A Failed Conversation (Part Two)

Harry watched Amosta thoughtfully, his hands clenched tightly around his robes on his lap. The courage he had painstakingly summoned vanished the instant he asked the question.

What would Mr. Breen say?

Deep down, Harry believed this Investigator, who felt so extraordinary to be around, would not blindly trust the rumors at school. But what if he could not withstand the pressure from the Board of Governors and urgently needed to hand over a culprit?

"If you're asking for my personal opinion, Potter—"

Amosta began speaking, and Harry's clenched knuckles turned white.

"Personally, I don't think you were the one who opened the Chamber of Secrets, Mr. Potter."

Harry's eyes flew wide open. His heart beat as lightly and joyfully as it had the first time he had ridden a broomstick through thin, icy clouds. Even the dim office suddenly seemed brighter and more spacious.

"But why, sir?"

Still, Harry instinctively pressed on. "It's because of my Parseltongue. They... I mean, people all know that Slytherin himself was the most famous Parselmouth."

Amosta laughed. He secretly glanced at Harry's scar, a relaxed expression appearing on his face.

"What can Parseltongue prove, Mr. Potter? In the thousand years since Salazar Slytherin's time, there have been at least dozens of Parselmouths in the wizarding world with clear records. I can't possibly conclude that you have some unclear connection with the great founder of Slytherin House just because of that—"

Seeing Harry's expression brighten, Amosta teasingly added,

"There are plenty of other facts I can't ignore. For instance, if Salazar Slytherin wanted to find himself an Heir, why would he specifically choose one from Gryffindor?

"And then there's the fact that Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, who defeated the most evil Dark Wizard in history at the age of one and saved the people of the British wizarding world from the shadows of despair, fear, and death—and who is regarded as a prized student by the greatest and wisest wizard of this age, Albus Dumbledore—would attack his own classmates at school?"

Harry broke into a grin. He realized he was beginning to like this Mr. Amosta Breen.

Since entering the wizarding world, many people had made a great deal of his defeat of Voldemort. Some worshipped him beyond measure, while others thought he was merely a showboating little wizard. Some despised him, and some were indifferent. But whatever their attitude, Harry always felt an immense pressure whenever the subject came up.

Only Mr. Breen was an exception. There was neither malice nor reverence in his teasing tone, as though he were simply discussing an amusing little jinx.

Honestly, before meeting Mr. Breen, Harry had never imagined that he would one day have such a pleasant conversation with a wizard from Slytherin House.

"—If you're worried because of the notice I posted, Mr. Potter, there's no need to be."

Amosta rose and went to the fireplace to refill his cup of strong tea. Seeing that Harry had not touched the tea in his own cup at all, he did not presume to pour him more. Outside the window, night had fallen completely. Now, only the light from Hagrid's Hut remained over by the Forbidden Forest.

"From the beginning, I never expected to get any useful information from people's reports."

Amosta leaned against the fireplace, and Harry had to turn his body to see him. Before Harry could ask, Mr. Breen explained on his own.

"To be honest, I had thought that once word spread that I had entered Hogwarts as an Investigator to look into the Chamber of Secrets, whoever was acting in the shadows would inevitably react in some way. After all, someone bold enough to cause trouble under Dumbledore's nose would hardly tolerate an obscure Investigator sent by the Board of Governors to meddle in things. You understand what I mean, Mr. Potter?"

Harry frowned and thought it over carefully, then his brow eased and he nodded.

Mr. Breen probably meant that if Slytherin's Heir did not respond somehow to the Investigator's presence, people would most likely think he had been intimidated by the Investigator's title. As someone who had launched two attacks against young wizards even after Headmaster Dumbledore had heightened his vigilance, he would hardly tolerate such an "insult."

Amosta blinked in satisfaction and continued,

"I thought he might act again in his impatience, and then I'd catch him slipping."

How was he supposed to catch anyone slipping when he spent all day in his office and did not even patrol? Harry rolled his eyes inwardly.

"—The ideal situation would be for the attacker to come directly after me to prove his abilities. Then I could take him out and collect the money. Ahem, I mean, bring this terrifying incident to an end."

A faintly annoyed look appeared on Amosta's face.

"But I didn't expect him to be far more cautious than I had imagined. I've monitored the castle for a week now, yet I haven't discovered anything unusual. That has made me a little anxious, so I had no choice but to take some action to provoke that patient lurker."

Harry understood. Mr. Breen's notice had merely been a test. He hoped that upon seeing it, the Heir would regard it as a provocation and continue his grand undertaking as Slytherin's Heir.

Once he understood that, Harry felt incomparably relieved!

Since Mr. Breen believed he was innocent, the rumors around the school lost at least half their sting. After all, his greatest worry had been that Mr. Breen would believe them.

"If that's the case,"

Harry stood up excitedly. "Mr. Breen, if you don't believe I did all this, could you help? I mean, perhaps you could put up another notice to explain things to everyone—"

"Explain that you're innocent?" Amosta smiled. "Was that why you came to see me, Mr. Potter? Heh, I thought you were here to report someone too, just like Filch."

Harry was terribly embarrassed. He had expected his request to be refused, but he still forced himself to continue.

"You must already know that because of my Parseltongue, all the young wizards have decided that I attacked Colin, Filius Flitwick, and Mrs. Norris. No matter where I go, everyone looks at me like... Anyway—"

Harry could not continue, because he had already seen Mr. Breen's smile fade as he shook his head.

"I understand the terrible situation you're currently in, Mr. Potter, but I cannot agree to your request."

Amosta's tone was calm. He did not make an exception merely because the person standing before him was the protagonist, or because Harry might be connected to that mysterious memory Amosta had yet to deal with.

"Just as I will not decide you are the attacker based on rumors, I likewise cannot tell everyone that you are certainly not a suspect without conclusive evidence. That would be irresponsible, Mr. Potter. I hope you can understand."

There was an indescribable pressure in Amosta's deep gaze, leaving Harry unable to press his request any further. Then Mr. Breen's next words made Harry tense up again.

"Besides, there are some things you really do need to give everyone a reasonable explanation for. For example, on Halloween night last year—when I mean the first attack occurred—why you, Mr. Weasley, and Miss Granger appeared in the third-floor corridor after attending Nick's Deathday Party is indeed quite puzzling—"