Dudley's mind flashed to the yellow light he had seen in the Mirror of Erised before. That might be part of some monster's body, or some powerful dark magical object, or even something with living characteristics.
After all, if Gryffindor could turn his hat into the Sorting Hat, there was no reason Slytherin couldn't do the same.
"Professor McGonagall, the legend says only Slytherin's heir can open the Chamber. Does the legend tell us how to identify his heir?" Dudley asked thoughtfully.
Professor McGonagall shook her head. "The legend doesn't specify what characteristics Slytherin's heir would have. We're not certain either."
Dudley nodded in understanding.
"Professor, has the Chamber been opened before, or is this the first time?" Harry asked with obvious concern.
Professor McGonagall pressed her lips together, seeming to consider whether she should tell Dudley and the others about this sensitive information.
"Well, the Chamber was opened once before. Of course, we can't determine now whether that was truly the Chamber being opened."
Professor McGonagall fell into distant memories.
"Fifty years ago, there were also attacks at the school, and that time, someone died."
Hearing this, everyone's breathing immediately became rapid with alarm.
"Not petrification? How could someone die?" Hermione exclaimed with shock.
Whether it was Dudley and Harry's previous encounter or this attack, everyone had been petrified, with no deaths occurring. This made everyone think that the worst outcome of the attacks was petrification, and they still had a chance to be saved.
But what McGonagall was saying now directly shattered their hopeful illusions.
"That attack was different from what we're seeing now. The student wasn't petrified—she was killed," Professor McGonagall said quietly.
A shadow of solemnity crossed Dudley's face.
Slytherin's Chamber was indeed not so simple. If they didn't stop this situation from developing, students might very well die because of it.
He had thought nothing would happen this year, but unexpectedly they had encountered this matter of Slytherin's Chamber.
Could Dumbledore have anticipated that something would happen this year, which was why he made him promise to protect Hogwarts? That old fox's calculations were truly deep.
"Forget it. I'll do what I promised. I'll need to be more careful when dealing with Dumbledore in the future."
However, this matter was closely related to Dudley's own safety. Even without promising Professor Dumbledore, he couldn't completely stay out of it. Moreover, Hogwarts was his jurisdiction, and to advance, he also needed to protect Hogwarts from harm.
"Professor McGonagall, how did that student die? Were there any investigation results?" Dudley asked after thinking for a moment.
"We found no wounds on that student. When she was discovered, she was already dead. If we had to say specifically how she died, her death looked much like someone who had been hit by the Killing Curse," Professor McGonagall said with obvious distress.
The faces of Harry's trio became much paler.
Malfoy showed a hint of a sneer but quickly restrained it.
"Similar to the Killing Curse? Then it seems it was indeed very powerful dark magic. Perhaps she actually died from the Killing Curse," Dudley said analytically.
"Indeed, after that attack occurred, we also suspected someone had used the Killing Curse to kill but ultimately found no related evidence. However, we did find the perpetrator who might have been the Chamber's heir," Professor McGonagall said.
Hearing this, several people's expressions changed dramatically.
Seeing Professor McGonagall's previous worried appearance, they had thought the culprit hadn't been found last time, but it turned out they had been caught?
"That's right," Professor McGonagall said, casting a meaningful look at Malfoy and the others. She raised her wand and murmured a spell, creating a barrier that separated the three Slytherins from the group.
What she was about to say was better not heard by the three Slytherins, or it might cause some unnecessary trouble.
Seeing Professor McGonagall's action, Dudley immediately felt something was seriously wrong.
"Who was the culprit?" Harry couldn't help asking with urgent curiosity.
Hermione and Ron also showed eager expressions.
"At that time, the Ministry of Magic believed that the person who opened the Chamber was Hagrid!" McGonagall revealed.
"What?" Harry exclaimed in disbelief.
"Impossible!" Ron protested.
"How could it be Hagrid!" Hermione added with shock.
The three were shocked beyond belief, never expecting it would be their beloved friend.
Dudley had already suspected this possibility. Hearing Hagrid's name, he felt it was unexpected yet reasonable.
He also remembered what happened at the wand shop before, when Ollivander asked if Hagrid's wand had been snapped, and Hagrid's treasured pink umbrella.
Everything seemed to make sense.
Hagrid had been expelled because of the Chamber incident, and his wand had been snapped because of this matter.
"I don't believe Hagrid would be the culprit who opened the Chamber," Dudley said with firm conviction.
Professor McGonagall glanced at the composed Dudley, nodded, and said, "Professor Dumbledore also believes Hagrid is innocent, but at that time, we did discover that Hagrid was indeed raising a monster. And ever since Hagrid was taken away, the Chamber was never opened again, and no more attacks occurred."
"This doesn't prove Hagrid was the culprit," Dudley said reasonably.
"No, but that's what the Ministry of Magic believed," McGonagall said with obvious regret.
Dudley pressed his lips together. He was tired of complaining about how terrible this world's Ministry of Magic was. It could practically be described as utterly useless.
"I estimate that after this incident, the Ministry might take some action against Hagrid, if we can't find the real culprit," Professor McGonagall's face showed a trace of worry.
It was both concern for Hogwarts and worry for Hagrid. She also didn't believe Hagrid would be that kind of person.
"What are they saying?" Outside the barrier, Goyle asked in a low voice.
They were isolated by McGonagall's magic, unable to hear the people inside talking or see clearly.
"Don't know, but they're probably talking about the culprit," Malfoy said with a dark expression. "Do they think this will prevent me from knowing? I just need to write a letter to my father to find out what happened fifty years ago."
Crabbe and Goyle immediately nodded in agreement.
Dudley looked at Professor McGonagall, thought for a moment, then said, "Rather than believing Hagrid is the culprit, I think people from Slytherin House are more suspicious. If I were Slytherin, I would definitely have my heir sorted into my own house during the Sorting, wouldn't I?"
As Dudley finished speaking, he looked toward the three people outside the barrier.
It was time to interrogate them.