Chapter 24
"This matter can only be left to you three to investigate discreetly. If I take direct action, although I could deal with the basilisk, it would alert the enemy. The mastermind behind the scenes would certainly go into hiding, and then we would never be able to catch him."
"Of course, before that, I will first go confirm the basilisk's situation and ensure that for now, it cannot appear and harm anyone." Lucien's words still echoed faintly in their ears.
When Hermione and the other two walked out of Lucien's office, their expressions had completely changed! After all, they were the only people Professor Lucien trusted to uncover the mastermind!
At the same time, Hermione and Ron now wore a pair of thin, non-prescription glasses on their noses—the basilisk's gaze could kill anyone who met its eyes directly, but with lenses as a buffer, the lethal effect would turn into petrification.
"Harry, you were really bold back there. For a moment, I thought we were going to get kicked out, just like at Hagrid's." Ron let out a long breath and patted Harry's shoulder.
"You were far too rude to the professor, Harry! Just like Camille said, before criticising someone, you should at least use your brain to think it through properly!" Hermione finished speaking, didn't wait for his response, and stormed off in a huff.
Although the task the professor had assigned was important, today of all days, she didn't want to work with these two idiots! "Hey, Hermione!" Ron watched her walk away without looking back, scratched his head. "Why is she so angry this time?"
"So her name is Camille..." Harry stared at Hermione's retreating figure and murmured in a daze.
"What are you on about, mate? Why do I feel like you've been out of it?" Ron's face suddenly loomed large in Harry's view!his nose was almost touching Harry's as he peered up curiously at Harry's expression.
"Could it be that the basilisk's voice affected you somehow? Or is speaking Parseltongue really tiring—oh, right, what does it feel like when you're speaking the snake language? Tell me!"
"I—I'm fine!" Harry hurriedly pushed him away, and the two headed toward the Gryffindor common room.
"Parseltongue... it doesn't feel like anything special when I speak it. In fact, it feels just like talking normally. If you hadn't told me, I really wouldn't have known that my voice had changed at that moment." Before leaving completely, Harry couldn't help but turn his head one last time for a final glance at Lucien's office.
"That professor is a bit off, isn't he? Though for now, I think his intentions are good." Ron noticed his movement, clasped his hands behind his head, and casually discussed it.
"Yeah." Harry nodded, but in his mind was the image of that blonde figure who had scolded him. If his mother hadn't died, when he made a mistake, would she have corrected him sternly just like that?
The house-elf Barton's figure appeared in the owlery.
Because he had Barton, who was skilled at Apparition, as an assistant, whether in terms of secrecy or efficiency, he far surpassed owls. Lucien rarely used these creatures in daily life. Even during times when dark wizards were rampant, Barton, as Lucien's trusted delivery guy, had played a significant role.
He hadn't expected that now, in the safe environment of Hogwarts, he would lose one of his functions.
Thinking of this, Barton felt a slight sense of loss—why did people always maliciously misinterpret someone as pure-hearted as his master?
"Tap tap tap."
A pebble suddenly struck the ground not far from Barton. he turned his head toward the direction it came from—at the end of his line of sight, in the corner of the wall, a thin, small hand flashed by.
It looked just like a house-elf's hand.
Barton thought of the group of house-elves working in the kitchens and felt some confusion; after all, with the personality of that bunch, they shouldn't be capable of something like this.
This is unusual... Barton first tucked the letter Lucien had given him into the tube tied to an owl's leg, then turned his attention to the matter at hand.
"Tap tap tap."
At that moment, another pebble was gently tossed over, as if someone around the corner was waiting, hoping to lure Barton closer in this way "Come out. If you want to have a proper conversation with me, I'll only give you three seconds to think about it."
Barton didn't approach rashly; instead, he cautiously took a step back.
"3... 2... 1."
When Barton counted down to 1, a sharp, low whisper suddenly came from around the corner "No—no, don't go. Dobby means no harm."
A house-elf dressed in what looked like an old pillowcase emerged from the wall corner.
"Dobby?" Barton warily watched this "unusual" house-elf, one hand quietly clenching.
"You're not one of the house-elves from Hogwarts castle, are you? Who is your master?"
"Don't—don't be nervous—Dobby means no harm—Dobby's master is—" The elf named Dobby suddenly went mad halfway through his sentence.
He slammed his head hard against the stone wall before continuing to speak to Barton "Lucius Malfoy."
"The Malfoy family?" A clear look of disgust appeared on Barton's face. "As their servant, what business do you have here?"
"Dobby wants to protect Harry Potter. Dobby overheard—what Harry Potter said to your master. Hogwarts castle is very dangerous now! There is a plot! Terrible things will happen at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this year! Dobby's master placed an evil thing in Hogwarts." After finishing, Dobby let out a comical sob and frantically began banging his head against the wall again.
Barton looked at him with pity, a flash of compassion in his eyes "Stop talking about it. You're using physical punishment to circumvent the restrictions of the master-servant bond, aren't you?"
Dobby suddenly raised his head, his forehead dripping with blood, staring at Barton in shock—looking both stunned and pitiful.
"I'll speak from now on. You can just nod or shake your head."Barton sighed as he looked at the dazed Dobby; if he hadn't met Lucien, his own situation probably wouldn't have been much better than Dobby's.
It was Lucien who taught him what freedom was, what equality was, and the power of knowledge, and it was all of that which had shaped the Barton of today.
"The danger you're talking about—is it related to the Chamber of Secrets incident?"
Dobby paused for a moment, then nodded repeatedly.
"If it's about that, Mr. Potter already knows about it. My master is also preparing to intervene, so you don't need to worry anymore."
"Really?" Dobby's eyes widened. "But it's a basilisk! Can your master really kill it?!"
"Yes—I am Barton. Dobby, do you want to come with me to meet my master? He can definitely handle the information you've brought better."
"No—no thank you—As long as Harry Potter is safe, Dobby will be at ease—thank you—thank you, Barton. Dobby has to go now." Before leaving, he looked back at Barton with a hint of reluctance.
"Dobby... can Dobby come find you again next time? Barton, can i become like you. Dobby envies you very much—Dobby also longs for freedom." Dobby looked at Barton, his small hands nervously twisting together as he anxiously awaited his response.
"As long as my master hasn't called for me, you can find me in the house-elf kitchen during mealtimes."
Note : Drop Powerstones.
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