Chapter 101: Ginny's Testimony

After about half an hour, Felix Harp stood up from his chair and walked up to the young wizards.

"Alright, young wizards, let's pause for a moment," he said.

Everyone looked up, a few with nervous sweat on their brows.

Felix surveyed the group. "Now, let's hear about your experiences."

"I found it quite fascinating, except for a few odd questions in the middle," Luna said in her dreamy voice.

"Are you referring to—"

"Yes, the questions about the Forbidden Forest," Luna pondered for a moment. "Like, 'You wandered into the Forbidden Forest out of curiosity and heard a clacking sound. When you turned around, you saw a large creature with thick black fur and pincers. What happens next?'"

"Oh, and what's your answer?" Felix asked. This question was one he had added on the spur of the moment.

"I chose 'Greet it,' like, 'Hey there, Mr. Eight-Eyes the Acromantula.'"

"Why didn't you choose to run away?" Felix inquired.

"But that's the second thing to do," Luna earnestly replied. The other wizards looked at her in astonishment.

Ron's eyes were nearly popping out.

"So, you believe," Felix said somewhat awkwardly, "that when encountering an Acromantula in the Forbidden Forest, the first step is to greet it, and then turn around and run."

Luna nodded and added, "Actually, these two things can be done simultaneously, depending on how fast it's chasing you."

"Very well, thank you for your response, Miss Lovegood. But I don't recommend such actions. In fact, you shouldn't have trespassed into the Forbidden Forest at all, especially not with another young wizard."

His gaze shifted to Ginny, the young girl who seemed considerably more normal. She lowered her head sadly; it was her first detention since starting at the school.

"Does anyone else have insights to share?"

"Professor, George and I think that the parchment's feedback could be more diverse. We just tested it, and there are only around twenty different types currently," said one of the twins.

"Oh? Please continue," Felix asked with genuine interest.

Fred seemed quite excited and eagerly continued, "Professor, apart from text and simple drawings, we could also incorporate some punishments. Like spraying dark mist, or maybe even some foul-smelling liquid..."

"We could also add sound. If you answer incorrectly, you'd hear Professor Flitwick's voice: 'We are wizards, not curly-haired baboons waving sticks!'"

The last line was Fred imitating Flitwick's voice, causing a few less bright wizards, like Marcus and Ron, to shiver involuntarily.

"Anything else?"

"The textual feedback is too gentle, the tone could be stronger. Professor, George and I can help with that," Fred expressed keen interest in this matter, eagerly volunteering himself to Felix.

"Hmm..." Felix imagined the scene with those suggestions added. The young wizards' sanity might explode, wouldn't it?

"The suggestion about adding sound is quite good, it's feasible," Felix chose the most practical suggestion.

The atmosphere grew increasingly lively.

"Professor, perhaps we could add a scoring element to the content so that we can visually assess our own levels," suggested Eddie Camirche, whose grades were always excellent, although he often liked to show off his cleverness.

Ginny raised her head in shock, her eyes wide. "P-Professor, what are you saying?"

Felix calmly looked into her eyes. "We've met several times before, like near Hagrid's hut and near the girls' lavatory. Do I need to explain further?"

He didn't mention the most critical evidence, which Luna had provided, to avoid affecting their friendship.

Ginny's lips quivered, as if she wanted to say something. Felix patiently waited.

After about a minute...

Tears swirled in her bright brown eyes, but she finally gathered the courage to admit, "Professor, I don't know... I just wrote in it. That diary, does it... really have to do with the Chamber?"

"You know nothing about this?"

"I'm not sure. At first, I just wrote in it, and it responded to me. It was considerate, gave me advice. Later, I started losing chunks of memory, coincidentally when the attacks happened."

"Later, professors emphasized in class not to trust Dark Magic items. Fred and George said the same. So, I... I got rid of it."

She tearfully recounted her experience.

Felix nodded and comforted Ginny, "Young wizards are often easy to deceive. In the future, when faced with similar problems, seek help from a professor you trust. It's nothing to be ashamed of."

"Believe me, the troubles that seem insurmountable to you often have simple solutions for us professors."

Ginny nodded softly, then quickly said, "Thank you, Professor Harp."

"So, let's return to the initial question. Do you remember where you got the diary from?"

"I... I'm not sure. I thought Mum gave it to me, but maybe not."

"I suspect you noticed something unusual?"

"The diary was tucked into the new book I bought. Mum wouldn't do that."

"The new book? Was it the day you went shopping in Diagon Alley?"

"Yes, that day happened to be Lockhart's book signing event. He gave Harry the whole set of new books, and Harry gave them to me. I found the diary that evening."

Lockhart and Potter... perhaps it was a coincidence.

Felix fell silent for a moment before continuing, "Do you remember what happened that day? Who might have come into contact with your bag?"

"That day, our family went shopping in Diagon Alley, oh, and Harry was with us. He was staying at the Burrow for the holidays; his relatives aren't very kind to him... We ran into the Granger family midway. We split up near the bank entrance. Mum took me to buy robes and a wand. Then we went to buy books, at Lockhart's book signing event. Dad even got into a fight with Malfoy..."

Felix stopped her, "Malfoy? Lucius Malfoy?"

"Yes, he and Dad have a terrible relationship." Ginny whispered.

"Let's delve into that part further," Felix said calmly.

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