Chapter 82: The Basilisk (Part 3)

"Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets has been opened," Grindelwald remarked as he and Daniel Davis snacked together. Grindelwald had been keeping up with the latest events at Hogwarts, where the reopening of the Chamber of Secrets had everyone on edge. Muggle-born wizards were particularly terrified, with some even suggesting they leave the school for safety.

Pure-blood wizards, however, were less concerned since the legend of the Chamber specifically targeted Muggle-borns. 

Grindelwald had surmised that a basilisk might be hidden within the Chamber. He had once been interested in the idea of controlling a basilisk, given its formidable power in the magical world. In many ways, it rivaled the strength of an Obscurus. However, Grindelwald had eventually abandoned the idea, as controlling a basilisk was incredibly challenging and its weaknesses were glaringly apparent.

Despite giving up on raising a basilisk, Grindelwald had amassed a wealth of knowledge on the subject. His understanding of basilisks exceeded even that of Dumbledore. He knew, for instance, how basilisks were created: from a chicken egg incubated by a toad under a full moon. This creature's gaze was its most lethal weapon, capable of killing anyone who looked directly into its eyes.

Of course, this was only theoretical. Powerful wizards like Dumbledore and Grindelwald could withstand a basilisk's gaze. Certain magical creatures, such as phoenixes and some dragons, were also immune. Basilisks had a notable vulnerability: they feared the crow of a rooster, likely due to their origins from a mutated chicken egg.

The Ministry of Magic had long outlawed the breeding of basilisks due to their extreme danger and the fact they could only be controlled by Parselmouths. Without such control, even the breeder would be at risk of attack, which is why even Dark wizards generally avoided raising basilisks—it was more trouble than it was worth.

The creation of a basilisk required a perfect confluence of conditions and the cooperation of various elements, making it an endeavor few would undertake. Parselmouths had a bad reputation largely because basilisks were typically bred and controlled by them. When Harry's ability to speak Parseltongue became known, it led to immediate suspicion and alienation within the school.

While Grindelwald had deduced that a basilisk was hidden in Hogwarts, he had not yet located the Chamber of Secrets. Hogwarts castle was filled with many secrets, some even unknown to Dumbledore. Each of the school's four founders had left their own hidden legacies within the castle.

Due to the Chamber's re-opening, Hagrid had been taken away by the Ministry. The absurdity lay in the fact that Slytherin's heir was assumed to be pure-blood, while Hagrid was a half-giant. Lucius Malfoy, aiming to undermine Dumbledore, disregarded logic, and the Ministry's foolish officials bought into his narrative.

"I'll go back with you," Daniel decided.

Daniel and Grindelwald returned to Hogwarts, not by train, but through Apparition, arriving just outside the school's boundaries, as Apparition within the school grounds was forbidden.

Originally, Grindelwald intended to take Daniel along using Side-Along Apparition, but Daniel declined and Apparated on his own to Hogwarts, much to Grindelwald's surprise.

Apparition distance is proportional to magical energy consumption. Covering several hundred miles in one go was beyond the capability of most Aurors, yet Daniel did it effortlessly.

Daniel's return to Hogwarts went largely unnoticed, as the majority of people were preoccupied with the Chamber of Secrets. Harry was experiencing his first taste of isolation; even some Gryffindors were keeping their distance from him.

Going from being highly popular to feeling isolated was tough for Harry, and he resolved to uncover the identity of Slytherin's heir and the basilisk.

"It seems now is not the time for board games," Daniel commented. The Chamber's reopening and Hagrid's arrest had stirred unrest. Dumbledore was currently away from the school. Unlike the last incident, he hadn't been dismissed this time; his resolve to be more involved in Ministry affairs made it difficult for Malfoy and Fudge to act against him, especially with Grindelwald's support.

"Let's deal with the Chamber of Secrets first," Daniel suggested the next day, seeking out Grindelwald.

"You know where the Chamber is?" Grindelwald asked, astonished. He had been tirelessly searching for the entrance, knowing that peace in the school was essential for proper learning.

"It's quite simple. If you look carefully at the number of ghosts in the school, you'll get a clue. Take Moaning Myrtle, for instance," Daniel pointed to the list, continuing, "She was a student fifty years ago, right when the Chamber was last opened. She was also a Muggle-born. If I'm right, she must have been the victim back then. We should ask her what she saw."

Knowing the truth made it easier for Daniel to deduce the events. If someone like Sherlock Holmes were investigating, they would quickly piece together these clues.

The magical community, including Dumbledore, often had a rigid way of thinking.

"Very well," Grindelwald agreed. Together, they went to the abandoned bathroom on the second floor, where Moaning Myrtle haunted—a place also attacked by a troll previously.

As professors, Daniel and Grindelwald had more authority than Harry, Hermione, and Ron. Under their questioning, Myrtle quickly recounted the events of her death. She had been bullied and was crying in the bathroom when she saw a pair of enormous eyes, then died. She also heard a male student's voice.

Such a clear lead had been missed during the previous investigation, leaving Daniel baffled by the oversight in the magical community.

After her death, Myrtle had become a ghost and persistently haunted the girl who had bullied her, causing such a disturbance that the Ministry had to intervene to resolve it.

"There seems to be no clue about the Chamber," Grindelwald remarked after some silence. Myrtle's account only confirmed the existence of the basilisk.

"This is exactly why I said people in the magical world are so accustomed to the conveniences of magic that they forget to think critically," Daniel responded. He also reminded himself not to become too reliant on magic's convenience. He had been using Apparition even within his own home out of sheer laziness.

Apparition didn't require a wand, making it an incredibly handy spell.

"From Myrtle's story, we know that the person who opened the Chamber didn't intend to target her specifically. This means the entrance could be nearby. Let's search around," Daniel suggested, starting to look around the vicinity. Soon enough, they found a carving of a snake.

Seeing such an obvious mark, Daniel sighed again in exasperation. Finding the Chamber should have been straightforward even for ordinary investigators. Searching the crime scene was standard procedure, a concept apparently lost on the magical community.

"I've found it," Daniel announced, calling Grindelwald over to the snake carving. Shaking his head, he said, "Something this obvious should have been found during the original investigation. The magical world is in trouble if it continues to be this stagnant."

Internally, Daniel considered writing detective novels like Sherlock Holmes or introducing more detective-themed books, shows, and movies, such as "Criminal Minds" and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation."

Grindelwald's expression turned somber. Previously, he might not have cared, but as a Muggle Studies teacher, he had come to realize the vast differences between ordinary people and the magical world.

Even regular students in Muggle schools studied a broader curriculum than their magical counterparts. If Hogwarts students attended a Muggle school, most would likely find themselves struggling academically except for a few exceptional individuals.

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