Chapter 168: Chapter 168: "Setting the Stage"
The next morning, a somber atmosphere enveloped Hogwarts as Professors Flitwick and McGonagall gathered the students to make an announcement. The Great Hall buzzed with whispers and nervous energy, the air thick with anticipation.
Professor McGonagall cleared her throat, silencing the room. "Students, we regret to inform you that there has been another attack. Colin Creevey, a first-year Gryffindor, was found petrified last night."
Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd. Rumors of an attack had circulated the previous night, and this confirmation sent fear shooting through the student body. The relative calm that had settled since the Halloween incident shattered instantly.
Professor Flitwick stepped forward, his voice steady despite his small stature. "We want to assure you that we are investigating this matter thoroughly. In the meantime, we urge all students to exercise extreme caution. No one is to wander the corridors alone, especially after curfew."
As the professors finished their announcement, the hall erupted into frantic discussions. Harry, maintaining his composure, reassured his friends that nothing would go wrong. Most of Harry's friends came from wizarding families, and the knowledge that the heir traditionally targeted muggle-borns provided them with a small measure of relief.
Throughout the day, Harry noticed a marked change in the school's atmosphere. Fear had taken hold, and with it came some interesting developments. A thriving black market in protective charms sprang up overnight.
"Get your genuine protective amulets here!" Fred Weasley's voice rang out in the common room. "Ward off evil spirits and pesky petrification!"
George chimed in, "Don't forget our special monster repellent! Guaranteed to keep you safe or your money back!"
Harry shook his head, amused despite the gravity of the situation. He spotted Neville clutching a handful of amulets, his eyes darting nervously around the room.
"Neville," Harry approached him gently, "you know those probably won't help, right?"
Neville nodded sheepishly. "I know, but... it makes me feel better. After last year's adventure with you, Harry, I thought I was done being scared, but this... this is different."
Harry patted his shoulder reassuringly. "Just stick with your friends, okay? Safety in numbers. Most people doing these kinds of hidden attacks are afraid of groups."
Neville thanked Harry and ran off to join a group of second years heading to class.
As the day progressed, Harry couldn't help but notice the absence of the Golden Trio. Charles had healed his missing bones from Lockhart's mishap, which took only a night's rest thanks to Madam Pomfrey's potions, and resumed his secret adventures with his two friends. Harry wasn't bothered by their activities; he had other concerns.
Now that he had decided to end things before another attack, Harry needed to ensure he could confront the heir and the snake without endangering other students. After formulating a rough plan, he set to work enacting it.
That evening, as Harry helped Professor Flitwick in his office, the diminutive professor turned to him with a serious expression. "Harry, there won't be a training session today. I'm needed elsewhere. The professors all have a meeting tonight."
Harry seized the opportunity. "Is this about the Chamber of Secrets and the attack, Professor?"
Flitwick nodded gravely. "Yes. The attack has all of us baffled. The petrification is very odd, and we don't know what caused it."
"Yes," Harry mused, carefully choosing his words. "And from what I've heard, the first-year student wasn't directly attacked. It's as if he looked at whatever monster is kept in the Chamber, and it petrified him without contact. It's very strange."
Flitwick looked surprised. "Things spread quickly in this school, don't they? Yes, Mr. Creevey seems to have gotten a good look at the monster. Keep this between us, but the boy apparently took a picture of it. Unfortunately, his camera didn't survive, so we couldn't learn anything from it."
Harry pressed on, "Professor, I heard the Chamber was opened once before, and a student died. Can you tell me any information you know about that?"
Flitwick raised an eyebrow. "It looks like you're investigating the Chamber, Harry. You've gathered information quickly."
"I have to, Professor," Harry explained earnestly. "Many people I care about are in this school right now. I don't want them to face any danger. Can you tell me about the previous attack?"
Flitwick sighed. "Okay, I will tell you. Yes, the Chamber was opened a few decades ago. At that time, one girl died. However, that's all I know."
Harry leaned in, his voice low. "Was that girl killed without any direct contact, Professor?"
"I don't know," Flitwick admitted. "Maybe Professor Dumbledore does. Is the information important?"
Harry nodded solemnly. "Yes. If the girl was killed without any contact, I can roughly guess what Slytherin's monster is, and if my guess is correct, it doesn't bode well for the castle or its occupants."
Flitwick's eyes widened. "That bad? Tell me your analysis."
Harry took a deep breath. "Well, you know that Slytherin is synonymous with snakes. This leads me to believe that the monster housed in Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets is most likely a snake. And as you know, Professor, most snakes kill their prey with poisonous bites or by crushing them. But there are exceptions, and the most prominent and feared of these is the basilisk."
"Basilisk?" Flitwick exclaimed. "But basilisks kill with their stare."
"Exactly," Harry confirmed. "And that's what I suspect killed the girl years ago. Now, however, some lucky coincidences might have saved the recent victims. Mrs. Norris, for instance, might have seen the basilisk's reflection in water."
Flitwick's face paled. "And Mr. Creevey looked at the monster through his camera lens. A very plausible theory, Harry. You're right; if true, the situation is dire indeed. I must inform the Headmaster of this analysis immediately."
With that, Professor Flitwick hurried out of the classroom, leaving Harry alone with his thoughts. He watched the professor go with a solemn expression, knowing that this was just the first step in his plan. By alerting the professors to the possibility of a basilisk, Harry hoped they might suspend the school and send the children to a safe place for a thorough search of the castle. That would give him the opportunity he needed to confront the snake without endangering anyone else.
As he left the classroom, Harry's mind was already racing with the next steps of his plan. The stakes were high, but he was determined to end this threat once and for all, all while ensuring nothing went wrong and innocent students were not put in danger. With renewed determination, Harry headed back to his dormitory, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead in his quest to protect Hogwarts and its inhabitants.
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