Hogwarts Traditions, An Uneasy Halloween

After the banquet, everyone left the Great Hall reluctantly, still wanting more.

The Skeleton Dance Troupe had already left while they were eating... which was somewhat disappointing.

"This dance troupe is extremely difficult to invite."

From the crowd, a young wizard exclaimed, "My dad told me before that even if the Ministry of Magic wanted to invite them to perform, they would have to wait in line for a very long time!"

"I heard they were invited to perform at the last Quidditch World Cup, along with the Weird Sisters... People say it was the best opening performance in a century."

"We never expected to see them at Hogwarts. The headmaster is really something..."

"Of course, that's Dumbledore..."

The students, excitedly discussing what had just happened, walked out of the Great Hall and prepared to return to their respective common rooms.

But before they could leave the hall, a shrill scream suddenly came from the direction of the stairwell.

The sound was so shrill it sent chills down your spine.

The noise from the crowd gradually subsided...

"What was that sound just now?" someone asked.

"It's Mrs. Norris."

One person said, "I get goosebumps just hearing its sound, there's no mistaking it."

"Did they catch someone breaking school rules again...? But we're all in the Great Hall!"

"It's also possible that some dangerous Fantastic Beasts escaped from the Forbidden Forest... Mrs. Norris's voice just now sounded a bit off, exactly like my cat when it's startled."

"Why don't you go and see for yourself...?"

Driven by curiosity, the crowd quickened their pace and surged toward the staircase from which the sound had come, eager to see what had happened.

Anyway, the banquet just ended, and everyone's just killing time. As for the potential dangers... nobody cares about that at all.

Just then, another howl rang out, and people followed the sound to the third floor.

In an empty corridor, they finally saw Mrs. Norris.

It stood on a statue at the end of the passageway, its back hunched, its fur standing on end, looking just like a hedgehog.

Some words were painted on the wall behind it, gleaming faintly under the burning torches.

The Chamber of Secrets has been opened.

Be wary of those who oppose the heir.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood frozen in front of the wall, looking at the crowd in panic.

Harry seemed to want to explain something, but before he could even turn his head, Mrs. Norris yelled at him.

Now people finally understood what the shouting had meant.

"Click..."

Colin Creevey squeezed through the crowd, camera in hand.

"Harry, I've been looking for you! Why didn't you go to the Great Hall for the banquet!"

Harry tried to explain, but Mrs. Norris wouldn't give him the chance. Now, if they made even the slightest movement, the cat would pounce and tear at the three of them.

Harry had never seen such agile cats before. Both he and Ron and Hermione had long, bloody scratches on their bodies.

And for some reason, they are unable to resist.

"Excuse me, excuse me..." Kyle squeezed his way out of the crowd.

He had only come to join the fun, but when he saw the words on the wall, his pupils suddenly contracted.

Chamber of Secrets?

How is that possible?

Riddle's Diary is still in his trunk, and he always carries that trunk with him; no one else could possibly get in.

But what's going on with this scene before us?!

Kyle's mind was a mess, and he didn't even notice what Kanna was saying next to him.

He walked over instinctively.

Mrs. Norris, who had always been on good terms with Kyle, did not give him any face this time. She turned around, growled at him, and revealed her sharp claws.

Kyle stopped and did not go any further.

Only when he got closer did he realize that the place where Mrs. Norris was standing was not a statue at all, but clearly Filch. However, he was curled up and motionless with his head down, which was why he was not recognized at first glance.

The others followed.

"Those who oppose the heir, beware! You'll be next, you bastards..."

Draco Malfoy seemed to have thought of something, but in the end, he didn't say the word.

However, his cold eyes suddenly brightened, and his usually pale face turned bright red as he grinned maliciously at Hermione.

In the crowd, Kyle frowned, feeling even more confused. If Filch wasn't under Petrification Spell... then he could only be Basilisk.

"No, something's definitely wrong," Kyle thought to himself.

Just as he was about to go upstairs to Moaning Myrtle's Bathroom to check on the situation, the professor arrived...

"What happened here?!"

The crowd parted automatically to make way for Dumbledore, followed by the other professors. In the blink of an eye, he had crossed the crowd and stood before Filch.

Mrs. Norris finally calmed down, jumped to the ground, and stood quietly at Dumbledore's feet.

"Now, everyone go back to your dorms!"

Dumbledore said, "As for you, Mr. Harry Potter, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger, come with me. I need your help with something."

Lockhart hurried forward.

"My office is the closest to here, Headmaster, it's upstairs... and I myself have a deep understanding of this kind of Dark Magic. When I was in the Castor Tribe, I helped the people there resolve similar situations. Back then, they..."

"Thank you, Gilderoy. Now, please proceed to your office."

Dumbledore interrupted his rambling, "Could you please inform Madam Pomfrey at the Hospital Wing? I think she needs to come over."

"Of course, Principal."

The crowd parted again to make way for them.

Lockhart was very excited, looking quite smug, and hurried towards the Hospital Wing.

The other professors followed Dumbledore and left, instructing the Prefect around them to take everyone back to the common room.

After the professors left, the crowd instantly became noisy, with everyone discussing what had happened to Filch.

And what's the deal with that so-called Chamber of Secrets?

Malfoy was surrounded by the most people, but he just smiled smugly and said nothing.

The Prefect were searching for students from their respective houses, and Harris was among them.

"Kyle, let's go back..." Kanna turned her head and suddenly realized that Kyle, who had just been beside her, was gone.

"Cedric, have you seen Kyle?"

"Wasn't he always here...? Hmm? Where is he?"

At that moment, outside the crowd, Kyle, under the cover of the Disillusionment Charm, quickly ran to Moaning Myrtle's Bathroom.

The quill pen was still safely tucked away in the crack of the door.

Pushing open the door, you'll find all those books that could explode inside.

Kyle crouched down and checked the strands of hair under the book... they were all in the right place.

"Oh, Kyle, are you here to comfort me?" Moaning Myrtle sat on the sink, sobbing. "That Peeves, he actually said something about me..."

"I'm sorry, Moaning Myrtle."

Kyle interrupted her, asking, "Has anyone been here recently?"

Moaning Myrtle stopped crying, then looked at Kyle suspiciously. "You..."

"Besides me," Kyle continued, "Has anyone else been here?"

"No one else would come here but you, because there's a poor, weeping, and sullen Moaning Myrtle here."

As she spoke, she started crying again.

However, Kyle was in no mood to comfort her.

After leaving the washroom, he randomly found an empty classroom and took out a box from the Mokeskin Pouch he was carrying.

The furnishings in the entrance room were the same as when I left.

Kyle retrieved the magic box from under the bed, but his heart skipped a beat as soon as he picked it up.

The box is lighter now.

"No way... it must be my imagination, no one could come here."

Kyle took a few deep breaths and nervously opened the box.

Then there was nothing in the box... The diary that was originally inside was also gone.

"Wait... I must be opening it wrong."

Kyle closed the lid and then opened it again.

After trying five times in a row, Kyle had to admit that the diary was indeed missing, and right under his nose.

Just then, a Billywig wobbled by.

Upon seeing it, Kyle quickly asked.

Has anyone been here?

Billywig hovered in mid-air, its face bearing the exact same expression as Moaning Myrtle's.

It emitted a faint chirping sound.

Am I the only one who has been here?

"Are you sure?"

The Billywig flew up and down, as if nodding.

Undeterred, Kyle approached Niffler and Norbert again, asking the same question, but received the same answer.

Niffler peeked out and circled the room, making sure there was no other human wizard's scent here.