https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-46-The-Second-Generation-Phoenix/13456657/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-48-Could-Professor-Forrest-Be-a-Jinx-/13456659/
Chapter 47: Basilisk
Chapter 47: Basilisk
"Everyone has their own choices. We cannot impose our decisions on others, even if we believe it is for their own good."
Dumbledore's voice was calm and steady, causing everyone to fall silent.
"I have been a teacher at Hogwarts for nearly eighty years. I have encountered all types of students. In education, we can teach and guide, but we cannot impose our own thoughts on them, no matter how correct we believe them to be."
"Even we ourselves cannot be certain that our thoughts are always right. Wizards are human, and humans make mistakes. We cannot be sure that our choices are always correct, so how can we be certain about others' choices?"
His words made many people lower their heads in deep thought, but Mrs. Weasley, still worried, said, "But Sally only has this one child. We all promised her that we would keep Sherlock safe from danger and not let the war affect the next generation."
"Pampered thinking!" Mad-Eye Moody said disapprovingly. He was the only one among them who did not oppose Sherlock joining the Phoenix Order, which was no surprise given his close relationship with the original owner.
"A chick that is always protected will never become a mighty eagle. If it stays in a warm nest, how will it survive when danger comes? In dangerous situations, even we cannot guarantee our own safety, so how can we ensure his safety?"
"There is no danger now, Mad-Eye Moody", a wizard named Edgar Bones countered. "The Dark Lord has been dead for many years, and the Death Eaters have all been imprisoned in Azkaban. The entire wizarding world is at peace."
"You think it's peaceful because you haven't seen the danger", Mad-Eye Moody growled. "Even now, dozens of Aurors die each year, dark wizards are scattered everywhere, and disturbances occur periodically!"
Mad-Eye Moody argued alone against the wizards who opposed Sherlock joining the Phoenix Order.
Sherlock, at this moment, understood why Mrs. Weasley and the others opposed his joining the Phoenix Order.
They feared he might face danger.
After all, the Phoenix Order, at its core, was a combat organization. Even though Voldemort had been defeated for over a decade, that did not change its nature.
If conflict arose in the future, Sherlock, being part of the Order, could find himself in danger.
Sherlock's heart sank.
He had initially thought there might be some ulterior motives, but in reality, everyone's intentions were pure.
The disagreement was simply over how to best protect him.
These wizards, led by Dumbledore, might not be the most powerful in the wizarding world, but they were certainly the most upright and selfless.
As Mad-Eye Moody and the original Phoenix Order members continued to argue, Dumbledore gently clapped his hands, quieting the room and drawing everyone's attention to him.
"Sherlock wants to join the Phoenix Order, and this is not just his own wish. When Sally was still alive, she expressed her hope that her son would share her ideals and join the Phoenix Order. This was her plan for Sherlock from the beginning."
Everyone who had been arguing fell silent. They did not want Sherlock to join their ranks because they had promised Sally that her son would not be put in danger for the stability of the wizarding world.
No one doubted Dumbledore's honesty. If he said this was Sherlock's mother's wish, then it was.
This left no room for them to object.
Kingsley stood up on his own initiative and raised his glass to Sherlock.
"Welcome to our ranks, Sherlock."
He drank the contents of his glass in one go, and the other wizards at the long table also raised their glasses.
"Welcome, Sherlock."
Sherlock was moved by their gesture and wanted to stand up to return the toast, but he hesitated, unsure if such an action would be too sudden for his character.
As he was wavering, a golden-red light appeared beside Dumbledore, and Phoenix Fawkes spread its wings and perched on his shoulder, a note in its beak.
Dumbledore took the note, read its contents, and his expression slowly turned serious, his brows involuntarily furrowing.
Just as Professor Mcgonagall was about to ask what had happened, he suddenly stood up from his chair.
"Apologies, everyone. Hogwarts has experienced an unexpected incident, and I must take Minerva and Sherlock back immediately."
Professor Mcgonagall and Sherlock stood up from their seats upon hearing his words. Dumbledore grabbed their arms, and Fawkes burst into a fiery red light, teleporting them away.
The remaining members of the Order of the Phoenix at the table looked at each other, unsure of what had transpired.
Sherlock and the others reappeared in front of the Headmaster's office at Hogwarts in a flash of light.
Professor Flitwick was waiting for them anxiously and, upon seeing Dumbledore, panted out:
"Another attack, this time on a first-year student, Colin Creevey!"
Dumbledore did not return to the office but instead gestured for Professor Flitwick to lead the way, hurrying with Sherlock and Professor Mcgonagall to the scene of the attack.
"What is the student's condition?"
"He is still alive, petrified like the last student. Normal counter-curses have no effect. I've had the students take him to the hospital wing."
They arrived at the scene first, where a group of students had gathered.
As soon as they arrived, Professor Mcgonagall shouted sternly at them.
"Back to class! No gathering here! Back to class!"
She had a high standing among the students, and no one dared to linger. They dispersed but did not go far, instead watching from a distance.
At the scene, apart from Colin, who had been taken to the hospital wing, his dropped belongings remained.
It was a Muggle camera, lying on the ground.
Sherlock recalled and said,
"Yesterday, Colin told me he planned to take pictures of every corner of Hogwarts to show his family when he got home."
Professor Mcgonagall immediately understood.
"The camera might have captured the attacker's image."
But when Dumbledore picked up the camera and opened the back, it was already burned out, leaving nothing behind.
"Very powerful magic", Dumbledore murmured.
Sherlock looked at the burned camera in Dumbledore's hand and thought it was the right moment to mention the only clue he remembered.
"There is a Dark Magic creature called a Basilisk. Its eyes are said to have a powerful petrifying effect."
(End of Chapter)
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