The Sneaky Trio

Back at the castle, Kyle and the others made their way through the crowded corridors to their next Transfiguration Class.

In the past two days, almost every class has had someone asking about Chamber of Secrets.

But the other professors weren't as easy to talk to Professor Sprout.

During the Transfiguration Class, a Gryffindor raised her hand during a break in Professor McGonagall's lecture, but she was ruthlessly interrupted before she could even utter the words "Chamber of Secrets."

"Gryffindor points."

Professor McGonagall pursed her lips and said, "Miss Bell, I hope you can focus more on your grades, rather than those vague and unrealistic legends."

If I remember correctly, you still haven't turned the button into a beetle... Don't forget, this was our first lesson, and Halloween is already over.

If this continues, you might not even get a P (pass) on your exam."

Katie Bell of Gryffindor blushed and sat back down with her head down.

Having learned from her experience, others naturally wouldn't want to cause trouble for themselves.

Of course, this only applies to Gryffindor students... Hufflepuff is different.

They had just learned the truth from Professor Sprout, so there was no need to ask Professor McGonagall.

Looking at their classmates who were still completely unaware of the situation, the little badgers suddenly felt a strange sense of superiority.

Gryffindor students are nothing special...

When class ended, Kyle planned to go straight to the Great Hall on the first floor for lunch... but as soon as he got to the first floor, he heard a series of rapid "crackling" sounds from above.

He was all too familiar with those sounds; they were the sounds of explosions triggered by the props set up in Moaning Myrtle's washroom.

Without any hesitation, Kyle turned and ran upstairs, grabbing his wand and the box as fast as he could.

"Is it someone holding a diary, or... Basilisk?" Kyle felt a surge of tension.

If it's a human, that's fine, but if it's Basilisk... I don't know if it will even listen to me.

If we don't listen... will Norbert, the Norwegian Ridgeback, be able to defeat it?

With these mixed feelings, Kyle ran all the way to the corridor where Moaning Myrtle's washroom was located.

But when he arrived, he was suddenly stunned. Because everyone standing at the door of the restroom was a familiar face.

"Harry, Hermione, Ron?" Kyle asked instinctively, "What are you doing here?"

The three seemed stunned by the series of explosions, only snapping out of their daze upon hearing Kyle's voice.

Harry turned around and stammered, "We... we were just passing by... yes, just passing by!"

As he spoke, Kyle also noticed that Hermione was holding a large, thick book that looked moldy.

Upon noticing Kyle's gaze, she immediately hid the book behind her back... Her guilty conscience was practically written all over her face.

Although she moved quickly, Kyle still saw the word "potion," and if he wasn't mistaken, it should be a "Moste Potente Potions."

He had a high-end Potions book, and an identical handwritten copy in his box.

Kyle didn't mind; looking at the three men's dark faces, he finally felt relieved.

It's good that it's not Basilisk.

"Whether you're just passing by or for some other reason, I think you should run," Kyle said. "We just finished Transfiguration Class, and Professor McGonagall shouldn't be far."

"Professor McGonagall?!"

The three of them were like cats whose tails had been stepped on, almost jumping up in fright.

"What if she finds out we blew up the bathroom..."

"Ron, we didn't blow up the bathroom!" Hermione corrected. "We just opened the door; we didn't even go inside."

"I know, but Professor McGonagall doesn't!"

"Stop talking, let's run!"

Having learned their lesson from last Halloween, the three of them didn't hesitate and took off running.

They didn't forget to thank Kyle when they passed by.

"Thank you for reminding me, Kyle."

We're leaving now!

The three of them reached the stairs as quickly as possible and began running towards the Gryffindor Tower.

Just as they turned the corner, on the other side of the corridor, a tabby cat nimbly leaped onto the handrail. Its amber eyes scanned the surroundings and quickly spotted Kyle and the messy bathroom.

Then the tabby cat jumped off the railing and transformed into Professor McGonagall in mid-air.

"So this is where it is..."

She rushed to the bathroom. "Oh my god, what's going on here? Is someone practicing Blasting Curse?"

Kyle joined in as well.

It must be said that Professor McGonagall's description was somewhat exaggerated.

Apart from the walls, ceiling, and the hallway outside the bathroom being blackened by soot, there was no other damage to the room.

The "Exploding Textbook" was, after all, a joke prop by Zonko's; aside from making a lot of noise, its destructive power was practically zero.

Otherwise, Kyle wouldn't have dared to place them in the school.

Professor McGonagall quickly noticed this, but she was still very angry.

"Professor McGonagall, I came over after hearing the commotion," Kyle said first.

Professor McGonagall glanced at him and nodded.

"Was anyone else here when you arrived?"

"There were three," Kyle said, pointing towards the stairs. "They had just run down the stairs when I arrived."

"Who is it!" Professor McGonagall asked, pursing her lips.

Kyle pointed to the dark wall. "Back then, their faces were like this wall; you couldn't see their faces at all."

Professor McGonagall glanced at the walls of the washroom, then at the three distinct human silhouettes in the blackened hallway outside the door. As if struck by a thought, a faint smile appeared on her previously serious face.

"It's something from Zonko's again..."

She didn't pursue Harry and the others further; instead, she took out her wand, restored the bathroom to its original state, and then chased away the people around her.

The commotion attracted a lot of students who were watching, and they thought that someone else had been attacked like Filch.

Throughout this process, Moaning Myrtle remained as quiet as if she didn't exist, until Professor McGonagall left, at which point she cautiously peeked out her transparent head.

"Those three annoying people are gone... I didn't expect what you put there would actually work."

"What else did you think it was?" Kyle, who had turned back halfway, looked at Moaning Myrtle and said softly.

"The old books you don't want..." Moaning Myrtle, "Will you bring new ones?"

"Certainly."

When Kyle last went to Hogsmeade, Kyle bought a lot of things from Zonko's, including the "Exploding Textbook".

Although there are only two books, judging from the commotion just now, that should be enough.

When Kyle returned to the Great Hall, lunch had already begun. Professor McGonagall was sitting at the High Table, talking to Professor Flitwick.

Harry and his two companions arrived even later, walking in with their heads down halfway through lunch.

They had all changed their clothes, and as they walked, they tidied their messy hair.

In the High Table, Professor McGonagall glanced at them thoughtfully.

"Tomorrow is the Quidditch Match."

Nearby, Harris was talking to Cedric, "Gryffindor and Slytherin, we can finally see the power of those brooms and their new Seeker."

Harris refers to Draco Malfoy; he's the only newcomer.

Cedric nodded. "I'll be careful."

"Hopefully he got into the team because of those brooms, and not because he's a genius like Harry Potter," Harris said hopefully.

Seven brand-new Nimbus 2001 are one thing, but if you add a great Seeker... the other three teams simply have no chance.