The matter of the Basilisk was dealt with promptly, and apart from Dana and Harry, no other young wizards knew about it.
However, the Gryffindor lions did notice something strange about Harry Potter—he actually took the initiative to sit next to Dana Emrys.
"Dana, the apple pie today is really good, wouldn't you like some?"
"No, Harry, I'm not used to eating sweets during meals, and I've almost finished eating anyway. I should go back to the dormitory to study."
"Oh, okay."
Harry felt terrible. It was one thing to suspect Dana during the day, but now he realized he didn't even know his good friend's eating habits.
He returned to the common room dejectedly. Ron came over and asked:
"Harry, why are you suddenly so close to Emrys?"
Harry scratched his head and whispered, "I can tell you, but you have to promise not to tell anyone else."
"Of course! Don't you trust me?"
"Well, it's like this. A few days ago, I heard a strange voice..."
"...I suspected Dana was connected to some dark wizard, so I followed him wearing the Invisibility Cloak..."
"...It was a very, very large snake. Professor McGonagall said it was a Basilisk—" (Ron made a scared and exaggerated expression) "—and I think the voice I heard was the Basilisk talking while moving in the pipes..."
"...Later I found Professor McGonagall. When we were rushing to that corridor, Snape suddenly followed us..."
"...Dana killed the Basilisk without hesitation. I realized I had misunderstood him and felt a bit guilty..."
"That's how it is."
Ron blinked. "You mean you can understand what the Basilisk was saying?"
"Well, I can probably understand it. Before I came to Hogwarts, I once talked to a python at the zoo."
"Wow, cool!"
Suddenly, a head popped out from behind their sofa. It was Hermione.
"I say, haven't you noticed the master behind the Basilisk? The snake is dead, but its master is still around!"
"Hermione! You were eavesdropping on us!" Ron snapped, clearly annoyed.
Hermione shot back, "This is important information! And you didn't share it with me? What if Voldemort steals the Philosopher's Stone because of your secrecy?"
"What does the Philosopher's Stone have to do with Dana?" Ron frowned.
Hermione cleared her throat. "I'm just analyzing the facts, not accusing Dana—Harry, you said the Basilisk said its master needed Dana's help?"
"Yes."
"And you didn't go to Snape, but he suddenly showed up and decided to follow you?"
"Yes."
Hermione spread her hands. "I didn't think Snape was trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone before, but after hearing this, he does seem more suspicious."
"I told you!" Ron said triumphantly.
Hermione glared at him. "We don't know who the Basilisk's master is, but with Snape's past behavior, he's a prime suspect."
Harry frowned. "But Dana already killed the Basilisk. What more trouble could there be?"
Hermione shook her head. "No. Think about it—why did the Basilisk's master want Dana's help? Why would Dana even be capable of helping?"
"I've always felt Dana isn't a bad person," Harry muttered. "But what the Basilisk said... I guess it does make him look suspicious. And he was in Azkaban—so knowing Death Eaters is... not impossible. And Dana is the only one in Gryffindor who gets points from Snape!"
"But Dana killed the Basilisk!" Harry insisted.
Hermione glanced at him. "When the Basilisk appeared, what did Dana say to you?"
"He told me to run and find a professor."
"So... what if he only killed it because you saw it? What if he was trying to cover it up?"
Ron slapped his thigh. "That's right! That could really be it!"
Hermione added, "Hagrid leaked Fluffy's weakness. You think Snape sent Hagrid that dragon egg, right? So the Philosopher's Stone is in danger. If Snape needs a distraction for Dumbledore, Dana could provide it. And then Snape could sneak into the fourth-floor corridor and steal it!"
Ron gasped. "We have to keep an eye on Snape!"
Harry shook his head. Dana had told him to run—he had sounded so genuine, so worried. When McGonagall later explained how deadly the Basilisk was, Harry had broken into a cold sweat. If Dana hadn't warned him, he could have died.
Then, something struck Harry. "Hermione, if Snape really wanted Dana's help, why would he send a Basilisk to deliver the message? Wouldn't he just use a regular student?"
Hermione's mouth opened, but no words came out. Her face flushed red. She quickly turned away and buried herself in her homework.
"Ah! Never mind that! I've got loads of homework to finish!"
The twelve-year-old future Minister of Magic was still just a little girl, after all.
Ron silently laughed. He rarely saw Hermione defeated and gave Harry a sly thumbs-up.
Harry wasn't smiling, though. He touched his chin and said seriously:
"Either way, Fluffy's weakness has been exposed. If Dumbledore's not around, the Philosopher's Stone is really in danger!"
Ron nodded. "So what do we do?"
Harry thought for a moment. "We go talk to Dumbledore."
Voldemort waited quietly in the Chamber of Secrets.
One day. Two days. Three days...
The Basilisk hadn't returned. Even if it hadn't found Dana, it should've come back to rest by now.
It must have been discovered by Dumbledore.
Another failure.
Why was everyone under him useless?
Voldemort knew he couldn't keep going like this. His current state was too weak. Without feeding on energy—on life force—he would eventually wither away. And down here, in the Basilisk's lair, there wasn't even a rat to feed on.
If that happened, he'd be stuck waiting for a "chosen one" to stumble into the Chamber. But who would come? He was the last known descendant of Slytherin in all of Britain.
Pressure brought clarity, and Voldemort's mind suddenly sharpened.
Quirrell had already learned how to deal with Fluffy—the three-headed dog—by playing music. He'd tricked that information out of Hagrid with the dragon egg.
So Voldemort didn't need Dana after all.
He only needed to possess any young wizard—someone weak-minded. Then he could bypass Fluffy easily and take the Philosopher's Stone!
Why had he been so obsessed with Dana Emrys? Sure, the boy was talented, but with that talent came Dumbledore's attention. That's probably how the Basilisk got caught—Dumbledore must have been watching Dana closely.
Voldemort groaned inwardly at the thought.
He spun through the pipes and made his way to the Slytherin common room.
Among the sons and daughters of Death Eaters, there were always a few willing hearts... and far fewer obstacles to possession.
End of the Chapter.
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