Chapter 497: Faint Gazes

Over the next few days, Lockhart's reputation underwent a slight change.

In the past, whenever he arrived in the Great Hall, the chatter of the young witches would grow much louder; now, the witches even seemed to want to avoid him.

Saturday.

The Great Hall.

Xiang Xien sipped some steaming pumpkin porridge; the sweet, cloying texture often reminded him of the soft, glutinous sweet potatoes by the stove on winter nights.

Owls flew into the space beneath the gray, vaulted ceiling, and parcels rained down like raindrops.

Around him, Harry was listlessly dealing with Colin. For Colin, it seemed the most exciting thing in the world was to say "How are you, Harry?" six or seven times a day and hear the reply "Hello, Colin," regardless of how helpless or annoyed Harry's tone was.

Hermione intended to use a ball of fire to burn all of Lockhart's books, but she was eventually dissuaded by Jia Siting.

"My mother says that no matter the circumstances, knowledge is not a crime."

Neville was carefully and meticulously studying the Fire-Making Spell in *The Standard Book of Spells*; he didn't know when it started, but he no longer just expected others to help him.

Especially when that person was likely to be Xiang Xien.

Luo En, on the other hand, was full of excitement; today he was going to sneak out of Hogwarts to buy a wand in Diagon Alley.

However, he had to be extremely careful not to cause trouble for Xiang Xien.

The group from the Hope Cottage had gathered together, or rather, had been connected by a certain young wizard, and had spent a year together like this without even realizing it.

Xiang Xien cast his gaze toward the Gryffindor table without a second thought, where a cute little witch was enthusiastically saying something to her companion.

They were both holding a moving black cat card, chatting and discussing it.

Xiang Xien glanced at the diary Jin Ni had placed on the table; he could sense that the malice within it had grown even thicker.

Sometimes it even stung Xiang Xien's eyes like a needle.

At the same time, Jin Ni was actually tainted with an aura that made the soul Horcrux act strangely.

Xiang Xien knew that just as he could sense Voldemort, the young Voldemort could also sense him through some unknown means.

They had discovered each other as early as the Sorting Ceremony.

The only difference was that Tang Mu didn't know what he was going to do, while he clearly knew how to destroy the diary.

However...

Tang Mu seemed to be getting anxious; he had likely used some coercive means to harm Jin Ni's soul.

Xiang Xien felt a slight sense of urgency, but he would not allow himself to rush.

Speed up the progress—tonight, while ensuring he wouldn't be discovered, he had to find the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets.

Xiang Xien thought to himself.

The grass outside Hogwarts Castle was covered in dew; even though the sun had risen quite high, some lingering mist still floated over the Quidditch pitch. ===== CHAPTER 498 =====