Get comfortable, turn the page, and let’s see what this story has been hiding 🔥 ✦ Noticing the way her two friends were looking at her, Hermione blushed slightly and stopped herself from reaching for a second sweet.
The three students sat uneasily across from Elias.
None of them spoke first, and the atmosphere in the office turned awkward for a moment.
In the end, Hermione was the one who broke the silence.
“Professor Vale, could you tell us about the Chamber of Secrets?” Elias had already guessed that the three students had come to him because of what had happened that day.
He explained the legend of Slytherin’s Chamber to them.
“So you mean the monster inside the Chamber has already been released by the heir of Slytherin?” Hermione asked.
Harry and Ron looked a little pale as well.
They realized that a terrifying monster had been hidden inside the Hogwarts they lived in.
“I am afraid so,” Elias said, nodding in agreement.
“Blimey.
Then what are we supposed to do?” Ron groaned, covering his face.
Harry and Hermione nodded at his words.
They also wanted to know how they were supposed to deal with the terrible monster hiding in the castle.
“You are supposed to continue attending your classes properly.
The monster will be handled by me and the other professors.” Elias drew on his authority as a professor, frowning slightly as he lectured them.
“But that monster could attack students at any time!” Harry could not help arguing.
“This monster is clearly not something second-year students can handle,” Elias warned sternly.
“As for precautions, I suggest you avoid moving through the corridors alone whenever possible.
The Hogwarts professors will solve this problem.” The three students had no choice but to nod and agree to follow his advice.
“Professor Vale, we suspect Malfoy is the heir of Slytherin!” Ron finally worked up the courage to voice his suspicion.
“His family has been in Slytherin for centuries, and he hates Muggle-born students.
He even called Hermione a…” Hearing Ron’s words, Elias did not know whether to laugh or sigh.
Reckless Gryffindors indeed.
Outwardly, however, he said seriously, “Mr.
Weasley, that is a very serious accusation.
What evidence do you have for your suspicion?” “We have not found any yet.
We just think…” Before Ron could finish, Elias interrupted him.
“Mr.
Weasley, you cannot accuse a classmate without evidence.
I sincerely suggest that you focus on your studies and leave the safety of the students to us professors.” Since the trio had already learned what they wanted to know, they prepared to leave.
They now also felt that trying to report Malfoy to a professor so recklessly had been rather impulsive.
The three politely said goodbye to Elias and moved to leave the office.
Elias stopped them.
It was already nearly curfew, and with a monster roaming the castle, it would be dangerous to let the three of them return to Gryffindor Tower alone.
He would escort them back himself.
Since the Basilisk had appeared, Elias had resumed the standard witcher look of wearing armor and carrying both swords.
This time, the little delegation raised no objections.
Given Hogwarts’ current situation, Elias’s appearance actually made people feel safer.
On the way back to the common room, the four of them did not speak.
Only Harry looked as though he wanted to say something to Elias.
When they reached the entrance to the Gryffindor common room, Ron and Hermione had already said goodbye to Elias and were preparing to pass through the Fat Lady’s portrait when Harry called him back.
“Professor Vale, I keep hearing strange voices lately that no one else can hear.
I heard one in Professor Lockhart’s office, and before Mrs.
Norris was attacked, I heard it again.” Harry spoke haltingly.
Hermione and Ron were shocked.
They had not expected Harry to confess the matter to Elias at this moment.
Elias was equally surprised.
In the original story, Harry had not told Dumbledore even when Dumbledore questioned him.
Elias pulled Harry to a corner of the corridor.
Hermione and Ron immediately followed.
Looking into Harry’s green eyes, Elias asked each word clearly.
“Harry, tell me exactly what you heard.” Harry felt uncomfortable under Elias’s gaze.
After hesitating for a moment, he began recalling the voice and repeated it.
“Kill you…
rip you…
so hungry…
so hungry…” After saying it, Harry suddenly realized that Ron, Hermione, and Professor Vale were all looking at him in astonishment.
That left him confused.
“Harry!
You were speaking snake!” Ron exclaimed, his mouth falling open.
Although he had already known Harry was a Parselmouth, hearing Parseltongue for the first time still startled Ron.
Even an ordinary greeting between Parselmouths sounded to outsiders as if the speakers were plotting something evil.
When Harry realized that he had just spoken Parseltongue, his face immediately went white.
He understood that his gift had now been completely exposed before Elias.
The three students nervously watched Elias’s reaction.
Elias had only frozen for a moment upon hearing the snake language.
Seeing Harry’s terrified expression, he patted the boy’s shoulder comfortingly.
“I understand the situation now, Harry.
If you hear that voice again, come and tell me immediately, or tell any professor nearby.
All right?” Elias tried to keep his voice gentle.
Harry nodded quickly.
Elias then signaled that the three students could go back.
Harry, looking as though he had been spared, followed Hermione and Ron into the Gryffindor common room.
After watching them enter, Elias thought for a short while, then turned and walked toward the Headmaster’s office.
The two stone gargoyles at the entrance remained faithfully on guard.
“Password,” one of them said dryly when it saw Elias standing before the door.
“Fizzing Whizzbee?” Elias tried the password from his first visit to the Headmaster’s office.
“Incorrect password.” “Sherbet Lemon.” “Cockroach Clusters.” “Liquorice Wand.” “Correct password.” The gargoyle began to rotate, revealing the staircase leading to the Headmaster’s office.
Elias had somehow guessed correctly by accident.
Because it was night, the portraits in the Headmaster’s office had already gone to sleep.
Fawkes, the phoenix who had been woken, stared curiously at Elias.
Fawkes did not look very energetic.
His feathers were dull and somewhat messy.
“Do not worry about Fawkes.
He is nearly ready to burn.” Dumbledore appeared to greet Elias.
The Headmaster was wearing rather cartoonish pajamas printed all over with yellow crescent moons bearing smiling faces.
Paired with Dumbledore’s long silver-white beard, the result looked faintly ridiculous.
✦ ✦ ✦ Ready for more?
CREATORS’ THOUGHTS EmberHollow Thank you for reading.
I hope this chapter pulled you deeper into the story.
Stick around, because there’s still a lot waiting just ahead.