It's Not a Child's Place to Show Off Here

The group watched the ghosts' moldy cheese and giant tombstone-gray cakes, and enjoyed the Headless Hunt's performance.

Harry hadn't found an opportunity to speak with Jiamer until Ron was shivering so hard his teeth were chattering, complaining he couldn't take it anymore.

"Let's go, let's go, I hope there's still some pudding left in the Great Hall for me, I'm starving."

Seeing Ron eager to leave, and the others having had their fill of fun, they prepared to leave with him, heading towards the corridor lit by black candles.

Just as Harry was feeling dejected, a sinister, low hiss suddenly echoed in his ears.

"Tear you, rip you... kill you."

It was that familiar voice again. The Basilisk!

Harry snapped back to attention and called out to everyone.

"Careful! The Basilisk is here! I heard the Basilisk's voice, put on your glasses quickly!"

He had been busy with Quidditch training and homework lately, barely having time to act with Hermione and Ron, but the three of them remembered the principle of safety first: glasses were either worn or carried.

"Basilisk?"

Qiao Weili and Jiamer exchanged a glance, waved their wands, and along with Cedric, who hadn't figured out what was happening, a pair of glasses automatically appeared on the faces of the three of them.

"Mmm..."

Cedric adjusted the glasses that had suddenly appeared, feeling a little unaccustomed. Although he had a stomach full of questions, he didn't rush to ask.

Harry's expression was grave as he said, word by word:

"It said—it's hungry—killing—it's time."

Upon hearing this, everyone's faces changed.

"We have to stop it!"

Without much thought, Harry charged forward.

"Wait, Potter!"

Qiao Weili tried to stop him, but Harry was too fast, and in the blink of an eye, he was out of his reach.

"Hmph!"

A contemptuous snort sounded, and Jiamer unhesitatingly waved her wand!

Gurgle gurgle—a strange sound arose, and the ground beneath Harry's feet writhed violently. The next moment, it coiled around him like a soft wave, pulling him back.

"What are you doing!"

Harry glared at her, trembling with anger.

"Reckless boy, with adults here, it's not your turn to show off."

Jiamer didn't dwell on Harry's rudeness.

In the blink of an eye, she and Qiao Weili began to run, before anyone else could react!

Beside them, Harry, restrained by the slab controlled by Jiamer, moved along with the two as they advanced.

"Hermione, go to the professor's office immediately and inform them about the Basilisk. Remember to secure your glasses, stay alert on the way, and respond if you hear me!"

Jiamer gave orders decisively, and in a flash, she and Qiao Weili were about to rush out of the corridor.

"Yes—yes! I understand!"

Hermione responded instinctively, but after reacting, she hesitated again—almost immediately, she looked at Ron beside her.

Ron had just swallowed, but when he met Hermione's gaze, his eyes immediately became resolute—Hermione instantly understood his meaning.

The three of them had dared to face the thief who stole the Philosopher's Stone in their first year; would a Basilisk now scare them?

Since Harry had been taken away, they would naturally follow!

"Cedric, you go inform the professor about this. We can't leave Harry alone!"

Hermione and Ron barely gave Cedric time to react before they immediately ran, trying to catch up to the leading group!

"Wait—you—"

Cedric reached out in vain, trying to stop the two, but was ultimately left alone.

"Tsk!"

He gritted his teeth, then decisively turned and ran towards Li Wei's office—what were they talking about, a Basilisk? Seeing that they all had glasses on, including himself, it was indeed such a response, likely the Basilisk.

But why could Harry hear the Basilisk's voice? Why did everyone else seem to know everything about it?

If Cedric hadn't already finished studying Li Wei's Dark Creatures notes beforehand, he would have been completely bewildered.

"How could such a dangerous creature be in the school?"

Cedric sprinted down the corridor, regretting that his flying broom wasn't with him—next time, he would definitely keep his flying broom in a fixed location so he could summon it at any time.

"This way!"

Harry, now calm, was being led by Jiamer as they ran up the stairs and into the entrance hall.

The sounds of laughter and joy from the Halloween feast in the Great Hall echoed here, making it unlikely to hear any other noises.

"Put me down! I can't hear you like this."

Jiamer glanced at Qiao Weili. Seeing him nod, she still put Harry down.

The two followed Harry at full speed up the marble stairs, ascending to the second floor of the castle—then the third floor. Harry sprinted around the third floor, followed closely by Ron and Hermione's voices.

"Nonsense! What are you two doing here!"

Qiao Weili saw the stumbling figures of Hermione and Ron and his tone suddenly became stern.

This was a Basilisk! A creature even they weren't sure they could subdue. Were these students joking?!

"We—"

Hermione was about to explain.

"Forget it—it's not the time to argue."

Jiamer interrupted Hermione, gripping her wand tightly and signaling Qiao Weili to advance with her.

"Qiao Weili, I'll be your eyes. Once we find the Basilisk, you need to restrain it!"

"I know."

Qiao Weili looked down at Jiamer's boots, his expression grave.

His magic was stronger than Jiamer's. Now was not the time to worry about her safety.

"Wait, can't we make a big noise to scare it away? Or attract other professors—do we really have to go ourselves?"

Ron saw the two walking forward without hesitation. He admired them but was also very worried, subconsciously making a suggestion.

"No, the Basilisk's gaze is too deadly. We can't let it roam freely. It's the same even if other professors come. If caught off guard, they're very likely to fall victim, and the price would be even greater than ours."

The two held their breath, advancing slowly in the darkness. Gradually, they saw a line of blood writing.

[The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Those who oppose the heir, beware.]

Harry and the others quickly caught up to the two and also saw the blood writing on the wall.

The three felt the cold air from underground emerge once more, freezing their bodies and blood with an even colder temperature!

Just then, Li Wei's figure appeared from the corner of the wall. With a few large strides, he flashed to everyone's side.

"Professor!"

Seeing Li Wei appear, although Qiao Weili and Jiamer's expressions remained grave, their hearts immediately relaxed. With a professor here, even if the enemy was a Basilisk, they had nothing to fear!

"Mm."

Li Wei responded, his expression not looking good.

He had already told Dumbledore about the Basilisk. How could the Basilisk incident still happen?

However, the first thing to confirm was whether the Basilisk was still here!

He knelt on one knee and tapped the ground with his wand.

"Tap----tap----"

Sound waves spread across the ground with the tapping motion, the lingering echoes gradually extending throughout the entire third floor, and then the entire castle.

"."

The professors, who had been enjoying the festive atmosphere on the first floor, suddenly looked up and alerted, glancing towards the third floor.

Who would dare use such a wide-ranging detection spell at Hogwarts?