Harry stood amidst the aftermath of the dueling practice, his breathing steady as students y scattered across the floor, still rec from the iy of their matches. It was clear that Harry hadn't even broken a sweat.

  "It's a shame Hogwarts doesn’t pete in iional dueling tours anymore," Luka Brattleby said, beaming. "You’d be a champion!"

  Harry smirked and shrugged off the praise. "Thanks. It was o blow off some steam." He then turo Luna, his tone being more casual. "So, I went through that book you gave me while I retending to listen in Binns' css."

  Luna's eyes gleamed with curiosity. "Oh? Find anything iing?"

  Harry’s expression grew serious, though tinged with disbelief. "Yeah. How did you lose?"

  Luna blinked in fusion. "What?"

  Harry crossed his arms, a frown f on his face. "How could you possibly lose to your sister? Sure, she has the power of the sun, but the sun is just a star. And you trol all the stars."

  A stunned silence followed his words, interrupted only by the occasional groans of the defeated students around them. One particurly bewildered student mao croak out, "What?!"

  Luna sighed, rolling her eyes pyfully. With a quick wave of her hand, she cast a wide-area memory charm she called the Neuralizer, ensuring that the nearby students would soon fet the versation.

  "Harry, you o be more careful about what you say in public," Luna scolded with a pout, though there was a teasing glint in her eyes.

  Harry scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Sorry. It just annoyed me. The book made it seem like the author fot how powerful you are, like they weakened you just to make the plot work."

  Luna paused for a moment, then muttered under her breath, "Damn it, Sandstorm..."

  Harry gnced around at the students still stirring and slowly regaining sciousness. Leaning in closer to Luna, he lowered his voice. "Maybe we should tihis versation somewhere more... private."

  Luna chuckled softly, nodding in agreement. "Good idea, Harry. It wouldn't do to have the whole school questioning the strahings you say. I mean, how many times have I had to tell people I’m not the queen of the Fae?"

  Harry smirked at her pyful jab, realizing she was iionally riling up the few scious students. One of them sat up, rubbing his head with a fused expression, clearly trying to make sense of what he'd overheard.

  "Alright, let’s get out of here before things get more plicated," Harry said, gently tugging on Luna’s sleeve.

  She nodded, her eyes gleaming mischievously. "The Room of Requirement?" she suggested.

  "I was thinking the Chamber of Secrets," Harry replied with a smirk. "You up for killing a basilisk?"

  Luna’s grin widened as her eyes sparkled with excitement. "The Chamber of Secrets, huh?" she mused. "It’s been a while since I’ve visited a pce full of a danger. Sounds fun."

  "Luna, we did something like that literally on night one," Harry said, his tone deadpan.

  "Lead the way," Luna replied with a dramatic sweep of her hand, choosing to ignore his ent.

  Without further dey, the pair made their way through the winding corridors of Hogwarts, their footsteps eg as they desded deeper into the castle. Soon, they reached the familiar entran Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom. Harry hissed in Parseltongue, and the sink shifted aside to reveal the dark tunnel leading to the Chamber below.

  Luna, gng at the steep drop, said with a grin, "Have you ever thought of asking for stairs, Harry?"

  Harry facepalmed. "Why didn’t I think of that?" He hissed in Parseltongue again, and sure enough, a winding staircase emerged from the walls.

  "Huh. Who would've known?" Harry said, impressed. "You ready?"

  Luna fshed him a triumphant smile. "I knew, and I’ve been ready for a very long time."

  Just as they prepared to desd, a voice rang out from behind them. "What’s this about killing snakes?"

  Harry and Luna turned sharply, their pyful expressions giving way to cautious ones as they faced Daphne Greengrass—or rather, Daphne Crocell, her true name.

  "Daphne," Luna greeted her warmly. "Fancy seeing you here. I take it you’re not here for a basilisk hunt?"

  Daphilted her head slightly, her eyes glinting with curiosity. "ly, but I’m definitely ied in what you two are up to." She eyed the operao the Chamber. "Killing Slytherins, Harry? I thought you were a hero, not a murderer."

  Harry chuckled softly. "Not my style, Daphne. We’re after a basilisk much older than any Slytherin. Should be a walk in the park."

  "A basilisk, really?" Daphne said, her tone skeptical. "In Hogwarts? You ’t be serious."

  "Oh, I am," Harry said with a grin. "Slytherin’s a pet is a basilisk. I thought you khat."

  Daphne raised an eyebrow. "If it’s that old, it should be dead."

  Luna stepped in, her eyes sparkling with a mix of excitement aainty. "Oh, she’s very much alive. And we’re going to have a bit of jolly cooperation in dealing with her."

  Daphne's amused demeanor faltered, her casual curiosity shifting into disbelief. "You’re tellihere’s still a giant, murderous snake down there? And you're just going to face it like it's no big deal?"

  Luna nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! But don’t worry, Harry’s dohis before, and I’m more than prepared."

  Harry and Daphne could only blink as Luna disappeared into the stairwell.

  “Wow, she was fast… Wait she’s gonna steal my kill!” Harry shouts chasing after her.

  “Satan Help us,” Daphters