My School Life At Hogwarts Chapter 638: Harry Was Speechless - Novel Cool

Chapter 638: Harry Was Speechless

Chapter 638: Harry Was Speechless

This was Harry's first time entering Albert's dormitory. With curiosity, he looked around the quarters of the Hogwarts prodigy, surprised to find that it wasn't much different from his own.

If there was anything worth noting, it would be the cat climbing frame on the wall. He had seen something similar at Mrs. Figg's house, who lived next door to the Dursleys.

Almost forgot, Albert had a rather chubby cat, named... Tom, if he recalled correctly.

Yes, Tom, the same name as Riddle.

A creak came from behind, and Harry turned to see Albert closing the dormitory door.

The room fell into a momentary silence, and Harry felt his heartbeat quicken slightly.

"You want to ask me about Hagrid, don't you?" Albert asked bluntly.

"Hagrid asked me to come find you before he was taken away by the Minister of Magic," Harry admitted honestly.

"If you want to ask whether Hagrid is the heir of Slytherin, my answer is no," Albert said. He probably understood why Hagrid had asked Harry to come to him, and he wanted to explain things clearly to Harry to avoid any misunderstandings.

"Fifty years ago, Hagrid was indeed expelled from Hogwarts because of the attack incident, but he had nothing to do with the attack that year."

Seeing that Harry seemed about to say something, Albert interrupted him by raising his hand, indicating that he should listen to what he had to say.

"Hagrid's expulsion had more to do with the fact that a student died in the attack. Someone had to be held accountable. At the time, Hagrid happened to be keeping a giant spider in the cupboard, and when he was caught by Riddle, he let the spider escape. So, it's normal for him to be blamed for it; he has only himself to blame."

After hearing Albert's explanation, Harry couldn't help but gape, never having imagined that the truth behind Hagrid's expulsion fifty years ago was because of this reason.

Now that he knew Hagrid was innocent, thanks to Albert, Harry felt relieved. In fact, he had been worried that Hagrid might be the real culprit, and he didn't know how he would face Hagrid if that were the case.

However, Harry still had some doubts, and just as he was about to ask, he met Albert's gaze and averted his head involuntarily. The eye contact with Albert reminded him of how he felt when facing Snape, as if his thoughts were being seen through, which made Harry uncomfortable.

"You don't suspect Hagrid is the culprit, do you?" Albert stared into Harry's eyes, answering the question he was thinking of asking. "Is it because the attacks stopped after Hagrid was expelled?"

Harry nodded foolishly.

"Actually, the answer is simple," Albert said, sitting on the edge of his bed and gesturing for Harry to do the same. "In Riddle's memory, you should have seen that because of the attacks, the school was facing a crisis and was likely to be shut down. The attacker didn't want the school to close, so..."

"So...?"

"...they found someone to take the blame, and then the attacks stopped. The matter would naturally be dropped," Albert revealed the cruel truth to Harry. "The Ministry of Magic is now using the same tactic by taking Hagrid away, hoping to make him the scapegoat again and quell the panic caused by the attacks."

"How can they do that when they know Hagrid is innocent?" Harry was stunned by Albert's words, and his brain quickly filled with anger.

"Of course, they can," Albert said, fixing his eyes on Harry. "If sacrificing an insignificant person can calm things down, who would care about the truth? If imprisoning Malfoy would stop the attacks, would you be willing to do it?"

If imprisoning Malfoy would stop the attacks, Harry would certainly be willing to do so. As for the truth, sometimes it wasn't the most important thing, but Harry couldn't bring himself to say it out loud.

"Don't try to argue," Albert waved his hand, interrupting Harry who was about to speak. "So, Hagrid, with his previous record, has been locked up again."

"Just like fifty years ago, they can't catch the real culprit, and this consequence may lead to Hogwarts being closed again," Albert said with a strange smile. "The Ministry of Magic will also be blamed, so the Minister needs someone to take the fall, or he will suffer the consequences as well."

"Why?"

"This is politics, Harry. Politics is the dirtiest thing in the world, bar none," Albert said with a smile that made Harry feel uneasy. "If one day you stand against the Minister of Magic, you will understand what I mean. Believe me, that day is not far off."

Harry was speechless. What was this?

"Is this... a prophecy?"

"You can think of it that way," Albert didn't deny it. "However, you don't have to worry about Hagrid. He won't be taking the fall this time."

"Really?" Harry felt relieved and wanted to believe Albert's words.

"Whether it was Colin, Nearly Headless Nick, or Hermione, they all saw the Serpent. If you noticed their expressions, you should be able to guess that," Albert said, seeing the puzzled look on Harry's face. "Once the student who was attacked wakes up, the truth about the Serpent will come out."

Harry nodded.

"Hagrid would never have the ability to control a Serpent. I think Hermione must have told you that only someone with a..."

"...Parselmouth can control the Serpent," Harry finished the sentence.

Harry's question was interrupted by Albert, who seemed to always finish his thoughts before he could voice them, leaving him speechless.

"How can you be sure that the monster in the Chamber of Secrets is the Serpent?" Harry asked loudly. In fact, he also believed that the monster in the Chamber was the Serpent. However, Harry felt that if he didn't say something soon, he might go crazy.

"How can I be sure it's the Serpent?"

"Yes," Harry nodded.

"The pet spider Hagrid kept in the cupboard was an Acromantula, a giant spider that still lives in the Forbidden Forest. They are terrifyingly huge; you may have heard about it from Ron. Fred and George were almost eaten by those Acromantulas," Albert paused, "Sorry, I digress. Hagrid once asked the spider he kept, Aragog, about the monster in the school. Well, you can be sure that Acromantulas can speak human language. Aragog didn't want to tell Hagrid what the monster was, just like how people are reluctant to mention the Dark Lord's name. Aragog only revealed that the monster was the natural enemy of spiders."

"The natural enemy of spiders?" Harry recalled that Hermione had mentioned this before.

"I checked the library for information and found out that the monster feared by Acromantulas is indeed the Serpent."

Albert glanced at Harry and muttered to himself, "You probably don't know that a spider's eyes can never fully close. If it encounters a Basilisk, it will be killed instantly by its gaze."

Harry felt that he had learned something new today.

"Hermione told me that you can hear sounds that others can't, and it's been proven that you're a Parselmouth. So, the hissing sound must be from the Basilisk," Albert stated.

Harry nodded in agreement.

"As everyone knows, Slytherin's symbol is a snake, and being a Parselmouth is one of the marks of Slytherin. If the monster in the Chamber of Secrets has survived for a thousand years, then it has to be a Basilisk, even though such dark creatures are rare," Albert explained.

Harry was speechless as Albert's evidence strongly pointed to the monster in the Chamber of Secrets being a Basilisk, and he himself believed it to be true.

"Are you...?"

"You want to ask who the culprit is?"

Harry nodded again.

He realized he had been nodding quite a lot today.

"All I can tell you is that it has something to do with the Malfoy family." Albert glanced at the wooden door and continued, "Hermione once told me that a house-elf caused you quite some trouble, and it even hinted to you that something terrible was going to happen at Hogwarts."

"Dobby!"

Harry couldn't help but feel relieved that he could finally chime in.

"At this time, Lucius Malfoy drove Dumbledore away from the school." Albert speculated with a malicious smile, "This matter must be related to him; otherwise, he wouldn't have gone to such lengths."

"Also, house-elves are usually only found in ancient mansions or castles, and the Malfoys are rich enough to have house-elf servants."

"You don't suspect Malfoy is the culprit; we've already asked him," Harry said dryly.

"I didn't say he was the culprit." Albert shook his head. "Lucius Malfoy wouldn't let his son do such a stupid thing. He must have found a way to open the Chamber of Secrets and did something that triggered the current attacks. As for what that method is? I have my suspicions, but I don't intend to tell you because even if I do, you won't believe me."

"How do you know I won't believe you?" Harry asked stubbornly.

"Then, fine!"

Albert cast a spell that filled the ears of those eavesdropping outside with an indistinguishable buzzing sound, preventing them from hearing what he was about to say, especially Ginny, who might throw Riddle's diary away if she heard.

"Riddle's diary, don't you find that diary rather unusual?" Albert prompted, "I know you once had it and saw what happened fifty years ago. I can tell you that it's not something an ordinary wizard can do, especially using a diary. When the diary was stolen, I suspected that the person who opened the Chamber of Secrets was from Gryffindor."

"That's impossible!" Harry exclaimed in shock, unable to understand how Albert had come to such a conclusion.

"Back then, it was Tom Riddle who caught Hagrid," Albert reminded him, "You should know that Riddle also didn't want the school to be closed, so he made Hagrid the scapegoat. As long as the culprit was caught, the school wouldn't have to be shut down."

Harry quickly recalled what he had seen in Riddle's memories and had to admit that Albert made a lot of sense.

"Have you found the location of the Chamber of Secrets?" Harry asked.

"I have a rough idea of where it might be. However, opening the Chamber requires a Parselmouth," Albert said mysteriously, "If you're curious, you can ask the student who was killed by the Basilisk back then. She'll be able to tell you where the entrance is."

Harry was perplexed, not understanding who Albert wanted him to ask, and besides, wasn't that student dead?

"She came back as a ghost," Albert reminded him.

"Do you suspect that I'm the culprit?"

"You are indeed suspicious, especially since you're the only Parselmouth in the school, but I don't think so. If it were you, Dumbledore would have probably figured it out by now, after all, you're his savior," Albert shook his head, "Anyway, our conversation is over. Remember to keep this confidential!"

"Who do you suspect?" Harry pressed, "Do you already know who the attacker is?"

"Even if I tell you, it won't make a difference because you won't believe me, just like you didn't believe what I said earlier," Albert shrugged, "Go find out for yourself, maybe my guess is wrong."

After saying that, Albert walked to the door and flung it open.

A startled cry was followed by the sound of several people tumbling to the ground.

Harry stared, dumbfounded, at the group that had fallen into the room.

"Have you heard enough?"

"Ha ha, we were just..." Fred struggled to come up with an excuse.

"...a little curious," George added.

"I can't believe you've been investigating all this without telling us!" Jordan tried to divert Albert's attention.

"Why didn't you tell Professor McGonagall if you already knew who did it?" Ron asked, puzzled.

"Boy, you're too naive," Albert said, patting Ron's shoulder, "Without evidence, it's slander and defamation. And even if I told her, you might not be willing to believe it."

"How do you know we won't believe you?" Ron retorted.

"If Harry tells the Minister of Magic that Voldemort is still alive, what do you think his reaction would be?" Albert countered.

"Well, he should believe it since Professor Dumbledore also knows..."

"Wrong, wrong, wrong!"

Albert interrupted Harry with three 'wrongs', "Unless the Minister of Magic sees Voldemort with his own eyes, people will think you're crazy and happily believe that you are. You'll soon find that the Prophet will start reporting that there's something wrong with your head."

Seeing Harry's dumbfounded expression, Albert patted his shoulder and said, "So, if I go tell Professor McGonagall who the real attacker is, do you think she'll believe me, or will she think I'm just scared and traumatized by the attacks, and my mind has become confused?"

Fred and George couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Everything needs evidence; otherwise, no one can convince anyone!" Albert shrugged, "So, I won't publicly accuse anyone of being the so-called real attacker, or people will think I'm a rabid dog that bites randomly."

Harry fell silent.

Would the professors really believe them?

It was hard to say.

(End of Chapter)

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