26 Chapter 26 "The Attack Unfolds"
Having collected all the information, Skyler's life fell back into the same routine as the previous semester.
Apart from his daily studies and homework, most of his time was dedicated to the rather monotonous task of magical research.
While the information on blood magic in the library's restricted section wasn't extensive, relatively speaking, these materials were enough to keep Skyler engaged for a long time.
As time flew by, the first two months of the school year had already passed, and Halloween was quickly approaching.
According to the plot, the first basilisk attack in the Chamber of Secrets was set to occur on that day.
Even Skyler, who preferred to stay in his room, had to take some time to attend the Halloween feast.
In the Great Hall, Skyler sat at the long Slytherin table, where Draco was offering his hearty thanks.
"Hey, Thanks Skyler! Draco said, "I haven't seen much of you these past two months. You didn't watch my Quidditch training, and you've been notably absent from dinner. What's keeping you so busy?"
Skyler, pretending not to hear the last question, smiled gently, "Don't worry, I'm fully aware of your abilities. I didn't need to watch your training to know you're doing great. Slytherin's Quidditch team can count on you."
Draco beamed with pride and agreed wholeheartedly.
Daphne and Meredith, sitting nearby, wore slightly reproachful expressions. It was as if they'd felt left out during Skyler's past two months of relative seclusion.
However, with a bit of sweet talk and reassurance from Skyler, the girls soon found themselves amused.
Skyler observed the Gryffindor table intently.
The Harry trio was conspicuously absent.
Recalling the original plot, Skyler surmised that they were likely off to the deathday party hosted by Nearly Headless Nick.
With his attention focused on Ginny Weasley, Skyler followed her as she discreetly left the Great Hall.
In the corridor, Skyler managed to cast an invisibility spell on himself before discreetly trailing Ginny.
Eventually, they reached the infamous "Moaning Myrtle's Bathroom," which had become semi-ruined due to the ghost haunting it.
Skyler knew that this bathroom concealed an entrance to the Slytherin Chamber of Secrets.
He continued to follow Ginny into the bathroom, seeing her use Parseltongue to activate the mechanism.
She seemed to be summoning the basilisk.
Although Skyler was confident in his invisibility magic and had tested it extensively in front of snakes, he couldn't be entirely certain the basilisk wouldn't perceive his invisible presence.
To play it safe, he silently exited the bathroom and concealed himself behind a suit of armor near the entrance, ready for the plot to unfold.
Moments later, he heard the sound of a heavy object slithering.
Argus Filch, the caretaker, had entered the bathroom, demanding an explanation for the prank played on him.
Subsequently, water began gushing from the bathroom door. Mrs. Norris, Filch's vigilant cat, led Filch to the scene, and he scolded the door, thinking that some students were up to mischief.
The students couldn't have foreseen the grim turn of events that awaited them.
Skyler, concealed behind the armor near the bathroom entrance, discreetly observed the situation.
Everything seemed ordinary as the cat, Mrs. Norris, and Filch approached the bathroom door.
However, just as Skyler closed his eyes for a brief moment, a strange and unsettling sound began to fill the air.
It was the eerie noise of a massive and cumbersome object moving.
Norris's screams were silenced abruptly, and a peculiar squirming sound followed.
Soon, an eerie calm settled upon the bathroom. The ominous incident left Skyler in a state of confusion and dread.
However, his furious cries suddenly ceased, replaced by more slithering sounds.
When Skyler opened his eyes again, he saw the message "The Chamber of Secrets has been opened, enemies of the heir, beware" written on the wall.
Filch hung petrified in front of the stone wall.
Skyler had to grin to himself.
As he turned to leave, he encountered the trio of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, who had rushed to the scene following Harry's hearing of an unknown voice.
Invisibility still shrouded Skyler, and he joined a group of students returning to the dormitory to avoid any suspicion.
The trio's plight only got worse as they were unjustly accused by Filch.
Professor Dumbledore eventually intervened, taking the trio away, and the incident came to an end.
After Halloween, an eerie atmosphere engulfed the school.
The story of the Chamber of Secrets remained a well-guarded secret, with various rumors circulating among the students.
Most speculated that Harry was the culprit, considering that he had defeated Voldemort, and in the minds of many young witches and wizards, only a powerful dark wizard could best the Dark Lord.
Skyler remained indifferent.
It wasn't his problem, after all. So, he returned to his secluded life, which was much like the one before the incident.
In November, Hogwarts saw the beginning of the Quidditch season.
The first match was a thrilling showdown between Slytherin and Gryffindor.
However, the Quidditch game in Skyler's altered timeline was quite different from the original book's description.
Slytherin's broomsticks were of a significantly higher grade than those of Gryffindor, and Draco's skills were on par with Harry, the Gryffindor seeker.
Dobby, acting under Skyler's orders, didn't intervene in the match.
Skyler chose not to attend the game in person.
Instead, he sent Dobby to observe from a hidden spot and report the game's progress to him afterward.
In this match, Slytherin held the lead with their superior broomsticks, and Draco effectively countered Harry.
However, the protagonist's luck prevailed, and Harry caught the Golden Snitch, securing a Gryffindor victory by a mere ten points.
As Dobby provided a detailed report, Skyler marveled at Harry's flying abilities but also expressed frustration with the undeniable protagonist's aura.
Upon hearing Dobby's report, Skyler couldn't help but express his frustration regarding Harry's extraordinary flying skills and the undeniable influence of the protagonist's plot armor.
He knew that Harry's safety was a concern, given the ongoing dangers at Hogwarts.
"Dobby," Skyler said thoughtfully, "you've been concerned about Harry Potter's safety at Hogwarts this year, haven't you? Well, I'm assigning you a task. I want you to find Harry, and when he's alone, deliver a warning. Let him know that the Chamber of Secrets has been opened and advise him to leave Hogwarts and return home."
Dobby nodded obediently, assuring Skyler, "I understand, little master. Dobby will take care of it."
He gave Dobby a new task, urging him to deliver a message to Harry Potter regarding the Chamber of Secrets opening.
Dobby's mission was to approach Harry when he was alone, deliver a warning about the secret room's opening, and advise him to leave Hogwarts and return home.
Dobby accepted the task, and the plan for Skyler's desired timeline progressed.
Slytherin's morale remained high despite their loss, fueled by the acknowledgment of their superior equipment.
Draco's performance was better than expected, considering he was relatively new to the game.
Encouraged by this, the Slytherin team intensified their training, putting pressure on the Quidditch teams of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw.
Skyler continued his magical research until the first week of December, when he temporarily put it on hold.
After weeks of dedication, he had acquired a solid theoretical understanding of bloodline power.
Now, he needed practical experience.
He already had a plan in mind, but for now, his primary focus was on advancing the semester's plot and seeking any opportunities for his own gain during the upcoming Chamber of Secrets incident.
During his research, another attack occurred at Hogwarts.
This time, Colin Creevey, a Gryffindor first-year student, was the victim.
Like Filch, Colin was petrified instead of fatally gazed upon by the basilisk.
News of the attack spread quickly, and fear and suspicion gripped the student body.
During this tense period, students engaged in a booming trade of protective amulets and various charms to ward off evil.
Skyler moved through the corridors, observing the fearful atmosphere among the students.
Many preferred not to wander the castle in fear of becoming the next victim, which, in turn, facilitated Skyler's exploration.
Skyler's first target was the Room of Requirement, a location that played a role in the original book.
According to the original descriptions, it was located opposite the giant tapestry on the eighth floor, across from the tapestry of Barnabas.
Skyler reached this spot, passed through the wall three times, and a door appeared as expected.
Upon entering the room, Skyler found himself in a cavernous chamber resembling a cathedral, filled with rows of towering objects.
High windows cast beams of light, creating an eerie cityscape with walls built from a variety of hidden objects.
The room held piles of broken furniture, likely hidden away as evidence of magic misuse.
There were thousands of books, most likely banned or stolen, as well as magical toys like winged slingshots and spiked flying saucers.
Rusty swords and a blood-stained axe lay among the artifacts.
Skyler couldn't contain his amazement and exasperation.
He marveled at the riches surrounding him and wondered how so many had turned a blind eye to such an extraordinary treasure trove.
Skyler couldn't help but marvel at the abundance of this hidden room; it was essentially a treasure trove.
He pondered how countless people had walked right by it, seemingly oblivious to the potential treasures concealed here.
Excited by the discovery, Skyler summoned Dobby, and together, they painstakingly sifted through the pile of items that resembled a neglected junkyard.
After investing significant effort, Skyler concluded that most of these artifacts were either broken or beyond repair.
However, his persistence paid off when he uncovered three items of particular interest: a mysterious suitcase, an ancient sterling silver dagger, and, to his astonishment, one of Voldemort's Horcruxes - the diadem of Ravenclaw.
With his newfound acquisitions carefully gathered, Skyler couldn't wait to return to the dormitory for further study and exploration.
