

I grin, then I inspect the sink more closely.

Until I see it. The engraving of a snake, right on the tap's side. "Corvinus, you old crook …" I mutter as I turn to the others and grin. "Found it!" Proud I am, then I hesitate. "What now?"

"A Parsel password?" Harper asks, and Nagini promptly approaches us.

"Hésha chassáh," she whispers and steps back, just as tense as we are, as the basins disintegrate into their individual parts with muffled clattering until they float apart.
The broken basin even sinks into the floor to become a metal step. How convenient.

Into the abyss, then …