Almost Took the Blame Again

It was already late when the four of them left the library. On their way back to the common room, Harry heard the voice again. They followed it, only to turn a corner and find Nearly Headless Nick and Justin Finch-Fletchley petrified.

Mia hurried over and crouched down to examine them. There were spiders on the floor again.

"How could this happen? Have more people been attacked?" Harry hurriedly crouched down too.

"What on earth is this?" Hermione studied the condition of the boy and the ghost.

"Merlin's underpants, this is terrifying. Even ghosts aren't safe." Ron screwed up his face.

"Harry, whatever you do from now on, all of you need to be careful." Seeing how much more dangerous things were getting, Mia could no longer worry about anything else. "I suspect it might be a Basilisk. Looking directly at a Basilisk kills you. Nearly Headless Nick is only a ghost, so he didn't die. Justin most likely met the Basilisk's gaze through the ghost, which is why he was only petrified too."

"A Basilisk? No wonder Harry could hear..." Hermione had also read a book about Basilisks and knew what they were.

"How do you know that?" Harry thought his sister had been doing dangerous things behind his back again.

"It's only a guess. I haven't confirmed it yet, but it's almost certainly right." Mia felt she had to pick up the pace. She had to find clues connected to the Chamber of Secrets as soon as possible.

"Then what do we do?" Ron looked at the two people on the floor.

"Caught you in the act! You're getting expelled this time for sure!" Filch's voice suddenly came from behind them.

"Looks like we don't have to worry now." Mia was still in the mood to joke.

The four of them were escorted to the Headmaster's Office.

"Merlin's swimsuit," Ron exclaimed under his breath, looking around the Headmaster's Office. The Sorting Hat had been placed on a shelf, and there was a bird beside it. Just after Harry smiled at the bird, it burst into flames and burned to ashes.

"! Mia!" Harry panicked at once and looked helplessly at Mia. He hadn't even cleared himself of suspicion of murder yet. Was he going to be suspected of killing a bird too?

"No, don't panic." Mia immediately understood what was going on in Harry's little head. "That's a phoenix. It's perfectly normal for it to be reborn."

"Whoa, that's so cool?" Ron leaned closer to examine the ashes, and a red bird's head poked out.

"When a phoenix nears the end of its life, it burns to ashes and is reborn from them, symbolizing immortality and cycles. Phoenix Tears also have powerful healing properties, and a phoenix's song has magic in it. It can give courage to the pure and strike fear into the wicked." Hermione, the walking encyclopedia, explained it to the two ignorant academic underachievers.

Harry breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness, he hadn't been blamed for a bird's death too.

Fawkes emerged from the ashes, shook himself off, and flew onto Mia's shoulder, rubbing against her affectionately. "Fawkes, long time no see."

"Mia, how do you know him?" Harry, Ron, and Hermione watched the affectionate girl and bird curiously.

"Ah, well, um, maybe he thinks I look friendly." Cold sweat broke out on Mia's back. She guiltily looked away and gave a vague answer. Could she say it was because she had set fire to the Forbidden Forest and faced Voldemort alone? Harry would be furious.

"But very few people can win a phoenix's favor... Could it be?"

Hermione's words really frightened Mia. Had Hermione guessed?

"Mia, you really are amazing! Even a phoenix approves of you!" Ron cheerfully patted Harry on the shoulder. "Harry, your sister is amazing."

Good Ron, well done! To reward you, I'll double your training. I'll make sure you get strong enough to take on a Death Eater alone!

A chill ran down Ron's back. Hey! Someone's plotting against me!

"An excellent explanation. Five points for Miss Granger's erudition." Dumbledore finally made a leisurely appearance.

"Headmaster." The four of them quickly grew serious.

"Good evening, children. Would you like a cup of hot cocoa?" Dumbledore didn't look suspicious of them in the slightest. Instead, he quite casually invited them to sit down and have some hot cocoa.

"No, thank you. You should eat less sugar too."

"Oh, how is your Potions research going? How is the patient?" Dumbledore tried to change the subject.

"The potion is fine, and so is the patient. Headmaster, Professor Snape has said many times that if you still don't take care, he'll make your medicine bitter." Mia politely declined Dumbledore's offer and dealt him a critical hit.

"What unfortunate news. Are you going to deprive an old man of his happiness?" Dumbledore could no longer smile, because Snape kept his word.

"No, I think..." Mia was about to speak when the door flew open with a bang, startling her.

"!" Why do I keep getting startled every day?

"Professor Dumbledore, wait, listen to me, Professor Dumbledore-why are you here?" It was Hagrid, and he was eager to say something.

"Hagrid..." Dumbledore raised a hand to stop him.

"I can swear it in front of the Ministry of Magic..." Hagrid looked terrible, and Mia watched him worriedly.

"Hagrid!" Dumbledore raised his voice, finally stopping him. "Calm down. I don't believe Harry attacked anyone."

"All right, all right, then I, I'll wait for you outside." Only then did Hagrid leave, reassured.

So he had come for them. Mia felt warmth in her heart.

"You don't think it was me, Professor?" Harry turned to look at Dumbledore.

"No, Harry, I don't think it was you. But I must ask, is there anything you want to tell me?"

"No, sir. Nothing."

"All right, you may go."