Chapter 313: Discoveries in the Chamber
Chapter 313: Discoveries in the Chamber
Although Harry and Ron didn't tell anyone about Hermione's hospitalization, her absence quickly caught the attention of several Gryffindors.
They were used to her chattering away in the Common Room, urging Ron and Harry to do their homework. Now, the sudden silence felt odd, and they were still adjusting to it.
Ron initially tried to act tough and claimed he didn't know, but the Weasley brothers knew their little brother (or big brother) too well. With a few words, they coaxed the truth out of him.
...
"So, Hermione is in the Hospital Wing?"
"Oh..." Ron groaned, covering his face. He wished he hadn't said anything.
"Was it another attack?" Percy jumped up from the sofa. "Don't move, I'm going to inform the professor!" Before they could stop him, he rushed towards the door.
Ron and Harry hurriedly blocked his way.
"It's not an attack, and it has nothing to do with the Chamber," Harry said hastily.
"Not an attack?" Percy looked at Harry and Ron, who were hugging their legs, with suspicion.
"Really not!"
"I promise!"
After much persuasion, Percy finally sat back down.
Fred and George exchanged a meaningful glance, amused by Ron's nervousness, but they said nothing and quickly communicated something between themselves.
...
On the third morning of the holiday, Kyle was about to leave the Hospital Wing after visiting Hermione when he ran into Fred and George, who were sneaking around the entrance.
"What are you doing here at the Hospital Wing?"
"We're sick!" Fred blurted out.
"We came to get some invigorating potion," George added, pretending to cough.
Kyle raised an eyebrow.
Their rosy faces didn't show any signs of illness. It was obvious they had come to find out about Hermione's hospitalization.
"What about you, Kyle? Who are you visiting at the Hospital Wing?" Fred asked.
"Oh, I also came to get some invigorating potion," Kyle said loudly, holding up a small bottle filled with red potion.
Hermione clearly didn't want others to know she had turned into a cat.
To prevent them from questioning her later, the best course of action was to pretend ignorance.
"What a coincidence!" George laughed. "It's been chilly lately, take care of yourselves."
"Yeah, you too."
After some awkward small talk, they parted ways.
When Fred and George entered the Hospital Wing, Madam Pomfrey had already covered Hermione's room with a cloth curtain, so they didn't see anything.
Meanwhile, Kyle, who had returned to the castle, initially planned to visit the library.
But as he approached the entrance hall, he spotted Peeves holding a bunch of balloons, chasing Madam Rosmerta all over the castle.
Ever since the Bloody Baron was attacked, Peeves had become completely uncontrollable, spending his days chasing ghosts or students. He would only behave slightly better in front of the professors.
Madam Rosmerta was one of Peeves' favorite targets.
Kyle couldn't understand why Madam Rosmerta was afraid of Peeves' balloons; they couldn't possibly hit her.
However, this was a good opportunity.
As they flew away, Kyle quickly made his way to the empty bathroom.
Based on past experiences, Peeves and Madam Rosmerta's chase would last at least an hour, giving him ample time to visit the Chamber.
Kyle used Parseltongue to open the pipe and jumped in, easily finding his way to the end of the passage.
The Chamber of Secrets' door slowly opened, and Kyle, wand in hand, cautiously stepped onto the black floor.
The stone that had been stuck in the door the last time he left was now gone, confirming that someone had been to the Chamber in his absence.
Kyle carefully surveyed the area.
The good news was that there was no one else here, so he didn't have to worry about being ambushed.
However, below the Slytherin statue, there were some scattered snake skins and a noticeable drag mark.
There was also some undried slime on it, resembling the trail left by a Flobberworm crawling across the floor, but much larger.
Upon seeing the drag mark and snake skins, Kyle knew for certain that the Basilisk had emerged.
But who could it be... Kyle stood up and carefully recalled all the recent events...
The Chamber was eerily quiet, and the snake eyes carved on those pillars, along with the Slytherin statue, seemed to be staring at Kyle.
But Kyle didn't pay attention to these details; he paced back and forth as he thought.
Before this, he had asked Myrtle several times, but she insisted that no one else had entered the bathroom.
However, Myrtle's words weren't always reliable. Although she lived in the bathroom, she didn't stay in the stalls all the time.
But why were the props he set up not reacting? Was there another entrance... or was the person who released the Basilisk not entering through the door?
"Crack..."
A sound, distinct from footsteps, suddenly echoed through the Chamber.
Kyle was startled and immediately drew his wand, pointing it towards the direction of the door. But soon, he realized the sound was coming from below.
Kyle lifted his foot and discovered that he had accidentally stepped on a snake skin while pacing.
"You scared me."
Kyle sighed in relief.
But as he reached down to pick up the snake skin, he noticed something else underneath.
A golden chain...
Kyle quickly picked it up.
The chain was less than two inches long, formed by several small golden snakes biting each other, and both ends showed signs of being torn off, seemingly ripped from a complete object.
"Was this left by the person holding the diary?"
Kyle's first thought, upon seeing the snakes, was Slytherin.
After all, they love snakes the most, and their clothes and accessories always feature snake decorations.
If you find something with a snake pattern in Hogwarts, it's undoubtedly from Slytherin.
However... Kyle carefully examined the broken chain.
Although the snake clasps were tiny, they were incredibly lifelike, with even the scales on their bodies clearly visible. It looked so real that Kyle knew this wasn't some cheap item.
Slytherin... with money?
Draco Malfoy?
Kyle subconsciously thought of Harry's old rival.
But soon, he shook his head.
No, on Halloween, Malfoy was in the Great Hall attending the banquet; he didn't have time to release the Basilisk to attack Filch.
Moreover, Lucius Malfoy wouldn't allow him to be involved in such matters.
Then, who else could it be...
Kyle fiddled with the chain, thinking of a few other names: Millicent Bulstrode, Daphne Greengrass, Pansy Parkinson... or Crabbe and Goyle?
(End of Chapter)
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