Star Marks Beneath the Robes and the First Opening of the Chamber of Secrets

The alley where Dobby disappeared was filled with the mixed scent of pungent ink and cake, and the curse "Evil breathes within the walls" echoed in the chilly air. Hermione's hand trembled slightly in Linley's palm, her fingertips ice-cold. He subtly pulled her closer, shielding her with his body from the dark alley, his gaze like quenched steel blades cast towards the direction of the unseen castle at the end of Diagon Alley. The Star Stone in his chest pulsed with a heavy, cold throb, like a premonition of snake scales scraping against stone deep underground.

"What... what did his last sentence mean?" Hermione's voice was laced with suppressed shock, her fingers tightening unconsciously, almost digging into Linley's arm. "Evil within the walls... what evil could be within Hogwarts' walls?"

The Star Mark on Linley's chest ached faintly after he forcefully channeled his magic, the feedback from the Star Stone cold and chaotic. He withdrew his gaze, landing on Hermione's pale face. Without directly answering the dangerous truth (the Basilisk, Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets), he said in a deep voice, "Danger does exist. Dobby's master... doesn't want Harry to go back, and doesn't want us involved." He deliberately emphasized "master," guiding her thoughts.

Hermione's brown eyes narrowed sharply. Recalling the deeply etched "M" brand on Dobby's worn sleeve, a cold name sprang to her lips: "Malfoy! Lucius Malfoy instructed him! He's afraid of Harry... or afraid we'll find something out?" The logical chain snapped together in her mind, temporarily suppressing her fear.

"Mm." Linley confirmed her deduction. "So, protective gear," he pointed to the list in Hermione's hand, which included "Dragonhide Gloves" and "Anti-Curse Heartguard," "must be complete." He knew better than anyone what the Basilisk's gaze meant.

Hermione took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, and gripped Linley's wrist even tighter. "First, to Madam Malkin's! You need that robe with protective magic patterns!" Her tone returned to its usual methodical style, as if formulating a battle plan could dispel her inner unease.

Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions was warm and dry. Deep velvet curtains blocked out the outside clamor, and the air was filled with the faint scent of new fabric and insect-repelling herbs. Linley stood on a stool, a cold metal measuring tape automatically wrapping around him to take his measurements. When the tape passed over his chest, a slight throb from a magical backlash caused him to furrow his brow almost imperceptibly.

Hermione, who had been watching him intently, immediately caught the subtle change. "Careful!" she exclaimed instinctively, taking a half-step forward, her hand already raised as if to shield him from the invisible tape.

Madam Malkin glanced at her with a hint of surprise, then explained gently, "Don't worry, dear, it's just measuring, it won't touch any wounds."

Hermione blushed and sheepishly lowered her hand, but her gaze remained fixed on Linley, filled with undisguised tension. Linley lowered his eyes to meet her gaze and shook his head almost imperceptibly, signaling he was fine. The Moon White Stone around her neck emitted a warm, soothing pulse, strangely calming her suddenly heightened nerves.

"Thickened Scottish Highlands wool," Madam Malkin commanded with her wand, directing a bolt of dark green fabric, thick and sturdy, to float over. "It can effectively resist the cold winds of the Scottish Highlands and the splash energy of low-level curses. The cuffs and collar," her wand tip glowed, tracing intricate and hidden silver runes on the fabric's edge, "will be woven with 'Stability' and 'Deflection' protective magic patterns, offering slight resistance to petrification-based magic." She specifically glanced at the faint outline of bandages visible beneath Linley's school robe.

"Thank you, Madam," Hermione said gratefully, carefully examining the runes that shimmered with silver light, as if they were another protective charm for Linley.

When it was Hermione's turn to be measured, she stood on the stool, the thick, dark green wool making her skin appear even fairer. Linley sat in an armchair in the corner, holding the "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" Hermione had just bought, but his gaze drifted past the edge of the pages to her. She tilted her head slightly to cooperate with the measuring tape, her profile focused and gentle, her fluffy brown curls catching the soft light with a warm glow. 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.

Just then, an extremely faint but intensely distorted dark fluctuation, like a stone dropped into a tranquil lake, suddenly pierced the warm barrier of the robe shop and swept over Linley!

Linley's body tensed instantly! The Star Stone under his collar sent a sharp, icy warning pain! The fluctuation was cold, slippery, and carried a seductive malice—it was Tom Riddle's diary! It was nearby, and it had been activated!

He looked up abruptly, his sharp gaze like a physical probe, instantly piercing the gaps in the curtains and locking onto a red-haired figure in the bustling crowd on the street outside the shop—Ginny Weasley! She was clutching a worn, black-bound notebook tightly to her chest, her face unusually pale, her eyes somewhat vacant, as the excited Weasley twins pushed her forward. The dark aura of the diary was already coiling around her!

"What's wrong?" Hermione immediately noticed the change in his demeanor and followed his gaze, only seeing the backs of the noisy Weasley family. "Is it Ron and them?"

"...Mm." Linley forcibly suppressed the surging emotions and the immediate urge to destroy the diary, withdrawing his gaze. The timing was wrong, and the location was even more wrong. He looked at Hermione, his voice low, "Keep an eye on that red-haired girl, Ginny Weasley. She might... be influenced by something." He could only offer the most cryptic warning.

Hermione frowned in confusion, glancing carefully in the direction Ginny had disappeared, and nodded solemnly. "I'll remember." She had an almost instinctive trust in Linley's judgment.

Walking out of the robe shop, the sunset's afterglow painted the stone path a warm orange-gold. Hermione, carrying the bag with the school robe in one hand, naturally hooked her little finger around Linley's again in the other, as if it were the safest way to connect. "Want to go to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour?" she suggested, trying to dispel the gloom brought by Dobby. "They have new raspberry crunch..."

"Hermione! Linley!" Ron's loud voice interrupted her. He and Harry squeezed through the crowd and ran over, both with excited blushes on their faces. Harry was holding a stack of Gilderoy Lockhart's glittering works.

"Did you see that show-off?" Ron gestured towards Flourish and Blotts, which was still buzzing with activity. "He signed autographs until his hand almost fell off! And he insisted on taking a photo with Harry, saying 'The meeting of the Boy Who Lived and the Greatest Wizard of Our Time'! Pfft!"

Harry awkwardly scratched his hair. "He even 'gifted' me his complete works..." he said with a hint of helplessness.

Hermione's gaze was immediately drawn to the stack of books, with a hint of barely concealed longing. "Gilderoy Lockhart? His improved theory on banishing spells in 'Break with a Banshee' is quite insightful..."

"Insightful?" Ron exclaimed. "Come on, Hermione, he's just a cheat who steals other people's stories using the Obliviate spell! His books are only good for the cover photo, the rest is all..." Under Hermione's disapproving gaze, Ron's voice trailed off.

Linley didn't join the discussion about Lockhart. His gaze swept over Harry and Ron, finally settling on Lucius Malfoy, who was conversing with Arthur Weasley a short distance away. Lucius leaned on his snake-headed cane, his bluish-gray eyes cold and arrogant, a fake smile playing on his lips. When his gaze seemed to sweep over Linley unintentionally, there was undisguised scrutiny and a hint of deep apprehension in his eyes—clearly, the Ministry's inquiry results and the rumors about the "Son of Stars" had reached the ears of this school governor.

Just then, Linley clearly saw Lucius, while "friendly" shaking Arthur Weasley's hand, move his fingers extremely subtly. An inconspicuous black hardbound notebook slid into the pile of cauldrons and textbooks in Ginny's arms! The movement was as swift as a viper's strike!

Ginny seemed completely unaware, still lowering her head with a pale face.

"Look!" Linley whispered in a voice only Hermione could hear, squeezing her little finger.

Hermione's pupils contracted sharply! She saw the black notebook slide into Ginny's arms! Recalling Linley's warning in the robe shop earlier—"She might be influenced by something"—a chilling coldness shot up her spine! Dobby's warning, the evil within the walls, Lucius Malfoy's furtive actions... the fragments pieced together a horrifying picture!

"It's Malfoy..." Hermione's voice trembled with rage, "He gave Ginny something! That's likely..."

"Part of the source of the danger," Linley finished calmly, his gaze sharp as a knife. He knew that the gears of the Chamber of Secrets had been coldly and deliberately set in motion by Lucius's hand, without Ginny's knowledge.

On September 1st, King's Cross Station was always filled with a mixture of farewell sorrow and bustling vitality. The Hogwarts Express, like a giant red steel beast, spewed billowing white smoke, waiting to send the young wizards to the mysterious North.

Linley and Hermione said goodbye to the Grangers. Aunt Monica hugged Linley tightly, her eyes slightly red. "Be sure to take your medicine on time, take care of yourself, and if you feel unwell, find Madam Pomfrey immediately and write to us..." Uncle Wendell patted Linley's shoulder firmly, his unspoken words conveying everything.

Hermione stood beside Linley, looking at her parents' worried eyes. She took Linley's hand proactively, their fingers intertwined, and tilted her face up, flashing a brilliant smile. "Don't worry, Mom and Dad! I'll make sure he takes his medicine and I'll take care of myself!" The sunlight fell on her fluffy curls and Linley's calm profile, casting a warm golden edge, the scene as beautiful as an oil painting.

The Moon White Stone and the Star Stone, pressed together through their clothes, transmitted clear and warm synchronized pulses between their clasped hands. Monica watched this scene, the worry in her eyes finally melting into a gentle smile.

Boarding the train, they found an empty compartment. As soon as they put their luggage away, Harry and Ron squeezed in, Ron still holding his restless rat, Scabbers, who was trying to bite the cage.

"Merlin's smelly socks! Finally squeezed on!" Ron slumped into a chair, placing the cage aside. "I don't know what's gotten into Scabbers lately, he keeps trying to escape, as if there's a ghost at Hogwarts trying to catch him."

Linley's gaze swept over the rat with the missing toe, a cold understanding flashing in his eyes—Peter Pettigrew, of course he was afraid. Voldemort's shadow was gathering again at Hogwarts.

The train started, and the city scenery outside the window gradually gave way to green fields and rolling hills. Hermione took out the lunch basket Aunt Monica had prepared, which contained sliced sandwiches, fresh fruit, and, carefully packed in a thermos, Hermione's favorite orange cake. She divided the cake into four portions, naturally placing the largest piece in front of Linley.

"Here, for energy," her tone carried a hint of commanding concern.

Linley picked up a fork and speared a piece. The sweet orange fragrance melted on his tongue, like concentrated sunshine. He looked up and saw Hermione taking small bites of her portion, a little white frosting on the corner of her mouth.

"Here." Linley reached out a finger and gently wiped the corner of her mouth, his fingertip brushing against the soft spot. The action was as delicate as brushing dew from a flower petal.

Hermione's movements froze instantly, her cheeks flushing a visible red, like ripe apples. She stared at Linley with wide eyes, her brown eyes shimmering with unshed tears, filled with disbelief, shyness, and a hint of... sweet panic. The compartment fell silent, save for the rhythmic clatter of the train. Harry pretended to be focused on the scenery outside, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl upwards. Ron's mouth hung open, a piece of cake stuck in his throat, nearly choking him.

Linley acted as if he had done the most ordinary thing, withdrawing his hand and quietly continuing to eat his cake. Only his slightly reddened ear tips and the slightly rapid, warm pulse from the Star Stone betrayed the unrest within his heart.

The atmosphere was subtle and sweet. Hermione lowered her head, eating her cake in small bites, no longer daring to look at Linley, merely tapping his shoe with the tip of her toe, like a silent reproach and response.

Just then, the compartment door was gently pulled open a crack. Ginny Weasley's pale little face peeked in. She seemed to be momentarily blinded by the cozy atmosphere within the compartment (which was glaring to her), her eyes darting around as she whispered, "Ron... Mom wanted to ask if you've seen her... her..." She stammered, her gaze wandering, finally landing on Ron's old trunk by the seat—a corner of that black, hardcover diary was peeking out from the unlatched gap in the trunk!

Ginny's face instantly turned even paler, as if she had seen something incredibly terrifying. Her breathing grew rapid. "N-nothing!" she blurted, abruptly pulling her head back and slamming the door shut. The sound of her hurried footsteps faded into the distance.

The cozy atmosphere was broken. Ron looked bewildered, "What's wrong with Ginny? She's acting so weird."

Harry shook his head in confusion as well.

Only Hermione and Linley exchanged a grave look. Under the table, Hermione's hand found Linley's again, her fingertips cool. Linley gripped her hand back, conveying silent strength. He looked out the train window at the rapidly receding scenery; the silhouette of Hogwarts' spires was already faintly appearing on the horizon.

Within Hogwarts' walls, an ancient evil had awakened and quietly attached itself to an innocent girl. Meanwhile, the undercurrent of protection and resistance was, along with the train's journey, silently surging towards the ancient castle that was about to be shrouded in gloom. The Star Stone in his chest pulsed with a deep, steady warmth, like a guiding spark in the darkness.