HARRY POTTER :Rebirth in Time.

The golden glow of the Gryffindor common room fireplace flickered across Harry's face as he stared into the flames, his mind racing with everything they had uncovered so far. The ruins in the Forbidden Forest, Malfoy's cryptic warning, and the ancient markings—they were all pieces of a puzzle he had yet to solve.

Hermione sat beside him, flipping through The Web of Shadows, her fingers tracing over the aged parchment with increasing frustration. "There's still too much we don't know," she muttered. "The Obsidian Circle, the rituals, and Malfoy's involvement… It's all connected, but we're missing something crucial."

Daphne, perched in a nearby armchair, watched them both with a thoughtful expression. "Malfoy's smug confidence worries me," she said. "He's always been arrogant, but this feels… different. He's holding back something big, and if we're going to stay ahead of him, we need to find out what it is."

Harry nodded, running a hand through his hair. "We have to step up our efforts. No more waiting around for answers to come to us."

Hermione closed the book with a decisive thud. "Agreed. I think it's time we used a more… direct approach."

Daphne's lips curled into a smirk. "I was hoping you'd say that."

The Next Morning – The Slytherin Common Room

Slipping into the Slytherin common room unnoticed was no easy feat, but Daphne's reputation as one of the more aloof members of her house granted her a certain level of freedom. She moved through the dimly lit chamber with calculated ease, her gaze sweeping across the stone walls and the emerald glow of the enchanted lighting.

Pansy Parkinson was seated near the fireplace, deep in conversation with Theodore Nott. Daphne approached casually, her tone light. "Talking about me behind my back, are you?"

Pansy rolled her eyes, but Nott regarded her with quiet interest. "We were just wondering where your loyalties lie, Greengrass. Lately, you've been… distracted."

Daphne smiled coolly. "Let's just say I have my own interests. But I'm always open to… sharing information."

Nott's lips twitched into a smirk. "Interesting. What do you want?"

She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. "I want to know what Malfoy is planning. And in return, I might be willing to share some insights of my own."

Pansy scoffed. "Like we'd tell you anything."

But Nott's gaze remained locked on Daphne's. "You're smart, Daphne. You know how this works. Loyalty earns rewards, and betrayal… well, let's just say Malfoy doesn't take it lightly."

Daphne arched a brow. "I'm not here to betray anyone. I just want to make sure I'm on the winning side."

Nott studied her for a moment before speaking, his voice low and careful. "There's something big coming. Bigger than any of us. Malfoy's working with forces beyond Hogwarts, and they have plans that go far beyond school rivalries. You'd do well to stay close to him."

Daphne forced herself to remain composed, even as her mind raced. "I'll keep that in mind."

As she walked away, her pulse quickened. She needed to tell Harry and Hermione what she had just learned—something dark was brewing, and they were running out of time.

The Library – Hermione's Investigation

Hermione's fingers skimmed across the spines of ancient tomes as she searched for something—anything—that could provide insight into the Obsidian Circle's plans. She had managed to convince Madam Pince to let her access a restricted section of the library under the pretense of researching ancient wizarding alliances.

After an hour of digging through countless books, she finally found something promising—The Forbidden Doctrines: Lost Magics and Forbidden Rituals. Flipping through the brittle pages, her breath caught as she landed on a section titled The Resurrection of Dark Powers.

The passage described the Obsidian Circle's ultimate goal: the revival of long-forgotten dark entities through rituals that required sacrifice—blood, loyalty, and powerful magical conduits.

Hermione's stomach churned. "They're not just planning something—they're trying to bring something back," she whispered to herself.

Before she could read further, a voice startled her. "Granger."

She snapped the book shut and turned to find Theodore Nott standing behind her, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

"What do you want, Nott?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

"You're looking in dangerous places," he said, his eyes narrowing. "Curiosity killed the cat, you know."

Hermione lifted her chin defiantly. "I can take care of myself."

Nott smirked. "I don't doubt it. Just… don't dig too deep. Some things are meant to stay buried." With that, he turned and left, leaving Hermione feeling more unsettled than ever.

Later That Night – The Room of Requirement

The trio reconvened in the Room of Requirement, the walls shifting to accommodate bookshelves, maps, and a large table covered in parchment and notes. Hermione laid out her findings while Daphne relayed her conversation with Nott.

"They're planning a dark ritual," Hermione said grimly. "And if I'm right, they'll need a conduit of significant power to pull it off."

Daphne nodded. "And Nott confirmed that Malfoy's involved with forces outside of Hogwarts. They're moving fast."

Harry clenched his fists. "We need to find out where they plan to do this. The Forbidden Forest? Somewhere in the castle?"

Hermione frowned. "It would have to be somewhere steeped in magic. The Chamber of Secrets, maybe? Or the ruins in the forest?"

Daphne sighed. "The only way to know for sure is to keep digging. But we're running out of time, Harry."

He met her gaze, a sense of urgency settling in his chest. "Then we push harder. We stay ahead of them, and when the time comes… we stop them before it's too late."

As they stood there, a feeling of determination filled the room. They had faced darkness before, but this time, they were armed with knowledge, with second chances.

But would it be enough?

End of Chapter 6