In the Great Hall, a large number of students and teachers were still gathered together. The Halloween feast hadn't ended yet, and everyone was celebrating enthusiastically.
Just then, Dudley's voice suddenly appeared, interrupting everyone's laughter and chatter.
After Dudley's voice disappeared, there was brief silence throughout the Great Hall, followed by even more chaotic noise than before.
"What danger? Where's the danger?"
"What's happening?"
"Who is Dudley Dursley?"
Various voices kept appearing as everyone momentarily didn't understand what had happened.
"It's that attention-seeking guy again!" Malfoy heard Dudley's voice and said with a dark expression.
"Are we in danger?" Crabbe and Goyle asked, somewhat panicked.
"Can you two stay calm? Do you believe everything Dudley says?" Malfoy said with obvious irritation.
Crabbe and Goyle looked at each other and didn't dare speak further.
Most of the Slytherin House students around them also didn't take Dudley's words seriously.
"Hmph, just a second-year brat, really thinks he's some interrogator."
"Exactly, I think Dumbledore must be getting senile to make such a decision."
"I've disliked that guy for a long time. Last year he beat up my brother. I've been wanting to settle the score with him but haven't found the chance."
Everyone discussed among themselves with obvious scepticism.
Aside from Slytherin, students from other houses still held some reverence for Dudley, since he had indeed repelled a dark wizard's invasion last year.
Of course, they weren't clear how much of that was exaggerated.
At the same time, the most intense reaction came from Gryffindor House.
After Dudley's words concluded, prefect Percy had already taken up his responsibility, beginning to systematically calm the lower years' emotions and making proper arrangements.
Others, whoever had contact with Dudley, believed his words without doubt. They would rather stay in the Great Hall than run around outside at this time.
On the staff table, Professor Dumbledore hadn't appeared tonight, apparently having encountered some urgent matter.
The other professors were also looking at each other, unsure whether to believe Dudley's warning.
"Everyone, do as Dudley requested," Professor McGonagall's voice rang out at this moment, serving to stabilise morale.
They might not listen to Dudley, but they couldn't ignore the Deputy Headmistress.
"Professor McGonagall, what exactly happened?" Professor Flitwick quickly asked.
"I'm not clear either, but since Dudley said so, it proves there's definitely danger in the castle. Our priority now is to ensure the students' safety," Professor McGonagall said rapidly.
"Alright, I'll have the Ravenclaw students do as Dudley said," Flitwick quickly agreed.
Snape had already stood up, his gaze deep and full of doubt.
"Professor Snape, what should we do now?" A Slytherin prefect ran over to ask.
"Stay in the Great Hall, don't run around!" Snape said coldly.
Although he disliked Dudley, he had to admit that Dudley indeed had unique insights in predicting danger.
"Yes, sir," the Slytherin prefect quickly left, stopping those students who wanted to go look in the outside corridors.
"Should we still go out?" Goyle asked uncertainly.
The three Slytherins who had reached the door were stopped by the prefect's orders.
"Damn it!" Malfoy cursed under his breath.
"What danger could there be in the castle? Everything is fabricated by Dudley Dursley for the power in his hands! Can't those teachers see clearly?"
"I absolutely don't believe his nonsense!"
"If they won't let me out, I'm going out anyway."
Malfoy fundamentally refused to follow Dudley's arrangements.
Goyle and Crabbe looked at each other, wanting to object but not daring to speak up against their friend's determination.
Malfoy pushed past everyone and, taking advantage of when the prefect wasn't paying attention, secretly slipped out through a side door.
Meanwhile, after reporting the danger to the entire school, Dudley immediately continued tracking the threat.
"The voice disappeared!" Before long, Harry suddenly announced.
"Disappeared?" Dudley closed his eyes and carefully sensed the situation in the castle, indeed finding that the dangerous aura had vanished completely.
"How does it manage to come and go so freely, completely untraceable?" Dudley frowned with frustration.
He looked toward the dark night sky outside the window.
According to "Hogwarts: A History," Apparition magic couldn't be used within Hogwarts grounds. Last year, Quirrell, possessed by Voldemort, wanting to escape, could only first flee Hogwarts' boundaries before using Apparition.
In this school, Dudley had only seen Professor Dumbledore possess abilities similar to Apparition, and he wasn't sure if this was his privilege as headmaster or if he had used some special magic.
Now, the source of danger appearing in the school seemed to also possess similar abilities to appear and disappear without a trace.
Each time it appeared abruptly, then suddenly vanished. Even though Dudley was very familiar with Hogwarts, he couldn't track it effectively.
"Let's go back to the Great Hall first and explain the situation to everyone," Dudley decided after thinking for a while without getting anywhere.
Along the way, they saw many ghosts that had been petrified. The only fortunate thing was that no students appeared to have been petrified.
This might be a blessing in disguise.
However, just as they turned the corner at the end of the corridor, Dudley and the others had to stop abruptly.
At the same time, several people emerged from the end of another corridor. Professor McGonagall and others, who had come out to investigate after settling matters in the Great Hall.
And in the middle of this corridor, there were several more people.
"Malfoy? Didn't I tell you to stay in the Great Hall? You..." When Snape saw Malfoy, his brow immediately furrowed, his expression becoming ugly.
However, just as he was about to scold Malfoy, he suddenly stopped.
At this moment, everyone saw the situation beside Malfoy.
A rigid cat and a rigid person.
Mrs. Norris and caretaker Filch.
They were both like stone sculptures, frozen in place.
And on the wall not far from them, bloody letters formed a sentence that flickered with crimson light under the torchlight.
The Chamber has been opened. Enemies of the heir, beware!
Everyone saw this ominous sentence and the petrified Filch with his cat.
"It... it wasn't me!" Coming to his senses, Malfoy said in genuine terror.
However, everyone's gaze at this moment unanimously fell upon him with obvious suspicion.