Hogwarts: Don't call me Wandmaker

Chapter 106 The Crying Myrtle, The Person Occupying the Washroom
To be honest, what happened tonight was really beyond the professors' comprehension.

First, Shiren was suddenly petrified by mysterious dark magic at Hogwarts, then he was attacked by a ghost unicorn, and then Shiren inexplicably recovered.

Before the professors could even figure out what was happening, the newly recovered Xilun threw them an even more unbelievable message.

"Basilisk?"

Professor McGonagall kept repeating the name, completely at a loss for words.

Professor Flitwick, standing next to him, tugged hard at his already sparse hair.

Even Lockhart fell silent, standing there blankly, seemingly wondering which adventure to place the basilisk in, but it seemed that no place would be suitable... But then again, what is a basilisk?
"You mean, you saw the Basilisk?" Dumbledore was the first to react.

“Yes, I saw it.” Celen nodded. “A snake at least fifty feet long, with eyes as big as light bulbs.”

"nonsense!"

Snape scoffed, "How could there be a basilisk at Hogwarts? I think you're just too scared and hallucinating."

Although the other professors weren't as direct as him, their expressions clearly showed that they didn't quite believe Siron's words either.

After all, basilisks have been extinct for centuries, so it's a bit hard to believe that Siron suddenly claims to have seen one in the school castle.

"But as far as I know, anyone who sees the basilisk's eyes will be killed by it."

Dumbledore was the only one who didn't deny it. He looked at Sirius and asked softly, "Can you tell me how you escaped?"

“The soul of the unicorn,” Siren said. “I am the basilisk I saw through it, so I am still alive.”

“That sounds reasonable.” Dumbledore nodded and looked around.

The ghost of that unicorn has vanished, and no one knows when it disappeared.

"Did you know that not looking directly into the basilisk's eyes would be fatal? Or rather, it was just a lucky coincidence."

“I…I’ve read books about basilisks,” Siron said.

"So that bottle of mandrake juice was also left by you, right?" Dumbledore continued, "so that we could make the resurrection potion later."

“Yes.” Xiren nodded, rolled up his sleeve to reveal a deformed lizard skin bag inside.

"I made this during my vacation, and it just so happened that I needed mandrake juice."

“Oh, a very primitive shapeshifting lizard skin bag.” Dumbledore’s face showed a knowing look.

As an alchemist, he naturally knew that mandrake juice was the key material for making the shapeshifting lizard skin bag, and he could also tell that the skin bag in Siron was only recently made.

It's not surprising that he carries mandrake juice with him.

Dumbledore stood up, walked along the corridor, and then suddenly stopped.

"Let's go to the second floor."

“Dumbledore, you don’t actually believe him, do you?” Snape couldn’t help but say. “Perhaps it’s just a prank, and someone just used a special petrification charm on Ollivander.”

Snape thought this way mainly because Siren had inexplicably returned to normal just now...

No need for dispelling magic or resurrection potions, just passing through the ghost's body and the petrification spell is lifted? If it really is a basilisk, how could it be so easy?

“Ah, Professor Snape, I am willing to believe Mr. Ollivander,” said Dumbledore.

"But……"

“I suggest you take a look at this.” Dumbledore bent down, picked up something, and showed it to everyone.

It was a grayish-white object, about the size of two coins.

"Snakeskin?" Snape was the first to recognize what it was.

It was the skin that a snake shed; many potions used this, and he knew it all too well.

But why would there be snakeskin in Hogwarts Castle? And judging from the patterns on it, the snake must have been very large.

Could it really be a basilisk monster?

Snape fell silent.

"Let's go." Dumbledore said gravely.

After he finished speaking, all the staircases changed direction and quickly formed a staircase leading directly to the second floor.

“Mr. Ollivander,” Dumbledore said, looking at Shiren again, “the situation may be dangerous, and given that you have just survived a terrible attack, I suggest you return to the common room now.”

“It’s alright.” Xiren immediately stood up, dragging his broken arm as he was the first to walk up the stairs. “I can take you there; it’ll be faster that way.”

Xilun's attitude was firm.

If he hadn't reacted quickly, and if it weren't for the unicorn soul in the silver mane, he might have been bitten to death by the basilisk.

Even if they manage to escape unscathed, they will have to spend half a school year in a petrified state.

This matter cannot be left alone.

Moreover, Xilun had a vague feeling that the serpent monster was coming for him. Although he didn't know why, he figured once in a while was enough.

The diary doesn't matter, but the basilisk must die! "Come back, Ollivander..." Professor McGonagall's voice came from behind, but Siron ignored it and continued walking forward, even quickening his pace.

“I’ll protect Mr. Ollivander. I killed a basilisk back in Peru.” Lockhart stepped forward. “I’m planning to write about it in my next book, so you can leave it to me without any problems…”

“No need, Professor Lockhart.” Professor McGonagall pushed him away and was about to chase after Siren when Dumbledore raised his hand and said softly:

"It's alright, Minerva, don't worry, no one else will get hurt tonight."

Dumbledore's voice wasn't loud, but no one doubted the truth of his words.

If Sirius were here, he would have noticed that Dumbledore now held a wand with a peculiar shape, completely different from the one he had seen last year.

"Hurry up and catch up. Hopefully, we can resolve this before dawn..." Dumbledore also walked up the stairs, then seemed to remember something and turned back to say, "Professor Lockhart, could you please stay here? If any students want to go out at night, please tell them that tonight is not a good time."

Lockhart stopped abruptly as he took the first step.

He definitely wanted to go with them; everyone knew that the safest place in the wizarding world was within ten feet of Albus Dumbledore.

If we stay here, what if that basilisk comes back?

"Well... I'd rather help..."

Lockhart wanted to refuse, but Dumbledore didn't give him a chance to speak and went straight down the stairs.

The other professors quickly followed suit.

When Lockhart was the only one left on the eighth floor, he hesitated for only a moment before gritting his teeth and running straight back to his office.

On the other side, Xilun had already gone up the stairs to the second floor and then continued all the way to the door of Myrtle's washroom.

Fortunately, the professors were fast and caught up quickly.

“This is it,” Siren said, pointing to the bathroom door. “The basilisk came out from here.”

With his mind filled with images of basilisks, Siron didn't notice the complicated looks the professors behind him were giving him.

They had walked through three corridors on the second floor, but when Xilun led the way, he didn't stop, hesitate, or even check the direction; he simply stopped at the door.

They couldn't understand why Xilun was so familiar with the location of a girls' restroom, as if he had been there countless times.

"Are you sure this is the place?" Professor McGonagall couldn't help but ask.

The petrified area in Xilun was on the eighth floor, but this is on the second floor, separated by six floors and at least three corridors.

She racked her brains but couldn't figure out how Xilun had managed to run through those three corridors and six floors while being attacked by the basilisk, and how the professors hadn't heard a single sound during that process.

“Yes, I saw it.” Xiren nodded vigorously, his eyes filled with unwavering determination.

As the only person who saw the basilisk during the attack and was nearly killed, no matter how illogical his words were, the others could only take them as fact. After all, he saw it; the process didn't matter.

At this time, Snape also found another snakeskin on the floor in front of the washroom.

It's the same snake as the one found on the eighth floor, so it's almost certain to be the same snake.

Now, everyone had no choice but to believe it.

Dumbledore glanced at Siron, who was at that moment Professor McGonagall was bandaging his broken arm.

"Don't stray too far from me." Her eyes flickered slightly as she pushed open the bathroom door.

Everyone immediately heard a loud, piercing cry coming from inside.

It was a ghost, sitting on the toilet, wailing loudly.

"Good evening, Miss Warren," said Dumbledore.

"Who's there!" Upon hearing this unusual address, Myrtle instinctively looked up.

Upon seeing Dumbledore in front of her, she suddenly froze, even forgetting that she was still crying.

“Oh, Headmaster, what brings you here?” Myrtle floated up to Dumbledore, straightening her clothes slightly, completely ignoring the professors behind her.

“Something bad happened at school tonight,” Dumbledore said. “Can you tell me why you were sad just now?”

"Someone has taken over my washroom and is chasing me away with things!" Myrtle said in a pitiful voice. "They probably think it's fun to watch me being chased by Mischief."

"When did this happen?" Dumbledore asked.

Myrtle tried to recall, "About an hour ago."

Professor McGonagall frowned, realizing that something was amiss.

Someone came to this restroom about an hour ago, around 8 o'clock. The Halloween party had just ended, and everyone should have returned to the common lounge. Who would have gone to this restroom on the second floor?
Could someone be controlling the Basilisk? Professor McGonagall suddenly had a terrifying thought.

Someone came to this washroom at night, and then the basilisk came out. What a coincidence!

But who is that person...? A student, or a professor?
Thinking of a certain possibility, Professor McGonagall felt a chill run down her spine, and she clenched her hands tightly together.

……

(End of this chapter)