Return to the Chamber of Secrets

Chapter 104: Return to the Chamber of Secrets

Madam Pomfrey thought an army of Dark Wizards had invaded Hogwarts, given the sudden influx of so many injured students. Luckily, broken bones were minor issues for Wizards, and she quickly took care of everyone.

Harry Potter was the problem; he remained unconscious. After speaking with Dumbledore, Madam Pomfrey arranged a private room for Harry.

Wade took out the packed food to share with everyone—it seemed they had only just realized how famished they were. As the Young Wizards devoured their food, they also told Wade what had happened under the Trapdoor.

To protect the Philosopher's Stone, the school's professors had set up numerous defenses. First was the Devil's Snare laid out beneath the Trapdoor, which saved them from falling to their deaths. Unlucky Neville hadn't chosen his landing spot well and broke his leg at the first obstacle, forcing him to wait nearby afterward.

Next was catching the correct key among a flock of bird-like keys. Harry fully utilized his Seeker talent to catch the key, while Theo was covered in scratches trying to protect the others.

Then came a dangerous game of Wizard's Chess. Ron, who had come down with Harry, won the game but was knocked out by a heavy blow to the head from an opposing chess piece and was still unconscious.

Following that was a Troll, larger and fiercer than the one they encountered on Halloween. The Young Wizards had to use every trick they knew to defeat it. Ryan broke his arm there, and everyone else sustained some injuries.

Wade was a little surprised: "—A Troll?"

"Yes, a horribly stinky Troll," Theo sighed, "I can't believe you guys defeated that monster half a year ago without a scratch!"

"If the Troll was a challenge set by Quirrell, then the one on Halloween must also have been released by him to cause chaos," Michael said. "I heard he even pretended to faint from fright back then!"

Wade frowned but said nothing more.

The original trio hadn't encountered a Troll.

Butterfly effect? Or...

"The last challenge, we were trapped in a room by fire. The Potions left by Professor Snape—one bottle would take you forward, one would take you back, and the rest were poison and nettle wine."

Hermione's lips trembled slightly as she spoke, "I solved the riddle Snape left. Harry went forward, and the rest of us each drank a Potion, then went to find Ron and Neville, intending to go back the way we came... You know the rest."

She wrung her fingers tightly, her tone still calm, rational, and articulate. But her hair seemed to stand on end, and her body was as taut as a drawn bowstring.

"Hermione!" Padma suddenly leaned over and hugged Hermione. "Don't worry... And don't blame yourself... Confronting He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was Harry's choice, not your fault... And he'll recover, won't he?"

She gently pulled the girl's hands away, only to see blood marks on the back of Hermione's hands, scratched there by herself.

"You don't understand, Padma."

Hermione leaned on Padma's shoulder, tears falling without warning.

She choked out, "It was bottomless under the Trapdoor, and Harry jumped down first, not knowing there was Devil's Snare to catch us... He also said... if anything happened to him, we should go back immediately... I really..."

Padma gently stroked her back, vaguely understanding why Hermione was crying now.

It wasn't just out of worry for her unconscious friend... it was also because, after returning to a safe environment, the despair and fear of watching her friend go to his death surged from the depths of her heart...

She looked at the people around her—though the boys weren't crying, something in their brows seemed different... As if quietly, everyone had undergone some kind of transformation...

Suddenly, there was a commotion at the door—

"No, Potter hasn't woken up; no visitors allowed!" Madam Pomfrey said sternly.

"Madam, we just want to visit Theo and Ryan—we're all from Hufflepuff," someone at the door pleaded.

"...Alright, but no loud noise." Madam Pomfrey relented.

So a bustling crowd of students squeezed through the doorway—these students had likely seen Theo and the others, injured and riding their Brooms, passing through the corridor, and had come running to get news.

As the injured were surrounded by "visitors," Michael gave Wade a look—perhaps because both of them were completely unharmed, they were largely ignored by the others, who saw them as mere spectators.

So the two successfully squeezed out of the Hospital Wing.

"I want to go back to the Chamber of Secrets."

At the doorway, Michael exhaled and told Wade, "Since Dumbledore brought Harry out, the blocking flames might be gone... I want to go see what happened in the last Chamber."

Wade said, "We'll go together."

"Of course." Michael smiled. "I bet you're curious too—how Harry Potter once again escaped danger."

Actually, Wade wasn't curious.

He just... wanted to see.

The obstacles under the Trapdoor were almost completely destroyed. Riding their Brooms, the two easily passed through the stone corridor and the brightly lit rooms until they reached the end.

It was a relatively spacious room with an arched ceiling and tall stone pillars embedded in the stone walls, with remnants of fire still burning around.

A large mirror also stood in the room, its golden frame exquisitely decorated, with an inscription carved on it, and supported by two claw-shaped feet at the bottom.

"Look, Wade."

Michael suddenly crouched down and poked a Wizard's Robes by the steps with his Wand, whispering, "If I remember correctly, these are Professor Quirrell's Robes—look, the scarf is here too—"

He suddenly stopped speaking, staring in horror at the dust enveloped in the Robes, rigidifying and retreating step by step.

Wade, instead, took a step forward. He conjured a cylindrical bottle and collected some of the dust from the ground.

"Wade!" Michael felt his scalp tingle, yelping, "Do you know what that is?"

"Professor Quirrell's remains—and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's vessel."

Wade capped the bottle, looking at the ashen dust inside. "What if it comes in handy?"

Suddenly, as if something had been awakened, an eerie voice came from all directions—

"Dust to dust, ashes to ashes..."

"Disturb the dead, and the living shall perish… The nameless dead receive no reward…"

"Wade Gray… Michael Corner… Do you wish to embark on a journey of eternal rest…?"

Michael's limbs instantly went weak, and goosebumps prickled his entire body. He clutched Wade's arm, his face ashen, and stammered, "W-Wade… you, you, you… just throw those things away… quickly…"

Wade felt a chill run through him for a moment, but then he quickly realized something—

"Weasley?"

Wade murmured softly.

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