[29] The Snake Under the Sink

That evening, Hall read in the Restricted Section, Disillusioned. Mrs. Pince didn't notice him.

His S-Rank Memory Palace made reading effortless. Every book was stored in his mental library. He could access any content instantly.

He finished a book and reached for another.

He touched a warm hand.

Two heads floated in the air. Familiar faces.

"Harry. Ron."

"Henry? Where are you?"

Hall dispelled the charm. The air distorted, revealing him.

"What are you doing here?" Ron demanded.

Harry and Ron were wearing an Invisibility Cloak. Hall examined it. Ordinary cloaks were made from Demiguise fur or enchanted with Disillusionment Charms. Expensive and disposable.

Harry's was different. Reusable. Nearly undetectable.

One of the Deathly Hallows. If I could replicate even a tenth of its power, the profit would be enormous.

That evening, he read in the Restricted Section.

Hall returned the cloak to Harry. Ron's eyes were fixed on him.

"What are you doing here so late?" Hall asked.

Harry started to answer. Ron stopped him.

"I was just asking." Hall waved his book and turned to leave.

"Henry!"

Hall paused.

"We're looking for information on Nicolas Flamel," Harry said.

The Philosopher's Stone. Of course.

"I know him."

"You know everything," Ron muttered.

"Five Galleons."

Harry pulled out the coins. "Nicolas Flamel was a famous alchemist. He created the Philosopher's Stone. He's over six hundred years old." Hall pointed. "First book on the left, second row, third shelf."

Harry and Ron found it quickly.

"What are you looking for?" Harry asked. "Need help?"

"I just love reading. Go back to rest when you're done."

Hall didn't want Ron getting hurt. If Harry stayed, Ron would stay too.

Myrtle's bathroom echoed with dripping water.

Two more days. Hall still hadn't found the exorcism spell. But he'd learned many other things — how to deal with Obscurials, how to make Portkeys, even the requirements for a Knight Bus driver's licence.

Around nine in the evening, he was walking back to his dorm, exhausted. A potion kept his body awake, but his mind was tired.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

He turned a corner.

A pair of emerald eyes stared at him.

"Meow."

Mrs. Norris. Filch's cat.

Hall checked the Marauder's Map. A hidden passage behind a suit of armour. He backed away slowly. Mrs. Norris watched him, tail swishing.

He ran.

The passage led to a mural on the second floor. The knight in the painting shouted, "Someone's here!"

Hall was in an unfamiliar area. He followed the sound of singing.

A girls' bathroom. Myrtle's bathroom.

His appearance startled Moaning Myrtle, who shrieked and plunged into the toilet.

Hall approached the sink. A serpentine carving on the faucet — still lifelike after a thousand years.

The Chamber of Secrets. It needs Parseltongue to open.

He'd learn a phrase from Harry tomorrow.

"You're still here?" Myrtle's head peeked out. "Haven't you washed your hands?"

"Thank you, I'm fine."

"Oh! Someone actually thanked poor Myrtle!" She blushed and floated away.

Hall walked back to his dorm, thinking. Even if he learned Parseltongue, a thousand-year-old basilisk lived down there. He needed to lure it away.

He thought of someone who might know how. Someone who'd once seen the basilisk's master.

The Bloody Baron.

Two days passed without progress.

"The basilisk was born from a toad hatching a rooster's egg. Its gaze is deadly — any creature that meets its eyes dies instantly," the Bloody Baron recited.

"Isn't there any way to deal with it?"

"The phoenix is immune to the basilisk's eyes."

Hall understood. The only phoenix he knew of was Fawkes — Dumbledore's. If he tried to borrow Fawkes, Dumbledore would know immediately.

"Perhaps," the Baron said slowly, "you could go during the day."

"What happens during the day?"

"She likes to go out for a walk."

She? The basilisk is a she? And she goes for walks?

Hall nodded. He'd wake up early, find Harry, learn Parseltongue, and head to the Chamber.

Before sleeping, he checked his panel. A new spell had appeared.

[Ding — Panel Update]

A-Rank Abilities: Spells {Wandless Magic, Silent Spell} (Patronus Charm, Basic Transfiguration Charm {Self-Learned}, Petrificus Totalus, Finite Incantatem, Silencio, Immobilising Charm, Trip Jinx, Leg-Locker Curse, Confundus, Alohomora, Wingardium Leviosa, Accio, Diffindo, Lumos, Reducio, Occlumency, Disillusionment Charm, Basic Exorcism {Self-Learned})

The Bloody Baron drifted through the wall.

The next morning, Hall woke at nine. Holiday. He grabbed some study materials he'd prepared for Ron — his grades were terrible.

In the Great Hall, Harry and Ron sat with enormous dark circles.

"Did you two go thieving last night?"

"None of your business," Ron muttered.

Hall ordered breakfast with a tap of his wand on the menu. The food appeared in minutes.

"Harry, I'd like to learn a phrase from you."

Harry agreed quickly. Ron tugged his sleeve suspiciously.

"Were you two looking for the Philosopher's Stone last night?" Hall asked.

Harry nodded. "Someone's been stealing it. Yesterday, Dumbledore and the professors were rushing around the school."

Hall thought. He'd been in the library all day.

"I think the Stone is gone."

Gone? How? Dumbledore was keeping it.

"Have you found any leads?"

Harry nodded. "We heard Dumbledore tell Snape there were traces of snakes in his bedroom."

The next morning, Harry and Ron sat with dark circles.

"Snakes?" Hall was unusually sensitive to the word. But a basilisk was enormous. Dumbledore would have noticed.

"You went looking last night?" Hall's voice was sharp. "Anything that can enter Dumbledore's bedroom — human or snake — is not something two first-years can handle!"

Harry had his blood protection. Nothing would happen to him. But Ron could only stab people with his wand.

"We wore the Invisibility Cloak," Harry said. "We were safe."

Hall suppressed his anger. Ron followed Harry everywhere. He needed to get Ron some armour before he became the sixth Weasley child.

"Harry, come outside. I need to ask you something."

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