The Twin Who Lived: Secrets of the Serpent - The Compass Points South

The Serpent's Wing was unusually quiet that evening.

Hidden deep within Hogwarts and accessible only to Mira and those she personally invited, the private chambers felt worlds away from the tension gripping the rest of the castle. Emerald lanterns cast soft pools of light across polished stone floors. Ancient books lined towering shelves that curved along the circular walls. Silver-green tapestries depicting serpents, dragons, and constellations swayed gently despite the lack of wind. Beyond enchanted windows, stars glittered against the night sky. The room smelled faintly of old parchment, cedarwood, and magical ink. Usually the space served as a sanctuary. Tonight, however, it felt more like a war room. The Chamber of Secrets had claimed too many victims already. Mrs. Norris. Colin Creevey. Filch. All cured thanks to Mira's preparations, but the attacks continued. Something had to change.

Mira stood beside a large circular table at the center of the chamber.

Draco occupied a chair nearby.

Theo leaned against one of the bookshelves.

Blaise sat with his arms folded.

Daphne examined several old maps spread across the tabletop.

Nobody was smiling.

Nobody was joking.

The Chamber was no longer a mystery they could casually discuss over breakfast.

It had become a threat.

And all of them knew it.

"We need to find the entrance."

Mira's voice broke the silence.

"The attacks aren't stopping."

Draco nodded immediately.

"Agreed."

For several moments, they studied the maps.

Ancient Hogwarts diagrams.

Architectural sketches.

Records copied from old castle archives.

None of them revealed anything useful.

The Chamber had remained hidden for nearly a thousand years.

There was a reason for that.

Theo rubbed his forehead, "If Salazar built it, he wouldn't leave obvious clues."

Blaise snorted softly, "That narrows it down."

Theo rolled his eyes, "What I mean is that we're looking at this the wrong way."

Daphne glanced up, "Then what's the right way?"

Theo hesitated.

Then shrugged, "If I knew that, we'd already have found it."

Nobody could argue with that.

Mira's gaze drifted toward her sanctuary suitcase.

A thought surfaced.

Slowly.

Then suddenly all at once.

Her eyes widened slightly.

Draco immediately noticed.

"You thought of something."

It wasn't a question.

Mira nodded, "Maybe."

She brought her suitcase over and opens it, "Leo, Septimus, Aquila, Barnaby, I need your help." She requested.

Then four figurines come outside of the suitcase and walk into Mira's palms.

Each was beautifully crafted.

Each represented one of the Hogwarts founders.

A lion forged from enchanted bronze.

A serpent crafted from silver.

An eagle fashioned from dark steel.

A badger carved from polished wood reinforced with runes.

Though motionless at first glance, faint magical energy pulsed through them.

Draco immediately recognized them, "The Founders' Guardians."

Mira nodded.

"Leo." She touched the lion.

Leo stretched like a waking cat.

"Septimus."

Septimus the serpent lifted his head.

"Aquila."

Aquila the eagle fluttered metallic wings.

"Barnaby."

Barnaby the badger yawned.

Daphne leaned closer, "They're beautiful."

Theo looked intrigued.

Blaise looked skeptical, "They're tiny statues."

"They're enchanted," Mira corrected, "Very enchanted."

She gently placed them upon the table.

The sight momentarily distracted everyone from the seriousness of the situation.

Daphne blinked, "They're adorable."

"They're ancient," Mira corrected, "They can be both."

The tiny lion proudly puffed out his chest.

Draco laughed.

Even Blaise looked amused.

Mira wasn't finished.

She reached into the case once more.

This time she withdrew something circular.

Something far older.

The Founders Compass.

The room immediately seemed quieter.

The artifact was breathtaking.

Intricate gold and silver craftsmanship formed a complex star-shaped design across its face. Ancient runes encircled the outer rim. Tiny symbols representing each founder adorned the cardinal directions. At its center rested a needle of shimmering silver-green metal that never remained entirely still. Magic flowed through it like liquid light. The compass felt ancient. Powerful. Alive.

Theo stared, "That's incredible."

"It belonged to the founders," Mira replied softly, "At least according to the records."

The group gathered around the table.

The Founders Guardians climbed onto the compass.

Leo sat proudly beside the lion symbol.

Septimus coiled near the serpent.

Aquila perched near the eagle.

Barnaby settled beside the badger.

The scene felt oddly ceremonial.

Almost sacred.

Mira rested her hands upon the table.

Closed her eyes.

And focused.

The room grew silent.

Even the guardians seemed to understand the importance of the moment.

Magic flowed gently from her fingertips.

The compass responded immediately.

Runes illuminated.

Soft silver light spread across the tabletop.

The needle began spinning.

Slowly at first.

Then faster.

And faster.

The air hummed.

The sensation reminded Draco of standing near a powerful magical artifact.

His pulse quickened.

Something was happening.

Something important.

The needle continued spinning.

Refusing to settle.

Searching.

Seeking.

Minutes passed.

Nobody spoke.

The only sounds came from the humming compass and the crackling fireplace nearby.

The needle abruptly stopped.

Then jerked.

Then moved again.

Septimus raised his silver head.

The tiny serpent hissed softly.

Leo growled.

Aquila ruffled her metallic feathers.

Barnaby stood.

All four guardians suddenly became alert.

Mira's eyes snapped open.

The compass needle pointed decisively.

South.

The room held its breath.

Draco leaned forward, "What does that mean?"

Mira looked down.

The compass surface had changed.

Lines of light spread across the face.

Forming a map.

Not of Britain.

Not of Hogwarts grounds.

Of Hogwarts itself.

Daphne gasped.

Theo nearly knocked over his chair.

Blaise stared.

None of them had expected that.

The glowing map slowly narrowed.

Corridors appeared.

Staircases.

Classrooms.

Passageways.

The castle unfolded beneath them.

Then the glowing light focused.

Smaller.

Smaller still.

Until only a single location remained illuminated.

One room.

One specific room.

One exact location.

The room fell silent.

Draco looked first.

Then frowned, "Wait."

Theo blinked, "No."

Daphne leaned closer, "It can't be."

Blaise stared.

Then looked again.

His expression turned incredulous, "You're joking."

Mira swallowed.

The compass wasn't joking.

Neither were the guardians.

Leo sat upright.

Septimus nodded his head.

Aquila spread her wings.

Barnaby tapped the location twice.

As though emphasizing the answer.

The Chamber entrance was located in a second-floor girls' bathroom.

Nobody spoke.

Several seconds passed.

Then several more.

Draco finally broke the silence, "The haunted bathroom?"

Mira nodded slowly, "The haunted bathroom."

Theo looked completely bewildered, "Out of every location in Hogwarts..."

Daphne rubbed her temples, "Why there?"

Blaise groaned, "Of course it's there."

Understanding gradually dawned across the room.

The attacks.

The water.

The location of previous incidents.

Myrtle's constant presence.

The forgotten bathroom few students willingly visited.

Suddenly it all made sense.

The clues aligned.

Like pieces of a puzzle finally clicking together.

Draco stared at the glowing map.

His mind raced.

"Moaning Myrtle."

Mira nodded, "She's seen everything that happens there."

"Potentially," Theo looked thoughtful, "Which means she might know something."

The compass slowly dimmed.

The map faded.

The needle settled.

Its task complete.

The Founders Guardians relaxed immediately.

Leo stretched again.

Aquila hopped from one side of the compass to the other.

Barnaby sat down.

Septimus curled into a neat coil.

As though they hadn't just solved one of Hogwarts' greatest mysteries.

Mira carefully picked up the compass.

Her pulse still raced.

The Chamber entrance.

After a thousand years.

After countless theories.

After weeks of attacks.

They finally had a lead.

A real one.

Outside the enchanted windows, moonlight bathed Hogwarts in silver. Inside the Serpent's Wing, five second-years stood around an ancient artifact, staring at the answer hidden in plain sight. The Chamber of Secrets wasn't beneath some forgotten dungeon. It wasn't hidden behind a sealed vault. It wasn't concealed deep within the Forbidden Forest. It was inside a bathroom. A haunted bathroom occupied by one very talkative ghost. And as Mira carefully closed the compass case, one thought echoed through all of their minds.

Tomorrow, they were going to have a conversation with Moaning Myrtle. And hopefully, finally uncover the truth.

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