Dumbledore's expression turned serious, and he asked, "What have you found out?"
Draco gets straight to the point:
" The Chamber of Secrets is cursed; it will reopen every fifty years."
Dumbledore nodded slowly, then fell into deep thought.
"Once every fifty years..." He paused for a moment, then looked at Draco. "In other words, this isn't the end, but a cycle."
"As long as the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets of Secrets remains, and as long as the Slytherin curse is not truly broken, everything will repeat itself fifty years from now." Dumbledore understood.
He looked at Draco solemnly.
"You've done enough. But the real key isn't killing a Basilisk, but how to completely seal the Chamber of Secrets and break this curse that has lasted for thousands of years."
"That's right," Draco calmly stated his assessment. "The only person capable of completely eradicating the curse is Harry, since he's the only one who knows Parseltongue."
Dumbledore nodded slowly. "You're right. Parseltongue is the only key to unlocking the seal deep within the Chamber of Secrets, and Harry is indeed the most suitable candidate."
He made a solemn decision.
" Draco, I'm entrusting this matter to you. You will take Harry deep into the Chamber of Secrets and completely sever the curse left by Slytherin."
Hermione was shocked! Dumbledore had actually entrusted such an important matter entirely to Draco?
A surge of intense pride welled up within her.
This isn't a level of trust that just any student can earn!
It's because Draco actually did it; it's because he was responsible and courageous.
"Alright." Draco thought for a moment, then had an idea.
"I'll arrange the personnel for the operation. This time, I want Hagrid to lead the team."
Hermione paused, then instantly understood Draco's intention.
Hagrid carried the burden of a grievance from fifty years ago for half his life.
Let Hagrid end it all himself; that's more powerful than any explanation, and a warmth filled her heart.
Hermione looked at him, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly.
It's like saying, "This is the man I've chosen!"
" Hagrid?" Dumbledore was taken aback.
"That's right," Draco said confidently.
"Fifty years ago, when the Chamber of Secrets was opened, all the suspicions pointed to him, and he was almost wrongly expelled from the school because of it."
"This time, letting him witness the end of the curse is... a belated vindication and explanation for him."
"You've thought this through very well; let's do as you say."
As soon as the Headmaster's Office door closed, Hermione asked worriedly, "Are you really planning to take Harry and Hagrid into the Chamber of Secrets? Isn't it... too dangerous in there?"
Draco stopped and stared intently at her. "I protect my Miss Hermione, but Harry certainly needs someone to protect him, doesn't he?"
Hermione blushed furiously under his gaze.
"Don't talk nonsense..." she whispered, secretly enjoying this unique favoritism.
But reason still made her frown slightly, and she earnestly advised, "We don't know anything about the depths of the Chamber of Secrets. No matter how capable you are, you can't act recklessly alone."
Draco, seeing her nervous yet earnest expression, chuckled and gently tugged at her soft cheek.
"Don't worry, I haven't even had a child with Miss Granger yet, why would I put myself in danger?"
Hermione's face turned bright red.
She suddenly opened her eyes wide and stared at Draco, her mind blank, and shrank back slightly.
" Draco Malfoy! We're not far from the professor's office!" Her voice rose slightly, but Hermione couldn't bring herself to be angry.
She could only lower her head and bite her lower lip tightly.
This guy always manages to throw her completely off balance with just a single sentence.
That afternoon, after class, the two found Hagrid at the Gamekeeper's Hut.
He was busy grooming Fang's fur when he saw Draco come in. He paused for a moment, then gave a good-natured smile.
Draco didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point. " Hagrid, there's something I need to tell you."
"The monster that wreaked havoc in the castle last night, causing the petrification, was the Basilisk from the Chamber of Secrets."
"I've solved it now."
The comb in Hagrid's hand fell to the ground with a clatter, and his massive body trembled slightly.
"Snake, Basilisk?"
His voice trembled; fifty years of pent-up grievances and panic surged up all at once.
"It really is Basilisk... Back then... I really didn't release it back then..."
Hermione looked at his reddened eyes and comforted him:
"We all know that no one blames you anymore, Dumbledore knows it too. We've come to you this time to ask you to help us completely close the Chamber of Secrets and permanently remove the curse."
Hagrid looked at the two of them in disbelief, choking back tears, "I... I can go too? I can help?"
"Yes." Draco nodded.
"Only when you personally walk to the end will this fifty-year-long injustice truly be over."
Hagrid rubbed his eyes hard and nodded emphatically.
"I'll go! Thank you, Draco Hermin, I'll go no matter how dangerous it is! Thank you... thank you for believing in me and giving me this opportunity..."
He was so excited that he didn't even notice his Fang rubbing against his feet.
Fifty years of stigma, fear, and grievances finally have a chance to be washed away at this moment.
That evening, while Ron and Neville were distracted by their playful antics, Draco secretly winked at Hermione.
The two men carried Harry, one in front and one behind, to a secluded, deserted window in the Gryffindor Tower.
Harry was still a little confused. Draco, after confirming that no one was around, put away his usual nonchalant expression and his tone became serious.
" Harry, there's something I have to tell you the truth."
He didn't hide anything and told Harry the whole truth.
"To completely break the curse and permanently close the Chamber of Secrets, we must use Parseltongue."
" Harry, we need you to come with us!"
Harry was stunned after hearing the whole thing, a mixture of shock and sudden realization washing over him.
He glanced at Hermione, who was nodding slightly to the side, and then at Draco, who looked serious.
After a few seconds of silence, he nodded heavily:
"I'll go. Since this concerns the safety of the entire school, I definitely have to go."
The plan was thus finalized.
Late that night, the castle fell into a deep sleep, with only the flickering torchlight in the corridors.
The command to enter the Gryffindor Common Room was given softly, and three figures slipped out silently.
Draco walked in front, cautiously observing his surroundings, Hermione carried the organized documents, and Harry gripped his wand tightly.
The three of them carefully avoided the night patroller Filch along the corridor at the back of the castle and arrived at the armored corridor on the west side of the castle on time.
In the dim light and shadow.
A tall figure was already waiting there.
Hagrid, wearing a thick coat, was both excited and nervous to see the three of them. "You've come!"
His eyes gleamed with anticipation; fifty years of injustice would finally come to an end tonight.
"Everyone's here, let's go," Draco said.