bioinnovel Chapter 109 The Vice Principal's Statement
Chapter 109 The Vice Principal's Statement
Chapter 109 The Vice Principal's Statement
When the candles in the auditorium were lit again, the students only saw two professors bowing once more.
The question of who truly won between Professor McGonagall and Professor Black lingered in the students' minds.
Some people believe that Professor McGonagall won because the snake was clearly suppressed before the candle went out, and the snake eventually disappeared.
Some believe that Professor Black won; although the giant serpent was suppressed, it still had the ability to resist, and in the end, it disappeared along with the water and fire.
After a brief silence, the students finally remembered what they had forgotten, and enthusiastic applause erupted, along with screams and whistles.
The unease and fear of the past month were greatly alleviated at this moment. Their professors were powerful, and they were still trustworthy. The Slytherin heir would surely be captured by the professors!
Moreover, with Professor McGonagall and Professor Black in such a state, the students couldn't even imagine how strong Dumbledore must be. Even the headmaster's crooked nose exuded a powerful beauty.
The Chamber of Secrets of Slytherin and the heir of Slytherin are all useless paper tigers, and Professor Dumbledore will surely bring them to justice.
In a duel club that was both a failure and a success, Gilderoy Lockhart became the biggest loser, while Dumbledore, who wasn't even there, was completely overwhelmed by the wins.
Another winner was Belvina, who received even louder applause and cheers wherever she went after leaving the stage, even from Slytherin, who had previously disliked her.
Does winning or losing matter?
Sometimes it's very important, and sometimes it's not so important.
The duel with Professor McGonagall was purely demonstrative, an exhibition match for the students. Winning or losing didn't matter; even if he won, it would only be a matter of saving face.
Since winning or losing doesn't matter, we might as well go with the flow and do each other a favor, which will also help us end this exhibition match sooner.
That's why Belvina gave up continuing her attack and handed the final stage over to Professor McGonagall, thus regaining Professor McGonagall's favor.
The applause in the auditorium continued, and the students' palms turned red from clapping. At a time when they needed a boost of morale the most, this exhibition match between professors came at just the right time, like giving each student a bottle of energy drink.
The applause was so enthusiastic that Professor McGonagall, who was still on stage, had to signal everyone to be quiet, as she had something else to say.
"First, let's thank Professor Black for her cooperation," Professor McGonagall said. "Thank you for the wonderful demonstration."
Before she could finish speaking, the students' applause was already unstoppable. Belvina came out again, smiled and bowed to thank the students for their enthusiastic applause.
Regardless of how the students viewed the outcome of this exhibition match, Belvina once again left a very deep impression on them, unlike any other time.
Professor McGonagall continued, "I must announce that tonight's Duel Club is coming to an end. It's getting late, and it's time to rest."
Sighs immediately filled the auditorium. Everyone was in high spirits and naturally didn't want the dueling club to end like this. They also wanted to go up and try their skills.
"The date for the next Duel Club meeting will be announced later, and I think Professor Flitwick would be happy to guide you," Professor McGonagall said. "Professor Flitwick was once a champion of the Duel Tournament and has a very deep understanding of wizard duels."
As she spoke, Professor McGonagall raised her arm, gesturing for everyone to look at Professor Flitwick in the audience.
The diminutive Professor Flitwick stood with his feet slightly bent, but unfortunately, at least half the students in the auditorium couldn't see him; he was blocked by the makeshift stage.
"Finally, I have a few more words to say." Professor McGonagall's smile faded, and she became serious. "Some terrible things have happened at the school recently. A cat and a student were attacked one after the other."
The students, who had just been chattering excitedly, immediately fell silent. Some fidgeted nervously, while others clutched their useless amulets tightly in their pockets. The secret chamber and the heir were the topics the students least wanted to discuss.
"Whoever plotted the attack, whoever is lurking in the shadows, Hogwarts will not tolerate it!" Professor McGonagall declared. "No matter how long the night, the day will eventually come. The one who plotted the attack will be sent to where he belongs!"
Professor McGonagall stood on the stage, looking down at the entire audience with a cold and stern gaze.
She was warning the Slytherin heirs lurking in the shadows, and also warning those who harbored malicious intentions.
The students looked at each other. Professor McGonagall's abilities tonight were convincing, but the legend of the locked room had been passed down for centuries, and no one had ever found it.
Now, having suffered two attacks, can the school truly find the "missing" Chamber of Secrets? Can the heirs of Slytherin truly be brought to justice?
The worried students still had doubts, but in any case, Professor McGonagall's strong statement tonight was very encouraging and gave everyone a boost.
Snowflakes fluttered outside the window, while applause filled the warm Great Hall. Inspired, the people regained their courage, determined to seize the Slytherin heir no matter what difficulties or obstacles lay ahead!
The first gathering of the Duel Club has come to a close, and it started badly, as disastrous as the Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
Fortunately, the professors at the school remained trustworthy; they saved the gathering, defended the collective reputation of the Hogwarts professors, and incidentally, thoroughly humiliated Gilderoy Lockhart's extraordinary shamelessness.
Of course, everything tonight is thanks to the generous Professor Lockhart, although it wasn't his intention.
The students reluctantly left the auditorium, discussing the evening's gathering as they walked. The area around the castle entrance was filled with lively chatter, and the usually dull and slow footsteps were much lighter.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione mingled in the crowd, walking quickly and squeezing past one student after another.
Harry, who was walking ahead, quickened his pace, while Ron and Hermione, unaware of what was going on, followed closely behind. The three of them made their way upstairs and soon left the crowd behind.
They slipped into an empty classroom and quietly closed the door. Harry squinted at his two friends' faces in the darkness.
"Do you think I should tell them about the voice I heard?" Harry asked uncertainly, having asked the same question on Halloween Eve.
"Them? With whom?" Ron asked, still dazed. "Didn't I say last time that hearing voices that others can't hear is not a good sign?"
Clearly, Ron disapproved of Harry's confession, believing it would only cause his good friend more trouble. Harry already had enough trouble.
Hermione made a different choice than that night, asking, "Who do you want to talk to, Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, or Professor Black, whom we know the least?"
Tonight at the Duel Club, Gilderoy Lockhart lost a die-hard fan, while Belvina Black unexpectedly gained a new admirer.
That's right, Hermione Granger has climbed the wall! Tonight!
Miss Gryffindor, the know-it-all, had had enough of defending Lockhart and started supporting Professor Black instead. The Muggle Studies professor, who was equally good-looking and capable, wasn't going to fall from grace so easily.
After hearing Hermione's words, Harry frowned and thought for a while.
The first person to be ruled out was Headmaster Dumbledore, who was rarely seen except when eating in the Great Hall.
The second person to be excluded was his own headmistress, Professor McGonagall. She was too strict, and Harry was a little afraid of her. Moreover, Harry's experience last school year made him subconsciously ignore Professor McGonagall.
The only remaining candidate was Professor Black, whom they weren't very familiar with. Harry and his classmates were only in their second year and hadn't taken any electives yet, with Muggle Studies being an even less popular elective.
"How is Professor Black?" Harry asked, eager to see his friend's face, but the light in the empty classroom was too dim.
"I think it's fine," Hermione said. "Professor Black is capable and a good person. Haven't I told you all that?"
In first grade, I shared a train carriage with Professor Black.
Hermione, who was in the dark, suddenly transformed into a pusher and enthusiastically recounted what happened on the train last year.
"I also think Professor Black is a good man, but I think it's best not to say anything about it," Ron said. "And don't forget Professor Black's relationship with Malfoy."
Hermione, who was about to retort, had to shut her mouth. Draco Malfoy was the Slytherin heir in the eyes of the three of them. The reason was simple: Malfoy hated people of Muggle origin.
Because of that "mudblood" comment on Halloween Eve, Malfoy Shaoyun's thin frame was burdened with a heavy, unpleasant burden.
"No, Professor Black and Malfoy aren't the same kind of people," Hermione suddenly said. "Think about what she said in class, and that night she almost hit Malfoy and even took us back to the common room!"
Ron scratched his head awkwardly and said, "I don't mean to say anything bad about Professor Black, I just think that even if people told me this, they might not believe it—oh well, Harry, you decide! I support your decision."
The ball returned to Harry's feet, and he had to make the decision himself.
Being able to hear sounds that others can't is a very strange thing, and as Ron said, it's not a good omen.
Another strange thing was that Harry always felt a familiar sense of closeness to Belvina, a closeness he couldn't figure out where it came from.
"She saved me," Harry said. "Professor Black saved me!"