December arrived, and the weather grew ever colder.
A thin, opaque layer of ice had formed along the shore of the Black Lake. Whenever the cold wind blew across it, it made a creaking sound.
But the freezing weather could not dampen the students' fighting spirit.
With the start of a new month, Gryffindor students had already come up with a new strategy—they could use the alchemical pistols Professor Li Wei awarded to outstanding students.
To encourage the students' enthusiasm for learning, Li Wei did not award the same alchemical pistols repeatedly.
Over the past three months, considering theory, practical combat, and monthly exams, Li Wei had handed out quite a few alchemical pistols.
And in the hands of third-years and below, these pistols provided a clear advantage.
That was right. Although Qiao Weili and Jiamer considered these alchemical tools far less convenient and powerful than wands, for students who could not even meet the basic requirements for casting spells, the Obstacle Curse contained in the alchemical weapons was unbelievably useful.
With the fourth-year Weasley twins taking the lead, they gathered all the alchemical pistols outside those held by upper-year students, for a total of six.
They intended to use those six pistols to do something big in the new month.
But just then, something terrible shattered all the young wizards' enthusiasm for infighting—the Chamber of Secrets incident had happened again.
This time, the victim was Professor Charity Burbage, who taught Muggle Studies.
On Thursday morning, students found her in a second-floor corridor of the castle. Her entire body was rigid, her pupils wide, as though she had seen something horrifying.
Rumors immediately swept through the school. Everyone became suspicious of everyone else, while only the Slytherin students seemed thrilled by the incident.
Cedric, Hermione, and the others gathered by