I approached the entrance to the second-floor girls' bathroom, my mind racing with the possibilities of what I could accomplish today. Stepping up to the cold, cracked sink, I leaned close to the tap and hissed in Parseltongue.
The water in the tap shuddered and twisted, moving aside to reveal the familiar hidden passageway. Stairs materialized before me, curling downward into darkness.
I whispered again, "Show me the path to your secrets."
The staircase shifted slightly, acknowledging my words, and I descended, my boots echoing softly on the stone steps. I reached the end and entered the first pipe, sliding through it like I had done many times before. Soon, I arrived at the massive second entrance, the old doors creaking open as I hissed once more.
The Chamber of Secrets lay before me, grander and more foreboding than any classroom I'd ever entered. Shadows danced across the stone walls, illuminated by the faint glow of enchanted torches. The statue of Salazar Slytherin loomed at the far end, eyes glinting as if alive.
I approached it slowly, hands brushing over the cold stone, and hissed again. "Awaken."
A low, rumbling hiss answered me. The Basilisk slithered from the mouth of the statue, its enormous, glistening body coiling and stretching across the chamber floor. Its eyes, hidden by lids, seemed almost aware of me — cautious, but recognizing the heir of Slytherin.
I crouched slightly, speaking softly in Parseltongue. "You know me. You follow me. I am your master now."
The Basilisk's tongue flicked, tasting the air, and it responded with a low, rumbling hiss. "You are strong… different. I feel it in you."
I smiled faintly. "Of course I am. But we have work to do, old friend. I'm not here for simple loyalty — I'm here to prepare you, to make you a weapon the wizarding world won't even see coming."
It hissed again, a sound almost like agreement, and slithered closer, coiling around the base of the statue.
I crouched beside it, running my hand along its scaled head. "We'll need more than brute strength. I want precision, control… cunning. You'll learn to move silently, strike without warning, and obey my command even when others falter. Can you do that?"
The Basilisk tilted its head, and a faint, almost imperceptible vibration seemed to pass through its body. I smiled wider. "Good. That's what I like to hear. We'll start training immediately."
I began to direct it through movement exercises, hissing commands and demonstrating how to coil, strike, and respond with lethal precision. The creature moved with an almost uncanny understanding, mimicking my instructions, reacting to the slightest change in my tone or posture.
"This is incredible," I murmured to myself, a note of admiration in my voice. "With this kind of power at my command…"
A sudden hiss made me glance toward the far wall. "Do you understand why I'm teaching you this?" I asked, voice low but firm. "You are not just a weapon. You are part of something far greater. We are preparing for the world that doesn't know what's coming."
The Basilisk flicked its tail, and I chuckled. "Good. That's exactly the reaction I wanted."
I stood back and let it slither fully around the statue. "Remember this moment. You follow me, and in return, I will make sure you are the deadliest creature this castle has ever seen."
I felt a thrill of satisfaction. Training the Basilisk was one thing, but teaching it control, obedience, and tactical understanding was another. I could already envision how it would dominate in combat, alongside my Death Eaters.
I whispered, almost to myself, "One day, this will be nothing compared to what I'm capable of… but even now, the power we wield together is unmatched."
The Basilisk lowered its massive head to mine, almost reverently, as if acknowledging the bond between master and heir. I ran a hand along its head again, feeling the pulse of its magic and potential.
"Good," I said finally. "We'll begin proper exercises tomorrow. For now, rest. You'll need your strength."
The creature hissed once more, coiling tightly around the statue. I straightened, glancing around the Chamber, already thinking about the next stage of training. I could feel the power of Slytherin coursing through this place, amplifying everything I did here.
"Soon," I whispered, "everything will be mine to command."