Chapter 4: Hogwarts Legacy
"I was in the middle of something," Tom said in lieu of a greeting as he materialized in Abraxas' lavish sitting room. "We're over half an hour early, if I'm not mistaken. Unless you decided to change the time?"
Abraxas was sitting on a royal blue velvet chaise longue and sipping at a glass of Firewhiskey. "I wouldn't presume to take up your time without good reason, Tom. What has you so worked up?"
Tom snapped his jaw shut and settled on the chair opposite. A glass appeared next to him and filled itself with Daisyroot Draught, which was Tom's preferred in-game drink. "Nothing. What news do you have?"
"Fine. Keep your secrets." Abraxas waved him off. "I wanted to show you the new release. It won't launch for another hour and a half, but I have the images here."
Abraxas called up a holo-screen and shuffled through menus until he reached the one he wanted. A large 3d image of a box filled the screen. The Hogwarts Legacy launch. The box itself was plain brown wood with a glossy varnish applied on top. An enamel version of the Hogwarts logo was affixed to the front, and the box's accents were made of pure gold.
Tom could only assume that the box's simple design belied clever, more powerful contents. "Interesting design choice for such a large launch," he commented.
Abraxas took the bait, as Tom knew he would, and said, "It will open up to reveal one of four different puzzle boxes. They are based on each of Hogwarts' main characters. Each puzzle will be different depending on the character, and there will be ultra-rare items up for grabs. One of a kind, according to Barty. The odds are something close to one in a trillion of getting them."
"Sounds exciting. I can only imagine what the market value would be." Tom took a sip of his drink. "Four items, then?"
"One for each Founder."
Tom pondered this. "I don't suppose it would be better to wait, to see how others fare before we open our own?" That would give Tom time to compose a strategy, a plan of attack to earn the best prize possible from the box.
"Barty said the best chance is if you open straight away," Abraxas told him. "The longer you wait, the worse the odds are meant to be."
So the point of a puzzle box was to reward brilliance, not patience. "I suppose we'll have to see for ourselves."
"Precisely." Abraxas sat back in his chaise longue and grinned lazily. "Can't wait to see who gets Hufflepuff. I do hope it's Walburga. She hasn't got a lick of patience in her body. It'll be fun to watch her rage over losing."
Tom didn't find much humour in the idea of throwing the equivalent of five hundred pounds down the drain, but he could pretend that he did. "You may want to confiscate everyone's weapons before they come in, then."
Abraxas laughed. "You make a good point, Tom. I may do exactly that."
They sat and chatted for a while longer. Barty was the next to show up. He worked on item design for Hogwarts, which meant he was privy to all sorts of confidential information. Barty was not as rich as the rest, but he was useful, and so Tom had made a point to befriend him.
"This launch is going to be incredible," Barty said enthusiastically as he plopped down on the couch next to Tom. "The run will last for a week, after which the price for the boxes will double and they'll do a fresh reset of the mid-tier items. They're really counting on it to boost sales."
"I can see the appeal," Tom murmured. For lower-class players, a box that did not wholly rely upon chance could be a godsend. There would be a rush to make the initial purchase, certainly. Abraxas must have paid extra to reserve boxes for this little gathering of his.
"Do you know what the puzzles will be?" Abraxas asked curiously. "Just between us, of course. I haven't sent the rest of the invitations out yet, so you don't have to worry that we'll be interrupted."
"I'm not entirely certain," Barty admitted. "They will emulate the personalities of the Founders, I'm told. Most of the new items are for wardrobe and revolve around the new character designs. I can tell you what the rare items are, though!" Barty nodded rapidly. "One item for each Founder: Godric's sword, Helga's goblet, Rowena's diadem, and Salazar's locket. The items buff certain player stats by a ridiculous amount. They also include all of the items from the Hogwarts Legacy release."
"All the items?" Tom repeated incredulously.
"It isn't what you think," Barty said quickly. "It isn't as if your inventory is suddenly flooded with several hundred items at once. What happens is that the one item, the Founder's item, can function as any of the newly-released items. Multiple items in one."
What Barty was describing had to be several hundred, if not a thousand, items in one. The value of such a thing would be astronomical. Tom felt the strange flutter of nerves in his stomach. If he could win that... if he could lay his hands on a Founder's item... he would be set for life.
"Well, best of luck to you both," Abraxas said warmly. "I'm sure many of us will walk away with something valuable today."
Tom took a deep breath and expelled the sudden tension from his body. "Best of luck to you both," he said. The sentiment was dishonest, but what did that matter? None of them needed the money. Not even Barty, who despite his middle-class job stood to inherit a significant fortune from his parents once they passed. Tom was the only one among them who would truly benefit from this release, and he planned to take shameless advantage of that.
While Abraxas sent out the rest of his invitations, Tom finished his drink and ran through the profiles of each Founder. There was Gryffindor, who was known for his bravery, chivalry, and determination; Hufflepuff, who boasted hard work, patience, and loyalty; Ravenclaw, who favoured wit, creativity, and wisdom; and Slytherin, Tom's favourite, who was the champion of ambition, cunning, and resourcefulness.
Tom would do best with Slytherin, surely. Ravenclaw would be his second choice, leaving Gryffindor and Hufflepuff to tie for third. Would the puzzle involve game trivia? Another labyrinth? The possibilities were endless. Tom was loath to imagine players out there with more information than him. He had the information that Barty had given them, but that only told him that the boxes were valuable. It did not help him determine how to win.
Slowly, people trickled into the sitting room. Tom kept a close eye on the time. Would he be better off waiting to open his? Or should he open right away? Did Abraxas want them to take turns? Surely not. It would be more exciting if they all opened at once.
While people mingled, Tom greeted those he was on friendly terms with and waved at the rest. Bellatrix claimed the seat to Tom's right and grinned at him. She was wearing a violet wig with two enormous ponytails that hung down to her waist. "You're looking very Slytherin today, Tom. Ready for the big launch?"
Tom had forgotten to change his outfit after dressing for Harry's arrival yesterday. "It's very exciting," he replied neutrally.
"I'm sure you'll do very well," Bellatrix trilled, leaning in. "If you get something pretty, perhaps we can do a little trade?" She batted her lashes at him. "Something of mine for something of yours?"
"Perhaps," Tom allowed. He was not interested in her, but it never hurt to have the trade option available.
"Ten minutes," Barty called out.
"Good luck, Tom," Bella said sweetly.
Tom smiled blandly at her in return.
"Once the boxes arrive in my inventory, I will drop them here. One for each of you, and everyone will open at once," Abraxas said to the gathered group. "After, we'll have a break for drinks and trading."
"I can't wait," Orion said, clapping his hands together, "I'm going to collect the entire Slytherin set, whatever it looks like." He looked to Barty for confirmation. "They look good, don't they?"
"Modelled after Salazar himself," Barty said.
"Excellent."
"One minute," Abraxas intoned.
Tom's heart was pounding. He took a deep breath and prepared for the worst. If he did not get Slytherin or Ravenclaw, maybe he could trade with someone? That didn't seem to be against the rules that Abraxas had laid out.
A pile of boxes materialized on the large glass table. Tom, who was seated in front, snatched his up immediately and unlatched the front. A holo-screen appeared, visible only to him.
.
/ Welcome to Hogwarts Legacy!
The four Founders have watched over the realm of Hogwarts for many millennia... /
.
The text faded, replaced by a video. The video followed the four Founders of Hogwarts as they debated over the governance of their kingdom.
When they passed on, who would lead Hogwarts in their stead? They did not have children of their own to inherit. They had no designated heirs.
Godric suggested a public competition to determine the strongest, bravest champion in the realm. Helga thought they should take suggestions from their people and hold a vote. Rowena believed that they ought to devise a series of tests to find the brightest, most knowledgeable mind. Salazar disagreed with all these ideas and declared that he would seek his own heir to rule.
However, Hogwarts could not be led by one alone. This they all agreed on, even Salazar. And so they decided they would utilize their own separate methods to seek heirs, and in this way they would designate four victors to keep watch over the land in their place.
The video ended, replaced by another text screen.
.
/ Please choose your Founder! /
.
Tom did not hesitate. He selected Salazar and waited for the next screen to load.
The image of the Hogwarts box spun in place, opening up and revealing Slytherin's box. It was a plush box dressed in Slytherin's signature green. The box's handle and the S-shape on the front appeared to be made from obsidian.
.
/ Are you prepared to unleash the Basilisk, Heir of Slytherin?
[ YES ] [ NO ] /
.
A Basilisk? Tom hit the 'yes' option. Another screen popped up.
.
/ The following quest will take approximately one to three hours to complete. Are you sure you want to begin?
[ YES ] [ NO ] /
.
There was only one way forward. Tom picked 'yes' and was taken by surprise when the surroundings of Abraxas' sitting room faded away, replaced by ancient cobblestone and medieval torches burning with Unforgivable Flames.
Tom pulled up his inventory. It was empty. This was not unexpected; there would be no relying on outside aid for this. With a grimace, he shut the holo-screen and paused to take stock of his surroundings. Where was he? What was he supposed to do?
He took a step forward, and this triggered a new menu.
.
/ Only the true Heir of Slytherin can command the Basilisk. /
.
So there was the goal: find the Basilisk and figure out how to command it. Tom picked up his pace and began running down the hall. After several turns, he realized he was inside the Founders' castle. There were NPCs everywhere, most of them familiar characters from the game.
If the Basilisk was in the castle and it was his job to find it, he had to think carefully about how to approach the problem. The Founders' castle had a library full of ancient tomes. There were plenty of people and ghosts to question.
The quest was meant to be completed within one to three hours. The starting point could not be far from the spawn point. Tom turned to the nearest NPC, a balding man with a rotund middle, and invoked the dialogue option.
"Yes, Mr. Riddle? How may I help you?"
The character bar declared this NPC to be Horace Slughorn, Master Potioneer. His favourite food, according to his profile, was crystallized pineapple.
Tom smiled. "Well, sir, I wondered what you know about... about Salazar Slytherin's Basilisk?"
What felt like ages later, Tom had wandered all about the castle, piecing together the clues strewn throughout. Hints left in the library, hints dropped by the NPCs, hints in the strange hissing sounds that Tom heard in the walls. Hissing that sounded like words, but not quite. In fact, the closer he got to an answer, the more word-like the hisses seemed to be.
Tom had no way to tell the time while he was playing the game; he could only hope that he had made excellent progress. How were the others faring? Tom could not imagine any of his friends getting as far as him so quickly.
Eventually, Tom located the entrance to the fabled Chamber of Secrets, which was where the Basilisk was said to reside. After solving two puzzles involving pipes, Tom identified the correct sink and watched as it slid away, revealing a large hole in the ground.
Tom leapt in without hesitation and slid down. The fall was long and dark. Tom held his breath until he hit the bottom, landing on both feet. He retrieved a torch from his inventory and lit it. Up ahead was a large, circular door. There were snakes carved into it. Tom laid a hand on the door and was greeted by another menu. Another puzzle?
.
/ Before you proceed to the Chamber, you have the option of purchasing multiple attempts at summoning the Basilisk. The cost of a second attempt is either the most valuable item in your inventory, or one hundred premium credits. Do you wish to make a purchase?
[ YES ] [ NO ] /
.
Fucking capitalists. Bad enough the box cost several hundred pounds to buy, they had to provide yet another option for a cash grab. Tom gritted his teeth. The longer he debated, the worse off he would be. He could not recall, exactly, what the most valuable item in his inventory was at the moment.
Tom hit the 'yes' option and waited to see what the trade would be.
.
/ [ LOSE INVENTORY ] [ SPEND 100 PREMIUM CREDITS ] /
.
Oh, come on. They weren't even going to tell him what the item was? Tom didn't think he had anything worth more than half a million credits in his inventory, but that was still the equivalent of five hundred pounds. Less than the cost for a hundred premium credits, but substantial all the same.
Tom selected the inventory option.
.
/ Purchasing a second attempt will increase your chance of success, but it will also lower the overall odds of receiving an ultra-rare reward. Are you sure you wish to proceed?
[ YES ] [ NO ] /
.
Did they really just want people to buy more boxes? He was going to lose his mind over this stupid game. Tom rubbed at his temples, trying to dispel a headache that was not actually there. He was wasting time the longer he stood here.
Fine. He didn't need a rubbish second attempt. He would win on his own merits. Tom hit 'no' before he could change his mind.
Slowly, the large circular door rotated away. Tom held his torch aloft and proceeded.
The Chamber was large and cavernous. As Tom stepped forward, torches lit up on either side, illuminating the black marble floor and the ornate snake statues that loomed overhead. Where was the Basilisk?
Tom took another step forward. There was a faint pinging sound, followed by a holo-screen materializing far in the distance, hovering above a gigantic stone carving of Salazar Slytherin. The screen displayed a bright neon-green timer that was counting down from five minutes. Five minutes to solve the puzzle of the chamber. That explained the need for multiple attempts.
With quite literally no time to waste, Tom began his examination of the room. There were runes etched into some of the snake statues. Clearly this Chamber of Secrets was yet another puzzle, this time steeped in cryptography.
If he was not mistaken, there was a certain phrase he needed to say in order to summon the Basilisk. It was a phrase only the 'true heir' would know, according to the game.
Tom began to note repetitive instances of the runes, trying to find a pattern. There was nothing for him to write on, which made this particular puzzle even more difficult to solve. It was murder on the nerves, but he would keep a level head and get through it.
The seconds continued to tick down. Tom located the section at the end of the Chamber that listed the number of letters and words needed.
.
[ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ]
.
Based on the general pattern of the English language, he was able to narrow down some of the most obvious words and letters. The problem was that the blank spaces had nothing to indicate what the letters ought to be.
As he worked, he was left with a scramble of symbols-to-letters that he had to translate as he went along—not to mention that each word seemed to have its own special pattern.
.
[ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ SLYTHERIN _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ THE HOGWARTS _ _ _ _ ]
.
Tom checked the time. Just over a minute to go. That last word had to be 'FOUR', which narrowed the options down for the word that preceded 'THE'.
.
[ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ SLYTHERIN _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ OF THE HOGWARTS FOUR ]
.
Frustrated, Tom wracked his brain for possible sentence options. Solving the two-letter words on their own was nearly impossible and had little value. There was no time for him to figure out both of the remaining longer words, which meant he had to choose one.
Tom shut his eyes, picturing the sentence in his mind, and tried to think.
The second word had to be an adjective. Tom mentally shoved it to the side and looked at the five-letter word at the start of the sentence.
.
[ SPEAK _ _ _ _ SLYTHERIN _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ OF THE HOGWARTS FOUR ]
.
What was it? What was it saying? He couldn't think straight. Tom opened his eyes to check the time. Less than thirty seconds to go.
Below the timer, Salazar Slytherin's stone face regarded him with solemnity. His mouth, Tom noticed, was shaped around another pipe.
The pipes. That was where the Basilisk would emerge from. The hissing noises in the walls were made by the Basilisk, who lived in the pipes. The Basilisk was speaking to him. Salazar was speaking to him.
.
[ SPEAK TO ME SLYTHERIN _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ OF THE HOGWARTS FOUR ]
.
One word left. Eight letters to go. There was only one word Tom would use to describe Salazar Slytherin, a word that also he aspired to claim for himself.
As the final seconds dropped away, Tom stood in the center of the Chamber of Secrets and called out:
"Speak to me, Slytherin, greatest of the Hogwarts Four!"