The little friends didn't dare speak at first, worried Ron might break from stress and lose his mind.
But after he finished talking, they were even more afraid to say anything.
The heir is right beside us?
Jerry sucked in a breath. "Blimey... Ron opened the Chamber? That's terrifying! What if Neville learned Parseltongue from listening to Ron mutter in his sleep?!"
Ron had cried so much he could barely calm down. He wiped his face, clutched the wheel tightly, and thought, Might as well have died in the Forbidden Forest.
Then he sniffed hard and said firmly, "If I'd spoken up sooner, maybe Hagrid and Dumbledore wouldn't be... It's all my fault. I'm not running anymore. I'm going to Professor McGonagall to confess. Even if they send me to Azkaban, I deserve it. I need to get Hagrid and Dumbledore back."
Even though Ron looked a mess from crying, there was a determined light in his eyes.
Ted clapped his shoulder. "Don't beat yourself up, Ron. No one wanted this. Remember—fifty years ago, the real culprit was never caught. No one's going to chase down a twelve-year-old. Even grown wizards can't resist dark magic's pull."
"Dark magic's pull?" Harley looked at Ted suspiciously.
Hermione squinted, tilted her head and stared him down. "So, you've already figured out who the heir is, haven't you? And the monster in the Chamber... it's a basilisk, isn't it?!"
Ted raised his hands. "Alright, alright—I'll admit it. I'll tell you everything."
Neville and Jerry stiffened. Ron's opened the Chamber already—now what's Ted hiding?
Ted said, "I think the real heir of Slytherin is... You-Know-Who."
"The Dark Lord?!" Neville tensed up, eyes fierce.
"Exactly. Remember fifty years ago? The Chamber opened, Myrtle was killed, and Hagrid got blamed. Who pointed the finger?"
"Tom Riddle?!" Neville blurted.
"Tom? That's the diary you mentioned?" Harley asked.
Ron went pale. "Tom Riddle—that diary! He's got a trophy in the display case..."
Jerry's jaw dropped. "Tom Riddle? I've been forced to polish that git's trophy a dozen times. I've got a grudge."
Hermione frowned. "What does that have to do with the Dark Lord?"
Ted flicked his wand, writing Tom Marvolo Riddle in golden letters in the air. With another wave, they rearranged into: I am Lord Voldemort.
"I've been investigating. Fifty years ago, he was a student here. Opened the Chamber, killed Myrtle, and when the school might shut down, he framed Hagrid with that Acromantula."
Ron clenched his fists. "Hagrid's love for creatures is going to ruin him one day."
"So it really was him!" Neville growled.
Harley scowled. "Back again? That snake never stays dead."
Ted shook his head. "Not exactly. I think it's the memory in that diary. Ron, how'd you end up with it?"
Ron muttered, "Ginny might've picked it up by mistake at Flourish and Blotts..."
Ted nudged him. "Anything odd that day?"
Ron's eyes widened. "Dad fought old Malfoy... then Diagon Alley... Wait—you think?!"
Malfoy wants me dead? That foul old Death Eater!
Ted sighed. "Doesn't matter now—no proof. What matters is stopping the Chamber. With Dumbledore gone, we're on our own. And what we're facing is a basilisk."
Jerry gulped. "A basilisk? What's that?"
Ted tapped the enchanted goggles around his neck. "That's why I told you to wear these. Didn't forget, did you?"
Jerry gave a weak grin. "Course not. They're brilliant—make me look cool."
"They'll save you. One look in a basilisk's eyes and you're dead."
Ted explained everything—the basilisk's age, deadly stare, how it used the pipes to move unseen. The friends shivered.
Hermione's eyes lit up. "So Mrs. Norris must've seen its reflection in the water! Near Myrtle's bathroom..."
Ted nodded. "I tried talking to Myrtle's ghost—some magic drove her off."
Harley's eyes brightened. "Then the Chamber entrance must be in that old bathroom!"
When they returned to the castle, they found Hogwarts in total chaos.
Professor McGonagall's voice boomed through the corridors, sharper than usual: "All students return to your common rooms immediately! Anyone found wandering will be expelled!"
The young witches and wizards ran everywhere, shoving and tripping over each other. Some cried that someone had been killed, others whispered that the monster from the Chamber was fighting the professors right now.
Some fled for their common rooms, some huddled against the walls of the Great Hall, a few even tried to run for the castle doors, calling out, "I want to go home!" Hogwarts was in absolute chaos.
The prefects and the student council president couldn't control them at all.
Ted quickly raised his wand to amplify his voice and shouted, "Don't panic! Stay calm!"
His voice thundered through the hall, jolting everyone like a splash of ice water. The crowd froze, wide-eyed.
"Return to your common rooms in an orderly line with your prefects. No pushing, no shouting. Trust your professors—trust Hogwarts! Dumbledore will sort this out. We already have important clues about the Chamber, and we need to tell the staff. Hold steady! You're wizards; keep your wands ready!"
The prefects leapt into action, guiding students into lines and escorting them away.
Ted exchanged a look with Harley, Hermione, Neville, Jerry, and Anzu. They asked a passing professor where the staff were meeting and hurried off.
Just minutes earlier, McGonagall and the other teachers had discovered a new chilling message on the wall: "HIS BONES WILL LIE IN THE CHAMBER FOREVER."
Their faces were grim. The Chamber had been opened again, and this time a student had been taken.
Worse—Dumbledore was gone.
"Severus, activate every defensive ward in the castle. Filius, find out who's missing. I need to break into the Headmaster's office and contact Albus!" McGonagall's voice wavered despite her best effort to stay calm.
Never in decades had the school faced such danger. Without Dumbledore, their anchor was gone. Mishandle this, and Hogwarts might close.
At that moment, Lockhart swept in wearing bright blue robes, smiling grandly. "No need to worry, my dear colleagues! I already have a lead, though it's too soon to reveal. I'll have the Chamber found in no time!"
Then he saw the message.
"Well... maybe not quite 'no time.'"
McGonagall's eyes flashed. "Very well, Professor Lockhart—YOU will find the Chamber and rescue that student!"
The staff swept off, leaving Lockhart blinking. He shivered at the bloody writing and darted to his office.
"No! I have to leave—this place is far too dangerous!"
Because the professors were gone, Ted and the others reached the corridor themselves and read the message.
"Who was taken?" Ron whispered, guilt all over his face.
Ted's expression darkened. "Heard from some Slytherins—it's Malfoy."
In the original story, it had been Ginny. What would happen now?
"Malfoy? But he's pure-blood!" Ron looked stunned.
Harley shook her head. "Whoever's behind this probably doesn't care."
Jerry bit his lip. "So... what do we do? We barely know Malfoy. It's almost the holidays..."
Neville's jaw set. "Doesn't matter. We can't ignore it."
Harley nodded. "Even if Malfoy's awful, he doesn't deserve to die. Besides, do we want You-Know-Who to win?"
Ron groaned. "This is all because of me. I'm responsible..."
Hermione glanced at Ted, waiting for him to decide.
Ted thought fast. They'd prepared all year, even last year. Wasn't it for this?
"This is nearest to Lockhart's office. Let's start there."
Hermione frowned. "Lockhart's been awfully quiet lately."
Jerry snorted. "When the kid stops crying, he's probably already been taken."
"And what good is Lockhart?" Ron muttered. "His only talent's running his mouth."
Ted shrugged. "At least he can stand in front and catch a curse."
Everyone paused, then slowly nodded.
Lockhart:┌(.Д.)┐
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Word count: 1468
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