Hogwarts Professor

"No, Filch," Professor Dumbledore shook his head. "It requires advanced dark magic, and second-year students certainly can't do that."

"The spell stops here!" Under the watchful eyes of Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, and the others, Eisen took out his wand and cast a general counter-curse on the petrified Mrs. Norris.

But, as Eisen had expected, the curse had no effect. Mrs. Norris remained as hard as stone.

"Clearly, while Mrs. Norris was petrified, it wasn't by a simple Petrifying Charm, but by a darker, more complex magic. I think it's safe to say Harry and the others couldn't have done this," Eisen asserted, backing Dumbledore's point.

In fact, the professors already understood Eisen's reasoning. If Mrs. Norris had been petrified by Harry, Ron, or Hermione, the effect could be reversed by a common counter-curse. Eisen's attempt to remove the spell had no effect, strongly indicating that Mrs. Norris wasn't under a simple Petrifying Charm.

This fact essentially ruled out Harry as the culprit.

Both Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall nodded in agreement, while Snape put forth a slightly different perspective.

"Allow me a word, Headmaster," Snape emerged from the shadows. "I agree with Professor Eisen that Potter and his friends didn't attack Mrs. Norris."

Harry was stunned; he hadn't expected Snape to defend him. But then, Snape's next words erased his relief.

"But there's still the question of why Potter and his friends were in that corridor. Isn't it strange they skipped the Halloween feast to be up there?" Snape sneered, fixing his gaze on Harry.

Under everyone's suspicious stares, Harry, Ron, and Hermione scrambled to explain they'd attended Nearly Headless Nick's deathday party.

"Hundreds of ghosts were there; they can all vouch for us," Harry insisted, then glanced at Eisen. "Professor Eisen knows about it too!"

"Yes," Eisen nodded as everyone turned to him. "They did mention they'd attend Nearly Headless Nick's 500th death anniversary."

"But after that? Why go up to the hallway instead of coming back to the feast?" Snape seized upon the trio's slip.

"Because—" Harry hesitated. He wanted to say he'd been drawn by a voice that only he, as a Parselmouth, could hear. But Ron had warned him that hearing voices, even in the wizarding world, wasn't viewed favorably.

He didn't want to risk being suspected as the Chamber's heir. So, thinking quickly, he offered, "We were just tired and wanted to go to bed early."

"Even so, missing dinner entirely is strange," Snape replied smugly. "I'm sure the food at a ghost party isn't fit for the living!"

"We weren't hungry!" Ron shouted, trying to support Harry. But then his stomach growled.

"My opinion is that, while Mr. Potter didn't attack Mrs. Norris, he's clearly not telling the whole story," Snape said with a smirk. He turned to Dumbledore, "I suggest we revoke his privileges and suspend him from the Gryffindor Quidditch team until he learns some honesty."

"No, Severus," Professor McGonagall interjected firmly, her expression protective. "There's no proof that Potter did anything wrong."

"Yes, without proof, he's innocent, Severus," Dumbledore agreed, backing her up.

"But my cat was petrified!" Filch shouted angrily. "I want someone punished!" He glared at Harry, his target clear.

"Don't worry, Filch. We'll restore her," Dumbledore reassured him. "Professor Sprout has some mandrakes growing, and once they mature, we can use them to create a restorative potion for Mrs. Norris."

"I'd be more than happy to brew the Mandrake Restoration Potion," Lockhart interrupted. "I've done it over a hundred times—I could make it in my sleep."

"Hmph," Snape scoffed, effectively cutting Lockhart off. "I am, after all, the Potions Master at Hogwarts."

Lockhart fell silent, looking thoroughly embarrassed, while Eisen stifled a laugh.

"You may go," Dumbledore told Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and the three wasted no time leaving, grateful to escape.

"Professor Eisen, what do you make of this?" Dumbledore turned to Eisen after the trio left.

"I wonder if the Chamber of Secrets has truly been opened—Slytherin's chamber, I mean. I've heard the Hogwarts legend," Eisen replied thoughtfully. "It's said that after Hogwarts was founded, the founders quarreled. Slytherin wanted to be more selective, admitting only students from pure-blood wizard families and excluding Muggle-borns. When he left, it's rumored he built a secret chamber in the castle, sealed until his true heir arrived to unleash its horrors upon any unworthy of learning magic."

"But it's still just a legend," Professor McGonagall commented with a hint of skepticism, glancing at Dumbledore as if seeking his opinion.

"True, Eisen, one should be able to distinguish between reliable history and myth," Snape added, his tone a bit disdainful.

"Alright, I believe the next step is to search the castle for clues," Dumbledore replied, giving no clear stance on the legend of the Chamber of Secrets.

"Yes, an investigation!" Lockhart exclaimed, looking thrilled. "When I was in Ravenclaw, I explored many secret passages—I'll have that Chamber uncovered in no time!"

Eisen exchanged an amused glance with Dumbledore, choosing not to comment on Lockhart's confidence.

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