Harry heard this story from a scholar who came from Greece, but the scholar told him that the Sphinx is not a myth, but a real magical creature.
However, the recount of the Sphinx in every civilization is not the same. In Egyptian records, the Sphinx is described as a winged monster, usually male.
There were three types of Sphinx in the legends at that time: the human-faced lion-bodied Androsphinx, the ram-headed lion-bodied Criosphinx, and the hawk-headed lion-bodied Hieracosphinx.
The Assyrians and Persians described the Sphinx as a winged bull with a human face, a beard, and wearing a crown.
In Greek mythology, however, the Sphinx became a female evil creature representing divine punishment.
"Sphinx" comes from the Greek word "Sphiggein," meaning "tighten," because the Greeks imagined the Sphinx as a monster that could choke someone to death.
Of course, that Greek guy also told Harry that if he couldn't answer the Sphinx's question, he would be strangled to death by the Sphinx.
He finally understood why this Merlin's trial seemed ridiculously easy.
It turns out this was all waiting to happen here.
Thinking of this, he felt a bit helpless.
Why would Merlin put a Sphinx in his ruin chamber?
Is it a habit for you Slytherin College folks? Your head of the college put in a Snake Monster, while Merlin put in a Sphinx?
Harry tightly held his Magic Wand, fully alert to prevent the Sphinx in front of him from suddenly attacking.
"Let's guess a riddle, young Wizard," the Sphinx said. "If you can answer correctly, I'll let you out and take away the treasure left by Merlin."
"What riddle?"
While speaking, Harry quietly reached for his wallet from his pocket.
"I am the black son of the white father; I am a bird without wings that can fly to the sky; when I am born, everyone who touches me will cry; once I am born, I quickly disappear into the air."
The Sphinx's human face showed a playful smile.
"Young Wizard, please answer—"
Harry paused for a moment.
Then he quickly opened his wallet and shouted loudly, "Alfonso!"
The Sphinx instinctively looked at the wallet, only to meet a pair of orange-yellow eyes.
Its expression froze on its face.
Then, the Sphinx swayed twice and fell to the ground with a thud.
It was dead.
"Well done, Alfonso," Harry said contentedly to the Snake Monster, "Tonight I'll catch you some Eight-eyed Giant Spiders to eat."
"Really, sir?" Alfonso hissed.
"Just you wait," Harry replied satisfactorily, "But don't eat this Sphinx; I still have a use for it."
With that, he opened his wallet and threw the Sphinx into it.
While tidying up the Secret Chamber, Harry was still thinking that having Alfonso was really convenient; at least he wouldn't have to use that green Spell.
After the Sphinx's death, the green light spots reappeared in the Secret Chamber, gathering in front of Harry into the shape of a treasure chest.
After a while, the light spots disappeared, and the treasure chest appeared in front of Harry.
Without saying a word, Harry raised his Magic Wand aimed at the treasure chest, and a red-colored Spell shot out.
"Stupefy!"
The Spell hit the body of the treasure chest with a dull sound.
Seeing no reaction from the treasure chest, Harry swung the Magic Wand toward it.
The treasure chest opened with a click, like a Russian nesting doll, layer by layer, one by one, opening with a snap.
Finally, what appeared in front of Harry was a letter.
Harry picked up the letter; it displayed elegant handwriting, presumably transcribed by Annie.
It read:
Harry:
Apparently, you have solved the Sphinx's riddle. Don't worry, it's the guardian of this chamber, and even if you can't solve the riddle, it won't harm you.
I hope when you see this letter it's your first year back.
Annie's situation is quite bad, and Sebastian is nearly losing his mind. I can only send messages to him, using the family Magic Spell of the Gaunt family to freeze her in time, temporarily sealing her in the cave on the west side of the Forbidden Forest that requires Merlin's Trial to open—don't worry, we've reinforced the cave with Magic.
But you shouldn't be too happy; Annie can only be entrusted to you. I remember Miss Grindelwald seems to have researched suitable Time Magic, planning to visit you a hundred years from now—she always knows what she wants.
We hope you can find a way to remove the Black Magic Mark on Annie, as we can only rely on you—if there is a way, please come to Gaunt's Old Mansion; my portrait will await you to pass on the news.
Before you rescue Annie, I think you should ask the current Hogwarts principal to see if he has a way to remove the Black Magic curse.
Yours faithfully,
Omnius Gaunt
27, September, 1892
Harry suddenly felt somewhat sweaty.
He opened the wallet and peeked at the lifeless Sphinx inside, then looked up at this letter in his hand.
Ah... is there still hope? Sphinx?
He carefully examined the letter again.
Gaunt's Old Mansion?
Omnius would hang a portrait in Gaunt's Old Mansion?
He knows the relationship between Omnius and his family; would his father allow his portrait...?
Oh, but it's hard to say, after all; Omnius participated in defeating Lanlock, and the Gaunt family benefited too. Such an outstanding family member, surely the portrait had to be framed in the house.
He planned to go to Gaunt's Old Mansion to take a look at what was going on.
After carefully putting away the letter, Harry eagerly returned to Hogwarts.
Amid his classmates' surprised gazes, he sprinted to the eighth floor, panting heavily in front of the Dripping Stone Beast.
"Password!" the Dripping Stone Beast said.
"Get out of the way!" Harry cursed, slapping the head of the Dripping Stone Beast.
The Dripping Stone Beast didn't say a word and jumped aside with a snap, clearing a path for Harry.
"Professor Dumbledore," Harry said, shaking his aching hand as he urgently called out.
Even Wizards occasionally have to follow basic physical laws—the force is mutual; hitting a stone hard usually means the pain isn't felt by the stone.
He arrived at Dumbledore's place and sat down heavily on a chair.
"I think you should drink some honey water to soothe your throat first," Dumbledore said with concern. "What happened? In such a hurry?"
Harry waved his hand and breathed heavily for a while while sitting in the chair. Once he felt calm enough, he spoke, "Professor, I need to visit Gaunt's Old Mansion—I remember you found the location of Gaunt's Old Mansion before; can you take me there?"
"Of course, Harry," Professor Dumbledore replied with a smile, "But before that, could you satisfy a curious old man's question?"
Harry looked up, and his expression clearly said, "Who are you calling old man, Junior Brother?"
Dumbledore wasn't embarrassed, and merely smiled and said, "I need to know what happened."
Harry picked out the important parts and gave Dumbledore a rough outline of the events—after all, he hoped Dumbledore could remove the Black Magic curse.
"Regarding the Black Magic curse, I'm powerless, Harry," Professor Dumbledore sighed, "It's an extremely evil curse, and if I had a way, I wouldn't have allowed Tom's curse to linger at Hogwarts for so many years."
"Is there really no good way?" Harry asked unwillingly.
Dumbledore hesitated for a moment.
"There might be a way, but..."
"Please stop teasing, Professor," Harry said eagerly. "Just say what's the way?"
Professor Dumbledore chuckled.
"Well, I shouldn't need to say it, Harry; you know, Tom is a master of Black Magic curses."
Harry didn't immediately understand and furrowed his brow.
"Tom is a master of Black Magic curses? What about him being a dark... oh!"
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