Harry and Luna cringed as they saw the feed from the P.E.T.E.R. drone. "That's a lot of water," muttered Harry. "Enough to cause a Malfunction…"
"I could freeze the water," said Daphne.
"Then you run the risk of killing the Basilisk," said Isabel. "It's a cold blooded creature, despite the magic used to make it. Intense cold can still kill it."
"And we're not going to kill it, because?."
"Because controlling this thing is much more beneficial. It can guard the school while also remain as the last remnant of Salazar Slytherin that's not Millie's bloodline."
"Ok," said Harry as he looked at Salazar's notes on the Basilisk. "I think now is the safest time to visit the snake. It's still winter and its cold outside, meaning the water is freezing. It should remain in its burrow within the rock as it sleeps. We should be able to get in, find the Conch, and get out."
"We still need a plan in case this thing wakes up," said Cindy as Luna flew the drone down a tunnel. She stopped it in front of a massive door with an ornate serpent lock. "Is that…"
"The only thing keeping the Basilisk from getting into the school, I guess," said Isabel. "Chances of it being a Parseltongue lock as well?"
"I'd say very likely," said Harry. "Ok, in case this thing wakes up, we need a plan. What do we know about Basilisks?"
"XXXXX creatures, resistant to all magic due to its scales having a high magic absorption rate almost as much as a dragon's, considering the age of this thing, we can anticipate it being big, very big. Because it's a snake, its mostly all muscle. Don't get crushed, don't get slammed by its tail, and definitely do not get bitten by the damn thing. No cure for its venom."
"Phoenix tears," said Luna. "That'll cure anything."
"And who's to say our natural healing can't help," said Harry.
"Harry," cautioned Cindy. "Don't risk it."
"Is Fawkes large enough to fly yet," asked Daphne as she turned to Isabel.
"Kid," said Isabel. "Go to Dumbledore and ask. We're not about to go down there without making sure we have all kinds of backups. We need to plan out everything. I think I've got some wetsuits in the Bunker for when we want to dive down to the lakebed." Again, Harry and Luna cringed, Millicent doing so as well.
"Great," muttered Luna. "Rubber prisons."
"And if we're not careful," said Harry. "Rubber coffins." Harry went out into the hall and Charged through the Gibraltar and landed in front of the Gargoyle statue. "Chuckles." Harry Spark-Stepped past the statue, making it give a stony grunt of annoyance and went up to the office door before knocking.
"Come in, Harry," said Dumbledore. Harry opened the door and spotted Fawkes was about two thirds of his normal size after his Ash Day a few months ago. "How can I help you?"
"I need to borrow Fawkes."
"May I ask why?"
"We're going down into the Chamber of Secrets and we need to have a way to counteract its venom in case it you know…" Harry made a motion of clamping his nails on his arm.
"You found the Chamber?" Harry held up the journal.
"Millicent Bulstrode is the real Heir of Slytherin. I'm assuming back when Myrtle was killed, the Chamber was opened back then, correct? And I suppose you suspect Riddle of doing it." Dumbledore sighed.
"I seem to have forgotten how perceptive you are, Harry. Yes, the Chamber was opened in the 1952-53 schoolyear. And I had my suspicions of young Tom at the time. How can you be sure that Miss Bulstrode is the true Heir of Slytherin?"
"This journal is passed down from Heir to Heir, starting from Salazar to his daughter Sylvia, a Ravenclaw student. She passed it down to the next Heir and it kept going down the line, even after they lost the ability to speak Parseltongue. It was passed down from her mother's line, not her father. The Heir of Slytherin, has always been the First Born daughter of the head of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Slytherin. Sylvia to her daughter and so on."
"So Tom is not descended from Slytherin?"
"Just a prominent Parseltongue speaking family. It's not as if this magic is limited to just a single bloodline. Look at Wizarding India."
"You seem to have done extensive research into the subject Harry."
"Given that I myself am a Parseltongue, I did some research into the magic. Who can speak it, its advantages, its downsides. Its spells."
"Be careful, Harry. Voldemort…"
"Tom did this research believing he was part of some grand bloodline and became obsessed with it. He didn't do a proper study. I have a more scientific side to my thinking and research. I've been trying to understand why I can do this, not where it comes from. I'm a scientist first and a Mage second, Professor. I had a bad childhood growing up. But it got better when Isabel saved me. Tom and I are only similar in certain areas only. Now, can I borrow Fawkes to do this?"
"Not without us," said a voice behind him. Harry turned around and spotted Amelia, Susan standing beside her. Susan held up her phone showing him a text from Daphne. Harry cringed for the third time that day as he caught Susan glaring at him.
"So that's what that feels like. I'm only used to seeing Sasha direct that glare to Zed."
"Get used to it. Susan is upset, with good reason. A Basilisk?"
"We're trying to tame it. And we should be fine, for the most part. It's winter. It's in hibernation. It shouldn't wake up. Given how old it is, even if it's a magical creature, it is still a cold blooded one. Meaning it can't stand the cold. Especially at the size it's probably at. Daphne should be able to help with it by chilling the air."
"I can help also," said Luna from Susan's phone, making the Hufflepuff jump. "I've got the Vibro-Naginatas with me."
"Stop hacking my phone," said Susan.
"Make me, Badger."
"Girls," said Harry. "Stop bickering." He turned to Amelia. "Madam Bones, I…"
"Save it, Harry," said Amelia. "Considering the danger of this task you're trying to undertake, as well as this being a XXXXX dark creature. It needs to be terminated by a member of the DMLE."
"We're not trying to kill it," said Harry. "Inside the Chamber is a Conch enchanted by Salazar Slytherin himself. It captured the roar of a now extinct dragon that used it's roar to control other beings to bring it its food. The roar has slightly hypnotic qualities and Salazar was able to control the Basilisk with a combination of the Conch and Parseltongue."
"There's still a major risk in going in there. The gaze of a Basilisk can kill you instantly."
"So we look at it indirectly," said Isabel over the phone. "I can develop thermal goggles to make sure we're not seeing in the visible spectrum."
"I have no idea what you just said?"
"Izzy thinks as long as we see its heat and not its actual eyes we're fine," said Harry. "We can see it's heat signature instead of looking at its eyes directly using special goggles we have for special occasions."
"I'm afraid that may not work," said Dumbledore. "It may short out your goggles with its gaze alone. Its magic is visual magic after all."
"I think I have a solution," said Luna. "Harry, go to the Bunker and scrounge through my desk for a metal cube. Would you kindly bring it here?"
"I'm not Jack."
"Sasha says you are." Harry rolled his eyes as she hung up. Harry Charged to the Bunker and went to the desk littered with Luna's drawings and P.E.T.E.R. parts. He pulled out the cube and examined it before Digitizing it.
"Alright. Time to face a giant snake."
"Try not to die, Harry. It would take too long to break in a new human."
"Ok, that joke was kind of funny."
"It wasn't a joke." Harry turned to her and saw she had a grin on her holographic form.
"I need to keep you from dark humor. It'll make me nervous one of these days."
"That's where I derive my amusement." Harry shook his head and Charged back to the second floor. He went to the boys bathroom first to put on the wetsuit Isabel left for him outside of the closed bathroom door and returned to the girls room a few minutes later.
"What's in here," he asked, holding up the cube.
"Rubber cement that's safe for the eyes and a solvent for it."
"Luna…"
"I saw it coming." Harry sighed before turning to the entrance.
"Alright. Let's face the Beast then. Allons y!" Harry jumped down the hole.
"Harry," exclaimed Cindy, bewildered. Luna grinned and jumped after him.
"Geronimo," she shouted. Cindy sighed as Daphne dove in after them and Millicent timidly backed away from it.
"I'm suddenly having second thoughts," she said.
"You'll be fine," exclaimed Isabel as she pat her on the back, knocking her in. "Whoops." Cindy glared at her as she shrugged with an innocent grin. "Alley oop!" She plugged her nose with her fingers and jumped down.
"So childish," muttered Cindy as Susan, Amelia and Dumbledore, carrying Fawkes, walked in. "They've already dove down."
"Of course they did," muttered Susan.
"Let's get going then," said Amelia as she sat at the edge of the hole. Cindy turned to Dumbledore who passed her Fawkes.
"I'll wait up here with Miss Bones," he said. "Experienced as I may be, I'm afraid I've relied too much on the Elder Wand you now own, Miss MacGrath. I sadly won't be of any assistance." Cindy nodded and followed after Amelia. Harry landed and lit up his flashlight to look around the tunnel. The drone could only reveal so much so seeing it firsthand was a different experience. Harry looked back up the slide and grunted as Luna collided with him.
"Worked like a plan," she said, straddling him.
"Get off," he grunted as he pushed her off of him. She stood up and grinned at him as he got to his feet. He heard Daphne coming and caught her, bridal style, as she came off the slide. "Come here often?"
"Really," she asked. "We're doing this now?" Harry shrugged and set her down as they heard Millicent screaming. Harry and Luna used Electromagnetism to slow her fall by interacting with her normal electrical field. They guided her down and greeted her with a grin.
"Professor Daniels pushed me," she muttered. Harry sent a glare up at the slide as Isabel came down herself and landed on her backside.
"Ow," she exclaimed.
"Your own damn fault," said Harry. Amelia came down next and Conjured a cushion before she landed.
"Why didn't you think of that," asked Daphne to Isabel.
"Because… shut up," shouted Isabel as Cindy came down next and landed with a rolling crouch.
"Wow, Mom," said Harry.
"Your uncle's not the only Parkour master, Harry," she said with a grin. "Also, you're grounded when we get back for leaving without me." Fawkes landed on her shoulder and squawked. "See? The bird agrees."
"Fine. Can we go now?"
"We're in no hurry," said Daphne. She turned to Luna. "Right?"
"Don't look at me. It's spotty." Harry sighed and led the way, flashlight and Holly's projection lighting the way.
"These tunnels look older than the school," said Isabel.
"I'm sure it's just the grime," said Cindy as she finished removing the muck from her own hair and turned to Daphne's.
"No, I'm serious. These seem older than the school itself based on looks and weathering alone."
"You're not an expert. This isn't your field of study. Don't put in your two cents." Harry stopped as he found the drone still floating in front of the ornate door.
"Susan, Professor. We're at the drone. Can you hear us?"
"Loud and clear, Harry," called Susan over the drone's speaker.
"Ok. I'm gonna open the door now."
"Badger," said Luna. "Press the red button on the tablet screen."
"Ok, pressed it." Luna nodded to Harry and allowed him to turn to the door.
(Open.) They watched as the snake locks rescinded as another stone serpent moved around the edge of the door, locking the serpents in place. "Can I have it?"
"No," said Cindy.
"Oh, come on!"
"I said no."
"No place in the company, Kid," said Isabel as she pushed the door fully open and cast a spell to hold it in place, so they weren't trapped.
"Is that a smart Idea," asked Susan. "What if the Basilisk gets out?"
"We'll be fine."
"Is that hopeful thinking or are you just saying what you think I want to hear?"
"I'll get back to you on that."
"Izzy," cautioned Harry.
"What?" Harry pointed behind her. Isabel turned around and spotted a large discarded skin, the mouth looking large enough to swallow her head whole.
"How old would you say that skin is?" Isabel gulped.
"I'd say about 40-60 years old."
"Merlin," said Amelia. Just how old would it be now?"
"Let's find the Conch before we get killed," said Daphne. "Harry. Did the last visitor say where it was left?" Harry pulled out the journal.
"Let's see…." Harry flipped through the journal to the last few entries talking about the Basilisk. "Uh…" Harry gulped before turning to the others. "You're not going to like this."
"Don't tell me…," said Cindy as she turned to her son.
"It's hidden by the blood magic within the nest of the Basilisk."
"So we need to go in there to get it," asked Amelia. "This is too dangerous for you kids. You should go back, now."
"With all due respect," said Harry. "I'm the only Parseltongue here. And Millicent is the Heir. We're needed."
"I'm not about to leave Harry alone," said Daphne.
"I know how the cement works," said Luna.
"Drop it," said Isabel. "Harry's friends have all sworn to stand by him when they feel he needs them. You're not gonna convince them to leave."
"And if I were there," said Susan. "I wouldn't leave either. I'm only up here because I don't have a specialized magic." Isabel turned to the drone and gave it a small thought before turning to Harry.
"Where do we need to drop the blood?"
"Salazar wrote as long as it's in the Chamber, the spell should take effect. We should…"
(Intruders…) Harry paled slightly as he turned to the statue of Salazar Slytherin.
"Crap baskets… It's awake."
"Harry," said Holly. "The Chamber is unnaturally warm for the time of year."
"Dammit," muttered Amelia. "This was a very bad idea." She brought out her wand. "We need to get out of here. Now."
"No," said Millie. "We need to get the Conch. When we get the Conch, we can control it."
"It won't be of any use if we're dead."
(You will pay for trespassing on the Hallowed Ground of Salazar Slytherin!) Harry watched as the statue's mouth started to slowly open wide.
"Madame Bones," he said. "Cast a disillusionment spell on Millicent. Isabel. Help her with the ritual."
"Harry," cautioned Cindy.
"Everyone, eyes down! Luna! Can you blind it?!"
"I need to aim. It's in a grenade form," said the Seer.
"Dammit."
"I can do it," said Holly. "Hand me the grenade."
"Holly," asked Harry. "Are you sure?"
"I can do it. I'm the most expendable."
"Holly, you know you're…"
"Don't argue. Luna." Luna handed the grenade to Holly who flew above the now fully open mouth of the statue.
"Susan! Turn the camera away!" Harry watched the drone turn away just as the massive snake slithered out of the statue. It hissed and locked it's gaze on Harry immediately. Harry kept his eyes to the ground as Holly primed the grenade.
(You smell of a Speaker…) Harry winced slightly from feeling it's tongue on his face and let out and instinctive bolt of lightning through his exposed flesh. The Basilisk reared back in surprise and only a small amount of pain, giving Holly an opening. She dropped the grenade on its eyes, coating it in rubber cement. (What is this?!)
(Rubber cement!) "Luna! Vibro!" Luna Materialized two Naginatas and tossed one to Harry who activated it instantly and stabbed it into the ground
(An army?! How?!)
"It's confused! Daphne! The air!" Daphne nodded and let out an icy mist as Isabel and Amelia took Millicent to the side. The Basilisk snarled and dove into the water. Luna activated her own naginata and stabbed the blade into the water. Cindy watched the ripples in the water as she pulled out her wand, ready to use whatever trick she could to protect her students and son.
"Merlin," they heard Dumbledore over the speaker. "The size of that thing. How big is it?!"
"I'd say a good 75 feet," said Cindy. "25 feet larger than the longest record Basilisk."
"Dammit," muttered Harry. "Where'd it go?" Harry's answer came as it rose from the water behind Daphne. "Daph!" Daphne turned around and gasped as she saw the Basilisk. Harry pushed her away as it poised to strike, it's fang catching him in the arm.
"Harry," shouted Daphne, Cindy and Susan. Harry growled and shocked the Basilisk again. It reeled back again and slammed his tail into him, knocking him into the statue.
"You reptilian bastard," shouted Cindy as she Conjured multiple daggers and sent them flying at the Basilisk. It avoided them and dove into the water once more. Cindy went and grabbed the Naginata from where Harry stabbed it into the ground and turned to Daphne. "Freeze the side it hid from!" Harry grabbed his flashlight and shined it into the mouth to try and see inside.
"Out of the way, Kid," said Isabel as she stood behind a slow walking Millicent. "If she bumps into you, she's going to be very disoriented. The spell blinds you until you find what you're looking for."
"W-where's Fawkes?"
"Why? Isabel noticed Harry's arm. "Shit!" The Basilisk slammed through the ice, annoyed by the sub-zero obstruction and hissed in anger as it tried to wash away the cement. Cindy levitated the Naginata with her wand and dispelled it towards the King of Serpents and sliced through the side of the Beast. At the same time, Amelia casted a Bombarda at the roof above its head, dropping slabs of stone onto it. The serpent snarled and slid into the water again.
"Away from the waters," shouted Amelia. Luna backed away and glanced at Harry before tossing him her Naginata.
"Drain it Harry," she shouted.
"Not yet…" Harry stood up as Millicent made it inside the statue. Harry blinked into another Kessler Node.
'For some unknown reason, our magic grants us enhanced healing. Let it happen naturally or drain electricity to speed up the effect.' Harry saw a memory of Kessler healing himself then First Sons he recognized from Empire City. 'We can also heal others and heal enough with the right mindset…' Harry watched a green pulse expand from his hand healing First Sons beside him in a wide radius. 'But I've always wondered what would happen if phoenix tears were added to the mix. Would one take precedence over the other? Would the two unknown magics cancel each other out? Or would something else happen? I never got to experience what would happen. But you, my Apprentice. You will.'
Harry groaned as he used the Naginata to help him stand and used his magic to increase the weapon's vibration speed. The Basilisk snarled and came to land before charging at Harry. "Harry," shouted Cindy.
"Kid," shouted Isabel. "Watch out!" Harry stood his ground and raised the Naginata, ready to stab the Beast. A loud roar sounded behind him. Deafening. Frightening. Harry turned around and spotted Millicent holding a golden shell before covering it. The Basilisk shook it's head and snarled in confusion.
(The Conch? A master?)
(A master without Parseltongue) Harry groaned and slid against the wall. Fawkes flew over to him and Harry drained the Naginata at the same time as the phoenix tears landed on his arm. Harry groaned as he felt his magic mix with the healing properties of Fawkes' tears. Harry's eyes turned white as a large pulse of white electricity filled the Chamber and hit everyone in its reach. Rather than pain, they felt their nerves come alive for the briefest of moments. Their muscles relaxed and aches they weren't aware they had vanished. The Basilisk seemed to calm down as it's side stitched itself back together. Harry blinked and looked at his reflection in the water. His eyes returned to their normal green as blue circuit lines covered his irises. He sighed and leaned against the wall, cradling his ribs which had been broken by both impacts only for the combining healing magics to heal them back up. "All hail the Magic Conch." Harry raised his arm up slightly in celebration.
"That," panted Cindy as adrenalin left her system. "Is not funny."
"It's a little funny," said Isabel with a chuckle. "You ok, Kid?"
"Do you flirt with any man with a badge?"
"He's fine." Daphne went to Harry and hugged him before smacking him upside the head.
"Never do that again," she whispered.
"No promises. The life of a hero is a painful one."
"Idiot…" She hugged him once more.
(Speaker. Remove whatever blinds me. I wish to see my new master.)
(Won't your gaze kill us?)
(What kind of King do you take me for?! I can control it!)
"Luna. Get the solvent."
"Harry," said Isabel. "Did that white lightning thing fry your brain?"
"It says it can control its gaze. It wants to see Millicent."
"Harry," said Amelia. "Can you trust it? It's a dark creature."
"It was meant to protect the school," said Millicent, Conch still in hand. "It won't harm students, past or present."
"How can you be sure?"
"One way to find out," said Luna as she poured the solvent onto the rubber cement. The Basilisk shook away what it could before bringing its gaze to Harry. Harry gulped slightly as green met yellow.
(You are the Speaker?)
(I am.)
(Where is my master?)
(She holds the Conch. But she is not a Speaker. The Line of Slytherin lost Parseltongue a long time ago. Which led to your isolation for so long. At least until a pretender visited you some odd years ago.) The Basilisk snarled once more, prompting Isabel, Cindy and Amelia to aim their wands at it.
(The pretender. I… remember him… He smelled of a Speaker, but I could not remember Master's scent. I was tricked! How dare he?! How dare that boy?! That Riddle!)
"Seems we were right about Tom," said Harry. "About him being the one to open the Chamber."
"Harry," asked Millicent. "Can you translate for me?"
"Yeah. I'll even make a translation software for you to speak with the Basilisk using a tablet and some microphones. Results may vary."
"Can we get out of here," asked Daphne. "I think I've seen all I want of the infamous Chamber of Secrets."
"This is only the entrance," said Harry. "The rest is in the water. There's apparently a phrase only the Basilisk knows to lower the water to grant full access to the Chamber and all of its mysteries."
"There's more to this," exclaimed Isabel.
"Of course. You don't call something the Chamber of Secrets and guard it and the school it's under with a deadly serpent unless there are some very interesting secrets hidden within. It defeats the fucking purpose."
"Language," said Cindy. "And see if you can get him to lower the water. We should get Dumbledore down here as well as others to scrounge over what we can potentially find."
"We're already on our way down," they heard McGonagall say over the speaker. "Mr. MacGrath. Get that water lowered."
"Yes ma'am," said Harry. He turned to the Basilisk. (Basilisk.)
(My given name is Sebas, Speaker. Use it.)
(Sorry. Sebas. Can you lower the water in the Chamber? Our friends wish to learn all we can about it.)
(Normally I would decline. But I almost killed you and my new Master. I owe you both a debt. Very well.)Harry looked around after the Basilisk hissed a word he could not understand. Magical torches sprang to life all around and slowly, the dark water lowered, deeper and deeper, unveiling the Chamber in it's entirety. Harrygaped as he saw the Chamber in its entirety. It was as long and as wide as the Great Hall and lined with doors covered with barnacles and seafoam in color. A passage at the end of the Chamber seemed to lead out into the lake.
"This is amazing," said Daphne. "Those doors had to have been charmed to protect whatever is inside from the water."
"I was thinking the same thing," said Isabel. Harry grinned before turning to Millicent.
"Ok," he said. "What do you want to talk with Sebas about first?"