"The legend of the Basilisk dates back to aimes, born from a toad hatg a rooster's egg. Its gaze is deadly, and any creature that meets its eyes will die instantly," The Bloody Baroed to Hoare as if reading from a book.

  "Isn't there any way to deal with it?" Hoare propped his up, looking troubled.

  The Bloody Baron seemed to remember something, paused, and then spoke, "A phoenix, a phoenix be immuo the Basilisk's eyes."

  Hoare uood why The Bloody Baroated to mention it. Phoenixes are extremely rare magical creatures, and Hoare knew of only ohe only one in all his past and present memories—Fawkes, belonging to Headmaster Dumbledore.

  "If I lure Fawkes, wouldn't Headmaster Dumbledore immediately know that I've goo the Chamber of Secrets? I hope he doesn't suspect I'm the heir of Slytherin."

  Hoare's muttering caught The Bloody Baron's attention.

  "Perhaps—" The Bloody Baron paused, "you could g the day." He spoke slowly.

  "?" Hoare's expression was full of fusion.

  What about the day? Does the Basilisk take strolls during the day?

  "She likes to go out for walks during the day."

  The Bloody Baron's words truly shocked Hoare. "She? Go out? For walks?" He didn't know which part to be surprised about first.

  The Bloody Baron seemed puzzled by Hoare's surprise. "Yes."

  Hoare nodded. He po wake up early and find Harry, then head straight to the Chamber of Secrets. The timing erfect.

  Goodness!

  The Basilisk is a girl! And she likes to wander around!

  But that makes seherwise, she wouldn't have been tricked by Tom Riddle. After all, the man with a snake face had maxed out his looks in his initial form.

  Now.

  Hoare decided to sleep first. His mind was a jumble of true and false spells.

  Before sleeping, he habitually g his panel and was surprised to find a new spell added. The system was quite zy.

  [Ding]

  [Panel Update]

  [A-Level Ability: Spells {Wandless Magic, Silent Spell} (Patronus Charm, Basic Transfiguratioaught}, Petrificus Totalus, Fioying Curse, Body-Bind Curse, Leg-Locker Curse, Jelly-Legs Jinx, Stupefy, Alohomora, Levitation Charm, Summoning Charm, Reducto, Lumos, Shrinking Spell, Occlumency, Disillusio Charm, Beginner Exorcism Magic {Self-taught})]

  -----------------

  The m, when Hoare woke up, it was nearly nine o'clock. Fortunately, it was still the holiday.

  The Great Hall always had meals avaible.

  Hoare quickly washed up, grabbed some materials he prepared for Ron, and headed out.

  He prepared them on the side, mainly because Ron's grades were a mess!

  You know, the Weasley family might be poor, but almost every child had excellent grades.

  In Hoare's memory, Ron would bee a Prefect ter, indig his grades were capable.

  It's probably because it's his first time at school, hanging out with friends, with only py on his mind.

  To prevent Ron from being nagged by Molly when he goes home for the holidays, Hoare felt it was necessary to save his foolish brother who only knew how to eat drumsticks every day.

  When he arrived at the Great Hall, there were only a few people sitting around. At this time, Hoare surprisingly saw Harry and Ron.

  Their heads were almost buried in their bowls.

  There weren't many people staying at school, and there was no division by house at this time; everyone di a long table for the sake of liveliness.

  Hoare plopped down beside them.

  "Did you guys go thieving st night?" When they heard Hoare's voice, they looked up. Goodness, those dark circles were huge.

  Even bigger than Hoare's, who had stayed up for two nights in a row.

  Harry and Ron zily lifted their heads. Seeing it was Hoare, they nodded slightly as a greeting.

  "You guys..." Hoare poio his own dark circles.

  Ron weakly said, "What's it to you..."

  "You guys should go bad rest." Hoare looked at what Ron was eating, which was Ron's most hated boiled cabbage root.

  Harry forced himself to stay awake, numbly stuffing a piece of bread into his mouth. "We'll rest after we finish eating."

  Hoare took out his wand and tapped he crystal flower pot oable.

  A menu appeared in front of the flower pot, showing the breakfast options for today.

  Hoare ordered two ham and egg sandwiches and a gss of milk. The menu flickered and disappeared.

  Two or three mier, the food appeared oable in front of Hoare.

  This quid effit method made Hoare wonder if it could be used to transport things or people.

  Hoare enjoyed his breakfast, p.

  "Harry," Hoare began, "I want to learn something from you. Do you have some time?"

  "Sure, here in the Great Hall?" Harry quickly agreed, but Ron seemed to have something to say. He tugged at Harry's sleeve, casting a mysterious gside.

  Hoare feigned disappoi. "If you have something to do, I'm not in a rush."

  "No, nothing, we have nothing to do." Harry's words made Ron's cheeks puff up. He thought he was gring fiercely at Hoare, then took a big gulp of milk, leaving a white mustache on his mouth.

  Hoare chuckled softly at the sight.

  Harry looked around, seeing no one paying attention to them, then half-stood and leaoward Hoare. "A few nights ago, weren't we looking for information on Niel?"

  Hoare nodded, indig he was listening.

  "Because I discovered someone is trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone, and that person is in the school."

  "But yesterday, I noticed Headmaster Dumbledore and several professors were hurrying around the school—"

  "Yesterday?" Hoare recalled that he had been in the library all day yesterday, so it was normal not to know.

  "Yes, yesterday."

  Harry swallowed, "So I suspect—"

  His tone paused, as if very nervous, "The Philosopher's Stone is missing!"

  The Philosopher's Stone is missing!?

  Hoare was shocked.

  Isn't the Philosopher's Sto with Headmaster Dumbledore? How could it be missing!?

  Who could take the Philosopher's Stone from Headmaster Dumbledore without being noticed?

  Number 2? Impossible.

  Even Voldemort at his peak couldn't silently take something protected by Dumbledore.

  So who did it?

  Hoare's brow furrowed. Without the Philosopher's Stohe long-term Squib Potion would be in danger.

  But sihe professors were searg the school, it meant the Philosopher's Stone was still within the school and hadn't been taken out.

  "So—" Hoare uood, "you two are also looking for the Philosopher's Stone?"

  Ron and Harry nodded repeatedly.

  "Do you have any clues?" Hoare asked, knowing Harry and Ron weren't that naive and wouldn't search blindly without clues.

  Harry nodded, "Ron and I heard Headmaster Dumbledore tell Professor Shat there were traces of a snake crawling in his bedroom."

  0Niffler0