The passage Lewis had "dug" into led directly to the Map Chamber.
The other end connected back to the Hogwarts sewers—the very route they had come from.
Walking along the tunnel, Lewis soon discovered that the original passage had been completely sealed.
After the disaster caused by the negative force of ancient magic—when it had been locked beneath the Map Chamber—the previous Keeper had chosen to bury all traces of it.
To prevent students from stumbling upon it, he had simply blocked off the hidden route connecting the castle to this place.
"Well, now that I've found it," Lewis said casually, "there's no need to keep it sealed anymore."
He raised his wand and began clearing the rubble with a levitation spell.
Ciri and Hermione joined in, and soon the collapsed debris was completely removed.
Lewis stepped forward and placed his hand against the blocked wall.
"Stone Shape."
Under the influence of magic, the thick stone wall reshaped itself, forming the outline of a doorway.
Moments later, a proper stone door stood before them.
He didn't stop there.
"Private Sanctum."
"Arcane Lock—Sixth Circle."
"Hardening."
The first sealed off all sound and light, ensuring secrecy.
The second bound the door with powerful magic—only specific methods could open it.
The last made it resistant to brute force.
With their escape route secured, the three of them turned and walked deeper into the passage.
They pushed open the grand doors—
And the chamber revealed itself.
Just as in the memory.
A magnificent hall carved within a vast cavern.
Towering stone pillars supported the space, each adorned with intricate golden plant motifs that wound across railings and surfaces like living vines.
Between the pillars hung four enormous portraits.
Though the backgrounds remained, the figures were absent—for now.
At the center lay a smooth, expansive floor.
It looked like a mirror.
Or a still lake.
The moment they stepped inside, their eyes were drawn to a raised platform near the railing.
Atop it sat a square pedestal—waiting.
Lewis walked forward and placed the memory book from the Pensieve onto it.
The chamber awakened.
The mirror-like surface shimmered.
Points of light bloomed across it like stars, sinking into the dark plane beneath.
Then—
A miniature model of Hogwarts and its surroundings emerged.
When Lewis stepped onto it, ripples of light spread outward beneath his feet.
It felt as if he were walking on water.
Like a giant standing above the world.
He looked around.
The train station.
Hogwarts Castle.
The Black Lake.
The Forbidden Forest.
Hogsmeade.
All laid out before him in perfect detail.
A true three-dimensional map.
Now he understood why it was called the Map Chamber.
Its purpose was clear—
To locate nodes of ancient magic.
As the three stood within the chamber—
The portraits stirred.
The figures returned.
From the Pensieve, they already knew their identities.
Percival Rackham—Hufflepuff, a Divination professor.
Charles Rookwood—Slytherin, a Transfiguration professor.
San Bakar—Slytherin, a professor of Magical Creatures.
And—
Niamh Fitzgerald.
Former Headmistress of Hogwarts.
Ravenclaw.
Though mentioned in Hogwarts: A History, the truth of ancient magic had never been recorded.
"Has the next Keeper finally arrived?" Rackham began—
Then stopped.
"…You didn't come through the proper way."
Bakar narrowed his eyes. "You carry no ancient magic. You are not the inheritor."
The expressions of the other two darkened.
Fitzgerald spoke sternly, "Children, this is not a place for you. However you arrived, leave. There is nothing here for you."
"Good evening, professors," Lewis greeted calmly, ignoring their hostility.
"It's 1993. A hundred years since the last Keeper, correct? We're students of Hogwarts."
Rookwood sighed. "Another century… and yet you know of the Keepers."
Lewis nodded. "Of course. We know more than that—we know what's sealed beneath this place."
"We came for it."
The four portraits stiffened.
That power—
The source of chaos a century ago.
The near extinction of ancient magic.
And these children—
Came seeking it?
"Do you understand what you're saying?" Fitzgerald's tone sharpened. "That power is not something for children to touch."
"I know exactly what it is," Lewis replied evenly. "And I know leaving it buried beneath Hogwarts isn't a good solution."
Always justify your actions first.
A habit Lewis had long developed.
Rookwood sighed again. "You're not wrong… but we had no choice."
Bakar shook his head. "Even so, it is not something you can handle. Even we could not control it—what makes you think you can?"
Hermione stepped forward, unable to hold back.
"And what makes you think Lewis can't?"
Having witnessed his countless feats, she trusted him completely.
But the portraits remained unconvinced.
Fitzgerald made the final decision.
"Since you refuse to leave… we will take necessary measures."
Rackham added gently, "Do not fear. We will not harm you. Only erase your memories of this place."
The moment he finished speaking—
The chamber lit up.
Blue-white energy pulsed along the walls.
Then—
Figures descended from above.
One after another.
Heavy impacts shook the ground.
Metal constructs.
Towering over two meters tall, each one clad in ornate armor wrapped in vine-like metallic patterns, glowing cores shining from within.
Some carried greatswords.
Others wielded warhammers.
They advanced slowly.
Relentlessly.
This—
Was the Map Chamber's defense system.
Trial.
Protection.
Judgment.
An ordinary student would have been terrified.
But—
The three of them stood calm.
Unmoved.
Lewis and Ciri each drew a silver sword.
Lewis smiled faintly at the portraits.
"Perfect timing, professors."
"Let me show you…"
"Why we can handle that power."
If you want to read 60 chapters ahead of the public release, head over to: Patreon.com/RedString