💎 WEEKLY POWER GOALS 💎
🔥 30→2ch | 60→5ch | 100→8ch | 200→15ch | 400→25ch
⏰ Resets Monday!
"Sorry, I think I might've misheard?" Snape said icily. "What made you decide to seek help at the Headmaster's office for a dead snake and knock on my door at dawn after finding the Headmaster away from school?"
Anthony confessed, "I guess you probably remember I mentioned there's a Basilisk in the school. I found it... probably."
Sudden commotion came from the office. Snape furrowed his brow, strode back to the cauldron, and viciously flipped over the hourglass bouncing on the desk after draining.
After turning to low heat, he poured potion ingredients from the table into the viscous green liquid, stirred slowly, and glanced at Anthony standing at the door. "Continue."
"It should still be dormant, at its most vulnerable. I want to deal with it early, but to enter its bedroom, I need a snake," Anthony said. Seeing Snape about to refuse, he reminded him, "The Headmaster said when he's not here, find you for Dark Magic or potion-related matters. Even if you think the Basilisk doesn't belong to Dark Magic, dead snakes are potion ingredients anyway."
Snape hinted, "In that case, Anthony, I think I might be able to help—after all, certain Basilisk parts also belong to potions..."
"No problem, it's yours," Anthony agreed immediately. "If you want, you can even come with me."
His purpose was merely removing the Basilisk. If Snape was willing to help, he couldn't be more welcoming.
In fact, if not for uncertainty whether Hogwarts' Basilisk was neurasthenic, whether it would be awakened by his brick-adding behavior to the small animal cemetery, he'd rather prepare properly and best bring Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, Snape and Professor Quirrell all over. He was quite certain with this group's strength, he wouldn't need to use Necromancy at all.
Snape indicated the hourglass and simmering potion on the desk. "I believe even you should see I'm awake at dawn for a reason."
He timely flipped another small hourglass preparing to jump and turned the fire to high. The potion immediately boiled violently and in rising white mist gradually transformed into clear liquid. Snape examined his potion awhile, satisfiedly bent down and sprinkled some powder into the flame—the originally normal-colored flame suddenly became eerie purple.
After finishing these tasks, he straightened and waved his hand. The storage room door creaked open and a glass jar flew out. Snape opened the jar and scrutinized it critically, pulled out a very small tangled thing, and tossed it to Anthony.
The moment Anthony caught it, he knew this wasn't what he needed. Though it indeed had intricate interlaced scales, it lacked many things a dead snake should have—or rather, the most important part for Necromancy: bones.
"This is snakeskin," he said immediately. "Don't brush me off, Snape."
Snape said impatiently, "Snakeskin is one of the snake's most essential parts, second only to fangs. Anyone with the slightest potion knowledge knows its value."
Anthony insisted, "I need a complete dead snake, preferably never processed by you potion masters' exquisite techniques. To me, snakeskin has no difference from parchment."
Anthony walked in the corridor holding the snake coiled on his hand and felt somewhat sorry for Snape.
Snape efficiently killed a snake before him—according to him, this snake was originally for collecting venom—and coldly stated Boomslang Skin was a hundred times more precious than it.
Too impatient to tangle with Snape, Anthony directly awakened this fresh corpse before him. He thought since Snape already knew his necromancer identity, he should accept Necromancy like Dumbledore. But when the snake lying on the ground a moment ago suddenly raised its head, hissed and swam to Anthony's feet, Snape's face paled so much it shocked him.
Anthony suddenly realized this was Snape's potion ingredient. The scene's impact on him might be no less than lifting a pot lid when plucked feathers and chopped chicken wings suddenly spread and fluttered.
"Resurrection?" Snape asked hoarsely and stared tightly at that viper.
Anthony quickly reassured, "No, no, just..." He tried finding an appropriate word but it was really hard to explain to someone who didn't understand Necromancy what just happened. Finally he could only say, "Just control, like marionettes... No, not that much control, the body has some instincts... Forget it."
Snape appeared even paler the moment he withdrew magic, as if the viper lying motionless on the ground also took something of his away.
Anthony had to make the dead snake move again and then was driven out of the office by Snape.
He let the snake coil on his hand and returned to his office once. First, he needed a rope—yes, he planned to emulate Theseus—and things the Room of Requirement created couldn't be taken outside. Second, he should tell the cat he had an extra Wraith Mouse.
But the cat went wandering again. Anthony had to take the rope and snake and walked quickly upstairs.
Unexpectedly he encountered Professor Quirrell descending in the corridor.
"An—Anthony Professor," Professor Quirrell was startled and stammered, "Where—where are you going?" He looked hesitantly at the thing in Anthony's hand. The snake flicked its tongue and raised its head looking at Quirrell.
"You're not sleeping either, Professor Quirrell?" Anthony said surprised. "I... I discovered there's a Basilisk in the school and want to deal with it early."
"Ba—Basilisk?" Professor Quirrell asked in horror.
Anthony nodded. "Yes, but it should still be sleeping... At least I hope so. I hope while it's not awake, I can eliminate this danger factor early. What about you, Professor, what are you doing upstairs at this hour?"
Quirrell paled and as if making a great decision said, "I—I'll go with you to deal with the Ba—Basilisk, Professor Anthony."
Anthony couldn't help again admiring Professor Quirrell's enthusiasm and responsibility.
"Are you sure, Professor Quirrell?" he confirmed. "There shouldn't be any particularly great difficulty, just that's still a Basilisk... I mean, I have absolute confidence in your strength, Professor, but please don't pressure yourself too much—I can manage alone."
Quirrell insisted, "I—I'll go with you."
"All right, thank you," Anthony said. Since Snape couldn't get away, having Professor Quirrell's company was quite good too.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
Read up to (50+ ) advanced chapters on Patre\on
Visit us here:patreon.com/GoldenLong
Happy reading, everyone!