Simultaneously traversing: the pinnacle of all realms

Chapter 87 Visiting Hagrid

With the matter of the locked room settled, the rest is up to the students.

Everyone is talking about Harry.

When Xavier heard the news, he was surprised that Dumbledore and Harry had done something so significant without anyone noticing.

He had thought that Dumbledore would set up a stage for Harry to perform a play, just like in the original story, and let him face the Basilisk alone, completing a "test" between life and death.

Because Dumbledore always did this, choosing to guide rather than directly intervene.

In the original storyline, when Harry faced the Basilisk crisis, his phoenix Fawkes was able to appear in the Chamber of Secrets at the crucial moment, wearing the Sorting Hat, to help Harry. This was no coincidence, but rather more like a trial carefully arranged by Dumbledore for Harry.

But this time, Dumbledore abandoned the approach taken in the original storyline.

Was it because they knew about the existence of the Horcruxes beforehand?

On his way home from get out of class, Xavier frowned in thought, while Harry continued to chatter on, eager to share what he had seen with his friend.

In the original story, Dumbledore only became aware of the Horcruxes after Harry brought back the diary at the end of the second year. But this time, because of his own involvement, he obtained the diary on the very first day of school.

He knew Voldemort's deepest secrets in advance, and he also realized in advance that this war was no longer just about a boy's growth, but about how to completely destroy an undead.

So instead of leaving Harry to face the Basilisk alone, he personally stood at the forefront.

However, in Harry's description, there was another thing that Xavier couldn't understand: Dumbledore said he couldn't open the Chamber of Secrets.

is this real?

When Xavier heard this, a question flashed through his mind.

He clearly remembered that Ron Weasley imitated Harry's voice in the seventh Harry Potter book, and he wasn't exactly a true Parsleyan, was he?

Ron had only heard Harry say the word "open" in his sleep, and then repeated it from memory, yet he still opened the Chamber of Secrets and had Hermione Jane Granger destroy the Golden Cup with her fangs.

Dumbledore is a recognized linguistic genius. In addition to Mermaid Language and Fairy Language, he also knows Parseltongue. Ron was able to open the Chamber of Secrets by imitating it, so how could he not open it?

Either Dumbledore lied or he could open the door, but he needed Harry's growth and choices, just like when Harry was sorted into the Sorting Hat and chose Gryffindor instead of following the Sorting Hat's arrangement to go to Slytherin.

Or perhaps another reason is needed for Harry to stand before everyone and let others witness a Gryffindor student using Slytherin's powers to open the Chamber of Secrets.

Either in the original story, Dumbledore changed the magical permissions left by Slytherin on the door after discovering the Chamber of Secrets.

In either case, the old man didn't lay all his cards on the table; he had his own plans.

Hogwarts was in an uproar for a whole week.

Our savior Harry once again "saved" Hogwarts—this time not by defeating the Dark Lord, but by finding a secret chamber hidden for thousands of years and uncovering a fifty-year-old case.

Harry, who was already quite popular, is now even more sought after.

Harry was chased and photographed by Colin Crevey dozens of times, each one blurry like a ghost due to his hasty escape.

As Harry's best friend, Ron got used to people asking him about Harry's daily routines, and he enjoyed it.

Hermione also had questions from young wizards, but as she talked, it turned into a Parseltongue and Basilisk explanation session, so gradually no one went anymore, but she didn't mind.

After this incident, Lockhart went to Dumbledore to complain, somewhat angrily.

The Chamber of Secrets, the Basilisk, a murder case that had been sealed for fifty years—this was excellent writing material, such a great opportunity to become famous, yet Dumbledore hadn't informed him!

If he were alone, he certainly wouldn't risk going in, but this time there were so many people present—four heads of the department, several Aurors, the Minister of Magic himself, and even reporters were there to get some publicity. Surely he could get away with it.

"Led by the valiant Order of Merlin First Class, Gilderoy Lockhart delves into the secret chamber, defeats the Basilisk, and uncovers a truth buried for fifty years!"

What a perfect title, what a great opportunity!

Alas, Dumbledore has ruined me!

Thus, in public, Lockhart would often make sarcastic complaints, with a tone that conveyed the feeling that "if I had been involved, this matter would have been resolved much sooner."

But Xavier always felt a little awkward hearing it; Lockhart, in some ways, had gone beyond being a "good-for-nothing."

It has entered a more advanced realm of "green tea" within the broader scope.

However, he also admitted that Lockhart's ability to manipulate public opinion and promote himself was indeed top-notch; such a person would certainly do very well in Muggle society even if he didn't become a wizard.

Madam Peach was still in her bathroom. Over time, she had grown accustomed to it—the damp pipes, the gray stone bricks, and the occasional smell of water wafting in from the cracks in the cubicle door.

Since the reporter left, more students have come specifically to watch the spectacle, and she actually feels that it's better to be as quiet as before.

Moreover, Myrtle cries much less often now and is much friendlier to the young wizards.

Occasionally, when younger girls passed by, she would peek out from her cubicle, her semi-transparent body visible, and say in a voice much softer than before, "You know what? The cause of my death has finally been determined. For fifty years, very few people have been willing to listen to me—would you like to listen to me?"

Fewer people were scared away than before.

Harry would sometimes stop and chat with Myrtle when he passed by that washroom.

That morning, Xavier had just finished all his classes.

When he left the castle early with his food box and arrived at Hagrid's hut, a muffled, thunderous snotty sound came from inside.

He brought the food he had made to comfort Hagrid, but Xavier hesitated to go in after hearing the commotion inside. In the end, he pushed open the door.

Hagrid sat at the table, sobbing uncontrollably. His coarse handkerchief was soaked with tears and snot, and Xavier could even see an unidentified liquid.

"Uh oh~" Xavier was starting to think about going back, wondering if he had come at the wrong time.

But Hagrid had already noticed him and quickly composed himself to invite him in.

"A full fifty years."

Hagrid's voice boomed and rattled against the windowpane, "Fifty years ago they broke my wand, kicked me out of school, and said my pet Aragog killed someone. I know it wasn't it, it never eats people—but nobody wants to listen to me."

"Besides Dumbledore?" Xavier said.

"Except for Dumbledore."

Hagrid repeated it, then picked up Tooth, who was squatting beside him, buried his face in the dog's rough neck fur, and started crying even louder.

Toothpick peeked out from the gaps in its messy fur, its face clearly saying "Here we go again." Xavier saw a human-like expression of disgust on Toothpick's dog face.

"Yes, Dumbledore has wisdom far beyond that of ordinary people, and he always believes in every innocent student," Xavier said.

Although Xavier also thought that keeping the eight-eyed spider in the castle was not a wise move, he had to admit that Dumbledore had a keen eye for talent.

He always had the ability to see beyond appearances and discover the true nature of people that they deliberately concealed, just as he was the first to suspect Voldemort.