Chapter 114: The Basilisk’s Attack

George was currently inscribing the most basic form of magical text barriers around the school. The rule he set was straightforward: only mutants could enter and leave the barrier freely, while non-mutants would be barred.

Though this was a simple enchantment, it was enough to prevent ordinary people from gaining access.

George wasn't a trained spy or agent in his previous life, and his prior actions likely left behind several traces. While regular people might not notice, professional organizations like S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra were bound to pick up on them sooner or later.

It was only a matter of time before they followed the clues back to the mutant school.

Despite covering the school with the Muggle-Repelling Charm, he couldn't guarantee it would remain impervious to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s or Hydra's advanced technologies.

In the Harry Potter world, Muggles couldn't find Diagon Alley due to their lack of technological prowess. But in the Marvel universe, where cutting-edge tech abounded, the Muggle-Repelling Charm might not hold up.

If it were broken, the barrier formed by the magical text would stop any agents or spies trying to infiltrate the school, buying time for an effective response.

The real issue was the inadequacy of his wand's amplification in this world.

Jean Grey's cloned hair, lacking the Phoenix Force's power, had only marginally improved his new wand over the one crafted with Charles's hair.

Thus, his Undetectable Extension Charm in the Marvel universe was far less effective than it was in the Fairy Tail or Harry Potter worlds.

If the charm were stronger, he'd consider moving the entire school into an expanded, isolated space created by the spell, ensuring its absolute safety.

For now, this setup was sufficient. Most people couldn't see the school; even if they did, they wouldn't be able to enter. If someone tried to blast their way in, both Wolverine and Professor X were more than capable of handling the threat.

Although Professor X's psychic abilities had dropped from Level 4 to Level 3 after his body rejuvenation, a Level 3 telepath could still blank the minds of any intruders.

"Done!"

After working tirelessly until nightfall—his rudimentary mastery of magical text still slowing him down—George finally completed the barrier covering the entire school.

"I really need to find a better wand core…"

Jean's hair wasn't ideal, and obtaining Dragon Lacrima from the Fairy Tail world wasn't easy. He needed to explore other options.

"Maybe I could try Hulk's hair? Or perhaps Thor's, or even Loki's? After all, Thor and Loki are technically gods, so their hair should make for a potent wand core."

On his way back to his dorm, George pondered his options.

"If Odin would grant me a single strand of his hair, paired with Uru metal and a branch from Yggdrasil, I might craft a wand superior to anything in the Fairy Tail world."

But after some thought, he realized such plans would have to wait several months. The Hulk hadn't arrived in New York yet, and Thor and Loki were still in Asgard.

"Never mind. I'll focus on advancing my magical studies for now."

Hulk was manageable, but Loki and the Destroyer posed significant challenges. If George wanted to seize opportunities in their presence, he'd need to be stronger.

With the school's barrier in place, he decided to dedicate his time fully to researching the magic of both Fairy Tail and Harry Potter. His goal was to make another leap in power within the next few months.

A Month Later

In the Harry Potter world, it was now May.

Apart from a Quidditch match against Hufflepuff—where he showcased his talents with an overwhelming victory—nothing significant had occurred.

That was until the day of the Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw.

As usual on Saturday, George finished breakfast early and headed to the library. Recently, he had been studying the Blasting Curse, a highly destructive spell capable of annihilating anything it touched—a spell that carried immense danger.

George knew Peter Pettigrew had once used it to destroy an entire street, killing twelve Muggles in the process.

"Hermione? Why are you in such a rush? Aren't you watching the match?"

Seeing Hermione burst into the library, panting heavily, George raised an eyebrow.

Today's Quidditch match involved Gryffindor, and nearly everyone—students and staff alike—had headed to the pitch. Apart from Madam Pince, George was the library's sole occupant.

Although Hermione often visited the library, she wouldn't miss the chance to cheer for Harry during a Gryffindor match.

"George, thank goodness you're here! I think I've figured out what the creature in the Chamber of Secrets is! Can you help me find a book on dangerous magical creatures?"

Still catching her breath, Hermione excitedly grabbed George's hand.

Startled by her words, George nodded.

"Of course."

As he helped her search, he thought to himself, Could it be today?

He knew Hermione had been attacked by the basilisk after discovering clues about the Chamber. But the exact timing had slipped his memory.

"Is this the one?"

After some searching, George handed her an old, worn book titled Deadly Magical Beasts.

Excited, Hermione took the book and exclaimed, "Yes, this is it! Let me check!"

Pulling George to the reading area, she quickly found the section on basilisks and began to read aloud:

"In our country, many terrifying beasts and monsters roam, but none are as strange or deadly as the basilisk, also known as the King of Serpents.

This serpent can grow to immense size, often living for several hundred years. It is hatched from a chicken's egg incubated by a toad.

The basilisk's methods of killing are extraordinary. In addition to its lethal fangs, its gaze can instantly kill anyone who meets its eyes.

Anyone who sees its eyes indirectly, such as through reflection, is petrified instead of killed.

Spiders flee from the basilisk, as it is their mortal enemy, but the basilisk itself fears the crowing of a rooster, which is fatal to it."

"So, you suspect the Chamber's creature is a basilisk?"

George asked in a low voice.

Hermione nodded firmly.

"Yes, I think the creature in the Chamber is a basilisk. It moves through the school via the plumbing, and I believe Moaning Myrtle died because she looked directly into its eyes.

The recent attacks make sense too—Mrs. Norris saw the basilisk's reflection in the water, Colin looked at it through his camera lens, and Nearly Headless Nick is already dead."

"That's quite reasonable. Perhaps we should inform Dumbledore."

George, appearing convinced by her deductions, casually added, "By the way, how's Harry's diary going? Any new leads?"

"You mean Riddle's diary? It was stolen yesterday. And just before I came here, Harry said he heard that strange voice again. I suspect it's the basilisk."

Gripping George's hand, Hermione said urgently, "We need to tell Dumbledore right now! If the basilisk is on the move again, everyone is in danger!"