Notage: More clearing up…
Basilisk Inferi: JK said that the Basilisk would play an important role later on. What other thing could a giant dead snake have to do besides guard something?
Funny thing is, I completely forgot about that (the Basilisk) until I wrote that part. I figured that it would be neat to write about, and then later I remembered what JK had said.
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"Potter!" McGonagall shrieked, entering the bathroom. Harry was lying on the floor again. He had just come back from vomiting everything that he had eaten in the last few hours. "You've been in this school for fifteen minutes and already you're causing trouble! I should have known -"
"Back off, professor!" Ginny said, stepping between McGonagall and Harry. "You wouldn't understand what Harry has to do. He's trying to save the world again. And if that -"
"Ginny!" Harry said, pulling himself off the floor. "That's enough." He walked past Ginny to get closer to the headmistress. "I don't want you to stop it. I can do that. I want you to make sure that the students stay safe while I'm down there."
"You're talking about a Basilisk." The headmistress said. "It can -"
"I killed it years ago, and almost died. I know what it can do. That's why I'm going to kill it. Again." He turned to Hermione. "How do you get rid of Inferi?"
Hermione shook her head, obviously not knowing anything on Inferi.
"You have to undo whichever spell was put on them." McGonagall said. "But there are literally hundreds of spells. Some of them you can't undo. By the time you would find the right one -"
"Aren't there different spells for different species? I mean, he would have had to use a different spell on the Basilisk than on any normal Inferi, wouldn't he?" No one responded. "Thanks for helping." Harry said, annoyed at them all. "Open it Hermione."
"But Harry -"
"Open it!"
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Harry walked slowly up the side of the rockslide. Apparently the Basilisk hadn't broken through. But it had tried – the other side was more caved in than before. Harry looked for the Basilisk, but didn't see or smell it. It won't get to far, he thought. It wants to catch the person who took the book. And I'm right here.
Harry sat at the top of the rocks and waited for it to come back. While he waited, he thought of every spell that could undo another spell. There were hundreds of them –
Suddenly, he heard the water splashing in a nearby pipe. He climbed down the rocks. A giant shadow was coming… Harry picked up a rock and threw it. "Hey! Snake!"
The Basilisk's head poked around the corner. It's head turned, obviously trying to hear him better. "Over here!" Harry called, throwing another rock. The Basilisk reared its head up, ready to strike – Harry threw another rock and hit it on the nose.
The Basilisk hissed loudly and went for the noise, but Harry had already moved. He kept moving, making as much noise as possible. He turned and tried the first spell that popped into his head. "Deletrius!"
Nothing happened. Harry continued to run; making sure that the snake was following him. He tried another spell, but it didn't work either. The Basilisk lunged, just missing Harry's left leg. Harry stopped and looked at it for a second. He could see where the missing fang was – the one that had nearly killed him last time – but right next to the hole was another, longer fang. Harry wondered how long Basilisk venom lasted.
It lunged again, and Harry ran into a pipe. Think Harry, he told himself. You're good at these kinds of spells. Think of something!
Harry stopped, so out of breath that he couldn't go on. The Basilisk caught up quickly, blocking his way out. It got very close to him, and Harry felt like he was going to be sick again.
It stuck its tongue out, sniffing the air. Harry tried to avoid it, but the long, eroded tongue touched his side and poked at him for a second.
The tongue went back. Harry could have sworn that the Basilisk smiled. It pulled its head back, ready to strike again –
"Finite Incantatem!" Harry tried. It didn't seem to have worked. The Basilisk came forward, but then slumped over, nearly falling on Harry. He quickly climbed over it and headed for the bathroom, feeling like he could really use a bath.
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Ginny ran toward Harry, obviously overjoyed that he had made it back. Harry stopped her and looked to McGonagall.
"It's gone. I won't bother you or your school anymore." McGonagall mumbled something and left.
"Oh, Harry!" Hermione said. "I'm so glad you're alright!"
She tried to hug him as well, but Harry pushed her away. He looked as if he were going to be sick again. "Ewww!" He said finally. "I never want to have to do anything that – unsanitary – ever again!"