The moment the Monthly Exam results were announced, the classroom filled with sighs of envy and relief.
Just as everyone had expected, Hermione Granger firmly claimed first place in the second year with nearly perfect theoretical scores and flawless practical performance.
When Lin Du solemnly handed the Alchemical Pistol to Hermione in the following Defense Against the Dark Arts class, countless eager gazes focused on the unique weapon.
"It is yours now, Miss Granger," Lin Du said calmly. "I hope you will use its power well, but more importantly, understand the meaning of 'preparedness' and 'efficiency' that it represents."
Hermione's fingertips trembled slightly as she carefully accepted the weighty metal creation, her face flushed with excitement.
"Thank you, Professor! I will definitely study its principles carefully and use it only when necessary!"
Yet after receiving such a precious gift, once the excited flush faded from Hermione's face, a trace of hesitation and unease appeared.
After class, she stroked the cold grip of the gun, seeming several times as though she wanted to speak but stopping herself.
"Is there anything else, Miss Granger?" Lin Du noticed that something was off about her.
As if making up her mind, Hermione lowered her voice and asked uneasily, "Professor... do you think it is true that some exceptionally gifted wizards can hear things that others cannot?"
Lin Du froze, and the book in his hand nearly slipped from his grasp—
Had the pressure from all the assignments he assigned driven even Hermione mad?
He quickly discarded that unreliable thought.
"Can you be more specific? The conditions you have given are too broad."
Hermione considered carefully, apparently organizing her words. "It is a little story. A young wizard, in... in an ancient castle, suddenly heard strange words, but no one around him knew anything about them."
Lin Du set down his book, thought seriously for a moment, and replied, "Many little stories are fabricated, so what you heard may not be real. Still, we can discuss it for now."
Hermione hurriedly nodded.
"The first possibility," Lin Du said, raising one finger, "is that the young wizard was under too much pressure and began having auditory hallucinations. Excessive schoolwork and intense House competition can both cause that."
As he said this, he gave Hermione a meaningful look.
"No, Professor!" Hermione immediately refuted him, then realized she had overreacted and lowered her voice.
"I mean... my friend... he is sure it was not an auditory hallucination. And..."
She hesitated, thinking of how Harry always got headaches when dealing with homework, then added, "Although there really is a lot of homework, it should not be enough to cause such specific hallucinations..."
Seeing Hermione's serious expression, Lin Du picked up at the right moment. "All right, then let us discuss the second possibility."
He raised a second finger. "It involves certain special magical creatures. You should know that all kinds of magical creatures live in this ancient castle of Hogwarts, and some of them can indeed make sounds that only certain people can hear."
"What characteristics did the voice have?" Lin Du pressed.
"It seemed to include words like... 'tear apart' and 'kill,'" Hermione said quietly.
"Then we can first rule out ghosts," Lin Du analyzed. "Their whispers are usually vaguer, not this specific."
He continued listing possibilities. "Thestral cries may be frightening, but they do not contain clear words. The curses of malevolent spirits tend to be more repetitive and chaotic."
"So..." Hermione asked eagerly.
"There are not many magical creatures that fit the description," Lin Du said thoughtfully. "For example, a Basilisk—an ancient magical creature said to be capable of killing with its gaze. Its whispers could indeed carry clear malice."
As if recalling something, he casually added, "When I was an Exchange Student here, I heard several Slytherin first-years boasting in the Great Hall that their House had a thousand-year-old secret—that Salazar Slytherin had left a Chamber of Secrets somewhere in the castle, where he kept a monster specifically meant to clear out 'those unworthy of learning magic.' They said it was a Basilisk."
"Clear out?" Hermione asked.
"It means targeting Muggle-borns and half-blood wizards," Lin Du said evenly.
Hermione shrank back involuntarily, her face turning a little pale.
As a Muggle-born witch, the news had clearly unsettled her.
Lin Du noticed her reaction, but his tone remained calm. "But those are only unreliable legends."
Hermione whispered in shock, "But... if it is true, how could Slytherin..."
"Miss Granger," Lin Du interrupted her, "remember this: Slytherin is remembered first and foremost for his outstanding achievements in magic, not for what kind of person he was. History has always been like this—when someone is exceptional enough in a certain field, later generations often embellish their other qualities or selectively forget the less honorable parts."
Seeing Hermione's thoughtful expression, he shifted the subject to a more relaxed possibility at the right moment. "But compared with those vague legends, there is a third, more reasonable explanation."
"What explanation?" Hermione's attention was indeed diverted.
"Perhaps the young wizard in your story merely awakened a special magical talent by accident," Lin Du said in a relaxed tone as he casually returned the last book to its place.
"You know, some young wizards have particular gifts, such as an affinity for animals or extraordinary talent in Wandless Magic. A rarer one is the gift of prophecy. Professor Trelawney's ancestors seemed to possess that talent... Oh, Trelawney teaches Divination class. You may choose her class next year."
"As for linguistic talent,"
he continued explaining, his tone becoming increasingly casual, "it is often related to their ancestors. If one of their ancestors mastered the language of a certain magical creature, that gift may be passed down to the next generation, or suddenly emerge in their bloodline several centuries later."
As though he had suddenly thought of something amusing, the corner of his lips lifted. "For instance, perhaps one of his ancestors had the peculiar ability to communicate with rats. And that day, he merely happened to hear some 'Mr. Rat' angrily protesting the theft of breadcrumbs from the kitchen, or delivering a lengthy speech about the castle's drainage system."
The absurd comparison relaxed Hermione's expression, and she could not help curling her lips slightly.
"I suggest your friend first go to Madam Pomfrey for an examination," Lin Du advised at last. "If the voice appears again, he must tell a professor. But do not let him brood over it by himself."
Even when Professor Lin Du indicated that she could leave, Hermione remained where she was, still thinking.
Could Harry have some eccentric wizard ancestor who could speak Rat?
By the time she came back to her senses from her tangled thoughts, the office door had already closed softly.
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