The basilisk specimen displayed outside the Great Hall looked savage and terrifying, yet it had become the very thing that made everyone at school feel safest, especially the young witches and wizards from Muggle families.
So what if there was a Chamber of Secrets? So what if there was an heir? Even the basilisk Salazar Slytherin had left behind had been easily dealt with by Professor Flitwick, hadn't it?
This sentiment was widespread at Hogwarts now, leaving the young witches and wizards in high spirits. The young eagles of Ravenclaw were the most spirited of all.
They usually weren't particularly fond of wearing their school robes, but lately, noticeably more of them had been wearing robes adorned with blue goshawk designs. Padma, for instance.
Padma usually wore a sari, which gave her an exotic air within the castle. Harry found it a little hard to get used to seeing her in robes lately.
Christmas was approaching, and the business with the Chamber of Secrets and the heir had made the atmosphere at school rather oppressive during the first half of the term. The professors deliberately gave the students a little room to relax, so apart from Snape and Professor Binns, they all reduced the amount of homework they assigned, whether intentionally or otherwise. Even Professor McGonagall did the same.
With his schoolwork much lighter, Harry had more time to pay attention to other things.
First came the final Quidditch match of the term: Ravenclaw against Hufflepuff.
Ravenclaw's Chaser lineup was considered the best currently at Hogwarts, with all three players possessing outstanding skills. Moreover, most of Ravenclaw's young witches and wizards came from wizarding families that supported them in playing Quidditch, so most of their brooms were quite good.
Thus, although they had lost on goals in their attacking battle