Big change here, hope you enjoy it though. Farlan makes things very difficult when he just... fixes them and is a responsible adult who keeps kids safe. So... yeah. :)
As the Halloween feast neared, nearly everyone was in a good mood. Lockhart wasn't, given Farlan was the favorite of the students he was supposed to teach. The only other people who weren't entirely thrilled were the Gryffindors on the Quidditch team, who were starting to worry about the Slytherins and their new speedy brooms. Fred and George had even asked Farlan if he might help boost their brooms but he sternly refused.
"Against the rules, he said."
"Complicated magic."
"Not enough time."
"Highly dangerous."
"He just doesn't want to get caught."
They hadn't pushed him on it though, proving to Harry that they held some sort of respect for the man. Most who defied the twins were pranked but Farlan had never been and Harry heard rumors that he even helped the twins. He wouldn't put it past them. He thought he'd seen some of Farlan's paper runes in their hands but assumed they'd simply stolen them.
The more he learned about Farlan though, the more formidable the seemingly awkward wizard was. He taught Defense Against the Dark Arts well and opened their eyes to other spells that could aid them that weren't considered dark but equally as dangerous. He demonstrated more harmful spells too; refusing to say what they were or how to cast them for safety reasons. Still, it was impressive and because of that—coupled with his runic talents and how he handled creatures—Harry found it hard to believe he had so little confidence.
He was exceptionally smart and thought well outside the box in any situation. He was quick to react and despite how tattered and disheveled he appeared, Harry had seen him wandering the grounds doing physical labor for the creatures. He could have used his wand if he wanted but the man didn't and Harry certainly didn't imagine the lean bands of muscle in his arms.
He was another who didn't seem particularly cheerful around Halloween, and when asked he just shrugged.
"I don't mind it but it's just another day. If anything, it's annoying how much work gets added to my plate when there's a big event like this."
The only one less pleased than him had been Nearly-Headless Nick who Harry had bumped into before almost getting detention. The ghost was upset about not being allowed in some club and Harry had done his best to try and cheer him up. Filch nabbed him though for tracking in mud and thanks to Nick (and Peeves), Harry had gotten out of it. To repay the ghost though, he'd accepted an invitation to a Death Day party that would be held Halloween night. He regretted it once Halloween rushed to meet them, forcing him, Hermione, and Ron away from the warmth of the Great Hall and down into the cold of the dungeons.
What sounded like nails on a blackboard echoed out from behind a tapestry—the music for the evening—and Nick was quick to greet them.
"My dear friends. Welcome, welcome. So pleased you could come."
Once inside, the cold only grew as they were greeted with an orchestra of saws and a ballroom full of dancing ghosts. The trio went to look around, doing their best not to walk through anyone and eyeing the various ghosts who were there. It wasn't until Hermione tried to steer them away from Moaning Myrtle that they started to have a problem.
"Heard you talking about poor Myrtle," Peeves chirped when they approached—and quickly abandoned—the buffet table of rancid food. "Rude you was about poor Myrtle. Oi, Myrtle!"
"Oh, no. Peeves, don't tell her what I said. She'll be really upset," Hermione pleaded. "I didn't mean it, I don't mind her—"
Myrtle floated over at Peeves's call, and couldn't have been much older than Harry before she'd died. Yet, her expression was downcast and gloomy, and she appeared to be sulking when she questioned why she'd been called.
"How are you, Myrtle?" Hermione tried, hoping Peeves would behave. "It's nice to see you out of the toilet."
Peeves, of course, wasn't willing to let a bit of fun pass him by. "Miss Granger was just talking about you."
"Just saying how nice you look tonight!" Hermione cut in, glaring at Peeves.
Myrtle wasn't convinced, tears welling up. "You're making fun of me."
Harry and Ron were nudged into helping Hermione try to lie through this but Myrtle soon burst into tears and fled as Peeves followed, tossing peanuts at her. It wasn't quite how they wanted things to go but Nick soon drifted over with a smile.
"Not a bad turnout. Ah, I did see one of your professors nearby."
The three students searched around quickly, worried since they were skipping the Halloween feast, only to see Farlan across the way. He was talking with a disgruntled Bloody Baron before Peeves hit him with a peanut. The man frowned, drawing his wand and shooting said peanut right up the poltergeist's nose to shoo him off. In his distraction, the Bloody Baron had drifted off and his frown deepened before he scratched the back of his head and spotted them. He looked surprised but navigated his way through the ghosts with ease as they shifted away from him and his Grim, before joining them.
"Shouldn't you be at the feast upstairs?"
"Oh, they were asked to come, Mr. Daggrow," Nick chimed. "Apologies for not consulting you all first."
Farlan shook his head. "It's no matter. Technically the feasts aren't mandatory but they are used to ensure we know where the students all are. With all the professors attending the feast, it wouldn't do if there was trouble and a student was unable to get assistance until the feast was over."
A pointed look was shot their way, given last Halloween had consisted of Hermione not at the feast and Harry and Ron leaving only to find her with a troll. How Farlan could be so uncomfortable with himself and others but still be able to be scary was beyond Harry.
"Yes, well, I will be careful next time. Now, if you'll excuse me, it's nearly time for my speech," Nick hummed, sweeping off and leaving the students to question Farlan.
"What are you doing here, Mr. Daggrow?" Hermione asked, drawing his gaze away from the ghosts who were giving him a wide berth.
"I was hoping to test some runic chains I made against some of the ghosts. I thought that barriers would be useful if applicable to the living and the dead."
"What would you need to block a ghost for?" Ron asked right before a hunting horn sounded and a group of headless horsemen burst into the party.
The very same people Nick was angry with for not accepting him into their club. There wasn't much saving the party after they showed up, earning laughs from the other ghosts while Nick had to give in and just leave them be. The trio was shivering now though, eager to leave and Farlan sighed.
"Come on. Let's head upstairs. They should still have dessert around I think."
The kids were grateful as he led them out and then reached into his coat. Harry was surprised to see he pulled out a salamander unlike any he'd seen before.
"He's a fire-dwelling salamander," Farlan said. "I call him Charcoal since he's so fond of ashes. Pass him around and warm up for a moment."
They did eagerly, each one holding the amphibian close before passing it to the next. Even Harry thought it was a bit cute with its small black eyes and swirling colors. It even yawned and settled into his cupped hands before Farlan retrieved it and started to lead them back upstairs.
"And—to answer your question earlier, Mr. Weasley—I'm not attempting to block a ghost. I am hoping to block something similar to a ghost."
"Like the Grim?" Harry asked, having grown so used to the ghostly dog that he barely noticed its presence anymore.
It did give him a glance at what he said though, and he offered it an apologetic smile.
"I believe the Grim is something far different and not common enough to be of any concern," Farlan brushed off. "No. I was hoping to test it on ghosts in order to have an idea of what needed to be changed to use it for Lethifolds and Dementors."
"You're joking," Ron muttered, but Harry was confused.
"What are those?"
"Lethifolds are a highly dangerous Beast. It's a living shroud that suffocates humans and sheep and eats them. Dementors are dangerous Non-Beings that are of a similar appearance except they are cloaked figures who suck out souls and feed on human joy."
"Dementors run Azkaban; the worst wizard prison around," Ron explained, looking uneasy. "Dad said they once worked with the Dark Lord even."
Farlan nodded, solemnly. "Yes, well, given both are a danger and not entirely well defended against, I felt attempting a shield might work but ghosts were the closest things to Lethifolds and Dementors. The only one who would talk to me was the Bloody Baron though, thanks to the Grim."
The dog wagged its tail, pleased, as Farlan shook his head.
"I'd try it on the Grim but I feel he's too attached to me and would use some sort of trick to get out, making it impossible to adjust the runes appropriately. A patronus is hard enough, with few being able to do a corporeal one. I felt creating a runic barrier that does something similar would be beneficial to many."
"That's very thoughtful of you," Hermione noted, but Harry could tell there was something Farlan wasn't saying.
He'd given Hermione a smile but it was a small awkward one that didn't quite reach his eyes. Harry wondered if because of what they'd seen together with Quirrell and Voldemort the man was worried about another war. It would explain a lot… It was then though, that Harry heard a voice. The same voice he'd heard after his detention with Lockhart.
"Rip… tear… kill."
Harry stopped walking with the group who paused.
"Harry, what are you—"
"It's that voice again," he told his friends, momentarily forgetting Farlan was with them. "Shut up a minute."
Hermione glanced at Farlan uneasily as he raised a brow and she explained softly. "He… He said he heard a voice after his detention a while ago. Professor Lockheart couldn't though."
Farlan frowned, looking back at Harry as he went from eyeing the wall near them to seemingly trailing after the sound to the ceiling above. Farlan drew his wand and reached into his robe, withdrawing a small bundle that was quick to unfurl; startling Hermione and Ron.
"Return to the feast and say nothing," he told Ron and Hermione seriously, holding the Swooping Evil upside down in his hand by its tail. "I'll send a message to the headmaster."
The Swooping Evil didn't look pleased but accepted the small missive Farlan quickly made and flew off with Ron and Hermione in its wake. He then turned to Harry.
"Show me."
Harry hesitated before nodding, growing in confidence as they took off running down the corridors. "It's going to kill someone!"
Farlan said nothing but kept pace with him easily, prepared to step in front of him should he need to and holding his wand tight. He didn't know what Harry was hearing but he knew Harry wasn't someone who would make things up. He was a decent student who had a knack for finding himself in troubling situations and this seemed like another one of those instances.
It wasn't until they'd run through the whole second floor that they finally spotted something and Farlan lightly nudged Harry behind him. They moved closer and there was no one there but still, he made sure Harry stayed tucked behind as they both eyed the red words drawn on the wall.
The Chamber of Secrets has been opened.
Enemies of the heir beware.
"Stay here," Farlan demanded as he moved closer, giving the large puddle of water on the floor a glance as well as the bathroom it was from.
Harry wasn't sure what to think at the sight of all this and it was only made worse when Farlan approached what had been hanging underneath the words. Mrs. Norris was hanging by her tail from the torch bracket, unmoving and stiff. Farlan ran his wand over her for a moment before reaching up and taking her off to lay her on the dry part of the ground. There was a rumble then of students being let out of the feast and Farlan cursed under his breath, grabbing two runic chains from his hip and tossing one to Harry, who nearly fumbled it.
"Put it down, few feet behind you, and tap it with your wand. Quickly."
Harry nodded, doing as he asked and being surprised as the stones glowed and a light shimmer of a barrier appeared to separate him from the rest of the corridor. He turned to see Farlan had done the same to the other side but used his wands to almost write on the barrier.
Floor closed.
Find another way.
Students rounded the corners on either side and would have undoubtedly progressed until they saw what happened should Farlan and Harry have not blocked it off. Farlan went to write the same words on the barrier Harry put up and shooed the prefect at the head of the group behind it.
"Go. This floor is under maintenance for the moment."
The students grumbled complaints, knowing the other way up was through the moving staircases, but Harry was grateful they hadn't seen what they'd found. He had no doubt that a scene would have been made and he could have been blamed if Farlan hadn't been with him. He only understood that now, having not even considered how it would have looked with him, Hermione, and Ron missing the feast and finding Mrs. Norris under such a threatening message. As such, he turned to Farlan as the man waved his wand around with furrowed brows, in search of something.
"Um… t-thank you, sir."
Farlan didn't turn away from his task but gave a questioning hum. "Hm?"
"I just… I didn't realize how this might look if I was… you know, on my own. I'm… surprised you just followed me."
"You wouldn't make something like this up as a joke," Farlan explained. "And should you have just been delusional, it would have been of no consequence for me to follow you around and eventually bring you to Madam Pomfrey. Instead, what you've heard has led us directly to a body, though Mrs. Norris wasn't killed as you said she would be."
Harry bowed his head with a nod. He knew what was to happen next. He would be asked a lot of questions that he wasn't sure how to answer. Farlan might believe him but that didn't mean anyone else would. Hearing voices was weird even for wizards, and he could only hope that he wouldn't be accused of lying or having mental instabilities because of this.
"Farlan," a voice called, drawing their attention to Dumbledore and the other professors who had arrived.
Farlan let out a small sigh of relief and hurried over to remove the runic barrier and catch the Swooping Evil to tuck back in his coat. "Apologies. I felt it was necessary to divert the students to their dorms and take a different route. It seems there is… a situation."
He glanced over his shoulder at Harry and the writing as the headmaster moved in with the professors to see. He didn't linger either, giving the words a glance before picking up Mrs. Norris as Farlan explained.
"She was hanging from the torch. It is the only thing I've touched."
The headmaster nodded, glancing at the other professors who looked concerned about the scene.
"Heads of the house will ensure the students remain in their dormitories tonight. Farlan and Mr. Potter will come with me to explain and will replace the barrier. I don't want anyone to know of this for the moment. I will decide what to do by morning."
The adults nodded and left, leaving the remaining three to exit the enclosed space (Farlan replacing the runic barrier and words) and head for the headmaster's office.
"Should I send for Filch?" Farlan asked on the way, but the headmaster shook his head.
"First, we must see if anything can be done. I will summon him after. Bringing him in now may complicate things, as much as I wish for him to be aware of Mrs. Norris's condition."
Farlan nodded reluctantly as they went up to Dumbledore's office and he placed Mrs. Norris on his desk to examine her.
"Ah, I checked for poisoning and a few other ailments that I know of with no result. I've not seen a creature in this condition before other than…" He trailed off, not wanting to think the worst as Dumbledore finished his check and lifted his head.
"She's not dead."
Farlan looked visibly relieved but eyed the cat in concern. "I assumed as much but then… why is she like this?"
"How, I cannot say but she is petrified. Thankfully, Professor Sprout had procured some mandrakes. As soon as they have reached their full size, I will have a potion made to revive her. Now, might you and young Potter explain how you have come upon such a scene?"
"I heard about the Death Day party by chance," Farlan informed him. "I went in an attempt to try a runic barrier on one of the ghosts—should they be willing—when I saw Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, and the young Mr. Weasley."
He glanced at Harry who explained.
"Nearly-Headless Nick invited us."
"When I saw they were chilled and rather famished, I went to escort them back to the feast but…"
He again looked at Harry who hesitated. He didn't want to look crazy but with Farlan having been there, he had no real choice but to tell the truth.
"I… heard a voice. I've heard it once before after my detention with Professor Lockhart but he didn't hear it. This is the first time I've heard it again but it said it was going to kill someone."
Farlan looked at the lightly frowning headmaster. "I nor his friends heard the voice. I sent them back to the feast with my Swooping Evil to bring you and chose to have him lead me. He might sound mad, but it wouldn't be like him to lie about something like this and, in the end, he did lead me right to Mrs. Norris."
Dumbledore nodded, thinking deeply for a moment. "And there was no one around?"
"No," Farlan said with a shake of his head. "I did a quick scan of the corridor and the bathroom where the flooding came from and there was nothing. It's Moaning Myrtle's bathroom as well, but she was down at the party. The flooding wouldn't be caused by her and her absence means no witnesses either."
"Indeed. The writing?"
"Paint. Charmed to be difficult to remove. I could try to work on it if you'd like but a covering would be best so long as no one notices. I could do that as well."
"Then, we will do so. You will be in charge of that corridor and ensure this isn't seen by the other students. Harry."
Harry glanced up uneasily.
"I hope you and your friends will keep silent on this. I worry that the more… radical of the pureblood students might cause trouble otherwise."
Harry didn't want to think of how Malfoy might react and agreed easily. Hermione and Ron wouldn't want to spread word of it either after their last fight with the Slytherin.
Dumbledore nodded and looked back at Farlan. "Then, this stays between us. I will inform the professors and have them keep watch as best they can. Unfortunately, there are so many students that I could not begin to think of who else missed the feast and might be a culprit nor do I believe any of them capable of petrifying Mrs. Norris. That won't eliminate them from the equation but the professors are trustworthy."
Farlan scoffed, surprising Harry that he would do so in front of Dumbledore. "Most of them, anyway."
Dumbledore cracked a hint of a smile. "Yes, well, if Professor Lockhart were capable of such a feat I do believe he would be boasting about it in some form. And despite his current disposition, he is hardly a dark wizard with enough skill to cause this."
Farlan nodded solemnly when he gestured to Mrs. Norris before the headmaster settled down in his seat.
"Now, do escort Harry to his dormitory and get some rest, Farlan. You will have a busy evening tomorrow."
Farlan bobbed his head and scratched the back of it with a small frown. "I'll put up something to block the words and an alarming system for them as well as the bathroom. Signs will be posted to keep students out, though the flooding will be an excuse for now. Harry."
Harry hurried after him as they headed back out of the office and toward the Gryffindor tower. Harry was brimming with questions but first felt he should offer the man his thanks again.
"Thank you, Mr. Daggrow… for believing me," he muttered, earning a hum from the man.
"I will look into your problem as well, though if you feel the voice is a result of something you are dealing with, I recommend speaking with someone." Farlan didn't look at him when he said this, but Harry could tell he was as serious as he was solemn. "It might not sound like much coming from me but… I have dealt with the consequences of holding back and it is not pleasant. I should have spoken to someone about things years and years ago but instead, I drowned in mourning and ruined my chances at a good career."
Harry was quiet, not understanding exactly what he was saying but knowing that he had lost someone at the very least. Someone close…
"For what it's worth," Harry spoke up, drawing his gaze. "I'm glad you're my teacher and I think you're a great wizard."
Farlan cracked a small, sad smile, turning to face the Fat Lady's portrait they had just reached. "Thank you, Harry. Still, speaking about things may help, whether related to your issue now or otherwise. My door will be open or Madame Pomfrey is available and a very good listener."
"And if it's not because of… of that, then what?" Harry asked, worried.
"Then, I will do my best to help find out what's happening. The mental arts are also my specialty, though do keep that to yourself. Things are… difficult for me at the moment and more so if people find out."
Harry nodded. "I will."
"Good. Now, off to bed. Remember what you were asked and if anything more comes up—"
"I will tell you right away," Harry swore, earning another softer smile.
"Good lad," Farlan replied, making sure Harry got through the portrait before turning away to go deal with the corridor. "Chamber of Secrets, huh?"
For the next few days, I had been spending long hours pouring over books and attempting to remove the paint on the wall. I searched for any clues as to what happened and tried to figure out why there had been a flooded sink in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom while she wasn't there. The ghost herself said she didn't know anything other than all of the sinks and toilets could flood as she wished except one that never worked.
An inspection of the sink told me nothing other than a set of serpents being etched into the silver of the faucet. Hogwarts castle was complicated enough without trying to comprehend the magic that went into the plumbing system. So, the water was quickly cleared and I turned my attention back toward finding anything in the corridor.
The entirety of it had been blocked off until I could ensure the runic wards to cover the writing were hard to find and difficult to remove. The professors and headmaster wanted to keep this quiet for now, and I wholeheartedly agreed. Sending the students into a panic would do no one good. There wasn't much to find though. Whoever had done it was good at hiding their tracks.
With hundreds of students, determining who cast the charm on the paint would be impossible unless each one was searched and their magic analyzed. That wouldn't be possible without parents' permission and without announcing why. Tracking the culprit was much the same. A quick check for shoe prints led to dozens of them, given the frequency of the corridor.
The only odd things I noticed within the days it took me to open the corridor were a few scorch marks on the floor which could have been from anything; spells, potions, or even a torch falling out of its perch. That, and the new trail of spiders that appeared not much later. As one who studied creatures, the behavior was strange and uncommon. Spiders didn't group up unless mating, newly hatched, or for safety. There were few species of spiders who did so naturally but a trail of them was concerning.
As I had informed the many Dark Arts students I was now teaching, a disturbance that caused the smaller members of an area to do something out of character meant the larger species would as well. There was a threat. But what threat? The question left me puzzled even after finally being able to cover the words. My attempts at removing them proved unfruitful thus far but they were alarmed as was Myrtle's bathroom. A sign for it being out of order would do for now, and I ensured that it was obviously my work to deter students further.
After that, I dove into the library for answers. I had far too many questions and spent days in the library; only being dragged out when McGonagall required me to eat or sleep. I didn't like unanswered questions much less when they were proving to be this difficult to get answers for. Questions on spider behavior, the Chamber of Secrets, Hogwarts plumbing, and removing charms for paint and other stuck-on items. Library books soon gave way to asking other professors and even ghosts—those that would speak with me and not flee at the sight of the Grim.
The answers I did receive at that point though, were anything but good. A number of magical or non-magical creatures could send spiders fleeing but not Arcomantula, which these spiders may well be copying. Hagrid had informed me begrudgingly about a colony of them in the Forbidden Forest and if the small spiders were reacting this way, the large ones would have reason for concern as well. The only thing that made them flee being a basilisk.
This, of course, did not bode well with the other information I had gathered. The Chamber of Secrets was once opened in 1942 and someone died in 1943—Myrtle confirming it was her and was not sure how other than seeing a set of eyes. This again pointed toward the basilisk and I went to question some of the ghosts who might know the history of the Chamber. Professor Binns—though uneasy about the Grim with me—begrudgingly explained how the Chamber of Secrets was made by Salazar Slytherin and the legend behind it. It could only be opened by his heir and the monster within was only controlled by them.
This took me into a dive through the Slytherin family line, having to ask Dumbledore if he had any old tomes showing the family tree. There was little need for it when he claimed to have searched himself and found what was troubling. Voldemort was an heir of Slytherin, having been born from the Gaunt Family, but the man himself was obviously not in the school. I wasn't convinced what happened the previous year killed him, but him recovering soon enough to cause this was impossible, even for the most gifted of wizards. He would also go straight to killing Harry or Dumbledore, the only two who have bested him. Being able to control a basilisk was the next thing to look into.
It wasn't easy and I had to request time to look into it outside of Hogwarts in less savory areas. Dumbledore offered to ask his friend who had a way with creatures and while we waited for his response, I went in search of those in Knockturn Alley. I knew better than to think that all basilisks were gone from wizarding Britain, despite what people thought. There were still basilisk items on the market, after all, and as someone who once worked in the magical creature trade, I knew who to ask to get answers. They also somewhat trusted me, though I had to be careful since I didn't know how far word had spread about Voldemort's followers trying to capture me. Thankfully, not far enough and I was soon able to meet with someone who sold illegal basilisk ingredients.
They weren't very helpful. They said controlling such a species was impossible and that even they were only keeping a bare minimum of two or three small ones at a time. They would be killed once they reproduced or replaced when getting too large to handle. The only form of control they had was to remove their eyes once hatched and using spells to keep them in line. It wasn't the same kind of control we were looking for, so I returned to Hogwarts to see what Dumbledore's friend said.
He too provided little information but did remind me of one fact: that the first basilisk created was controlled by a man with parseltongue. This was something the heirs of Slytherin were well-known for and it gave me an idea. It didn't quite make sense at the time so I kept it set aside until I could get the rest of my answers to present to Dumbledore. The paint was eventually removed (and the wall repaired from the damage made to do so) and the knowledge that the plumbing in Hogwarts was of massive size tied up any other loose ends I had. This left me with the meeting I now had with Dumbledore about the whole mess. One I was not looking forward to because it sounded quite unbelievable to me, even with all the evidence I had conjured up.
"It's fine," I reassured myself as I watched the gargoyle in front of his office move aside. "I-If I'm wrong or he thinks more needs to be done, then I will look into it. Simple."
Yet, every time I walked in, it felt as though I were back in school getting sent to the headmaster's office to be scrutinized for some trouble I'd inadvertently caused or my poor grades. Now, it wasn't much better. He sat behind his desk with a half smile that told of how troubled he was with this development but also hopeful that I'd found something useful. Like every other time I'd been in here, I felt judged as though my every action was being analyzed to determine whether I was useful enough to stay or if he would be rid of me. He'd attempted to reassure me before that he wouldn't but the hint of doubt still bothered me and was at its worst when I was faced with his smile.
"Farlan," he greeted as I hesitantly nodded and handed over a parchment.
"I… may have found what has happened but it is complicated and… unsettling."
His smile fell and he nodded seriously as he took the parchment and skimmed the contents before eyeing me as I fidgeted. "And you are certain?"
"It's the only thing that would make sense with everything I found. The Chamber of Secrets can't be opened by anyone but an heir who can use parseltongue. Same for the creature within. Then, the flooding in Myrtle's bathroom and the unworking sink with the serpents on the faucet, while no others have the same, is likely the entrance. A basilisk can travel through the Hogwarts plumbing given the size of the pipes, even if it had been hibernating for as long as this one has. The spiders I found acting strangely will undoubtedly be mimicking the actions of the Acromantula colony in the forest, though one would have to ask them to confirm a-and I'd rather not face a full colony. The only thing that leaves is…"
"Who opened it, why, and how Mrs. Norris was petrified when she should have died from the sight of the creature," Dumbledore concluded, getting a small nod from me.
"A-As well as what is to be done about the creature. If left, it will emerge again when the culprit gets the chance, and being petrified appears to be simple luck. It will kill as it did in 1943."
"Indeed. I assume you have a way to dispose of it?"
I nodded, not eager to face the beast but knowing that killing it was thankfully easy. "Yes. I can get a rooster to crow in the chamber and that will finish it without my having seen the beast."
"So, how to get you into the chamber then."
"Actually…" I started, hesitating. "I-I might be stepping out of my reach here but I believe I know someone who can help."
He raised a brow, curious. "Someone other than the culprit?"
"I wouldn't assume he is the culprit and if he was, then it is quite a feat to fool so many," I replied, awkwardly glancing away. "I-I am speaking of Mr. Potter."
"Harry?" He questioned, stunned.
"He mentioned hearing a voice that wanted to kill and led me to Mrs. Norris. I don't know how he came to have this skill since only those descended from Slytherin have it, but the only way to open the chamber and control the basilisk is by being a parseltongue—"
"And the voice he was hearing may have come from the serpent. Yes, that is quite possible. We can summon him when needed to test your theory but only to open the chamber. Nothing more."
I nodded, eyes serious. "I would never put a student in danger like that. I will enter and deal with the basilisk alone."
Dumbledore nodded, placing the parchment on his desk and tapping it with a finger. "Then, that leaves just who opened it and why. There are no others at the school who have been shown to own the language of snakes. As you said, I don't believe Harry would do such a thing either."
"Even I am not sure how to find them other than to keep the alarms in the bathroom where the entrance is and hope that the sign deters everyone but them."
He nodded. "Then, we will have to wait for that. Can we stop the basilisk before then?"
I nodded. "I don't see why not. Hagrid still has a couple of roosters left, I believe. The culprit has been trying to kill them all. I will take one and we can proceed when you wish."
"Then, we will do so tomorrow evening. I do not wish for more death to happen while we wait however, doing so at night will prevent the students from hearing or interfering. I will send a missive to Harry requesting his presence at my office and will then lead him to the entrance personally. I trust Minerva as well and she will be present should things not go to plan."
I agreed, hoping it wouldn't come to that but knowing that dealing with any creature could be dangerous and unpredictable. They needed a backup if I perished before my job was done and while I had agreed to deal with the creature myself, it still felt as though I were a lamb being led to slaughter. I can do this… I hope.