Phoenixes are undoubtedly incredible magical creatures.
Setting aside their other abilities, their mastery of swallowing curses alone makes them worth using up apet slot.
Not to mention, they can sing, act cute, roast meat, and even keep you warm at night. Honestly, Fawkes outshines at least fifty Fluffy-level creatures in terms of utility.
William did genuinely want a phoenix, it would add a touch of elegance to his life.
Think about it: most wizards rely on Floo Powder for travel, which is essentially like taking the subway. Riding the Knight Bus? That's more like using a rideshare app.
Apparition is a bit fancier, like having a private car.
But nothing compares to flying around on Fawkes' back, that's the true magical equivalent of a luxury sports car!
Unfortunately, as much as William would love to abduct Fawkes, it wasn't going to happen. Sure, as the saying goes, "if you wield your spade well, no wall can't be breached," but Fawkes had been with Dumbledore for decades.
William figured his best chance would come after the headmaster's passing.
It might seem like stepping in as a replacement caretaker, but honestly, how many people wouldn't jump at the chance to "adopt" Fawkes?
For now, though, Fawkes ignored William's scheming and continued nibbling on its dried fish.
As Harry wandered around the room, he suddenly asked, "William, what exactly is Parseltongue?"
"In simple terms, it's the ability to communicate with snakes," William replied, turning another page of his book.
"Talking to snakes… isn't that something most people can do?" Harry was baffled.
"No, most people can't," William said, raising his head to give Harry a curious look.
"It's a unique gift. Some people are born with it, while others can learn it if they have a talent for languages.
"For example, I learned Mermish from Dumbledore. But Parseltongue is much harder to master than Mermish.
"Salazar Slytherin was the most famous Parselmouth, and Riddle is one as well…"
Noticing Harry's uneasy expression, William raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me…you're one too?"
"Oh, uh, I can talk to snakes!" Harry admitted hesitantly, his scar starting to throb.
"What I mean is, there was this time at the zoo. I accidentally let a huge boa constrictor loose, it lunged at my cousin, Dudley.
"At the time, the snake told me it had never been to Brazil. I somehow let it out without meaning to… I didn't even know I was a wizard back then!"
"A snake told you it had never been to Brazil?" William narrowed his eyes at Harry.
Harry nodded meekly.
"Well, it seems you really are a Parselmouth."
Harry stared at him in disbelief. "I was speaking another language? But…I didn't realize it. How can I speak a language without knowing it?"
"That means it's a passive skill, a latent talent that isn't fully awakened," William explained. "It only activates when you see a snake, and you're completely unaware you're using it."
Luna's Legilimency worked similarly. it was a passive ability she couldn't consciously control.
"But I have no connection to Slytherin! And nothing to do with Riddle!" Harry protested.
"Harry, that's not entirely accurate," William said, shaking his head.
"Most pure-blood families are interconnected. Even families that don't get along or are outright enemies often share distant relatives.
"For instance, I heard the twins mention that Mrs. Weasley and Narcissa Malfoy are distantly related, they're second cousins once removed.
"Mr. Weasley is also the great-grandnephew of Narcissa's great-uncle. Technically, that makes Ron and Malfoy relatives."
Harry's jaw dropped. He couldn't fathom such connections existing.
"Harry, don't let it bother you. Nobody cares if you have a Slytherin or a Gaunt," William reassured him.
"That said, it is unusual for a trait like Parseltongue to manifest, even if you had a Gaunt ancestor generations ago."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked, puzzled.
"I'm not sure. You'd have to ask Professor Dumbledore.
"In any case, don't worry about it. It's just the ability to talk to snakes."
"Dumbledore knows dozens of languages; he even enjoys having heart-to-heart conversations with trolls under the moonlight," William said with a grin.
Harry couldn't help but burst into laughter. He found it impossible to picture Dumbledore having a grunting, garbled chat with a troll.
"Well, since you're a Parselmouth, this makes things much easier," William said, gesturing toward a wall. "Can you tell me if that thing is insulting me?"
Harry looked up and noticed, for the first time, a silver sword hanging on the wall. Embedded in the blade was a small, green snake.
If it weren't for the occasional twitch of its body, Harry would have assumed the snake was dead.
"It's a basilisk!" Harry exclaimed. "That thing was hiding in Ron's body, and Riddle was controlling it."
"Yes," William confirmed. "But the other six snakes are dead. This one was hidden by Riddle and used to attack me through you.
"I've been pondering how to deal with it."
William smiled. "Oh, and don't look into its eyes. A basilisk's gaze can kill. Even though this one is still a juvenile, it can still petrify you."
Basilisks were incredibly rare creatures. Since William had managed to capture a juvenile, he certainly wasn't going to kill it outright. He intended to extract every ounce of value it could offer.
Harry began hissing in Parseltongue.
"It's not insulting you," Harry said after a moment. "It's begging for mercy. It says its wounds hurt, and it wants some potion. Also, it's hungry and wants dried fish."
Fawkes shot the basilisk a sharp glare. Like a protective mother hen, the phoenix puffed out its featherless chest and quickly stuffed the remaining dried fish into its mouth.
"Such a needy little thing," William muttered. "Tell it this: Riddle is dead. From now on, I am its master.
"Otherwise, I'll gouge out its eyes and toss it into Aragog's lair. I hear spiders like playing with snakes.
"Or, I'll throw it into a leech-filled pond and let them suck it dry."
Harry shivered at the threats but dutifully hissed the message to the basilisk.
Once their exchange was over, William closed his book, scooped up Fawkes, and took down the silver sword.
With a flick of his wand, he turned the sword into a ring and slid it onto his left hand.
He then waved his wand again, sealing the basilisk in a magically reinforced box and tucking it into the corner of his safety watch.
"Let's go, Harry," William said, lifting Ron's unconscious body with another flick of his wand.
"We've spent the whole night in the Chamber of Secrets. It should be morning by now."
William couldn't help feeling a pang of regret. Even with the Gryffindor sword he had brought back from the castle, he couldn't prevent Riddle's plan.
"Open," Harry said to the chamber door.
Nothing happened.
"Harry, don't speak human," William reminded him.
"…" Harry was speechless. He understood the instructions, but somehow, it felt like an insult.
"But I don't know how to speak Parseltongue on command," Harry protested.
"That's easy. Close your eyes and imagine a snake in front of you," William suggested.
Harry nodded, then hissed softly.
The door opened, revealing a long, winding corridor.
William and Harry descended from the statue to the ground. Together, they retraced their steps and exited the Chamber of Secrets.
Midway through, William doubled back to the main door.
There, on the wall, were two intertwined snakes with gleaming green gemstones set into their eyes.
William tapped on the emeralds, but nothing happened.
Frowning, he pulled the Sword of Gryffindor from his safety watch.
Gripping the hilt, he struck the snake heads with all his strength, only to produce a shower of sparks.
Clearly, Salazar Slytherin had anticipated opportunists like William when designing the chamber!
"Never mind," William muttered, deciding to leave the gemstones for now. "Once I master stronger magic, I'll come back for these beauties.
"They're much bigger than Malfoy's 'pigeon-egg' diamonds!"
Imagining the gemstones crafted into exquisite jewelry by goblins, William's grin widened.
With gemstones like these, he wouldn't even need to buy an engagement ring in the future, what a savings!
William truly was an opportunistic devil.