Chapter 115: The Basilisk's Attack
The runic barrier George was currently setting up for the school was the most basic type of runic script barrier. The rule he set was that only mutants could enter or exit the barrier, while non-mutants would be unable to pass through freely.
Since it was the simplest runic barrier, its protective power wasn't particularly strong, but it was more than enough to stop ordinary people.
In his previous life, George wasn't a professional spy or agent, so his earlier actions had undoubtedly left many loopholes. While ordinary people might not notice, organizations like S.H.I.E.L.D. and HYDRA, filled with professional spies and agents, would surely catch on.
It was only a matter of time before they followed the clues and found the mutant school.
Although he had already cast a Muggle-Repelling Charm over the entire school, there was no guarantee that S.H.I.E.L.D. or HYDRA didn't have some kind of advanced technology to bypass it.
In the Harry Potter world, Muggles couldn't find Diagon Alley because their technology wasn't advanced enough. But in the Marvel world, with all its advanced tech, it wasn't impossible for them to break through the Muggle-Repelling Charm.
If the Muggle-Repelling Charm was ever compromised, this basic runic barrier would at least stop any spies or agents trying to infiltrate the school, buying everyone time to react.
The real issue was that his wand's amplification effect in this world wasn't very strong.
The hair from Jean Grey, being from a clone, didn't carry the Phoenix Force, so the new wand he made wasn't much better than the one he had made with Professor X's hair.
As a result, the Extension Charm he cast in the Marvel world was far less effective than in the Fairy Tail or Harry Potter worlds.
Otherwise, he could have considered moving the entire school into a space expanded by the Extension Charm, which would have been much safer.
For now, the school was relatively safe. Ordinary people couldn't see it, and even if they could, they wouldn't be able to get in.
If someone tried to blast through the barrier with weapons, Wolverine and Professor X weren't pushovers.
After Professor X switched to a younger body, his psychic abilities had dropped from level four to level three. But even at level three, the professor could still blank out the minds of any spies or agents who tried to enter the school.
"Done!"
Since his Script Magic was still in its early stages, it took George until evening to finally set up the runic barrier covering the entire school.
"I still need to find a better wand core!"
Jean Grey's hair wasn't effective enough, and obtaining a Dragon Slayer Crystal in the Fairy Tail world wasn't easy. He needed to explore other options.
"Maybe I should try using Hulk's hair, or Thor's hair, or even Loki's. After all, Thor and Loki are gods, so their hair should be pretty potent."
As George walked back to his dorm, he pondered this.
"If Odin were willing to give me a strand of his hair, and if I could get my hands on Uru metal and a branch of Yggdrasil, I might be able to make a wand even better than the ones in the Fairy Tail world."
But after thinking it over, he realized that even if he considered this, it would be months before he had the opportunity.
Right now, the Hulk hadn't arrived in New York, and Thor and Loki were still in Asgard.
"Forget it. I'll focus on studying magic for now."
The Hulk was one thing, but Loki and the Destroyer were another matter entirely. Without sufficient strength, trying to get what he wanted from them would be impossible.
Now that the school had the runic barrier, George planned to focus entirely on studying the magic of the Fairy Tail and Harry Potter worlds for the next few months.
He aimed to take his abilities to the next level during this time.
Over a month later, in the Harry Potter world, it was now May.
Aside from a Quidditch match against Hufflepuff, where George had once again proven his Quidditch talent with an overwhelming victory, nothing much had happened.
That was until the day of the Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw Quidditch match.
As usual on Saturdays, George had an early breakfast and headed to the library.
Recently, he had been studying the Blasting Curse, a highly destructive spell that could blow up anything it touched. It was also extremely dangerous.
From what he knew, Peter Pettigrew had once used this spell to blow up an entire street, killing twelve Muggles.
"Hermione, why are you in such a hurry? Aren't you going to watch the match?"
Seeing Hermione panting as she appeared at the library entrance, George looked surprised.
Today was a Quidditch match day, and most of the school's teachers and students were heading to the Quidditch pitch. The library was empty except for Madam Pince and George.
While Hermione loved spending time in the library, today was a big day for Gryffindor's Quidditch team, and she wouldn't miss cheering for Harry.
"George, it's great that you're here. I think I've figured out what the monster in the Chamber of Secrets is. Can you help me find a book about dangerous magical creatures?"
Hermione, slightly recovered, grabbed George's hand excitedly.
George was taken aback but nodded:
"Of course."
As he helped Hermione find the book, he thought to himself:
"Is it happening today?"
He knew that in the original story, Hermione had been attacked by the basilisk after discovering the Chamber's secret, but he couldn't remember the exact day.
"Is this the one?"
After searching for a while, George handed Hermione an old book about magical creatures that included information on basilisks.
Hermione's eyes lit up as she took the book:
"Yes, it's Moste Potente Potions! Let me check."
She pulled George to the reading area, flipped through the book, and quickly found the section on basilisks. She read aloud:
"Of the many fearsome beasts and monsters that roam our land, none is more curious or more deadly than the Basilisk, also known as the King of Serpents.
This snake can grow to an enormous size and often lives for hundreds of years. It is born from a chicken's egg hatched by a toad.
The Basilisk's methods of killing are extraordinary. Apart from its deadly fangs, its gaze is also lethal.
Anyone who looks directly into its eyes will die instantly.
Spiders flee before the Basilisk, as it is their mortal enemy, and the Basilisk itself will flee upon hearing the crow of a rooster, as the sound is fatal to it."
"So, you think the monster in the Chamber is a basilisk?"
George asked in a low voice after Hermione finished reading.
Hermione nodded:
"Yes, I think the monster in the Chamber is a basilisk. It moves through the school's pipes. Moaning Myrtle must have died because she looked directly into its eyes.
And in the recent attacks, Mrs. Norris saw the basilisk's eyes through the water's reflection, which is why she was only petrified, not killed.
Colin saw it through his camera, and Nearly Headless Nick is already dead."
"That makes sense. Maybe we should report this to Dumbledore."
George acted as if he fully agreed with Hermione's reasoning and casually asked:
"By the way, what happened to Harry's diary? Any new clues recently?"
"You mean Tom Riddle's diary? It was stolen yesterday, and just before coming to the library, Harry said he heard that strange voice again. I think it's the basilisk.
Because Harry's a Parselmouth, he can hear it."
Hermione grabbed George's hand:
"We need to find Dumbledore now. If the basilisk is out again, everyone's in danger."
(End of Chapter)