stonecrandall Chapter 99: Earn the Badge and Travel Freely Throughout the School
Chapter 99: Earn the Badge and Travel Freely Throughout the School
Chapter 100: Earn the Badge and Travel Freely Throughout the School
Harry immediately drew his ring knife and slashed at the crack in the door. With a "crack," the latch snapped.
Then, with a stomp of his foot, the two doors burst open. Looking closely, all that could be seen inside was darkness and gloom, with not a single person in sight.
Upon seeing this, Harry knew his guess was correct, and immediately turned around and ran straight to the headmaster's office.
As he pushed open the door, Lockhart screamed, "What?! Another student has gotten into trouble as soon as I get back?!"
"Lockhart, you better not tell me you're going to resign again—ah, Mr. Potter is here."
Harry glanced inside and saw Snape and Lockhart standing on the left side of the table, one with menacing eyes and the other with a sallow complexion.
When Dumbledore saw the visitor, his brows furrowed as if he were burdened with worry, but he still smiled calmly and said, "Good evening, Harry. Thank you for bringing Professor Lockhart back."
Harry, not in the mood for pleasantries, bowed deeply and exclaimed, "Professor, there's another victim in this school who's seen the Basilisk!"
"That's right. In the few hours that we were looking for Lockhart, a Ravenclaw student was petrified."
Snape said coldly, "Like that student named Colin, all the magic in his body has been drained."
Dumbledore took off his glasses and rubbed his temples. "Minerva and the others have searched the castle again with the house-elves, but they still haven't found the dark magic item."
Upon hearing this, Harry felt an inexplicable rage surge to his head, nearly grinding his teeth to powder, wishing he could confront Voldemort in a real fight.
Unable to contain himself, he shouted, "Now that two students have been murdered, shouldn't the professor use some drastic measures?!"
"Oh, Harry, we've talked about this. I can't act without evidence."
"Pedantic."
Snape sneered, "If it were me, I would have given every single student in the school a dose of Truth Fluid."
"Severus, you should know that it's pointless." Dumbledore shook his head and said, "Voldemort will cast a spell on that poor, bewitched man, so that he can't say anything."
Lockhart then shakily raised his right arm. "Could we ask the Ministry of Magic for help?"
After he finished speaking, the office fell into a deathly silence.
After a long silence, Dumbledore shook his head and chuckled. "Giddro, I know you mean well, but the Ministry of Magic's involvement will only make things worse..."
"So we're just standing here watching like idiots?"
Snape slammed his fist on the table, gritting his teeth, "You're unwilling to handle this yourself, you won't let the professors get involved, and you don't trust the Ministry of Magic. I'd like to hear who you expect to clean up this mess?!"
Just as tensions were about to rise, Harry suddenly spoke up: "Since there's no one else to manage this, I'm willing to take on this heavy responsibility!"
Upon hearing this, Dumbledore and the other two stared intently at each other.
Snape narrowed his eyes. "You?"
Harry ignored him, stood up, and bowed, saying, "Voldemort went to great lengths to return to the school, opened the Chamber of Secrets, and summoned the Basilisk; he must have come for me."
"Since he wants my life, I'll confront him and see who's the real deal! I only ask the principal for a token so I can move freely throughout the school!"
"A mysterious person?!"
Upon hearing that name, Lockhart's legs went weak, as if they were made of dough or clay, and he almost couldn't stand up.
Her body trembled like a leaf in the wind, or a live fish on a chopping board, her face powder fluttering off.
"The heir to the secret chamber is connected to the mysterious figure?!"
He came to ask in alarm, but Harry and the other two ignored him.
Dumbledore pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "You're right, Harry. You're the most suitable person to handle this."
"Dumbledore, did you eat too many cockroach candies and all those cockroaches ended up in your head?"
Snape roared, "Potter is just a twelve-year-old boy!"
"Relax, Severus. Harry is no ordinary kid. He has far more tricks up his sleeve than we think."
"Ah, I remember." Lockhart composed himself. "The blood magic Harry used on the dueling platform that day, it cleaved Severus in two—"
"Nobody's asking you, Lockhart!"
Snape grabbed his collar and said coldly, "Keep your mouth shut and don't tell anyone about the Dark Lord and cause panic."
"And you better not make me come all this way for nothing, and then say something about wanting to quit your job!"
Having said that, he tossed his robe aside and left on his own.
"Giddon, shouldn't you also go and get ready?" Dumbledore asked gently. "If I remember correctly, there are fifth-year students in class tomorrow, aren't there?"
"Oh, right... then I'll be going now, Professor Dumbledore."
After Lockhart left, Dumbledore unscrewed the lid of the sugar jar, took a cockroach candy, and cast a Transfiguration spell on it.
With a flick of the magic wand, the cockroach candy transformed into a phoenix-shaped badge.
Then, using his staff as a pen, he inscribed several spells in mid-air, causing them to disappear into the badge.
"Alright, seeing this badge is the same as seeing me in person. You can use most of the power I possess."
"Harry, don't lose it."
Harry cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and said solemnly, "Professor, rest assured, I know what I'm doing."
Having picked up the phoenix badge, Harry excused himself and headed straight for the Gryffindor Tower.
After exchanging the password with the plump lady, he stepped over the picture frame, and before his foot even entered the lounge, he heard a great commotion.
Looking in the direction of the sound, they saw a dozen or so students sitting on the ground in a circle, with an anxious man in the middle, his red hair like flames. It was none other than Percy Weasley.
It should be known that Percy is usually very particular about etiquette and is a truly refined and cultured man. But today, his veins are bulging, his red hair is standing on end, and he looks like a rough and ruthless bandit.
Harry, finding it strange, stepped forward and called out, "Brother, what's gotten into you today? Did some idiot offend you?"
When Percy's group saw Harry, they immediately stood up in a great uproar, like birds in the forest startled by a tiger.
But then one sees: some clasping their hands in greeting, others bowing respectfully, their bodies swaying like waves in the wind, their greetings sounding like the resounding of bells and drums. One says, "Harry, how have you been?" Another exclaims, "Potter, why are you so late?" Truly, it is as if: heroes meet their lord, bowing their heads in reverence; valiant men encounter great men, hastily offering their greetings.
Ron and Hermione were also in the crowd. Seeing Harry return, they were both overjoyed and had a lot to say.
Unfortunately, there were too many people around, making it an unsuitable place to talk, so I had to suppress my thoughts for the time being.
Seeing Harry's concerned inquiry, Percy dared not be negligent and said through gritted teeth, "You should know that a girl in Ravenclaw has been petrified."
That's my girlfriend.
(End of this chapter)