A Professor of Magic at Hogwarts

Chapter 65: Telling the Tale

Madam Pomfrey, the school nurse, used a few simple spells to heal the wounds, and then she gave the trio a bottle of cheering potion. "This will do you good!" Harry was taken aback by the strength of it.

"Poppy, please give us a few minutes," Dumbledore said gently.

Madam Pomfrey left the scene.

Present were the trio, Dumbledore, and Felix Harp. Snape had been sent by the headmaster to find Professor McGonagall. Later, they would have to go to the Chamber of Secrets again to dispose of the basilisk's remains.

"I believe you have much to tell," Dumbledore's gaze landed on a nearby table where the Sorting Hat rested, along with a silver sword adorned with a ruby.

Harry began to recount the events exactly as they had unfolded. He spoke of hearing the disembodied, ghostly voice for the first time in Professor Lockhart's office while he was in detention. Combining this information with what Hermione had learned from Professor Harp, he confirmed that he was a Parseltongue.

"But due to the negative reputation associated with Parseltongue, I kept it a secret, and besides, there were no attacks at that time," Harry admitted, a hint of shame in his voice.

"Everyone has their secrets, unwilling to be exposed," Dumbledore said sympathetically, easing some of Harry's discomfort.

He also spoke of the incidents that followed the first attack. They discovered that the castle's spiders were fleeing, and from Moaning Myrtle, they learned that she had been the victim when the Chamber was last opened fifty years ago. Harry specifically mentioned that on the day of Myrtle's attack, he heard a male voice, which became their primary evidence for identifying the entrance to the Chamber.

Dumbledore couldn't help but applaud lightly.

"It was Hermione's deduction," Harry deflected the credit, and Hermione modestly waved her hand.

Then came the account of the second attack. As Harry was summoning the courage to voice their suspicions about Malfoy, Snape and Professor McGonagall burst into the room. Seeing the disheveled state of the trio, McGonagall exclaimed, clutching her chest, "Oh my, what have you all been through? Professor Snape said you recklessly challenged the monster in the Chamber... If that's true, I shall deduct points from—"

"Minerva," Dumbledore interrupted, "and Severus, you've arrived just in time. Let us hear the end of their adventure before passing final judgment."

Thus, two more listeners joined the story session.

Harry opened his mouth to speak, but ultimately held back his suspicions about Malfoy. He proceeded to share what he had learned from Hermione: that Parseltongues could control snakes—something Salazar Slytherin himself had done—and that Hagrid had mentioned the existence of the giant spider Aragog, as well as its fear of the basilisk.

"And those dead roosters!" Ron interjected.

"Exactly. Many of Hagrid's roosters died, and he thought it was the work of a fox," Harry added. "We pieced together the truth about the Chamber with these clues."

"I'm more interested in knowing how tonight's sequence of events unfolded," Dumbledore nodded in approval before inquiring further.

And so, Harry continued, recounting their escape from the Great Hall and their plan to find Professor Harp to explain the situation. Snape made a derisive sound, interrupting, but they heard the basilisk's voice again, prompting them to rescue Justin. Harry entrusted others with seeking help from the professors while he kept watch on the basilisk to prevent it from attacking anyone else.

"A noble act, Harry," Dumbledore whispered.

"But what I saw was a reckless and arrogant adventure. Headmaster Dumbledore, you've granted them too many privileges," Snape retorted with a stern face, playing the role of a naysayer.

Felix Harp observed with keen interest, Snape's disdain for Harry Potter was blatantly obvious, yet he was the first to step forward when Harry faced danger...

Thinking about what he had once investigated, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"We mustn't jump to conclusions, Severus."

Following that, Ron and Hermione each recounted their experiences. Hermione didn't have much to say; she had wandered the empty castle for a few minutes and happened to come across Professor Harp.

Ron's story was far more exciting. Not only did he attack the professor (Lockhart), but he also disarmed him and, in his own embellished version of events, made a "heroic exit" by jumping down the chute when he realized Harry didn't have a powerful puppet in hand, cleverly dodging responsibility.

"By the way, Headmaster," Ron said somewhat hesitantly, "Professor Lockhart's wand got swallowed by the basilisk. Should I compensate him?" His own wand was only half intact.

"That is indeed a problem. Gilderoy has been having a string of bad luck lately... I'll have a word with him," Dumbledore said casually. "If luck is on our side, his wand might still be lying undamaged inside the basilisk."

All three young wizards had finished recounting their respective experiences. Professor McGonagall weakly said, "What you all did tonight far exceeded your responsibilities. And I must add, you've broken over a hundred school rules along the way. But how did you defeat the basilisk?"

Harry described meeting Ron near the shed skin and entering the Chamber together, encountering the basilisk soon after. As he spoke, Harry suddenly realized that he should have paused near the shed skin, but the thought hadn't crossed his mind at the time.

Am I truly the reckless, foolish lion Snape thinks I am?

The story continued. Their unexpected visit triggered the basilisk's aggression—it relentlessly attacked Harry and Ron. Only when Fawkes blinded the basilisk's eyes did they find the courage to stand up to it.

"Professor Harp's magical puppet was a great help," Harry gratefully glanced at Felix. The professor simply smiled, saying nothing, his gaze fixed on the battered, dirty Sorting Hat. Harry continued, briefly glancing at Hermione in a peculiar way, not knowing when she had arrived.

Finally, he recounted how, working together, they made their ultimate leap and defeated the basilisk. Thus, the tale concluded.

Felix Harp clapped his hands. "A thrilling adventure indeed. I believe your story is worthy of a book."

"Felix," Snape drawled with a prolonged tone, using his signature emotionless voice, "perhaps you see a reflection of yourself in them..."

"No, Professor Snape," Felix said light-heartedly, "I am quite different from them. They are exemplary Gryffindors, whereas you and I," he looked at Snape, "are true Slytherins, aren't we?"

"The Sorting Hat can vouch for that."

He casually picked up the Sorting Hat and placed it on his own head.

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