Section I

Harry and Ron quietly returned to the bedroom in the tower, Ron didn't even bother to take off his clothes, he fell headlong on the bed, Harry was about the same, just lay on the bed, the feeling of exhaustion came up like a tide, in fact, just experienced so many dangers and thrills, once relaxed, no matter who would do.

"What do you think was the one who caught us and flew back?" In the dark, Harry whispered.

"I don't know." Ron's voice was sullen, his face pressed against the bed, and he didn't even bother to lift his head, "It's good that it doesn't eat people like Hagrid's friends." Ron grumbled, "I guess it's a big eagle or something." ”

"If Hermione was here, she would know." Harry said casually, then froze.

Ron didn't answer, Hermione was still lying alone in the hospital, which made Ron and Harry feel very uncomfortable, and after a long time, Ron propped up his upper body, "You say, if it wasn't for that big spider that killed that student, what would it be?" ”

Harry shook his head, and the silver moonlight came in through the window, and Harry frowned in the moonlight. Riddle caught the wrong person, the Slytherin heir ran away, and no one knew if it was the same person or someone else who opened the Chamber of Secrets. Hermione was petrified, Sauron was still nowhere to be found, and no one could ask. Harry sank his head deep into the pillow, his mind searching for clues. The summer nights were a bit sweltering, but the pendant on Harry's chest was always cold, and suddenly a thought occurred to him, and he sat up sharply.

"Ron—the dead girl. Aragog said she was found in the bathroom," Harry said, despite Neville's snoring in the corner, "Sauron told me that if people die and become ghosts, they stay where they die. ”

"Well, so what." Ron asked, confused, and then, opening his mouth in surprise, "You mean- crying myrtle?!" ”

At breakfast the next day, Harry and Ron were struggling with whether to go to the girls' bathroom to find the crying myrtle, to be honest, neither Harry nor Ron liked to face the eccentric female ghost, not to mention, the girls' bathroom was too close to the place where Mrs. Loris was killed, and it was difficult for them to avoid the teacher for a long time.

Harry habitually looked at the Slytherin table, and Sauron's place was still empty.

However, during the first Transfiguration class in the morning, an incident occurred that made them forget about the Chamber of Secrets for the first time in weeks. Professor McGonagall walked into the classroom just ten minutes before she told them that the exam would be held on June 1, just a week away.

"Exams?" The Gryffindors screamed, "We still have exams?"

"Phew!" There was a loud bang behind Harry, and Neville Longbottom's wand slipped out of his hand, causing one leg of the desk to suddenly disappear. Professor McGonagall swung her own wand and put the leg back on, then she turned and frowned.

"In this extraordinary state, there are still no schools closed, and the purpose is to let you get an education." She said sternly, "Therefore, the exam is still going on as usual, and I am sure that you will all review carefully." ”

Review carefully! Harry had never imagined that this was already the case in the castle, and that there would be exams. I'm afraid no one will be happy about this except Hermione, who is still lying in the infirmary. The students began to chatter, and there was a buzz in the classroom, which made Professor McGonagall's brow furrow tighter and her face gloomy.

"Professor Dumbledore's instructions are to keep the school running as smoothly as possible." "That means looking at how much you've learned this year." ”

Harry looked down at the pair of white rabbits, he should have turned them into slippers. What has he learned so far this year? He couldn't think of what knowledge he had in his head that he could use to prepare for the exam.

"One more thing, Professor Snape can't continue classes anytime soon due to health reasons, so Potions class is suspended this week......"

Before Professor McGonagall could finish his sentence, the Gryffindors cheered, and Ron went from sullen to happy, in fact, Snape's Potions class was a nightmare for any Gryffindor, including Harry.

"What's wrong with Snape?" Ron muttered excitedly to Harry, "I wish he had been petrified too." ”

Section II

With their first exam just three days away, Professor McGonagall made another announcement at breakfast.

"I have good news for everyone." Far from becoming quiet, she said, the auditorium was noisy.

"Dumbledore is coming back!" A few people shouted with joy.

"You've captured the heir of Slytherin!" , a girl at the Ravenclaw table shouted in a shrill voice.

"Quidditch matches are back!" Wood exclaimed excitedly.

When the noise had subsided, Professor McGonagall said, "Professor Sprout told me that the mandrake was finally ready to be harvested." Tonight, we can bring back to life those petrified people. I need not point out to you that one of them may have told us who or something had attacked them. It is my sincere hope that this terrible year will end with us catching the murderers. ”

Everyone erupted in cheers. Harry looked towards the Slytherin table, but didn't see Sauron, Draco. Malfoy was talking to Epikos about something.

"Well, it doesn't matter if we go and ask Myrtle or not!" Ron said to Harry, "When they revive Hermione, she'll probably be able to answer all the questions!" But don't forget, if she finds out that there are three days left to take the exam, she will definitely go crazy. She hasn't had time to review yet! Perhaps it would be more merciful to let her stay as she is and wait until the exams are over. ”

Just then, Ginny Weasley walked over and sat down next to Ron. She looked very nervous and panicked. Harry noticed that her hands were tightly twisted together at her knees.

"What's wrong?" Ron said, adding some more porridge to himself.

Ginny didn't say anything, her eyes scanned back and forth over the Gryffindor table, the look of horror on her face reminded Harry of a man, who he couldn't remember.

"Say it quickly." Ron said, looking at her.

Harry suddenly remembered who Ginny's expression looked like. Seeing her swaying slightly back and forth in her chair, Harry remembered that whenever Dobby was about to reveal some unspeakable secret to him, he wanted to stop talking.

"I have something to tell you." Ginny muttered, carefully avoiding Harry's gaze.

"What's the matter?" Harry asked. Ginny couldn't seem to find the right words. "What's wrong?" Ron asked. Ginny opened her mouth, but didn't make a sound. Harry stepped forward and lowered his voice so that only Ginny and Ron could hear. "Is it about the Chamber of Secrets? What do you see? Is there someone who is acting abnormally?" Ginny took a deep breath and was about to speak, when Percy Weasley appeared, tired and haggard.

"Ginny, if you're done eating, give me your seat. I'm hungry and have just returned from duty. Ginny jumped to her feet, as if her chair had suddenly been electrified. She glanced at Percy in a hurry, panic, and fled. Percy sat down and grabbed a large mug from the center of the table.

"Percy!" Ron said angrily, "She was just about to sue us for something very important!" Percy was halfway through his sip of tea when he choked. "What's the matter?" He asked, coughing.

"I asked her if she saw anything out of the ordinary, and she was about to say—"

"Oh-that-that thing has nothing to do with the Chamber of Secrets." Percy said immediately. "How do you know?" Ron asked, raising an eyebrow in surprise. "Well, well, if you must know, Ginny, well, she met me that day, and I was—well, not to mention—actually, she happened to see me doing something, and I, uh, I told her not to sue anybody. Alas, I knew she couldn't do what she said. Actually, it's nothing, I'm willing-"

Harry had never seen Percy look so embarrassed before. "What were you doing, Percy?" Ron asked with a sly smile. "Don't hide it, tell us, we won't laugh at you."

Percy didn't laugh. "Hand me those buns, Harry, I'm so hungry."

Harry knew that without their help, the whole secret would come out tomorrow, but he didn't want to miss the opportunity to talk to Myrtle - and to his delight, it was coming soon. After two classes in the morning, they were escorted by Gilderoy Lockhart to a history of magic class.

After Lockhart hurried away, Harry and the others slowed down for the rest of the Gryffindors to come to the front, and then they stole into a nearby aisle and hurried to the weeping Myrtle's bathroom. However, just as they were about to congratulate the plan on how perfect it was-

"Potter! Weasley! What are you doing?"

It was Professor McGonagall, her lips pursed into a straight line that couldn't be thinner.

"We want to—we want to—" Harry stammered, "we want to go to—go see—"

"Hermione." Ron said. Both Harry and Professor McGonagall looked at him.

"It's been a long time since we've seen her, Professor," Ron said with a stomp on Harry's foot, "we were going to sneak to the hospital and tell her that the mandrake was about to grow, and tell her not to worry." ”

Professor McGonagall was still staring at him, and for a moment, Harry thought she was going to lash out. As a result, she spoke, her voice trembling strangely.

"Of course," she said, Harry surprised to see a little tear in her sharp eyes, "of course, I know that the pain is really unbearable for all of the friends of those unfortunate victims...... I understand very well. Yes, Potter, of course you can visit Hermione. I'll tell Professor Sùbins where you've been. And he said unto Madam Pomfrey, I gave you permission to go. ”

Harry and Ron walked away, unable to believe that they had narrowly escaped the punishment of their school stay. As they turned the corner, they heard Professor McGonagall blowing her nose unmistakably.

"That's great," said Harry excitedly, "that's the best lie you've ever made." ”。 They had no choice but to go to the hospital and tell Madam Sù Pomfrey that Professor McGonagall had given them permission to visit Hermione.

Madam Pomfrey let them in, but reluctantly.

In the room, Hermione was lying stiffly on the hospital bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, and on the hospital bed next to her, there was the same petrified Isabella, whose long silky brown hair looked dull. On the table next to the bed, there was a vase with a bouquet of lilies shining blue in it, exuding bursts of fragrance.

"Looks like someone just came." Harry leaned over to the flower and said, "There's dew on this flower." ”

"Maybe Slytherin." Ron said, looking instead at Hermione's terrified face.

"I wonder if she saw the attacker?" Ron looked sadly at Hermione's stiff face and said, "If that guy sneaks up on them from behind, no one will know......"

However, Harry didn't look at Hermione's face. He seemed more interested in her right hand. The clenched hand rested on top of the blanket, and Harry leaned closer to see a piece of paper clutched in her fist. Harry was sure Madam Pomfrey wasn't around, so he pointed the piece of paper to Ron.

"Take it out." Ron whispered, moving his chair to block Madam Pomfrey's view from Harry.

It took a lot of work for Harry. Hermione clutched the paper so tightly that Harry felt like he was going to tear it apart. And just like that, Ron was on guard, and Harry writhed and twisted, and after a few minutes of intense effort, he finally managed to get the piece of paper out.

This is a page torn from a very old library collection. Harry eagerly unfolded it, and Ron joined in, and the two read together: "In our country, there are many terrible beasts and monsters, and the most bizarre and lethal of them is the basilisk, also known as the Serpent King. The snake can become very large, usually living for hundreds of years, and it hatches from a male egg from a toad. In addition to its deadly fangs, the basilisk's glare can also cause death, and anyone who catches its gaze will die instantly. The spider will run away when it sees the basilisk because the basilisk is the spider's sinister enemy, and the basilisk will only run for its life if it hears the rooster's crow, because the rooster's crow is also fatal to it. Underneath this passage were two words that Harry recognized at a glance as Hermione's handwriting. Those two words are: tubes.

"Ron," he almost gasped with excitement, "that's it. Here's the answer. The monster in the Chamber of Secrets is a basilisk - a giant serpent! No wonder I hear that voice everywhere I go, but no one else can hear it. Because I can understand Parseltongue......"

Harry looked at the beds around him.

"Whoever the basilisk's eyes look at, he will die. But not a single one died here - none of them looked directly at it. Colin is seen by a camera guò. The basilisk scorched all the film in the camera, and Colin was simply petrified; Justin must have seen the basilisk through Nick, who was almost headless! Nick was stared at by the basilisk, but he couldn't die a second time...... When Hermione and Isabella were discovered, there was also a mirror next to them. I can bet you that she reminded her to look around the corner in the mirror when she met someone! The girl just pulled out the mirror—just—"

Ron's mouth opened in surprise.

"And what about Lady Loris?" He asked nervously in a whisper.

Harry pondered as he remembered the scene on Halloween's Eve.

"Water ......," he said slowly, "the pool of water that came out of the weeping myrtle's bathroom." I dare say Lady Loris just saw the reflection in the water......"

He looked at the page in his hand eagerly, and the more he looked at it, the more he felt that his heart was brightened.

"The crowing of a rooster is also fatal to it!" He read aloud, "Hagrid's cocks are all killed!" Once the Chamber of Secrets is opened, the Slytherin heirs don't want a rooster near the castle! Ah, each one can match the number!"

"But how is it possible for the basilisk to crawl around?" Ron said, "A big ugly serpent...... Someone will definitely see it......"

Harry pointed to the two words Hermione had scribbled under the piece of paper.

"Pipe," he said, "pipe...... Ron, it's been in the pipeline. I always hear that voice inside the wall."

Ron grabbed Harry's arm.

"The entrance to the chamber!" He said hoarsely, "Maybe it's in a bathroom?" Maybe it's—"

"-- The weeping myrtle's bathroom." Harry said.

They sat there, looking at each other excitedly, and suddenly, as if Ron had thought of something, looked at Harry with a surprised expression.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked.

"Sauron." Ron whispered, "He knows ......"

"What does Sauron know?" Harry was puzzled.

Ron didn't speak, just pointed into Harry's eyes. Harry touched it in confusion, and when he touched the glasses on the bridge of his nose, he froze.

"Sauron gave you these glasses as a gift," Ron said, "and he already knew it was a basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets!" ”

…………

Section III

Hermione's note cleared most of the clues for Harry and Ron, and they decided to go to Professor McGonagall and tell her what they had discovered, ending the school troubles.

"Let's go to the staff lounge," Harry said, leaping to his feet, "she'll be there in ten minutes, and class will be out soon." ”

They ran downstairs. They didn't want Professor McGonagall to find them wandering down another hallway, so they walked straight into the empty staff lounge. It was a large wooden room surrounded by dark wood chairs. Harry and Ron were pacing around, too excited to sit down.

However, the bell for the end of class never rang.

Instead, Professor McGonagall's voice echoed through the hallway, amplified many times by magic.

All the students immediately returned to their dormitories in their respective colleges. All teachers return to the staff lounge. Act now. ”

Harry spun around sharply and glared at Ron.

"Is something wrong again? At this time?"

"What are we going to do?" Ron asked in horror, "Back to the dorm?" ”

"Nope." Harry said, his eyes searching around. To his left was an ugly closet full of the robes that the teacher wore to class. "Hide in here. We listen to what's going on, and then tell them what we've found. ”

They hid in the closet, listening to the footsteps of hundreds of people walking upstairs, and then the door to the faculty lounge was pushed open with a bang. Through the layers of musty robes, they looked at the teachers who walked into the room one by one, some of them looked confused, and some of them were frightened. Professor McGonagall arrived.

"Something happened again," she said to the silent teachers in the room, "a student has been kidnapped by a monster." Brought directly into the secret room. ”

Professor Flitwick let out a scream. Professor Sprout jerked his hands over his mouth.

Snape was there, his face morbidly pale, clutching the back of a chair and asking, "How can you be sure?"

"The heir of Slytherin," said Professor McGonagall with a very pale face, "left another line of writing. Just below the last text, it reads: Her bones will remain in the Chamber of Secrets forever. ”

Professor Flitwick couldn't help but cry.

"Who is it?" Mrs. Hooch slumped into a chair with her knees limp. "Which student is it?"

"Ginny Shusley." Professor McGonagall said.

Harry felt Ron silently fall to the floor of the closet beside him.

"We must send all the students home tomorrow," Professor McGonagall said, "and that's the end of Hogwarts." Dumbledore used to say......"

The door to the faculty lounge was slammed open again. On a whim, Harry thought it must be Dumbledore back. It turned out to be Lockhart, who was still smiling on his face.

"I'm sorry - I took a nap - what did I miss?"

He didn't seem to notice that the other teachers were staring at him with what could be described as hateful gazes. Snape took a step forward.

"The person who solved the problem came," he said, "and this is the man." Lockhart, a girl who has been captured by a monster. Taken into the secret room. The time has finally come for you to show off your brilliance. ”

Lockhart's face turned pale.

"Yes, Gildero," interjected Professor Sprout, "didn't you say last night that you knew exactly where the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets was?"

"I-this, this, I-" Loha stammered.

"Didn't you tell me that you know with certainty what the monster in there is?" Professor Flitwick also chimed in.

"I—Did I say that? I don't remember ......"

"Of course I remember what you said, and you said that you were sorry that you didn't get to fight the monster before Hagrid was captured." Snape said, "Didn't you say that the whole thing was a mess and that you should have been left to deal with it from the beginning?" Lockhart stared dumbfoundedly at his co-workers with straight faces. "I really never have...... You're probably mistaken......"

"Well, then, Gildero, we'll let you deal with it," Professor McGonagall said, "and tonight is your perfect opportunity to show what you can do." We promise that no one will get in your way. You can deal with that monster on your own. Now it's finally up to you to do it. ”

Lockhart looked left and right in despair, but no one came out to help him. He doesn't look handsome at all now. His lips trembled, and his face was devoid of his usual smile with sparkling teeth, and his jaw was shriveled and he looked thin and haggard.

"Well—well," he said, "I- I'll go to my office, get ready—get ready." With that, he left the room. Alright," Professor McGonagall said, her nostrils fanning and snorting, "finally out of his way."

No afternoon has ever passed so slowly as it has been, and Gryffindor House has never been so crowded and silent as it is now. As the sun was about to set, Fred and George couldn't sit still any longer and went back to their dorm room to sleep.

"She must know something, Harry." Ron said it was the first time he spoke since they hid in the closet in the staff lounge, "and that's why she was captured." It had nothing to do with the stupid things Percy did. She must have found out something related to the Chamber of Secrets. That's for sure, that's why she-" Ron rubbed his eyes desperately, "I mean, she's a pure-blood, and it wouldn't have been her turn." There can be no other reason. ”

Harry could see the sun sun, red as blood, sinking below the horizon. He had never felt so sad in his heart as he was now. If only they could do something. Whatever it is. "Harry," Ron said, "you say, is it possible that she hasn't-you know-" Harry didn't know what to say. He couldn't think of how Ginny could still be alive.

"What do you say?" Ron said, "I think we should go find Lockhart." Tell him what we know. Isn't he ready to enter the secret room! We can tell him where we think the chamber is, and tell him that it's a basilisk in it. ”

Harry felt helpless like never before, and there was nothing he could do about it. In fact, he didn't believe that Lockhart could solve anything, and Ron knew that, but what could he do. At this moment, Harry couldn't help but think of Sauron, if he had his strength, maybe he could save Ginny.

By the time they walked downstairs to Lockhart's office, night had fallen. There seems to be a lot of movement in the office. They could hear the sound of rubbing, crashing, and hurried footsteps.

Harry knocked on the door, and there was a sudden silence inside. Then the door opened a very thin slit, and they saw one of Lockhart's eyes peeping out.

"Oh...... Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley" he said, opening the door a little wider. "I'm busy right now. I hope you have something to say......"

"Professor, we have something to tell you," said Harry, "and we think it will be of some help to you. ”

"Well-that's right--not really--" Lockhart's face looked nervous. "I mean--well-well."

He opened the door and let them in.

His office was almost completely emptied. Two large suitcases were placed on the floor open. Clothes of various colors, emerald green, lilac, and dark blue, were haphazardly stacked in one of the suitcases. Books of all kinds were piled up in a mess in another suitcase. It turned out that the pictures hanging on the wall were stuffed into a cardboard box on the table.

"Are you going somewhere?" Harry asked.

"Well, yes, yes," Lockhart said, ripping a life-size poster of himself from behind the door and rolling it up, "I've got an urgent notice...... Can't hide from ...... Had to go ......."

"And what about my sister?" Ron asked impulsively.

"Ah, as for that thing - how unfortunate it was." Lockhart said, avoiding their gaze and pulling open a drawer and packing the contents into a large bag, "No one feels more sorry than I do—"

"You're the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher!" Harry said, "You can't go now!" There's so much evil stuff going on here!"

"This, this, how do you say it...... When I took the job...... Lockhart muttered indistinctly, piling his socks on top of the suitcase, "the work regulations didn't include ...... I didn't expect ......"

"You're saying you're running away?" Harry said in disbelief, "But you've written so many amazing books?"

"Books can deceive people." Lockhart said slyly.

"You wrote it!" Harry shouted.

"My dear child," Lockhart straightened up, frowning at Harry, "think about it with your common sense. If I didn't make people think that I did all of that, the book wouldn't sell well. Readers won't want to read about an ugly old American wizard who saved a village from the scourge of werewolves. Put his picture on the cover, and it won't be hard to look at. He has no taste at all in his clothes. And the witch who expelled the female ghost of Wanlun, she is an open-mouthed! I mean, you think about it......"

"So you're just putting all the stuff that other people do on your own account?" Harry asked incredulously.

"Harry, Harry," Lockhart said, shaking his head impatiently, "it's not as simple as you say. I have a lot of work. I'm going to track these people. Ask them how they could be so proud of those things. Then I'm going to give them an Oblivion Charm so they can forget about it. If there's anything I'm proud of, it's my Oblivion Curse. You know, Harry, I'm going to have to work a lot, a lot. You know, it's not just book autographs and celebrity photos. If you want to be famous, you have to be prepared to work hard for a long time. ”

He ping-pong put the lid on the suitcase and locked it.

"Let me think about it," he said, "the east and west are all packed." Oh, by the way, and forgot one thing. ”

He drew his wand and turned to Harry and Ron.

"I'm sorry, boys, but I had to cast an Oblivion Charm on you. I can't let you spread my secrets everywhere. Otherwise, I won't want to sell my book......"

"Except for your weapons!" Harry shouted, and before Lockhart could raise his wand, he was knocked out of the way and fell on his suitcase. His wand flew high into the air, was caught by Ron, and tossed out of the open window.

"This is what my brother taught me." Harry said angrily, kicking Lockhart's box aside, "He's right, you're an idiot. ”

Lotte looked up at him, looking even more emaciated and haggard. Harry was still pointing his wand at him.

…………