HP: Supreme Potion Collector [Original Female Protagonist]

# Ron

"Could Riddle really be the Heir of Slytherin?!"

Ron exclaimed, his voice a little too loud. He quickly glanced around to make sure no one else had heard him. Sighing in relief, he clamped a hand over his mouth.

# Hermione

"Could it just be a coincidence? Maybe Riddle came across the name in a book and thought it sounded cool…"

Hermione tried to explore a different angle, but her reasoning fell apart halfway through.

## Orli

"My guess is that Riddle tried to open the Chamber back then and accidentally caused Myrtle's death. Hagrid must have been secretly raising some kind of forbidden creature, and Riddle seized the opportunity to pin the blame on him."

Orli finally let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding, using the moment to lay out what she believed to be the truth.

# Harry

"Hagrid's been wrongfully accused for fifty years! He doesn't even have a wand anymore; he has to hide it in his umbrella…"

Harry's voice was low, but his anger was palpable.

# Harry

"And Riddle left behind a diary to deceive people! We almost fell for it!"

## Orli

"I think we need to hand that diary over to Professor Dumbledore as soon as possible."

Orli felt that dealing with the Chamber and killing the basilisk were tasks best left to someone else. After all, they had already solved the mystery of the diary and identified the real culprit behind the Chamber's opening fifty years ago. Surely Dumbledore would take it from here.

# Hermione

"I agree."

Hermione's gaze darted nervously to Harry's bag, as if it contained a dozen dark wizards ready to spring out.

# Hermione

"Something this dangerous shouldn't stay with us. Besides, if we tell Dumbledore the truth, Hagrid might finally clear his name!"

# Harry

"Well, if that's what you all think…"

Harry preferred to handle things himself, but his hatred for Riddle made him eager to see him brought down.

Unfortunately, things weren't as straightforward as they had hoped.

The next morning, the four of them stood in front of Dumbledore's desk, recounting the entire story in turn. When they finished, silence filled the room.

Dumbledore didn't reach for the diary as they'd expected. Nor did he immediately declare Hagrid's innocence or praise them. Instead, he sighed deeply, his voice heavy with weariness as he spoke:

# Dumbledore

"Children, I believe your reasoning is sound. However, we currently lack concrete evidence."

# Harry

"Professor, Riddle's middle name is Marvolo. Only the Heir of Slytherin can open the Chamber. Isn't that proof enough?"

Harry asked, his tone urgent.

# Dumbledore

"The events of that time were not so straightforward. Hagrid was indeed raising an Acromantula at the school back then, and Acromantulas are known to prey on humans. Even if Riddle did open the Chamber, we have no way of proving whether Myrtle was killed by the basilisk in the Chamber or by the Acromantula. Moreover, to many, the basilisk is merely a legend."

Dumbledore shook his head.

## Orli

"But Myrtle herself said she saw a pair of giant yellow eyes before she died. It must have been the basilisk's gaze that killed her!"

Orli said urgently.

# Dumbledore

"The Ministry of Magic and the Board of Governors would not accept a ghost's testimony about their own death."

Dumbledore explained:

# Dumbledore

"This is because a ghost's memories of their death are often fragmented and incomplete. Additionally, there is a significant period of memory loss after death. As a result, their testimony is considered 'for reference only.' Otherwise, if victims were willing to become ghosts, there would be no unsolved cases in the wizarding world."

# Hermione

"Then how can we prove that Hagrid was wrongfully accused?"

Hermione asked.

# Dumbledore

"Unless we kill the basilisk, use its corpse to prove its existence, and corroborate Myrtle's words with its eyes, we cannot establish a complete chain of evidence."

Dumbledore clasped his hands together, resting his chin on them.

# Dumbledore

"So now our focus returns to the Chamber and the basilisk."

# Harry

"Have you found any clues about the Chamber's location? Do you know where it is?"

Harry pressed on.

# Dumbledore

"Regrettably, Hogwarts' architectural structure is far more complex than I had imagined."

Dumbledore replied.

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Author's Note:

It's almost time—just a little longer before we enter the Chamber!

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