Hagrid was taken away by the Ministry of Magic, but fear continued to spread throughout Hogwarts Castle.
Because the monster in the Chamber of Secrets had not yet been captured, it still might attack everyone.
The professors acted as if nothing had happened, by day escorting students from one classroom to another, and at night patrolling the castle floors.
Although Lockhart repeatedly claimed the danger was over and there was no need to waste time escorting students, no one listened to him.
Lately, the Hufflepuff Common Room was always crowded because after six in the evening, students had nowhere else to go, and there was always much to discuss.
After dinner, Kael, as usual, played Wizard Chess with Cedric, but today his performance was a bit poor.
In over an hour, Kael hadn't won a single game.
"I feel like your mind is elsewhere," Cedric remarked as he packed up the chessboard, "Still thinking about the Chamber of Secrets?"
"No…" Kael shook his head, "I just feel uncomfortable."
For days now, he had felt dizzy, finding it hard to concentrate on anything, and it was getting worse.
While playing chess, he even heard a buzzing sound, as if many people were talking inside his head.
"You wouldn't be catching a cold, would you?" Conna looked at Kael with some concern.
The weather had been strange lately. Though summer was near, it kept raining, cold one minute and warm the next, and many in the castle had caught colds.
"I think that might be it." Cedric packed away the chessboard, "Would you like to write to Professor Sprout and have her take you to the hospital wing?"
"No need, I have a Stimulant here." Kael patted his forehead, took a bottle containing a red potion from his pocket, uncorked it, and took a sip.
The next second, steam rose from his head, and the grogginess eased quite a bit.
Feeling unwell, Kael returned to his dormitory soon after taking the potion and fell into a drowsy sleep.
Kael had a very long dream, where he found himself in the Chamber of Secrets, and the snakes carved on the pillars came to life, surrounding him.
But strangely, they neither attacked him nor let him go, just circled around…
The next day, it was Ryan who shook Kael awake.
Professor Sprout was waiting at the door, ready to escort them to class.
"You've slept for about twelve hours."
Mikel placed several wrapped sandwiches on the table, "I heard from Cedric that you caught a cold, do you want to ask Professor Sprout for leave… If it's you, missing a day of class shouldn't be a problem."
"No need," Kael shook his head, "I've taken some medicine, I should be fine."
"Alright then…" Mikel and Ryan said no more.
...
Whether the Stimulant had expired or not, Kael continued drinking it for three days with no effect.
He remained groggy every day and constantly had the same dream at night.
On the third night, he fell asleep as soon as he returned to the common room.
"No, you have to go to the hospital wing."
Cedric woke him up and insisted on writing to Professor Sprout.
This time, Kael didn't refuse because he realized something was definitely wrong with him.
The completed note was sent by Ladon, while Cedric and Conna donned their robes, preparing to accompany Kael to the hospital wing when Professor Sprout arrived.
But they waited over half an hour before Professor Sprout hurriedly walked into the common room.
Her face was pale, yet her eyes were red, as if she had been crying.
"Thank goodness." Upon seeing Kael, she forced a smile, "Sorry, children, something came up earlier, but I'll take you to the hospital wing now."
Cedric and Conna also wanted to accompany them, but they were refused.
Professor Sprout took Kael, leaving the common room, walking through the empty corridors.
She seemed very nervous, constantly looking around, tightly gripping her wand.
Kael soon knew why.
In the hospital wing, nearly all the professors were there.
Of course, it wasn't because of Kael, but because of Ron Weasley lying on the hospital bed.
He lay there stiffly, like a statue.
Professor McGonagall was angrily questioning Lockhart.
"A student was attacked… just because you went to fix your hair?!"
"I, I didn't know…" Lockhart was trembling all over, his wand stuck in his hair.
"There was only one corridor left… they said no need to escort…" Lockhart stammered, trying to defend himself.
"So you just went back?" Professor McGonagall was like an angry lion, "You knew full well that Dumbledore wasn't at school today, and yet you dared to let a student leave alone!"
"But, Hagrid's already been caught…"
"Obviously, the true heir is someone else." Professor Snape said coldly, "Too bad the monster didn't come for you."
"…"
"Poppy, could you check this child?"
At this time, Professor Sprout led Kael in.
At her words, the hospital wing fell silent; the professors stopped berating Lockhart and almost simultaneously turned their heads.
"Don't worry, Minerva… it's not an attack." Professor Sprout quickly explained.
The professors noticed Kael walked in himself and breathed a sigh of relief.
Only Professor Snape had a strange expression, both disappointed and somewhat relieved.
Madam Pomfrey rushed over and examined Kael closely…
During this time, the professors drew the curtain around Ron's bed, blocking Kael's view.
After ten minutes, Madam Pomfrey stood up.
"Not a cold… maybe you're just so stressed that you keep having the same dream."
She took Kael to a bed, "You'll stay here overnight…"
Kael nodded and quietly sat on the bed.
"Could it be…" Snape asked in a drawn-out tone, "That there's nothing wrong with him at all?"
"I have my own judgment, Professor Snape."
Madam Pomfrey said sternly, "I can tell at a glance if someone is faking illness, and inevitably, if the attacks aren't resolved, there will be more cases like this…"
She approached with a large bottle labeled "Dreamless Sleep Potion."
"Let's try this first." She poured a steaming large cup, handing it to Kael, "It should help you have a good sleep."
The hospital wing's potions were always unpleasant, but thankfully tolerable.
After Kael finished drinking, Madam Pomfrey left, pulling the curtains for him on her way out.
Soon, the professors also left; they had to patrol the castle to prevent more students from being attacked.
The hospital wing quickly became quiet.
The Dreamless Sleep Potion indeed allowed Kael a good rest… but it was short-lived.
Two hours later, Kael's eyes suddenly opened, and he couldn't sleep anymore.
He thought of Ron lying next to him, unable to help frowning.
Kael should have seen this day coming; if the Basilisk remained unsolved, it was only a matter of time before students were attacked… petrified, or even killed.
Today it was Ron; tomorrow it could be Cedric, Conna, Fred, …
Was it really worth putting everyone, including friends, in danger for a Basilisk?
The answer was no… undoubtedly.
But why had he hesitated before?
Kael looked terribly pale.
Especially a few days ago, he had already thought of telling Dumbledore, but a sleep later, the thought was forgotten, leaving no trace.
Since when had his memory been so poor?
Or was it a Confundus Charm?
But if it is the Confundus Charm, then who was it… Riddle's diary?
When did it happen, and why didn't he have any impression at all?
Kael didn't dare go back to sleep; he forced himself to resist the continuous buzzing in his head and sat up on the bed.
…