Chapter 172 - 171 — The Basilisk’s Attack

Chapter 172: Chapter 171 — The Basilisk’s Attack

Chapter 171 — The Basilisk’s Attack

Hermione’s words reminded Harry and Ron of something, and their eyes widened.

"Why didn’t I think of that earlier? Harry speaks Parseltongue! He can hear things the rest of us can’t. It has to be Parseltongue!"

Ron exclaimed in frustration.

But Vesey wasn’t finished.

She suddenly lowered her voice and said, "Do you remember? Hagrid’s chickens died, and every time an attack occurred, the spiders fled. I think the creature is probably a basilisk!"

Hermione looked at her, disbelief in her eyes.

She whispered, "A basilisk’s eyes can kill people, but nobody has died this time..."

"Why hasn’t anyone died? Someone died fifty years ago!"

Harry blurted out.

"Yes, but nobody has died this time..."

Hermione still found the theory a little far-fetched.

Vesey pretended to think for a moment before speaking slowly.

"Do you think it’s because none of the victims looked directly into the monster’s eyes?

"Before Mrs. Norris was petrified, there was a large puddle of water around her. Do you remember?"

Hermione’s mouth fell open.

She understood.

"Yes! Peeves caused a commotion that day and flooded the area with water. Mrs. Norris must have seen the basilisk’s eyes reflected in the water, which petrified her!"

Hermione exclaimed in amazement.

"And there’s Nick and Justin, too. Justin must have seen the basilisk’s eyes reflected in Nick’s body. Nick himself saw the basilisk directly, but since he was already dead, he was petrified instead of killed!"

Harry breathed a sigh of relief.

Everything finally made sense.

"If we want to prove whether this theory is correct, we should have everyone carry a mirror and use it to check the corridor ahead before walking through it.

"If nothing happens, they can carry on. If they encounter the basilisk, they’ll be petrified. At least they won’t die!"

Vesey said seriously.

But there was one problem: how could they convince everyone in the castle to follow their advice?

"I’ll go to Headmaster Dumbledore first and ask him to tell everyone to do this!"

Vesey announced.

Harry and the others thought it was a good idea.

After all, they didn’t see anything wrong with Vesey’s theory, and it was perfectly reasonable to inform Dumbledore.

"Brother, you go to the match first. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Oh, wait! Take these!"

Vesey conjured several small mirrors.

"Always check around corners with a mirror. Better safe than sorry!"

With that, she hurried away.

Hermione watched Vesey disappear at the end of the corridor, feeling increasingly uneasy.

"No, I’m going after Vesey. I’ll go with her. You two should head to the Quidditch match first. Don’t miss it!"

She hurried after Vesey.

Harry and Ron exchanged glances. After standing there for a moment, they noticed that the students were streaming toward the Quidditch pitch, so they had no choice but to join the crowd.

Vesey had originally planned to save Hermione from the attack by revealing the truth about the basilisk first, then warning Dumbledore so he could take precautions.

Unexpectedly, when they arrived at Dumbledore’s office, they discovered that he wasn’t there.

Even worse, Hermione had followed her.

And just as they turned around to leave through a corridor, the system notification sounded.

[Ding! Merlin’s Favor has taken effect. Mission issued: Protect Hermione and survive the basilisk’s attack for three minutes. The basilisk must not be killed, and Hermione must not die. Would you like to accept the mission?]

Uh...

It seemed there was no escaping this after all.

Vesey let out a breath.

Fine, then.

"Accept!"

[Ding! Mission accepted. Merlin’s Favor is now in effect!]

The instant the system notification sounded, Vesey shouted, "Hermione, close your eyes!"

Hermione seemed to realise what was happening and squeezed her eyes shut.

"Don’t worry!"

Vesey patted Hermione on the shoulder.

Then she heard something whipping through the air.

Keeping her eyes firmly closed, she could only aim her wand at the creature by instinct.

A flash of red light struck the basilisk.

But it suffered no damage.

It continued lunging toward Vesey.

She could even smell the foul stench coming from its mouth.

"Stone pillars, transform!"

Vesey pointed her wand at a nearby stone pillar.

The pillar immediately sprouted limbs, took heavy steps, and swung its sword at the basilisk.

The basilisk lashed its tail viciously.

Vesey heard the impact and the sound of stone shattering.

Fragments of rock struck her, while dust and debris showered her face.

"Vesey, are you all right?" Hermione shouted anxiously.

"I’m fine... I’ll protect you!"

Because Hermione’s voice had clearly attracted the basilisk’s attention, the creature began targeting her. Vesey immediately cast a protective barrier around Hermione.

The basilisk’s tail slammed into it, shattering the barrier instantly.

Vesey grabbed Hermione and ran toward Dumbledore’s office.

There were two stone monster statues at the entrance. Perhaps she could use them to defend herself as well.

There were also portraits nearby. If they witnessed her efforts, Dumbledore wouldn’t suspect that she had deliberately allowed the attack to happen.

"Oh, my goodness! What is that...?"

A portrait in the corridor opposite Dumbledore’s office shrieked.

"Someone, go and notify Headmaster Dumbledore!"

"He’s been away since this morning!"

"Where are the other professors?"

"They’ve all gone to watch the Quidditch match!"

The portraits throughout the castle began screaming in terror.

They could only watch helplessly as Vesey continued fighting the basilisk.

"Don’t worry! Phineas has already informed Dumbledore. He’ll be back soon. Just hold on!"

One portrait shouted.

"Whatever you do, don’t open your eyes! I know that’s a basilisk. If you look directly into its eyes, you’ll die. Even Dumbledore can’t look at it directly!"

Another portrait cried out.

Listening to the chattering voices, Vesey helplessly realised that nearly every portrait in the castle had gathered to watch.

She glanced at the mission countdown.

Less than a minute remained.

The basilisk smashed another two stone pillars into pieces.

Even the little dragon she’d conjured, which looked remarkably like Norbert, was struck aside by the monster.

"Hermione, stay back! I’ll try something else!"

[Ding! Energy Points +10]

Vesey looked utterly dishevelled.

She wiped the dirt from her face and spoke softly to Hermione.

Hermione suddenly seemed to realise something.

"You’re not allowed to die fighting it, Vesey! Listen to me! Just hold on a little longer. Headmaster Dumbledore will be back soon, and we’ll be fine!

"Even if someone has to die, it should be me, not you!"

Vesey said nothing.

She had released her Obscurus.

A tremendous surge of energy filled the corridor.

Unable to bear the uncertainty any longer, Hermione took out her mirror. She wanted to see how Vesey was doing.

But the moment she opened her eyes, she saw the basilisk’s brass-coloured eyes reflected in the mirror.

Her body stiffened, turning to stone inch by inch.

**Bang!**

As Hermione was petrified, the basilisk was slammed violently into the ground by Vesey.

The entire castle seemed to shake.

The basilisk appeared to be seriously injured. It hissed furiously at Vesey, making threatening noises.

Vesey could understand what it was saying. It was threatening to kill her the next time they met.

She responded with a look of disdain.

The system had told her to spare its life this time, but next time, it wouldn’t be so lucky!

What did it have to be so arrogant about?

Besides, it had already lost.

The basilisk slunk away down the corridor, thoroughly defeated.

Vesey checked the countdown.

Exactly one minute had passed.

She used her Energy Points to fabricate injuries on herself before collapsing to the floor.

"Vesey!"

It was Dumbledore’s voice.

He sounded shocked.

But after examining Vesey, his expression turned grave.

He raised his wand, and a silver phoenix burst forth, leaving a trail of beautiful silver sparks in its wake.