Chapter 196 Try Not to Be in the Spotlight
A stream of white light fell in front of everyone. Dumbledore looked at the wizards in the barrier with a smile on his face. He smiled even more happily when he saw Fawkes standing on Harry's shoulder.
"You gave me a big surprise and solved the problem that has troubled Hogwarts for decades."
"Professor, I, we didn't help at all." Harry said intermittently, "It's all Aaron. He killed the basilisk and defeated Tom Riddle."
Dumbledore nodded, then looked at Aaron who was supported, and his eyes widened unexpectedly.
What's going on?
The last time I saw him, he was only a mid-level advanced wizard, but it hasn't been long since his strength has increased by one level. This is too fast!
"You are stronger and more talented than I thought."
Hermione trembled slightly. She knew that Aaron's strength was at least twice as strong as it looked after touching the ring.
"Thank you for the compliment, but this is innate, I can't help it." Aaron said indifferently.
"Headmaster, if you have something to say, let's go back and talk. Can you break this barrier first?" Professor McGonagall said.
Dumbledore smiled slightly, observed the gray-white curtain wall, and soon locked his target on the two green magic crystals.
"It's amazing. Riddle is worthy of being the best student in the history of Hogwarts."
"Headmaster, can you be faster?" Snape was a little impatient, "My students are still waiting for healing!"
"Don't be impatient, Severus." Dumbledore used his wand to tear a hole in the barrier, then extended his wand in, chanted a spell to knock down two magic crystals, and the barrier disappeared as the magic crystals shattered.
Aaron widened his eyes in disbelief. Although Dumbledore's way of breaking the barrier was a bit simple, judging from the calmness when tearing the barrier, I'm afraid that the four professors combined can't beat him. No wonder Voldemort is so afraid.
Harry and others were also stunned, but compared to surprise, they could feel a strong sense of security.
With such a headmaster in charge of Hogwarts, they are definitely the luckiest group of students.
"Tell me the details of what happened after you go back." Dumbledore said, "This is also what we all need to know."
"That..." Aaron raised his right hand weakly, "I won't participate, I need to go to the school hospital."
"Of course, Ms. Pomfrey will be waiting for you there."
Aaron nodded, then turned around and gave a few people a meaningful look: say as little as possible.
The three looked at each other, feeling a little embarrassed.
They all knew that Aaron wanted to keep a low profile, but now everything was settled, and it was impossible to hide it.
Several professors knew almost everything about the case. As for the battle, Dumbledore could analyze it all by just looking at the crime scene. You can't expect them not to go to the secret room!
"Okay! I neglected it." Aaron sighed slightly, his eyes swept over the four professors, and finally placed them on Dumbledore, "Principal, I have a small request, can you try to reduce my presence?
For example, the four students worked together to find the legendary secret room, and joined several professors to eliminate the basilisk and the real culprit behind the scenes."
"This...is not very fair to you!" Dumbledore's eyes flashed with a gleam of light, "You are a great contributor to Hogwarts, and you deserve the respect of everyone."
Aaron curled his lips, he didn't believe that Dumbledore didn't know what he meant.
It's okay to be in the limelight, but the problem is that this time the limelight is too big.
Killing the basilisk is fine, but if the victory over Tom Riddle is spread, he will be pushed to the forefront. What will Voldemort think when he knows it?
A thirteen-year-old wizard can actually defeat him when he was sixteen years old. The attitude towards him may change from admiration to fear, and the days to come will be full of fear!
"Just tell me! Can you do it?" Aaron looked into Dumbledore's blue eyes. "If not, I can take a loss and let my uncle talk to Cornelius Fudge."
Dumbledore looked helpless when he heard this.
This kid is too smart. He actually knows how to use the Ministry of Magic to pressure him. It seems that there is still a long way to go to completely pull the Gaius family to the opposite side of Voldemort.
"It can be done, but you also have to know that your achievements cannot be erased."
"That's enough." Aaron didn't take it seriously. As long as he was not the most handsome guy, the famous figure Harry Potter would automatically attract everyone's attention.
"By the way, I just saw that Lockhart seemed to be under the petrification spell. Who did this?"
"I did it, Albus." Professor McGonagall was angry, "Gilderoy Lockhart is just a scumbag, he... he is a liar.
In short, he is not suitable to teach in Hogwarts, Azkaban is quite suitable for him."
Dumbledore frowned thoughtfully. He knew Professor McGonagall well. It seemed that Lockhart did have a big problem to make her so angry.
But the Defense Against the Dark Arts class needs another teacher. This class is too time-consuming, one teacher per year!
Harry and others were called to the principal's office, and the Weasleys were waiting there. The news of Ginny's accident really scared them.
Aaron was personally sent to the school hospital by Professor Snape. Madam Pomfrey was surprised to see her covered in injuries.
"How did you get into this state?"
"Uh... it's really dangerous. Just think of me as being struck by lightning!"
Snape glared at him, then looked at Madam Pomfrey, "Please take a closer look. He is seriously injured. Try not to leave any sequelae."
Madam Pomfrey helped Aaron to the bed. Next to him was a row of petrified patients. Colin, Justin, and Penelope were all waiting here for Mandrake treatment.
"How could this happen?" Madam Pomfrey checked for a few minutes, and the expression on her face changed from worry to surprise, followed by curiosity, and finally to astonishment.
Snape looked at Madam Pomfrey's wonderful expression changes, and his heart couldn't help but feel a little more uneasy, "Can he be cured?"
"Professor Snape, I don't know how to say it, but he doesn't seem to need treatment.
I'll wrap some bandages around him, and he should be able to recover after a good sleep."
"Are you kidding?"
"I'm not kidding, Mr. Gaius's physical fitness is terrifying, far beyond that of ordinary humans.
The injuries on his body are not as serious as they look." Madam Pomfrey said solemnly, "and the speed of self-healing is very fast."
Snape was stunned, and looked at Aaron meaningfully, "Does your family have any special bloodline?"
"Not in my impression." Aaron said with a smile, "You forgot that when I joined the Quidditch team, I was injured like a normal person.
Maybe I was forced to soak in the potion for two months during the summer vacation, and then..."
"What is the formula?" Madam Pomfrey asked impatiently, but after asking, she stood there awkwardly.
No matter how you look at it, this is a secret of the Gaius family, and it is not something she, a doctor, should inquire about.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't ask this question."
"I understand, just don't talk about it."
"I know my limits." Madam Pomfrey smiled, "I'll get you a bandage."
"Since you're fine, I'll leave first.
But as your teacher, I have to remind you to try to stay out of the spotlight in the future." Professor Snape said seriously, and then left the school hospital.
Soon, Madam Pomfrey came back with a roll of bandages and wrapped several joints on Aaron's body tightly.
"That's fine, you can recover after a night's rest."
"Thank you very much."
"This is what I should do." Madam Pomfrey stood up, "You have a good rest, I have to help Professor Sprout brew the Mandrake Herb, there are still a few petrified patients over there!
Originally, I planned to let them recover tonight, but it seems that something happened in the middle, so I can only wait until tomorrow."
On the other side, the principal's office.
The Weasleys hugged their daughter tightly in their arms, and then kept thanking Harry and the others.
Harry and the other two just smiled and said nothing. They didn't play a big role in the whole thing, so they didn't deserve the thanks.
Lockhart was freed from the petrification curse, but he was fixed to a chair like a prisoner.
Everyone knew his deeds and agreed to hand him over to the Ministry of Magic for investigation.
The most angry person was Mrs. Weasley. She was a loyal fan of Lockhart, but the glorious image of her idol was completely shattered in her heart today.
After Professor Snape came back, he told everyone that Aaron was fine, and everyone was relieved.
Harry also told several professors everything that happened, from the time he could hear strange sounds, to their suspicion of Aaron, to knowing most of the clues, and then the Forbidden Forest and Aragog.
Of course, Riddle's diary was not left behind.
However, he cleverly avoided the process of preparing the Polyjuice Potion. He did not have the courage to tell Snape about sneaking into his office to steal materials in front of him.
"It's incredible. You have violated countless school rules.
What you did is enough to be expelled." Dumbledore looked at the few people who bowed their heads and said nothing, and then changed the subject and smiled: "But you also found the Chamber of Secrets and received a special contribution award for the school."
Hearing this, the three raised their heads excitedly. This was a familiar way of expiating sins with merits.
"Principal, what about Ginny?" Harry asked nervously, "What will happen to her?"
"I know what you are worried about." Dumbledore picked up Tom Riddle's diary, "Miss Ginny Weasley will not be punished. She should have a good rest.
Fortunately, the holiday will be soon, and she has plenty of time to get rid of this terrible psychological shadow."
"What does psychological shadow mean?" Mrs. Weasley asked puzzled.
"Riddle's diary." Ginny sobbed, "I have been writing in it, it controls me."
"What?" Arthur Weasley was shocked, "Didn't I tell you not to believe in things that can think independently? This diary is obviously a dark magic prop."
"Calm down, Arthur.
Many wizards older than her have been deceived by Voldemort. It seems natural for an innocent little witch to be deceived. He just has this ability."
"Vol..." Mrs. Weasley opened her mouth in astonishment, "But what does this have to do with him?"
"Tom Riddle is Voldemort fifty years ago." Harry said.
"You know?" Dumbledore looked at Harry in surprise, "Few people know that his former name was Tom Riddle."
"It was Aaron who discovered it, and we don't know how he knew it." Ron said, "The mysterious man attaches great importance to Aaron and has offered to recruit him several times..."
Halfway through the conversation, Harry and Hermione suddenly realized something, one cast a cryptic look at him, and the other stepped on the back of his foot.
Ron's eyes twitched slightly, and he immediately added: "But Aaron refused it sternly."
"Is that so?" Dumbledore pondered for a few seconds, and slowly turned his eyes to Snape, "Severus, you..."
"Principal, I think your worries are completely unnecessary." Snape interrupted him immediately, as if he knew what Dumbledore was going to say, "Gaius will never have any contact with him, otherwise they would not have come out of the Chamber of Secrets safely."
"Uh... Actually, I just want to congratulate you on having a good student you are proud of.
Snape:......
Don't I know you yet? Do you think I believe it?