[170] The Written Curse

All four stood outside the library — kicked out.

"Ron disappeared from the library," Harry said gravely.

"He probably snuck off." Draco crossed his arms, wondering why he was here discussing this with Gryffindors.

Hermione paced anxiously. "Ron couldn't have hidden or left early."

"I checked the restricted section." Hall said. "No sign."

"What? How — " Harry started.

"Professor Snape wrote me a note." Hall shrugged.

Hermione looked envious. Draco understood. Harry wasn't interested in the restricted section anyway — he preferred the Forbidden Forest.

"It's not there." Hall sighed. "But a student accidentally stumbling in is nearly impossible — the wards prevent it."

"So now — " Harry frowned, uneasy.

Hall remained calm. They found an empty classroom. Hall pulled a notebook from his pocket.

Hermione leaned in. "Dragonhide parchment? Something else coated on it — the smell's different."

"Half right." Hall gave her an approving look. "The other half is a trade secret."

Hermione fell silent. She was curious, but she knew Hall was a businessman. Non-negotiable.

Hall tapped the cover with his wand. "Hall Weasley, future richest man in the wizarding world, hereby swears — "

An image of Hogwarts Castle appeared on the previously blank cover.

Harry and Hermione stared.

"It suits Hall." Draco said with an unsurprised expression. Future richest man? That dream was nothing to Hall. A second-year, and Draco already knew how much money Hall had made from him alone.

"Nice one, Draco! I'll give you a discount next time — 1% off!"

"Honoured you didn't give me 11%?"

"If the esteemed customer insists — "

"NO THANKS." Draco cut him off. He didn't want unique extra service.

"Pity." Hall shrugged. "Hopefully next time."

Draco silently mourned whoever would face Hall's 11% discount. Even the Malfoys couldn't withstand Hall's spending.

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While joking, Hall flipped through the enhanced Marauder's Map. A massive miniature of Hogwarts appeared before them. Wherever his wand touched, the area magnified, showing names of different colours.

"This is a map?" Hermione's eyes widened.

"The Marauder's Map, enhanced version." Hall didn't hide it. "Dumbledore has a simpler version. This is my improvement — identifies everyone."

He tapped the search function. He knew many special people, so he'd added a one-click search.

[Ron Weasley]

The map flashed twice. No response.

"The map is broken?" Harry asked cautiously.

Hall's expression darkened.

"Maybe a mishap?" Hermione guessed.

"It must be Weasley's fault." Draco was certain. Things made by Hall never had problems.

Hall entered his own name.

[Hall Weasley]

The map flashed. The empty classroom appeared — Hall's name inside, three other names beside him: Draco, Harry, Hermione.

The map worked fine.

"Ron's not at Hogwarts? That's impossible!" Hermione frowned. Ron couldn't have snuck out of Hogwarts unnoticed. None of them believed he had that ability.

"One possibility left."

"Helena."

Hall called softly. A rustling sound came from the pipes.

A large snake poked its head from a pipe they hadn't noticed.

"!!!" Draco stumbled back.

"!!!" Hermione froze.

Only Harry — who'd gone through the Chamber with Hall — stayed calm. And Ron, whose whereabouts were unknown.

"Basilisk — " Draco saw Helena's yellow eyes and recognised her immediately.

Hermione, who'd wanted to scream, strangely calmed down after hearing Draco's piercing shriek. She examined the terrifying-looking basilisk. It was a basilisk. But it didn't seem dangerous — none of them had been petrified.

"Draco, this is Helena." Hall beckoned.

Helena — who usually shrank when visiting Hall — stayed full-sized today, perhaps sensing Draco's fear. She swam toward him, body as thick as an adult's thigh, and coiled around him.

To an observer, it looked like strangulation.

Draco grabbed Helena's body without thinking. A chill shot through him, making his face even paler. But he didn't let go.

"Hss~" What's this person doing?

"Hss hiss~" His fragrance is too strong~ My nose is uncomfortable~

Hall chuckled. "I'm fine. Helena is my... friend."

Draco glared at Hall, then saw seriousness in his eyes. He released his hand slowly. "...Since you said so." He rubbed his palm. The basilisk had no slime — just cold scales.

Hall patted Helena. "Shrink a bit. You're heavy."

"Hss~" Humans are so weak~

She shrank to bracelet size and coiled around Hall's wrist.

"Is Ron in Slytherin's Chamber?"

"Hss~" No! Helena came from there. She'd know if anyone entered.

"The Chamber of Secrets? What Chamber?" Draco asked, puzzled.

He met Harry's strange look. "Potter! What are you so smug about?" Then realisation struck. "Wait... could it be..."

Draco stared at Helena on Hall's wrist. She stuck out her tongue.

Draco clutched his heart. His ability to process news like this wasn't good.

"The Room of Requirement — Ron shouldn't be there either." Hall muttered. His enhanced Marauder's Map couldn't show secret rooms or the Room of Requirement, no matter how hard he tried. Those rooms were protected by anti-detection spells from their construction.

"Helena, do you know any other secret chambers in Hogwarts?"

A thought had flashed through Hall's mind. Slytherin hid a basilisk and a chamber. Why couldn't the other founders?

The library book Ron grabbed — the most likely candidate was Ravenclaw's chamber.

Hall paused.

What kind of luck did Ron have? And what were Ravenclaw's selection criteria? Five people present — three high-achievers, Harry passable. Only Ron, who could barely pass exams without Hall's help.

And yet Ravenclaw had apparently taken a liking to him.

"Hss~" Chamber of Secrets? Helena doesn't know~

"Hss~" But Master's friends all had their own rooms~

Hall's eyes glinted. Each founder had their own space — Slytherin's laboratory, the others' rooms. They knew of each other's existence but not the locations. A century later, the rooms were sealed. No one knew how to enter except their former owners.

They became known as the Chambers of Secrets.