Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 309: The Story of the Locked Room
He cleared his throat, making a soft sound like chalk snapping, and continued:

"That October, a special group composed of Sardinian magicians—"

He stopped, stammering. Hermione then waved her hand in the air again.

"Miss Granger?"

"I would like to ask you, sir, that legends are based on some factual basis, aren't they?"

Professor Binns looked at her, utterly astonished.

"All right,"

Professor Binns said slowly,
"Yes, I think you could say that."

He stared intently at Hermione, as if he had never properly observed a student before.
"But the legend you're talking about is a very sensational, even ridiculous, story..."

Now, the whole class is listening intently to every word Professor Binns says.

He looked at them with failing eyesight, and saw that every face was turned toward him.

Harry could tell that the unusually strong interest shown by everyone was putting Mr. Binns in a very difficult position.

"Oh, okay then,"

He spoke slowly,
“Let me think…The Chamber of Secrets…You all surely know that Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was founded over a thousand years ago—the exact date is uncertain—by ​​the four greatest wizards of the time.”

The four houses are named after them: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin.

Together they built this castle, far from the prying eyes of Muggles, because in those days people feared magic, and wizards suffered much persecution.

Professor Binns' words made everyone crane their necks.

"At the beginning, they were very good friends and worked towards the same goal."

They worked together harmoniously, searching far and wide for young people who showed signs of magic, bringing them to the castle to nurture them properly.

However, disagreements gradually arose between them.

The rift between Slytherin and the others was widening. Slytherin wanted Hogwarts to be more selective in its admissions. He believed magical education should be confined to pure-wizard families. He was unwilling to accept Muggle-born children, considering them unreliable.

Some time later, Slytherin and Gryffindor had a heated argument about this, and then Slytherin left the school.

Professor Binns paused again, pouting his lips, looking just like a wrinkled old tortoise.
"That's all the reliable historical data tells us."

"The locked room, Professor?"

Hermione sensed they were getting close to the truth, and she quickly asked.

"The Chamber of Secrets—it is precisely this strange legend that obscures the true facts. The story says that Slytherin built a secret room in the castle, unknown to the other founders."

According to this legend, Slytherin sealed the Chamber of Secrets so that no one could open it until his true successor came to the school.

Only that heir can open the secret chamber, release the terrifying entity within, and allow it to purify the school, eliminating all those unworthy to learn magic.

The story is over.

The class was silent, but not the drowsy silence that Professor Binns usually gave.

"I understand……"

Hermione's face turned pale; everything was connected.

The man named Tom Riddle is the heir to Slytherin. He wanted to release the monster, but Sheen stopped him.

But who is Tom Riddle?

"The diary, Hermione, the diary."

Harry wasn't much better off.

Hogwarts is hiding such a monster. If it weren't for Sheen's nightly battles, would the basilisk have already been released?
"Let me tell you, that thing doesn't exist at all."

Professor Binns, while organizing his notes, said,
"There are no secret rooms, and no monsters."

……

after class.

On the way to Hope Hut.

Ron stammered, trembling: “I’ve always known Salazar Slytherin was a crazy old lunatic.”

But I didn't know he was the one who came up with this purebred nonsense. Even if he gave me money for free, I wouldn't go to his academy.

To be honest, if the Sorting Hat had sorted me into Slytherin, I would have taken the train home without hesitation…

Harry believed he wouldn't dare do that, because Mrs. Weasley would most likely throw him back.

But he believed that Ron did not discriminate against Muggle wizards at all.

"We need to find Ginny."

Hermione stared into their eyes and said,

"As for the basalis's fangs, Harry, look there..."

Harry turned his head to the side, and there on Sheen's desk sat a huge tooth, lying there calmly.

"He's incredibly strong... I dare say, if that old madman Slytherin were alive today, he would definitely change his mind."

Because at his age, Sheen could take on ten of him…

Ron could already guess what had happened in the secret room.
"I always feel like something's missing... Where's Sheen?"

Hermione and Harry stood up at the same time.

At this time of year, Sheen should be reading in Hope Hut.

He also eats breakfast; I've never seen him skip breakfast.

As they rushed to the girls' restroom on the second floor, they saw Ginny.

Ginny, what are you doing here?

Ron pretended to talk to Ginny, while Hermione immediately spotted the old book that seemed out of place with the new one.

"Harry, look at that..."

Hermione said.

Harry followed her gaze, quietly moved closer to Ginny, and stealthily took out the old notebook.

The process went surprisingly smoothly.

It's as if he also thought of this notebook.

Harry immediately recognized it as a diary; the faded date on the cover indicated it was fifty years old.

He eagerly turned the page, and on the first page, he could only make out a name written in blurry ink: TM Riddle.

"...Oh, yes, goodbye."

Ron was poked in the shoulder, and he quickly ended the conversation. The group hurriedly left.

However, the moment Ron saw the diary, he yelled:

“I remember now! I know this name… Riddle received a special award for his contributions to the school fifty years ago.”

"Ron, let's talk about the rest later."

Harry gripped the snake's fang, ready to stab.

“Wait a minute, Harry, we haven’t found Sheen yet. It might be useful.”

Hermione stopped Harry.

They had already arrived at the entrance of the girls' washroom on the second floor.

Recently, the mischievous pixie has been causing a lot of damage here, and no one has wanted to come here for a long time.

As soon as she slipped inside, Hermione covered her mouth.

Harry and Ron could see her eyes fill with tears in an instant.

They then found the petrified alchemical frog in the pool.

(End of this chapter)