Chapter 47: The Basilisk

"Everyone has their own choices, and we cannot impose our decisions on others, even if we believe it's for their own good," Dumbledore's voice echoed calmly, causing everyone to quiet down.

"I have been a professor at Hogwarts for nearly eighty years, and I have encountered all sorts of students. In education, we can teach and guide, but we cannot force our ideas onto the students, no matter how correct we believe ourselves to be."

"Are we completely certain that our own thoughts are the right ones? Wizards are humans too, and humans make mistakes. We can't be sure that all our choices are right, so how can we be sure about other people's choices?"

His words triggered thoughtful silence among the listeners, yet Mrs. Weasley continued her worried protest.

"But Sally had only one child, Sherlock. We promised her that we'll keep Sherlock away from danger for his entire life and ensure that the repercussions of the war do not reach the next generation..."

"An overprotective mentality!" Moody voiced his objection. Among the group, he alone seemed to have no objection to Sherlock's decision to join the Order of the Phoenix; no wonder he had a good relationship with the original owner of the body.

"A sheltered bird will never become an eagle soaring in the sky. What could it possibly do if danger strikes while it continues living comfortably in its nest? Even in the face of danger, we ourselves can't ensure our own safety, let alone his."

"Now there's no danger at all, Moody," a wizard named Edgar Bones countered. "Voldemort has been dead for many years, all the Death Eaters have been locked away in Azkaban, the entire Wizarding World is in peace."

"You think its peace just because you haven't seen the danger yet," Moody responded gruffly. "Even today, dozens of Aurors die each year, dark wizards are everywhere, and disruptions occur every now and then!"

Moody was alone in debating with the other wizards who were against Sherlock joining the Order.

By this time, Sherlock understood why Mrs. Weasley and others were against his joining the Order. They were afraid he would be put in danger.

After all, the Order of Phoenix was essentially a combative organization, despite Voldemort's downfall over a decade ago, it didn't erase its inherent nature.

As long as there's conflict in the future, Sherlock, who is in the midst of it, might encounter danger. Sherlock was somewhat silent.

He initially thought there might be some sort of internal politics at play, but it turned out everyone had pure intentions. Their disagreement only lay in how best to protect him.

These wizards led by Dumbledore, may not be the most powerful in the Wizarding World, but they were certainly the most upright and selfless.

As Moody and the original members of the Order couldn't agree, Dumbledore lightly clapped his hands to quieten the scene and drew everyone's attention to him.

"Sherlock wants to join the Order of the Phoenix, it's not just his will. When Sally was alive, she had said that she hoped her son would share the same goal as her. Joining the Order was a plan she had set for Sherlock from the beginning."

The arguing wizards fell silent, their opposition to Sherlock's joining stem from a promise made to Sally - to keep her son out of danger and to maintain stability in the Wizarding World.

No one doubted Dumbledore's words. If he said it was Sherlock's mother's wish before her death, then it was. It wasn't their place to object.

Kingsley took the initiative to stand up, raising his goblet towards Sherlock.

"Welcome to the Order, Sherlock."

He drank up his wine, and the other wizards at the long table also began to raise their goblets.

"Welcome, Sherlock."

Sherlock was moved by their actions, he wanted to stand up and return the toast, but he hesitated, wondering if such a move would fit the character of his original self.

Just as he was in a dilemma, a golden-red light flashed beside Dumbledore, as Fawkes the phoenix appeared on his shoulder, carrying a note in its beak.

Dumbledore took the note, read the contents, and the expression on his face slowly turned serious, with the corners of his eyebrows involuntarily creasing. Just as Professor McGonagall was about to inquire about the matter, he abruptly stood up from his chair.

"My apologies everyone, an unexpected incident has occurred at Hogwarts, and I must return immediately with Minerva and Sherlock."

Upon hearing his words, Professor McGonagall and Sherlock stood up from their seats, Dumbledore grabbed their arms, Fawkes flared up with a brilliant red light, and teleported them away.

The remaining Order members at the table looked at each other in confusion, unsure of what had happened. For Sherlock's party, with a flash of fire, they were already in front of the office of Hogwarts' headmaster the next second.

Here, Professor Flitwick anxiously awaited them, upon seeing Dumbledore, he immediately gasped.

"There's been another attack! This time it happened to a first year student, Colin Creevey!"

Immediately, Dumbledore motioned for Professor Flitwick to lead the way, and hurried off to the attack site with Sherlock and Professor McGonagall.

"How is Creevey's condition now?"

"He's not dead, but like the previous student, he's been petrified. Normal counter-curses are ineffective, so I've had students take him to the school clinic."

They arrived at the site of the incident, where many students still lingered.

Upon reaching the spot, Professor McGonagall shouted sternly at the students.

"All of you return to your classes! Don't gather here! Go to your classes!"

Owing to the high esteem she commanded among students, nobody dared to linger around any longer. They scattered but didn't go too far, observing from a distance instead.

Except for Colin, who had been taken to the Hospital Wing, his leftover belongings were still at the scene. It was a Muggle camera, lying on the ground.

Sherlock recalled, "Yesterday Colin mentioned to me that he planned to photograph every corner of Hogwarts, to show his family back home."

Professor McGonagall reacted promptly.

"The camera may have captured the perpetrator."

Yet when Dumbledore picked up the camera and opened its back, it was burned from the inside, leaving nothing.

"Powerful magic," Dumbledore muttered.

"If I may voice my speculations, headmaster."

Sherlock, looking at the burnt camera in Dumbledore's hand, felt it was the ideal time to voice the only clue he still remembered.

"There's a man-made magical creature - a serpent monster, which, if I recall correctly, possesses such a potent petrifying effect in its eyes."