The echo of the chamber made every word in Parseltongue resonate in a murmur. The basilisk remained motionless, its colossal body stretched out between the columns, listening with the patience of one who has seen history pass before its eyes.
"If Salazar left a legacy... I received mine in ruins," Aurelian began, his tone more personal than in any other conversation since he had descended.
The basilisk's tongue moved, curious about the tone in his words.
"Explain yourself."
"My family, the Gaunts, have been mired in misery for decades. Proud, yes, but poor, isolated, and despised even by the other wizard families. I found an inheritance marked by decay, forgotten lands, ruined properties... what remained, a name associated more with madness than respect."
The creature tilted its head, as if observing not only the young man in front of him, but the lineage that ran in his blood.
"However... I don't smell that misery in you."
"Because I didn't stand still," Aurelian continued. "I restored the Gaunt family, I returned it to its former glory. I invested money in both the Muggle and magical worlds, built a company called GauntCorp, and now my wealth not only equals that of my ancestors... it surpasses it. We are no longer a family that survives on memories. We are a family that forges itself."
The basilisk let out a low hiss, which Aurelian interpreted as approval.
"You are young, but your words carry weight. Salazar also created more than he inherited. He was not a mere heir."
Aurelian smiled slightly.
"I want you to know that I do not seek to destroy Hogwarts. I want this place to continue to be a refuge."
The basilisk's eyes glowed faintly.
"Perhaps... just perhaps you are different from the others."
The basilisk remained silent for several seconds, as if evaluating every word Aurelian had spoken. Finally, its tongue slowly slid through the air and it spoke in a deeper tone.
"Few heirs have deserved to hear my name, and none have heard it for centuries."
Aurelian stood firm, expectant.
"I am Nythoros," said the colossal serpent, "Guardian of the Chamber, son of the last green-scaled dragon. That is the name he gave me, and by it I am recognized by the echoes of the most ancient magic."
Aurelian nodded in respect.
"Nythoros, it is an honor."
The basilisk turned its head toward a side section of the Chamber, where the shadows seemed denser.
"If you truly want to build a lasting legacy, as you say, you will need more than riches. Come with me."
Aurelian followed him, walking between moss-covered columns until he reached a smooth stone wall. Nythoros hissed a few words in Parseltongue that Aurelian barely understood, and the wall opened with a deep creak, revealing a passageway.
Upon entering, Aurelian stood motionless. Before him stood a circular room, lit by enchanted braziers that seemed to need no air to burn. In the center was a library carved into the rock, with shelves filled with scrolls, codices, and books bound in dark green leather.
"This is where Salazar left his true legacy," explained Nythoros, "knowledge about our language, Parseltongue, how to apply it to magic in ways that the rest of the world has forgotten. Control over creatures and spells that do not depend on a wand, as well as secrets that even the other founders never knew."
Aurelian moved slowly forward, running his hand over the dusty spines of some of the volumes, feeling the magical power emanating from them.
"You may study here whenever you wish," Nythoros continued, "but do not bring anyone else."
Aurelian looked him in the eye and nodded solemnly.
"I promise, Nythoros."
The basilisk bowed his head in acceptance.
"Then... may your footsteps echo in this Chamber as Salazar's did."
Aurelian looked around the Chamber one last time before leaving, but a doubt came to mind.
"Nythoros," he said, stopping.
"Speak, heir."
"I have two friends... their names are Hestia and Flora. They are very important to me. I would not want everything here to remain silent for them. Could I bring them? Not to the library, of course... but to see the Chamber."
The basilisk remained motionless for a few seconds, evaluating his request. Finally, a low hiss echoed like a deep laugh.
"So you want to bring your females, heir."
Aurelian blinked and felt the heat rising to his face.
"They're not... that. They're my friends."
Nythoros hissed again, amused by his attitude.
"Sure... friends, and I'm a little mouse. Believe me, young heir, not just anyone would show their legacy to mere friends. That says more about you than you think."
Aurelian decided not to respond and simply shook his head, although he couldn't help but smile slightly.
"Changing the subject," he continued, "I've been thinking. You never know if one day someone else will discover this Chamber and that person... decides to attack you."
The basilisk's yellow eyes glowed faintly.
"Go on."
"I have a safe place, far from Hogwarts, called Gaunt Manor. Its grounds are protected by ancient and very strong enchantments. You could live there and leave whenever you want. You wouldn't have to hide from anyone."
Nythoros watched him silently, and although he did not smile—if a basilisk could do so—Aurelian sensed that his words had had some effect on the basilisk.
"I will consider your proposal. Hogwarts has been my home for centuries, but a guardian who dies for an empty place is of no use."
Aurelian nodded, knowing that, for a creature that measured time in centuries, this was already a good sign.
He took one last look at the library before turning his gaze back to Nythoros.
"I'll be back soon," he promised in Parseltongue.
The basilisk bowed its head, its scales producing a slight clicking sound.
"I'll be waiting for you, Heir."
With a slight gesture of respect, Aurelian turned on his heels and climbed the stairs, leaving behind the faint echo of the Chamber. When he emerged in the abandoned bathrooms, the light filtering through the windows told him that breakfast time was near.
A wave of his hand, accompanied by a burst of magic, instantly changed his clothes to the immaculate Hogwarts uniform. He walked through the corridors with a calm stride, as if he had spent the night sleeping peacefully.
The Great Hall was bustling with its usual hubbub. Aurelian sat down at the Slytherin table, pouring himself some tea and helping himself to toast before two figures plopped down on either side of him.
"Well, well..." Hestia murmured with a smile that promised nothing good. "You got up early... or didn't sleep."
"Do you want to tell us how it went last night?" asked Flora, leaning toward him with narrowed eyes.
Aurelian took a sip of tea, hiding the slight smile that threatened to give him away.
"I can't tell you everything right away."
"We can wait," said Hestia, although the way she squeezed his arm suggested otherwise.
"But not too long," added Flora, looking at him as if she could read his mind.
Aurelian looked at them both, knowing he wouldn't escape Hestia and Flora's insistent stares throughout breakfast. So, before they continued to press him in front of half the dining room, he calmly got up.
"Come with me," he said in a low but firm tone.
The twins exchanged a quick glance, with that complicity of theirs that seemed almost telepathic, and followed him without asking any questions. He walked down a couple of less-traveled corridors until he reached an empty classroom. He closed the door with a silent spell and cast an enchantment to ensure privacy.
"Good," he said as he leaned on the teacher's desk. "As you know, last night I went to the Chamber of Secrets."
Both girls' eyes sparkled with a mixture of excitement and curiosity.
"And what did you find?" asked Hestia, stepping forward.
"Nythoros," Aurelian replied. "A basilisk, enormous, very old, has lived since the time of Salazar Slytherin. It is not a mindless monster, as the stories tell. It is intelligent, patient... It was also Salazar's companion and personal guardian."
Flora frowned, impressed.
"And it didn't try to kill you?"
"No. In fact, we talked for a long time. It told me things about Salazar that no one else knows and accepted me as his heir. It even gave me permission to take you to see the Chamber someday."
Hestia smiled dangerously.
"You're going to take us soon, right?"
Aurelian sighed with a slight smile.
"Yes, but you should know something: it's not a welcoming place. It's damp, cold, and well, it's guarded by a basilisk the size of a train."
"As long as you're there, it doesn't matter what the place is like," Flora replied without hesitation.
Hestia nodded.
"It could be a swamp full of poisonous snakes, and we'd still go."
Aurelian looked at them with a mixture of affection and resignation. Not only were they not afraid, but they seemed to be counting down the days until they could meet Nythoros.
When Aurelian removed the privacy charm and opened the classroom door, the hallway was quiet, or so he thought. They had barely taken two steps when a sharp, dry female voice stopped them.
"And what are the three of you doing here?" asked Professor Calista Blake, her arms crossed and one eyebrow arched.
The twins tensed instantly, but Aurelian kept a calm expression, even though he knew that nothing escaped Blake's notice.
"We were just talking, nothing important," he replied calmly.
"In a closed classroom, unsupervised, at this time of the morning?" Blake replied, her tone laden with suspicion. "Do you think this is an appropriate place to... talk?"
"It was a private matter," said Flora, with a defiant tone in her voice.
"Very private," added Hestia, smiling with feigned innocence.
The teacher looked at them, one by one, with that predatory expression that assessed whether it was worth continuing to press the issue. Finally, she clicked her tongue.
"I don't care what private matters you have. I don't want to see you locked in a classroom without permission again. Now... move."
"Yes, teacher," replied Aurelian, guiding the twins to start walking toward the main hallway.
Blake watched them until they turned the corner. Only then did he mutter to himself:
"Weird kids."
Aurelian, who had heard him, smiled slightly as they continued on their way.
I just opened an account on Patreon. If you want to support me, I would really appreciate it, as you will be able to read up to 15 more chapters and find images of the characters in the story for free. Thank you very much for reading my story :D
-patreon.com/Daoistrg