Harry Potter: The Wandmaker

Tonight was certainly an unusual one—Professor McGonagall felt that everything she'd experienced all year combined still wasn't as eventful as what had just happened in this single evening.

But fulfilling her duties as a professor, she followed Hermione up to the second floor. As they climbed the stairs, McGonagall couldn't help but ask:

"So what you're saying is, that blustering buffoon Lockhart not only broke through the magic Dumbledore left behind, opened Salazar Slytherin's secret chamber, but also kidnapped a student? Is that correct?"

The further she spoke, the stranger her expression became. Honestly, she would've sooner believed a student had ridden a dragon to slay a basilisk. As ridiculous as that sounded, it still seemed more plausible than what Lockhart supposedly did.

"Yes, Professor, we saw it with our own eyes. It really was Lockhart…" Hermione hesitated before adding, "Though there was someone else too—we didn't see who, but Lockhart knows."

By now, the two of them had arrived at the entrance of Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.

Whatever doubts McGonagall had vanished when she saw the broken charm and the water flooding the hallway. It was clear that everything Hermione had said was true.

"Merlin… how is this even possible?" McGonagall rushed forward.

The magical seal on the door hadn't been fully broken, but there was now a gap just large enough for an adult wizard to squeeze through.

Inside, the bathroom looked like it had seen a skirmish—nothing too violent, but one sink had been shattered and water was gushing from its pipes, soaking the entire floor.

McGonagall took a quick survey and found something was… off. Oh—too quiet.

Then she spotted Myrtle floating at the ceiling, utterly still for once, with a look of terror frozen on her smoky face.

Ignoring the ghost, McGonagall briskly approached another sink.

This one remained intact. Alongside Slytherin's snake emblem was the Hogwarts crest—a ward Dumbledore himself had added.

As soon as she stepped closer, the crest sprang to life: a lion leapt at them, followed by an eagle, a badger, and a serpent.

McGonagall waved her wand, and the beasts vanished in a blink.

She looked back at Hermione.

"I couldn't open it…" Hermione said. "Harry made a strange hissing sound, and then the pipe expanded."

"Hissing…" McGonagall's mind clicked into place, recalling something Dumbledore had once mentioned. "Parseltongue… Potter is a Parselmouth, isn't he?"

"Parselwhat?" Hermione blinked, confused.

"It's the ability to speak with snakes," McGonagall explained.

"I'm not sure," Hermione admitted. "But it did sound like it."

Now McGonagall was nearly certain: the Chamber could only be opened by Parseltongue. But neither she nor Hermione had that ability—they still couldn't get in.

"Where is Potter now?"

"He should be near Hagrid's hut with Harold," Hermione replied. "Harold said not getting in the way would be the best help we could give Hagrid."

"He's absolutely right. You'd best remember those words."

McGonagall's stern face softened for just a moment—but only for a moment.

The priority now was rescuing Ronald Weasley, and to do that, she had to find Harry quickly.

They returned to the Entrance Hall. By now, the other professors had already sealed every window, even the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall.

Fortunately, the incident had occurred at night, near curfew, so nearly every student was safe in their common rooms.

And since the basilisk appeared near the main entrance, no common room window would have had line of sight.

"Minerva, we have to help Hagrid," Flitwick rushed over. "Even a giant could die from basilisk venom. We can't leave Hagrid to face that thing alone."

"Go, then. I'll deal with the Chamber." McGonagall made a quick decision. "Be very careful of the basilisk's eyes."

"Don't worry—I can find it with my eyes closed," Flitwick said, dashing away.

Professor Sprout followed, directing several squat, round magical creatures behind him.

Truth be told, Harold hadn't been entirely right. In sudden confrontations, professors were indeed at a disadvantage compared to Hagrid. But if they were prepared in advance, the basilisk's threat diminished—professors would have ways to handle it.

Snape didn't go—he remained behind with others to protect the castle in case the basilisk returned.

With everything in order, McGonagall left the castle in search of Harry.

But as soon as she descended the steps, she felt the ground trembling ever so slightly. The shrubs around the castle began to shake uncontrollably.

"Ahhh!"

Hermione shrieked behind her.

McGonagall lifted her wand, eyes narrowing, ready for anything.

Then, she saw something that made her eyes go wide.

A colossal black figure tore out of the Forbidden Forest, snapping trees in its path—a monstrous three-headed dog, nearly twenty feet tall, charged into the open like a stampede of living stone. Each of its three heads was the size of a Quidditch goalpost.

So that's what the tremors were.

Even more alarming, the creature wasn't just huge—it was fast. In the blink of an eye, it had stormed past them, heading straight toward the Quidditch pitch.

In that flash, McGonagall thought she saw someone riding on its back…

No. She must've imagined it. Who could possibly ride a beast like that?

She shook her head.

As surprising as the sight was, McGonagall wasn't panicked. She had seen this very three-headed dog last year in the castle, and she knew Hagrid had raised it.

Perhaps it sensed Hagrid was in danger and came to help.

With that thought in mind, her confidence grew. With the three-headed dog's aid, their odds of success just got better.

Without wasting a second, McGonagall transformed into her tabby cat Animagus form and raced toward the Forbidden Forest and Hagrid's hut.

There, she found Harry standing still, eyes wide in shock, staring into the distance like he'd seen something unbelievable.

"Mr. Potter, come with me," she said, returning to her human form and grabbing his arm. She glanced around quickly.

Something was off. Where was the other boy? Hermione had said Harold was here.

"Where is Harold?" she asked. "Listen, the field is far too dangerous. You must return to the castle immediately."

"Harold…" Harry blurted, "he—he's on the dog."

"What did you say?" McGonagall frowned.

"The three-headed dog…" Harry pointed toward the fast-disappearing figure in the distance. "Harold is riding on its back!"

(End of Chapter)