Chapter 326

“Chamber?”

Minerva McGonagall’s expression darkened at the sudden mention of the word.

“Yes, Professor.”

In front of Professor McGonagall, Wizard Sean felt as if he had shrunk by a full circle.

“Tell me.”

Professor McGonagall looked at him with a gaze Wizard Sean couldn’t quite understand—determined, as if she had made a terrible decision.

On the desk, the silver cat figurine glowed in the firelight. Wizard Sean suddenly remembered how Jia Jia Siting often warmed soft sweets or heated cups of honey tea by the hearth in the cottage.

“Hogwarts does have a Chamber of Secrets, its entrance in the girls’ bathroom. And yes, there is a Basilisk inside—about fifty feet long, its gaze lethal, though after multiple refractions, its power fades…”

As he spoke, Wizard Sean’s words grew smoother.

“It all began with Tom Riddle’s diary. In the Restricted Section, I learned it was likely a Horcrux…”

Wizard Sean outlined the issues with Riddle’s diary and the framing from decades ago, but skipped the details of the battle in the Chamber.

“How do you know so much?”

Minerva McGonagall’s voice trembled. She did not ask for more about the Chamber, the Basilisk, or Riddle’s diary. Wizard Sean saw the firelight shatter into sparks within her warm eyes.

“I… took part in some of it.”

Wizard Sean said.

“Dumbledore must be mad to let you take part in something so dangerous…”

Though he had expected it, Professor McGonagall took a long time before speaking, her voice hoarse.

Wizard Sean lowered his head slightly at her words—he knew Dumbledore had not known at first.

“You did well, child.”

Professor McGonagall fell silent, then let out a long sigh.

How could she express her pride and her fear? Or was this the price every person who loves must pay?

It was a warm winter; the hearth burned fiercely, snowflakes melting the moment they touched the window.

Minerva McGonagall sat in a chair with soft cushions, listening as the young wizard recounted his tumultuous tale.

From Ginny’s strange behavior, to meeting Moaning Myrtle, to uncovering the truth of fifty years past…

The story of the Chamber—how young Tom had framed Hagrid, now sought to reopen it, and was ultimately defeated by Harry as the Horcrux was destroyed—unfolded slowly by the fire.

It was clear: the young wizard had nearly single-handedly destroyed Riddle’s Horcrux.

“And the Basilisk—how did you deal with it?”

Professor McGonagall asked slowly. She had come to accept that the young wizard would undertake dangerous acts.

Like crafting a magical refractor and entering the Chamber anyway. Like risking discovery by Riddle to investigate the entrance…

Nothing could stir the calm, steady core of her heart anymore.

Wizard Sean fell silent. He had tried to avoid it, but he could not evade it.

“I defeated it.”

Wizard Sean whispered.

He felt himself shrink again.

“Wizard Sean Green!”

Minerva McGonagall leapt to her feet, slamming her hand on the desk.

“That was a Basilisk! You child—”

She was furious.

“Tell me everything!”

Outside the window, as if even the owls sensed something amiss, they flapped their wings and veered away from the glass, vanishing into the endless night.

“You said the Weasleys are all excellent wizards.

Voldemort is slowly destroying Ginny’s soul—he can command the Basilisk to strike at any moment…

Before tragedy strikes, before everything becomes irreversible, I had to do what I could.”

Wizard Sean lifted his head and spoke.

His green eyes held no ripple—like a vast, boundless sea.

Minerva McGonagall grew pale. Her lips pressed into a tight line as she stared at the young wizard, unable to speak.

“How did you defeat the Basilisk…”

she asked, hoping somehow the Headmaster had been there, hoping this act had been safeguarded, not as perilous as she imagined.

“I used some Transfiguration, and the Sword of Gryffindor… In truth, no one else was there…”

That night, Wizard Sean found it unbearably long.

Lies held no power—Professor McGonagall could learn the truth from reports or from Harry and others.

Professor McGonagall froze. She felt the world spin.

In the Chamber, alone, with no aid, a second-year wizard, armed only with trivial magic;

armed only with heavy responsibility and indescribable courage—enough to face the Basilisk and prevail…

What had happened in those moments? How many accidents could have occurred?

No one could know.

And it was deeply unsettling.

She closed her eyes—and saw the Sorting Hat’s instant praise:

“You have shown astonishing bravery.”

…

In truth, even though Wizard Sean had demonstrated formidable Transfiguration skills since the start of term, to Professor McGonagall, he was still “a second-year wizard.”

So she could accept his magic altering the Forbidden Forest’s landscape—but not that he could stand against a Basilisk.

Thus, after curfew, Wizard Sean followed her out of the Transfiguration office. She asked no further questions—as if she did not wish to hear.

“Go get some rest, child.”

Professor McGonagall said gently.

A faint, almost imperceptible smile began to form.

At least this child was willing to tell her, wasn’t he?

Truth, spoken by different people, always differs.

Wizard Sean finally exhaled in relief.

He watched the fleeting glow on the empty parchment and walked quietly past the snoring portraits toward Ravenclaw Tower.

In Gryffindor Tower, however, the night was far from peaceful.

Professor McGonagall had immediately summoned Harry and Ron. Now, she was calmer.

“About the Chamber—I know everything. Well done, Harry, and Ron. Do you have anything to add?”

Professor McGonagall had a way of making young wizards fall into order the moment she spoke. Harry and Ron, summoned without warning, had been terrified.

They thought they had broken a hundred school rules—and now, it seemed Dumbledore and McGonagall had already recounted their brave deeds.

“Of course, Professor!”

Ron was excited—he launched into it without pause.

“It started that first day—we found Wizard Sean…

His robes were torn, his hair covered in dust, and he was carrying a sword stained with blood—if Headmaster Dumbledore told you, it was the legendary Sword of Gryffindor.

At first we didn’t know what he’d done. Later we learned, Professor… every night, he was fighting the Basilisk…”

“Ron…”

Harry saw Professor McGonagall’s expression shift again and again, and quickly jabbed Ron with his elbow.