In the dead of silence, suddenly the sound of a wildfire breaking out could be heard.
Dumbledore and Lorne looked down together and saw the phoenix standing on the metal rod suddenly set itself on fire, turning into ashes that fell into the container below.
Harry was hunched over a chair writing a pledge when he suddenly felt their gazes. He looked up and saw the phoenix turn to ashes.
He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "It wasn't me, I didn't even touch it."
Dumbledore distance, and Harry instantly regained his senses.
" Fawkes is a phoenix, Harry," Dumbledore stood up and walked downstairs, "And every now and then it rises from the ashes."
As if to confirm Dumbledore's words, a featherless bird raised its head from the ashes.
"Go back, Harry," Dumbledore began to usher him out.
"But Professor, could you please clarify after Christmas that I am not the Heir of Slytherin, nor have I attacked Mr. Filch or murdered any classmates?"
"Perhaps they'll change their story," Lorne said, coming down the stairs. "They'll say you're the heir to Hogwarts, and even Dumbledore is on your side."
But I can't do nothing...
"You really shouldn't do anything, Harry," Lorne interrupted, "Because none of this is your fault. Don't fall into the trap of proving yourself wrong; the school will give you justice."
Lorne turned to face Dumbledore, took Tom's diary from his pocket, and handed it to Dumbledore.
Dumbledore frowned as soon as he saw the name in the diary; his eyes narrowed slightly, as if a thousand possibilities were flashing through his mind.
"I have a good idea," Dumbledore suddenly said, handing the diary to Harry. "Don't you want to know the truth? Perhaps this diary will give you the answer."
Harry took the notebook, and with Dumbledore's guidance, he wrote in it, "I am Harry Potter, and I want to know the truth about why Moaning Myrtle was killed by the monster in the Chamber of Secrets."
Dumbledore and Lorne had been standing far away for a while, and they had watched as Harry was sucked into the diary.
"Thanks to you for finding this diary," Dumbledore said sincerely. "Otherwise, I was worried that more students would be attacked, and the professors would be too busy to handle everything. I would have canceled the final exams for this semester."
Lorne, who had been feeling smug, froze on the spot, wishing he could use the Time-Turner to travel back a few minutes to steal the diary right now.
Lorne composed himself. "Actually, even if we recover the diary, I still suggest we hold a school-wide activity after the Christmas holidays."
"As you can see, Professor, rumors are rampant at Hogwarts right now. Students are suspicious of each other, the four houses are completely divided, Gryffindor is suspected of protecting Harry, Slytherin is assumed to be inherently evil, Ravenclaw is in a state of panic, Hufflepuff is caught up in the rumors, and even Harry, who is at the center of the controversy, is suspicious of others."
"I believe Hogwarts could temporarily suspend academic courses and organize a ' Chamber of Secrets Truth-Seeking ' event with full participation, aiming to establish cooperation among the four houses, dispel rumors, and promote truth-clarification education."
"This event is indeed necessary, but isn't suspending classes a bit too hasty?" Dumbledore pondered, his eyes suddenly glancing at Lorne, who was smirking. "You're not planning to use the suspension of classes to cancel the final exams, are you?"
Lorne forced a smile, "How could that be, Professor?"
"But isn't it unsafe for students?" Dumbledore continued to argue.
Lorne couldn't help but think to himself, "You just taught Harry how to get into the diary, Professor."
He already had a well-thought-out plan, "The professor can go ahead and eliminate the monster in the Chamber of Secrets first, then we can rest easy."
"We'll have to wait until after the Christmas holidays to discuss that with all the professors."
"No need for all that trouble," Lorne said, glancing in Fawkes's direction. "I just need to borrow Fawkes for a bit... When will it be back to normal?"
"There's no fixed time; it could be years, months, weeks, or it could be tomorrow."
Dumbledore looked at Lorne again. " Minerva won't agree if you can't ensure the students' safety. Besides, I'm also hesitant; your plan is too extreme. Perhaps the students will figure it out themselves."
Harry was teleported out of the diary at that moment. As soon as he stood still, he looked around for Dumbledore and Lorne, and then rushed to the two of them.
"I know, it's Hagrid! I read in Tom's diary that Hagrid was the one who opened the Chamber of Secrets, and the monster Chamber of Secrets was a spider Hagrid kept."
Dumbledore his forehead. "You win, Lorne. I agree to your plan."
Lorne looked at Harry with a stern face. "You just suspected Draco, and now you suspect Hagrid. If Hagrid knew you thought this about him, he would be heartbroken."
Harry was puzzled. "But the memories in the diary are like this..."
Lorne shook his head. "Memories can be taken out of context, news can be quoted out of context, and rumors can be generalized. It seems you don't yet have the ability to discern the truth, Harry."
Lorne pushed up his glasses, which weren't even there. "But it's okay, holistic education is also part of the General Affairs Office Office's work."
"Alright, let me take you back to your dorm, Harry," Lorne put his arm around Harry's shoulder. "Give the diary to Headmaster Dumbledore; he likes collecting these little trinkets."
Lorne and Harry left the Headmaster's Office together again.
Before taking Harry back to his dormitory, Lorne took him to the General Affairs Office.
Lorne pulled out a bright red leather envelope, not yet sealed with wax, and handed it to Harry: "Say something to him, in Parseltongue."
"What?" Harry asked, puzzled. "Why? And what am I supposed to say?"
"Don't ask why, just say 'Open Sesame'."
Harry, confused but obediently doing as instructed, put the envelope to his lips and slowly said in Parseltongue, "Hasssa..."
After Harry finished speaking, Lorne quickly sealed the letter and then had Harry write " Lorne Myles " in the recipient's address.
Lorne put the envelope in his pocket, glanced at Harry several times, and finally couldn't help but say, "You shouldn't have doubted Hagrid. He told me before that you could never be the murderer."
Harry realized his rashness and lowered his head in apology. "You won't tell Hagrid, will you, Director Lorne?"
"I'm not a blabbermouth," Lorne said, leading Harry out of the General Affairs Office. "Get some rest; maybe you'll have a chance to make it up to Hagrid after Christmas."