Click—
A crisp sound echoed in the empty, dark corridor, and his dilated pupils constantly observed his surroundings.
"No… human ones?"
He saw small animal bones scattered all around the corridor.
"This digestive capacity is even worse than that of ordinary snakes… and the feeding frequency is a bit too rare…"
Even if these bones were left from Halloween until now, and the Basilisk had been dormant before, after being awakened, its body should still urge it to kill and consume energy.
Isn't that the logic an animal should have?
Howl stroked his beard, looking back into the Chamber of Secrets.
"Salazar Slytherin…"
After a quick glance, Howl ultimately found no secret passages here, only a pipe connecting to the upper level.
Through the feedback from the Wizards Hand's fluctuations, and then inversely constructing its location in Hogwarts, it was—Myrtle's territory, that abandoned girls' bathroom.
Returning to the Chamber of Secrets, Dumbledore had already finished his final conversation with the Basilisk.
There was indeed a so-called "master," a true Parseltongue, commanding it to kill.
"A true Parseltongue?"
Dumbledore nodded, "Just learning the various meanings and pronunciations of Parseltongue doesn't make one a Parseltongue. Just like even if you master Transfiguration spells, it's completely different from a Metamorphmagus.
True, born Parseltongues. They are the kings of snakes, possessing the power to control snakes.
Legend has it that the first Parseltongue in history was the child of a human and a Basilisk…"
Howl's mind somewhat crashed. Basilisk… the legendary king of snakes… and a human…
"You're not going to tell me that this child of a human and a Basilisk left behind a legend called 'Medusa' in later generations, are you?"
Dumbledore answered with a smile.
"Such pioneering spirit is truly… admirable." Howl nodded helplessly.
"So who is that master?"
"It doesn't know. Based on its description, I can't link it to anyone in the school," Dumbledore said seriously.
"Troublesome… So how are you going to deal with it?"
Dumbledore pondered for a moment, "I think, as the Principal of Hogwarts, one should respect the founders' intentions.
It told me that when Salazar Slytherin left it here, he hoped that if Hogwarts was ever betrayed by Muggle-born Wizards or half-blood Wizards, leading to Hogwarts being in peril, it could protect the children."
"Betrayed?"
Dumbledore nodded, looking around, "Salazar Slytherin believed Muggles were not to be trusted; they harbored too much hatred for Wizards. This idea was deeply rooted in these people's hearts.
Even if Muggle-born Wizards came here, their thoughts from the previous eleven years might not change with their change in identity.
They might even expose Hogwarts' location, bringing disaster to other innocent Wizards.
This was Salazar Slytherin's reason for resisting Muggle-born Wizards and half-blood Wizards.
In fact, considering the historical context… this seems understandable."
Howl nodded slightly; he naturally knew that period of history.
Because at that time, Wizards were truly in a precarious and perilous era.
To be precise, it had been consistently so for several centuries.
And the reason was—the Church!!
The Church possessed "divine power," and its clergy, bestowed with "divine authority," were noble, righteous, and just.
They were revered by non-spellcasters.
One only needed to express their piety to them to receive soft bread and milk bestowed by God.
If punished by the clergy, people would also reflect on themselves, wondering if they were too dependent on God, if they had not achieved true piety.
In contrast, there were Wizards.
Strange abilities, evil powers, demons that only brought disaster and misfortune.
They needed to be executed, burned to death—
In that era, it was highly possible for Muggle Little Wizards who came to Hogwarts to be lured by the Church and become "divinely appointed spies."
This was the reason Salazar Slytherin felt worried.
The conflict between Wizards, the Church, and the general populace only came to an end with the appearance of a man named Martin Luther.
Just as Salazar Slytherin feared, Wizards from the academy joining the Church was an act to be scorned, even considered betrayal.
And Martin Luther was such a traitor. He was born in 1483 and entered Beauxbatons in 1494.
After graduating, he then entered the University of Erfurt in Germany,
understanding and studying the philosophies of non-spellcasters.
In 1505, he converted and joined the Augustinian order to study theology. And in 1507, he became a clergyman.
At that time, all non-Church Wizards regarded him as an out-and-out traitor.
However, it was precisely such a "traitor" who ushered in the collapse of the Church.
Justification by faith, the Reformation, the Renaissance, Henry VIII leading Britain to break away from the Roman Papacy, and—
The Witch Hunts!!
It wasn't until 1692, with the promulgation of the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy and the establishment of the Ministry of Magic, that Wizards officially withdrew from the stage of history.
This chaotic era finally came to an end…
From today's perspective, right or wrong no longer holds meaning.
But what is certain is…
"Salazar Slytherin left the Basilisk here to protect Hogwarts?" Howl confirmed again.
Dumbledore nodded slightly, looking at the ancient statue with the long, trailing beard.
He advocated for Little Wizards to learn the Dark Arts, he resisted Wizards from non-spellcasting backgrounds entering this school, he was extreme, twisted, and even in this era, only left behind a bad reputation.
"Actually, if you just think about it, if he was truly so bad, why would he want to establish a school to protect and teach children?
Why would he tell children to always remember glory, and always pursue it? How could Gryffindor—this Wizard of great renown—be his best friend?"
As he spoke, Dumbledore's gaze fell upon the Basilisk.
"The cultivation of this creature is not simple… Perhaps, this is his last legacy to Hogwarts, to the place he personally established…"
Harry, who chose the Witch pathway, returned to her 11th year and came into contact with powers beyond the pathway.
Well, it's time to give the Wizarding World a little Witch shock.
(HP + Lord of the Mysteries, not having read HP or Lord of the Mysteries does not affect understanding.)
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