Chapter 76: The Chamber of Secrets Opened Fifty Years Ago
Chapter 76: The Chamber of Secrets Opened Fifty Years Ago
"The Chamber of Secrets in Slytherin has been opened again."
Cavill asked, slurring his words.
"You should know the legend of the Chamber of Secrets, right?"
Sherlock said casually.
"Salazar Slytherin, one of the founders of Hogwarts, had differing views from the other three founders. He believed that students from Muggle backgrounds were not worthy of studying magic at Hogwarts. So, he built the Chamber of Secrets and hid a terrifying monster inside, waiting for his heir to open it and cleanse the entire castle."
He blinked and stared at Cavill.
"How did you find out that the Chamber of Secrets has been opened again?"
Cavill ate his steak with gusto, using his fork to spear the entire piece and taking a bite that was a third of the steak.
"My grandson is in his sixth year at Hogwarts. Although the great wizard Dumbledore has been keeping the matter under wraps, some things are just hard to contain."
Sherlock thought for a moment. He remembered there was indeed a Hufflepuff student surnamed Cavill in the sixth year.
"But why did you say 'again'? When else has the Chamber of Secrets been opened?" Sherlock asked softly.
Cavill chuckled with a self-satisfied grin.
"Haha, this is a little-known fact. Even though they always say I brag about it every time I drink, it's still a good story."
He finished the remaining steak in a few bites, smacked his lips, and began to recount the tale with a certain flair.
"About fifty years ago, or maybe not that long—my memory isn't what it used to be, so I can't remember the exact time. But back then, the current headmaster, Dumbledore, was just an ordinary Transfiguration professor."
"That year, the Dark Lord was still playing in the mud somewhere, and Hogwarts experienced a mysterious attack that left one student dead. The incident caused a great stir, and the entire castle was in a state of unease. They said the Chamber of Secrets had been opened, and someone had released Slytherin's hidden monster to cleanse the school."
Sherlock had never known that the Chamber of Secrets being opened this year wasn't the first time; it had happened before in history.
He furrowed his brow and asked, "What happened next?"
"Then, the matter was suddenly resolved", Cavill shrugged. "No one knew why, but the headmaster suddenly announced that the student's death was an accident. Although no one believed him, there were no more attacks after that. However, a student was expelled from Hogwarts that semester."
"Was the student expelled after the attacks stopped?"
"Exactly what you're thinking, Watson", Cavill's voice grew lower. "With a bit of thought, anyone could guess that the expelled student must have had something to do with the Chamber of Secrets."
Sherlock's attention was fully engaged. He hadn't expected to learn so much just by attending a tutoring session.
"What was the student's name?"
Cavill burped, clearly having told this story many times. He remembered every detail.
"That student was expelled from Hogwarts fifty years ago, yet he still hasn't left the school, and Dumbledore still trusts him greatly. I've always thought Dumbledore's judgment of character is seriously flawed."
He didn't keep Sherlock in suspense any longer and, with a mouth full of alcohol, he revealed a name.
"Rubeus Hagrid, the current Hogwarts gamekeeper and caretaker, and a loyal follower of Dumbledore."
Upon hearing this name, Sherlock was completely stunned.
It took him a long while to regain his composure, and he asked with a serious expression.
"How do you know all this?"
By this time, Cavanaugh was feeling the effects of the alcohol and was starting to drift off to sleep.
"How do I know? Rubeus Hagrid was my classmate back then! He's actually a decent guy, just always interested in those strange and unusual creatures."
His speech was already beginning to slur.
But Sherlock had already learned the most important information and wasn't in the mood to listen to anything more.
He had never imagined that the Chamber of Secrets had anything to do with Hagrid. Given Hagrid's appearance and personality, no one could ever associate him with the Heir of Slytherin.
Sherlock stood up from his chair, hearing Cavanaugh's snores.
He pulled out the remaining tuition payment from his pocket and placed it on the table.
A day's teaching was certainly not worth that much, but the information he had learned was!
Cavanaugh clearly wanted to befriend him, but Sherlock couldn't reveal his true identity. So he paid what was due, and they would be even.
Without lingering in the cottage or intending to use Floo Powder to return, Sherlock walked to the Apparition practice area from that morning and directly cast the spell.
"Apparate."
His body vanished in the cold wind, and the next second, he reappeared in a quiet alley in the distant Hogsmeade village.
Sherlock removed his disguise in the alley, put his glasses in his pocket, and then stepped out.
As he hurried onto the main street of Hogsmeade, he ran into a group of professors walking together.
"Oh, Sherlock? When did you get here?"
The one who spoke was Professor Sprout, with Professor Sinistra of Astronomy and Professor Burbage of Muggle Studies by her side.
Once back in Hogsmeade, Sherlock's expression returned to its usual coldness, and he replied calmly.
"This morning, I went to the Owl Post Office to take care of some business."
Professor Sinistra, a black woman, invited him.
"We're about to go to the Three Broomsticks for afternoon tea. Would you like to join us?"
Sherlock instinctively wanted to decline, but then he reconsidered and agreed.
Sitting with the female professors for afternoon tea, especially given Sherlock's cold "personality", didn't promise much conversation.
After sitting in the bar for about two hours, he stood up and bid farewell to Professor Sprout and the others, returning to the castle.
On Saturday afternoon, many younger students were playing and frolicking in the corridors.
Sherlock didn't go back to his office but walked straight to a stone gargoyle at the end of the third-floor corridor.
"I need to see Professor Dumbledore."
The stone gargoyle didn't immediately respond, as if seeking approval from inside the office. After receiving a response, it moved aside to let Sherlock through.
(End of Chapter)
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