Hallway of Horrors

Colin Creevey, holding his Polaroid camera, tiptoed through the round doorway and ran quickly out of the Gryffindor Common Room.

The Fat Lady in the painting yawned and lazily reminded everyone, "Curfew is about to start! If you miss it, you'll have to sleep outside."

"Don't worry, Fat Lady! I'll go check on Harry and be right back." Colin nodded, the warmth from the fireplace quickly dissipating.

It rained heavily today, and the moisture in Hogwarts Castle hasn't dissipated yet. It's damp again, and the ground is a bit slippery.

Curfew was approaching, and the corridors were deserted, appearing quite empty.

Colin gripped the Polaroid camera tightly and hurried across the corridor.

The dim torches in the corridor emitted a faint light, casting long shadows that flickered with the flames, like lurking ghosts.

Every footstep Colin took was amplified in the empty corridor, echoing like drumbeats.

For some reason, he inexplicably recalled the legend of the Chamber of Secrets, and pressed his lips tightly together, not daring to make too much noise, for fear of disturbing some monster.

Perhaps it was just his imagination, but he felt that his heartbeat was unusually loud in the quiet corridor.

Should we go back?

Colin suddenly had this idea.

No! Ginny is also concerned about Harry and wants to know how Harry is doing.

As the head of the "Harry Potter Fan Club," how could I not fulfill the vice-minister's wish? I couldn't back down!

As Colin thought this, he quickened his pace, but lost in thought, he was led astray by the Moving Staircase and accidentally entered a corridor on the fourth floor.

Just as he determined his direction and turned into the corridor, a chilling gust of air suddenly swept over him, making his hair stand on end and his back break out in a cold sweat.

The cold air seemed to amplify Colin's senses, and a chilling malice surged from all directions, making it hard for him to breathe.

He also detected a fishy smell, which seemed to be the smell of some kind of reptile.

He might not normally be able to smell such a faint fishy odor, but at this moment, the smell was amplified by his senses, almost making it hard for him to breathe.

Is it a monster in the Chamber of Secrets?

Colin tried to make his steps as light as possible, hoping to avoid being discovered by the monster in the Chamber of Secrets.

He swallowed hard, the Polaroid camera in his hand becoming his only solace.

He carefully backed away, picking up the Polaroid camera and holding it in front of his eyes to observe the situation ahead through the viewfinder.

Fear surged through his body like an electric current, and his heart seemed to be playing Flight of the Bumblebee, almost leaping out of his chest.

Colin sensed the fishy smell getting closer, but he still couldn't pinpoint its source...

His breathing quickened, and his fingers rested stiffly on the instant camera shutter, as if he had no strength to press it.

Not only were his fingers stiff, but his entire body also became stiff, as if frozen in ice. He wanted to scream and run away, but he couldn't do anything.

His heart was beating faster and faster, rumbling like a train speeding along the tracks, making him feel as if he were deaf.

Time seemed to stand still. Colin felt his arm suddenly being grabbed. The thing that grabbed him was thin, cold, and had a slightly fleshy texture...

The feeling of fear was like a chill that spread through his blood.

This fear was deep-seated, a despair and helplessness in the face of death that made him feel as if he were seeing his past, from birth to entering Hogwarts...

Colin opened his mouth wide, but could only make a "ho ho" sound.

A faint, shrill voice echoed in his ears.

"Found you!"

Colin had no idea what he was about to face, so he could only squeeze out all his strength and press the shutter button hard.

Bang!

A flash of white light filled the entire corridor...

Wizet walked straight to the desk and took out a crumpled piece of parchment.

"I solemnly swear that I will not do any good deeds!"

The Marauder's Map quickly unfolded, revealing the specific appearance of countless landmarks within it.

Dumbledore quickly stood next to Wizet and slammed his hand on the desk.

Snap!

A House-elf appeared and asked, "Headmaster Dumbledore, what can I do for you?"

Wizet's eyes swept across the Marauder's Map, instantly pinpointing his location, and at the same time, he saw a familiar name— Colin Creevey.

"Headmaster Dumbledore! Colin is on the fourth floor! He encountered that Giant Serpent!"

Dumbledore immediately said, "Go to the place Wizet mentioned and bring Colin back!"

Snap!

The House-elf knew the situation was urgent, and with a crisp sound, it vanished from the spot in an instant.

"The Giant Serpent appeared suddenly! Logically speaking... this corridor should have been prepared..."

Wizet frowned, her tone tinged with surprise.

The moment Colin's name disappeared, the Parseltongue Whistle alarm stopped. "It vanished again... There must be something we missed..."

Snap!

The House-elf has brought Colin back.

"Ah!" Colin suddenly let out a piercing scream.

"Silencing Charm!" Snape frowned, flicking his wand swiftly to silence the piercing scream.

"Finite Incantatem." Dumbledore raised his wand again, helping Colin break the tongue-tying curse.

He smiled, knelt down, and gently comforted his child, "Child, you are safe now."

"Headmaster Dumbledore?" Colin rubbed his eyes, adjusting to the light in the Headmaster's Office. "Wizet! Harry!"

"Going out during curfew...and encountering danger, that's a serious offense." Snape raised an eyebrow. "Gryffindor loses fifty points."

Harry and Colin, both Gryffindor, shouted in perfect unison, "Fifty points!"

Dumbledore stood up, his smile turning into two soft coughs.

Snape gave a cold smile, crossed his arms, and said nothing.

Wizet pursed her lips, seemingly unsurprised by this.

This time it was Snape who was fortunate enough to escape being attacked by the Giant Serpent.

Wizet's mind was still focused on the Giant Serpent.

He suddenly remembered Colin's Polaroid camera and immediately asked, "Colin, where's your Polaroid camera? Did you bring it with you... Did you take any pictures?"

"I brought it out!" Colin nodded quickly. "I even took pictures! Just before I was dragged here! I pressed the shutter!"

"Headmaster Dumbledore, there might be a clue. The Giant Serpent has disappeared now..." Wizet closed his eyes and sensed the surroundings. "There have been no alarms at the places where the Parseltongue Whistle."

Dumbledore looked at the House-elf was waiting for orders, "Then I'll trouble you to make another trip and retrieve what Colin dropped."

The House-elf was very fast, and with another "snap," it returned to the Headmaster's Office with the Polaroid camera in its hand.

"You've worked hard, go back and rest!" Dumbledore took the Polaroid camera, raised his wand, and opened the back cover.

He was greeted by the acrid smell of burning plastic and a plume of black smoke...