He looked up at the statue's open mouth.
"It seems the monster hasn't returned..."
Then Dumbledore grabbed Charlie and Draco's hands.
The next moment, they appeared inside the statue's mouth.
Draco bent over, feeling like he was about to vomit, but Charlie had gradually gotten used to the sensation.
"Didn't you say Apparition isn't allowed in the school?"
Dumbledore blinked.
"I'm the Principal; a little privilege is reasonable, isn't it?"
The space inside was larger than imagined.
The floor was covered with layers of shed snakeskin, making a rustling sound when stepped on.
In the corner were piles of bones from various small animals.
Charlie glanced at it.
This was the monster's lair.
Normally, the statue's mouth was closed.
It only opened when summoned, to let the monster out.
Now the monster was gone.
That meant it was still roaming the Castle.
Charlie frowned.
If he ran into this thing, what were his chances of winning?
Dumbledore stood in the center of the lair, his gaze sweeping the surroundings.
His expression was calm, but Charlie noticed his fingers tightening around his wand.
He was equally concerned about the safety of the students in the school.
Draco cowered behind Charlie.
He was also very worried, worried that the two people in front would blame him for releasing the monster and chop him up.
"Um... I really didn't mean to."
He said softly.
Charlie glanced at him.
"Shut up."
Draco immediately closed his mouth.
Dumbledore turned around.
"Let's go back."
The three Apparated back to the Principal's office.
Dumbledore sat in his chair, silent for a few seconds.
Now knowing that the monster was a snake that could petrify people, Dumbledore had several theories in mind.
To verify his theories, he opened a drawer and took out the silver box.
He opened the box and took out the diary.
Charlie and Draco had both touched the diary, so there was no need to hide it from them.
He opened the diary and wrote on it:
"Tom, I have found the Chamber of Secrets."
"Unfortunately, the Basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets is gone."
"You've hidden it, haven't you?"
The diary was silent for a few seconds, then emerald green writing appeared.
"You don't need to probe me."
"I won't say anything."
Tom had become alert after his possession of Ginny was discovered.
He made the monster lurk in the Castle, no longer letting it return to its lair.
This was to prevent such a situation.
Even if he was caught and restricted, the Basilisk could still eliminate the Muggle-borns in the house!
Dumbledore continued to write:
"Although you are very cautious, you still left clues. I roughly know the Basilisk's location; it's in the Castle's pipes, isn't it?"
The diary did not react.
Dumbledore wrote a few more sentences.
The diary remained silent.
Dumbledore had intended to pretend to probe the monster's location, but in reality, to probe the monster's species. If the diary followed his words and mentioned the Basilisk, then it could be confirmed to be a Basilisk.
If not, it could also narrow down the scope and rule out other types.
But Tom was too cautious, not saying a single word.
Dumbledore locked the diary back in the box, isolating it from the outside world.
"It seems he doesn't intend to cooperate."
Charlie sat opposite him.
"Professor, do you know what kind of monster it is?"
Dumbledore took off his glasses and wiped the lenses.
"I have a few targets."
"But I can't be completely sure."
Charlie thought for a moment.
"I saw the diary controlling students to kill Roosters."
"Could it be related to the monster?"
Dumbledore's movements stopped.
He put his glasses back on and looked at Charlie.
"Killing Roosters?"
"Yes."
Charlie nodded.
Dumbledore stood up, walked to the bookshelf, and pulled out a thick book.
He turned to a certain page, read it carefully for a few seconds, then closed the book.
"It's a Basilisk."
He turned around.
"Only a Basilisk is afraid of a Rooster's crow."
Charlie raised an eyebrow.
"A Basilisk?"
Dumbledore walked back to the desk.
"A Basilisk is an extremely dangerous creature."
"Its gaze can kill directly."
"Only indirect viewing will result in petrification."
Charlie thought of Madam Norris.
"So Filch's cat saw it indirectly?"
"It should be."
Dumbledore nodded.
"Perhaps through a reflection in water, or other reflective surfaces."
Charlie fell into thought.
Roosters, huh?
Then you're finished.
-------------------------------
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