At the critical moment, the giant python's tongue flicked out, and the youthful voice came again: "But this isn't my food, Salazar and I agreed not to eat young wizards!"
"Ah?" Salazar Slytherin, Thomas knew he was one of Hogwarts' founders. Was this giant python his pet?
He immediately stopped his hand signs and, incidentally, grabbed Severus's hand, preventing him from casting a spell.
As he breathed a sigh of relief, he felt a pain in his mouth and gasped, covering it: "Brother Snake, if you have such an agreement, I suggest you engrave it on the wall so people can see it at a glance, alright?"
Fortunately, this small body's fingers weren't nimble enough, unlike his previous life where he could complete these gestures in an instant.
"But, you two smell so good." The giant python's head drew closer to the brothers, constantly flicking its tongue, seemingly inhaling the lingering scent in the air.
"..." Thomas realized that this snake was unlike most he had seen; it seemed to have a low IQ!
Severus covered his mouth and nose with his hand, his muffled voice coming through: "Thomas, what is it saying?" This time it wasn't due to fear, but because the smell from the giant python's mouth was truly awful!
"...He's complimenting you."
"???"
The candles on the wall suddenly flickered, and the giant python seemed to have heard a command: "young wizard, you can understand me!" Its tone was filled with surprise.
"Yes, Mr. Python?" Thomas hesitated for a moment but didn't lie. If it was Slytherin's pet, then it was probably a 'long-term resident' of Hogwarts, right?
Perhaps they could use this python to find their way home.
Severus heard Thomas making hissing sounds like a snake, seemingly communicating with the giant python in front of them.
He breathed a sigh of relief; being able to communicate meant this snake wasn't just a mindless killing creature.
A hint of envy appeared in Severus's eyes as he looked at Thomas. A snake charmer seemed incredibly cool!
"Great! I've finally waited for another heir of Slytherin! My name is Aegis, and I am your ancestor's most important companion." It emphasized the words 'most important'.
"What?" This was too sudden: "I don't understand, why have we become heirs of Slytherin?"
Although becoming a heir of a Hogwarts founder sounded like a good thing that would lead to instant success, when good things fall from the sky, he always felt there was a trap ahead!
"No, only you. Hogwarts told me that you are a born Parseltongue Speaker, and only the Slytherin family has this talent!"
"Is that so." His talent didn't belong to this world: "I think you're mistaken, my Parseltongue talent isn't inherited from Slytherin."
"Impossible, absolutely impossible! A Parseltongue Speaker isn't an ordinary Parseltongue Speaker! I can feel a comforting aura on you." His tone was firm: "And Hogwarts wouldn't lie to me!"
Thomas thought that the 'Hogwarts' the giant python mentioned, which brought them here, must be the spirit of this Castle?
Thomas was certain it intended to force a sale... He wouldn't think this snake was too stupid and no longer wanted to keep it at Hogwarts, would he?
But when under someone else's roof, one must bow their head: "Then, to become an heir of Slytherin, what do you, sir, need me to do?"
"Hey, kid, this is the noble heir of Slytherin, why does your tone sound like I'm forcing you?" The giant python, Aegis, heard the reluctance in Thomas's voice and said discontentedly.
It flicked its tail, directly knocking a corner off a stone pillar in the stone chamber. The loud noise startled both people and the snake in the room.
Wasn't it? Thomas thought he was showing off his strength, so he forced a very insincere fake smile: "Not at all, look how happily I'm smiling."
But Aegis was actually clumsy; due to its massive size, such accidents often happened.
It was also scared, so it quickly coiled its tail beneath itself, pretending nothing had happened.
"So, what do I need to do to become an heir of Slytherin?" Thomas asked the question again.
The Basilisk raised its head high: "Of course, inherit Slytherin's legacy!"
"?" Such a good thing? Could it be that he was truly blessed by the Transmigration God again: "Where is it!"
"As you can see, I, Aegis, the most precious and powerful Basilisk in the world! Am the greatest legacy left by Lord Slytherin."
"...But I can't take you away. As soon as we leave this Chamber of Secrets, I guarantee we'll become the focus of attention for all the teachers and students."
The Basilisk spat out a parchment and a quill from its mouth: "As long as we sign this master-pet contract, I can shrink."
Severus silently backed away several steps: "Thomas, what is this?"
"'Hogwarts' wants this Basilisk to sign a contract with me. I guess we can only leave if we sign it."
He didn't really want to take it. Thomas looked at the quill, still covered in drool, with a sickly expression.
Looking at the parchment and quill, which emitted a strange odor, Severus: suddenly wasn't so envious anymore.
"young wizard, what are you waiting for?" Aegis urged: "The kid before you, when he found out he was a descendant of Slytherin, was ecstatic!"
Thomas was curious: "Then why didn't you leave with him?"
"He had other snakes! How could I share a master with other snakes!" the Basilisk said indignantly, still angry at the thought.
He told that boy to give up that little snake, but the boy, who had been so enthusiastic a moment before, insisted and wouldn't let go. Did he think Lord Aegis was inferior to other snakes!
"Then I also have..."
"Sign quickly, kid, I can smell it, you don't have the scent of other snakes on you. If you keep dragging your feet, I'll eat you." Aegis threatened.
Of course, it no longer posed any danger in Thomas's mind; it was even cuter than a pet, a kind of clumsy cuteness.
Alas, Thomas sighed inwardly: Who knew! His resistance to cute pets was even lower than to fierce beasts; he was cornered... He steeled his heart, using two fingers to pinch open the parchment. Rather than a master-pet contract, it was more like an equal contract, where the pet was not in a passive position.
However, the Basilisk's combat power was not weak, and signing a contract with it now would definitely be an advantage!
But Thomas felt that Severus needed protection more than he did: "I need to sign this contract with my brother."
"No, he's not a Parseltongue Speaker!"
"He can learn, I promise I'll teach him."
"No!"
"Hey, Aegis, think about it, a snake having two masters at once, isn't that like a person having two snakes at once?" Thomas cajoled the Basilisk: "It's a very impressive thing, isn't it!"
Aegis thought for a long time and indeed fell for it: "You make a good point! Then you two sign it together." Its voice sounded very happy.
I'm relieved that you're so easy to trick.
"Severus, come here, he wants to sign this contract with both of us!"
"...Can I too?" Severus hesitated a little. Thomas pulled him over, and he didn't even notice that his mischievous brother had grabbed him with the hand that held the parchment.
"Of course, I'll teach you Parseltongue later, don't worry."
"Can Parseltongue be learned?"
"Of course, when have I ever lied to you! The languages of all animals have patterns. If you understand the rules and principles of pronunciation, anyone who isn't a fool can learn a part of it, enough for simple communication."
Severus's eyes sparkled, and he obediently picked up the quill and signed his name after Thomas's.
As the last letter of Severus's name fell, the writing on the parchment seemed to come alive, shimmering with a faint glow.
Immediately after, three dazzling white lights suddenly rose from the paper and flew into the bodies of the two people and the snake.
The parchment also seemed to have completed its mission, spontaneously combusting into a pile of ashes.
The magic contract was officially concluded at this moment; it linked the souls of the contractors!
An unexpected journey, gaining a super-powerful fighting force, was a huge profit!
Thomas looked at the Basilisk, which was like a small mountain: "Aegis, can't you shrink? Hurry up, we need to go. Do you know how to get to the One-Eyed Witch statue?"
Without a watch, unable to see the sun, and not knowing how much time had passed, Annie would be worried if they returned too late.
Before the giant python could answer, a wall in the Chamber of Secrets suddenly slowly separated to both sides.
As the wall parted, a wide stone staircase appeared ahead... And what Thomas didn't know was that the moment they entered Hogwarts, Mr. and Mrs. Brown learned of their 'disappearance' and were now mobilizing the entire village to search for them...
(TL note: bear with it, I want to change the contract thing but honestly it's not that bad, plus taoist techniques and shit are already implied)