Harry nudged Ron with his elbow, signaling him to lower his voice.
The four of them were squeezed together in the shadows of the staircase, straining their ears to catch the conversation upstairs.
# Minister Fudge
"...The Ministry of Magic must take action, especially after receiving complaints from parents. We've already contacted the Board of Governors…"
Fudge's voice was awkward and hesitant.
# Harry
"It must be Malfoy! He's gone back on his word!"
Harry hissed angrily, only to be elbowed by Hermione this time.
# Dumbledore
"Cornelius, I must tell you, arresting Hagrid will not solve the problem."
Dumbledore's voice was firm.
# Minister Fudge
"You have to see it from my point of view, Albus. I'm under a lot of pressure."
Fudge's voice wavered, lacking conviction:
# Minister Fudge
"...What if the Chamber is opened again? We can't allow Hagrid to stay at the school… I have no choice but to take him away…"
# Dumbledore
"And where will you take him?"
Dumbledore's tone was low and steady.
# Minister Fudge
"It's only temporary… just a precaution. As long as you resolve the Chamber issue by the end of the term, we'll release him…"
Fudge said.
# Dumbledore
"You're sending him to Azkaban? For your so-called 'precautionary measure'?!"
Dumbledore's voice carried restrained fury:
# Dumbledore
"As Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and Headmaster of Hogwarts, I must warn you that taking anyone from this school to prison requires a fair trial."
# Minister Fudge
"If that's what you insist on, then so be it. But the Aurors are taking Hagrid today, and you're welcome to convene a Wizengamot hearing right now."
Fudge, clearly frustrated by Dumbledore's resistance, replied curtly.
Their footsteps echoed down the corridor, growing fainter and fainter. By the time the four of them crept up the stairs, both men were gone.
# Ron
"Look over there!"
Ron stood by the window, pointing toward the grassy edge of the Forbidden Forest. Hagrid was emerging from his hut, wearing his usual black mole-skin coat. Three unfamiliar men surrounded him—one in front and two behind—looking very much like they were escorting a prisoner.
Dumbledore and Fudge followed a few meters behind, maintaining a slight distance. The group moved further and further away until they disappeared from sight.
# Harry
"What's Azkaban? And what's the Wizengamot?"
Harry asked Ron anxiously.
# Ron
"Azkaban is the wizarding prison. They say it's on some island, and people either die or go mad once they're locked up there."
Ron explained:
# Ron
"The Wizengamot is the highest wizarding court. Dumbledore is the Chief Warlock."
# Harry
"We have to do something!"
Harry said, his voice rising.
# Harry
"We need to get the basilisk's eyes as evidence and give them to Dumbledore before they lock Hagrid in Azkaban. That's the only way to end this!"
Orli sighed quietly. She had done everything she could to steer the story toward a safer outcome, but now it was all heading back to its original course—Harry was going to face the basilisk. He had no choice.
# Hermione
"We'll need to visit Myrtle again."
Hermione's eyes gleamed with a steely determination, a look that often reminded people of Professor McGonagall.
## Orli
"Wait."
Orli stopped them.
She reached for a thin chain around her neck and pulled out a small golden vial shaped like a cone. It was the bottle of Felix Felicis she had received as a Christmas gift.
Now she finally understood—the gift had been meant for this moment. It was the key to keeping both herself and Harry alive.
## Orli
"This is Felix Felicis, the luck potion. It will bring us good fortune. Everyone take a small sip."
Orli reluctantly uncorked the vial, taking a shallow sip herself before passing it to Hermione.
A sharp, ginger-like warmth slid down her throat, and slowly, Orli felt a surge of exhilarating confidence spread through her body. It was as if infinite possibilities had opened up before her, as if she could do anything, achieve anything… Opening the Chamber and dealing with a basilisk suddenly seemed not just possible but almost laughably easy…
Orli smiled, her confidence shining as she looked at her friends. Ron had just downed the last drop of Felix Felicis, and the same confident smiles were now spreading across Harry and Hermione's faces.
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Author's Note:
Felix Felicis, also known as Liquid Luck, doesn't create "luck" out of thin air. Instead, it significantly enhances your abilities—be it social skills, magical aptitude, reflexes, and so on—making everything seem to go your way. Normally, the effects last about 12 hours, but since the four of them each only had a small sip, the duration will be much shorter.
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