Hunting Basilisks

Prefect Gemma Farley's words silenced the young Slytherins, and a wave of panic slowly spread through the room.

"Artel, do you have any ideas?"

In the hushed Slytherin common room, a voice drew everyone's attention.

Pansy Parkinson realized that everyone was looking at her. Her cheeks turned red, and she lowered her head, speaking softly:

"After all... Artel guessed yesterday that the Chamber of Secrets might be opened... I think he might have some ideas."

Artel looked around calmly before speaking slowly:

"There is a way. According to 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,' the only thing basilisks fear is the crowing of roosters. They will flee when they hear it..."

The young Slytherins listened intently as Artel continued:

"So, if you're afraid of being attacked by a basilisk, just prepare a rooster... As for finding the Chamber itself, I don't have any solid ideas right now. But since the legend of the Chamber is true..."

"Then I believe Salazar Slytherin must have left some message or clue at Hogwarts that his heir could understand. This would ensure his heir could find the Chamber and learn how to control the basilisk."

"To locate the basilisk, we should perhaps start by looking for Slytherin's relics, places associated with him... maybe even right here in the Slytherin common room."

Artel shared his thoughts, and the young wizards looked at him in surprise, finally letting out a collective murmur of admiration.

Gemma Farley considered Artel's reasoning and found it sound. She stood up and decided to inform Snape.

Before leaving, Snape had mentioned that anyone who discovered anything should go to the headmaster's office.

"I think Artel is right," Gemma said to the gathered students. "Let's start searching the common room and our dormitories. If we can find any relevant clues quickly, Hogwarts can return to normal sooner."

The students nodded in agreement, eager to start their search and help protect their school.

The students in Slytherin were not particularly concerned about someone else's death; their primary worry was their own safety.

Slytherins were not all pure-blooded wizards. As Hagrid had said, after so many generations of reproduction and development, very few pure-blood wizarding families remained. If the house relied solely on the Holy Twenty-Eight Families, Slytherin House would have long been diminished.

Therefore, many Slytherins were anxious about their own safety. Although legend claimed the basilisk would only attack those deemed unworthy of learning magic by Slytherin, this did not seem to hold true now. Even ghosts had been attacked, including the Bloody Baron, who was still the ghost of Slytherin House.

The young wizards sprang into action. They searched the common room thoroughly, leaving no corner unexamined.

Gemma Farley decided to seek help from Professor Snape. He used Transfiguration to turn his owl into a rooster, and Gemma hurried to the headmaster's office with the large bird in tow.

By this time, Dumbledore had returned to the school and was discussing countermeasures with Snape. Like Artel, Dumbledore had mentioned the basilisk's natural enemy.

"The basilisk fears the crowing of a rooster," Dumbledore explained. "The vile Herpo the Foul, the dark wizard who first bred the basilisk, mentioned this in his notes, though there is no actual proof."

"Newt Scamander wrote about it in his book, but he hasn't seen a basilisk, so it's just a guess," Snape added.

"Even if it's just a theory, it's worth a try," Dumbledore said. "Harry is a Parselmouth and hears voices in the walls. We're fairly certain that what Salazar Slytherin left behind is some sort of snake."

As they spoke, there was a rapid knock on the door. Dumbledore and Snape exchanged worried glances, fearing more bad news.

"Gemma? What are you doing here? Do you have any clues?" Snape's expression turned puzzled when he saw Gemma holding a rooster. Could the other students know about the basilisk's weakness?

"It's like this, Headmaster, Professor..." Gemma began, relaying Artel's words. Dumbledore and Snape exchanged another glance, both realizing Artel might be onto something.

"Salazar Slytherin may have left clues," Dumbledore mused. "How else would his heir distinguish truth from falsehood and find the Chamber of Secrets?"

"Gemma, return to the common room. If you find anything, inform us immediately," Snape instructed.

Dumbledore and Snape then focused on arranging magical protections.

That evening, the students were informed they could go to the Great Hall for dinner as usual. The atmosphere was tense, but the professors were determined to keep everyone safe while they sought to unravel the mystery of the basilisk.

The Slytherin students turned the lounge upside down, searching for clues but finding none, leaving them disappointed.

However, the professors had arranged magical enchantments and corresponding magical props throughout the castle. Once they sensed the presence of the basilisk, the enchantment would issue an early warning, and the magical props would emit a rooster's crow.

The students had little appetite for dinner, engrossed in exchanging information.

After a round of discussion, they discovered that none of the academy students had been harmed. However, after a thorough investigation, someone finally noticed that Filch was missing.

Mr. Argus Filch, the Squib caretaker who always enjoyed spying on students and punishing them, had vanished.

The news quickly spread throughout the Great Hall.

"I heard it's Filch! Filch is gone! No one saw him today!" 

In the Gryffindor dining area, the Weasley twins ran back from Ravenclaw, excitedly sharing the information they had gathered.

"Really? Filch?" 

Ron was stunned. He never thought it would be Filch. Filch's cat had an accident yesterday, and today it was his turn.

Harry also felt a bit strange, unsure whether to be happy or sad.

No student would feel sorry for Filch; he was a grumpy, nasty man who was disliked by all. However, the thought of never seeing Filch again made Harry feel uneasy.

"It's pathetic... I didn't think it would be Filch." 

The kind-hearted Hermione sighed, then looked at Artel and said softly, "My argument with Lavender won't cause you any trouble, will it?"

Artel shook his head with a smile. "How could it? Speaking of which, I should thank you... After all, you not only stood up for me in front of so many people but also interrupted Professor McGonagall and Headmaster Dumbledore..."

Artel's gaze made Hermione blush. She smiled shyly, glanced at Harry, who was discussing with Ron, and whispered to Artel:

"I don't know what came over me... I felt really uncomfortable when Headmaster Dumbledore praised Harry for discovering the basilisk... You were the one who mentioned it first..."

"Never mind that," Artel said, gently tapping Hermione's nose. "But I'm really happy that you stood up for me like that..."

"It's a pity Lavender didn't come to the Great Hall. I know she did it on purpose. I don't believe she'll avoid us forever!"

Hermione turned her head, embarrassed, and snorted softly.

That evening, Lavender claimed she wasn't feeling well and stayed in the dormitory, clearly to avoid apologizing to Hermione and Artel.

After dinner, the students couldn't stay in the Great Hall for long. At Dumbledore's request, they were led back to their respective common rooms by the prefects.

Once all the students had left, Dumbledore called Snape and Professor McGonagall.

"Pay extra attention to any movements in the castle tonight. I'm going to the old Gaunt house... Artel is right; there must be something left from Slytherin, something that his heir would use to open the Chamber of Secrets."

"However, it's very likely that the object was taken... If Voldemort was involved fifty years ago, it's possible the object is in the old Gaunt house."

After instructing Snape and Professor McGonagall, Dumbledore left the castle.

Meanwhile, Artel, lying on his bed, observed Dumbledore through the Isil spar. Seeing Dumbledore leave, Artel's eyes lit up.

"Tonight... it's time to hunt the basilisk!"

....

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