Chapter 172 Coincidence is indeed not a coincidence
"Pure-blood!"
As the words fell, the stone door slowly opened.
Harry and Ron both looked at Hermione, who had spoken the password, in disbelief. "How did you know? Slytherinshouldn't tell their password to others."
"Of course, I guessed it," Hermione said, a little excitedly. "I thought of about ten passwords that could match Slytherin's, but I didn't expect to succeed on the first try. It seems we're lucky."
The three passed through the stone door and entered a long, narrow underground chamber.
This was their first time entering the Slytherin common room. The walls and ceiling were made of rock, and green-glowing chandeliers hung from the ceiling.
A fire crackled in the fireplace, illuminating the figures of several Slytherins nearby.
"So this is the Slytherin common room!" Ron said with disdain. "Cold, dark, and with an eerie green light. It feels completely different from Gryffindor."
"That's normal. Slytherin represents the water element, and Gryffindor represents the fire element.
Naturally, their styles are incompatible, like fire and water."
"Never mind that for now. We still have forty-five minutes. We need to find Aaron quickly." Harry said somewhat anxiously, "Does anyone know where his dormitory is?"
Hermione and Ron exchanged glances, thinking Harry was a bit too eager.
Just getting into the Slytherin common room was lucky. To then expect to find Aaron's dormitory directly? Surely he wasn't trying to make things difficult for them, two Gryffindors.
"Alright!" Harry realized, his face a little embarrassed. "We need to find someone to ask."
Ron walked directly up to a girl. "Excuse me, I forgot where Gaius's dormitory is. Can you help me?"
"Are you referring to Senior Aaron Gaius?" The female student's face flushed slightly. "I really want to help you, but the boys' and girls' dormitories are separate.
If you're going to see him, could you please ask him if he liked the Christmas gift I sent him?
Oh, and my name is..."
Before the girl could finish speaking, Ron walked away with a look of disappointment.
"Can't you use your brain?" Hermione said speechlessly. "Asking a girl for the location of the boys' dormitory—it would be abnormal if she told you."
"It's not like we gained nothing!" Ron sat awkwardly on the sofa. "At least it proves that Aaron's influence in Slytherin is no less than Harry's in Gryffindor."
Harry's mouth twitched. That didn't seem quite the same!
His fame mostly came from Lord Voldemort, and he himself was bewildered by it, even feeling undeserving. But Aaron's reputation came from his own personal charisma.
"Should I try asking another boy?"
"No," Hermione disagreed with this method, pondering, "Draco and Aaron have a very good relationship, and Crabbeand Goyle are Draco's followers.
Others might not know Aaron's dormitory, but those three must know."
"So we just wait here?" Harry looked at his watch. "We have less than three-quarters of the time left."
Just as the three were at a loss, a figure appeared before them.
Looking up, the Slytherin prefect was watching them with interest, a faint smile on his face.
The three's hearts skipped a beat, and their breathing became unsteady. Had they been exposed?
They couldn't help but worry. Firstly, Naylor was a Senior Wizard, so it was possible he could spot a problem.
Secondly, it was Hermione's first time brewing Polyjuice Potion. While it seemed successful so far, the effects couldn't be perfect; there would likely be some discrepancies from the book's description.
However, as Naylor spoke, the three gradually calmed down.
"It seems you have something on your mind."
Hermione's eyes lit up, and she said in Malfoy's tone, "Yes, there's something I want to discuss with Aaron, but I don't know how to say it."
"Can you tell me about it?
I'm a prefect. Although my responsibility is to regulate student behavior, helping students with small troubles is also acceptable."
"Then take us to Aaron's dormitory!" Harry blurted out, but then he saw the look of confusion on Naylor's face and immediately added, "I mean, our boss needs a little push."
"Is it that serious?" Naylor looked at Draco. "Given your relationship with him, what could possibly make you feel so troubled?"
"Uh..." Hermione hesitated for a moment. "Quidditch."
Naylor suddenly understood. He knew that Slytherin's victory in the Quidditch match this time was largely due to Aaron's tactics.
But such a strategy might not work next time. To ensure their performance, they still needed his opinion. Draco was probably too proud to ask, which was why he was conflicted.
"I'll take you. It concerns Slytherin's honor; there's nothing to hesitate about."
Naylor led the way, and the three exchanged glances, quickly suppressing the smiles on their faces.
Arriving at a wooden door, Naylor knocked.
Hearing the sound, Aaron quickly put the half-drawn magiccircle into his pocket, covered the clue wall and the makeshift chicken coop, and then opened the door.
"Prefect, and Draco, is there something you need?"
"Well, Draco, he..."
"Has something he wants to discuss with you." Hermioneimmediately interrupted Naylor. Their time was already limited, and asking about Quidditch tactics would be a complete waste.
However, a hint of regret flashed in Harry and Ron's eyes. If they could figure out Aaron's tactics in advance, the next championship would be a sure thing.
Aaron raised an eyebrow and directly invited them in.
Naylor, however, didn't stay long. He could only do so much; if he interfered further with the Slytherin team, Flint would become displeased.
"Speak up! What do you want from me?" Aaron asked, sitting in a chair. "All three of you came together."
"We just want to ask you about the Chamber of Secrets," Hermione said hesitantly. "Many people are saying you're the Heir of Slytherin now."
"The wind has changed so quickly? Shouldn't it be Harry Potter?"
"You know your reputation in Slytherin. We're more inclined to believe you're the Heir."
"Heh heh!" Aaron sneered. "But I'm clearly not. You should know that I've been investigating this matter ever since Halloween."
Hermione froze for a moment, then turned to look at Harryand Ron. While relieved, she also felt a bit lost.
This was completely different from what they had imagined. Aaron wasn't the culprit, and neither was Draco Malfoy.
Harry found it hard to accept. If both of them were ruled out, then he was the only suspect left at Hogwarts.
"It's really not you? Then how do you always show up at the crime scenes?"
"Goyle, your attitude when asking questions now is exactly like Harry's. I don't seem to have a reason to answer you, do I?"
"Don't mind him, Aaron," Hermione immediately said. "Goyle actually really hopes you're the Heir, so that the safety of Slytherin House would be guaranteed."
"Hmph!" Aaron pouted. "The friendship between Gaius and Slytherin dates back over a thousand years, but I can assure you that I don't have a drop of Slytherin blood in me."
"That's really... too bad." Ron said sheepishly. "Slytherin was a Saint Magus!"
"My family has produced Saint Magi before; it's nothing special," Aaron said nonchalantly. There were at least seven or eight Saint Magi in his family's secret room who had been Saint Magi in their lifetime.
Was he proud? Was he boastful?
Ron opened his mouth, somewhat speechless. In some ways, reclusive families indeed had stronger foundations than pure-blood families like theirs.
Harry, meanwhile, kept winking at Hermione, who was still immersed in shock.
Aaron not being the Heir of Slytherin was good news, but they couldn't have come all this way for nothing!
With Draco Malfoy's identity, many questions could be answered, and Aaron surely had clues about the Chamber of Secrets, which they couldn't miss.
Hermione snapped back to reality and looked at Aaron with some guilt. "Um... actually, I also want to know why you always appear at the crime scenes.
Don't tell me it's a coincidence! That kind of excuse would only fool Harry Potter."
Harry:...That sounds strange, but it does fit Malfoy's personality.
"Alright!" Aaron picked up Abbey from the table and said proudly, "You also know its identity. My family's dragon cub is quite special; it can sense killing intent to a certain extent.
Every time the creature in the Chamber of Secrets is about to attack a student, it can sense it, so... you understand."
Hermione and Ron both involuntarily looked at Harry, complex emotions flashing in their eyes—reproach, but more often, sympathy.
What kind of situation was this?
Those times were indeed not coincidences, but Aaron was also truly not the Heir of Slytherin.
Harry understood, and he was so embarrassed he could have dug a Hogwarts-sized hole with his feet. If there had been a crack in the floor, he would have loved to crawl into it immediately.
However, just as he thought that, his cheek twitched, because there really was a neat cut in the floor, as if tailor-made for him.
Harry quickly averted his gaze, not looking at the crack.
"Then, Aaron, have you found out who the culprit is?" Hermione asked tentatively. "Or do you have any other clues?"
Aaron pondered for a moment, then nodded seriously.
"You found out?" Harry excitedly slapped his thigh. If Ronhadn't bumped his arm, he probably would have jumped up.
"You're getting too excited, Goyle.
I just have some clues; there's still a ways to go before finding the Heir of Slytherin." Aaron smiled faintly, feeling a sense of accomplishment.
Hogwarts had searched for the Chamber of Secrets for decades without finding it, but he had discovered the real clues, and even knew the identity of the monster within the Chamber.