He Couldn't Wait, and Neither Could I

Percy watched Ginny's retreating figure, wondering what he had done to upset his sister.

Aaron didn't offer any explanation, but silently mourned for Ginny for two seconds, wondering if having such a brother was a blessing or a curse.

After a few classes, it was afternoon.

Harry, Ron, Hermione were still trying to get into the weeping Moaning Myrtle's Bathroom, while Aaron sat calmly in the Great Hall, preparing to receive information about the mastermind behind the attacks.

He had already decided that as soon as he got his hands on Tom Riddle's Diary, he would confront Professor McGonagall, the vice-principal, immediately.

I just need to embellish the facts a bit, and while telling her everything, minimize my own presence.

There's no other way; before you have enough strength, keeping a low profile is the best course of action.

Knowing everything, Professor McGonagall would surely invite Dumbledore to take charge, as he could easily find the location of the Secret Chamber from Riddle's Diary.

With a principal leading a stellar lineup of professors, dealing with a small Basilisk was a piece of cake. He only needed to follow behind to easily complete two missions without much effort, at most finishing off the dying Basilisk.

After a long day of hard work, today is harvest time, and just thinking about it makes me happy.

Aaron waited for most of the day but Ginny didn't show up, which made him a little worried.

The longer it drags on, the greater the variables become. After all, their opponents are exceptionally cunning and treacherous, and who knows if Yu might pull off a miraculous comeback.

Suddenly, Professor McGonagall's voice rang out in the Great Hall: "All students, return to your dormitories immediately; all faculty members, assemble in the Staff Room immediately."

Upon hearing this, Aaron swallowed hard, his mind reeling, and his worry instantly multiplied a thousandfold.

Just what I feared most has happened. Making students move into their dormitories before six o'clock and gathering all the professors means something must have gone wrong.

Realizing that Ginny hadn't arrived yet, Aaron immediately stood up from his seat, grabbed Abei who was munching on a watermelon, and rushed towards the Staff Room.

Aaron was fast and arrived at the destination almost at the same time as the professors.

"Gaius, what are you doing here?" Professor McGonagall said angrily. "Professor Snape, please take your students to their dormitories to rest."

"Wait a minute," Aaron said immediately, "Perhaps I can help?"

"Help?" Professor McGonagall's tone softened slightly. "Do you know what you're talking about?"

"I have confidence in my student," Professor Snape said, looking meaningfully at Aaron. "He also knows what he's saying."

"That's it." Aaron shrugged. "The condition is that I need to know what happened here, and whether the person who had the accident is the one I'm thinking of."

"The Heir of Slytherin left a message on the wall." Professor McGonagall read with a trembling voice, her face full of sorrow. "Her remains will remain in the Secret Chamber forever."

Aaron's eyes widened; his worst fears had come true.

He originally planned to develop quietly and then amaze everyone, but unexpectedly, things didn't go according to plan, and fate always likes to play tricks on him.

Now that the crucial evidence is gone, and Ginny's fate is uncertain, he has no choice but to step forward.

The others weren't much better. Professor Flitwick let out a scream and almost burst into tears, Professor Sprout covered his mouth with both hands, and even Professor Snape seemed somewhat distracted.

The previous attacks resulted in the deaths of several students, a pet, and a Ghost stone; they should be back to normal by tomorrow.

But this blood-written message represents a murder, and the lost life cannot be brought back.

"Is it Ginny Weasley?" Aaron asked tentatively.

Professor McGonagall nodded subconsciously, then looked at Aaron with a puzzled expression, "How did you know?"

"I know a lot, but there's no time to explain now."

"No, you must explain this clearly," Professor McGonagall said anxiously. "If this matter is not handled properly, Hogwarts will have no choice but to close down."

Lockhart walked over at that moment, sporting an infuriating smile that clashed terribly with the atmosphere.

"Sorry, I dozed off for a bit. Did I miss anything?"

"A girl has been kidnapped by a monster." Snape looked at him dismissively. "Lockhart, your chance to shine has come."

Lockhart was completely bewildered. He could barely understand the first half, but the second half was just too much information.

"What opportunity?"

"Didn't you just confidently say last night that you already knew where the entrance to the secret Secret Chamber was?"

"Then it's settled." Professor McGonagall added, "The task of fighting monsters will be yours, Gilderoy, after all, your skills are superb."

Lockhart's face turned deathly pale upon hearing this.

He's just a braggart, and although he exaggerates a bit, you can't really believe him!

With his small frame, how could he possibly defeat a monster? Going up there would just be handing him a free meal.

Seeing the uniform anger in the eyes of the other professors, he knew that if he dared to say no, he would probably become the target of their venting.

"No problem." Lockhart forced a smile. "I'll go to my office to make some preparations first."

"No need, one Wand is enough." Aaron stopped Gilderoy Lockhart, who was about to pack up and run away, "Even though your opponent is a giant snake that is nearly tens of feet long."

Lockhart swallowed hard, cold sweat beading on his forehead, then everything went black, and he collapsed to the ground.

The others ignored this Clown who was all talk and no action, and instead looked at Aaron with surprise.

Professor McGonagall rushed to Aaron as if she had spotted a ray of light in the darkness. "The monster in the Secret Chamber is a giant serpent? Are you sure?"

"To be precise, it's Basilisk, a Magical Creatures that can live for thousands of years. Making eye contact with it will result in death, while indirect eye contact will result in petrification."

I searched through hundreds of books in the library before I finally found a clue.

"Wait a minute," Professor Flitwick asked with a strange expression, "Since you knew about it, why didn't you report it? That way we could have made some defensive preparations."

"It's meaningless.

"Just like you know the killer's weapon is a Wand, but you can't find the real killer among hundreds of teachers and students based on that clue," Aaron explained. "The book also says the Basilisk's natural enemy is the rooster, and the rooster's crowing is deadly to it."

"Then we..."

"Let me finish, Professor Flitwick."

Before I discovered this clue, Hagrid's roosters had already started being killed.

"If Hogwarts adopts a corresponding strategy, it will be tantamount to telling the heir that we know of the Basilisk's existence." Aaron observed everyone present with a meaningful look. "Several attacks are enough to prove that the heir is no saint. What if he decides to fight to the death?"

"This..." Professor Flitwick was speechless, "Fine, you're right."

"Then you can tell us first, and we can simply hold back, or we can secretly..."

"Don't mention the coverts, Professor McGonagall." Aaron waved his hand impatiently. "The truth is, the enemy is in the dark while we are in the dark."

It's not that I don't believe you, but what happened there is still fresh in my mind. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, who would have thought that Professor Quirrell was the mastermind?

Also, please don't take anything I say to heart if it's something you don't like.

I remember you once said that you searched Hogwarts Castle countless times but couldn't find the Secret Chamber. The school's incompetence truly makes me ashamed.

Professor McGonagall's lips twitched; she was speechless.

If it were her, she probably wouldn't have given the clues to a partner who was neither capable nor trustworthy.

If something unexpected happens, it would be such a waste.

Professor Sprout wanted to say something more, but he swallowed his words back.

Professor Snape glanced at the professors who were embarrassed and couldn't lift their heads, a slight smile playing on his lips, and unconsciously straightened his back.

These are my Slytherin students; they really make me proud.

"Aaron, now tell us... what's the reason?" Professor Snape asked.

"As the heir, he couldn't wait any longer. Whatever the reason, his decision to target Ginny meant he had absolute control."

I couldn't wait any longer, because I now know the identity of the mastermind behind it all.

"You know the identity of the heir?" Professor McGonagall asked in surprise. "Who is it?"

"You might not believe it, but the mastermind behind the murder is not a single person?"

Professor Flitwick's eyes widened in disbelief. "Could it be two people?"

"No, to be precise, he is not a person, but an ordinary-looking Diary."

A magical artifact in which the ruthless heir of fifty years ago left his memories to guide future generations in continuing Salazar's work.

As far as I know, Ginny was the last person to have come into contact with the Diary.

When would a magical object with its own thoughts choose to devour something? Either it senses danger, or it has accumulated enough power, or both.

"Now that Dumbledore n't at the school, and the Basilisk has no natural enemies, even I have to admit he chose a remarkably perfect time, a cunning that's frightening," Aaron said calmly, then changed the subject, "However, we still have a slight advantage."

"What is it? Tell me quickly!" Professor McGonagall stamped her foot anxiously. This concerned whether Hogwarts could continue operating, so she had no choice but to be anxious.

"We now know that the murderer is a magical artifact, which gives us a clue as to how to investigate."

Professor McGonagall nodded with some disappointment upon hearing this.

This news isn't bad, but it's not great either; it's better than nothing.

"What about Ginny?" Professor Sprout asked. "What about Ginny Weasley? How are we going to explain to Arthur if we can't find her?"

"Um... Professor, actually I might know the location of the Secret Chamber." Aaron said slowly, and the next second he met several sharp gazes, as if they were asking him why he hadn't told them such important information earlier?

"I'm just guessing, but I don't have any substantial evidence."

Moreover, the location of the Secret Chamber of Secrets poses a significant threat if even one of Heir of Slytherin is overlooked. I dare not gamble on it, but we truly cannot wait any longer.

"Where is the Secret Chamber?" Snape asked.

Aaron mustered up his courage and said, "If I'm not mistaken, it should be the weeping Moaning Myrtle's Bathroom."