When the group passed through the final mechanism and finally arrived at the Chamber of Secrets, it was as if they had crossed the veil of time and stepped into an ancient, mysterious world.
Inside the chamber, the space was so vast it felt like a colossal underground palace. The surrounding walls were eroded by the years, bearing the marks of countless untold stories.
The walls were built from ancient stone blocks, each one rough and worn, dotted with moss, exuding a damp and ancient aura.
Carvings of serpents and mysterious magical runes covered the walls. The runes emitted a strange light, flickering as if they were conveying some ancient and secret message.
The ground was damp and cold. With each step, one could feel a chill rising from underfoot, the kind that seemed to seep through one's shoes and into the bones.
Moisture from the air condensed into droplets that occasionally dripped from the ceiling, producing crisp echoes that reverberated throughout the vast chamber like the ticking of time itself.
The place was saturated with a forgotten, mysterious atmosphere. It felt as if they had left the real world behind and entered a corner of existence lost to time.
At the far end of the chamber stood a towering statue of Salazar Slytherin, like a silent guardian. His face was stern and austere, every feature carved with meticulous precision.
Numerous stone pillars engraved with entwined serpents rose up like watchful sentinels, holding aloft a ceiling that disappeared into the shadows above.
These pillars looked like immense tree trunks that had grown from deep underground—thick, solid, and immovable.
The serpentine carvings on the pillars were vivid and lifelike. Every scale was finely etched, as if at any moment the stone snakes might slither free and come to life.
The shadows cast by these pillars added an eerie green hue to the room, making the chamber even darker and more terrifying.
Lucius gripped his wand tightly, his fingertips turning pale from tension. When he spoke, his voice trembled slightly:
"Where is the Basilisk?"
His voice echoed through the vast space, sounding especially faint.
Umbridge fared even worse—her hand, clutching her wand, trembled violently. Her face was pale, and she swallowed repeatedly.
Her eyes darted around, filled with terror. Even the slightest sound made her shudder.
Madam Bones, however, remained remarkably calm.
"No need to panic."
Dumbledore spoke steadily, his voice like an anchor in turbulent waters, offering a sense of reassurance.
He then played a recording. As the Parseltongue filled the chamber, it echoed like an ancient summons, brimming with mystique and dread.
The ground began to tremble slightly. Small stones tumbled from the walls with crisp clicks.
The vibrations grew stronger. More stones fell, and the chamber seemed to quiver in anticipation of something great and terrible.
The small stones rolled across the floor like grains in an hourglass, marking the passage of time.
The mouth of Salazar Slytherin's statue slowly opened, revealing a deep, shadowy tunnel.
First came a wave of foul, fishy stench. Then came the sound—scales scraping against stone walls, drawing closer. The noise was sharp and grating, sending chills down everyone's spine.
"Hisssss~"
"Hissss~"
"It's coming!"
Umbridge squeezed her eyes shut in fear, her body trembling uncontrollably.
Lucius and Madam Bones quickly turned their heads, avoiding direct eye contact with the Basilisk.
But Wes took a few steps forward, positioning himself ahead of everyone else. His figure stood tall and resolute under the dim light.
"Dumbledore??"
Madam Bones was visibly shocked. Her voice trembled with concern for the young wizard daring to confront the Basilisk alone.
The Basilisk—an entity even the most elite Auror squads struggled to face. Was Dumbledore really allowing this young man to face it by himself?
"Don't worry, Amelia. Wes can handle it."
Dumbledore's voice was calm and firm as he placed a reassuring hand on Madam Bones's shoulder.
Still, Madam Bones hesitated, wand gripped tightly in her hand, ready to intervene.
Conflicted, she trusted Dumbledore's judgment, yet couldn't help but worry for Wes's safety.
Just then, a massive creature slithered out from the mouth of the Slytherin statue. A blood-red feather sprouted from its head. Its body was a deep emerald green, massive like a moving mountain.
At nearly fifteen meters long, it exuded a crushing aura that weighed heavily on the chamber like an invisible pressure.
Madam Bones froze in place. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead, and her heartbeat accelerated.
She had never seen such a massive creature. A powerful sense of dread washed over her.
Lucius, facing the same behemoth, felt equally threatened. He began to question whether coming here had been wise—and what might happen next.
Umbridge, on the other hand, turned and fled in a panic, her toad-like figure stumbling away into the shadows.
Remaining calm, Wes took off his cloak. With a quick Engorgio, the cloak expanded enormously.
His movements were swift and confident, as though everything was going exactly according to plan.
Wes pointed toward the Basilisk. The enlarged cloak soared through the air and, before the creature could react, wrapped tightly around its eyes.
"Ordinary fabric can't block a Basilisk's gaze," Dumbledore warned gently.
"Good thing mine's not ordinary," Wes replied with a confident smile.
The newly awakened Basilisk hadn't even had time to strike before its vision was sealed.
It rubbed its massive head against the Slytherin statue, trying to scrape the cloak off or tear it apart.
But the cloak showed no sign of wear or damage.
"See?" Wes said proudly. "That takes care of its eyes."
"Brilliant idea," Dumbledore praised.
"Everyone, you may look at the Basilisk now—Wes has blinded it."
He added a final reminder: "Just be careful not to get caught in the crossfire."
Cautiously, Madam Bones and Lucius began glancing with their peripheral vision, and only when they confirmed the Basilisk's eyes were covered did they dare take a full look.
"Merlin's beard… this creature was asleep in Hogwarts all this time, and no one noticed?"
Madam Bones instinctively covered her mouth with both hands, her wide eyes trying to take in the full sight before her, her voice trembling with disbelief.
"That's exactly why we're here—to deal with this hidden threat, Madam," Wes replied as he unfastened his cufflinks and rolled up his sleeves.
"If you would, please stand back."
Wes gestured for the two to move aside.
"Incendio Maxima!" With a powerful sweep of his wand, a blazing arc of flame burst forth like a fire dragon, soaring through the air toward the Basilisk.
The flame dragon was incredibly lifelike. Its scales shimmered with light, and its wings fanned the heated air behind it.
Sensing the overwhelming danger, the Basilisk thrashed wildly, as though trying to break free from an ancient curse that bound it.
Every movement of its massive form shook the chamber's floor, unleashing its long-buried power.
The fire dragon struck the Basilisk directly. Flames engulfed the creature, crackling and roaring, while the serpent screamed in agony.
Soon, the area around the Basilisk had become a sea of fire.
The temperature inside the Chamber of Secrets rose sharply, turning the space into a blazing furnace.