Harry was in a very bad mood right now.
He had discovered that Riddle's diary was missing!
Ever since his last communication with Riddle, where he learned from Riddle's memories that the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets had been opened once before and that the suspect was Hagrid, Harry had kept the diary hidden in his drawer.
But when he opened the drawer again today, the diary had suddenly vanished into thin air.
In the Common Room, Harry told Ron and Hermione about it.
"Is it possible that Riddle inside the diary ran away by himself? After all, you haven't talked to him for over two months," Ron speculated.
Harry said speechlessly,
"It hasn't grown legs; how could it run away on its own? I think someone might have stolen it."
Just then, Neville happened to pass in front of them, and Ron asked casually,
"Have you seen the diary in Harry's drawer, Neville?"
Neville appeared very flustered as he stammered,
"N-no, I haven't."
Then he hurried away.
Ron stroked his chin and looked at Neville's retreating back thoughtfully.
"Neville's behaviour is a bit suspicious."
Harry said weakly,
"Stop it. Even if you told me a House-elf took that diary, I would rather believe it than believe Neville stole it."
Ron shrugged; he had indeed been joking.
Anyone might steal something, but Neville definitely wouldn't, because he was simply too timid.
Hermione, on the other hand, seemed a bit absent-minded. She was clutching a thick tome, searching for something inside it.
Harry and Ron turned to look at her and complained,
"You've been holding that book for three days now. What on earth are you looking at?"
Hermione snapped the book shut and glared at them.
"I'm looking at details you two would never notice."
With that, she stood up from her seat.
"I'm going to the library to return this book. Do you want to come with me?"
Harry and Ron glanced at each other, both seeing the same thought in the other's eyes.
"We're going out for a walk, but not to the library. The Quidditch match is starting soon, and Wood and the others are waiting for me for final practice."
They walked out of the Gryffindor Common Room together and then parted ways in the corridor.
The weather outside was quite nice today, a perfect day for Quidditch.
Harry and Ron walked side by side, still chatting about the diary.
"Should we tell a Professor about this?" Ron asked.
Harry shook his head.
"What would we say if we told a Professor? The Professors won't take a simple diary seriously, but if we tell them everything, what about Hagrid?"
Even while he himself was being slandered as the Heir of Slytherin, Harry was unwilling to let Hagrid fall under suspicion.
They walked down the stairs and suddenly saw two figures standing at the corner of the third-floor corridor, chatting together.
It was Sherlock and Professor Flitwick.
The contrast between their heights was striking; Sherlock even had to keep his head lowered while speaking.
Harry tugged on Ron's sleeve, and they hid behind a wall, overhearing the conversation between the two.
"Are you ready for the final exams?" Professor Flitwick had always been very concerned about Sherlock's teaching situation at Hogwarts.
Sherlock had been busy with the matter of the Chamber of Secrets these past few days. Even though he already knew who the Heir of Slytherin was from Dumbledore, he still didn't know where the diary was currently.
"I'm almost ready. It's easy to come up with questions for the practical exam. I'm currently preparing the written papers."
"Since I have to prepare five sets of papers, it's taking some time."
"It's always the busiest time of year around now, but it'll be fine once this period is over. The summer break will be very relaxing."
Then he added worriedly,
"It's just that the attacks still haven't been resolved, and the culprit hasn't been caught. I wonder if this year's final exams can proceed smoothly."
Hearing this, a sense of dread rose simultaneously in both Harry and Ron's hearts.
The two exchanged horrified looks, and just as they were about to jump out to stop him, Sherlock had already spoken.
"It's been so long already; there probably won't be any more attacks." He thought about his conversation with Dumbledore in the office yesterday. "The culprit's motives aren't exactly simple."
As soon as Sherlock finished speaking, he noticed Harry and Ron jumping down the stairs with expressions of utter despair.
He looked at them in confusion; they looked as though they had swallowed live cockroaches.
"What's wrong with you two?"
Harry wore a long face, already mourning whichever student was about to be attacked next.
"N-nothing, Professor. We just have a bit of a stomachache."
Sherlock looked at Harry, then at Ron, who also had a pained expression.
"You both have stomachaches at the same time?"
Professor Flitwick analysed,
"Perhaps you both ate something bad. If the pain is severe, it's best to go to the Hospital Wing and have Madam Pomfrey take a look."
"No need, Professor. It's just a slight ache; it'll be better in a moment. There's a Quidditch match soon, so we'll be going now!"
Harry and Ron fled in panic, leaving Professor Flitwick and Sherlock somewhat bewildered by their last sentence.
What did they mean by 'just a slight ache'?
Harry and Ron didn't stop until they reached the end of the corridor.
Ron clutched his hair and said in despair,
"It's over, it's really over! Now that Professor Cavendish has spoken, someone is definitely going to be attacked next!"
Harry also paced back and forth nervously.
"The situation is even more complicated than before. Malfoy was also attacked, which means anyone in the entire castle could be a target!"
"What should we do?"
Ron seemed completely at a loss, and Harry couldn't think of a better solution either. No matter how smart they were, they were only thirteen, and their limited experience left them unsure of what to do next.
Just as Harry was at his wits' end, a familiar and unpleasant voice suddenly came from above.
"Kill you... kill you... kill..."
Harry gripped Ron's arm tightly.
"Did you hear that voice, Ron?!"
Ron looked blank; he hadn't heard anything.
Harry tried to follow the source of the sound, but the voice vanished immediately. He had no idea where it had come from.
Harry's face turned incredibly grim.
"It's already started. Every time someone is attacked, I hear that voice. Professor Cavendish's jinx and that voice have appeared together. Someone is about to be attacked right now!"