The young Voldemort, and the diary containing his sixteen-year-old soul... that's a lot to process. Professor McGonagall needed a moment.
"But what I want to know even more is—what happened in between?" Dumbledore looked over at the Basilisk next to Kael.
Apparently sensing some mortal threat, the Basilisk bared its long fangs and instinctively tried to open its eyes...
Kael raised his hand and, with a practiced swing, smacked it right on the head.
You're a Basilisk, daring to open your eyes in front of Dumbledore? You really don't want to live, huh.
"Whack!"
The sound was crisp and clear.
In an instant, everyone present stared with wide eyes. Flitwick yelped in fright, and Professor Sprout clapped her hand over her mouth.
They all raised their wands at once, worried the Basilisk would devour Kael in the next second.
Even Dumbledore suddenly had a peculiar-looking wand in his hand.
But the Basilisk didn't rage—instead, it actually grew noticeably quieter, closed its mouth, and lay back down.
"No need to worry, Professor." Kael grinned. "It's basically my... pet now. It won't hurt anyone anymore."
The Chamber of Secrets instantly fell into silence. Even the worldly professors could barely process what they'd just seen... It was like seeing a Niffler leap up and slap a Fire Dragon; the impact wasn't any less shocking than young Voldemort himself.
No one knew how long passed before Snape finally spoke up:
"Should I take this to mean... you intend to claim school property for yourself?"
He stowed his wand away and said matter-of-factly, "This is Slytherin's Chamber, and that Basilisk is obviously the monster—the legacy of Slytherin. So, naturally, it belongs to... the school."
"No, it's mine." Kael shook his head. "Salazar Slytherin himself gave it to me."
"..."
"Headmaster, I think we'd best hurry to the Hospital Wing," Snape drawled. "Madam Pomfrey should be able to fix his brain."
Dumbledore, however, just looked at Kael,
"It appears your experiences were even more extraordinary than we expected."
"Definitely unforgettable, Professor," Kael replied with a smile.
"Hold on, Professor Dumbledore..." Snape frowned. "You don't honestly believe his tall tales, do you?"
"Actually, I believe him completely, Severus." Dumbledore walked over to the statue, crouched, and carefully picked up the Time Turner, cradling it in his palm and studying it closely.
It had been utterly destroyed—its color faded, dulled, cracked all over. Squeeze a little and the whole thing could crumble.
"This, I believe, is Slytherin's true legacy..."
Dumbledore's voice was trembling as he spoke. "This is the earliest Time Turner—also called a Time Retrospector. It's not bounded by the usual temporal laws. The user can communicate with someone in the past or future like they were old friends."
Dumbledore's voice trailed off as he unconsciously closed his hand around it—
"Crack!"
Like a baked potato crisp being crushed, the Time Turner snapped clean in half, and several smaller fragments fell through his fingers to the floor.
Dumbledore quickly used a bubble-head-like Charm to envelop his hand and, without a care for his dignity, started picking up all the fallen shards.
He even swept the dust on the floor into a bag.
"If you don't need to go to the Hospital Wing..." Dumbledore looked up, "Kael, would you care to join me for a cup of tea?"
"Of course, Professor. I'd be delighted." Kael replied, "Though, could I have two servings of fried pork chops? I haven't eaten in almost a day."
"Even three helpings if you want." Dumbledore smiled.
By the time everyone left the Chamber, it was already light outside. Morning sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating the castle's corridors.
When they reached the Headmaster's Office, Fawkes was already waiting, wobbling unsteadily atop the Basilisk's head, its body heaving intensely.
Though the Basilisk was obeying Kael's commands and not resisting, bringing it with them via Apparition was still no easy feat for Fawkes.
But there was no choice—Dumbledore couldn't allow it to roam the castle, nor could he trust leaving it in the Chamber any longer.
Kael entered the Headmaster's Office and placed the remains of Riddle's Diary on the desk.
"During the holidays, I got hold of this diary..."
Kael skipped over some details, just saying he'd heard strange noises after returning to school and accidentally discovered the Chamber.
After that, there wasn't much left to hide.
Kael told them everything—how he'd suddenly gone back several months in time, and how he'd met Hogwarts's Four Founders...
Clearly, the professors were most intrigued by this part.
"Unbelievable," Professor McGonagall gasped, hand over her mouth. "So you really met Godric Gryffindor?"
"I did. He's a very reliable man, and very friendly," Kael replied. "Just a bit eccentric and not exactly steady—the other three all seemed rather annoyed by him."
McGonagall's expression stiffened; she said nothing more.
"Truly remarkable..." Dumbledore murmured. He looked at the professors around him. "Everyone should be awake by now. Would you be so kind as to go announce this good news?"
"Plus, after everything that's happened, a feast is in order. Someone should notify the kitchens, too."
"No problem." The professors turned and briskly headed for the door.
Only Snape hesitated.
Since earlier, he'd been staring at the Basilisk coiled in the corner, with a look that suggested he'd like nothing more than to haul it off to his private storeroom.
"Headmaster, I still maintain that the Basilisk is the property of the school."
Snape said, "And even if he really did meet Salazar Slytherin, such a dangerous creature can't be entrusted to a third-year student. Don't forget the attacks that occurred earlier."
"I'll give you a satisfactory answer, Severus," said Dumbledore.
"I hope so." Snape also left.
"I'm suddenly finding this place a bit cramped..." After the main doors closed, Dumbledore mused aloud.
"Leave it to me, Professor." Kael hurriedly set down his pork chop, took out his case, and stuffed the Basilisk inside.
"Much roomier now." Dumbledore chuckled. "But remember to leave the case behind when you go."
"Alright." Kael nodded helplessly.
"Professor Snape isn't wrong—I can't let a Basilisk loose in the castle, no matter how safe it is. However..."
Dumbledore winked, "when school's out for the holidays, I'll hand it over to Newt. That's the safest solution."
"You think of everything, Headmaster." Kael promptly set the case on the desk. "I'm sure Mr. Scamander will take good care of the Basilisk!"
"I think so, too."
Dumbledore pushed a slice of egg-and-custard pie over to Kael. "Try this. I think it's really quite good."
Kael took a piece into his mouth—and then didn't look at it again.
Way too sweet. Did the kitchen gather their sugar off the floor?
Ten minutes later, having finished the last drop of pumpkin juice, Kael looked up at the still-silent Dumbledore.
"There's one more thing, Professor... Something else Salazar Slytherin left to me."
"Ah yes, you're right—I nearly forgot."
Dumbledore seemed to just remember. He moved aside the plates, then placed the broken Time Turner retrieved from the Chamber on the desk.
"I have a request, Kael." He spoke softly: "May I... hold onto it for you?"
"But it's already ruined, Professor," said Kael. "Its magic is spent, and it shattered to bits—there's no fixing it."
"It can be repaired," Dumbledore murmured. "I know many Masters of Alchemy, including Nicolas—they'll know what to do."
"But Professor Dumbledore, we can't change what's already happened."
Kael said, almost offhandedly, "And Godric Gryffindor once warned me—never tamper with time."
"I only want to repair it, nothing more."
For the first time, Kael saw evasion in Dumbledore's eyes. In that instant, it was as though their roles had been reversed.
...