Chapter 122: Pure-Bloods Aren’t Safe Either (Patreon)

“So what do we do now? Should we report this to Professor McGonagall?”

“We’ll go to the staff room after class.” Harry barely managed to suppress his excitement. “It’ll only take a few minutes.”

But they didn’t even get the chance to wait for the bell.

Professor McGonagall’s voice suddenly rang out throughout Hogwarts, loud enough for every student and teacher to hear.

“All students must return to their respective house dormitories immediately. All teachers are to report to the second-floor corridor at once.”

Harry exchanged a glance with Ron, and the two of them immediately slipped out of the classroom.

The History of Magic classroom was already on the second floor, so they weren’t much slower than the teachers.

They held their breath and hid around a corner, intending to listen first and find out what had happened.

“As you can see, the Heir of Slytherin has left another message.”

Professor McGonagall’s face was pale.

“The thing we feared most has finally happened.

“A student has been abducted by the monster and taken into the Chamber of Secrets.”

“The students must all go home. I’m afraid this is the end of Hogwarts.”

“Sorry, I dozed off.”

Gilderoy Lockhart came strolling over with a cheerful smile.

“What’s going on?”

“A girl has been abducted by the monster.”

Snape looked coldly at him.

“Lockhart, your moment has finally arrived.”

“My m-moment?”

“Didn’t you say just last night that you’ve always known where the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets is?”

“It’s decided.”

Professor McGonagall looked at him as well.

“We want you to deal with the monster, Gilderoy. We all firmly believe that you possess legendary magical abilities.”

The expression on Gilderoy Lockhart’s face froze, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly. For a moment, he had no idea what to say.

I was only bragging. Did they really have to take me seriously?

Me? Fight the monster?

Sorry, but I’m not ready to die yet.

I need to run. I absolutely have to run. If I don’t, I’m as good as dead.

His reputation was certainly valuable, but compared to his life, it wasn’t nearly as important.

“All right, then.”

Lockhart seemed to have made some sort of decision.

“I’ll go to my office and make some preparations.”

With that, he quickened his pace and left.

“Minerva, who was taken by the monster?” Madam Pomfrey asked worriedly.

“Ginny Weasley.”

Ron froze.

For a moment, he could barely remain standing.

After the teachers had one by one left, Ron forced himself to look at the bloody message on the wall:

HER SKELETON WILL LIE IN THE CHAMBER FOREVER.

Slytherin Common Room

Snape entered expressionlessly and informed everyone that another attack had taken place, along with Hogwarts’ response.

The Hogwarts Express would arrive first thing tomorrow morning to take them home. Until then, no one was permitted to leave the dormitories.

“This time, it was a Weasley? How could it possibly be a Weasley?”

Draco sat on the sofa in disbelief, a hint of unease finally appearing on his face.

“Isn’t that something worth celebrating?”

Crabbe couldn’t understand why Draco looked so troubled.

“Worth celebrating?”

Vieder let out a mocking laugh.

“If I remember correctly, the Weasleys are pure-bloods, and one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight.

“The fact that a Weasley has been attacked means the Heir of Slytherin’s targets aren’t limited to Muggle-borns.

“It could be a Weasley today, a Malfoy tomorrow, and a Parkinson the day after that.”

“Moria, if you don’t know what to say, you can just keep your mouth shut.”

Pansy snapped at him angrily.

“The day after that, it could be a Greengrass.”

Theodore spoke calmly.

Vieder glanced at Daphne but said nothing.

“In short, Hogwarts isn’t safe for pure-bloods anymore either.”

“At least we can leave the school tomorrow.”

Draco breathed a little easier.

“My father will probably transfer me to Durmstrang.

“You three can come with me. The headmaster of Durmstrang has some ties with my father.”

“Vieder won’t go with you.”

Daphne nervously pressed her lips together before speaking seriously.

“Beauxbatons or Ilvermorny would suit you better.

“Beauxbatons offers higher scholarships than Hogwarts, and the alchemist Nicolas Flamel is one of its famous alumni.

“Ilvermorny is the only known wizarding school founded with the participation of Muggles. It’s the most democratic and inclusive magical school in the world, and like Hogwarts, it has four houses.”

Vieder was stunned for a moment before laughing.

“I suddenly feel like Hogwarts isn’t so bad after all.”

“Actually, you’re all worrying unnecessarily. My divination tells me that Hogwarts won’t close because of the Chamber of Secrets incident.”

“What did you say?”

Draco’s voice rose slightly.

If he had a choice, he didn’t want to transfer schools either.

“Is... is that reliable?”

“I don’t know the exact reason, but the results of my divination indicate that everything will develop in a positive direction.

“Besides, don’t forget that our great Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, is still alive. Do you really think he would allow Hogwarts to close?”

Daphne seemed to understand something.

“Is that what you’ve been divining about these past few days?”

“Not entirely, but most of it is related to this.”

Vieder answered half-truthfully before deliberately yawning.

“Frequent divination is exhausting. I’m going back to rest. See you tomorrow.”

No one stopped him. They continued discussing the situation in the common room.

The moment Vieder returned to his dormitory, the weariness on his face vanished, replaced by indescribable excitement.

After waiting for so long, the opportunity to maximize his gains had finally arrived.

Dumbledore wasn’t at the school. Ginny Weasley was the one who had been taken. Harry and Ron also happened to know the information about the Chamber.

There was no way they would sit back and do nothing.

Vieder immediately closed the door and pulled the trunk out from underneath his bed.

When he opened it, he found a neatly folded dark-red wizard’s robe and a black wand set with a magical crystal.

“My moment has finally arrived. Today will be Enzo’s debut.

“I need to think carefully about how to make my entrance. I can’t simply appear in front of them, or he’ll instantly go from a stranger to a suspect.

“Besides that, I need to prepare a self-introduction.

“Time is limited. I have to establish his persona within the short time I have.

“And finally—and most importantly—I need to firmly pin the title of ‘The Fool’ on Harry Potter.”

It had been nearly two years since Trelawney had made that prophecy. Dumbledore’s magic had caused almost everyone at Hogwarts to forget about it, but he himself certainly hadn’t forgotten.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, if the mysterious Enzo exposed Harry Potter as the identity behind The Fool, Dumbledore might very well believe him.

Vieder changed into the clothes, picked up the wand, and draped the floating cloak over himself.

Then his face began to ripple, and his body underwent subtle changes.

Before long, he had transformed into a handsome young man with silver hair and crimson eyes.

Afterward, he checked the rooster inside the pouch enchanted with the Undetectable Extension Charm.

It was still lively and kicking.

Only then did Vieder finally relax.

A little Basilisk? I can handle it in minutes. There’s nothing to worry about.