The well-lit office was extremely quiet at the moment. Only Professor Snape's questioning, sounding like an accusation, rang out.
Seeing that Professor Snape was directing his accusations at Harry Potter, Harry Potter felt a bit uneasy, but still said softly, "Yes, it was me!"
It seemed that Professor Snape had been waiting for this answer. He immediately turned around and said to Headmaster Dumbledore:
"Headmaster, it seems they didn't attend the Halloween dinner. Moreover, it's hard to explain why they were on the upper corridor."
However, Headmaster Dumbledore held an opposing view and directly said, "Second - year students can't use such powerful Dark Magic."
"My cat has been Petrification! I hope someone is punished for this!"
Hearing Headmaster Dumbledore's obvious protection, Filch, who had recovered from his sobbing state, suddenly shrieked.
Hearing Filch's accusations, Professor Snape seemed to see hope and kept fanning the flames on the side, hoping Harry Potter would be punished!
Harry Potter, who was being questioned, had a stuttering expression, as if he had admitted to being the culprit.
Inside the office, people were talking over each other, and the situation was almost out of control.
"Severus, Filch, it's not advisable to blindly judge a student guilty without evidence," Headmaster Dumbledore said firmly.
Finally, Headmaster Dumbledore temporarily suppressed Filch and Professor Snape.
Light and the other three, at the signal of Headmaster Dumbledore, left the office and returned to the Gryffindor common room.
After returning to the common room, Light and the others saw Neville holding a thermal lunch box, waiting for them to come back.
"Thank you, Neville!" Ron took the thermal lunch box from Neville's hand and said happily.
Hearing this, Neville quickly waved his hand and said,
"No need, no need. It was Light who brought it for you. I'm just holding it."
"Thank you, Light!" Harry Potter and the other two, while eating the food packed from the dinner, thanked Light.
"It's okay. It was just a small thing!" Seeing the three of them gobbling down the food, Light couldn't help asking, "Was the 'Deathday Dinner' that bad?"
"It wasn't just bad; it was extremely bad!"
Hermione instantly got all riled up. Without even eating her food, she started complaining:
"Do you know? There were over a hundred ghosts floating around at that dinner, and we were the only three living people. And some of their looks were really hard to accept."
"Even the food at the dinner was rotten and moldy."
After complaining about these things, Hermione gave Ron, who was gobbling down the food like crazy, a disgusted look and continued,
"You don't know. I wonder if Ron was under some Curses. He could actually eat those foods.
"While saying something like 'Since we're here', he stuffed moldy cheese into his mouth. I was completely shocked at that time!"
Neville looked at Ron sympathetically and timidly asked, "So, was Ron okay then?"
Before Hermione could answer, Ron jumped up, patted his chest and indicated that he was fine.
Seeing this, Hermione almost rolled her eyes to the sky and complained, "If Hermione and Harry Potter hadn't stopped you, you'd probably have even eaten the maggot - infested meat."
Hearing this, Ron immediately got annoyed and retorted, "I ate moldy cheese, no problem! Maggoty meat ain't a big deal either."
Seeing that the two seemed about to quarrel, Neville quickly stepped in between them to play the peace - maker and tried to soothe them.
Light watched this relaxing scene with great interest.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that Harry Potter had been eating silently without saying a word. He looked preoccupied. So Light asked,
"Harry Potter, what's wrong with you!"
Suddenly called out, Harry Potter looked up blankly and stared at Light.
"You seem so troubled. I'm just asking," Light explained as he saw Harry Potter looking so preoccupied.
After a moment of silence, Harry Potter shook his head, indicating that he was okay.
Light didn't ask further. He turned around and joined Neville in soothing Hermione and Ron.
After resolving the argument between Hermione and Ron, Light glanced at the wall clock in the common room, then at the uneaten food of Harry Potter and the other two, and said,
"I'm going back to the dormitory to wash up first. You guys take your time eating."
Light got up to go back to the dormitory. He dragged Neville, who was sweating profusely from mediating, back with him.
Looking at the backs of Light and Neville as they walked away, Hermione couldn't help saying to Harry Potter,
"Shouldn't we tell them about the strange noises you heard in the corridor before?"
"Maybe Light might know something!"
Hearing this, Harry Potter was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and said softly, "We almost got Light involved just now. It's got nothing to do with him!"
Hermione was immediately convinced by this reason. She didn't dwell on it any longer. Instead, she picked up her cutlery and began to eat.
However, the incident didn't die down as time passed.
For several consecutive days, the students had been talking about the attack on Mrs. Norris.
Mainly, Slytherin students had been constantly spreading press releases everywhere, publicizing that: The heir of the Chamber of Secrets had appeared and was going to purge all the Muggle wizards in the school to prove the glory of the pure - blood.
As a result, all the copies of *A History of Hogwarts* in The Library had been borrowed!
Filch was also red - eyed, searching everywhere for the possible culprit.
In the process, he caught quite a few young wizards who were laughing and joking in the corridors and gave them detention.
For the same reason, almost all the young wizards avoided Light and Hermione, fearing to be affected by the heir of the Chamber of Secrets.
After the Transfiguration Class, Harry Potter gave Hermione and Ron a look. After saying hello to Light, they left together.
Seeing the three of them disappear as soon as the class was over, Light understood that they planned to deal with the matter of the Chamber of Secrets on their own.
"Well, it's okay. Maybe the attraction between the Horcruxes can quickly find the culprit," Light thought to himself.
Not caring about the three who had left, Light headed straight for the Room of Requirement.
After arriving at the Room of Requirement, Light took out the surveillance camera that he had placed at the door of the abandoned girls' restroom before and started to check it.
In the past few days, he had checked the footage more than once, but he hadn't seen any sign of the basilisk.
For this reason, Light specifically went to retrieve the surveillance device and started to check it.
After a comprehensive check, no issues were found. Eventually, he even disassembled it, yet still found nothing amiss.
After reassembling the disassembled surveillance device, Light already had an idea in mind.
Either there was another hidden entrance to the Chamber of Secrets, or the basilisk simply hadn't gone back.
"It's getting more and more of a hassle. Why did Voldemort launch the Attack on Halloween? I just can't figure out what he's thinking."
After leaving the Room of Requirement, Light noticed something at the window edge.
Dozens of spiders were scurrying around frantically, quickly running away along the silk threads outside the glass.