"Alright, Madam Pomfrey, I'm leaving now."
He could only turn to Nicolas Flamel and say, "Be careful at night, Harry might be replaced by that person, it would be best to try contacting our headmaster again."
Ian's worries were not without reason.
From what he understood.
Last night, Harry was clearly replaced by Voldemort's consciousness; otherwise, how could the treasure Snake Monster in the Secret Chamber be devoured, leaving only some snake skin and bones?
"Don't worry, I don't intend to die yet, so I've prepared a lot, and I'll continue to try to contact Dumbledore, while you should quickly find that diary inside the school." Nicolas Flamel nodded, giving Ian some instructions, as there was no other way than to leave such matters to a second-year student.
After all.
When it comes to combat strength.
This little wizard is definitely not weaker than several deans and might even surpass them in the Dark Arts—having guided Ian through a year of alchemy studies, Nicolas Flamel also recognized the little wizard's strength.
"No problem."
Ian made an OK hand gesture.
With Madam Pomfrey's urging, he left the hospital wing. The corridor was still empty and quiet. After leaving the hospital wing, Ian walked slowly along the corridor. Outside the window, the moonlight was obscured by clouds, and low growls could be heard in the distance from the Forbidden Forest, as if foreboding something bad.
"Tap, tap, tap~"
Just as Ian was about to initiate a thorough search, sneaking into each dormitory in every house, he suddenly heard a series of faint footsteps approaching.
He stopped and listened carefully.
The footsteps were getting closer, seemingly heading in his direction. The little wizard looked up just in time to see the footsteps abruptly halt and a figure flicker at the corner.
As if avoiding him.
"Who's there?"
The figure disappeared quickly, and if Ian hadn't been sharp-eyed, he might not have caught it. He only caught a glimpse of a robe sleeve, dark green in the style of Slytherin College.
"Tom?"
Ian drew his magic wand and quickly gave chase.
Turning the corner.
Ian saw the mysterious figure's robe once again.
The figure was moving towards the second-floor abandoned restroom. Perhaps realizing someone was following, the figure suddenly began to run.
Reeking of guilt.
"Hey, big brother, wait for me!"
The tip of Ian's magic wand glowed with a green light, ready to unleash a soul-seeking spell at any moment, as he saw the figure moving toward the abandoned restroom.
Upon reaching the abandoned restroom door, Ian didn't push it open but stood to the side instead, using magic to pass through the wall, hoping to catch the figure by surprise.
However.
When Ian entered the abandoned restroom, it was empty, with only the sound of dripping faucets. A trail of wet footprints led to a collapsed tunnel entrance.
"Trying to lure me in."
Ian used Parseltongue to open the Secret Chamber door, stepping into what had collapsed earlier. The entrance showed signs of being moved.
A newly cleared path wound downward. A soft light emanated from the wand's tip, illuminating the narrow passage. Ian transformed into a white mist, descending swiftly.
Once Ian's body reformed.
He found himself at the bottom of the Secret Chamber, amidst its collapsing ruins. Broken stones were partially cleared, and Ian followed the cleared path slowly forward.
A strange aura lingered here, and shadows seemed to flicker faintly on the walls. Not turning around, Ian directed a [Flame Conquest] spell at his surroundings.
The surging firelight illuminated everything.
Numerous screeching snakes fell and turned to ashes.
A terrifying magic.
Even the large broken stones couldn't escape its might.
"So, must you stop me?"
An annoyed voice echoed.
The firelight illuminated the chamber's ruins as well as a cleared area.
On a water-covered patch of cleared ground, several strands of eerie green glow floated on the surface, and in the center lay a pale-faced girl.
Pansy Parkinson.
The same girl seen at the Slytherin table during lunch.
At this moment.
Her robe was soaked as she lay unconscious on the flooded ground, clutching a broken wand tightly. A figure in a Slytherin robe, crouched with his back to them, was diligently drawing something, seemingly undeterred by Ian's arrival; instead, it prompted him to accelerate his magic rune creation.
"Damn it! Just a bit more!" This person's moves were skillful and swift, tracing glowing patterns on the ground, seemingly constructing a complex magic array.
"You intend to use this girl to complete a resurrection? Hah... looks like you're the ten-something-year-old Riddle I've been looking for." Ian wasn't about to give him any chances.
"Forbidden Curse's End!"
Ian flicked his magic wand, releasing a magic inspired by [All Curses End], a spell he modified because he didn't want to insert his wand into the ground.
Just as.
Ian's spell was uttered.
A powerful invisible force surged forth from within Ian.
Like a storm, it swept through the entire chamber. This force not only obliterated every obstruction before him but also forcefully erased the glowing magic runes on the ground.
As if an invisible hand smashed all the efforts of the green-robed Mysterious Man. With the disappearance of those ground magic runes, the dark aura originally pervasive in the cavern began to dissipate.
"No! You can't do this to me!"
The green-robed figure watched his efforts turn to naught.
He slammed the ground in frustration.
Water droplets splashed.
Soaking his hair completely.
"This is for my beloved Snake Monster." Ian indifferently raised his wand, the green light aimed at the green-robed Mysterious Man; the imminent soul-seeking spell didn't deter his opponent.
"Fool! You fool!"
The green-robed boy slowly pushed himself off the ground.
He shouted in anger.
"You've mistaken your revenge target! It wasn't me who killed the Snake Monster but another who betrayed me! Clearly, he's framing me!"
The green-robed boy slowly turned. He discarded his drawing tool, pulling out a Holly Wood Wand from his waist, filled with hatred as he glared at Ian.
"Huh?"
Ian's expression slightly flickered; his pupils suddenly contracted—his expression changed to disbelief because he saw the face beneath that wet hair.
And... that conspicuous scar.