Five Locks
"Well, to think your dirty, smelly sock actually managed to free Dobby," Percy said, looking under the Great Hall table toward one of Harry's feet, which was now missing a sock.
"You don't have to add the dirty and smelly part," Harry replied, unable to hold back an annoyed smile.
Meanwhile, all the students at the feast were still celebrating, quite happy about that sudden party. Many of them were even still wearing their pajamas.
It was one of the best feasts they'd had so far. It even lasted almost the entire night, with food constantly arriving as if there were an endless supply.
So much so that there was even enough for Tyson, who arrived a little later, still somewhat confused, to eat until he couldn't possibly eat anymore. He was very happy with Harry and Percy's encouragement as they congratulated him for doing such a good job protecting Hermione and Ron and for how brave he'd been.
Meanwhile, the Hufflepuff students who heard the story couldn't help being surprised and cheering Tyson on, surrounding him and piling food onto his plate just like at the beginning of the school year. Many of them apologized for having ignored him, while also apologizing for having suspected Harry and Percy.
Although none of the three seemed to care much. Tyson was more than happy just to have all his friends back.
This time, Harry and Percy didn't even say anything about having won the House Cup this year, since, after all, they'd really been in danger this time and had given everything they had to defeat the basilisk.
Although it might also have been because the Weasley twins were holding them down with all their strength to stop them from refusing the points like last year. Several other students even had to join in, since Percy was stronger than they were, ending with everyone piling on top of him.
Although Percy kept trying to say he wasn't going to do it, with his mouth covered, all he could do was get crushed beneath the crowd while Harry watched in amusement.
Ron and his brothers also seemed much calmer after receiving news from their parents. Ginny was still at St. Mungo's, but the healers had confirmed that she would recover.
And adding to everyone's happiness, Professor McGonagall announced that they could do without exams this year, something that didn't seem to sit very well with Hermione, who appeared to be the only one depressed by the announcement.
But soon enough, all the girls at the school couldn't help joining in the collective depression when the Headmaster announced that Professor Lockhart would no longer be able to teach classes from now on, although he didn't say why or where the professor was now.
But with Mark nowhere to be seen, it seemed obvious that he'd taken care of that part, though not before stopping by to return Harry's invisibility cloak before leaving and offering them both his condolences for when their mother found out.
"By the way, where's Sirius?" Percy couldn't help asking after being released, remembering that Sirius was supposed to have come to Hogwarts with Mark to investigate the Chamber of Secrets. But he clearly remembered that Mark seemed to have left alone, taking an unconscious Lockhart with him.
Harry also seemed to remember that his godfather existed and, according to Hermione, both he and Snape had entered the tunnel leading to the Chamber, but only Snape had reached them.
"Maybe they split up in the tunnels. After all, we followed the clues Tyson left behind," Harry said, thinking it over carefully.
"What if he's still down there?" Percy asked.
Harry considered it for a moment.
"It's Sirius. I'm sure he'll find his way out."
"Yeah, you're right."
And with that concern resolved in the most irresponsible way possible, both of them went back to focusing on the feast, smiling as they watched Tyson looking so happy, Ron stuffing himself with food despite the bandages he was still wearing, and Hermione, who remained depressed over the cancellation of the exams.
...
Meanwhile, in a dark cave, who knew how many meters beneath the castle, Sirius trudged forward with an annoyed and exhausted expression, holding his wand out in front of him, its glow lighting his way.
"How deep can one damn cave be?" he couldn't help muttering as he continued walking, with no idea how long he'd been wandering around since separating from Snape.
Only his footsteps could be heard as he moved forward, with no sign that he'd be reaching anywhere anytime soon in the darkness.
After walking for a few more minutes, he finally reached the end of the tunnel. There, in the middle of that dark cave, stood a small wooden door so simple that it looked completely out of place.
Sirius raised an eyebrow and began examining it. It looked quite old, but several enchantments kept it clean and in perfect condition and, of course, made it indestructible.
The strangest thing was that it had no doorknob.
Instead, five small locks were arranged across the door. If he connected them with imaginary lines, they would form a pentagram.
"What's this?" Sirius murmured as he studied the locks. In the center of the five was a snake that let out a soft hiss.
Which, of course, Sirius didn't understand, so all he could do was scratch his head.
"Hmm, I'd better head back. Maybe this is the Chamber of Secrets," Sirius murmured, giving the five locks one last look.
As much as he wanted to find out what was behind that door, he first had to make sure Harry and Percy were all right. He'd have time to come back and investigate later.
So he simply turned around and headed back along the same long path he'd taken to get there.
Meanwhile, in the school corridors, while everyone was at the feast, a certain student took the opportunity to wander around the castle, holding a snake-shaped key as he searched the surroundings with a serious and, at the same time, annoyed expression.
"Where the hell is it...? It's been three years already, and I still haven't found a trace," he complained, gripping the key tightly.
It was Cedric, whose face was filled with exhaustion and exasperation.
"Maybe I should go back to that place to find more clues," he finally muttered, seemingly giving up on his search for the time being before turning around and walking toward where the grand feast was being held.