Hearing that Dumbledore had more important matters to handle, Dudley frowned slightly.
Did this old man really feel comfortable leaving Hogwarts in his hands?
Professor McGonagall saw this scene, walked over and patted Dudley's shoulder, saying, "Good boy, if you feel tired, then rest. We'll handle the school's affairs... it's our responsibility. You don't need to shoulder so much responsibility."
"Thank you, Professor McGonagall, but since I promised Professor Dumbledore, I will naturally fulfil my duties," Dudley said with determination.
McGonagall gazed at Dudley for a moment, then said nothing more.
After saying goodbye to Professor McGonagall, Dudley and the others headed toward Gryffindor Tower.
"Dudley, is Malfoy really not Slytherin's heir?" Harry asked with obvious disappointment.
"Based on my current judgement, he really isn't," Dudley said with certainty.
Unless Malfoy could resist his beyonder abilities; otherwise, in such circumstances, the probability of Malfoy lying was very low.
"What a pity he isn't, or we could have had him expelled from Hogwarts," Ron angrily swung his fists at the air.
Hermione thought for a moment and said, "Slytherin's heir should be from Slytherin House, right? Think about it... who else seems more like Slytherin's descendant?"
"Upper-year students are also possible, but we don't really understand the upper-year Slytherin students. We can't go ask them one by one," Ron said practically.
They had the most contact with same-year students. As for those in fifth and sixth years, they basically had no contact with them normally.
"I..." Harry seemed to be thinking about something. He opened his mouth but didn't speak.
"What's wrong, Harry? You seem off," Dudley asked with concern.
"There are some things I don't know how to explain," Harry said with obvious difficulty.
"Whatever it is, just say it directly. With our relationship, what are you afraid of?" Ron said encouragingly.
"Don't worry, whatever it is, just say it," Dudley said, while using his beyonder abilities to calm Harry's emotions.
Hearing Dudley say this, Harry's emotions stabilised somewhat, so he said, "I can hear that voice after the Chamber opens, and... and when school started last year, during the Sorting, the Sorting Hat wanted to put me in Slytherin House. I'm wondering if I might be..."
"If you might be Slytherin's heir?" Dudley chuckled with understanding.
"Yes," Harry nodded with obvious worry.
"So, did you open the Chamber?" Dudley asked with a smile.
"Of course not!" Harry immediately protested.
"Then that settles it. Obviously, you're not Slytherin's heir," Dudley said logically.
"But the Sorting Hat..." Harry still hesitated somewhat.
"Don't take what the Sorting Hat says seriously. Sorting is inherently very subjective. I never told you before, but the Sorting Hat also said that if I went to Slytherin, I would achieve great things," Dudley said with a laugh.
"What?" Harry showed a surprised expression and blurted out, "The Sorting Hat said the same thing to me! It said if I went to Slytherin, I would accomplish great things!"
"Does it say this to everyone?"
Harry felt speechless. He had always thought the Sorting Hat's words might have deep meaning, which made him constantly doubt whether he had entered the wrong House.
But unexpectedly, the Sorting Hat had said almost the same thing to Dudley.
Was this the Sorting Hat's usual tactic? Coaxing those undecided students to go to Slytherin to maintain balance among the four Houses' student numbers?
"Well... the Sorting Hat never said that to me," Ron said awkwardly.
"Me neither," Hermione shook her head.
"So the Sorting Hat thought you two brothers would be best suited for Slytherin. My god, could you two actually have a Slytherin bloodline?" Ron said in surprise.
"What are you talking about?" Dudley gave Ron a look. "Think about Harry's parents... they were both from Gryffindor House. If we had Slytherin blood, our previous generation should also have been in Slytherin."
Ron nodded awkwardly. "I forgot about that."
"However, your ability to hear that voice is indeed strange," Dudley said thoughtfully. "I'll investigate later and should be able to find some clues."
Harry could hear that voice while others couldn't. There must be something significant here.
Thinking of this, Dudley couldn't help but look at Harry's forehead, at that lightning-bolt scar.
He still remembered when he had accidentally touched that scar last year and sensed the evil aura.
He had asked Dumbledore about this issue, and Dumbledore's answer was that this was left by the Killing Curse at that time, so naturally it would have the evil aura of dark magic.
However, Dudley felt there was definitely more to it than that.
It's just that Dudley's current abilities weren't sufficient to investigate what was really going on with that scar. After all, that thing was on Harry's forehead. One wrong move and Harry might die on the spot. So even knowing there was something wrong with that scar, Dudley didn't dare act rashly for now.
"Could it be possible that the scar allows Harry to hear that voice?" Dudley speculated internally.
Because this was the only thing different about Harry from others. As for the Slytherin bloodline and such, Dudley didn't believe it.
When they returned to Gryffindor, many people hadn't rested yet.
They had just finished the Halloween feast and returned to the common room, and they all wanted to know what had actually happened.
Seeing Dudley return, many people gathered around, asking what had happened and why he had warned everyone not to wander around outside.
Dudley briefly explained what had occurred but didn't mention too much about the Chamber. After hearing about this, everyone's faces became grim.
Because in Gryffindor, there were quite a few children from Muggle families. The opening of the Chamber was like a sword hanging over these people's heads. No one knew when it would fall.
The originally relaxed and happy campus life was completely shattered by the opening of the Chamber.
The next day, a piece of news began spreading around campus, and many people believed it.
"Before the monster appears, there will be a scorching aura. If you feel your whole body heating up, immediately run away. Remember, immediately run away. Don't hesitate; don't look back."