HARRY POTTER :Rebirth in Time

The weight of their mission pressed heavily upon them as Harry, Hermione, and Daphne navigated the familiar corridors of Hogwarts. Despite the warm glow of torches lining the stone walls, an unshakable sense of unease settled in Harry's chest. The past had returned to them, but with it came the threat of repeating old mistakes.

Hermione led the way to an abandoned classroom they had decided to use as their temporary meeting spot. Once inside, she secured the room with a series of protective charms before turning to face them.

"We have pieces of the puzzle," she began, placing the ancient book she had found in the Restricted Section on the worn wooden desk. "But we still don't know how deep this conspiracy goes or who's involved beyond Malfoy and his usual entourage."

Daphne leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Blaise didn't give me much, but I could tell he knows more than he's letting on. We need to push harder, but we can't draw too much attention to ourselves. The last thing we want is Malfoy getting suspicious."

Harry nodded, his jaw set in determination. "Then we take it slow. We keep observing, gathering intel. We can't afford to rush in blind."

Hermione's fingers traced over a faded passage in the book, her brow furrowed in concentration. "There's mention here of something called the Obsidian Circle—a sect within the Dark Accord that focused on ancient rituals meant to tip the balance of power in their favor. If Malfoy and his group are trying to revive it…"

"Then they're planning something far worse than we imagined," Daphne finished grimly. "And they won't stop until they succeed."

A heavy silence fell over them as the weight of their reality settled in.

The Next Evening – The Forbidden Forest

Under the cover of night, the trio slipped out of the castle, their steps muffled against the damp ground of the Forbidden Forest. Hermione had found a mention of an old meeting place once used by the Obsidian Circle—a long-forgotten ruin deep within the trees. If they could find it, they might uncover clues to Malfoy's plans.

"I don't like this," Harry muttered, keeping his wand at the ready as they moved through the thick underbrush. "It feels like a trap."

"Everything feels like a trap," Daphne whispered back, her eyes scanning the darkness. "That's why we stay alert."

Hermione led the way, following the directions she had found in the book. After several minutes of tense silence, they stumbled upon a clearing where the ruins of an ancient stone structure lay crumbling beneath the moonlight.

"This must be it," she whispered, stepping cautiously toward the center of the ruins.

Harry knelt by one of the stone pillars, brushing away the moss to reveal intricate carvings etched into the surface—symbols that pulsed faintly with residual magic. "This place still has power," he muttered. "It's old magic… dangerous magic."

Daphne crouched beside him, her gaze narrowing. "I've seen some of these symbols before," she murmured, tracing one with her fingertips. "My family's library had records of ancient dark magic. These markings—" she paused, her expression darkening, "—they're tied to blood rituals."

Hermione shivered. "That means Malfoy and his lot might be planning something here. We need to find out what before it's too late."

Suddenly, a rustle echoed from the trees, and the trio froze. Harry raised his wand, his heart pounding. "We're not alone."

Figures emerged from the shadows—hooded, their faces obscured. Harry counted at least four, their wands raised and aimed directly at them.

"Well, well," a familiar drawl came from the darkness, sending a chill down Harry's spine. "What do we have here?"

Draco Malfoy stepped into the clearing, flanked by Blaise Zabini and Pansy Parkinson, their expressions smug and calculating.

Daphne straightened, her voice cool and composed. "We could ask you the same, Malfoy. Sneaking around at night with your little club? Sounds suspicious."

Malfoy smirked, his silver eyes gleaming. "I could say the same about you, Greengrass. You seem awfully… curious about things that don't concern you."

"Everything concerning you concerns me," Daphne shot back smoothly.

Harry tightened his grip on his wand. "What are you doing here, Malfoy?"

Malfoy twirled his wand idly. "Just taking a walk. Lovely night for it, don't you think?" His expression darkened slightly. "But I'd suggest you three mind your own business. Hogwarts isn't as safe as it used to be."

Hermione's eyes narrowed. "Is that a threat?"

Malfoy grinned. "A warning, Granger. There are forces at play here you can't begin to understand." He turned on his heel, his entourage following him as he disappeared into the night. "Stay out of our way, Potter. Next time, you won't get off so easily."

As the last of them vanished into the darkness, Daphne let out a slow breath. "They're definitely up to something."

Harry nodded, his jaw clenched. "We need to figure out what—before it's too late."

The Gryffindor Common Room – Later That Night

Back in the safety of the common room, the trio sat by the fire, their minds racing through the night's events. Hermione rubbed her temples, exhaustion creeping in.

"They're hiding something big," she murmured. "And Malfoy's confidence means he thinks he has the upper hand."

Daphne leaned forward, her voice firm. "Then we need to change that. We have an advantage—time. We know what's coming, and we have the chance to stop it before it starts."

Harry looked between them, determination burning in his eyes. "We don't have all the answers yet, but we're getting closer. We'll keep pushing, keep digging. They won't see us coming."

Hermione offered a small smile. "Together?"

Harry reached out, placing a hand over hers and Daphne's. "Together."

And with that vow, they prepared themselves for the battles yet to come.