Bang bang…
Holding a freshly baked rock cake, Yang Tao gently tapped the table, which was already covered in a thick patina, twice, producing a crisp sound.
'Hagrid's Special Rock Cake'
'Hunger +20 Satiety +30'
'A magical food imbued with Hagrid's hospitality.'
Yang Tao wasn't surprised at all that this thing could increase hunger by 20 points.
This peach crisp-like biscuit, which seemed to have raisins added, actually had a density similar to that of a compressed biscuit. He just couldn't figure out how Hagrid managed to make it so hard.
Even if he watched him, he wouldn't be able to learn it.
Yang Tao dipped the rock cake twice in hot sheep's milk before putting it into his mouth and taking a bite. With his current physical condition, he could easily bite into the rock cake even without datafication.
"It tastes good."
That was the truth; the rock cake tasted much better than he had imagined, and he could even taste the aroma of wheat and fruit.
It was a bit sweet, probably from honey.
Living by the Forbidden Forest, Hagrid's place was full of wild game, but unfortunately, he wouldn't eat them.
Even if he didn't eat those magical creatures, picking some mushrooms shouldn't be a problem.
Hearing Yang Tao's praise, Hagrid looked very happy. He had always enthusiastically shared his favorite rock cakes, but unfortunately, over the years, only Yang Tao had been able to eat them naturally.
"Yang Tao, if you like it, you can come to my place anytime. I guarantee you'll always get a warm rock cake."
"Alright."
Knock knock…
Just then, a knock on the door sounded. Hagrid stood up and opened the heavy wooden door, a smile appearing on his face as he looked at the three young ones who had come to visit: "You're here, come in quickly. The rock cakes I just made are still warm."
The rock cake seemed to be some kind of taboo, as the faces of the three young ones all changed at the mention of it.
Harry recalled the rock cake Hagrid gave him last year, and his teeth began to ache faintly again.
At this point, Hermione said:
"Hagrid, we've already eaten. We just came to ask you some questions."
Hagrid nodded slightly, stepped aside, fully unblocking the door, and said: "Come in and talk."
Harry immediately saw Yang Tao eating a rock cake, a look of excitement and a little dependence appearing on his face: "Mr. Yang!"
"When did you arrive?"
"Just arrived a moment ago. I was going to see how you were doing. I ran into Hagrid on the way, so I came over as a guest to taste Hagrid's cooking."
Saying that, Yang Tao took another bite of the rock cake.
Except for Harry, the other two young ones were immediately awestruck, their eyes filled with admiration.
"Why are you here?"
Harry said with a serious expression: "Some students in the school have been attacked, and we wanted to come and ask Hagrid if he knew anything. He said last time that there was a monster coming to the school…"
Yang Tao looked at Harry's serious expression with some helplessness. He had thought that if the diary matter was resolved, there would be no Basilisk, but now the Basilisk had still come out. The inertia of the plot was indeed not to be underestimated.
"I know."
Yang Tao looked at Hagrid and said: "This matter also concerns you. You know there's a monster appearing in the school; Aragog must have told you, right?"
Aragog was an Acromantula, a pet Hagrid had adopted during his school days and kept ever since.
However, it was old now, and even blind due to cataracts.
Hagrid was surprised when he heard Yang Tao say Aragog's name and said: "How do you know about Aragog? I don't think I've ever told you."
"I guessed."
Yang Tao chuckled and said to Harry: "There's a secret chamber beneath Hogwarts, the Chamber of Slytherin, you…"
He glanced at Harry and the clueless Ron, then immediately corrected himself: "Hmm, Hermione should have heard of it."
Harry was a bit bewildered because he had too many extracurricular activities, but Ron and Hermione showed surprised expressions and said: "The Chamber of Slytherin? This rumor has been circulating since Hogwarts was founded, but no one has ever found the Chamber of Slytherin, and everyone thought it was just a legend."
Yang Tao looked at Hermione and said:
"It's not a legend. Someone once opened the Chamber, released the monster hidden inside, and killed a student. To this day, that student's soul remains in the school."
Hearing him say that, Hagrid, as the person involved, changed his expression and immediately blurted out a name: "Myrtle!!"
Then he eagerly asked: "Who was that person?!"
"Tom Riddle, he is the heir of Slytherin."
Yang Tao did not hide it, but after Hagrid heard the name, his expression turned ashen. He slumped into the huge wooden chair, muttering: "It wasn't me, it wasn't me…"
Harry saw Hagrid's appearance and asked with concern: "Mr. Yang, what's wrong with Hagrid?"
"Back then, Tom Riddle released the Basilisk, accidentally killing Myrtle, and then framed Hagrid, saying that Hagrid's pet Aragog killed Myrtle."
Yang Tao spoke with great emotion, and the three young ones listened with relish. Such juicy gossip was very exciting for them.
"Although Dumbledore believed Hagrid, the school had no choice but to expel him after such a malicious incident. Dumbledore, who was only the Head of Gryffindor at the time, believed it wasn't Hagrid's fault and used some methods to keep him in the academy."
"Then this time…"
"I don't know, Harry. The rest is for you to investigate yourselves. Just consider it a little fun during school."
Yang Tao was also very curious as to why the Basilisk suddenly came out of the Chamber. Could it be hungry?
That was also possible.
Even if magical creatures were quite mysterious, after fifty years, it wouldn't be unreasonable for it to come out for a fresh meal.
Harry nodded slightly.
This was a trial!
He didn't know why he felt a little hot in his upper body, with a desire to take off his shirt, but reason made him abandon that tempting idea.
"Go, you can first go to the library to research the Basilisk, and then go find it when you're prepared…"
Harry nodded solemnly and said: "Then we'll go back first!"
"Goodbye, Hagrid, goodbye, Mr. Yang."
Ron and Hermione turned and followed Harry out. Looking at Harry's departing back, Yang Tao's face showed a relieved smile. Although the three young ones were still just the three young ones, Harry, who had experienced more things, had clearly become their leader.
This was also the confidence that strength and insight brought to Harry.
After the three young ones left, Yang Tao looked at Hagrid, who was still a bit dazed, walked up to him, and patted him firmly on the shoulder.
"Sober up, Hagrid."
Hagrid looked at Yang Tao, his face flushed, and said: "I told you it wasn't Aragog. It's a kind pet, and it definitely wouldn't do such a thing."
"Hagrid, you're probably misunderstanding 'kindness'…"
An Acromantula not eating people only means it's not hungry for now.