Announcement

The first morning of the second week of term began amid a chorus of yawns. Professor Snape's Potions Class assignment had clearly troubled more than just one or two people. The Gryffindor common room had been packed with second-years rushing to finish their homework through the night. After all, nobody wanted to get Snape's detention in the very first month of term.

Before Harry and Ron returned to the dormitory yawning their heads off last night, Neville had still been crouching by the fireplace, struggling with that five-foot-long essay. He had not even noticed when his robes caught fire from the flames. Luckily, his toad, Scabbers, gave his ear a vicious bite, saving him from the tragic fate of being roasted alive.

In short, Neville had probably barely slept all night. That morning, Seamus and Dean had spent a good ten minutes waking him up. Then, while coming down the spiral staircase, he had rolled straight into the common room in front of a crowd.

"I'll have a word with Professor Snape, Mr. Longbottom, and ask him to take things step by step."

Even the normally stern Professor McGonagall could not bear Neville's miserable state. During Transfiguration that morning, after learning why Neville was wearing scorched robes, sporting two enormous dark circles under his eyes, and bearing distinct bite marks on his ear, she took a deep breath and said this.

Neville's little incident briefly made everyone forget about the Investigator who had arrived at the school, but such luck could not last forever.

Oliver Wood was not about to let a bit of cold weather and drizzling rain delay his path to victory. His training schedule began in the first week of the second week of term, and until the final, it maintained the punishing frequency of four sessions a week.

"You all know Slytherin will be strong this year!" Wood roared from his broom at all the players swaying in the wind. "We'll face a brutal battle in the final this year! Of course, if Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw knocks us out first, then forget I said anything!"

"Please, can somebody make Oliver calm down already?!"

Katie Bell, who was in the same year as the Weasley twins, nearly slipped off her broom while dodging a Bludger George had sent at her. She shouted in despair, "My clothes are soaked through, and I haven't been feeling well these past few days!"

"Maybe you could ask Harry for help, Katie." George shot over her head with a whoosh, grinning as he spoke. "You could ask Harry to let the servant from his Chamber of Secrets out. I reckon if Flint and Malfoy were turned to stone, Wood would feel a lot more relaxed!"

George's words triggered a burst of laughter, and Harry had no choice but to laugh along a few times.

"Harry, Harry!"

Ron came hurrying from the castle toward the pitch. He had been playing Wizard Chess with Seamus in the common room, but the news Neville brought had made it impossible for him to continue relaxing.

"What is it, Ron?!"

Under Wood's murderous glare, Harry guided the Nimbus 2000 down to the edge of the pitch. The moment he saw Ron's pale face, he immediately realized something terrible had probably happened again.

"Go look in the Entrance Hall, Harry. Now!"

Ron grabbed Harry and dragged him toward the castle, not even giving him time to ask for leave. The rest of the team all assumed another attack had happened and descended one after another, following the two of them toward the castle. In the end, only Wood was left hovering alone in the sky...

By the time the entire team reached the Entrance Hall, a huge crowd had already gathered there, whispering about the newly posted notice on the bulletin board.

When Harry arrived, the crowd automatically parted down the middle. Ernie and his group from Hufflepuff, along with Susan Bones, watched him with unreadable expressions in their eyes. Percy looked grave, while Ginny, standing behind Percy, clutched her chest tightly, her face frighteningly pale.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you, Weasley, isn't it?"

Draco Malfoy stood at the front. His two loyal lackeys had forced out the best spot for him. Seeing Harry and Ron arrive, soaked through and green-faced, he revealed a vicious smile.

"This is the only chance in your life you'll have enough money to buy yourself a new wand. Are you really going to give it up?"

"Get lost, Malfoy. What I use is none of your business!" Ron snapped without courtesy.

Perhaps because he saw that all the Gryffindor players were present and knew he was outnumbered, Malfoy actually ordered Crabbe and Goyle to move aside. He watched Harry with ill intent, and Harry finally saw what had caused such a commotion.

A new public notice had been posted on the bulletin board, large enough to cover all the advertisements for secondhand spellbooks, Filch's regular reminders of school rules, notes offering Chocolate Frog cards for trade, lost-and-found notices, and the rest. At the bottom of the notice was a huge signature written in red ink.

To all Hogwarts staff and students:

In light of the fact that the attacks remain unresolved and the safety of all staff and students, as well as their property, cannot be effectively guaranteed, with the approval of Headmaster Albus Dumbledore and Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall—any young wizard or witch with knowledge of clues related to the Chamber of Secrets attack is encouraged to provide relevant information to the Investigator specially appointed by the Board of Governors.

If the information is confirmed to be genuine and useful, the Board of Governors will award a cash reward of two hundred Galleons.

Amosta Breen

Harry's face instantly turned deathly pale. It felt as though a thousand Cornish Pixies were shrieking at the top of their lungs beside his ears.

"So this is the method of the Investigator the Board of Governors placed such high hopes on, huh?" Fred lowered his voice, his mockery tinged with anger. "Encouraging everyone to report on one another. What an incredibly brilliant method!"

Ginny looked as though she might burst into tears at any moment, while Neville's quiet reminder made Harry's heart sink to the bottom. Stars flashed before his eyes.

"Filch went to the third floor the moment he saw the notice, Harry. You need to be careful."

Harry did not need to ask what Neville meant by being careful. He could also almost certainly guess what Filch would say when he went to see the Investigator. Mrs. Norris had been the first victim of an attack that school year, and most unfortunately, Harry and the others had been the first to appear at the scene. That had convinced Filch that the three of them were responsible for turning his precious pet into stone.

"Go talk to him, Harry," Ron said worriedly in his ear.

Harry understood what Ron meant. He wanted Harry to speak with Mr. Breen first, before most of the young witches and wizards in the castle reported him.

Hermione had suggested the same thing in the Hospital Wing last night, but Harry had refused. There were many reasons. For instance, he was afraid that if he told others he could hear a strange, terrifying voice demanding murder before every attack, they would think he was mad.

For instance, he did not want that pitiful little elf named Dobby to be questioned and punished because of his testimony.

But aside from those things, what else could he say? How was he supposed to prove his innocence?

Besides, instead of telling Headmaster Dumbledore about what he had been hiding, going to an Investigator he barely knew did not feel right to Harry either.

Harry staggered away from the Entrance Hall toward the dormitory, not even bothering to react when Malfoy laughed and said he was going to inform Professor Sprout that she would soon be getting some fresh fertilizer.

Behind him, Fred and George exchanged a deeply knowing look. Each saw the same thought in the other's eyes.