Chapter 53
"Professor, are you the heir of Slytherin?" When Cedric asked the same question, the expression on Lucian's face was somewhat helpless.
"Of course I'm not—where did you all hear this rumor from?"
"I heard about the basilisk from Hermione and the others," Cedric seemed a bit hesitant. "Professor, is this matter very tricky? Why would there be a second attack by the basilisk? Even you and Dumbledore can't resolve it?"
"Hmm—" Lucian's tone became a bit uncertain, as he wasn't quite sure how to explain it to this earnest student.
Actually, the matter had already been resolved. The current situation was just a tacit understanding among the adults, right? That seemed a bit too damaging to his image and not good for the healthy growth of children's minds.
After thinking for a moment, Lucian found a compromise. "Regarding the Chamber, Dumbledore and I have already found some clues. There are just a few things that still need confirmation. Rest assured, no more attacks will happen from now on. As for the attacked Professor, she was luckily only petrified. Once the mandrakes mature, Snape can brew the antidote to save her."
He knew what Cedric cared about most—it was nothing more than the safety of the students. The next time the basilisk attacked, it would be when Hermione or Ron was petrified, guiding Harry to slay the snake. Then all problems would be solved.
"Is that so? That's great!" Cedric vaguely sensed something from Lucian's subtle attitude, but his main goal was to ensure no more casualties from the Chamber incident. Everything else was secondary.
Seeing the matter resolved so smoothly, he relaxed completely.
Cedric suddenly remembered the story Hermione had told him before about 'The Wizard's Hairy Heart'. When he first heard it, he was quite shocked. But now, looking at it, Professor Lucian was clearly a very warm-hearted wizard who just wasn't good at expressing emotions. How could something like what was described in the story happen?
He and Hermione had overthought it. It was just a fairy tale.
Who knows how Cedric and Hermione would view the story if they learned that the Invisibility Cloak in Harry's possession was one of the three Deathly Hallows from the legend of 'The Tale of the Three Brothers'?
"Professor, I'll be going now." Cedric got the answer he wanted and didn't seek to learn more from Lucian. He prepared to quickly inform Hermione and the others, but Lucian stopped him.
"Polyjuice Potion—have you finished brewing it?"
Cedric was startled, then turned with a wry smile and said "I didn't expect to hide it from you after all. How did you find out?"
"The abandoned girls' bathroom on the second floor—few people go there normally. You and Hermione chose a pretty good spot."
"Even so, you still discovered it? How did the professor know about this? Had she been to the girls' toilet?" Cedric asked his expression a little curious.
"Your expression looks like you're suspecting I sneaked into the girls' toilet." Lucian Joked.
"."
Seeing Cedric scratch the back of his head awkwardly, he replied "Hmm, I did go there during a night patrol. There's a secret in the second-floor bathroom. I suppose you haven't discovered it yet."
"What is it?"
Cedric had never entered the girls' bathroom. Most of the time, he was just keeping watch near the door for Hermione, so he didn't know what Lucian was referring to.
"I'm not telling you. Go find it yourselves in the girls' bathroom."
Cedric pursed his lips, then proactively asked "Professor, aren't you going to give us detention?"
"Why would I? For secretly brewing a powerful potion and violating at least ten school rules?" Lucian smiled and waved her hand, gesturing for Cedric to go relax.
"As long as it doesn't harm others, I actually encourage you to break the rules."
Cedric opened his mouth as if to say something more, but ultimately left without a word; he wasn't someone who lacked flexibility, and since the professor said he wouldn't hold it against them, there was no need to push for points to be deducted.
Besides, the professor just said "you"?
'Did he want us to figure out the secret of the abandoned bathroom?'
By the time Cedric found Harry and Ron, it seemed a bit late—he had waited for a while at the entrance from the castle to the basement level and indeed caught up with the two.
They had returned from gathering information. Besides confirming that Malfoy really didn't know about the Chamber, they had gained nothing.
They still had no clue about who the real heir was, but Cedric's news truly excited them, completely changing their mindset.
"No more attacks from now on? That's great! Then why bother with this heir business?" Ron cheered, no longer frustrated by the failed operation.
"Where's Hermione? I have something to tell her."
"Why do you have to tell her something you can't tell us?" Ron's expression turned wary again.
"Uh—I think she'll tell you anyway—I heard some news from the professor—why don't we find her first? We can talk about it together then."
The three came to the second-floor bathroom and called for Hermione to come out from the door—since their potion effects had worn off, Hermione's transformation should have ended too. But Hermione just stayed in her toilet stall, refusing to come out.
"Hermione, what are you messing around for? Come out quickly. Cedric says he heard important news from the professor."
"No—you all leave me alone. Let me be by myself for a while!"
The three outside exchanged glances. Ron rushed in first! he kept knocking on the stall door, asking "Hey! What happened? Tell us—we'll help you!"
"Go away!" Hermione's voice was shrill, sounding utterly devastated.
Cedric still didn't enter the bathroom, just shouting from the doorway "Hermione, listen! We will never leave you here alone. So if something happened, you should tell us sooner rather than later, so we can figure out a plan early."
Hermione's crying gradually stopped.
*Click—*
With the sound of the lock sliding open, her figure appeared half-hidden behind the door.
First coming into view were two pointy, long ears—then Hermione's face covered in black cat fur, and her eyes that had turned yellow.
"It was a cat hair!" she wailed miserably. "M-Millicent must have a cat! But this Po-Potion isn't meant for animal transformations!"
"Hahahahahaha!"
The ghost Moaning Myrtle's laughter echoed nonstop behind Hermione, making her emotions even more collapsed.
It took Harry and Ron a long time to persuade Hermione to leave the bathroom.
Cedric promptly drew his wand, transfiguring his own wizard robe with some modifications and draping it over Hermione—the oversized robe covered her tail and ears, only exposing a cat-like face. "Don't worry, Hermione. Let's go find Professor Lucian. he can definitely fix your problem."
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