When Professor McGonagall appeared in the Chamber of Secrets, clutching Fawkes's tail feathers, Argus had already dealt with the basilisk.
His clothes were tattered and he slumped helplessly on the ground.
Seeing Professor McGonagall approach, he gave a tired smile.
"Professor McGonagall..."
"Merlin's beard!"
Professor McGonagall rushed to Argus as fast as she could.
Her eyes were more tense than ever before.
"Professor McGonagall, don't worry, it's just some superficial injuries."
As soon as Argus finished speaking, Fawkes came up to him.
Crystal-clear tears dripped onto his wound.
It made a sizzling sound like oil being cooked over a high flame.
Strangely, Argus's wound healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Professor McGonagall helped Argus up and examined him carefully. After confirming that Argus was not poisoned or had any other injuries, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Mr. Grindelwald, what on earth happened?!"
"It's a long story. Let's go to Headmaster Dumbledore's office first. I'll tell you the whole story there."
Argus had assumed it would be Snape who came, and his prepared remarks were directed at Snape.
Unexpectedly, it was Professor McGonagall!
Given Professor McGonagall's impartial nature, if she knew about Dumbledore's deal with her, why would she deliberately allow Harry and Ron, two clueless young wizards, to investigate the Chamber of Secrets in Slytherin?
I'm afraid I'll have a big fight with Dumbledore.
Although both are members of the Order of the Phoenix, Professor McGonagall seems to always carry out positive missions, except when she attends certain Order of the Phoenix gatherings in a more secretive manner.
This was the first time he had ever seen someone get involved in something that couldn't be made public.
Professor McGonagall frowned, as if realizing something, and looked at Argus with a complicated expression.
She opened her mouth, as if she wanted to say something.
She finally sighed.
"Mr. Grindelwald, I know what your background means."
"But as your professor, I still hope that you can ask me or other professors for help if you need anything."
"No matter what, you are still my student. It's far too dangerous for a twelve-year-old wizard to deal with a magical creature like a basilisk."
Argus remained silent for a long time, then nodded: "I understand, Professor McGonagall."
"If there is a next time, I will..."
"You want a next time?" Professor McGonagall's green eyes widened.
She still can't believe that a second-year wizard could kill the basilisk all by himself!
These terrifying magical creatures are so powerful that even the Aurors of the Ministry of Magic cannot handle them alone!
It takes the entire squad working together to barely manage to cope.
There might even be some casualties!
She glanced around briefly, making a rough judgment about what had happened during the battle.
There were obvious signs of injury around the eye, but the wound wasn't large, suggesting that Fawkes was responsible.
The basilisk's tail was pinned to the ground, and its body was mostly covered in wounds caused by falling boulders.
The scattered stones on the ground prove this point.
At only twelve years old, he was able to use the terrain to his advantage to deal with the basilisk and kill it.
It must be said... he truly deserves to be called the most talented student in Hogwarts' history.
Although Professor McGonagall was scolding him verbally, her actions did not falter at all.
Ignoring the dust on Argus's clothes, she supported him with one hand and gestured for Fawkes to take the two away with the other.
"Wait a minute, Professor McGonagall, there's something else I think you need to take care of first."
"Nothing is more important than you getting checked out now!"
"Professor McGonagall, look over there!"
Argus shook his head helplessly and pointed to the basilisk not far away.
Lockhart's mangled corpse lay on the ground, his eyes fixed on the cave ceiling.
He died with his eyes wide open in disbelief!
"Professor Lockhart?" Professor McGonagall was pale.
Her instinct was to check the situation.
She had just taken a step when she suddenly realized that she was still supporting Argus, so she quickly stopped.
"Professor McGonagall, go check on him. I'll be fine on my own."
"Okay, wait a moment, I'll take a quick look and then we'll go to the principal's office together."
In fact, Professor McGonagall knew in her heart that Lockhart was probably already dead.
But he was a professor at Hogwarts, after all; he couldn't just die without knowing why!
After a quick examination, Professor McGonagall took out her wand and put Lockhart's body into an empty Undetectable Extension Charm pouch.
She beckoned Fawkes to her, and then disappeared into the cave with Argus.
...
Flames ignited.
Two people and a phoenix appeared in Dumbledore's office.
Professor McGonagall helped Argus sit down.
"Fawkes has almost finished treating my injuries, Professor McGonagall."
"Wait here for a moment, I'll go to Madam Pomfrey's to get some medicine for treatment." Professor McGonagall ignored him and walked out of the principal's office on her own.
After a while, she came in carrying several bottles of different colored potions.
"Drink these."
Argus dared not make any unnecessary movements.
He obediently picked up the bottles of medicine and drank them one by one.
To be honest, perhaps to make the young Hogwarts wizards remember it better, Madam Pomfrey's potions tasted much worse than those sold at St. Mungo's or other shops.
Not long after he finished drinking, a wave of heat traveled through Argus's body.
White mist sprayed out of the ears and nostrils.
As the mist was expelled, Argus clearly felt much more relaxed.
Just then, Dumbledore pushed open the door and walked in.
His expression was serious, and his gaze toward Argus was filled with intense scrutiny.
He couldn't understand why things had turned out this way, since he had arranged everything so perfectly!
"Argus, what happened in the Chamber of Secrets?! Why were Harry and Ron hit by the Memory Charm?!"
"What! Harry and Ron have been hit by the Memory Charm!" Professor McGonagall was completely taken aback.
One night, three students were injured and a professor was killed!
Throughout the entire history of Hogwarts, such a heinous incident has never occurred before!
"I won't go into details about what happened before we entered the secret room; I'll only talk about what happened after we entered."
Argus had long anticipated this scene.
With a calm expression, he said, "Shortly after Harry, Ron, and Lockhart went inside, they saw the basilisk's molted skin. Lockhart fainted on the spot. Then the basilisk appeared, and Fawkes gouged out its eyes."
"This also drove the basilisk mad, causing it to roll around inside the cave and collapse many stone pillars, which is why Fawkes was hit."
"After Fawkes was struck by the stone pillar, the basilisk went berserk and lunged at Harry and Ron again."
"I spotted the right spot and used a collapsed stone pillar at the top of the cave to pin the basilisk's tail to the ground, saving Harry and Ron's lives."
"A wise move!" Dumbledore had already learned the details from Fawkes, which were basically consistent with what Argus had said.
He pictured the cave scene in his mind.
Given the circumstances at the time, Argus's actions were indeed the optimal solution.
He nodded, signaling him to continue.
Argus cleared his throat and continued speaking…
…
100 Powerstones = 1 Bonus Chapter Tomorrow!
Help us reach the goal!
The book is likely Already Finished there. Don't wait for daily updates—read the complete story + R-18 scenes right now!
[email protected]/Ren Saga