Dumbledore's decisiveness was nothing short of swift and resolute.
He strode through the castle's corridors and arrived at the second-floor girls' bathroom. The lighting was dim, and a faint dampness lingered in the air.
His eyes, sharp like a hawk's, scanned every inch of the space without missing a single detail. Soon, beneath one of the taps, he spotted the emblem of Slytherin.
The real challenge now was how to open the hidden entrance to the Chamber.
Dumbledore was perhaps the only wizard in magical history who, without relying on bloodline inheritance, had mastered Parseltongue entirely through self-study.
However, his command of Parseltongue might have been limited to understanding it—he couldn't actually speak it.
After several attempts, the entrance to the Chamber remained tightly sealed.
Wes observed for a moment and then made a bold suggestion: to use the Imperius Curse on Tom and force him to speak Parseltongue to open the Chamber.
This proposal made Dumbledore pause in brief contemplation.
But shortly after, he shook his head and rejected the idea.
He had deeper considerations in mind—he wanted to invite officials from the Ministry of Magic to witness the slaying of the basilisk. He hoped this act could also clear Hagrid's name.
However, Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, was known for being overly cautious—or rather, a complete coward.
Dumbledore could easily predict that if Fudge learned Voldemort had created Horcruxes and was gradually regaining strength, the Minister would likely make some very unpopular decisions.
It was best not to let anyone else know of Voldemort's return just yet—to avoid unnecessary panic.
Though he was old, Dumbledore's mind remained agile and sharp.
He quickly acquired a recording device and captured the sound of Tom speaking Parseltongue.
With preparations complete, Dumbledore sat at his desk and carefully wrote two letters: one addressed to Minister Cornelius Fudge, and the other to Amelia Susan Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
In the letters, he detailed the discovery of the basilisk at Hogwarts and the decades-old murder case tied to it.
At this point in time, Fudge was still practically at Dumbledore's beck and call.
The two exchanged letters frequently and eventually settled on a date—set for a weekend two weeks later.
When the agreed weekend arrived, Cornelius Fudge came to Hogwarts accompanied by a Ministry official and Amelia Susan Bones.
As soon as Fudge saw Dumbledore, he rushed forward with arms wide open and gave him a big bear hug.
His face was covered in a broad, beaming smile that never left.
He acted overly familiar with Dumbledore, clinging to his hand so tightly that even when greeting Lucius, he didn't let go.
As for Wes, being far too young, he didn't attract Fudge's attention at all.
Wes didn't mind in the slightest—he had no interest in dealing with politicians like Fudge anyway.
Amelia appeared to be a very serious person, her expression devoid of any unnecessary emotion.
According to Dumbledore, she was one of the rare few in the Ministry who actually got real work done.
"Albus, you nearly gave me a heart attack!" Fudge exclaimed dramatically, pressing a hand to his chest, his tone full of exaggerated shock. "How could a terrifying creature like a basilisk appear in Hogwarts?"
"Fudge…" Dumbledore began.
"Call me Cornelius. Between us, there's no need for formality—"
Fudge quickly cut him off, smiling warmly.
"…Very well, Cornelius."
Dumbledore then patiently recounted everything: the history of the Slytherin Chamber, the truth about the basilisk, and how Hagrid had been wrongly accused.
"I see… So that's what really happened…"
"Oh… Merlin's beard…"
Fudge seemed to be listening intently, frequently letting out dramatic gasps.
After hearing the full account, Fudge turned to his deputy, Umbridge. "Dolores, would resolving this incident boost my approval ratings?"
Umbridge wore an excessively sweet smile, thick like syrup. She was petite, with an oversized mouth and slightly bulging eyes that gave her an odd appearance.
She was dressed head to toe in bright pink—from hat to hairpin. Her unfortunate appearance and inappropriate outfit made her look like an awkward, oversized pink toad.
She spoke in a cloying, girlish tone that made everyone around visibly uncomfortable.
"Eliminating the basilisk and protecting the students—I imagine your office will be stuffed full of commendation letters, Minister."
Her voice dripped with flattery.
Madam Bones gave Umbridge a disdainful look, then closed her eyes, clearly unwilling to witness more of her irritating display.
Fudge beamed, this time with a genuinely delighted smile.
"Wonderful!" Fudge said, thrilled.
All he cared about was his approval rating—not the students' safety. As for Hagrid's innocence, he saw that as a waste of time.
Thankfully, Madam Bones was known for her fairness.
"If the creature responsible for the incident years ago was a basilisk, then it proves that Rubeus Hagrid was wrongly accused. The Ministry will restore Mr. Hagrid's reputation," she said firmly and clearly.
"Yes, yes, Madam Bones is absolutely right," Fudge quickly echoed.
If he could both maintain his position and win Dumbledore's favor, it was a win-win situation that Fudge was eager to pursue.
However, when he heard they would need to enter the Chamber and face the basilisk directly, the Minister immediately tried to back out.
"Umbridge can represent me. She's my assistant," he said without hesitation, pushing the dangerous task onto his subordinate.
Umbridge's smile faltered slightly. Her fingers clenched her handbag tightly, knuckles whitening.
But she quickly recovered and returned to her signature syrupy smile.
She was ambitious and ready to seize any opportunity to climb the ladder—even if it meant taking risks.
Wes had to admit, he saw the woman in a new light.
Dumbledore only wanted a Ministry witness; he didn't care who specifically.
After a few safety reminders, Dumbledore led the group to the bathroom.
He took out the recorder and played the Parseltongue recording.
With a hiss, the mechanism activated. The sink slowly shifted aside, revealing a tunnel leading downward.
Dumbledore's wand emitted a soft glow, and without hesitation, he jumped in first.
Lucius followed closely behind.
Next was Umbridge, who despite a trace of nervousness on her face, bravely leapt down.
Madam Bones had intended to go last, but Wes gestured politely. "Ladies first."
She didn't decline his gentlemanly offer. With a small nod, she too descended.
The four of them advanced unhindered, soon arriving in the Chamber of Secrets.