When Hermione returned to the first floor, Bing Huan had just seen Dumbledore off. Without caring that there were people around, she threw herself into his arms.
"What's wrong?"
"I missed you."
"Did Old Grindelwald bully you?"
"No."
After quite a while, Hermione went from hugging him to clinging to him.
"...My legs are numb."
Bing Huan: (•ิ_•ิ)?
Inside the Headmaster's Office, Dumbledore looked at Grindelwald strangely. "You couldn't persuade her?"
Grindelwald nodded, then shook his head. "That girl must have figured me out. She didn't give me a chance to say anything and went back after only a few words. I've known since she was little that she's devilishly clever."
"I didn't expect the bond between those two children to become so strong in only two years."
"Albus, time doesn't mean everything. Didn't we fall for each other after only two months back then?"
"Gell."
"Why are you looking at me? I've never regretted it."
Dumbledore looked at the heterochromatic-eyed little old man before him. "I meant that once everything is settled, we should go visit Ariana."
"...All right."
Meanwhile, Bing Huan helped Hermione to a seat beside the garden. Hermione thumped her legs and asked, "What did Dumbledore want you for just now?"
"It was related to this petrification incident. He wants me to lead the Duelling Club, and he also dumped the task of finding a professor to lead it on me. There's one more thing: he wants Snape and me to investigate what monster is behind this and come up with some preventive measures while we're at it."
"The Duelling Club? Who are you planning to ask?"
"Ermm..." Bing Huan tilted his head back and thought. "Professor Flitwick would be the most suitable, since he's a dueling champion. Professor McGonagall should work too, but they're both Heads of House and may not have the time. Old Grindelwald could do it, but if he came, it'd probably be too focused on actual combat—not suitable for the younger students."
"I'll ask around first. Anyway, apart from Lockhart, any professor would be more than qualified to teach us. The club is mainly meant to make you more alert and teach you a few self-defense moves. Anyone who can get into Hogwarts has at least some ability."
"Except Lockhart, right?" Ever since learning Lockhart's true nature, Hermione wished she could erase the memories of admiring him during the previous summer. She had adored him then, and now she hated him just as much.
"That isn't entirely fair, Hermione. At least... his marketing skills are unparalleled." Bing Huan nodded solemnly.
"Pfft~"
Just as expected, the Duelling Club caused no problems among the students. It exploded in popularity. Bing Huan had Harry and the others count the number of participants while he slipped over to the Ravenclaw Head of House's office. Inside, Cho Chang and Penelope, the Ravenclaw Prefect, were helping Professor Flitwick organize the questions.
Flitwick looked at Bing Huan strangely when he entered. "It's unusual for you to seek me out. What is it, Bing?"
Bing Huan leaned over with a cheeky grin. "Professor, are you free tomorrow night?"
"Not free." The refusal was clean and decisive.
Bing Huan: (?_?)
"Professor! Aren't I your favorite student anymore?"
"Pikachu."
"...Then second?"
"Penelope."
"Third isn't impossible..."
"Cho Chang and Hermione."
"Then just tell me. What place am I?"
"Below fiftieth place." The two girls beside him trembled as they struggled not to laugh.
"Farewell!" Bing Huan couldn't stay there for another second! "Wait."
Professor Flitwick suddenly called him back.
"Have you changed your mind?"
"Not at all." (Coldly.) "I only wanted to ask where Pikachu went. I haven't seen that child in a while."
"Oh, it's like this. Cultivation and magic conflict a little. If one wants to practice both, the two energies have to be harmonized. My master and Old Dumbledore helped me deal with it. A while ago, Pikachu stayed here for two days and thought he was ready, so he secretly practiced cultivation techniques. As for the consequences... he was sent back to China overnight so my master could regulate his energy. Once things stabilize inside his body, he'll be fine."
"That poor child. Well, if there's nothing else, you can go. Ravenclaw has to prepare for a knowledge competition over the next two days, and I really can't get away."
"All right, then~"
After leaving the office, Bing Huan went to his own Head of House's office. After hearing him out, Professor McGonagall looked at Bing Huan apologetically. "I would like to help you, child, but I just promised Wood that I'd help them with their wind-resistance training. Because of that, I have to move some of my work to the evenings, so..."
"It's fine, Professor. We're practically family. It's not a big deal."
Professor Sprout preferred to focus on taking care of the Potions, especially during this special period when Mandrake was needed.
Then there was only one answer. Near dusk, Bing Huan and Snape were investigating the true culprit behind the petrification incident. They first ruled out poisoning and curses. Leaving aside whether they could produce such an effect, Madam Pomfrey and Dumbledore certainly wouldn't have taken no precautions at all.
The two of them listed all the other creatures capable of petrification. After eliminating those of unsuitable size and those that had gone extinct, they were left fretting over the five suspects remaining on the table. "Bing Huan, you and Potter were at the first crime scene. Were there any details you overlooked?"
"Details?" Bing Huan propped up his chin and tried hard to recall what had happened that night. "There was one. Harry heard something, but we didn't hear anything."
"A special language?"
"There was also the sound of something crawling and scraping in the pipes... Ow! I should have thought of it sooner. The Chamber of Secrets left behind for Slytherin by the founder of Slytherin—of course it has something to do with snakes! What is wrong with my brain?"
"A Basilisk?"
"Is this really difficult to deal with?"
Snape looked at Bing Huan speechlessly. "The description made it very clear. Anyone who looks directly into a Basilisk's eyes dies. Those two were lucky enough to encounter it indirectly, which was why they were only petrified. Only a phoenix is immune to a Basilisk's gaze."
"Ermm, look on the bright side, Snape. At least we can first figure out how to remove the 'deaths' from reducing casualties. As long as nobody dies, there'll still be room to maneuver, right?"
"You have an idea?"
Bing Huan picked up the textbook. "It says it right here. Indirect contact only causes petrification. We can force everyone to make only indirect contact, so the worst outcome will be petrification. But is there a Potion like that? We'd need a magical item for this."
"Alchemical items probably can't be distributed within a few days, and there's the risk of losing them or forgetting them. Clearly, one can't expect someone like you to appreciate the elegance of Potions." Snape took out a Potions book, opened it, and placed it in front of Bing Huan.
"Potion glasses?"
"They were originally made for people who disliked or were unsuited to wearing glasses, but the Potion also offers a certain degree of protection. To guard against a Basilisk, we use two layers without prescription lenses. They won't affect the daily lives of people with normal vision."
Bing Huan scratched his head. "Even if we remind them to put in the drops every morning, that still doesn't solve the problem of them forgetting, does it?"
"That is the most important point. We remind them to use the drops every day, but one dose lasts for three days. Even if some idiot forgets, it can still save his life."
"What if someone forgets for three days?"
"Then he deserves to die."
Bing Huan: (￣□￣;)
"By the way, Snape, I heard you've always wanted to get the Dark Arts Defense position?"
"How about it?"
"There's a way to help you achieve that indirectly. Are you interested?"
Snape raised an eyebrow. "You mean the Duelling Club? Has Mr. Bing become so confident that I would go play house with you?"
"Ah~ That's not quite right, Snape. If the Dark Arts Defense classes were proceeding normally, then the Duelling Club would indeed be somewhat pointless. But times have changed. You know what the first two teachers were like. Quirrell was all right, at least. He covered everything the textbook was supposed to cover."
"But isn't Lockhart just a complete fraud? Everyone was already dissatisfied. The moment they heard that other professors would be teaching the Duelling Club, it exploded. If you come now, you'll have everyone's support!"
Snape looked at Bing Huan. "Sending you to Gryffindor was undoubtedly that old hat's greatest mistake."
"What kind of thing is that supposed to mean? What kind of thing is that!"
The following evening, Bing Huan stood speechlessly beside an even more speechless Snape. "How did they recruit this guy?"
"I have no idea which bastard told him I was going to teach the Duelling Club. He's been clinging to me since noon, and I can't shake him off even by kicking him."
"...What rotten luck." x2
Before you continue