Diagon Alley's Faint Light and the Shadow of the Chamber of Secrets

The mess caused by Dobby tearing through space had been cleaned up, but the warning, "Hogwarts is dangerous," had left an indelible mark beneath the peaceful facade of the Granger home, like ink seeping into wood grain. The Star Mark on Linley's chest pulsed with a faint dark red after he forcibly channeled his magic, each breath causing a subtle, stinging pain. The warmth from the Star Stone also felt sluggish.

Hermione stayed by his side almost constantly. She adjusted the potion formulas, doubling the calming ingredients of lavender and chamomile, and cautiously increased the frequency of using diluted Phoenix Tears. Every morning, she would appear at Linley's doorway with a warm potion, watching him drink it. Her fingertips would unconsciously brush against the Moon White Stone at her neck, as if that action could share his pain. Linley cooperated in silence, but his gaze always lingered on the faint dark circles under her eyes—marks left from staying up late poring over the "Compendium of Rare Magical Injury Cases" and repeatedly calculating potion ratios.

"Feeling any better?" This became Hermione's most frequent question, her voice laced with cautious anticipation.

"Mmm," Linley's replies were always concise, but he would proactively demonstrate the faint, silvery light he could gather at his fingertips, which was more stable than yesterday, or make the quill on the desk move half an inch further. These small improvements were the light sources that instantly brightened the fatigue in Hermione's eyes.

August, filled with the scent of potions, rustling pages, and silent companionship, slid towards its end. The Hogwarts letter arrived as scheduled. Inside the thick parchment envelope, besides the class schedule, was a sternly worded notice: due to "special security considerations," all students in second year and above were required to purchase basic protective gear for Defense Against the Dark Arts before the start of term. The list included items like "Dragonhide Gloves" and "Anti-Curse Heartguard," which had never been mandatory before.

"Look at this!" Hermione pointed at the list, her brow furrowed. "Protective gear... What is the Ministry worried about? Or is Hogwarts really..." She didn't finish, her gaze falling on Linley with a questioning worry. Dobby's warning and this list were like two puzzle pieces, fitting together seamlessly.

Linley's fingertip traced the cold words "Heartguard," and the Star Mark on his chest seemed to sting at the word, aching faintly. He knew better than anyone the meaning behind this list—the Chamber of Secrets was about to open, and the Basilisk's gaze was deadly. But for now, he could only lower his eyelids, hiding the heaviness in his eyes: "Having more preparation can't hurt."

The day they returned to Diagon Alley, London was unusually sunny. The sunlight dispelled the days of gloom, but the bustling crowds and colorful shop windows couldn't completely ease the tension in Hermione's heart. She stayed close to Linley, as if the crowded throng might sweep him away at any moment. Wendell and Monica followed behind, pushing a shopping cart, their gazes occasionally sweeping worriedly over Linley's still pale profile.

Flourish and Blotts was packed to the brim, with a huge banner hanging conspicuously: "Gilderoy Lockhart Book Signing! Lock Your Heart!" In the center of the crowd, the man in the forget-me-not blue robes, revealing dazzling white teeth, was posing like a peacock fanning its tail, camera flashes popping.

"Merlin's beard... it's really him!" Hermione gasped, her voice a mixture of disbelief and a barely perceptible sprout of admiration. Her schoolbag was still stuffed with Lockhart's "Break with a Banshee," its pages filled with notes on spell points.

Linley watched Lockhart's flamboyant performance, his lips curling downward almost imperceptibly. He knew the true nature of this "Master of Defense Against the Dark Arts"—a fraud who built his reputation by stealing others' adventure stories and using Obliviation spells. But his silence at this moment was misinterpreted by Hermione as him feeling unwell.

"Are you uncomfortable because there are too many people?" She immediately and nervously grabbed Linley's wrist, her fingertips finding his pulse, which reassured her slightly. "Let's go around this way, we'll buy the protective gear first!"

Just as they turned to leave, a familiar, surprised voice cut through the noise: "Hermione! Linley!"

Harry Potter squeezed through the crowd and rushed over, his emerald green eyes sparkling behind his round glasses. Ron, with his fiery red hair, followed closely, a look of excitement about being home on his face.

"You guys are shopping too?" Ron grinned, his gaze sweeping over the protective gear list in Hermione's hand, and made a face. "Merlin, this list is scarier than my mom's Christmas sweater list! Fred and George said it's definitely Lockhart's doing, just to sell more of his books..." He gestured towards Lockhart, who was being adored inside the bookstore.

Harry, however, keenly noticed Linley's unusual complexion and Hermione's protective stance beside him. His smile faded slightly, and he lowered his voice. "Linley... are you okay?" The brutal scene in the underground chamber before the summer holidays was still vivid in his memory.

"Recovering," Linley said concisely, his gaze sweeping over the lightning scar on Harry's forehead, hidden by his bangs. The center of the storm was drawing near.

The Weasley family soon gathered around. Mrs. Weasley warmly hugged Hermione and Linley, her grip so strong that Linley grunted, causing a sharp pain in the Star Mark on his chest. She immediately let go, her freckled face full of concern. "Oh, dear! Arthur told me about the Ministry's foolish... er, those things! And your injuries! Let me see, Aunt Molly brought some special Skele-Gro and Calming Draught..." She began rummaging through her enormous, seemingly bottomless handbag.

The twins, Fred and George, peeked out from behind their mother, grinning as they sized up Linley. "Heard you took a Killing Curse from... you know who?" Fred whistled, genuine admiration in his eyes. "That's wicked cool!" George chimed in, magically producing two oddly packaged candies from his pocket. "Try them? 'Courage Nougat' experimental version! Guaranteed to make you feel like you can fight a dragon for a while—side effects might include green hair, minor issue!"

"Fred! George!" Mrs. Weasley scolded sharply.

Linley looked at the candies offered to him, then at the twins' sly yet kind eyes, and actually reached out and took them. As their fingertips touched, George subtly pressed his hand lightly on Linley's, whispering, "Mum said your magic was badly injured... we added some Comfrey Essence to this candy to help restore it. We stole... er, borrowed Madam Pomfrey's recipe." Their care, hidden behind a mischievous exterior, was clumsy yet sincere.

The tight corners of Hermione's mouth finally curved into a smile. Mr. Weasley, meanwhile, was pulling Wendell along, excitedly pointing at the entrance to The Leaky Cauldron, magically concealed across the street, and enthusiastically explaining the "ingenious" reactions of Muggle objects after being enchanted. Wendell listened with great interest.

This brief, lively commotion, filled with the scent of everyday life, was like a ray of warm sunshine, piercing through the clouds of gloom that had enveloped Linley and Hermione. Hermione quietly loosened her grip on Linley's wrist and instead gently hooked her little finger around his. Linley didn't pull away; he felt her cool touch and slight tremor at his fingertips. The Moon White Stone and the Star Stone, hidden beneath their clothes, transmitted a faint but synchronized warm pulse through the crowd.

The main event of their shopping trip was Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. Dark velvet curtains separated them from the outside noise, and the air was filled with the faint scent of new fabric and insect-repelling herbs. Hermione stood on a low stool, allowing a floating magical pin to measure her for a new school robe. The dark green, thick wool fabric made her skin appear even fairer, and her fluffy brown curls glowed warmly in the soft light.

Linley sat quietly in an armchair in the corner, waiting, flipping through a copy of "Common Dark Magical Creatures and Basic Protection" (which Hermione insisted they buy). But his gaze kept involuntarily drifting beyond the pages, settling on the figure on the stool. She tilted her head slightly, cooperating with the pin's movement, her profile focused and gentle. Occasionally, she would frown slightly at the pin's slight prick, then quickly relax. A strange, soft emotion, like honey dissolving in clear water, slowly spread in his quiet heart. The Star Stone seemed to sense this peaceful gaze, emitting a steady, warm fluctuation, and the dull ache in his chest seemed to lessen.

"It fits perfectly, dear," Madam Malkin said, using her wand to adjust the fabric slightly at Hermione's shoulder line. "The thicker material can withstand the winds of the Scottish Highlands, and the protective runes on the cuffs and collar are already woven in, capable of deflecting some basic curse splashes." She turned to Linley. "Young man, it's your turn."

Linley put down his book and stood up. When he stepped onto the stool, the cold metal tape measure automatically wrapped around him to take his measurements. Hermione, instead of immediately flipping through her newly purchased "A Year with the Abominable Snowman" as usual, stood to the side holding her book, her eyes closely following the tape measure's movement, as if the cold tool would hurt him. When the tape measure passed over his chest, her breath visibly hitched for a moment, and her fingers unconsciously tightened their grip on the book's pages. Only when the tape measure loosened and she confirmed his complexion was unchanged did she quietly let out a sigh of relief.

These subtle worries and protectiveness, like invisible threads, wrapped around Linley layer by layer. He lowered his gaze, feeling the warm pulse of the Star Stone beneath his clothes, synchronized with her Moon White Stone. A warmth called "peace of mind" quietly dispelled the chill brought by the shadow of the Chamber of Secrets.

Exiting the robe shop, the setting sun dyed the cobblestone path of Diagon Alley a warm orange-gold. The Weasley family was still in the adjacent Eeylops Owl Emporium choosing a birthday gift for Percy, their boisterous voices faintly audible. Hermione, carrying the bag with her school robes, quickened her pace slightly and asked Linley, "Want to go to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour? I heard they have a new raspberry nut crunch flavor..."

Before she could finish, a small figure shot out from a dark alleyway piled with discarded wooden crates, like a phantom! It was the house-elf, Dobby!

The tennis-ball-sized green eyes were bloodshot, more terrified and desperate than last time. His emaciated hands clutched the tattered pillowcase he wore, his voice sharp like sandpaper rubbing together, filled with an unrestrained sob:

"Bad Dobby has come again! Bad Dobby must warn! Danger! Within Hogwarts' walls... an ancient evil is breathing! It is waiting... listening! Cannot go back! Harry Potter cannot go back! Son of Stars cannot either! Will die... many will die!" His huge ears twitched nervously, and he suddenly slammed his head against the hard brick wall beside him! "Punish bad Dobby! Punish Dobby for saying too much!"

Bang! Bang! The dull thuds were chilling!

"Stop! Dobby!" Hermione cried out, instinctively reaching out to stop him.

Linley, however, grabbed her wrist. His grip wasn't strong, but it carried an undeniable restraint. His cold gaze shot like a blade at Dobby, piercing through the house-elf's hysterical performance and reaching the root of his bone-deep fear—the Malfoy family. He clearly saw the deeply etched "M" brand on Dobby's skin, revealed beneath his tattered sleeve as he hit the wall.

Dobby's movements froze abruptly under Linley's gaze! His forehead, bruised from hitting the wall, oozed green blood. His huge green eyes stared at Linley in terror, like a frog caught in the gaze of a viper. He understood the silent warning in Linley's eyes: Your Master.

"Remember... remember Dobby's words!" Dobby let out a shriek that changed pitch, and with his green-blood-stained fingers, he snapped his fingers sharply!

Snap!

After a light sound of air bursting, Dobby's figure twisted and vanished instantly, leaving only dust swirling in the depths of the alley and that curse-like echo—

"The evil within the walls... is breathing!"

The warmth of the setting sun seemed to be instantly drained, and icy fear crawled up their spines. Hermione's hand trembled slightly, and she tightly gripped Linley's hand, as if it were her only lifeline. Linley pulled her closer, using his body to shield the dark alley. He looked up towards the direction of the invisible ancient castle at the end of Diagon Alley, his gaze as heavy as iron. The Star Stone in his chest emitted a cold, heavy throb, like the sound of snake scales rubbing against rock walls from deep underground.

Within Hogwarts' walls, the door to the Chamber of Secrets had already begun to loosen.