To be honest, everything that happened tonight was beyond the Professors' understanding.
First, Robert was suddenly petrified by mysterious dark magic at Hogwarts, then attacked by a ghostly Unicorn, and subsequently, he inexplicably recovered.
Before the Professors could comprehend the situation, the recently recovered Robert presented them with even more astonishing news.
"Basilisk?"
Professor McGonagall repeated the name, utterly speechless.
Professor Flitwick beside her was vigorously pulling at his already sparse hair.
Even Lockhart stood silent, appearing deep in thought, perhaps considering how to incorporate a Basilisk into his adventure stories. Yet, it seemed there was no suitable place for such a creature... but then again, what exactly is a Basilisk?
"You mean, you saw a Basilisk?" Dumbledore was the first to respond.
"Yes, I saw it," Robert nodded. "A snake at least fifty feet long, with eyes as big as light bulbs."
"Nonsense!"
Snape scoffed. "How could there be a Basilisk at Hogwarts? I think you must have been too frightened and hallucinated."
Although the other Professors weren't as direct, their expressions clearly indicated skepticism toward Robert's claim.
After all, creatures like Basilisks had vanished for centuries, and now Robert suddenly asserted he saw one within the school castle... it was indeed hard to believe.
"But as far as I know, anyone who looks into a Basilisk's eyes is killed instantly."
Dumbledore, however, did not dismiss the statement. He looked at Robert and asked gently, "Can you tell me how you escaped death?"
"The Unicorn's soul," Robert explained. "I saw the Basilisk through it, which is why I'm still alive."
"That sounds quite plausible," Dumbledore nodded, glancing around.
The ghostly Unicorn had vanished; no one knew when it had disappeared.
"Did you know that not looking directly into a Basilisk's eyes isn't fatal? Or was it merely a fortunate coincidence?"
"I've read books about Basilisks," Robert replied.
"So that bottle of Mandrake juice was also left by you, wasn't it?" Dumbledore continued. "To facilitate our preparation of the revitalizing potion later."
"Yes," Robert nodded, rolling up his sleeve to reveal the transfigured lizard-skin pouch inside.
"I made this during the holidays and happened to need Mandrake juice."
"Ah, a very primitive transfigured lizard-skin pouch," Dumbledore observed.
As an Alchemy Master, he naturally knew that Mandrake juice was a key ingredient in making transfigured lizard-skin pouches and could tell that Robert's pouch had been made recently.
It wasn't unusual for him to carry Mandrake juice with him.
Dumbledore stood up, walked along the corridor, and then suddenly stopped.
"We'll go to the second floor."
"Dumbledore, you aren't actually believing him, are you?" Snape interjected. "Perhaps this is just a prank, and someone simply used a special Petrification Curse on Mr. Ollivander."
Snape's skepticism stemmed mainly from Robert's inexplicable recovery...
No counter-curse magic was needed, no revitalizing potion consumed; just passing through the ghost's body, and the petrification spell was lifted? If it truly were a Basilisk, it couldn't be that simple.
"Ah, Professor Snape, I'm inclined to believe Mr. Ollivander," Dumbledore responded.
"But..."
"I suggest you come and see this," Dumbledore bent down, picked something up, and held it for everyone to see.
It was a greyish-white object, about the size of two coins.
"Snakeskin?" Snape was the first to recognize it.
It was a layer of skin shed by a snake; many potions used this material, and he was intimately familiar with it.
But why would there be snakeskin in Hogwarts Castle? Judging by the patterns, the snake must have been enormous.
Could it really be a Basilisk?
Snape fell silent.
"Let's proceed," Dumbledore's expression turned solemn.
After he spoke, all the staircases shifted direction, quickly forming a single flight of stairs leading directly to the second floor.
"Mr. Ollivander," Dumbledore addressed Robert, "It might be dangerous ahead, and considering you've just endured a terrible attack, I suggest you return to the common room now."
"It's alright," Robert immediately stood up, dragging his broken arm, and was the first to ascend the stairs. "I can lead the way; it'll be faster."
Robert's determination was unwavering.
Had he not reacted swiftly earlier, had it not been for the Unicorn's soul in the silver mane, he might have been bitten to death by the Basilisk.
Even if he had miraculously escaped, he would have spent half the school year in a petrified state.
This matter couldn't be left unresolved.
Moreover, Robert had a nagging feeling that the Basilisk was targeting him. Although he didn't know why, once was enough for such an encounter.
The diary didn't matter, but the Basilisk had to be eliminated!
"Come back, Ollivander..." Professor McGonagall's voice called from behind, but Robert paid no heed and continued forward, even quickening his pace.
"I'll protect Mr. Ollivander; I killed a Basilisk when I was in Peru," Lockhart stepped forward. "I'm planning to write about this in my next book, so leave it to me; there'll be no problem..."
"No need, Professor Lockhart," Professor McGonagall pushed him aside, and just as she was about to chase after Robert, she saw Dumbledore raise his hand and say softly:
"It's alright, Minerva, don't worry; no one else will be hurt tonight."
Dumbledore's voice wasn't loud, but no one doubted the truth of his words.
If Robert were present, he would have noticed that Dumbledore now held a wand, strangely shaped, completely different from the one he had seen last year.
"Let's catch up quickly; hopefully, the problem can be resolved before dawn..." Dumbledore also ascended the stairs, seemingly remembering something, and turned back to say, "Professor Lockhart, could I trouble you to stay here? If any students try to wander around at night, please inform them that tonight is not a good time."
Lockhart's foot, which he had just stepped forward with, immediately halted.
He definitely wanted to accompany them; everyone knew that the safest place in the wizarding world was within ten feet of Albus Dumbledore.
Staying here, what if that Basilisk returned?
"This... I'd rather help..."
Lockhart attempted to refuse, but Dumbledore didn't give him a chance to speak and walked straight up the stairs.
The other Professors also hurried to follow.
When only Lockhart remained on the eighth floor, he hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and ran straight back to his office.
Meanwhile, Robert had already reached the second floor via the stairs and continued without stopping until he arrived at the door of Moaning Myrtle's lavatory.
Fortunately, the Professors weren't far behind and quickly caught up.
"It's here," Robert pointed at the lavatory door. "The Basilisk came out of here."
With his mind focused on the Basilisk, Robert didn't notice the complex looks the Professors behind him were giving him.
Just now, they had traversed a total of three corridors on the second floor, but Robert had led the way without any pause, hesitation, or need to determine the direction, stopping directly at the door.
They couldn't understand why Robert was so familiar with the location of a girls' lavatory, as if he had been there countless times.
"Are you sure it's here?" Professor McGonagall couldn't help but ask.
The place where Robert was petrified was on the eighth floor, but this was the second floor, separated by six floors and at least three corridors.
She racked her brain but couldn't figure out how Robert had managed to run through these three corridors and six floors under the Basilisk's attack, and during this process, the Professors hadn't heard the slightest sound.
"Yes, I saw it," Robert nodded vigorously, his eyes incredibly firm.
As the only person in this attack who saw the Basilisk and was nearly killed, even if what he said was unreasonable, others could only accept it as reasonable; anyway, he saw it, the process wasn't important.
Moreover, at this moment, Snape also found another piece of snakeskin on the floor in front of the lavatory.
It was identical to the piece found on the eighth floor, making it almost certain it belonged to the same snake.
Now, everyone had to believe it.
Dumbledore glanced at Robert; Professor McGonagall was currently bandaging his broken arm.
"Don't stray too far from me," his eyes flickered slightly, and he pushed open the lavatory door.
Everyone immediately heard a loud, piercing wail from inside.
It was a ghost, sitting on a flushing toilet and sobbing loudly.
"Good evening, Miss Warren," Dumbledore said.
"Who's there!" Hearing the different address, Moaning Myrtle instinctively looked up.
Upon seeing Dumbledore before her, she suddenly froze, even forgetting that she was still crying.
"Oh, Headmaster, what brings you here?" Moaning Myrtle floated in front of Dumbledore, even tidying her clothes slightly, completely ignoring the Professors behind him.
"Some unpleasant events have occurred at school tonight," Dumbledore said. "Can you tell me why you were upset just now?"
"Someone occupied my lavatory and drove me away with something!" Moaning Myrtle said in a miserable voice. "They probably thought it was fun to watch me being chased by Peeves."
"And when did this happen?" Dumbledore inquired.
Moaning Myrtle tried hard to recall. "About an hour ago, I think."
Professor McGonagall frowned, realizing something wasn't right.
An hour ago, which meant around eight o'clock, someone had been in this lavatory; the Halloween feast had just ended not long before, and everyone should have returned to their common rooms. So who would
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