Chapter 102: The Mischievous Basilisk

Gryffindor Common Room.

Harry was telling Irina and others about his promise to attend Nearly Headless Nick's Deathday Party and inviting the three of them to join him.

"Deathday Party?" Hermione said with interest, "I bet not many living people can say they've attended one of those. It must be a fascinating experience."

Ron, on the other hand, had a hint of disdain as he said, "Why would anyone want to celebrate the day they died? Just hearing about it sounds unlucky to me..."

Knowing the plot, Irina advised Hermione, "Fascinating as it may be, I bet you won't enjoy the Deathday Party. The ghosts might use rotten food crawling with white maggots..."

Upon hearing Irina's words, Hermione and Ron shuddered simultaneously, imagining the scene.

"Irina, couldn't you have put it in a less disgusting way?" Ron complained.

Irina shrugged, "It might be the truth! The Halloween Feast before Halloween is one of the four grandest feasts at Hogwarts Castle. The delicious food is not to be wasted! Harry, I suggest you politely decline Nearly Headless Nick's invitation."

Seeing that none of the three wanted to go, Harry felt dejected, "But I've already promised Nearly Headless Nick..."

Irina patted his shoulder with a smile, "Then go ahead. Hermione and I will bring you some food. Who knows, there might be something fun there?"

Ron nodded vigorously, "Yeah, yeah, I'll bring you a big drumstick!"

It was evident that Ron really didn't want to attend this so-called Deathday Party.

Harry reluctantly gave up inviting the three of them. In fact, after Irina's words, he didn't really want to go to the Deathday Party either.

However, he had made a promise to Nearly Headless Nick, and he intended to keep it.

So, at seven o'clock on the evening before Halloween, Irina, Hermione, and Ron happily headed towards the Great Hall, while only Harry looked a little gloomy as he walked towards the dungeons.

Along the way, Harry's already sullen mood worsened. The corridor leading to Nearly Headless Nick's Deathday Party was lined with small, flickering black candles, casting an eerie glow on Harry's face, making him look like a walking corpse.

Moreover, the closer he got to the Deathday Party, the colder the temperature became, forcing Harry to tighten his cloak.

At that moment, a shrill, screeching noise, like nails scratching glass, echoed through the air – apparently the "music" of the Deathday Party, torturing Harry's ears.

"My dear friends, welcome, welcome..." came Nearly Headless Nick's mournful voice. "I'm so pleased you could come..."

After the ominous buildup, Harry had low expectations for this Deathday Party. However, upon seeing the long tables laden with food in the dungeon classroom, he immediately wanted to leave.

The platters of so-called "food" were far from edible – large chunks of rotten meat, charred black cakes, meat pies crawling with white maggots, and a moldy green cheese.

In the center of the table sat a gravestone-shaped gray cake, with Nick's name and date of death inscribed in a ghastly icing.

Just as Irina had described, the food was indeed crawling with maggots!

Harry immediately donned a pained expression, not even bothering to greet Nearly Headless Nick before rushing back the way he came.

Even Peeves couldn't stop the fleeing Harry.

In the Great Hall, the young wizards at Hogwarts were enjoying the delicious Halloween feast.

It was then that Irina noticed Harry running back from the dungeons.

"Hey, Harry, you're back so soon? Was the Deathday Party really interesting?" Irina teased, well aware of Harry's experience.

Harry still had a pained look on his face, his nose running and eyes teary as he complained, "Don't even mention it. Irina, you guessed it right! That place is no place for humans!"

After hearing Harry recount his experience, Hermione and Ron immediately gave Irina grateful looks. If not for Irina's timely warning, they might have foolishly followed Harry to the so-called Deathday Party.

"Harry, if you don't eat now, these dishes will probably be replaced with desserts soon," Irina said, looking at the water-logged Harry.

Hearing this, Harry jolted and quickly sat down next to Ron, even snatching the large drumstick Ron had just grabbed and shoving it into his mouth.

Unfortunately, Harry had returned too late. He had barely taken two bites when the delicious dishes on the table vanished in a matter of breaths, replaced by puddings and other exquisite sweets.

The frustrated Harry had no choice but to treat these desserts as his main course, stuffing them into his mouth in large bites.

However, as Harry was engulfing his food, a voice that only he could hear rang in his ear.

"...Tear you... tear you apart... kill you..."

The sudden, chilling voice nearly caused Harry to choke. He coughed several times before looking around at Ron, Irina, and Hermione, his face filled with horror. "Did you hear that? A voice said it wants to kill someone!"

"What voice? Harry, you..." Hermione was confused.

Harry cut her off, "The voice is back... Don't talk for now!"

"...Starving... for so long... kill... it's time..."

The chilling voice echoed in Harry's ear once more, but he noticed that Irina and the others seemed completely unable to hear it.

The voice grew fainter, and Harry could sense that its source was moving upwards, but the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall showed only a starry night sky – there was no one visible, unless the speaker could pass through walls like a ghost.

"Follow me! The person must be up there!" Harry immediately stood up, intending to stop the voice's owner from killing.

However, Irina firmly held him back.

Irina glanced at the now-empty table of sweets and the students rising to return to their common rooms. "You're able to hear voices we can't, which is not a normal occurrence. Besides, all the students have already gone in the direction you mentioned, so your presence isn't necessary!"

Irina, of course, knew that the voice Harry heard came from the Basilisk within the Chamber of Secrets.

And now, on the eve of Halloween, was the day the Basilisk would first emerge from the Chamber to wreak havoc!

(end of chapter)