Harry and Ron returned to the castle and went to visit Hermione again. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Harry looked at the petrified Hermione, his heart aching.
"I really hope you get better, Hermione. We already know the monster in the Chamber of Secrets. We will avenge you, Hermione." Harry gently brushed Hermione's cold hand and suddenly found a crumpled ball of paper clasped within her fingers.
Taking the note from Hermione's hand, Harry unfolded it. Ron, seeing the paper, frowned.
"What is that?" Ron asked.
"This should be the reason why Hermione was attacked. She also discovered the monster in the Chamber of Secrets." Harry handed the torn page to Ron, which clearly recorded relevant information about the Basilisk.
"Of the many terrifying monsters roaming our land, the most dangerous is the Basilisk. The Basilisk has a lifespan of hundreds of years, and anyone who looks into its eyes will die. Spiders will run away at the mere scent of it." Harry read the message aloud as they walked through the corridor. "That's it, Ron."
"This is the same as Lada's information," Ron mused, puzzled. "But if they are right, then why hasn't anyone died?"
"Reflection, I understand!" Harry realized. "No one looked directly into the Basilisk's eyes, so they were only petrified."
"But how could such a large green snake travel through the castle without being discovered?" Ron pondered.
"Hermione left us a message: it's the pipes." Harry held up the torn page again. The word 'pipes' was scrawled on the blank space on the back. "Also, remember the memory that Lada read from Aragog? Since the Basilisk is real, then the memory is also correct. The girl who died fifty years ago under the aura of her natural enemy… Myrtle."
"So, the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets should be in the second-floor bathroom?" Ron deduced, finishing Harry's thought.
"Yes, let's go find Professor McGonagall now." This time, the two of them had learned their lesson and did not rush into the bathroom rashly.
Just as the two were on their way to Professor McGonagall's office, a voice suddenly spread throughout the campus. "All students, please return to your common rooms! All professors, please gather in the corridor on the second floor!"
After hearing this, Harry and Ron hurried to the second floor. All the Hogwarts professors had arrived, except for Gilderoy Lockhart.
"Look, the Heir of Slytherin has left a message again. Our fears are coming true. Two students have been taken away and brought into the Chamber of Secrets." Professor McGonagall looked at everyone sadly, truly appearing heartbroken. "All students must be sent home immediately. I'm afraid Hogwarts will be permanently closed."
At this moment, Lockhart walked over with elegant steps. "I'm sorry, I overslept. Did I miss anything?" Lockhart was sweating profusely, and the ends of his robes seemed to be wet with water.
"A student has been taken away by a monster," Snape said, throwing the question to Lockhart, a rare, chilling smile playing on his lips. "Your chance to perform has finally come."
"Perform?" Lockhart stammered.
"Didn't you say last night that you always knew where the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets was?" The corners of Snape's mouth curled up, betraying his barely suppressed amusement.
Beside the professors, an old man who likes sweets and a mischievous dragon hid in a conscious blind spot.
"Well, your ability is really easy to use," Dumbledore said to Aiden.
'Finally, this Lockhart... I don't know how long I've been waiting for this day,' Aiden thought, feeling secretly refreshed listening to Snape constantly complimenting Lockhart.
"So, what exactly did you recruit this guy for, besides his superb Memory Charm? What else can he do? He doesn't even teach the Memory Charm," Curiosity appeared in Aiden's eyes.
"Perhaps he can let the Hogwarts students know what kind of person to avoid becoming and what kind of path not to take. This is also a kind of education, isn't it?" Dumbledore winked at Aiden.
"Humph." Ignoring Dumbledore, Aiden continued to observe the unfolding drama.
"Okay, then I'll have to trouble you to deal with that monster alone. After all, we've never seen you show off your skills," a rare smile appeared on Professor McGonagall's serious face.
"Okay, no problem. Let me go back to my office to... make some preparations." Lockhart showed his shiny teeth, seemingly hoping that this would make everyone forget about him. He turned and left.
Watching Lockhart leave, Madam Pomfrey turned around and asked, "Minerva, who was taken away?"
"Ginny Weasley and Ernie Macmillan," Professor McGonagall said.
Harry, who was eavesdropping at the corner, opened his mouth wide, and Ron's heart sank.
Dumbledore, who was hiding in the blind spot of consciousness, glanced at Aiden and asked, "Your sister has been taken away, aren't you worried?"
"Hey, the way you put it," Aiden said stubbornly, "didn't we go to the Chamber of Secrets together back then? And the Basilisk is in our hands. What can a diary do to a young wizard? It's not my sister who will be tricked in the end." Aiden then turned and left.
But in Dumbledore's eyes, he saw him rushing towards the abandoned girls' bathroom.
Harry and Ron quickly went to Lockhart's office.
"Lockhart may be useless, but he is going to enter the Chamber of Secrets. We need to pass the information to him."
The two walked through the classroom and entered Lockhart's office.
"Professor, we have news to tell you."
Harry looked up and saw Lockhart packing his luggage. When Lockhart heard the sound, he closed the box. Everyone looked at each other, and the scene was at once very embarrassing.
"Are you leaving here?" Harry raised his left eyebrow.
"Uh, uh, yes, I have some urgent matters, and I have to leave, I must leave immediately." Lockhart's head pointed to the left.
"What about my sister?" Ron questioned, his voice laced with desperation.
"Well, about this matter, no one understands grief better than I do." Lockhart quickened his packing speed.
"You are our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor! You can't run away!" Ron walked to the left side of the desk and blocked Lockhart.
"I must tell you, no one told me when I accepted this job..." Lockhart moved to the right.
Harry blocked him. "You want to run away! Your books portray you as so great!"
Lockhart pushed Harry away. "Books can be misleading."
"You wrote them!" Harry waved his hand.
"My dear children, can you use your common sense? How would they sell well if I didn't let my book fans believe that I did it?" Lockhart put down his luggage and spread his hands.
"Merlin, you always have to know something." Ron collapsed.
"That's right, I use my Memory Charm very well. Now that you've brought it up, I have to make you forget these things."
Lockhart drew his wand and pointed it at Ron and Harry.
"Obliviate!"
When Lockhart was focused on chanting the spell, Harry flicked his wand. "Expelliarmus!"
Lockhart's wand was instantly knocked away, and Ron also took out his broken wand and held it against Lockhart's neck.
[Chapter Complete]
***
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