Listening to Headmaster Dumbledore's words, Amanda's brain began to rapidly integrate information and make deductions.
"Based on the existing information, although the Basilisk is extremely dangerous and a magical creature, it is still a snake by nature and has the body of a snake."
Headmaster Dumbledore nodded, looking at Amanda and waiting for her further analysis.
Hermione and the other three also stared at Amanda without blinking. A Basilisk—an absolutely dangerous magical creature; one look into its eyes meant death.
They were also very curious about how the Basilisk actually moved around.
"The Basilisk has a snake's body. In a building, the most suitable place for a snake to pass through without being discovered is the pipes."
"Therefore, there is a high probability that the Basilisk moves through the pipes of Hogwarts."
In her mind, she quickly compared a snake's body with various architectural floor plans. Since she didn't have the blueprints for Hogwarts, Amanda could only substitute them with floor plans she already knew.
The final conclusion was that moving through the pipes was most consistent with the Basilisk's body structure and best for concealment.
"Pipes..." Headmaster Dumbledore murmured, nodding. "Thank you for your conclusion, Miss Amanda. We will investigate as soon as possible."
The Basilisk was simply too dangerous. Now that they knew the monster in the Chamber of Secrets might be a Basilisk,
all the Professors at Hogwarts were prepared to enter the Chamber of Secrets to eliminate it.
Amanda nodded with an indifferent expression, but in fact, her brain was instinctively continuing its deductions.
It was known that the last Basilisk attack occurred fifty years ago, and a student died in that incident.
Judging by a book in the Library that briefly mentioned Hogwarts ghosts, Moaning Myrtle from the second-floor girls' washroom died exactly fifty years ago.
Therefore, Moaning Myrtle should be the victim of the Basilisk attack fifty years ago, and the place of death was the second-floor girls' washroom.
Furthermore, considering this Basilisk attack happened right outside the second-floor girls' washroom, the place where the Basilisk enters and exits—the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets—should be in that same washroom.
In the flow of her thoughts, Amanda easily deduced the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets.
However, Headmaster Dumbledore didn't ask any further. He smiled and stroked his beard at the five young witches.
"Thank you five for making the trip to listen to an old man's ramblings."
"It's getting late. You should return to your respective common rooms. There's a Quidditch match tomorrow morning, and I imagine you wouldn't want to miss it."
As he spoke, he winked at Amanda. "Miss Amanda, remember to go watch the match tomorrow as well. It's the weekend, so get some good rest."
Although the thought that she shouldn't slack off still popped up in her head, the world was different now, and she should follow the instructions of the Professor from this era.
Amanda made her judgment expressionlessly, then nodded subconsciously, her voice as calm as still water.
"Alright, I will go. Thank you, Headmaster Dumbledore."
"You're very welcome. You may head back now."
Headmaster Dumbledore waved his hand, signaling that Amanda and the others could leave.
The five young witches turned to walk toward the office door, but halfway there, Headmaster Dumbledore seemed to remember something.
"Oh, right. I wonder if Miss Cho Chang and Miss Marietta Eckmore Edgecombe would mind having one more roommate in your Dormitory?"
Dumbledore's sudden question made Cho Chang and Marietta Eckmore freeze for a moment. They turned back to look at him, confused.
Then, following his gaze, they saw... Hermione standing next to Amanda, holding her hand.
Their eyebrows twitched violently, but Cho Chang and Marietta Eckmore smiled and shook their heads.
"We don't mind, Headmaster Dumbledore."
"We have no objection, Headmaster Dumbledore. The Ravenclaw dormitories were originally designed for four people anyway, weren't they?"
The two spoke one after the other. After expressing their stance, Cho Chang looked at Headmaster Dumbledore with some uncertainty.
"However, Headmaster Dumbledore, you mean you want to add another bed to our Dormitory, right?"
Cho Chang narrowed her eyes slightly as she spoke. Hermione and Amanda clearly hadn't 'awakened' yet. Amanda went without saying—her emotional center was like a newborn's, and even that was being suppressed.
Even Hermione, because she was still young, didn't have those kinds of thoughts for the time being.
Sleeping together occasionally in special circumstances was one thing, but if they slept together all the time... they were still a bit too young.
Under the stares of Cho Chang and Marietta Eckmore, Headmaster Dumbledore felt his back breaking into a sweat.
He couldn't help but shake his head with a smile and answered gently, "Of course, Miss Cho Chang, Miss Marietta Eckmore Edgecombe."
These two children truly considered themselves Amanda's older sisters; they were good kids.
"Then we have no problem at all." Cho Chang showed a satisfied smile, and Marietta Eckmore beside her nodded with a smile as well.
Hermione, who was holding Amanda's hand behind them, clearly didn't realize that the 'extra roommate' the Headmaster mentioned was herself.
She even leaned cautiously into Amanda's ear, whispering to ask who was moving into their Dormitory and if it was a new student.
Amanda turned her head mechanically to look at Hermione and shook it. "The new students already have their own dormitories."
Penelope, standing next to them, felt her mouth twitch as she listened to their conversation.
The two underclassmen hadn't even realized it yet, but the Professors were already paving the way for them... Sigh, Amanda is still so young.
Reaching out to ruffle Amanda's small head, Penelope looked gently at Hermione.
"When Headmaster Dumbledore asked Cho Chang and Marietta Eckmore if they'd mind an extra roommate, he was referring to you."
"Referring to... me?" Hermione pointed at herself blankly, her face instantly turning red.
"Oh, that... I mean, why?"
Hermione was a bit incoherent. To be honest, she didn't even know why she felt so shy.
"Perhaps because," Penelope looked at the blushing Hermione and the 'ignorant' Amanda, struggling to explain, "you really care about Amanda and are her best friend."
Amanda is still young, no rush; let's just trouble Hermione for a bit, and at the same time let her realize her own feelings for Amanda.
Penelope thought silently. She had to admit, she was slightly biased toward Hermione when it came to her and Amanda—well, just a little bit.
"O-okay then." Hermione lowered her head with a red face.
Feeling Cho Chang and Marietta Eckmore walk over, she whispered a small thank you.
The two seniors reached out affectionately to ruffle Hermione's head. "You're welcome. It's a good thing for you to come and keep Amanda company more often."
"Yes, and if there are two underclassmen in the Dormitory, it will definitely be very interesting and lively."
"Mm!" The shyness in Hermione's heart was pushed away a bit, and she looked up with a big, bright smile.
Amanda stood to the side, watching Cho Chang, Marietta Eckmore, and Penelope look at Hermione with kindly expressions.
For some reason, her brain told her that based on facial expression analysis, the way the three seniors looked at Hermione didn't quite seem like purely a senior looking at a junior.
Having reached a conclusion, Amanda felt no confusion. After confirming Headmaster Dumbledore had nothing else to say, she politely said goodbye and followed Hermione and the others out of the Headmasters Office.
Emerging from behind the gargoyle outside the office, Penelope turned to Hermione. "Hermione, are you going back to Gryffindor or coming with us to stay at Ravenclaw?"
Since Headmaster Dumbledore had just clearly stated that Hermione could stay in Amanda's Dormitory, she could go there openly now.
Stay at Ravenclaw together—Hermione's heart skipped a beat at those words.
Staying at Ravenclaw meant living in the same room as Amanda. She was truly tempted.
But then she thought of her two good friends, Harry and Ron, and their homework that was still waiting for her to save it... Hermione gnashed her teeth. It seemed she couldn't go to Ravenclaw to stay with Amanda after all.
"Not today," Hermione sighed and shook her head. "I still have to go back and supervise Harry and Ron's homework."
"Otherwise, who knows what their assignments will end up looking like."
Penelope couldn't help but laugh, and Cho Chang and Marietta Eckmore also covered their mouths to giggle.
Gryffindor boys—understandable.
They were more lively. You couldn't say they were terrible students, but you couldn't say they were particularly good or self-disciplined either.
"Alright, then we'll head back to Ravenclaw first." Penelope waved at Hermione.
"Goodnight, Hermione."
Cho Chang and Marietta Eckmore also waved goodbye to their junior. Amanda, however, took a step forward without any change in expression.
"I will walk you back."
"Huh?" Hermione was stunned for a moment, looking at Amanda with confusion.
"The Basilisk is in Hogwarts. According to legend, the thing Salazar Slytherin left behind will purge those he deems unworthy of learning magic—that is, Muggle-born Young Wizards."
"You are at a certain level of risk. I will walk you back."
Amanda's voice was devoid of emotion, and she spoke very formally.
But hearing this, Hermione's heart felt incredibly warm. Nevertheless, she reached out and pinched Amanda's cheek.
"No need! I can go back by myself. Otherwise, I'll be worried about you when you walk back to Ravenclaw alone."
Amanda shook her head calmly. "I'm walking you."
Hermione wanted to say more, but Marietta Eckmore interrupted her directly, giggling as she pushed Amanda into her arms.
"Just let Amanda walk you. It really might not be safe for you to go back alone."
"Why don't we all go together? We can drop you off at Gryffindor first, and then we'll head back to Ravenclaw."
Amanda turned her head from Hermione's arms to look at the three seniors, who were nodding in agreement, and rejected their proposal in a flat tone.
"Your direct route back is shorter and safer. Meanwhile, if we encounter the Basilisk, my individual survival rate is higher."
The three seniors looked at each other. Well... they had to admit that if they really encountered the Basilisk, they couldn't do much besides being a burden.
Of course, they could actually help Amanda 'take a hit,' but given Amanda's usual style, she definitely wouldn't let them do that.
When the time came, she might even have to 'take a hit' for them instead.
"Alright, it's settled then. We'll head back to the Dormitory first, and Amanda will walk Hermione back."
Penelope clapped her hands to make the decision, while looking at Hermione. "Once Amanda gets back to Ravenclaw, we'll have her use the fireplace to let you know she's safe. Is that okay?"
Hermione bit her lower lip and glanced at Amanda. Her face still showed no change, and she had no intention of speaking up to change her mind.
"Alright."
Hermione nodded and let Amanda walk her back to Gryffindor. Amanda was led by Hermione on the way back to Gryffindor, while Penelope and the other two went straight back to Ravenclaw.
Nothing happened along the way.
Hogwarts Castle was silent, with only the sounds of her and Hermione's footsteps echoing softly around them.
After walking Hermione to the entrance of the Gryffindor Common Room, Amanda looked down at Hermione's hand holding hers.
Releasing her hand, Hermione gave Amanda a firm hug. "Be careful on the way back."
"Okay," Amanda replied without any emotion, instinctively hugging Hermione back.
"Goodnight. Try to have sweet dreams." Hermione couldn't resist rubbing her cheek against Amanda's.
She really loved this smooth, tender feeling.
"Goodnight."
Amanda replied. As for the second half of the sentence—she wouldn't dream.
Releasing her arms from around Amanda, Hermione watched her turn and leave.
Only after Amanda had rounded a corner and was no longer in sight did Hermione breathe a sigh of relief and turn to the portrait of the fat lady to say the password.
The portrait of the fat lady slowly swung open. Hermione used her hands to 'cool down' her slightly warm face.
Then, putting on a cold face, she strode into the Gryffindor Common Room. She was going to check Harry and Ron's homework.
She hoped they did it seriously, or else... Hermione brushed her hair back, a Gryffindor-style cunning flashing in her eyes.
Walking swiftly on the way back to the Ravenclaw Common Room, Amanda passed through one corridor after another without expression.
Under the 'cover' of her own footsteps, another faint set of footsteps sounded behind her.
Hogwarts Castle was indeed large enough to produce echoes.
However, her footsteps weren't loud enough to create an echo, and an echo wouldn't come so precisely from only one direction.
Someone was following her. Amanda's brain quickly thought and summarized the current situation.
Stalking her, muffling their footsteps, using her own footsteps as cover—this person didn't want her to find them.
This person harbored ill intentions toward her. With all the information integrated, Amanda reached a final conclusion.
Hermione had said before that if anything happened to her, she would worry, and so would Senior Cho Chang, Senior Marietta, and many others. Worrying makes people feel terrible.
Quickly making a judgment in her mind, Amanda darted into a side corridor.
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