After some time, Hermione had finished reading Aiden's copy of Moste Potente Potions and now had a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the Polyjuice Potion. Meanwhile, Harry was diligently playing the role of a vegetarian vampire in Lockhart's performative teaching class. After one particularly draining lesson, he dragged his tired body back toward the common room, only to be stopped by Hermione.
"Harry, look," she said, showing him the recipe. "We still need bicorn horn and lacewing flies. I can't get those two materials."
"Wait," Ron said, a flash of inspiration on his face. "I think I saw those two in Snape's private stores when I was in detention."
"So, how do we get them?" Harry asked.
"Maybe," Ron said with a mysterious smile, "we can create a little... fun for him."
That afternoon, Ron and Harry acquired a special item from the Weasley twins.
"Is this... a firework?" Hermione asked, looking at the dark, unassuming ball in her hand.
"Yep," Ron confirmed, laying out the plan. "We'll create chaos in Snape's class, and you'll take the opportunity to sneak into his storeroom and steal the materials."
During their next Potions class, Goyle and Crabbe were carefully concocting a Swelling Solution. Ron "accidentally" dropped his spoon. As he bent down to pick it up, he took out the firework and, with a hard throw, sent the black ball flying in a perfect arc. It landed with a plop directly in Goyle and Crabbe's cauldron.
With a deafening BANG, the cauldron exploded. Professor Snape turned around just in time to be hit square in the face with a large wave of pink Swelling Solution. The surrounding students were also hit by the exploding potion and began to swell up alarmingly. Harry and Ron, having positioned themselves behind their cauldron, were not spared, but Hermione, who had ducked behind them, managed to escape the disaster.
Taking advantage of the chaos as Snape rushed to treat the students, Hermione slipped into his private storage room and stole the needed ingredients.
After class, Professor Snape was in his office grading homework when a knock came at the door.
"Come in," he growled.
A young wizard wearing a large, pointed hat walked in. A pair of different-colored pupils was particularly striking in the dim, dungeon office.
"Oh, Mr. Prewett is here to apologize for his unlucky relatives," Snape's voice was dripping with sarcasm.
"No," Aiden replied coolly. "The headmaster just notified me to pay the fine." He took out a money bag and placed it on the desk. "Here. Twenty Galleons. Would you like to count it?"
"Hmph." Snape snorted coldly and swept the money into a drawer.
"Well, if there's nothing else, I'll be going..." Aiden was about to leave, but Snape stopped him.
"That boy," Snape's voice was a low, intense hiss. "Are you training him like this just to send him to his death?" He stared at Aiden, his hand already gripping his wand beneath the desk.
Aiden looked at the man before him. Although he was trying his best to use Occlumency to shield his mind, Aiden, as a hypnotist, could still read the powerful, raw remorse radiating from him. The atmosphere in the room grew stiff. Aiden didn't know how to respond to the man's pain.
"No," he said finally, his voice firm. His sharp eyes met Snape's, as piercing and direct as a physical blow. "This time, no one will die. I promise."
Afterward, Aiden left Snape's office. Inside, the Potions Master stared at an old, faded photograph, his thoughts a mystery.
In the second-floor girls' bathroom, Hermione, having successfully acquired the materials, began to brew the Polyjuice Potion.
"Why are we brewing it here?" Harry asked, looking around the grimy, disused bathroom.
"Because this is Moaning Myrtle's territory," Hermione explained while tossing ingredients into the cauldron. "Generally, no one ever comes in here."
"Who's Myrtle?" Ron wondered.
"ME!" a ghostly figure suddenly flew out of a toilet stall. "Who would remember Myrtle? Ugly, miserable, moping, Moaning Myrtle!" After this self-introduction, she let out a piercing shriek and flew back into the toilet with a splash.
"She's a little sentimental," Hermione said with a shrug, "but it doesn't matter. We just need to borrow her bathroom for a month."
"A month?!" Harry exclaimed. "How many students will Malfoy have killed by then?"
"I know," Hermione said grimly, "but this is the only way."
Seeing that the potion was now brewing steadily, the three of them cleaned up their mess and left the bathroom.
That night, on the fourth floor, Oliver finished his day of studying and prepared to return to the Ravenclaw common room. As he was walking alone down the corridor, a rubbing, slithering sound came from within the walls around him.
"Hiss... ssthee... hissss..."
The unique, chilling hiss of a great serpent echoed through the corridor, and Oliver instantly knew something was terribly wrong. He remembered Professor Flitwick's teachings from the Dueling Club, closed his eyes, and raised his wand high. "Lumos Maxima!"
A brilliant, blinding light filled the entire corridor. The Basilisk, stung by the sudden brightness, began to sway from side to side, crashing into a man in a black robe who had been lurking nearby. Hearing the commotion, Oliver turned and ran for his life.
He fled down the corridor and all the way to the second floor. As he rounded a corner, he collided with three other people.
"Oh, you're Oliver, Aiden's roommate?" Ron said, recognizing him.
"What happened?" Harry asked, covering his nose, which had taken the brunt of the impact.
"It's the monster from the Chamber of Secrets," Oliver panted. "Get ready to fight."
The four of them drew their wands and prepared for battle. The glowing ring on Ron's hand was particularly eye-catching in the dim light. As the slithering sound grew closer, a huge snake's head protruded from a nearby pipe. The man in the black robe, following it, was clearly surprised to find so many people there and froze for a moment.
"Hiss... ssaa... ssthee..." he hissed at the snake. The Basilisk immediately lunged, but not at the students. It lunged at him. He quickly turned and fled.
Harry and the others fired spells at the retreating serpent, but the Basilisk's hide was too thick, and their charms had little effect.
"Let me do it!" Ron shouted, waving his teammates out of the way. A beam of white light gathered in his hand. "Zoltraak!"
The beam, wrapped in crackling black energy, shot out and slammed into the Basilisk's body, melting a large chunk of its flesh and scales. The great snake roared in pain and quickly retreated back into the pipe.
As the rubbing sound faded away, they knew the monster had escaped. The four of them collapsed to the floor, panting heavily.
"Haha! I'm getting stronger!" Ron said, holding up his ring and showing off to his friends.
"That's Aiden's spell, right?" Oliver asked, looking at the ring with envy. "Did you get a custom wand?"
"No," Ron said, rubbing his nose proudly. "Aiden gave it to me."
"Oh, that's brilliant. I wonder if he accepts commissions," Oliver mused. Harry and Hermione looked at Ron's ring, a little tempted themselves.
"What is going on here?" Professor McGonagall's stern voice came from behind them. "Why aren't you in your dormitories?"
"Do you know that it is past curfew and there is danger in the castle?" she began to reprimand them. "You, how dare you—"
"I'm sorry, Professor," Oliver interrupted, "but we just encountered the monster from the Chamber of Secrets. We passed by the heir. Judging from his height, he's an adult man, and he was wearing a black robe."
Oliver quickly explained all the information they had gathered. Looking at the devastated corridor, Professor McGonagall understood that they weren't lying. She immediately led them all to the hospital wing for examination.
(End of Chapter)
***
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