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If Slytherin could keep a basilisk as a pet, why could Dursley not do the same?
According to rumor, Slytherin had left a Chamber of Secrets at Hogwarts, and only the descendant with the purest bloodline could become the heir to his chamber and inherit the basilisk.
But it was still the same point: neither the Sorting Hat nor the basilisk was a bloodline detector. They could not know whether a person's bloodline was pure.
Besides, the idea of bloodline purity was far too subjective.
What counted as a pure bloodline?
Was Tom's bloodline pure? Yet he was the heir of the Chamber of Secrets.
Slytherin's method of verifying bloodline was Parseltongue. As long as you were a Parselmouth, you were qualified to become his heir.
Therefore, when Dudley was able to use Parseltongue, the basilisk had already leaned toward him.
However, there could be only one heir. After Voldemort died, the contract's magic lost its effect.
The contract was signed, both sides confirmed it, and the contract was established.
The basilisk gulped down the feed Dudley provided, enjoying the pleasure brought by food. This was the most satisfying meal it had eaten in a thousand years.
It narrowed its eyes comfortably and flicked its tongue. It was clear the basilisk was in a very good mood.
Although it had gained another master.
At least this one was better than the last.
He provided meals, and enough food to eat.
Dudley definitely would not keep the basilisk inside Hogwarts Castle. At this moment, he was riding the basilisk toward the Forbidden Forest.
The Forbidden Forest was so large that one basilisk would not be a problem. Even a group of basilisks would be fine.
Moreover, the basilisk's favorite snacks were there.
Acromantulas.
Yes. Dudley settled the basilisk near the hollow where the Acromantulas gathered.
Occasionally going over for a snack would also be a very good choice.
Of course, this was not because the Acromantulas had attacked him and he was deliberately retaliating.
Dudley was not that petty.
He was considering the entire Forbidden Forest. Without natural enemies, the Acromantulas reproduced too quickly. If this continued, half the Forbidden Forest would become Acromantula territory. It affected the ecological balance of the Forbidden Forest too much.
Mm. Truly.
"There is a question I am very curious about. Why did Slytherin make the statue of himself in the Chamber of Secrets look so sleazy?"
"Did he really look like that?"
Sitting on the snake's head, Dudley chatted casually with the basilisk.
Perhaps it was his imagination, but after eating its fill, the basilisk spoke much more smoothly, and its thoughts were clearer.
"That is not Slytherin's statue."
"In you wizards' words, the old master was handsome. Even when old, he remained so."
The basilisk shook its head slightly and flicked its tongue.
It greedily sniffed the surrounding air. This place was much better than that lightless, stuffy, airless chamber.
Although the basilisk was not a magical creature especially picky about its living environment, why choose a bad place when a good one was available?
"?"
The statue placed in Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets was not Slytherin's statue. Then whose was it?
Could it be...
The basilisk's next sentence confirmed Dudley's guess.
"It is the statue of the old master's good friend, Gryffindor."
"."
Brilliant. Truly.
Designing Gryffindor's statue as the basilisk's lair, then having the basilisk enter and exit through Gryffindor's statue's mouth. It had to be said that Slytherin's design was truly something.
Full of wicked humor.
Of course, considering that the Sorting Hat's songs had nearly dragged Slytherin through the mud, one could only say...
As expected of best friends, soulmates, and terrible influences on each other.
"Can you tell me how to obtain Slytherin's authority within Hogwarts Castle?"
"You must pass the old master's trial," the basilisk answered.
Dudley asked, "Senior Tom, the previous heir. Did he pass it?"
"He only learned the old master's knowledge. He did not participate in the trial."
"Why?"
"He did not possess the qualifications."
"What qualifications are needed?"
"I do not know."
The basilisk knew some things from a thousand years ago, but not much. After all, it had only just been born back then.
Most of what it knew was gossip.
For example, Gryffindor had a crush on Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff had feelings for Gryffindor, and Gryffindor's sword had been commissioned by Slytherin from the goblins.
According to the basilisk, all of this had been told to it by Slytherin.
Hm? Why was it all about Gryffindor?
"I will come see you every once in a while and bring your favorite feed."
Before long, they arrived at their destination, a raised area not far from the hollow where the Acromantulas gathered.
"Aside from the Acromantulas over there, do not casually kill other magical creatures."
If the Acromantula colony were allowed to continue unchecked, it would definitely become a major danger to the Forbidden Forest. No, it was already a major danger to the Forbidden Forest. Their numbers were simply too great. Around their own gathering place, let alone magical creatures, even ordinary creatures had been eaten to extinction. Even insects were rare.
And this was still the result of Aragog suppressing the spider colony so they did not eat humans. But Aragog was old now, and not much life remained to him. When Dudley had gone there not long ago, there were already spiders that refused to listen to him. After he died, this group of Acromantulas would certainly attack humans. That was their nature.
They truly were dangerous. Dudley had not said it as a joke.
Aside from a small number of powerful beings, they were very dangerous to everyone else.
"There is nothing here that can resist your gaze."
The basilisk's eyes could kill anyone who met them. It was the same for wizards and magical creatures. Perhaps someone on Voldemort or Dumbledore's level could avoid death, but no one could say for certain.
Passive skills were wonderful, but they could easily hurt allies.
When his taming level was high enough, he would let it evolve further and attach it to his waist.
It would guarantee any enemy an enormous surprise.
"I know. I will sleep for a while first."
Eating until full and sleeping afterward. Truly worthy of a snake.
The basilisk coiled into a ball and lay down directly, unlike other snakes that looked for cover or hid somewhere when resting.
Thinking about it, that was understandable. For a creature on the basilisk's level, even within the Forbidden Forest, it was a top predator.
Others would already be lucky if it did not provoke them. Who would dare provoke it?
Dudley did not plan to let the basilisk stay together with Charizard and the others. The instant-death effect of the basilisk's eyes was passive. If anyone accidentally met its gaze, they would die immediately. He would consider it after the basilisk could control that ability.
Speaking of which, was it possible that Acromantulas were so afraid of basilisks because they had too many eyes?
After leaving the Forbidden Forest, Dudley went directly to the headmaster's office. By this time, Fawkes had already returned to his usual perch and was preening his feathers. When he saw Dudley, he cried out excitedly.
"This time, it was thanks to you. This is what you deserve."
As Dudley spoke, he gave Fawkes a bag of magical-creature feed.
Fawkes trilled happily, then lowered his head and began eating heartily.
Looking at Fawkes's increasingly bright and vivid feathers, Dudley suddenly remembered something. If he was not mistaken, was it not about time for Fawkes to burn and be reborn?
Now, forget burning and rebirth. Dudley felt that Fawkes had grown noticeably fatter.
"Dudley, if you keep feeding Fawkes like this, he will soon be too fat to fly."
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