Long ago, around the time he first met Hermione at Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, Harry had already known she was a very clever young witch.
Today, however, he once again confirmed just how clever Hermione was.
While Neville and Ron still looked bewildered, Hermione alone immediately understood what Harry was trying to say.
"A snake! So it was a snake. Yes, that would explain it. The monster hidden inside the Chamber of Secrets is a giant snake!"
Hermione seemed very excited, speaking very quickly:
"I was wondering before how a monster could possibly roam around the Castle, attacking people, without being spotted by any professors, staff, or other students."
"Wait, wait..." This time, not only Ron and Neville but even Harry was a little confused. "Why would being a snake mean it could avoid being seen? Is it a tiny little snake?"
As he spoke, Harry held out his little finger, making a gesture to indicate something very small.
"That can't be right, can it?" Neville expressed his doubts:
"If it really is a monster Salazar Slytherin left behind, even if it started out as a little water snake, shouldn't it have grown absolutely enormous after more than a thousand years?"
Harry and Ron nodded repeatedly, feeling that Neville had a very good point.
"No, no, no, not a little snake. I think it must be something very big." Hearing Harry and Neville's remarks, Hermione shook her head repeatedly and said with some excitement:
"As for why nobody has spotted it, I think it must be the pipes!"
"The pipes?" All three boys froze for a moment, but then immediately understood.
There were a great many pipes in the Castle, visible in the Washrooms and bathrooms on every floor.
The pipes along the corridors were buried inside the