stonecrandall Chapter 190 Strategic Adjustment and School-wide Alert
Chapter 190 Strategic Adjustment and School-wide Alert
Chapter 190 Strategic Adjustment and School-wide Alert
The biting wind at the edge of the Forbidden Forest cut like icy knives across Dumbledore and Cullen's silent faces. The mess and frozen bloodstains in the clearing silently testified to the chaos and potential hunt caused by the Basilisk's escape. The trail had gone cold; the enormous monster had vanished into the vast and perilous depths of the Forbidden Forest like a stone thrown into the sea.
"Go back, Cullen," Dumbledore finally spoke, his voice carrying a deep weariness, yet still steady. "We need to reassess and act immediately, but I'm certain he's still here, hiding somewhere inconspicuous."
The journey back to the castle was unusually arduous. The snow reflected the bleak sunlight, and the empty courtyard lacked its usual bustle. Only Filch, carrying a dim oil lamp, nervously looked around, with Mrs. Norris clinging tightly to his trousers. Professor McGonagall was leading several upperclassmen hurried down the corridor when she saw Dumbledore and Cullen enter through the side gate of the castle. She immediately went to greet them, her lips pressed tightly together.
"Albus? What's the situation? Is the killer really the Basilisk? Professor Snape is still guarding the rock face waterway. Flitwick and Sprout have reinforced the defenses of the fourth-floor restricted area." Her gaze swept over Karen's mud-stained robes and pale face, questioning him.
"Confirmed, Minerva." Dumbledore continued walking straight towards the main castle tower without stopping. "It was the Basilisk. We tracked it to the entrance to its lair, but it had already left, entering the Forbidden Forest through another passage, and its tracks disappeared. Quirrell died from its gaze."
Despite being somewhat prepared, Professor McGonagall swayed almost imperceptibly. She gasped and steadied herself against a nearby pillar. "Merlin!" she whispered in alarm, her eyes sharpening instantly. "The Forbidden Forest! It's in the Forbidden Forest! This is worse than being in the castle!"
"Gather everyone in the Headmaster's office. Immediately." Dumbledore's voice left no room for argument.
A moment later, the atmosphere in the principal's room became so heavy it was almost palpable. The portraits of past principals on the walls, no longer depicting them as relaxed or asleep, were now all sitting upright with solemn expressions. Fox stood on a gilded perch, but compared to his previous splendor, he now resembled a bald bird, his remaining feathers having lost their luster.
Dumbledore sat behind his large desk, with Cullen standing quietly a little behind and to his side, like a silent shadow. Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, and Professor Sprout were gathered around the desk. Snape was nowhere to be seen; he was still guarding the waterway entrance, where the Basilisk might emerge again.
"The situation is clear now," Dumbledore said bluntly, his voice echoing clearly in the quiet room, "The one who murdered Professor Quirrell,
It is the Basilisk that Salazar Slytherin left in the Chamber of Secrets. It has been awakened and has left its lair. We tracked it to the Forbidden Forest, but the trail disappeared. Its exact location and intentions are currently unknown, but it is certain that it has entered the Forbidden Forest.
Professor Flitwick gasped, nearly falling off his padded chair. Professor Sprout covered his mouth, his eyes filled with worry. Professor McGonagall, on the other hand, straightened his back, his face ashen.
"The most urgent tasks," Dumbledore's gaze swept over the crowd, "are: first, ensuring the safety of the remaining teachers and students in the castle; second, preventing the Basilisk from infiltrating again or causing further damage; and third, being vigilant for Voldemort's next move—he has abandoned Quirrell as his host, and the Basilisk's loss of control or control is inextricably linked to him. His ultimate goal is most likely still the Philosopher's Stone."
"Albus," Professor McGonagall's voice was tense, "at the Philosopher's Stone, Philius, Pomona, and I have re-checked and reinforced all the defenses. Luigi's condition is stable. The Devil's Web, the Key Array, the Giant Chessboard, and the Potion Puzzle have all been reset and additional alarm spells have been applied. Unless we have detailed inside information, it's unlikely we can break through anytime soon. But I'm worried about what if that monster is controlled and forces its way in?"
"That's exactly what we need to guard against." Dumbledore tapped the table. "Therefore, Hogwarts is to be on high alert immediately. Minerva, you are responsible for issuing the following emergency measures at once:"
"First, all students are strictly prohibited from acting alone from this moment on! Whether it is day or night, when going to any place such as classrooms, auditoriums, common rooms, libraries, etc., at least two people must go together. Senior students are required to take the initiative to take care of junior students. Class leaders and student council presidents will strengthen patrols and supervision."
"Second, strict schedule, curfew one hour earlier. Mr. Filch and all the ghosts, increase the density of nighttime corridor patrols, paying special attention to the second floor and above, especially abandoned areas and the vicinity of the restrooms."
"Third, all outdoor classes and Quidditch training are suspended. All students' after-school activities are strictly limited to the main castle building."
"Fourth, Pomona will be in charge of distributing basic protection manuals to all teachers and students, emphasizing: when encountering a large reptile, never look directly into its eyes! Immediately close your eyes, find cover, and shout for help! Install a large number of emergency call bells inside the castle, connecting the administrator's office and the dean's office."
"5. A school-wide warning was issued on the grounds that "an extremely dangerous, unknown magical creature has roamed the Forbidden Forest area and is deadly aggressive."
He paused for a moment, then continued, "I won't explicitly name it as a Basilisk to avoid causing excessive panic and unnecessary associations." He was referring to the potential conflict between the Slytherin Houses that the Chamber of Secrets legend might trigger.
"Professor Dumbledore, why not use the crowing of a rooster to kill the basilisk? The information I found shows that the crowing of a rooster can cause considerable damage to the basilisk, even be fatal!" Karen suggested.
"Callen, that's actually wrong. In reality, the basilisk only hates the sound of chickens crowing. The sound of chickens can only provoke it, not harm it. Even the widely circulated method of creating the basilisk may be wrong. At least a friend of mine when I was young tried to create one that way and failed. However, I did have the good fortune to see another basilisk that was not afraid of the sound of chickens crowing," Dumbledore explained upon hearing Callen's suggestion.
Karen nodded knowingly. The rooster's crow was indeed too easy to obtain, while the basilisk was extremely rare; its weakness was so obvious.
The basilisk is unlikely to be sought after by those dark wizards.
"Albus, then do as you just said, I'll get on it right now!" Professor McGonagall was decisive and turned to leave.
"Wait, Minerva," Dumbledore called to her. "Also, contact the Aurors and the strikers guarding the Forbidden Forest immediately."
Beware of anything unusual in the Forbidden Forest; that serpent monster won't get away so easily.
"Understood!" Professor McGonagall strode away, the sound of her shoes tapping on the stone floor echoing clearly in the quiet corridor.
Dumbledore turned to Flitwick and Sprout: "Felius, Pomona, the defense of the fourth-floor restricted area is entrusted to you. Make sure it is absolutely secure. At the same time, keep an eye on any unusual magical fluctuations inside the castle, especially near the water pipe system."
"Don't worry, Albus!" Professor Flitwick puffed out his chest, twirling his wand in his hand, and Professor Sprout echoed.
The two professors also hurriedly left, having received their orders. Only Dumbledore and Cullen remained in the principal's office, along with the portraits on the walls, all holding their breath in awe.
"Cullen," Dumbledore turned to him, his tone softening slightly but still grave, "you mentioned earlier that you discovered something unusual in that abandoned washroom on the second floor and made preparations?"
"Yes, Headmaster," Karen replied immediately. "I placed a small, continuously recording alchemical device near a water tap. Any unusual noises there will be recorded."
"Your preparations are always thorough, Cullen, that's good." A hint of approval flashed in Dumbledore's eyes. "Take me to see. Perhaps—we can find the key to how the 'snake' was awakened."
The abandoned girls' washroom reeked of a strange mixture of dampness, mold, and a faint disinfectant odor. Moaning Myrtle, seeing Dumbledore, stopped crying in surprise and curiously drifted closer.
Karen went straight to where she had placed the device and took it out.
Dumbledore stood beside him, his gaze thoughtfully sweeping over the rusted faucet and the snake-shaped relief carved on it.
Karen placed the miniature recording device in her palm and tapped it lightly with her wand. Several tiny runes lit up on the device's surface, and a very faint hissing sound, accompanied by electrical noise, rang out. Karen adjusted the playback speed, filtering out useless background sounds—the sound of dripping water, Myrtle's occasional sobs, the sound of water flowing in the distant pipes. Suddenly, an unusual sound was clearly extracted and amplified!
It was a low, hoarse, and extremely unsettling hiss! The syllables were strange and ancient, filled with coldness and command. The sound lasted for a few seconds, followed by a dull rumble, like a boulder grinding and shifting! Then, the hissing sound returned, shorter than before. Finally, the rumble resumed.
The recording ends here, leaving only the hissing background noise.
Cullen looked up at Dumbledore. He clearly saw that when Dumbledore heard that hissing sound, his pupils contracted almost imperceptibly, and a complex expression flashed across his aged face—a mixture of understanding, solemnity, and a deep sense of reminiscence.
"Principal, do you understand?" Karen asked tentatively, even though he already knew the answer.
Dumbledore paused for a moment, the light still focused on the faucet with the serpent relief, and slowly nodded. "Yes, Cullen. It's Parsley." He extended a finger and gently brushed away a small patch of stubborn rust on the side of the faucet, revealing the serpent relief in full clarity: a coiled snake, its head slightly raised, pointing towards the spout. "Giving commands in this language is the only key to unlocking the Chamber of Secrets in Slytherin." He tapped the serpent symbol lightly with his finger. "The command is 'Open.'"
He straightened up, looked around the cold, dilapidated washroom, his gaze seemingly piercing through time: "Fifty years ago—Voldemort was here too, using the same method, opening this door and releasing the monster inside, leading to Myrtle's tragedy and Hagrid's injustice." His voice carried a heavy sense of vicissitude, "History—always repeats its darkest chapters, only with different actors."
Cullen listened quietly, watching Dumbledore fall into a brief silence. The most powerful white wizard of the century now appeared somewhat hunched over, as if bearing an invisible weight. The Basilisk's loss of control, Voldemort's disappearance, the safety of the students, the shadow of history—all weighed on his shoulders.
"Go back, Cullen." Dumbledore finally broke the silence, his voice regaining its usual calm, but beneath that calm lay an iron will. "Protect yourselves and your friends. The castle—needs the vigilance of every one of you. The basilisk may have temporarily left its lair, but the storm is far from over."