Soft footsteps sounded in the Room of Requirement as two figures emerged one after the other from deep among the heaps of junk.
After their narrow escape just now, Su Er had no desire to keep exploring this absurdly large Room of Requirement.
Then why did he look so solemn?
Hermione's little face was flushed. She had seemed distracted ever since, but Su Er merely assumed she had been frightened.
"I-I should get back to my dormitory. Professor McGonagall has the Prefects take attendance every day. If they find out I'm not there..." Hermione said.
"Oh... oh... all right." Su Er came to his senses and nodded.
"You..." Hermione hesitated. "Can you only stay here?"
"Yes, for now. I can come back once this is over," Su Er said. "But it's all right."
"Then why were you petrified, and why are you here?" Once Hermione had calmed down and regained her reason, she finally asked the question.
Good question! But I can't tell you.
"Well..." Su Er scratched his head and said somewhat apologetically, "The petrification was fake. I don't know about the rest either, but I can tell you it has something to do with Headmaster Dumbledore."
"Actually, Headmaster Dumbledore asked me to do him a favor... I don't know what he's planning either. Perhaps something is going to happen in the Castle soon."
"I hope you'll keep this secret for me. You can't tell anyone that I haven't been petrified, including Harry and the others."
Hermione nodded thoughtfully. "All right."
After a stretch of silence, Hermione suddenly spoke. "So there really is a Basilisk in the Castle?"
Su Er nodded instinctively, then froze halfway through.
Hermione wore an expression that said she had known it all along.
"So you, who were supposedly petrified, are here because Dumbledore wants