The blackened ghost

"Luo Bin, are you a pure-blood?"

In Hannah's eyes, if Robin Sear came from a Muggle family and was close to Harry, the fact that he was unharmed would indirectly mean Harry wasn't the "Heir"!

Meeting Hannah's hopeful gaze, Luo Bin shook his head. "I'm an orphan. I don't know whether my parents were Muggles or wizards, but... I believe in Harry. He couldn't be the 'Heir,' and he certainly wouldn't order the 'Chamber Monster' to hurt wizards who aren't pure-bloods!"

Ernie disagreed with Luo Bin from the bottom of his heart. He stepped forward and said loudly, "Parseltongue, Squibs or pure-bloods who've had conflicts with Harry getting attacked by some unknown monster... Luo Bin, I know you're strong, but... you'd better not get on Harry Potter's bad side, or else..."

"Or else what?"

Harry stepped out from behind a shelf, cutting Ernie off.

"Harry, have you been eavesdropping this whole time?"

Susan accused him angrily.

Harry was furious at being slandered so freely, too, but he was used to it from living with the Dursley family. He pressed his lips together and answered, "I wasn't deliberately eavesdropping. I happened to be passing by. I wanted to find Justin Finch-Fletchley and explain what happened last night. I didn't tell the black snake to attack him. What I said was, 'Stop, stop right now! Don't attack anyone!'"

To the others, who couldn't understand Parseltongue, Harry's explanation carried little weight.

Ernie used his tall frame to shield Hannah and Susan, wariness practically spilling from his eyes. His large hand gripped his wand tightly. Luo Bin was certain that if Harry so much as moved, Ernie would fire an offensive spell.

"I'm not blind. I saw everything! You hissed orders at the black snake, and then it raised its ugly great head and