Chapter 15
A/N: Covid is a horrendous pain in the ass. Also, this is a flashback chapter, for those who need a bit of clarification. I love jumping up and down a story's timeline. If this bothers you, then I suggest reading other stories that are more suited to your fancy.
Stay safe out there. Wear your face masks, practice social distancing, and seriously consider getting the vaccine when it's available wherever you are. You don't want to get infected, trust me. Took me months to recover.
Also: I can't be bothered to measure exactly how much power Uchiha Sasuke wielded after the Fourth Shinobi War (or Naruto, or Kakashi, or anyone else really) and compare it with a MOD Hari. This is a work of fiction you see; a great degree of literary freedom ought to be expected. I have great respect for people who make it a point to adhere to canon, but I cannot honestly say I am one of them. I just write fanfiction because they are a joy to write, and perhaps (hopefully) to a few people they are entertaining to read.
The Bloody Baron looked up from where he had been sorting through Salazar Slytherin's old documents when the door to the main study was flung open. Lady Hari made a beeline for the couch nearest the fireplace, plopped down on it, and let out a sigh. Three large books slid from her lap and onto the floor.
"Nothing is ever easy," she groaned, sinking into the plush deep green couch and pinching the bridge of her nose.
The Baron floated closer. "Is something the matter, Lady Hari?"
His mistress opened one emerald eye. "I had a chance to read Salazar Slytherin's will." She straightened in her seat, eyes slightly narrowing as she pinned him with a look. "Hatching the basilisk is a test. Did you know this, Baron?"
Outwardly, the ghost merely shook his head. Inside though, a frisson of tension climbed up his spine, warning him to tell naught but truth, and to tread carefully. His mistress may be human, but she was also halfway to becoming Mistress of Death, and that meant she could easily obliterate his existence with a thought if she put her mind to it. "I know the will exists, but not of its contents. That was something Lord Slytherin kept to himself, until his death."
Hari was quiet for a few moments, watching him with her piercing stare, before she sighed and nodded. "That sounds like something Slytherin would do," she admitted to herself.
The tension in the Baron's phantom body eased. "You mentioned that hatching the basilisk was merely a test?"
Hari nodded, her face grim. "If the egg hatches, then all of Slytherin's possessions are mine. If I fail…" she took a shuddering breath. "If I fail, I die."
"Then there is nothing to fear," the Baron declared confidently. "The egg is kept warm and it is being sustained by your magic. It will hatch. I am sure of it."
Hari looked skeptical. "From what I have gathered so far, it takes a great deal of magic to hatch a basilisk." Her eyes strayed to the small pile of towels and pillows near the fireplace, where the basilisk egg was. "That, and a toad."
"The toad is needed if you are hatching a basilisk from a chicken egg," the Baron pointed out. "But this one is from a clutch of eggs laid by a female basilisk. A purebred basilisk like this one is a rare prize, as there are very few Parselmouths who are powerful enough and brave enough to rear several of these reptiles, let alone breed them." The Baron peered at the egg, checking to make sure the Warming Charm still held. "They are like dragons, in a way. Proud and mistrustful of humans. But very intelligent, and very shrewd. If you gain their trust then you have their loyalty."
Hari looked at the ghost in surprise. "You know a lot about basilisks."
"I helped Lord Slytherin take care of them when I was alive and he taught me enough to be able to care for them," the Bloody Baron confessed with a shrug. "He made sure the basilisks kept their eyes closed when I fed them. I have seen him talk to them-several times, in fact-but I have understood nothing of their conversations."
Hari looked at the books strewn by her feet with a grimace. "Maybe I should have just asked you instead of borrowing these from the library then."
Her butler peered at the titles. He sniffed in distaste. "These are written by wizards who do not possess a lick of Parseltongue. Except this one," he tapped one of the books. "Slyhardt was a born Parselmouth. He knew what he was writing about. I believe we have a few titles in your collection that are worth reading. I shall bring them to you." He started floating over to the numerous shelves on the far wall.
Hari blinked. "Thank you, Baron," she said earnestly, then mentally kicked herself for not considering the possibility that she would have the books she needed here, in Salazar Slytherin's own study.
Well...if what the Baron said was true, then this will most likely be her study in a few weeks if the egg hatched.
Thinking about the egg made her want to check on it. She knelt beside the egg and touched a finger to the shell. It was warm. She could feel her magic wrapping itself around it.
But the lifeforce inside was still too weak to her liking. Hari bit her lip. She was not completely sure, but she felt like the basilisk inside should feel more...alive, somehow. Not weak and fragile, like thinly spun glass.
But what could she do? Hari stared into the fire, frowning. Then it clicked. Of course!
"Here are a few titles you can start with, Lady Hari." The Bloody Baron put a small stack of books near the couch she had recently vacated. "These will, I think, provide good material on how to rear a basilisk."
"Okay," Hari said absently as she stood, still looking at the egg. Would it work? "Can you stay by the door, Baron?"
A look of confusion crossed the ghost's face, but he nodded and did as he was told. "Is something the matter, my lady?"
Hari shook her head. "I just want to be safe. Wouldn't want you to get burned by accident, after all."
"Burned? Why would-"
The Baron's next words were swallowed by a high trill of notes as Hari opened her mouth and spread her arms back, transforming into the black phoenix that was her Animagus form. The Hogwarts uniform gave way to feathers the color of night, her arms lengthening and changed into great, sweeping wings. In a burst of black flames she settled down beside the makeshift nest, her glowing emerald eyes focusing on the basilisk egg.
The Bloody Baron's jaw dropped, not daring to believe what he was seeing. This was the first time he had seen a witch or wizard become a magical creature. It was, technically, possible. But he had learned during his years as a student that, since a magical creature was innately made up of magic and not merely channeling it, transforming into one was extremely difficult, if one did not possess a high enough amount of magic to sustain the transformation. You could end up dying or worse, a Squib.
And the more powerful the magical creature you are transforming into, the greater the amount of magic you needed to have. There were myths that say Merlin could transform into a hippogriff, although there was no evidence to support it.
But here was Lady Hari, transforming into a phoenix-a black one, by Merlin's beard-with nary but a thought. The Baron could feel the heat of the black flames all the way here, and the amount of magic she released with each flap of her wings had been immense.
The Baron felt a fierce surge of pride, serving a mistress who was so powerful. It was indeed the right decision to relinquish his title as Slytherin House's resident ghost.
Unaware of the Baron's thoughts, Hari focused her attention on the basilisk egg. She hobbled closer and lowered her slender neck to the egg, then she began to sing.
It was a lullaby, or at least that was what Hari thought it was. She really did not think about what to sing, only that she did, and the notes that came from her beak were a mixture of her voice and her magic. Her voice provided the power, but it was her magic that molded the intent and the will to shape her song. The lullaby was a soft croon, meant to soothe and to nurture. Behind the egg, the fire in the hearth grew stronger, the tongues of flame swaying with the phoenix song. The air grew warm and saturated with the magic of Life; if there had been plants in the study, Hari was certain they would be bursting into bloom right about now.
It lasted a few minutes, then Hari raised her head and closed her beak. The song was done. She looked at the egg again, feeling the lifeforce inside. It was still weak, but stronger than it had been before she sang. Hari felt satisfied; it might take a few more songs, but Hari felt this was enough for today. Too much, and the basilisk might perish instead.
Hari turned back into a human and knelt beside the egg again, a smile on her lips as she touched the egg with a finger. "That's better," she murmured. She stood up and saw the books the Baron brought. "Ah. Thank you, Baron. These will do fine." She looked at the wall of books that went around the study. She sighed. "If only Hermione could come here. I think she'd faint."
The Baron stirred from where he was stationed by the door. "The wards around this place prevents anyone who is not a Parseltongue from entering," he sounded apologetic.
Hari nodded. "I hope that I can change the wards here when I become its owner. I think Hermione and Ron would love the idea of this place." She chuckled. "And I have a feeling I'll need all the help I can get with taking care of a basilisk."
Over the next few weeks Hari had fallen into a routine: in between classes and therapy sessions she visited the basilisk egg and sang to it, making sure it was kept warm, and studied on how to raise a basilisk. The books that the Bloody Baron lent her were quite informative, and easy to understand. She was pleasantly surprised to learn that a basilisk could be trained not to eat people; it was something she had been worrying about ever since she received the egg.
It was also, apparently, a big concern for her friends.
"Are you sure it's...wise...to hatch it?" Hermione had asked her after Hari divulged the existence of Slytherin's office and laboratory, and the test that would either kill her or make her Slytherin's legitimate heir. "A basilisk isn't exactly your run-of-the-mill pet."
"Not to mention that it considers Hogwarts students a snack," Ron pointed out.
Hari sighed. "It's not like there's a way to give up on the test. Slytherin's will specifically said I need to complete it - it's a binding contract." She ran a hand through her hair. "I think he wants me to tame it."
"That's...is it even possible?" Hermione asked again, disbelief coloring her voice.
Hari shrugged. "The previous one was following orders. We know it can be reasoned with, and if it weren't for the Horcrux diary driving it insane it wouldn't have caused trouble in the first place." She paused. "I would also love to not die again, thank you very much."
Hermione sighed, relenting. "So how are you going to take care of it?"
Hari brightened at the question. "I've been reading up on it. And the Bloody Baron said he would help."
Ron blinked. "The Baron?"
"He comes with Slytherin's office," Hari explained. She rolled her eyes at the look of incredulity on Ron's face. "Unfortunately, I can't let you inside yet. There are wards in place so only Parselmouths could enter. Once I hatch the basilisk and there's no risk of my impending doom, I'll change the wards to let you two inside." Before Hermione could open her mouth, Hari tacked on a nonchalant, "Slytherin has an impressive collection of books. He also left behind his journals, and his potions lab."
The torn expression on Hermione's face had Hari biting her lip to prevent from laughing. Hermione may be the smartest witch of her generation, but her wants and needs were quite simple. Books ranked pretty high up on her priority list.
"W-well…" Hermione cleared her throat. "If you're really sure you've taken all precautions and make sure to let Ron and I know about what's going on…"
Ron snorted. "Of course you'd be hooked by the books."
Hermione shot him a look and, in a rare display of childishness, stuck her tongue out at him. Hari wisely stayed quiet. #