Exactly one year after the four of y'all arrived, something strange happened.
Lake discovered it first.
Hidden behind a cracked wall in the Slytherin dorm tunnels was a staircase spiraling downward into darkness.
He called the others.
Julian arrived with Excalibur at your side.
Noah carried several alchemical lanterns.
Oliver brought a stack of ancient spell scrolls.
The four of y'all descended together.
The staircase seemed endless.
Dust coated every step.
Eventually, the tunnel opened into a massive underground chamber.
A place forgotten by time.
Stone pillars rose from the floor like ancient trees. Massive shelves filled the room, stacked with scrolls and books so old the leather covers had begun to crumble.
Green serpent symbols glowed faintly along the walls.
Lake whispered.
"This has to be an old Slytherin chamber."
Noah carefully opened one of the books.
Inside were ancient spells and magical theories long removed from the castle's official curriculum.
Forbidden knowledge.
Oliver pulled another tome from the shelf.
"Resurrection formulas," he said quietly.
Lake walked deeper into the chamber.
At the far end of the room stood a pedestal.
Resting on it was a single book wrapped in black leather.
Unlike the others, it looked newer.
Untouched by dust.
Oliver opened it.
Inside were detailed sketches and diagrams of a familiar place.
Naomi's Mansion.
Room layouts.
Secret corridors.
Hidden chambers.
Even notes describing magical defenses surrounding the estate.
Lake leaned over Oliver's shoulder.
"…Why is this here?"
Nobody answered.
Because the question had an obvious implication.
Someone connected to the mansion had once been here.