Chapter 86: Harry's Discovery

The events of the preceding night had left Harry and Ron shell-shocked. They couldn't believe they had evaded punishment, given the trouble they had brewed. Their professor, Sherlock Forester, had surprisingly handed down no repercussions. It was perhaps spurred by the news of Hogwarts' impending closure. After all, points deduction or detention wouldn't matter much now. Plagued by guilt, they had spent a sleepless night in the Gryffindor dormitory.

Morning came, the dark rings underneath their eyes a testimony to their sleepless ordeal. They found their way to breakfast in Hogwarts' grand dining hall. It was no ordinary day in the Great Hall. Dumbledore, their beloved headmaster, arrived and announced the closure of the school in earshot of all Hogwarts students. The impact was immediate; a wave of disbelief and discontent gripped the hall. Some rejoiced at the prospect of an unexpected holiday, while others were dumbfounded, unable to accept the reality of the situation.

With a final declaration of the complete closure of Hogwarts and the impending arrival of the Hogwarts Express to ferry the students back home, Dumbledore took his leave, the desolation palpable in his wake. It was a scene of resigned acceptance to a decision beyond their sphere of influence.

Even after Dumbledore's exit, the topic was a fervent point of discussion amongst the students. The Gryffindors blamed the Slytherins, accusing them of orchestrating the Chamber of Secrets debacle. Tensions ran high, and the animosity between the two houses was so palpable, a physical altercation seemed imminent. That was when Professors McGonagall and Snape stepped in, managing to subdue the heat and ensure the two houses retreated to their respective common rooms peacefully.

In the face of current circumstances, holding classes seemed redundant. After breakfast, students were asked to stay within their common rooms. In the boys' dormitory of Gryffindor, Dean and Seamus were discussing their plans after returning home. Neville sat quietly, lost in his thoughts. Meanwhile, Harry and Ron were considering reaching out to Hermione before their departure.

"Well, according to Percy, the petrified students are going to be moved to St. Mungo's Hospital. They still have to wait for the Mandrake Roots to mature, remember?" Ron said, his voice laced with gloom, "I wonder if the professors have informed Hermione's parents yet."

"We should visit her once more before we leave," Harry said, standing up.

"Are you out of your mind?" Ron eyed him incredulously, "You think Professor McGonagall will let us go? Look," he said, glancing around before lowering his voice, "If you're really hell-bent on this, maybe we can use the cloak and sneak out..."

Harry shook his head adamantly, "No, Ron. No more rule-breaking. We...we should have alerted the professors in the first place. Maybe...maybe Hermione wouldn't be lying in the Hospital Wing right now... And Hogwarts wouldn't be closing. We owe it to her to do this right."

Conceding, Ron sighed. "Alright then. Let's ask for permission. Here's hoping McGonagall allows us."

The two friends headed off to seek Professor McGonagall, who was maintaining a vigil in the Gryffindor common room just like the other House Heads. Gathering their courage, they asked permission to visit Hermione.

"Professor," began Harry, looking at his feet, "Once Hogwarts shuts, we probably won't be able to see Hermione for a long time. Can we... before we leave, could we maybe visit her?" Ron added ardently, "Yeah, just one last time."

Professor McGonagall looked at the expectant faces of the boys. A slight tremor in her voice was the only tell of her emotions. "Alright," she consented, her eyes catching the morning light as moisture welled up. "I understand your feelings as her friends. You may go. Inform Madam Pomfrey that I've permitted this."

Harry and Ron were taken aback by the lack of resistance but reacted quickly, rushing to the Hospital Wing. On reaching, they explained to Madam Pomfrey that Professor McGonagall had sanctioned their visit.

Reluctantly she ushered them in, muttering, "..though I don't see the point, after all she's still petrified, for Merlin's sake. Can't move or hear you lads." It was a dismal scenario, affirmed by Ron's sinking heart at seeing Hermione's still form. However, what caught Harry's attention wasn't her petrified state but the tight grip she maintained on a piece of parchment, he had just spotted.

With a wave at Ron, he pointed out the note clenched in Hermione's hand. Working together, they managed to retrieve the crumpled parchment without alerting Madam Pomfrey.

Once they unfolded the parchment, they found two words scribbled hastily, "Serpent Creature" and "Pipe". The clues didn't make sense to Ron instantly, but for Harry, it was a eureka moment. "This is it! This is a clue Hermione left for us!" he exclaimed. "The creature attacking the students must be serpent-like, which explains why I kept hearing strange sounds just before another student was petrified. It's Parseltongue, and only I can understand it! And it must be moving around the castle through the pipes!"

Ron was swept up in Harry's excitement but a question loomed over them. Even with the potential identification of the monster, they were no closer to locating the entrance of the Chamber of Secrets.

Stymied but determined, they left the Hospital Wing to report their findings to the professors. The stern reprimand from Sherlock Forester had been a reality check, a lesson they carried now with them. But when they reached the Gryffindor common room, Professor McGonagall had already left and Percy, as the Head Boy, was in charge. He was strict in upholding McGonagall's orders: no more leaving the common room until it was time for the Hogwarts Express the next morning.