Hogwarts: My name is the Unforgivable Curse...

Chapter 141 The Sudden Killing Intent

Avada kept his gaze fixed ahead, scanning his surroundings with his magical senses—no glass, no ghosts, no water, mirrors, smooth walls, or other reflective surfaces that would allow him and the basilisk to make indirect eye contact. The basilisk's gaze was staring directly at him, waiting for him to glance back unintentionally…

"What happened? Why?"

Realizing that the basilisk was after him, he immediately changed direction and headed towards the gates of Hogwarts—he had to get outside as soon as possible to make the basilisk lose its target, otherwise, in his current state, it was extremely easy to harm innocent people!

"Could it be that my creation of the Basilisk warning device has been exposed?"

As he walked quickly, his mind raced: 'Impossible. Baron, Fred, and George are all trustworthy when it comes to keeping secrets. Summers and the others are even less likely to have leaked anything; they don't have their boarding school diaries, and they've already left school…'

"And what good would killing me do? Would it be to stop me from making more early warning systems?"

"But we've already sent out dozens of basilisk warning devices, and their design is very simple. Any professor could easily replicate them with a little effort. Killing me for this is pointless!"

"Are they trying to create chaos by directly killing people, to muddy the waters and conceal the identity of the basilisk?"

"Then why not choose the period after the Christmas holidays, instead of striking during Christmas when the school is almost deserted? The student's death would immediately ignite public opinion, putting immense pressure on the school board, and might even anger Dumbledore, causing him to completely break ties. Neither the Horcrux Journal nor the school board likely wants to see that happen..."

Avada had observed the basilisk's eyes—besides the deadly black magic, its eyes were also enchanted with a layer of magic that, once activated, would create two transparent shields to cover the basilisk's eyes… but that magic had now been deactivated.

"It came specifically to kill."

His heart seemed to sink, and his steps quickened. Only after he pushed open the gate, left the castle, and came to the lawn covered with thick snow, and felt the basilisk's gaze fade from him and the enormous life force gradually disappear again, did he feel a little relieved.

A biting wind, carrying snowflakes, blew against his face. The cold air rushed into his nostrils, making him shiver involuntarily, and his pounding heart finally calmed down. He turned around and gazed with lingering fear at the tall, magnificent castle, which also concealed hidden dangers. His heart was filled with anger and doubt.

"The basilisk was still active during Christmas, which means the diary's owner was also at the school. But I didn't observe any soul fragments or Horcrux magic just now... Could he remotely control the basilisk, or make it carry out a long-term command?"

"Also, is he here specifically to kill me, or is he just planning to kill someone randomly...?"

"not good!"

The thought sent a jolt through Avada. He immediately reached into his pocket, feigned surprise, and then turned and rushed back to the castle as if he'd forgotten something—he had to get back into the basilisk's sight before it decided to kill anyone. Most of the students in the school didn't have warning devices yet, and it would be extremely dangerous for any student to encounter the basilisk!

Less than ten seconds after he stepped into the castle, he once again saw a massive life force appear beside him, casting a deadly gaze upon him. No matter how he moved, that gaze remained steadfastly fixed on him.

"Thankfully, it was only coming for me."

He found it somewhat amusing—after realizing he was being assassinated, he actually breathed a sigh of relief.

Why?

Avada patted his pockets and hurried toward the Hufflepuff common room, as if he really had just forgotten something and wanted to go back for it: 'Is there anything special about me that makes me worth killing?'

"I first determined the Basilisk's existence, and then made the crowing badge? But that didn't pose a real threat to the Basilisk or the Diary. Given the Diary's character, he wouldn't easily kill people unless they were seriously threatened or he was certain of victory. Like in the Chamber of Secrets in the original books, he only petrified the students until he fully regained his power before intending to kill Harry and Ginny..."

Or perhaps... I sealed away his true form?!

"By the way, if he entered the school by possessing a student, he would definitely know that his original body had been sealed away, and that the culprits were the three students..."

"Very likely. In the original story, didn't he risk leaving a huge opening by letting Fawkes in, precisely because he wanted to kill Harry? The original form is extremely important to him..."

"But if this guess is true... wouldn't Baron and Harry be in danger now too?!"

Realizing this, Avada immediately quickened his pace, running into the lounge in a few strides. After returning to his dormitory, he used the Instantaneous Spell to enter the interdimensional space, riding his flying broomstick at top speed towards the library. Sure enough, he sensed Baron, who was concentrating on his homework.

He drew his wand, cut off a corner of his robe, and used Transfiguration to transform it into a note. He quickly wrote: "Go to Hagrid's hut, as soon as possible, close your eyes if you can! —Ken"

Then he activated the Space-Time Charm again, sending the note out of the spatial interlayer to Baron's side. He immediately turned around and rushed to the Gryffindor Tower to send a note to Harry, who was playing chess with Ron in the common room, before returning to his dormitory. Ron and Hermione were also with Harry and were involved in the plan to eliminate Voldemort, so calling them over was an extra layer of insurance...

After a while.

"What's wrong?"

Harry, Avada, and Baron, who were already waiting there with serious expressions, asked breathlessly, "The Gryffindor common room is in the tower. It won't be easy to get down here quickly."

"I was just chased by a basilisk."

Avada said seriously, "No blindfold, no room for indirect eye contact, and your gaze is always fixed on me... Don't ask me how I discovered all this; I have some special abilities."

"I suspect this might be related to our sealing of Voldemort. Snape told me that the person controlling the Basilisk was very likely a fragment of Voldemort's soul, and had every reason to come specifically to kill us to avenge the original."

"Especially you two, Harry and Hermione."

He turned to Harry and Hermione and said, "Harry is known for defeating Voldemort right after he was born, and Hermione, you are a Muggle. You are both easy targets, so be extra careful."

"I have some newly made Basilisk warning devices here. Harry, Ron, and Baron, each of you take one... Hermione should have already received hers, right? That's good. Remember to keep them with you at all times."

"Um."

Hermione pulled a warning device from her pocket, indicating that she always carried it with her: "What happened with Colin yesterday reminded me, so I'm always carrying this warning device with me now."

"That's good."

After distributing the warning devices, Avada breathed a sigh of relief. After discussing recent events for a while, the group left, returning to the castle with heavy hearts.

"We need to produce more early warning devices as soon as possible."

Watching their figures gradually disappear into the snow, Avada sighed, exhaling wisps of white steam: "They don't even care about killing anymore. Who knows what that madman will do next?"

(End of this chapter)