A Professor of Magic at Hogwarts

Chapter 35: Ambush

Great Hall.

The atmosphere of the evening was incredibly lively. Dumbledore had fulfilled his promise and brought in a troupe of skeleton dancers. They played cheerful tunes on instruments made of bones while performing whimsical dances. To be honest, this style of performance was truly unforgettable.

The young wizards wore satisfied and excited expressions, sitting within pumpkin lanterns, indulging in the festive delicacies. To Felix Harp, the taste didn't seem to have changed much, but the presentation was quite innovative and unique.

Felix took a piece of black, tombstone-shaped caramel cake and took a bite.

Various colored ribbons and monster masks adorned the ceiling of the hall, and he even spotted three large black dogs—black dogs didn't have a good reputation in the wizarding world. But upon closer inspection, he realized it was a three-headed dog.

Felix: "..." Always feels like the three-headed dog's reputation is unjustly tarnished.

Unbeknownst to them, time passed, and it was nearing ten o'clock, heading towards eleven. The young wizards began to put down their utensils, wearing satisfied smiles on their faces.

Felix wiped his mouth with a napkin and started discussing spells with Professor Flitwick. Professor Lockhart tried to interject but was ignored by the two.

After two months of the school year, anyone with a bit of intelligence could see what kind of person Lockhart was.

Felix couldn't help but cast a reproachful look at Dumbledore. "You've wasted my trust on someone like him? Did you really have to choose such a flimsy professor?"

I thought he had some genuine talents.

Felix felt his investment of time was wasted.

Finally, the troupe of skeleton dancers concluded their performance with an alternative and soothing tune. Everyone politely applauded until they took a bow and dissolved into a cloud of black smoke, exiting the scene.

As the evening came to an end, the young wizards left the hall in a crowded rush. A few professors remained, waving their wands to tidy up the aftermath.

At that moment, a young wizard returned in a fluster, his lips trembling.

"Professors, I think you need to come and see... something has happened!"

Without him saying anything, the professors also heard the gasps of the young wizards outside the hall. Dumbledore took a few strides and walked over, the crowd naturally parting to make way.

Felix and Professor Flitwick exchanged a glance and quickly followed.

They ascended the stairs and reached the third floor. Following the gaze of the young wizards, they turned a corner and arrived at an empty corridor.

The first thing Felix noticed was Harry, Ron, and Hermione—standing alone, with an obvious empty space around them. But the next moment, his gaze fell upon the cat hanging from the torch sconce.

Mrs. Norris.

She appeared incredibly stiff, almost as if she were dead.

Beside her, on the wall about a foot off the ground, were some markings, gleaming with an emblematic light in the reflection of the burning torch.

The Chamber of Secrets has been opened.

Beware the Heir of Slytherin.

Flich was shouting something, but Dumbledore quickly moved past the crowd and took down Mrs. Norris. His expression turned grave, his azure eyes peering through his half-moon glasses as he examined carefully.

"Come with me, Flich," he said to Flich, "and you, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger."

Lockhart was quickly directed to his office, and then Dumbledore led the way, followed closely by Professor McGonagall, Snape, Felix, and, Professor Flitwick remained behind to comfort the frightened young wizards.

Lockhart's office.

Several professors were gathered around a smooth table, scrutinizing the stiffened Mrs. Norris.

Dumbledore's long, hooked nose was almost touching the fur of Mrs. Norris. He peered at her through the half-moon glasses, his slender fingers prodding and poking here and there.

Professor McGonagall bent over, her face nearly touching the cat, squinting as she examined closely.

Snape stood behind them, his body mostly obscured in the shadows.

Felix Harp stood on the other side, his fingers brushing over Mrs. Norris's back, her fur unusually rigid. He then lightly touched her body with his wand, sensing a powerful curse.

Not dead... seems to be petrified...

Almost simultaneously, Headmaster Dumbledore straightened up and murmured, "It's not dead, Flich. It's been petrified."

But the headmaster's words couldn't dissolve Flich's resentment. He instantly locked his suspicions onto Harry, even exposing his squib identity in the process.

But his suspicion was swiftly rejected as "this requires the most advanced dark magic."

The trio clearly couldn't achieve that.

Furthermore, there were those strange markings on the wall.

The Chamber...

Felix fell into thought, a very familiar name.

Next was Snape's domain. He interrogated the trio mockingly, Harry stumbling through his explanations, prompting a sigh from Felix on the side.

Kid, not skilled at lying, and lacking in emotional stability.

However, Felix soon began pondering, what were they hiding?

After participating in the anniversary party in the dungeon, they should have returned to the Great Hall, but they didn't...

Perhaps he could seize an opportunity to ask his assistant.

After the trio left, the professors exchanged information.

"Potter didn't tell the whole truth, Headmaster, that's my opinion," Snape reiterated.

This point was not disputed among the professors; they all saw it.

But Professor McGonagall habitually defended her students. "We don't have evidence to show they did something wrong. In fact, they might have just heard some odd noises."

"Can't rule out that possibility," Dumbledore neither confirmed nor denied, "And what's your opinion, Felix?"

All eyes in the room turned to Felix, even the Lockhart picture on the wall leaned out from the shadows.

"My opinion... I'm still thinking about the words on the wall. The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Whose chamber? Opened by whom? And who stands against this so-called heir?" He posed three questions in quick succession.

Professor McGonagall pursed her lips. "It sounds like the legend of the Slytherin Chamber again, but there's never been any evidence to prove..."

Except for Felix and Lockhart, the other three were seasoned faculty members. Similar campus legends spread among young wizards every few years, gaining sensational and curious details as they were passed on.

"But from what I know, the names associated with the term 'Chamber' are most famously Ravenclaw and Slytherin. And considering this attack, the direction is quite clear."

The others understood Felix's implication: Chamber, and related to Slytherin.

Ravenclaw couldn't do such a thing.

"Speculation is reasonable, but sadly, there's no evidence," Snape retorted.

Finally, Dumbledore concluded, "Over the next few days, we'll search the castle thoroughly to see if we can find anything."

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