Until evening, Hermione hadn't seen Ginny leave her dormitory, not even coming to the Gryffindor common room for meals at noon and evening.
Yes, the young wizards were required to stay in their respective common rooms, as the professors were reportedly conducting a search throughout Hogwarts to locate the Chamber of Secrets.
Humans are social creatures, and in the face of danger, the more fellow beings around, the more secure one feels. The young lions gathered together, and their fears were significantly alleviated.
"So you're saying that once Ginny returned, she went straight to bed, and at noon you saw her sleeping soundly, didn't want to wake her, and now she's actually awake but still curled up in bed, unwilling to step out?" Hermione, having just returned from outside the common room with Glenn, was still diligently researching these matters but had found nothing.
Hermione was inquiring about Ginny's situation from her roommates.
"Yes, I feel little Ginny might be overly frightened. Even while staying under the covers, she's still trembling. We tried to bring her out to join everyone, but she just shook her head desperately, forced a smile, and told us not to worry about her."
"After attempting to persuade her, she didn't change her mind, so we had to come out first." Ginny's roommate was still quite uneasy, worrying about Ginny's condition.
Hermione nodded, thanked the young witch, and returned to a secluded corner table.
"Glenn, Ginny should be fully awake now." Hermione sat down beside Glenn, reporting her findings and waiting for his input. Glenn was touching an ancient, heavy book with his palm.
"Hermione, look here." Without responding to Hermione's words, Glenn extended his finger, pointing to a page in the book.
"Hmm?" Hermione leaned closer to the book, beginning to read carefully.
"Basilisk... its gaze can kill... enemy of spiders... rooster's crow is fatal to it..."
"!!!!"
"Glenn, could this be it!" Hermione's eyes lit up instantly, sparkling like someone finding an oasis after wandering parched in the desert, hoping it's real but fearing it's a mirage.
"I think... this must be the true identity of that giant serpent." Glenn pondered, concluding, and then pointed out more content in the book, flipping to the illustration page, and shared his initial encounter with the serpent with Hermione.
Finally, they confirmed the serpent's identity.
Basilisk.
"It all connects... whether it's why Ginny tried to kill the roosters in Hagrid's backyard or the spiders we've seen lining up to leave the castle in various places at Hogwarts!"
"The former is the Slytherin heir attempting to eliminate the Basilisk's enemy before the purge, and the latter is creatures fleeing due to survival instincts."
"The monster in the Chamber is undoubtedly the Basilisk!"
Glenn remained calm. When he saw a large, ancient magical creature encyclopedia placed conspicuously on the table closest to the library entrance, with a bookmark tucked inside, he had already confirmed this conclusion.
What a coincidence, just as he was about to swiftly resolve this matter, this book appeared before him like timely rain?
"This is probably Dumbledore's doing." Though he had no evidence, Glenn had already mentally pinned the blame on the old bee.
Surely this guy had long discovered the truth behind the matter, why didn't he hurry to resolve it?
Still plotting? For that Savior plan?
Incomprehensible.
"Let's discuss, Hermione." Seeing the young girl had memorized the Basilisk information, Glenn closed the book.
He believed that with everything they had now, they could end this so-called "purge" that had lasted over three months.
"We need to make some preparations."
...
Time ticked away, reaching curfew, and the young wizards dispersed, heading to their respective dormitories.
The Gryffindor common room was empty, but soon after, two small heads emerged from the passageway leading to the room.
It was Glenn and Hermione returning.
They headed straight to the stairs leading to the girls' dormitory tower.
"Are you ready, Glenn?" Hermione feigned seriousness, but was actually eagerly looking at Glenn, who was holding a bottle of a dreamily colored potion.
The young girl had been anticipating this day for a long time!
"Once you drink this, you might lose a lot..." Before she could finish teasing, she saw Glenn, expressionless and without hesitation, uncork the bottle and raise it to drink the potion in one gulp.
"Hey! So straightforward? (#`o′)"
Hermione was shocked; did this guy really feel no tension about turning into a girl?
Glenn didn't reply, feeling the intense pain and burning sensation coursing through him, analyzing the effects of the gender transformation potion using himself as a test subject.
Seeing Glenn ignoring her, Hermione helplessly pouted, sticking her tongue out at him, and leaned against the wall, quietly waiting for Glenn to complete his "transformation."
The potion began to take effect.
The young girl watched as Glenn's height, originally a few centimeters taller than hers, gradually shrank, becoming petite and a head shorter than her.
Glenn's already long hair suddenly grew from shoulder-length to below chest, and it was noticeably smoother, which annoyed Hermione greatly.
His originally somewhat delicate facial lines softened completely, even his thin face became a bit plumper, presumably filled with collagen, making Hermione want to bite it (Hermione's thoughts).
The clothes he wore became ill-fitting, the robe dragging on the ground, sleeves extending to cover Glenn's small hands, the whole wizard robe looking loose and draped over a little girl.
Unfortunately, Glenn's expressionless face and dark, lifeless eyes remained, projecting an aura that kept people at a distance.
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