The persistent whispers continue to surround Harry as he and his friends spend their free time in the library, poring over books in search of information about the Chamber of Secrets and the creature responsible for petrifying students. Their efforts are focused on understanding which magical creatures can petrify a person and why.
Draco, diligently flipping through a heavy tome, suddenly exclaims, "I've found something about a Basilisk. It says here that a Basilisk can kill with its eyes!"
The group exchanges concerned glances. The last thing they want is information about a creature that can kill. They need to find something that can petrify without causing harm.
"No, Draco," Hermione interjects, "we're looking for a creature that petrifies, not kills. Let's keep searching."
Despite the frustration and the continued rumors circulating about Harry, he finds solace in his team's support during their second Quidditch match against Gryffindor. The game is intense, with both teams putting up a fierce fight. Harry plays as Ravenclaw's seeker, zooming around the pitch in search of the elusive Golden Snitch.
In a crucial moment, Harry spots the Snitch and makes a daring dive. He manages to catch it but loses control of his broom and crashes to the ground. His teammates rush to his side, concern etched on their faces.
Just as they are about to take Harry to the hospital wing, Gilderoy Lockhart, with his ever-confident smile, steps in. "No need to worry," he says. "I can heal him right here."
Neville, wary of Lockhart's ineptitude, tries to stop him, but Lockhart is determined to show off. He casts a spell, thinking he is mending Harry's bones, but instead, he makes the bones in Harry's hand disappear. The pain is excruciating, and Harry is quickly admitted to the hospital wing, where Madam Pomfrey fusses over him and berates Lockhart for his foolishness.
After some rest, Harry awakes to find Daphne sitting near his bed, her concern evident in her eyes. He glances around the hospital wing and notices his other friends near another bed. But as he looks more closely, he sees a bushy-haired girl lying in the hospital bed, her body rigid and unresponsive. Hermione has been petrified.
Frantic and alarmed, Harry asks his friends how it happened. They explain that Madam Pince found Hermione petrified in the library.
Harry's heart sinks when he sees a small bit of paper clutched in Hermione's left hand. He carefully unfolds it and reads the content. He then shares the information with his friends, "Hermione found the creature responsible for the petrification, and it's a Basilisk. But there's more. The paper says that the person won't die when indirectly exposed to the Basilisk's eyes. All the victims in Hogwarts are near a reflective surface or object."
When Harry inquires about how Hermione was found petrified, Daphne explains, "There was a makeup mirror near her. It must have reflected the Basilisk's gaze."
As Harry and his friends are deeply engrossed in a serious discussion about Hermione's findings, they are abruptly interrupted by a commotion happening outside the hospital wing. Curiosity is piqued, and they rush to see what the commotion is about.
Upon arriving at the scene, they are confronted with a chilling message scrawled on the stone wall in what appears to be blood: "Her flesh and bones will rot in the Chamber of Secrets forever."
The sinister message sends a shiver down their spines, and it is clear that they are dealing with a grave and dangerous situation. The Chamber of Secrets has been opened, and they need to unravel the mystery behind it before more harm befalls the students of Hogwarts.
