The small room was a mess, with scorch marks everywhere from the Fiendfyre, and even The Mirror of Erised was not spared.
The golden frame had mostly melted, and the mirror surface was gray and covered with cracks.
Quirrell was nowhere to be seen.
When he touched Harry, his body began to quickly turn charred, as if it were a plaster statue drained of moisture, until it vanished into ashes.
And Voldemort, at the moment of his death, turned into a wraith-like entity and rushed out of the room.
Now only Harry, Kael, and the just-arrived Dumbledore remained here.
...
Upon entering the room, Dumbledore frowned and gave Kael a deep look.
But after a moment he shifted his gaze and said with a smile, "If I'm not mistaken, you were about to use Finite Incantatem just now.
It seems Professor Flitwick was right, you have indeed mastered that charm, which is not easy."
"I just happened to see it in the library during the holidays."
Kael helped the collapsed Harry up, "Actually, I'm not sure I can succeed every time, luckily you're here…"
"No need to be modest, Kael."
Dumbledore blinked and said, "Have I mentioned before? You are the most outstanding young wizard I have ever seen… and always bring me new surprises."
"You flatter me." Kael said somewhat embarrassed, "If it weren't for you improving the charm, I might not even have had the opportunity to learn it. You are the true master."
"You're making me blush…" Dumbledore laughed, "It's just coincidence, and it's not solely my achievement."
While the two engaged in mutual compliments, Harry, lying on the ground, suddenly extended his arm shakily.
He felt he could still be saved…
Quirrell's influence hadn't completely vanished, the piercing pain making Harry unable to utter a complete sentence.
If possible, he really wanted to go to the Hospital Wing first.
"Oh, Harry… sorry." Dumbledore quickly led him towards the Hospital Wing.
Kael also left with them.
As they returned to the castle, Dumbledore suddenly paused, turned, and said, "Fiendfyre is a very dangerous dark magic, and its effects are not limited to just burning.
If you have nothing else to do, I suggest you also go to the Hospital Wing for a checkup."
"Alright, Professor." Kael nodded and said, "But before that, may I return to the dormitory for a bit? Cedric and the others are probably worried sick."
"Understandable…" Dumbledore said, "but remember to be quick."
With that, he took Harry and left.
However, Kael did not return to the dormitory but went to the second floor, to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.
After seeing Voldemort just now, he suddenly thought of something.
Basilisk…
Kael always believed that one must have Slytherin bloodline to control the Basilisk, but he found he might have been wrong.
If fifty years ago Riddle used his bloodline to control the Basilisk, then what about fifty years later…
Newt once said that all artificially bred creatures have a common trait.
To better control these dangerous creatures and prevent backlash, those creators would forcibly instill a certain will into them from the start.
This also caused their brains to be very chaotic, and the stronger the creature, the more so.
The Basilisk was no exception, hence it couldn't possibly remember a wizard's face and voice for long.
Let alone the Basilisk in the Chamber that has been dormant for fifty years, even a five-day sleep would reset its memory.
Riddle didn't even have a physical body, so on what basis could he control the Basilisk?
But if it's about the soul… why couldn't Harry!
As the last Soul Artifact, his body also contained a fragment of Voldemort's soul, in some sense he was the same as Riddle in the diary, there's no reason he couldn't do it!
Kael felt he had grasped the key to the problem…
With the effect of Felix Felici still ongoing, he was eager to verify it.
And Felix Felici also told him he should come here.
Arriving at the bathroom entrance, Kael quickly removed the quill wedged in the door and pushed it open.
Moaning Myrtle was not here, and the bathroom was very quiet.
Kael skillfully opened the passage to the Chamber and rode his broom straight in.
The passage was still dark and damp, but Kael no longer felt the tension he did the first time he was here.
He rode his broom at maximum speed to the stone wall, entering the Chamber.
Looking at the Slytherin statue, Kael wasn't sure if it was an illusion, he felt the statue seemed a little different from last time.
But he couldn't pinpoint exactly what was wrong, just vaguely felt the statue appeared more lifelike.
But it shouldn't be possible… this statue has been here for over a thousand years, why would it suddenly change!
Kael stared blankly at the statue's eyes, wanting to study it further.
But the next moment, he suddenly thought of Dumbledore waiting for him at the Hospital Wing.
If he delayed too long here, Dumbledore might go to the dormitory to find him, which would be troublesome.
"Forget it, not enough time, I'll come back later."
Snapped back to reality, Kael patted his head, feeling much clearer.
Then he shifted his gaze from the statue, opened the box, and placed the remaining dozen roosters at the entrance, feeding them the Stimulant Potion one by one.
After doing all this, Kael looked back at the statue's face, opened his mouth, and made a hissing sound.
This was the most important phrase in Parseltongue he had learned long ago…
"Speak to me, Slytherin… the greatest of the Hogwarts Four Founders."
The massive stone face of Slytherin moved, and his mouth opened, growing ever larger, forming a huge black opening.
Something deep inside the statue awakened, and began slithering upwards.
"Stop!" Kael shouted with his eyes closed.
His hand tightly clasped the box.
This was a test.
If the Basilisk didn't listen to him and continued to climb out, he would have to open the box immediately.
While the power of a dozen roosters was small, they could still pose a deadly threat to the Basilisk.
Kael's heart began pounding wildly, he had never been this nervous before.
It seemed like a moment, yet it also seemed to drag on, Kael suddenly realized the faint slithering sound inside the statue had vanished.
The Basilisk really stopped moving.
A cold, raspy voice came from within the statue.
"At your command… Master…"
It worked!
Kael excitedly clutched his chest.
His previous guess was correct, the Basilisk was merely a Fantastic Beast, incapable of recognizing the Slytherin bloodline and soul, what truly controlled it was the Parseltongue to open the statue!
That Parseltongue must have been recorded in a special way, perhaps at Hogwarts, or elsewhere… but Kael was certain that only a true Slytherin heir could find it.
Find the Parseltongue, then use Parseltongue to open the Chamber and become the Basilisk's master!
First, the method of making Soul Artifacts, now the Basilisk… Voldemort is simply a treasure trove!
That title of Professor was truly well-earned!