Ravenclaw's Sapphire

"Dumbledore, we can no longer wait and see! We must act now!"

In the infirmary, the professors stood or sat, Professor McGonagall paced the room anxiously, Professor Flitwick hung his head in frustration, and Snape stood by the door with his arms crossed sullenly, like a hound The same vigilance around.

They gathered in Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore turned his back, closed his eyes and meditated. Hearing Professor McGonagall's words, he said slowly: "What can we do, Minerva? We haven't found the basilisk yet." hiding places, new attacks could occur at any time, and more students would be harmed.”

"Then we can't just watch more students being killed, two at a time! I don't know how to tell their parents..." Professor McGonagall's lips trembled violently, she covered her mouth, and sobbed in grief, like I have already thought of the desperate faces of the parents.If it weren't for the fact that the children still have a chance to recover, this seemingly tough but kind-hearted lady would have collapsed.

"Haven't you visited those two children?" The professors nodded, and Flitwick gasped, "After getting the news from Pomfrey, Minerva stopped the Quidditch match and we dismissed the students , Notified the others, except that Sprout is taking care of the mandrakes in the greenhouse, and we will all come to you immediately."

Snape sneered loudly with his big hooked nose: "All, I thought I counted the people here right? That big chirping peacock is still preening its feathers in its nest."

"Severus, the important thing now is the students." Dumbledore's eyes swept over Snape, and Snape shut his mouth and did not speak.

"Dear Poppy told me that one of the two students was not petrified. Miss Lovegood, it is said that she was stunned by a spell."

Dumbledore's words aroused discussions among the professors, they looked at each other in surprise, and strange voices leaked from their mouths.It is impossible for them not to hear Dumbledore's voice-over, but is it really possible?

"The legendary heir? How dare this coward stand up and attack the students?" Professor McGonagall's voice was full of gunpowder, and she seemed to be desperately restraining her temper.

"We can ask Miss Lovegood to tell us the truth of what she saw!"

"In fact, I have to regret to inform you that we can't do it, at least for now." Dumbledore took off the glasses on his face, showing an angry expression.

"The one who attacked Miss Lovegood was not an ordinary wizard. The culprit that caused her coma was the Unforgivable Curse. Only a wizard who has a deep study of spells can use the Unforgivable Curse, and he must be a ruthless person. To be able to lay hands on a child, to mess with her soul."

He heard Professor McGonagall exclaiming from behind: "Dumbledore, this is impossible! This is Hogwarts! How could they... how could they..."

"Lucky in misfortune. The other party did not take Miss Lovegood's life, but even so, I don't think she will be able to wake up soon and provide us with information."

Snape's face changed a few times, and he said in a low voice: "So there is a dark wizard lurking in the school? Who do you think that person will be? The one who opened the Chamber of Secrets this time, or... is it related to the last time?"

His guess received both approval and disapproval. Professor McGonagall looked at Dumbledore: "Among us, only you know, Dumbledore. Only you know what happened 50 years ago, they arrested Prisoner, who is that person?"

Dumbledore didn't answer right away, he seemed to be thinking about his words, "I don't think the students taken away by the Ministry of Magic 50 years ago were real prisoners, Minerva. The real prisoners are cunning and cold, and he won't hesitate To do things to frame others, as long as it can achieve his purpose, he will do it."

"It sounds like you have someone in mind." Snape's tone sounded a little sarcastic.

"Severus, you have to know that the intuition of immortality is always a bit miraculous." Dumbledore looked out the window, the sky was overcast with clouds, as if it would rain at any moment, "If this continues, I will suggest closing the school."

"Shut... what!" Everyone was stunned.

"That's right, close the school, before there are more casualties. That's what Principal Armando did 50 years ago."

"But... should we just let the evil run rampant in the castle? We know that the basilisk is the cause of all this, we just need to catch it - Hogwarts has never succumbed to evil forces." Flitwick said feebly Cover your face.

"But we are not only facing basilisks," Professor McGonagall agreed, although her face showed frustration, "Now there is an unknown dark wizard hiding in the school, ready to attack the students at any time!"

"That's the last resort, Flitwick, it's a measure after our complete failure. At least I don't plan to do it right now... Sitting still will only lead to self-destruction. Minerva, it's up to you to strengthen the management of the students and tell them the near future Pay attention to your surroundings, you must stay in the lounge before six o'clock, don't act with less than three people, don't run to suspicious and dangerous places out of curiosity—please inform the two Mr. Weasleys in particular— — Severus,"

Snape looked up haughtily.

"Teachers form a patrol team in pairs, and you will be in charge to keep an eye out for anything amiss in the castle. Severus, you are an expert in Defense Against the Dark Arts, and I trust you."

Snape snorted coldly, but didn't refuse.

"As for me--"

bang bang bang!At this time, the door of the headmaster's room was knocked rhythmically, and with Dumbledore's "Come in", the door opened to the side, and Gilderoy Lockhart - smiling brightly as always - walked Stride into the office.

"Aha! I know you've all been waiting for me, I'm - [-]rd Class of the Order of Merlin, Honorary Member of the Anti-Dark Arts League, five-time winner of the Wizards Weekly Best Smile Award - don't worry, great Gilderoy Lockhart will wipe out the Dark wizards."

As soon as he stepped into the room, he began to babble and boast, and the professors glared at him angrily, but he didn't seem to notice.Snape was standing by the door, and Lockhart's waving arm almost brushed his face. He took a step to the left with a disgusted face, but his expression moved slightly when he saw the person standing behind Lockhart.

Lockhart's louder-than-usual babble was obviously intentional, as he tried to please the person behind him by showing him his shiny feathers.Dumbledore seemed to have foreseen it a long time ago, and he was the only one who did not waver after seeing the person coming.

The visitor looked a bit haggard, probably because his duties required him to investigate the unimaginable injuries that occurred at Hogwarts, but he couldn't find any clues, so he had to work overtime every day until he suffered a nervous breakdown.The man's fat figure did not lose weight due to hard work, on the contrary he became a little plump, probably because anxiety caused his appetite to increase.He was wearing a pinstriped suit and clutching a top hat.He followed Lockhart, constantly wiping his face with his handkerchief.

He is Cornelius Fudge, the current Minister of Magic.Dumbledore knew that the Ministry of Magic's intervention was inevitable for such an incident that would affect the entire Hogwarts, but this was the worst possible time, because the Chamber of Secrets actually caused a pure-blooded injury, which made the Ministry of Magic under pressure and panic. had to be forced to intervene.

"Dumbledore... well, I asked Lockhart to lead me the way, and his energy is impressive." Fudge shook Dumbledore's hand, forcing an ugly smile on his face.

"Dear Minister, in fact, I have a plan in mind - as long as there are monsters and ghosts that dare to attack innocent students, I will turn into a raging wind, use my magic wand and spells to deal with it, and beat it to pieces!" Loha It's an exaggeration to say.

But Fudge is not in the mood to flatter each other with him now, he is exhausted physically and mentally.Some families questioned this series of attacks, and gathered other powerful families to put pressure on the Ministry of Magic, asking them to arrest the culprit who caused all this as soon as possible.

Under pressure, even if Fudge had other thoughts in mind, he could only put them aside.

He declined Dumbledore's offer to let him sit down first, and took out a notebook from the inner pocket of his suit, "I think you must know why I'm here today, Dumbledore."

"Well, to be honest, I don't want to know."

"You can't cover him up a second time, Dumbledore. People are on edge with everything that's happened in the castle. At least today I'm going to take him. You're going to take me to him."

"'He'?" Dumbledore raised his eyebrows. He was really a little confused this time. He thought that Fudge must have come to find Zoe. After all, Zoe is the most suspicious person right now, and the Ministry of Magic must have someone with a heart. Overtly and secretly instigated.Not just Dumbledore, everyone who knew what the Ministry of Magic did would think so.

But now Fudge came to Hogwarts aggressively, saying that the person he was looking for was a man?Dumbledore didn't think he had heard it wrong.Fudge's attitude was very firm. He mistook Dumbledore's hesitation for resistance, so he spoke impatiently.

"Don't be stupid, Dumbledore, I know you were there when they arrested the boy before, and you saved him in the end, we all remember that." He said word by word, "Take me to Rube Hagrid. Now!"