[213] Who Wants an Egg

Hall couldn't get a clear answer from Little.

"Has this dragon egg violated some divine law? Why would someone target an egg?" Another question arose. Dragons were precious but not unique — dragon sanctuaries existed worldwide, and many wands used dragon heartstring cores. In wizards' eyes, dragons were both precious and a magical material. Why go to such lengths to destroy one?

The only answer Hall could reach: "This isn't an ordinary dragon egg. What will hatch from it isn't an ordinary dragon either."

Little remained silent, letting Hall speculate.

Hall rolled up his sleeves and got to work.

"Young Master Slytherin?!" Little's eyes widened.

Hall was going to take the dragon egg. It was half his height and heavier than expected, but within his carrying capacity. He grabbed it and packed it away.

Little frantically stretched out his hands, babbling, looking extremely flustered.

"Don't worry. I won't do anything to it." Hall gave Little a look. "This egg has been here for years without hatching, which means the environment isn't suitable. I'm giving it a better one."

Hogwarts would be perfect. Draco and Harry would probably be willing to take care of it — Hall didn't intend to care for it himself. Once it hatched, he'd be content with periodic dragon scales or materials.

Perhaps sensing his thoughts, the dragon egg gently swayed in his arms.

"Aren't you a dead egg? How are you still so energetic?" Hall glanced down.

The egg couldn't answer. Then, without warning, Hall was no longer in the forest.

"Hall!"

Fred and George's joyful voices rang out. Hall turned and was immediately embraced tightly by the twins on both sides. Forced to meet Snape's murderous gaze and Dumbledore's enigmatic smile, Hall could only think: the heavens are against me.

"So... anyway, that's it."

Cornered in the kitchen by a group of people, Hall sat at the long table surrounded on all sides, house-elves continuously serving him food. He had the most food laid out in front of him. He endured the heavy "love" while eating and explaining what had happened.

Before Dumbledore could respond, Snape gave Hall a chilling look. "Oh — it seems our little Weasley is the saviour, doesn't it? Otherwise why would he use himself as bait to test a magical fireplace that has existed for who knows how many years?"

Hall blinked with an innocent expression. "I'm sorry, Professor. I made you worry."

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Snape choked. "I wasn't praising you, you little troll with a head full of failed potions."

Hall nodded with an unchanged attitude. "Mhm." He understood. He understood everything.

Snape fell silent.

Dumbledore chuckled. "Although it was a bit dangerous, it was a fantastical adventure. No one expected there were secrets within Hogwarts we didn't know about."

The Chamber of Secrets of the four founders? Dumbledore truly hadn't expected that. What he hadn't expected was that Hall kept discovering them. His gaze lingered on Hall — Snape had mentioned it casually, but Dumbledore couldn't help but ponder. Why did even he feel that, compared to Harry, Hall seemed more like the saviour?

Hall didn't know what Dumbledore was thinking. He just felt the gaze was strange and couldn't help but shudder.

Dumbledore snapped out of his reverie and gave Hall a kind smile. Hall silently looked away and continued devouring his food.

"But that dragon egg you mentioned..." Dumbledore wanted to ask more.

Hall shrugged. "Actually, Headmaster, I don't know much either. I tried to bring it out." He spread his hands, revealing only food. "My attempt failed, and then I was thrown out by the egg?"

His tone became uncertain.

Dumbledore sighed. Pushing for answers was pointless.

"Alright." Dumbledore's gaze shifted to the fireplace, now openly exposed. His eyes gleamed with deep thought. Before Hall emerged, they had all tried using the Floo Network. Everyone, including Dumbledore, had failed. Was it because Hufflepuff's chamber didn't accept them, or could it only hold one person at a time?

He decided it was worth trying again.

As expected, Dumbledore failed.

Snape glanced at the fireplace and lost interest. His gaze turned to Hall. "Lockhart has been expelled. While he was lucid, we learned a few things from him. For example — he's a complete fraud. The experiences in those books have nothing to do with him. He stole them."

"Will he go to Azkaban?" Hall looked at Snape with anticipation.

Snape gave the little troll a cold look. "Not Azkaban, but at least twenty years of ordinary prison."

Twenty years wasn't short. That was enough.

Hall clicked his tongue but said nothing. Actually, he thought twenty years wasn't nearly enough for someone like Lockhart. He wanted the rest of his life. Achieving that goal couldn't be easier for him right now.

Snape looked at the silent Hall and felt a little unreal. Was Hall really someone who gave up so easily? "You'd better behave!" he hissed.

"Mhm!" Hall nodded. He'd do what he was told. But how he did it — that was another story.

Snape saw through his rebelliousness but didn't know what to do. This kid wasn't someone an ordinary professor could control.

"When you have time, study the Chamber of Secrets left by Hufflepuff and the dragon egg situation," Snape forcefully changed the subject.

Hall nodded obediently.

"Go get some rest. I hope today didn't leave you with bad memories," Dumbledore said, patting Hall's shoulder.

The school erupted in chaos over Lockhart's actions.

"Hall!" Hermione found him immediately. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine. Do you think Lockhart could hurt me?"

Hermione calmed down. "That makes sense. He'd need a few more years of training."

The others around them looked confused. Hermione? You can say something like that?

"I know Hall is strong, but Lockhart was a professor..." Harry's voice trailed off under Hermione's gaze.

"Hermione, didn't you idolise that guy?" Ron asked. "Harry gave you his entire book set."

Hermione tossed her hair. "After seeing Lady Lydia, I realised — men are nothing! I've chosen my idol, and it's definitely Lady Lydia!"

Hall was surprised at the chain reaction Lydia had triggered.

Just then, a voice came from a corner. "Professor Lockhart is our professor. How could he do such a thing? All we know is one side of the story!"

Students in the Great Hall started whispering, their gazes turning strange.

"Quiet!" Percy abruptly stood up and slammed his hand on the table. "Anyone with doubts should go to the Headmaster! Go to the Dean!"