Chapter 187 Requisition of the Bathroom
"Myrtle's Lavatory?" While others were still confused, Professor McGonagall seemed to recall something and asked with a solemn expression, "Are you sure?"
"Not entirely, but it's highly probable.
That lavatory was the first crime scene fifty years ago, so it's highly suspicious.
Moreover, on the night Madam Norris was harmed, there were many puddles at the scene, which is definitely not a coincidence."
Professor McGonagall nodded, mentally confirming Aaron's judgment.
"No time to lose, let's go quickly."
"Wait," Aaron quickly stopped them, "We still need to do some preparatory work."
"What else is there to prepare?" Professor Flitwick said anxiously, "Ginny's life is hanging by a thread!"
"That's why we need to be fully prepared. If something happens to any of you, who will guarantee the safety of hundreds of students?" Aaron patiently explained, then looked at Professor McGonagall, "The School needs Dumbledore now. I know you can contact him, and you must contact him."
Professor McGonagall nodded, "I'll notify him right away, but it will take some time."
"Also, my dormitory has the only two surviving roosters in all of Hogwarts. I'm sure that diary doesn't know about their existence.
With them, the Basilisk poses no threat; it's nothing to fear."
Hearing this, Lockhart, who was feigning unconsciousness, instantly perked up, scrambling to his feet as if nothing had happened, his face regaining its healthy color.
"Perhaps I've been too tired lately; I accidentally fell asleep," Lockhart said with a smile, revealing eight pearly white teeth. "By the way, where were we?
Fighting monsters, right? No problem, leave it to me!
But I need one, no, two roosters, and they must be lively ones."
Hearing this, Aaron's mouth twitched uncontrollably. Did this oddball really have to seek attention at this moment?
The others also frowned involuntarily. With such thick skin, even the Killing Curse probably couldn't pierce it.
"Aaron, business first," Professor McGonagall said, "You go prepare. We'll go to Myrtle's Lavatory to look for the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets. We won't act rashly before you arrive."
Aaron nodded, turned, and ran towards the Slytherincommon room, while all the Professors headed to the lavatory of Moaning Myrtle.
Back in his dorm, Aaron quickly removed the cages, lifted the Disillusionment Charm, and released the roosters he had raised for half a year.
The two roosters flapped their wings and crowed, but before they could rejoice for long, Abe's gaze swept over them.
A draconic pressure settled in their hearts, and the two roosters immediately quieted down.
Aaron took a deep breath, pulled a wooden box from under his bed, and took out the silver longsword inside.
He didn't know if he would use this sword, but just in case, he still created a summoning magic circle and placed the longsword into the summoning space.
When he came out, many Slytherins looked at him in surprise, because the two roosters he was carrying were too conspicuous.
"What's going on with you?" Draco asked curiously, "Where did those two roosters come from?"
"This is Professor McGonagall's order; I'm not sure.
I need to go out for a bit. You all stay in the common room until new orders are given; don't run around randomly," Aaron explained vaguely, then walked out, carrying the roosters.
About ten minutes later, Aaron arrived on the third floor of the Castle and saw Harry and his two friends standing in the corner like naughty children, which made him roll his eyes.
"How can you be here?" Professor McGonagall demanded loudly.
"We..." Harry stammered, unsure what to say, but then he saw Aaron approaching with two roosters and immediately understood what was happening. He promptly said, "We also wanted to help? Aaron knows."
"Another one who wants to help?" Professor Snape sneered, "No, three of them, but you three are a bit overconfident.
You're not needed here; go back to your dorms immediately."
"Wait, they might actually be needed here," Aaron quickly said, then looked at Harry meaningfully, "There's someone here who's a Parselmouth!"
Professor Snape frowned slightly. Frankly, he didn't want Harry Potter to take risks, but what Aaron said wasn't without reason.
"Yes, Professor Snape," Ron said with a hearty laugh, "Harryis one of only two Wizards in the entire School who can speak Parseltongue."
"Weasley, you are the least deserving person to be so happy," Snape said sarcastically, "Your sister has been taken into the Chamber of Secrets!"
"What?"
Ron's face changed dramatically, and he stumbled backward weakly. If Harry and Hermione hadn't caught him in time, he would surely have had a close encounter with the floor.
"Ginny," Ron murmured in disbelief, "How could this happen? It shouldn't be like this.
She's pure-blood; she shouldn't have been taken into the Chamber of Secrets."
"That's the truth. The only good news is that her life is currently hanging by a thread."
Hearing this, Ron glared at Aaron with red eyes, "How can that be good news?"
"Don't look at me like that. After I found out she was in trouble, I told all the Professors everything, including who the Heir of Slytherin is."
"You know who the Heir is?" Hermione asked.
"I do," Aaron nodded, "Honestly, we've all met him, and even had some contact with him.
But the luckiest one has to be Harry Potter; he actually managed to escape with his life."
"Uh... can you explain that more clearly?" Harry asked, puzzled.
"Tom Riddle's diary is the culprit, the real mastermind," Aaron said meaningfully, "The magic in the diary slowly causes people to lose themselves and then be controlled by it."
The several people were struck by lightning, standing frozen in place.
"Now you understand. Originally, I would never have stepped forward, but sometimes one truly can't help oneself.
This morning, I agreed with Ginny to hand over Riddle's diary to me for safekeeping, and then find a way to destroy it, but I didn't expect..."
"It's all your fault!" Ron roared furiously, his fists clenching audibly.
"Hey, hey, hey, don't blame me unfairly.
Months ago, I told you about Ginny's suspicions, and you swore up and down that she was fine.
If only you had been a bit more reliable back then, the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets would have been solved long ago, and she wouldn't have faced such great danger."
"I..." Ron's expression froze, and his anger instantly turned into boundless self-reproach, "But you still shouldn't have let her retrieve that diary alone."
"Heh! Heh heh!
She didn't want you all to know, that's why she came to me. If she really had no other choice, she wouldn't have asked me, a Slytherin, for help.
Besides, I didn't expect that diary to have such great magic.
Originally, I promised her to keep it a secret, but now it's clearly impossible to keep it a secret, otherwise, her life might not be saved."
"Alright, you lot," Professor McGonagall interjected, "Business first. If you have any disagreements, save them until Ginny is rescued!"
"I've brought the roosters," Aaron handed the two roosters to Professor McGonagall, "They are the Basilisk's bane."
"Give them to me!" Lockhart said with a grin, "I guarantee I'll take down the Basilisk."
He couldn't handle high-stakes situations, nor low-stakes ones, and even favorable ones were a struggle for him, but if he couldn't seize an opportunity in a perfectly favorable situation, then his twenty-plus years would have been wasted.
Standing there with the roosters, he could achieve an epic victory with his eyes closed. Such an opportunity was impossible even in dreams.
Killing the giant snake and saving Hogwarts would definitely add a glorious chapter to his career.
Professor McGonagall glanced at him disdainfully. Although she knew this grinning fellow was absolutely unreliable, she still handed him the roosters.
Because at this moment, no one present valued these two roosters more than Lockhart.
"Let's find the Chamber of Secrets first," Snape said blandly.
Everyone pushed open the lavatory door and walked in in a grand procession.
Myrtle, who was sulking on the ceiling, suddenly flew down, "Why are so many people coming here to see me, and so many Professors too?"
"Sorry, Myrtle, we're requisitioning this lavatory today," Professor McGonagall said, "This matter is very important, and we're not discussing it with you."
Myrtle was a bit unwilling, but seeing the impressive lineup, she could only nod helplessly, "Alright, but I have a small condition."
She pointed at Aaron, who was hiding behind the crowd, and said with a lovesick smile, "During the requisition period, just let him talk to me."
As her words fell, everyone present's gaze landed on Aaron, especially Snape, whose lips curled into a strange smile.
Aaron's eye twitched uncontrollably, and he said coldly, "Dream on. Unless it's in the next life, don't expect me to sell my looks."
"I just love that proud spirit of yours."
Hearing this, Aaron wished he could cast a spell at her face.
But the education he received since childhood told him not to hit women, so he could only suppress his anger and look at Professor Flitwick with a helpless expression, "You are the Dean of Ravenclaw, why don't you say something!"
"Me?" Flitwick pointed to himself in surprise, "But she had been dead for decades when I was Dean; I don't know her at all."
"Myrtle, we cannot agree to your condition," Professor McGonagall said, "We still need Aaron's help next; we can't do it without him."
"What does that have to do with me?"
"It concerns the cause of your death," Aaron said, "If you want to know who harmed you fifty years ago, then cooperate properly and don't hinder us."
Myrtle heard this, deliberated for a long while, then flew up crying, "I'll cooperate then."
"Do you remember where you died?" Harry asked.
"It should be there," Myrtle said, pointing to the pool in front, "That faucet never runs."
Everyone stepped forward to examine it, checking the pool up and down, inside and out, but found nothing unusual.
"Could you be mistaken?" Lockhart asked, "If so, just say it. It's normal not to remember something from fifty years ago."
"She's not mistaken," Hermione suddenly said, then pointed to a small snake carved on the side of the faucet, "This is Slytherin's symbol."
"But how do we open it?" Professor Sprout asked.
"Parseltongue," Aaron said, "Only someone who can speak Parseltongue can open it."
Harry nodded seriously, and under everyone's expectant gaze, hissed at the faucet: Open.