Harry shook his head before muttering about stalker ghosts and evil Seers. Approaching the sinks, Harry opened his mouth and hissed, "Open."
Luna let out a slight squeal at the used of Parseltongue—not one of fear, but one of delight. Turning to look at her, she looked completely unashamed and beamed at him. "Stairs," he said and watched at the slide transformed. Harry turned to Luna and said, "Follow me."
Luna nodded and followed Harry down the stairs into the Chamber, keeping at a slight distance as the disillusioned body of Lockhart was floating behind him. Just before entering the main chamber, Harry flicked his wand and lit the torches. "Stay here for a moment while I tell Aithusia about you, I don't want her to accidently harm you."
Luna nodded and bounced on the spot. "Okay," she said, her excitement obvious.
Harry shook his
head. Most people would have a small amount of fear meeting a legendary Dark creature like a basilisk yet Luna looked like all of her dreams were about to come true.
"Aithusia," he called out.
"Hello, youngling," appearing from antechambers.
the one
snake of
said, the
"I've brought you a present but first, I have a friend with me. She's waiting outside, would it be okay if I called her so she could meet you?"
"Yes little one, bring in your friend. I will judge to see if they are worthy for being a speaker's friend." Harry nodded and called out to Luna to join him.
Turning back to the snake he saw that her yellow eyes were focused on the still disillusioned Lockhart. With a wave of his hand the body became solid once again and Aithusia hissed.
"Is this my present, youngling?" she asked, the tongue scenting the man.
"Yes."
Luna appeared by his side, her blue eyes wide. "She's beautiful, my Lord," she said, any hint of dreaminess in her voice hidden by her sheer awe. Aithusia hissed in pleasure. "A smart friend, youngling, clearly she has great taste. You've picked well."
Luna looked at Harry. "What did she say, my Lord?"
"She says you're a good friend, little moon," he said, finding it funny that it took a simple compliment to win over a 1000 year old basilisk. Then again, she could probably smell Luna's emotions and knew she was pure-spirited.
"Little one, why have you brought me a man as a present?"
Harry turned his attention back to the great snake who was still staring at Lockhart with unblinking fascination. Quickly telling the snake what the man had done, Harry had to take a step back as she began hissing in fury; some of the words even he couldn't make out. It was the first time the snake sounded anything less than human.
"Stupid man, eat him, crush him, poison him! Thinks he can hurt my youngling? My speaker child?"
"I take it she doesn't like peacock?" Luna asked from her position hidden behind him.
"Shall I awaken him for you, Aithusia?"
"Yes!" Harry almost felt sorry for the man. Almost.
Flicking his hand again, Harry watched as the man turned and grumbled about being bald and fat, making Harry snort as that must have been his nightmare. The man quickly gathered his bearings and he shot up after a few seconds. His blue eyes first focusing on Harry and then Luna, who was poking her head around him to get a better look at what was about to happen.
"Potter!" he growled before a loud hissing filled the air. Turning, he wasn't prepared for the sight that met him.
Harry watched as the man turned around and blanched. He had never seen somebody go so white so quickly and feared the man would pass out. Gilderoy looked at the giant snake in front of him and felt his bladder give, before blackness took over.
Harry wrinkled his nose at the scene and sent a Rennervate at the man.
"Pathetic creature," Aithusia hissed.
Lockhart blinked twice before letting out a high pitched shriek and scrambling back. Reaching for where he kept his wand and panicking when he came up empty, he continued to scramble away. Seeing this, Harry whistled to gain his attention and pulled out he man's wand. Lockhart locked eyes on his wand and screamed, "Potter! Save me! Kill it!"
Harry laughed lowly. "Why would I kill her? She's my friend."
"It's a bloody monster! Kill it, boy! Now!"
Harry's eyes narrowed. "I don't like it when people call me boy and she is not a monster. She is a beautiful basilisk, the familiar of Salazar Slytherin himself. Aithusia, don't listen to the fool, you're not a monster."
Lockhart stared incomprehensibly. "Y-you're a parselmouth?" he whispered, horrified by the discovery. "Yes," Harry said plainly.
"You're a freak! A Dark monster!"
Harry felt his magic strain to let out. "Aithusia, I'm tired of his words; enjoy your meal and have a great Yule. I've asked some house-elves to make sure you're brought some rabbits and other things to eat while I'm away," Harry said, his voice strained even though he was talking in Parseltongue.
"Youngling, his words are meaningless. You are not a freak! You are a wizard beyond the dreams of many and he is nothing. Don't let him affect you."
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