Headmaster Dumbledore looked at Amanda, who was being held by the arm by Hermione, and felt a wave of numbness on his scalp.
He had once taught Tom, so he knew that he was Voldemort.
But even he knew almost nothing about the Gaunt family or the Chamber of Secrets.
Yet Amanda, relying solely on some book contents, had deduced that Voldemort was once the model Hogwarts student, Tom Riddle.
She could even deduce that he was the Heir of Slytherin and had opened the Chamber of Secrets fifty years ago.
She could even deduce that the monster in the Chamber of Secrets was a Basilisk, based on the books and some details at the scene.
Looking at Amanda with a complex gaze, Headmaster Dumbledore began to feel glad that she had Hermione and a group of friends by her side.
Otherwise, if this girl ever walked a path similar to Voldemort's, she would surely be an existence even more terrifying than him.
"You... you stupid monster! You mudblood, how dare you!"
Among the Slytherin Little Snakes, who felt as if the sky had fallen, someone finally reacted.
A sixth-year Young Wizard who believed in pure-blood supremacy pulled out his wand and pointed it directly at Amanda, his blurted-out insults not even caring that the Professors were still there.
Her explanation of Voldemort's background was well-founded, especially that anagram, which left no room for rebuttal.
That Voldemort was a half-blood was clearly already an established fact.
But it was precisely because of this that these Young Wizards from Pure-blood families were even angrier.
Didn't this mean their families had been deceived? Didn't it mean the pure-blood ideology they had always pursued was fundamentally a joke?
This was something they absolutely could not accept!
"What's this? Want a fight!"
Unfortunately, it wasn't just Slytherin students present; the Ravenclaw Eagles were there too.
Before Amanda could even pull out her wand, a sixth-year Little Eagle pulled out his wand and pointed it directly at that sixth-year Slytherin, a small cluster of sparks even emerging from the tip of his wand.
Clearly ready to act, the Slytherin froze for a moment, gritting his teeth as he looked at the Ravenclaw next to him.
If it came to a fight, there was no way he could beat a Ravenclaw in his own year.
These nerds read a lot, so they knew a lot of Charms.
But wasn't it said that these nerds were usually immersed in their own worlds and didn't care about others? Why was an upperclassman standing up for that damn Amanda now?
"Lower your wand, Karochi."
Another Slytherin seventh-year raised his wand and pointed it at Karochi, who was confronting his junior.
"The ones who should lower their wands are you."
Penelope's usually gentle voice was unusually cold. As soon as she finished speaking, all the Little Eagles raised their wands, pointing them at the Slytherins near them.
The Little Badgers, who usually had the mildest temperaments, also raised their wands and joined the Little Eagles in surrounding the Slytherins.
The Gryffindors also pulled out their wands without hesitation; whenever it came to dealing with Slytherin, they had to have a hand in it.
As for Amanda, she was already firmly shielded behind Hermione, Harry, and Ron.
With three entire houses pointing wands at Slytherin, Professor Snape's face turned livid.
Headmaster Dumbledore also looked toward Amanda with some uncertainty.
The Ravenclaws had always been solitary, focusing only on their own fields of research.
How did Amanda manage to get them all to unite and present such a united front against outsiders?
More importantly, why were the Hufflepuffs getting involved?
Just as he was about to speak and tell everyone to lower their wands, Amanda stepped out of the "protective circle" of Hermione and the other two before he could.
"I am only telling the truth," Amanda's voice remained as flat and mechanical as ever. "Based on known information and logical analysis, I can ensure that the accuracy of the results I provide is over ninety percent."
"If you are skeptical, you can provide evidence or materials to refute me. I would be very grateful for someone to correct my mistakes."
Amanda's face was expressionless, but her words were polite.
However, in the next moment, her words made everyone feel that things were about to take a bad turn.
Looking at those Ravenclaws being pointed at with wands by the Slytherin Little Snakes.
And even the Little Snakes pointing wands at Hermione and the others, Amanda spoke words that felt incredibly familiar to Draco Malfoy.
"But now, may I understand that you are posing a threat to Hermione, to everyone in Ravenclaw, and to everyone in Hufflepuff?"
After she finished speaking, the surrounding air seemed to freeze. Everyone couldn't help but look toward Amanda.
But in the next moment, they couldn't bear it and looked away. Piercing, scorching—this was the sensation they received from Amanda.
Only Headmaster Dumbledore was able to maintain his gaze on her.
"We... didn't mean that." Draco Malfoy was the first to lower his wand.
He looked like a frost-bitten eggplant, completely devoid of spirit.
"Draco!" Pansy cried out in disbelief as she looked at him.
The honor of the Pure-blood families was being sullied, their pursuits were being destroyed—how could they just let it go like this?
"Malfoy!"
"Draco!"
Shouts continued to ring out from within Slytherin. Some were confused, some were unwilling to lower their wands, but some saw that the situation was not right and tactfully lowered theirs.
After all, the story of what happened between this Amanda and the Malfoy father and son in Diagon Alley had circulated quite widely.
"Lower your wands! Have you all forgotten about self-preservation?"
Draco said through gritted teeth. Did these people think he wanted to back down?
It was because he had no choice. That Amanda from Ravenclaw might look calm and indifferent, as if nothing mattered to her.
But when she actually made a move, she was a lunatic! Completely reckless.
If he didn't get these people to lower their wands, he had no doubt that Amanda could use magic to throw them all down from the second floor.
Self-preservation. Upon hearing these words, the Little Snakes' reason finally returned, and they tucked away their wands one after another.
Seeing them put away their wands, The Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs followed suit, and the Gryffindors also put away their wands and returned to their positions.
"You, you all are truly," Professor McGonagall said, unable to bear it as she looked at the Young Wizards, clutching her chest and speaking angrily, "Slytherin, for insulting a classmate, fifty points will be deducted. For drawing wands on a classmate, fifty points. Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Gryffindor will also each have fifty points deducted for drawing wands on classmates."
Headmaster Dumbledore listened silently from the side, a hint of helplessness in his eyes. The conflict between the four houses of Hogwarts was, after all, growing larger and larger.
Professor Flitwick, however, tilted his head slightly and gave the Little Eagles a look of approval.
Knowing to unite and protect their own—not bad.
Professor Sprout was indifferent; in her view, there was nothing wrong with what the Little Badgers had done.
It was just that this new generation of Little Badgers was a bit more hot-tempered.
Ravenclaw had fifty points deducted. Amanda listened to Professor McGonagall's words, her face unchanging, but thoughts were rapidly surfacing in her mind.
Everyone pulled out their wands to confront Slytherin because of her, because she had analyzed Voldemort's background. So... was she the primary reason for the point deduction?
Having reached a "correct conclusion," Amanda lowered her head and walked down a few steps to enter the group of Eagles.
Seeing Amanda with her head bowed, the Little Eagles thought their darling had been frightened. They were just about to comfort her when they heard their darling's signature stiff tone.
"I'm sorry, everyone. Because of me, Ravenclaw had points deducted."
"What?" The Little Eagles were collectively stunned for a moment, then immediately became lively, with everyone chiming in.
"This has nothing to do with you, Amanda."
"It's not your fault. That Slytherin pointed his wand at you first."
Everyone comforted Amanda all at once, until finally Penelope signaled for everyone to stop.
"Amanda, we in Ravenclaw are a whole," Penelope said, placing both hands on Amanda's shoulders. "You are the darling of us all."
The surrounding Little Eagles all nodded in agreement, even the first-year Little Eagles.
They also really liked this senior who taught seriously and was extremely patient when helping them with their homework.
"So no matter who bullies you, we will present a united front. Do you understand? This isn't your mistake; this is Ravenclaw's choice."
When the goshawk spreads its wings, it will firmly shield those it wants to protect beneath them.
"I understand. Thank you, everyone."
Amanda raised her head, her tone still stiff, but a few crystal tears slid from the corners of her eyes.
For some reason, her heart felt as if it were burning.
And she felt so warm all around. Her body felt so tired, she wanted to sleep... but it wasn't her time to sleep yet. She shook her head, and a warm embrace supported her from behind.
"Tired?" Cho Chang whispered gently in her ear.
Amanda hesitated for a moment, then slowly nodded.
Hermione, seeing Amanda protected in the middle of The Ravenclaws and supported by Senior Cho Chang, breathed a sigh of relief. At least she was alright.
Thinking about what Amanda had just said, she took a deep breath and turned to look at Professor McGonagall.
"Professor McGonagall," Hermione swallowed nervously, "Amanda pointed out the secret of the Chamber of Secrets and even revealed the secret of You-Know-Who. Doesn't she deserve to have points added?"
Professor McGonagall froze for a moment, looking at Amanda, who was surrounded in the middle of the Ravenclaw Eagles.
This... why did it feel like she had become the villain? Shaking her head in amusement, Professor McGonagall shifted her gaze to Hermione.
She hadn't even realized her own feelings yet, but she was already starting to protect her. It seemed that their house's Miss Granger was a person of deep affection.
Professor McGonagall looked at Hermione with approval, tilting her chin up slightly and saying seriously.
"She certainly deserves it. However, as for the points for Miss Amanda, I'll let Professor Flitwick handle that."
As she spoke, she turned to look at Professor Flitwick, who nodded.
"Miss Amanda, your reading volume and thinking ability are undoubtedly the strongest among all the students I have taught. For the truth you have revealed to us."
"And for preventing everyone from wrongly accusing a classmate," he said, glancing in Harry's direction, "one hundred and fifty points to Ravenclaw."
Not only were the fifty points from just now immediately made up for, but another hundred points were added.
Everyone in Ravenclaw couldn't help but cheer upon hearing this. Amanda also thought silently in her mind.
Maybe just now... she really hadn't done anything wrong?
It wasn't until The Ravenclaws had calmed down that Headmaster Dumbledore spoke slowly.
"Miss Amanda's statement was not wrong. Voldemort is indeed Tom Riddle. Some of our Professors are also aware of this."
Behind him, Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape nodded reluctantly, the corner of Professor Snape's mouth even twitching slightly.
"As for the Chamber of Secrets and the Basilisk that may exist within it, the Professors and I will handle it. Now, everyone, go back and rest."
As soon as Headmaster Dumbledore finished speaking, Cho Chang and Marietta, one on each side, supported Amanda from behind as they walked back up to the second floor.
Hermione, seeing the clear tear stains on Amanda's face, felt a pang of heartache followed by a surge of joy.
Heartache that Amanda was crying, and joy that Amanda finally had the emotions to be able to cry.
"Amanda, how are you?" Hermione stepped forward, reaching out to cup her cheeks and gently stroking the tear stains on her face.
Amanda blankly allowed Hermione to cup her cheeks and shook her head. "I'm fine. It's just that just now, my heart felt so hot, and I was suddenly so tired, and then the tears came out."
After a two-second silence, Amanda continued, "Did I make a mistake... it's clearly not sleep time, yet I'm tired."
"No, no, no, how could you think that?" Hermione put her arms around Amanda's neck. On either side, Cho Chang and Marietta tacitly took a step back, leaving them enough private space.
Gently kissing Amanda's forehead, Hermione pressed her forehead against hers, her right hand lightly stroking her back. "It's because you have a sense of security in your heart, so you've relaxed and feel tired."
Everyone in Ravenclaw treated Amanda with sincerity and protected her wholeheartedly, so she finally had a sense of security.
With a sense of security, Amanda naturally dared to let herself feel exhausted.
Holding the soft person in her arms tightly, Hermione patted her back soothingly.
"If you're tired, then rest. Don't force yourself anymore. Sleep, okay? Sleep."
Being held in Hermione's arms, the warmth Amanda already had in her heart grew even stronger. Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and the feeling of fatigue in her body grew stronger.
Finally, Amanda slowly closed her eyes. Hermione smiled with relief, then crouched down and carefully picked her up in a bridal carry.
So thin... Hermione pursed her lips as she looked at Amanda in her arms. Her weight was so light that Hermione didn't feel much effort holding her.
In the future, she would have to supervise Amanda more to make sure she ate well. Hermione made a secret resolution as she carried Amanda and followed the Little Eagles toward Ravenclaw Tower.
Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick said nothing as they watched this scene, tacitly accepting the fact that a Little Lion was carrying a Little Eagle back to the Eagle's nest.
"Miss Edgecombe." Headmaster Dumbledore called out softly to Marietta, who was following behind Hermione.
It had been hard for Amanda to finally get some rest when he saw her, and he didn't want to wake the child.
"When Miss Amanda has rested, could you have her come to my office? Of course, you, Miss Chang, Miss Granger, and Miss Penelope can all come together."
Fearing they wouldn't feel at ease letting Amanda go alone, Headmaster Dumbledore added specifically, "The password is cockroach clusters."
"Alright." Marietta nodded politely, and after saying goodbye to him, she quickly caught up.
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