Albus Dumbledore has resigned?
There was no doubt—it wasn't good news.
"They're absolutely mad!" said Zacharias Smith. "Professor Dumbledore might be the only person the Heir of Slytherin actually fears... Unless the monster in the Chamber was released by the Ministry of Magic?"
Inside the Hufflepuff common room, many familiar faces were already gone. Hannah Abbott, Susan Bones, Steven Lucas, and several other younger students had left school early for various reasons.
The once lively space was now quiet and gloomy.
Jon sat silently by the fireplace, deep in thought.
There was no denying it—the situation looked grim. It was only February 15th, and Professor Dumbledore had already left the school. Who knew what would happen next? Whether it was the Basilisk running rampant or Hogwarts shutting down entirely, neither option was acceptable.
He had to do something to change this.
Jon's eyes drifted to a modest portrait of a witch above the fireplace.
"Professor, what should I do?" he asked quietly, looking up at the image of Helga Hufflepuff.
The kind witch returned his gaze with a gentle smile, saying nothing—just offering a slight nod. In that moment, Jon felt a surge of determination flow through him.
"Thanks, Professor… I'll do my best..."
...
"Zacharias!"
"What is it, Jon?" Zacharias Smith was just about to head to bed when Jon Hart stopped him.
"I need your help with something," Jon said seriously. "Come with me!"
"Alright, alright..." Zacharias followed him lazily into the dormitory.
Seeing the piles of books stacked on Jon's nightstand and desk, Zacharias raised an eyebrow. "You really are a workaholic, Jon..."
"Hard work is one of Hufflepuff's core virtues," Jon said with a shrug. He pulled a black diary from one of the piles. "Recognize this?"
"What?" Zacharias gave it a glance. It was small and thin, the black cover worn and water-damaged—clearly aged. "Where'd you get this antique?"
"Found it," Jon said calmly. "Picked it up in a bathroom a few days ago. No idea who it belongs to... With that terrifying attack the other day and my own injury, I nearly forgot about it."
"Did you ask Ernie or Wayne?"
"I did. It's not theirs. I think it might belong to someone from another house..." Jon explained. "But with that Slytherin monster on the loose and me being Muggle-born,I figured it was safer to keep a low profile."
"I get it, I get it!" Zacharias said, waving a hand. "Leave it to me. Tomorrow at breakfast, I'll ask around—see if anyone from Gryffindor or Slytherin lost it!"
"Thanks. I appreciate it."
"No problem!"
...
The next morning, Jon and a group of Hufflepuffs had just arrived at the Great Hall under Filch's escort when Zacharias's voice rang out:
"Hey! Anyone missing a black diary?" Zacharias called toward the Gryffindor table. "Jon—no, I found one in a bathroom a few days back. It's old, worn out, looks like it's from decades ago, and there's a Muggle bookstore name printed on it..."
"No one? Alright, I'll go ask the Ravenclaws."
As Zacharias called out across the hall, Jon quietly chewed on a small bread roll, keeping a discreet eye on the other tables.
But the hall was noisy and crowded, and he didn't pick up anything useful.
After breakfast, they had no morning classes and were escorted back to the Hufflepuff common room by Filch.
Jon let the others crawl through the wooden barrels ahead of him, deliberately lingering behind.
When the last student had entered the tunnel, Jon stayed behind... After silently counting a few seconds to make sure Filch had gone, he climbed out of the barrel.
But he didn't go far. Instead, he headed straight to a portrait of a silver fruit bowl.
He slipped into the kitchens.
...
Near the Forbidden Forest, in the hut of Professor Silvanus Kettleburn, the Care of Magical Creatures teacher...
Several adult wizards were packed into the small, cramped space.
Minerva McGonagall, Filius Flitwick, Pomona Sprout, and Severus Snape—the four Heads of House—had gathered quickly after escorting their students. Also present was Gilderoy Lockhart, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.
Kettleburn crouched in the center, examining a bloodstained piece of white parchment in his hands.
"This was collected from the scene of Mr. Weasley's attack. Headmaster Dumbledore asked me to analyze it... I can confirm—it's snake blood," said Kettleburn, his old voice weary.
"So, Silvanus... I must have mentioned it to you before..." Professor Sprout said, her voice trembling slightly.
"Yes... I think so..." Kettleburn replied, shivering. "A terrifying creature... Across Europe, there are many deadly beasts and monsters, but none stranger or more dangerous than the Basilisk—also known as the King of Serpents."
"This snake is enormous, and its methods of killing are terrifying. Aside from its deadly fangs, its stare can kill instantly. Anyone who meets its gaze will die on the spot. Spiders flee from it because it's their mortal enemy. And it flees from the sound of a rooster's crow, which is also lethal to it..."
"Every time there's an attack, the spiders become terrified—sometimes even scared to death. Hagrid's roosters were all slaughtered because their crowing could kill it..." Professor Sprout said bitterly.
"Potter and his friends always happen to arrive right at the scene..." Snape said suspiciously. "Because he speaks Parseltongue? Maybe he can hear the Basilisk and is drawn to it?"
Kettleburn gave a slow nod.
"No one has died yet..." said Flitwick, lowering his head in thought. "Because none of them made direct eye contact. Mr. Creevey saw it through his camera. Mr. Finch-Fletchley saw it through Nearly Headless Nick. Mr. Weasley used a mirror... As for Miss Clearwater?"
"The door knocker," McGonagall answered. "She saw its reflection in the bronze knocker—that's how she was attacked. The knocker was damaged as well."
"Incredible!" Professor Sprout growled in frustration. "That filthy creature has been stalking our halls for far too long!"
"We must find a way to kill it!" Flitwick said, drawing his wand from his belt.
"Oh? No—you're absolutely right!" Lockhart yawned lazily, then quickly changed his tone as he noticed the sharp looks from the others.
Suddenly, a sharp crack drew their attention.
"What was that!" Snape had already raised his wand.
"Wait... Severus!" Sprout stopped him. "It's a house-elf!"
She turned to the ugly little creature that had just Apparated into the room.
"What is it, Logno?" she asked gently.
The house-elf, named Logno, bowed deeply to Professor Sprout, then bowed again to the others.
"An intruder tried to get into the Hufflepuff common room. We caught her..." the elf squeaked. "Normally we'd just splash her with vinegar and send her off, but Krein told me that with everything happening at Hogwarts, we should be more careful."
"So, honored Professor Sprout... I brought the intruder here!"
As he spoke, Logno snapped his fingers.
Six more house-elves Apparated outside Professor Kettleburn's hut, carrying a small, thin girl.