Chapter 269: The Serpent's Shedding
Chapter 269: The Serpent's Shedding
Within the white light, the faucet turned, and the water basin slowly rose, revealing a massive pipe entrance.
A chill, damp air emanated from within, carrying with it a peculiar, pungent odor.
Harry couldn't help but swallow, "What is this place...?"
"Obviously, a secret chamber—what's so surprising about finding one in Hogwarts?"
Vold turned to look at the Phoenix:
"Please, Fox."
The Phoenix let out a soft cry and transformed into a golden flash of light, instantly disappearing from the opening.
"Fox?" Harry asked.
"The Basilisk's gaze cannot kill it, so we need it to peck out the Basilisk's eyes first," Dumbledore said calmly.
At this moment, Harry had not yet experienced the petrification of his classmates or the false accusation against him. He hesitated and asked,
"That Basilisk... why is it hidden in Hogwarts...?"
What he really wanted to ask was—is this also part of the Heir of Slytherin's plot?
Dumbledore and Vold exchanged a glance, and then Vold said, "There's a legend... Salazar Slytherin, before leaving the school, built a secret chamber deep beneath the castle and placed a special creature within it. This creature, when needed, would purify the school and eliminate all Muggle-born students."
"That creature... is the Basilisk?" Harry asked in a low voice.
"It seems so."
Vold tapped the ancient pipe beside him with his wand and said, "The Basilisk has lived in the chamber for over a thousand years. Fifty years ago, the heir of Slytherin entered this school, awakened the Basilisk, and killed someone."
"He killed someone?" Harry asked in surprise. "Who did he kill?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he realized—what a stupid question he had asked!
If the Basilisk emerged from this pipe, the first person it would see, aside from the one who awakened it, would be the student who came here to use the bathroom.
In other words...
Harry couldn't help but turn around, only to see Myrtle still hiding and observing them, her face full of curiosity, not realizing that the deceased they were discussing might be her.
Harry looked at Vold with questioning eyes, and Vold nodded affirmatively.
Instantly, the boy felt a surge of sympathy and pity. He opened his mouth but found himself unable to speak.
—Would revealing the cause of her death cause her a second trauma?
He thought for a moment and then asked, "Who was that heir of Slytherin...?"
"He is Voldemort," Dumbledore said. "Also known as Tom Riddle, a student who once attended Hogwarts, just like you."
Harry paused, then realized he wasn't surprised at all.
He only felt a shared pain.
The one who... killed his parents had also killed Myrtle... when he was just a student...
How terrifying!
Even when Harry was being used as a punching bag by Dudley or locked in the cupboard, starving, he had only wished to escape, never thinking of causing harm to the Dursleys, let alone taking their lives.
Not to mention killing someone with his own hands.
As Harry stood there in a daze, faint hissing sounds echoed from within the pipe.
"It seems it's time for us to go down," Vold said.
He drew his wand, rolled up his sleeves, took a deep breath, and, looking at the dark pipe, said, "I hate this environment.
Dumbledore seemed intrigued, "One must venture into different places."
He carefully tucked his long beard into his collar, then pulled up the hood of his robe, covering his neatly combed silver-white hair. Vold patiently waited for him to finish.
Harry was puzzled, "What are you...?"
"We must ensure everyone's safety, right?" Vold said, "We'll scout ahead, and you can wait for the other challengers to gather before setting off together."
"But..." Harry had more to say, but Dumbledore waved at him, "See you later, Harry."
The Headmaster disappeared into the pipe with a "shh" sound.
Then it was Vold's turn. Before entering, he turned back and said, "Don't worry if you don't see us after we descend... The Headmaster won't intervene unless you encounter a life-threatening situation... Of course, neither will I."
As soon as he finished speaking, Vold released his grip and let his body slide down under the pull of gravity.
The pipe was not only pitch-black but also sticky, with numerous smaller pipes branching out in all directions.
One of them might be the one Professor Ketterborn had entered.
Holding his breath, Vold silently counted the time in his mind. After a long while, he felt the slope becoming gentler, and faint white light seeped through the opening ahead.
Vold closed his eyes, feeling his body slide out and come to a stop.
He adjusted to the sudden change in brightness before opening his eyes and standing up.
Dumbledore stood in front of him, wand raised, its tip emitting white light that illuminated the surroundings brightly.
This was a spacious stone tunnel, nearly three meters high, damp, and chilly.
Animal bones were scattered on the ground, seemingly on the verge of merging with the soil.
In the distance, faint roars and clashes echoed, sounding like both a monster's howl and a piercing cry.
Once Vold was ready, Dumbledore said, "Let's go. It seems we're not far now."
His voice reverberated through the tunnel.
They walked forward, and soon, a massive object appeared before them.
In the darkness, a winding black shadow seemed to be staring at them. Even though Vold had mentally prepared himself, he still jumped in surprise upon seeing it.
The light from Dumbledore's wand suddenly intensified, illuminating the shadow in the darkness.
It was a giant snake's shed skin.
The green scales shimmered vividly under the light, appearing almost alive.
"Oh, it's at least twenty feet long!" Dumbledore exclaimed happily, "Severus will be delighted!"
Vold had no intention of claiming it for himself.
He already had more than enough Galleons. And with so many potion ingredients, Professor Snape wouldn't be able to use them all; he would surely share some with the students.
Of course, a student like Neville, who was not very good, wouldn't get any. Given the rarity of a thousand-year-old basilisk, only advanced students or those talented in potions would have the opportunity to practice with it.
Vold was quite confident about this.
They left the snake skin behind for the students who would come later, giving them a surprise, and continued walking forward.
Suddenly, a red light shot towards them.
Accompanied by a loud rumble from ahead, Fawkes returned to Dumbledore's shoulder.
(End of Chapter)
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