97: Chapter 97 Filch's Cat and the Watermarks in the Corridor

After class in the afternoon, a pool of water had accumulated at the corner of the second-floor corridor. The water trail dragged from the entrance of the Girls Bathroom to the wall. Madam Norris was arched and hissing, while Filch held a mop, blocking half the path.

"Stand back, everyone. If anyone steps in this again, I'll report their name to the Principal's office."

Draco stopped at the top of the stairs, frowning. "Hogwarts can't even fix its pipes?"

Zabini, clutching his books, walked around the water. "You could ask Gilderoy Lockhart that; he could write a book called 'Me and the Leaking Corridor'."

Nott looked at the cat, then at the end of the water trail. "Madam Norris isn't acting right."

Filch glared at him.

Nott closed his book. "I'm saying she doesn't like water."

"She knows the rules better than you lot; she knows someone did something bad here."

Allen passed by from behind, his sleeve brushing against the wall, his gaze landing on the edge of the water stain. "Don't step in it."

Draco pulled his foot back. "I can see that."

Allen crouched down, his fingertips not touching the water, his wand sliding half an inch out of his sleeve.

Filch immediately shouted, "Mr. Potter, what are you doing?"

"Seeing where the water came from."

"Use your eyes. No wands allowed. The moment you wave a wand, you'll destroy the evidence."

Allen retracted his wand and stood up. "The water came from the bathroom, followed the corner of the wall, and didn't pass through the center."

Zabini glanced at the floor. "Someone walking along the wall?"

Nott added, "Or something that doesn't walk on the floor."

Draco looked at him. "Can you not say things like that in a place like this?"

Hermione came upstairs carrying three books, with Harry and Ron following behind.

Harry looked at the water by the wall and touched the side of his ear. "I didn't hear anything."

Hermione immediately asked, "Not now?"

Harry shook his head.

Filch pointed at them. "Gryffindor, it's always Gryffindor. Do you lot know something?"

Ron raised his voice. "We just came out of Charms Class, we didn't even bring any water."

Filch stared at Harry. "Mr. Potter, you always seem to appear near trouble."

Harry glanced at Allen, then looked away. "I was just passing by."

Allen switched his books to his other hand. "Mr. Filch, is anyone in the bathroom?"

"Moaning Myrtle is in there screaming, saying someone dirtied her water. I don't want to go in and listen to her cry."

Hermione stepped forward. "I can go in and take a look."

Filch reached out to stop her. "No. No one is allowed in until a Professor arrives."

Nott walked to Allen's side, pretending to adjust his book strap to hide his lip movements. "Is there any magical residue by the water?"

Allen looked at Madam Norris. "Yes."

Draco asked in a low voice, "Has the Basilisk come out?"

"No."

Zabini looked at the wet trail. "Then what is it?"

Allen pointed to the gap in the bathroom door. "The door was opened, and the pipes were opened too, but it was brief."

Draco's expression changed. "What do you mean the pipes were opened?"

"Literally."

Nott opened his book to shield them. "Testing the waters?"

Allen nodded. "The first time reaching out, they might not dare to let the thing out yet."

Zabini's gaze swept over the Gryffindor side. "The Weasley Family's youngest daughter?"

Draco immediately said, "Don't talk about her in the corridor."

Hermione stared at them. "What do you know?"

Draco stepped back half a step. "Granger, when did you start worrying about where Slytherin stands?"

Hermione ignored him and only looked at Allen. "The water came out of the Girls Bathroom, Madam Norris is hissing, and Harry didn't hear any sound, which means it just left."

Filch held his mop horizontally. "Who left? What on earth are you all talking about?"

Ron grabbed Hermione. "Don't say it in front of Filch."

Madam Norris suddenly hissed more urgently at the end of the water trail, her body pressed against the base of the wall, her nose tip pressed against a narrow crack.

Allen's Spatial Perception swept along the water surface. The residual fluctuations were thin and tight; the inside of the pipes had been stretched open and then hurriedly closed.

Draco saw his fingers pause on the spine of his book and asked in a low voice, "Did you see it?"

"Not seen."

"Then what is it?"

"Traces of a door."

Zabini said softly, "The door beneath the second-floor Girls Bathroom?"

Nott looked at the crack in the wall. "The entrance wasn't fully opened."

Allen closed his book. "Someone is practicing."

Draco's expression was grim. "Ginny?"

Allen turned to look at him. "Don't say the name."

Hermione heard half the sentence and immediately walked closer. "Who is practicing?"

Draco spoke first. "Practicing the Cleaning Charm. Granger, do you want to inspect every wet spot in the whole school?"

Hermione looked at the floor. "If the Cleaning Charm scares a cat, then I will."

Filch waved his mop. "Enough! No one is allowed near here anymore. I'm going to find Professor Snape."

Draco turned his head. "Why him?"

"Because he is in charge of you Slytherin lot, and because Professor McGonagall isn't nearby."

Filch picked up Madam Norris, but the cat still reached its claws toward the crack.

Allen watched him walk away before saying to Draco, "Leave here."

Draco suppressed his anger. "You said someone was practicing just now—is she using the diary to open the door?"

"The diary is teaching her."

Nott noted this sentence in the corner of his book. "Being able to open the pipes the first time means the control has deepened."

Zabini looked at the stairs. "What about the target?"

Allen swept his gaze over the water stains. "No target. This time was just to confirm the path."

Hermione hadn't left. "Allen, you know this water isn't just a normal leak."

Draco frowned. "Granger."

Hermione raised her hand to interrupt him. "Don't pretend. Your expression changed when you heard the name Ginny just now."

Ron immediately looked at Draco. "Why are you mentioning my sister?"

Harry also walked closer. "Allen, if this has to do with Ginny, you should tell us."

Allen put his book in his bag. "Watch over her. Don't let her come to the second floor alone."

Ron was anxious. "Why?"

Hermione's face went pale. "Because she will come here."

Allen looked at her. "You already know, so why are you asking me?"

Hermione bit her lip. "I need confirmation."

"Confirmation is deadly."

Harry asked, "Will that diary hurt her?"

Allen didn't answer and only looked at the end of the water trail. "Asking too early—she'll just hide it deeper."

Ron clenched his fists. "You knew earlier?"

Draco interjected. "Weasley, keep your voice down, unless you want the whole corridor to know your sister is in trouble."

Hermione lowered her voice. "We will keep an eye on her, but you have to tell us if the thing here is a Basilisk."

Nott closed his book. "Granger, the answer is in the books you borrowed."

Hermione looked at him. "I'm asking if it will come out."

Allen turned around. "It will."

Harry pressed, "When?"

"When it learns to open the door steadily, when someone puts it in the right position, and when Hogwarts begins to be afraid."

Hermione asked, "What was today then?"

Allen avoided the water stain. "A trial run."

Zabini cursed under his breath.

Footsteps came from the stairs; Filch had returned with Professor Snape.

Draco backed away to the other side and raised his voice. "Potter, you'd better not block the way."

Allen stepped aside. "Mr. Malfoy can go around."

Professor Snape appeared from the corner of the stairs, the hem of his black robes avoiding the water stains. His gaze first landed on the cat paw prints, then swept over Allen and Harry.

"Who found it first?"

Filch followed, carrying the cat. "I did, Professor. The water flowed out from that Girls Bathroom. My cat was nearly scared to death."

Professor Snape looked at the students. "Who else has touched it?"

Draco immediately said, "No one touched it, Professor. Potter just took a look."

Professor Snape's gaze turned to Allen. "Which Potter?"

Draco paused for half a beat. "Allen."

Harry stood on the other side, not saying a word.

Professor Snape walked to the water, his wand tip pointing downward. The water surface parted and then closed back together.

"A leaking corridor is worth you all gathering here?"

Hermione spoke up. "Professor, Madam Norris's reaction is not normal."

Professor Snape looked at her. "Miss Granger, I thought the Library already kept you busy enough."

Hermione hugged her books tighter. "Cats are better at sensing movement in the pipes than people."

Professor Snape didn't respond and turned to Allen. "Mr. Potter, do you also think so?"

Allen lowered his eyes. "I just think this place should be repaired."

Draco turned his face to the wall, holding back a laugh.

Professor Snape stared at him for a moment. "Mr. Malfoy, since you are interested in repairs, copy the inventory list of the Potion ingredient cabinet tonight."

Draco's face turned pale. "Yes, Professor."

Professor Snape retracted his wand. "Everyone leave the second floor. Filch, seal this place off. Don't let any students enter that bathroom again."

Filch nodded immediately. "I will guard it, Professor."

Madam Norris twisted in his arms, still hissing at the crack in the door.

Allen followed the crowd downstairs. When he reached the corner, in his Portable Space, the void raised its tail tip, pointing toward the second floor.

Beside the ebony box, the cracked pocket watch lit up.