Chapter 125
Chapter 125
As the flames dispersed, their light briefly allowed Suer to see what sort of place they had arrived in.
It was a tunnel built primarily of stone, with no end in sight.
Damp walls ran along both sides, covered in dark green moss. The patch on which they stood was the only reasonably dry ground — or rather, the phoenix’s flames had dried the water that should have pooled there.
Drip… A drop of water struck the surface below. The fire went out, plunging the place into total darkness.
Suer did not know which professor cast the spell, but a ball of light drifted lazily forwards and suddenly burst a short distance away, illuminating the entire passage as brightly as day.
“Are you certain this is the place, Albus?” Flitwick asked softly.
“According to the information I possess, this is indeed the place.” Dumbledore nodded. “Let us go. Our target should be just ahead.”
The professors nodded silently.
Fawkes spread his wings and flew forwards.
Crack… snap… Something broke from time to time. Small animal bones littered the tunnel, most of them belonging to rabbits and rats.
Suer silently begged forgiveness, only to crush another bone beneath his foot the next moment.
Apart from the cracking of bones and the crisp splashes of boots breaking the water’s surface, the tunnel was utterly silent. No other living creature seemed to survive there.
The phoenix led the way while Professor Flitwick periodically cast spells to illuminate the path. Before long, the group stopped.
An enormous coiled object blocked their way.
The phoenix had given no warning, which meant the thing before them posed no danger. Snape moved past the others, bent down and examined it for a while.
“This is a snakeskin.” Snape’s voice sounded even colder in their present surroundings. He gave his wand an indifferent wave, and the vivid, green-gleaming skin rose into the air and unfurled within the confined space, allowing everyone to see it more clearly.
“Unless I am mistaken, it came from a basilisk at least twenty feet long.”
“A basilisk of that size is rare indeed, Albus,” Flitwick said in admiration.
Dumbledore nodded gently, his expression calm and composed. “Put it away, Severus. Our target is not far ahead.”
A basilisk’s shed skin… Judging from the flash of delight in Snape’s eyes, any skin capable of exciting a Potions master familiar with countless expensive ingredients must be worth a great deal.
Suer had once seen shed snakeskin bottled for sale in Diagon Alley at a price of three Galleons, and the bottle had contained only a tiny piece.
With swift, efficient movements, Snape shrank the snakeskin and tucked it into a pocket that had clearly been expanded with an Undetectable Extension Charm. He then led the way forwards.
After turning several corners, they found their path blocked by what appeared to be a solid stone wall. Two intertwined snakes were carved into it, their eyes reflecting an eerie green gleam. Those eyes stared directly at the group, making the snakes seem alive, while withered vines densely covered every blank section of the wall.
Everyone looked towards Dumbledore. Plainly, the stone wall required some special method to open it.
Suer was curious as well. What would Dumbledore do? Blast it apart with powerful magic, or use some other method?
“Hiss… hiss…” A low, hoarse hissing sound emerged from Dumbledore’s mouth.
He used the simplest method — Parseltongue.
Suer looked at Dumbledore in surprise. As far as he knew, Parseltongue was an ability inherited through blood and was almost impossible to learn later in life.
The snakes on the wall flicked their tongues as though alive, then separated and slithered towards opposite sides. The stone wall split down the middle along with them, revealing an enormous black opening.
A cold, rank current of air blew towards the group.
No one could answer Suer’s questions at that moment. The professors all tightened their grips on their wands and prepared for battle.
Fawkes flew inside and circled once, then gently shook his head at the group.
Professor Flitwick gave his wand a light flick and cast another enhanced Wand-Lighting Charm.
Beyond the stone wall lay a long, dim chamber. Rows of stone pillars carved with great coiling serpents stood along both sides, soaring upwards to support a ceiling lost in darkness.
The air itself seemed saturated with green, hazy currents drifting through the light of the spell.
Snape was the first to enter, wand raised. He then shook his head slightly at the others. “Not poisonous.”
Even so, the professors did not lower their guard. They advanced in a triangular formation with Suer faintly protected at the centre. They had not forgotten that a young wizard was with them.
“Fawkes will remain beside you in a moment.” Dumbledore patted Suer’s shoulder gently. At the same time, Suer felt as though his entire body had been wrapped tightly in cool silk.
Wow. A silent, wandless Disillusionment Charm.
“This is the Disillusionment Charm, a rather useful little spell. If it interests you, you may ask Flitwick about it afterwards.”
No need, Professor. I already know it, Suer replied inwardly, though aloud he agreed with delight.
Excellent! Another chance for Professor Flitwick to give him private instruction.
Wait, should I not be pulling a long face? This did not fit the Hufflepuff creed at all…
While Suer’s thoughts ran wild, the group had already begun walking between the pillars. The place was frighteningly quiet, and every step they took returned a hollow, resounding echo.
When they drew level with the final pair of pillars, Professor Flitwick raised his wand again. A ball of light brighter than the last floated out.
“Th-this is…” Shock flashed across Professor McGonagall’s face, which had remained composed and vigilant until then.
Suer looked up. It was an ancient, decrepit face, densely covered in fine wrinkles, with a sparse stone beard extending all the way down.
“Is this… Slytherin?” Professor Flitwick asked.
“Yes,” Dumbledore answered with certainty. “It is Slytherin, one of Hogwarts’s four founders.”
“He did indeed leave behind the Chamber of Secrets, right here, along with a monster…”
Dumbledore stared directly at the statue, as though his gaze could penetrate the stone and see within.
“I leave it to you, Severus.”
Fawkes, who had been circling overhead, now descended. Strangely, the Disillusionment Charm did not seem to trouble him in the slightest. He landed precisely on Suer’s shoulder.
Snape gave Dumbledore an odd look, his lips moving slightly.
You are asking the Head of Slytherin House to personally blow apart the statue of Slytherin’s founding ancestor. Is that truly appropriate? Have you no manners?
Yet Snape obediently raised his wand. He glanced at Suer beside Dumbledore. How could every one of them see through the Disillusionment Charm?
Did the Disillusionment Charm command so little respect?!
Suer ranted furiously in his mind. Understanding the meaning behind Snape’s glance, he obediently retreated a considerable distance.
He hid behind a pillar near the rear of the chamber and quietly poked his head out.