After their rounds of the castle, the professors reconvened in the hospital wing.
Professor McGonagall's gaze immediately went to Dumbledore, but he simply shook his head. "The attacker isn't in the Ravenclaw Tower anymore. I spoke to the portraits and ghosts there, and they didn't see anything tonight."
"We've checked the rest of the castle too, no signs of a break-in," Professor McGonagall added.
"Even the ghosts haven't spotted anyone suspicious. Though, historically, there have been cases where a..." Professor Binns trailed off, clearly drifting into a historical tangent.
Snape, with his sharp wit, immediately spotted a flaw. "There are no portraits near the washrooms, though."
Dumbledore nodded. "Hogwarts doesn't have portraits near the washrooms to protect the students' privacy. The culprit likely knows the castle's layout well, otherwise, they wouldn't have acted there."
Professor McGonagall's voice trembled. "Albus, are you saying the attacker could be a Hogwarts student?"
"Minerva, I can't rule out that possibility," Dumbledore said gravely.
"Unlikely," Flitwick interjected, "as far as I know, no student in the school possesses that kind of magic." He had just examined Penelope's magical traces and was quite certain no student could have done it.
"So, it's a former student, then? Or perhaps the intruder got hold of a Hogwarts map, which isn't unheard of," Professor Sprout suggested.
"The main thing is, what was the intruder's goal in petrifying Penelope?" Flitwick pondered, clearly troubled.
"Perhaps it was Weasley, after all—" Snape began, but Professor McGonagall's stern look silenced him.
Flitwick shook his head. "It couldn't be Prefect Weasley; they're quite smitten with each other." He looked at a surprised Professor McGonagall, adding incredulously, "How could you not notice something so obvious?"
Professor McGonagall's face remained impassive. "I never concern myself with student romances."
"Minerva, did you know Weasley was the one pursuing Penelope?" Professor Flitwick asked, clearly enjoying himself.
Professor McGonagall, not one to back down, countered, "Why couldn't it be Miss Clearwater pursuing Percy?"
"Hold on, hold on, now isn't the time for gossip," Professor Sprout interrupted the two Heads of House. She paused, then continued, "Actually, I noticed it too. They've been patrolling together quite a bit this term. Our house prefect even complained that Weasley wouldn't let him work with Miss Clearwater. Yes, it must be the Gryffindor prefect chasing the Ravenclaw prefect."
Professor Flitwick's face lit up with a triumphant smile.
"Oh, what a shame! Miss Clearwater is so lovely; I was hoping to invite her for afternoon tea..." Lockhart suddenly blurted out, completely off-topic.
Professor Flitwick's triumphant smile faltered. Seeing Flitwick's displeased expression, Lockhart quickly corrected himself. "I meant it's a shame she was petrified." Then, from seemingly nowhere, he pulled out a string of garlic, declaring confidently, "It's highly probable it was some sort of magical creature, just like the Yeti I encountered in Tibet. We can use garlic to cleanse the spell from Miss Clearwater. In the Far East..."
Lockhart's voice trailed off as the other professors stared at him as if he'd lost his marbles.
"Heh," Snape couldn't help but scoff, "Perhaps only Professor Lockhart knows how to catch such a magical creature."
Lockhart offered an awkward laugh and quietly put away his garlic.
But Dumbledore's brow furrowed. He had indeed overlooked the possibility of a magical creature. "Could it be... no, surely not... is that just a legend?" Dumbledore began to recall mentions from ancient texts.
Filch suddenly spoke up. "Mrs. Norris's fur was all ruffled tonight. Every time I tried to go near the Ravenclaw Tower, she'd desperately drag me somewhere else. I thought she'd found some students out after hours."
Hearing Filch's words, Dumbledore made a decision. He turned to Professor McGonagall. "Minerva, if you would be so kind as to inquire with Professor Kettleburn tomorrow morning whether there's a magical creature that causes petrification."
(Professor Kettleburn's health no longer allowed him to conduct classes, so he was planning to retire this year. However, he wanted to spend more time with magical creatures before retiring, so he moved to live on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. That's why Professor McGonagall hadn't informed him yet.)
Upon hearing this, Snape also realized that Lockhart had, by sheer luck, stumbled upon a correct theory. He dropped his mocking demeanor and slowly began to speak. "If it truly was a magical creature, then I happen to know a potion that can lift most petrification caused by such creatures, but I'll need fully grown Mandrakes."
Professor Sprout confirmed that she had Mandrakes in her greenhouses, but they would need several months to mature.
"Precisely, I also know a thing or two about this potion; I acquired it from a beautiful witch many years ago..." As Lockhart began spouting nonsense again, the professors collectively ignored him.
"If it truly was a magical creature, then a young wizard could still be the culprit," Flitwick pointed out, urging them not to celebrate too soon.
Everyone fell silent, as no one wished to think a student from their own house would command a magical creature to attack someone.
However, Professor Dumbledore then said, "In that case, we won't rush to inform Miss Clearwater's family. Let's wait until her petrification is lifted."
"You want to use this to test if a student is behind it?" Snape asked.
"Precisely, Severus. Whoever is behind this, they're sure to make a subsequent move. We simply need to be prepared for anything."
At this, Professor McGonagall voiced her concern. "What if another student is attacked? What if the attacker isn't content with petrification and uses other means?"
Dumbledore was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "I will ensure that such a thing does not happen. To that end, I will implement some special regulations."
"Professors, I'm afraid you'll have to patrol every night. As for the prefects, they are not to be out after dark."
Upon hearing Dumbledore's words, Snape, McGonagall, Flitwick, and Sprout all nodded. Only Lockhart offered an awkward laugh, stating he required ample sleep at night.
"Should anything arise, I will certainly be there," Lockhart assured them.
No one paid Lockhart any mind, not even his former Head of House, Flitwick.
Dumbledore continued, "From today onwards, no young witch or wizard from any house is allowed to move about alone. They must be accompanied by a prefect to go to classrooms and the Great Hall. Minerva, please inform the ghosts to also remain vigilant."
---Support me by leaving a comment, voting, and visiting my Patreon at ilham20