Whipping out her wand with agile movements, Amanda lightly tapped the tip against herself.
A cool sensation washed over her body, and a silent Disillusionment Spell immediately concealed her.
After a full year of progress, Amanda's Disillusionment Spell no longer had the drawbacks it did last year.
Even when moving, there was no longer a faint outline at the edges of her body that others could see.
Thus, after casting the Disillusionment Spell, Amanda held her wand before her chest, her gaze indifferent as she watched the corridor outside, listening to the footsteps drawing closer.
Outside the corridor, the figure of the mysterious person who had been following Amanda finally appeared.
Amanda's brain responded quickly, identifying her immediately: the youngest daughter of the Weasley family, Ginny Weasley.
She had met Ginny once before when going to Diagon Alley; at that time, Ginny had looked at her with eyes full of admiration.
Although Amanda didn't understand what she was being admired for, she remembered Ginny's state and expression from that time perfectly.
Instinctively comparing the Ginny in her memory with the Ginny before her eyes, Amanda instantly spotted a problem.
The Ginny in her memory was on the left, and the current Ginny was on the right; the walking postures of the two were completely different.
The expressions on their faces were also worlds apart; the original Ginny had a somewhat sunny and gentle face.
The current Ginny's face was filled with gloom and arrogance—an expression that looked somewhat familiar.
Her brain provided a conclusion, and Amanda automatically began searching through the images in her memory.
Matching the expression with the micro-expressions, Ginny's face at this moment—aside from her physical features—bore a high degree of resemblance to Voldemort's on Quirrell's face at the end of last year.
Synthesizing the various conditions, Amanda deduced a result: this Ginny might be 'impersonated' by Voldemort.
A Transfiguration Spell? An Animagus? Or Polyjuice Potion?
The three most likely results appeared in Amanda's mind.
The image of Voldemort finally turning into black mist and escaping last year suddenly surfaced.
There was a high probability that Voldemort had no physical form, which was why he had possessed Quirrell and was ultimately able to turn into black mist to escape.
Amanda made a judgment; however, if he had no physical form, then the three aforementioned scenarios would have to be ruled out.
With those three scenarios ruled out, only one remained: Voldemort had possessed Ginny, just as he had possessed Quirrell last year.
That was why expressions and micro-expressions that should have belonged to Voldemort appeared on Ginny's face.
However, with a heavy expression, Amanda moved her gaze to the back of Ginny's head.
The girl's red hair looked bright and beautiful; there was clearly no pale face of Voldemort there.
Withdrawing her gaze, Amanda quickly summarized the current situation: Ginny did not exhibit the same state as Quirrell.
Therefore, the method Voldemort used to possess Ginny should be different from the one used for Quirrell. As for what that different method was... Amanda tried to search her memory for methods of possession, but she couldn't find a single piece of relevant information.
Neither the Hogwarts Library nor the Ravenclaw small Library she had read through contained any books related to this.
Giving up on thinking in that fruitless direction, Amanda began to make associations based on the fact that Ginny was possessed by Voldemort.
It was known that only the Heir of Slytherin—namely Voldemort—could open the Chamber of Secrets, and that Ginny was possessed by Voldemort.
Therefore, it could be deduced that the Chamber of Secrets being opened previously and Madam Norris being petrified were very likely deeds done by Voldemort while possessing Ginny.
Click, clack, click, clack.
The crisp sound of small leather shoes stepping on the ground rang out; Ginny had already walked to the corridor where Amanda was.
She was constantly looking left and right, appearing not to understand why Amanda, who had been not far ahead of her just a moment ago, had suddenly vanished.
Ginny was Ron's sister; if something happened to her, Ron would worry.
Ron was Hermione's friend; if he was worried, Hermione would probably worry about him too.
The feeling of worry was too unpleasant; Hermione shouldn't be made to worry. This thought emerged from the depths of her brain, and Amanda's gaze quickly locked onto Ginny.
By saving Ginny and protecting herself, no one would have to worry.
Hiding herself with the Disillusionment Spell, Amanda quickly stepped out. With a light flick of her wand, a silent Expelliarmus sent Ginny's wand flying.
As for Ginny herself, because Amanda had deliberately controlled the force, she only stumbled back a couple of steps.
"Damn it!"
A fierce male voice rang out, further confirming Amanda's judgment of Ginny: she was possessed by Voldemort.
Amanda accelerated her approach to Ginny, throwing silent spells at her one after another.
Incarcerous, Langlock, Petrificus Totalus—Amanda used almost every spell that could restrict the opponent without causing harm.
Just as Amanda intended to use a final Levitation Charm to take her to the Headmaster's Office...
She suddenly heard a rustling sound coming from the corridor not far ahead.
It sounded like scales rubbing against the floor; without even needing her brain to process it, the answer popped out automatically.
The Basilisk.
Amanda turned around quickly, and with a light flick of her wand, she controlled the floating Ginny and dashed toward the stairs in front of her.
The sound of scales rubbing behind her grew louder; the Basilisk was constantly drawing near.
Based on the sound of scales rubbing and the whistling of the air reaching her ears, Amanda quickly constructed a model of the Basilisk's movement behind her in her mind.
The Basilisk simulated in the model was composed of blue lines, currently baring its fangs and twisting its body as it chased after them.
Whoosh!
A violent sound of wind came from behind. Amanda's pupils dilated slightly; in the mental simulation, the Basilisk's tail was swinging fiercely toward them.
Strangely, however, the Basilisk's target didn't seem to include her, but was aimed accurately at Ginny.
There was no doubt that if the Basilisk's tail hit, Ginny would be turned into a pulp on the spot.
In the emergency, Amanda didn't even have time to wave her wand; with a thought, she levitated Ginny in front of her.
Bang!
The Basilisk's tail slammed heavily onto the ground, instantly shattering the bricks and stones. Countless dust and debris flew toward Amanda and Ginny.
The high air was blocked by flying debris, and though there was no debris higher up, there were the moving stairs.
If she lifted Ginny higher, there was no guarantee she wouldn't encounter danger.
The best way was to take Ginny and evade on the ground.
In the span of a thought, Amanda quickly lowered Ginny to the ground, lunged onto her, and rolled with her, accurately dodging the bulk of the debris.
Only four pieces of debris that were truly impossible to dodge grazed Amanda's right arm, right leg, waist, and right shoulder.
The time was too short; to lunge forward and ensure Ginny was protected, she no longer had time to cast a Shield Charm.
The debris sent flying by the Basilisk's monstrous blow carried terrifying force.
Amanda's right arm and right leg were fractured on the spot, even leaving two bleeding puncture wounds.
However, in the next moment, Amanda could no longer feel her right arm because her right shoulder had also been dislocated by the flying debris.
As for the piece of debris at her waist, it directly sent Amanda flying.
The moment she was thrown, Amanda used her remaining left arm to tightly hug Ginny, using the right side of her body and her left arm holding Ginny to meet the impact with the ground.
After colliding with the ground at least a dozen times, Amanda's back slammed heavily against the stairs.
A bit of blood seeped from the corner of her mouth. Amanda used her left hand to press Ginny firmly into her chest, ensuring she wouldn't accidentally see the Basilisk's eyes.
At the same time, she also closed her own eyes tightly, relying solely on her hearing to construct the simulated form of the Basilisk in her mind.
With her right arm broken and her right shoulder dislocated, the wand in Amanda's hand had long since slipped away.
A silent, wandless Shield Charm was deployed, shielding Amanda and Ginny from all directions.
A Shield Charm used silently and wandlessly wouldn't last long if attacked by the Basilisk.
Amanda easily reached this conclusion in her mind. The next second, she exerted force with her left arm again, cooperating with the still-capable left side of her body to roll over and cover Ginny with herself.
The roar of the Basilisk came; its pure yellow eyes looked at Amanda, who was protecting Ginny beneath her. Unwillingly, it lashed its tail and turned to leave.
Listening to the receding sounds of scales rubbing and air whistling, the Basilisk model simulated in Amanda's brain also continued to drift further away.
The Basilisk had left. Reaching a certain conclusion in her mind, Amanda opened her eyes again and looked down at Ginny in her arms.
The young girl had clearly regained her consciousness now, her large, watery eyes looking at Amanda with redness.
Seeing Amanda covered in dust, her right arm hanging limply and bleeding continuously, Ginny was so nervous she was nearly in tears.
She had some awareness of the abnormality in herself.
But for an eleven-year-old girl, all of this was simply too terrifying.
She had lost her memory for a period of time for no apparent reason, and after waking up again, there was quite a bit of blood on her.
After hearing the girls in her Dormitory talk about the analysis Amanda had made the day before, the clever young Witch immediately understood that she was very likely the vessel Voldemort was using to open the Chamber of Secrets for the second time.
This was terrifying, truly terrifying... If everyone knew it was she who had harmed Madam Norris, if everyone knew Voldemort had opened the Chamber of Secrets through her, what would they say?
So she had hesitated, recoiled, and hadn't dared to seek anyone's help.
But now... because of her, Sister Amanda had been hurt.
Ginny's eyes filled with tears. Amanda swallowed the blood in her mouth with an indifferent expression and spoke in an incredibly calm voice.
"It's okay, don't be afraid. Voldemort's possession of you has been temporarily broken, and the Basilisk has left."
"Mm..." Ginny bit her lip and nodded, unable to stop her tears as she looked at Amanda.
"Don't cry," Amanda said stiffly; she didn't know what else to say.
Instinctively wanting to reach out and wipe Ginny's tears, she found herself completely unable to lift her already 'ruined' right arm.
"Sister Amanda, I'll take you to the Hospital Wing." Ginny cried as she tried to get up; she didn't care anymore if she was talked about or pointed at.
Sister Amanda just couldn't be allowed to have anything happen to her.
Seeing Ginny about to get up, Amanda released the binding magic on her.
Ginny reached out to help Amanda up, only then discovering that her right leg was also broken, with a large hole still bleeding.
"Oh, no, oh, Merlin, no..." Ginny supported Amanda with her right hand, covering her face with her left as she couldn't stop crying.
"I'm fine," Amanda's voice was as unchanging as the deep Arctic Ocean, "not the Hospital Wing first, go to the Headmaster's Office first."
"Neither of us can be sure when Voldemort will possess you again; the best choice is to go to the Headmaster's Office."
"Ask Headmaster Dumbledore to watch over you."
Ginny nodded with a trembling voice, "Okay, okay, I'll help you over."
Fortunately, Amanda was only one year older than Ginny and her weight was relatively light; Ginny found it quite easy to support her as they walked.
Supporting Amanda all the way, Ginny took her up the stairs floor by floor; however, Amanda did have a broken leg after all, and their speed going upstairs was too slow.
Seeing the trail of blood she left on the stairs, Amanda didn't feel any anxiety; her heart remained as calm as an ancient well.
But as she felt time slipping away, several thoughts rose in Amanda's mind.
Too slow; if this continued, Ginny might very well be possessed again before they reached the Headmaster's Office.
Thinking of this, Amanda turned and gave Ginny a steady instruction, "Hold on to me tightly."
Hearing this, Ginny subconsciously hugged Amanda's neck tightly, looking at her with some nervousness.
"Don't be afraid, there won't be any danger."
Amanda glanced at Ginny, and in the next moment, she used a wandless, silent Levitation Charm.
The two of them rose into the air. Amanda looked up at Hogwarts' moving stairs; all the stairs paused at the same time, and she and Ginny rose all the way up without any hindrance.
Ginny looked at the floor getting further and further away beneath her feet, then turned to look at Amanda with eyes full of admiration.
Sister Amanda really is amazing!
Although the Levitation Charm was the most basic spell, learned in the first year, it was the first time she had ever seen someone use it to make themselves float.
Not only that, Sister Amanda could even make her float along with her.
And why did the moving stairs above stop after Sister Amanda made them float together?
Was it because of Sister Amanda?
The panic and dread in Ginny's heart were gradually dispersed, replaced by admiration and affection for Amanda.
If she could be as excellent as Sister Amanda, as powerful as Sister Amanda...
Then would his gaze... be able to linger on her more often?
Would she be more worthy of him?
The young girl's thoughts were laid bare at this moment, and it was also then that Ginny solidified her determination to make herself even more excellent.
At the same time, Cho Chang, Marietta Eckmore, and Penelope, who were waiting in the Ravenclaw Common Room for Amanda to return...
...as well as Hermione, who was waiting in the Gryffindor Common Room for Amanda to report her safety through the fireplace, finally all sensed that something was wrong.
If she had only gone to see Hermione off, Amanda should have returned to Ravenclaw and reported her safety to Hermione long ago.
But until now, there had been no news of Amanda. Realizing this, the four girls in two different locations stood up simultaneously and ran out of their respective house common rooms.
---------------------------------
I hope you're enjoying the fanfiction so far! If the story has you hooked and you can't wait to see what happens next, you can unlock 30 chapters in advance over on my Patreon: patreon.com/TLHimejima1
Every bit of support means the world to me so if you're loving the ride, don't forget to drop a Power Stone and let me know.