The Trio's Suspicions

"Reach a consensus?" Snape's voice was choked.

"To be precise, it's an 'academic exploration under strict supervision'," Lin Du said with utmost seriousness. "And honestly, do you think I'd be so bored as to target a cat? If I really wanted to do something, I'd at least pick a more challenging target."

Snape's expression was as if he had swallowed a whole bottle of Fainting Fancies. He scrutinized Lin Du from head to toe, finally squeezing out from between his teeth, "You're lucky this time. But remember, there won't be a next time!"

With that, he turned abruptly, his black robes flapping like a startled bat, and hurried to leave.

"Wait, Snape," Lin Du suddenly called out to him.

Snape turned around impatiently.

"What you just said..." Lin Du deliberately drew out his tone, his eyes becoming unusually sincere. "Could it be that you're worried about me? If so, I'm truly touched..."

Snape's expression contorted instantly, as if he had seen Neville Longbottom suddenly become a Potions prodigy.

He took half a step back, his lips trembling, "Did... did a troll step on your head?"

"I just suddenly felt," Lin Du continued in that eerily gentle tone, "that beneath your fierce exterior, you actually hide a warm heart..."

"Enough!" Snape recoiled as if scalded. "I suggest you go to Madam Pomfrey's immediately to have your head examined!"

With that, he practically fled, his black robes whipping up a whirlwind in the corridor.

Lin Du watched the retreating black figure, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "It seems Dumbledore was right. He does care about others, even if his way of expressing it is quite unique."

"Pfft—"

Chao Feng couldn't help but chuckle on his shoulder. "You were so pretentious just now, I almost threw up! Look at Snape's face, I bet he'll have nightmares tonight!"

Lin Du gently flicked a feather off his shoulder, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. "Isn't it fun to tease our serious Potions Master once in a while?"

Just as Lin Du was happily traversing the castle corridors, savoring the comical sight of Snape's hasty retreat, the atmosphere in Gryffindor Tower was entirely different.

The fireplace in the common room crackled merrily, casting the shadows of three people onto the wall, flickering with the firelight.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were huddled in the farthest sofa, their voices kept very low.

"This is impossible..." Ron repeated for the third time, unconsciously tugging at the fringe of the sofa with his fingers.

"I always thought the Chamber of Secrets was just a legend, as absurd as... as Peeves being a kind little sprite."

Harry rubbed his still aching ribs, the scene from Halloween night flashing before his eyes. "If this is true, it's too dangerous. We have to tell Professor McGonagall, or... tell Headmaster Dumbledore directly."

"Tell them what?" Hermione immediately retorted, her tone urgent but calm.

"Tell them that based on some voices in the walls, an old book, and an unsolved case that even adults haven't figured out, we've concluded that the legendary monster has awakened? Think about last semester, without concrete evidence, would the professors believe the 'guesses' of a few second-year students? They'd just tell us to stop meddling."

Her words were like a splash of cold water, plunging Harry and Ron into silence.

The firelight flickered uneasily again.

In the midst of this silence, an overlooked detail suddenly struck Harry.

"Wait..." Harry's voice trembled with disbelief. "Don't you think it's too coincidental? Professor Lin Du... he appeared so timely that night, as if... he had been waiting nearby all along."

"What do you mean?" Hermione looked up sharply, her eyes keen.

"We never mentioned the Basilisk to anyone," Harry's voice was barely audible. "But he acted as if he knew beforehand. And those spells he used—I've never seen any other professor use that kind of magic."

Ron suddenly leaned forward excitedly. "Merlin's beard! Did you see the spells he used? That's definitely not what we learned in Standard Spells! I'd bet all my Chocolate Frog Cards that it was Dark Magic!"

"Don't talk nonsense!"

Hermione angrily slammed Hogwarts: A History onto the table. "Professor Lin Du is a Gryffindor! And if there was really a problem, why would Dumbledore allow him to teach?"

"Come on," Ron said dismissively. "Professor Quirrell seemed perfectly normal too, didn't he? And look what happened—he had the Dark Lord stuck to the back of his head!"

Harry thoughtfully rubbed the scar on his forehead. "And didn't you notice? When the professors saw the Chamber of Secrets, he acted particularly... calm. As if he already knew all about it."

"This is absurd!" Hermione was so angry her hair seemed to puff up even more.

"Just because he's knowledgeable and powerful, you suspect him of being Slytherin's Heir? Then why don't you suspect Professor McGonagall of being an Animagus? Oh wait, she actually is..."

She waved her hand irritably. "But that's not the point!"

"Anything is possible," Harry said softly, his emerald eyes flashing with unease in the firelight. "Just like we can never guess what's hidden under Quirrell's turban."

Hermione stood up abruptly, hugging the book to her chest. "If we follow your logic, Hogwarts has become a Death Eater nest! Who are you going to suspect next, Professor Sprout of growing Venomous Tentaculas in the greenhouse?"

Ron grumbled indignantly, "But Professor Sprout already grows Venomous Tentaculas..."

"That's precisely the problem!" Hermione turned to face them, her voice lowered but urgent. "We need to figure out the truth before the next attack. If Professor Lin Du really has a problem, then his mention of the Basilisk might be a misdirection. Don't forget, Dumbledore said it requires extremely high-level Dark Magic."

Harry nodded thoughtfully. "So what should we do?"

"We need concrete evidence," Hermione said firmly, her gaze sweeping over Harry and Ron. "But until then, safety is the priority. We need to warn everyone—especially the younger students—to never act alone, to stay vigilant at all times, and to pay attention to any unusual movements."

"So what specifically should we do?" Ron pressed, leaning forward unconsciously.

Hermione took a deep breath, her thoughts becoming clear. "First, we need to check the library for all reliable records about the Chamber of Secrets and figure out the origin of the legend. Second,"

She lowered her voice. "Keep an eye on Professor Lin Du's whereabouts, especially his 'coincidental' appearances and inexplicable disappearances. Finally, and most importantly, pay attention to everything around us—walls, pipes, even drains. Any clue could be crucial evidence."

She picked up the book and turned to leave, but stopped by the fireplace, turning back to glare at the two boys, her tone stern. "--But before you find anything substantial, I suggest you keep your wild imaginations in check!"

The fireplace suddenly spat out a spark, illuminating the three young faces in flashes.