In Harry Potter as Neville Longbottom - Chapter 99: Where will you go?
Professor Ravenclaw floated inside the opened suitcase and found the most astonishing sight she could have ever possibly imagined.
In front of her eye, there was a huge snake, big enough to devour a troll but bound by Devil’s snare. It was so tightly locked in its place, that it barely had any space to move.
“This is…?” Professor pointed towards the Basilisk and asked Neville.
“A living breathing Basilisk, caught from the secret chambers of Salazar Slytherin,” Neville replied looking innocent and calm.
“A Basilisk? Did you trap a Basilisk? Neville Longbottom, have you gone mad? Explain this to me…NOW!” Professor Ravenclaw was furious.
How come, one of the most talented students in Hogwarts and her own personal student, the first in the history of Hogwarts, can be so stupid?
“Of course, Professor. However, I brought you here so you can decide what to do with this beast.” Neville replied and used the Patronus charm to call his shy fox out and help them in communicating with the beast.
Before Professor could ask about the Patronus, the fox passed through the Basilisk and circled around the Professor.
“Release me! I don’t deserve to die! Release me!” These thoughts suddenly became vocal, and Professor connected the voices with the beast that was trapped in front of her.
“And why should we release you? You are a Basilisk. A single drop of your venom can pollute an entire lake and kill everything inside it. You can murder just by staring at your prey. And… there is not a single natural predator for you.
Tell me Basilisk, why should we release you?” Professor retorted.
“Just because I was born a Basilisk does not mean I should be subjected to death! Since the day I was born, Hogwarts has been my home. I have spent centuries in this place and how many murders and hunts have I done?
You speak of me, as I am some terrible monster that has been unleashed upon your Hogwarts. But I am this castle’s Guardian Beast. The only beast that has the strength to keep all those creatures from Dark Forest and Black Lake in check.
I have been protecting this place, safeguarding it from external attacks and you…Do you really think that boy could have caught me on his own?”
The Basilisk hissed in a low pitch, but his words were quite clear and loud enough to silence the Professor and Neville.
“Let’s start from the beginning then. Why did the great Salazar choose you as their guardian beast?” After a minute, the professor asked another question.
“Because the person you call Great Salazar, was just father for me. My father. The one who brought me to this world. When I just hatched from an egg, he was there waiting for me. For decades, only he would come and take care of me as I grew.
Other creatures and other beings were afraid of my mere presence but not him. Never him. He could speak my language and he could understand my feelings.
Even though he kept me in the basement, he never trapped me. I was free to wander the castle as I pleased. I had food from the Merpeople and my father would take me on regular hunts to make sure our home is safe.
I promised him even when he was going away that I will always protect our home. From anyone and everyone. I will keep Hogwarts safe and make sure, it remains the sanctuary for the wizarding kids.
But everything changed when his crazy descendant came into Hogwarts. That boy… was a terrible… terrible beast and I could not do anything.
The blood of Salazar flew inside him, protecting him from me and giving him the ability to command my actions. What was I supposed to do? You human brought such a monster inside Hogwarts yourself and yet today, you dare call me one!
Today, you are punishing me for crimes I have never committed!”
Basilisk was roaring in anger by the time he finished his speech.
Professor Ravenclaw didn’t reply or said anything but floated around the Basilisk and kept looking at his gigantic body. It was clear to her that if the Basilisk ever wanted to start a hunt inside the school, it would have taken a lot of sacrifices just to stop him.
However, in the history of Hogwarts, only one student ever lost her life. Only one. Even though there are thousands of deadly creatures hiding inside the forest and lake, no student ever died there. The school has been a safe place for the kids for centuries before Headmaster Dumbledore even came here as a student.
“If you are released Basilisk, where will you go? The secret chamber has been discovered by the professors and Aurors are watching Hogwarts very closely right now.
You have no other place to hide, no other place to hunt and wherever you go, you will bring death and calamity upon that area. It won’t take more than a decade for wizards to notice your presence and when they do, you will face a fate worse than death.
So, tell me again, where will you go?”
The Professor asked again silencing the huge beast.
“I….I…” Basilisk tried to say something before changing the message.
“I want to see the sky once. The morning sky, the afternoon sky and the night sky. I want to see the sky before you decided my fate.” The Basilisk spoke after a long time breaking the suffocating silence inside the suitcase.
Neville who has been watching the serpent king felt that a Basilisk was truly a cursed creature. Unlike Dragons or Unicorns or other dangerous creatures, he has no habitat.
Born with magic but his life can result in countless deaths. He served Hogwarts his entire life because it was his home, but blood magic forced him to hurt and kill those who he wanted to protect.
Even Salazar Slytherin would have never guessed what kind of Shakespearean drama would happen to the Guardian Beast he appointed for Hogwarts.
“Very well! This wish can be fulfilled. Neville Longbottom, bring him to the top of Astronomy Tower. Tomorrow, there is no class, and I shall share the view of the sky with our friend here.” Professor spoke before leaving the suitcase and Neville followed her.
Neville wore the invisible cloak, and the suitcase was charmed with flying magic making it easy and convenient for Neville to drag that suitcase to the top of Astronomy tower.