Entering the Mirror World Again

Watching Dumbledore, Snape narrowed his eyes and questioned, "You feel at ease just because you haven't found any trace of Dark Magic?"

Dumbledore handed half an ice cream to Snape, saying, "Without the Basilisk's help, it won't be so easy for the ' Heir ' to harm Hogwarts in the same way as before."

Snape crossed his arms and shrank back, refusing to take the popsicle Dumbledore offered. "What if he joins forces with the Pure-blood Family to create another disturbance?"

Dumbledore placed half an ice cream bar on a plate. "Then you'll kick me out of Hogwarts, make a Pure-blood Family headmaster, and then implement Pure-blood reforms?"

"If the ' Heir ' is really willing to do that, I would be very happy to accept it all... After all, I also want to know which Pure-blood Family are not so well-behaved."

Snape's lips curled into a mocking smile, his eyes flashing with a cold light. "Cornelius Fudge's growing wariness of you is indeed for a reason."

Dumbledore shrugged, chewing on an ice cream, and said somewhat vaguely, "I just think... getting rid of some destabilizing factors will make Hogwarts better, that's all."

"But The Daily Prophet won't be reporting on these things right now... Have you been reading the Quibbler? That magazine is getting more and more interesting, I've subscribed to it all year round."

Snape stood up. "Since you've made up your mind, I have nothing more to say."

"Oh, right!" Dumbledore added as he saw Snape turn away, "Regarding Lockhart's application for the Duelling Club, it mentioned that he needed an assistant, and I put your name on it."

"Do as you please!" Snape glanced back at Dumbledore. "Hopefully he won't flee Hogwarts tonight!"

Wizet cast Ancient Magic: Self-Shaping (Devil's Snare Form), which wrapped around the Basilisk like a bracelet of grass and wood.

A person and a snake traveled through the pipes and arrived at the room where the Mirror of Erised was kept.

"Salazar ... Slytherin ...Mirror..." The Basilisk seemed very excited, pacing back and forth in front of the Mirror of Erised.

"Close your eyes and follow my Devil's Snare," Wizet said in Parseltongue. "We're going to see Slytherin Headmaster."

The Basilisk closed its eyes and urged, "Okay... faster... faster..."

When Wizet cast her Magic Eye, the Mirror of Erised should have changed and emitted a dazzling silver-blue light, just like last time.

The situation is different now, though; the Mirror of Erised still shows no reaction.

"Since Slytherin Headmaster mentioned Spell Command ..." Wizet looked at the Mirror of Erised, pondering how to enter the Mirror World, "Perhaps I need to use Spell Command as a 'key'?"

With the help of the Guardian Meditation, the serpentine "?" in his mind Spell Command extremely clear, clear enough to be projected into the Mirror of Erised.

The original three unique images disappeared, and the mirror image reflected in Wizet's mind, showing the python-shaped "?" Spell Command pattern.

"N (nauthiz)!" Wizet whispered the incantation, and the Mirror of Erised finally reacted, bursting forth with a strong silver-blue light that engulfed him and the Basilisk.

When Wizet came to her senses, he was already in the Mirror World.

Unlike the eerie experience of entering this place for the first time, the center of the Mirror World now features a statue of Salazar Slytherin.

As Slytherin's skin regained its color, the snake statue snaked down to the ground, transforming into a long staircase.

"Much faster than I expected." Slytherin slowly stood up, hissing in Parseltongue voice, "Long time no see..."

The Basilisk replied, "Salazar... Slytherin... Salazar... Slytherin..."

Despite the still cold and malicious tone, Wizet could detect a different feeling in it.

The cold and vicious tone, like the Basilisk's sharp fangs and glaring eyes, is its innate instinct.

Its unwavering devotion and loyalty to Slytherin is what makes it unique, something it has gradually accumulated over time.

"You've changed a lot..." Slytherin remarked, gently stroking the Basilisk's scales. "You've had a tough time these past few days..."

The Basilisk coiled around Slytherin, its voice becoming somewhat slurred, "It won't... get stuck..."

Slytherin nodded and gently patted the Basilisk's head. "Of course... you can have a good sleep."

The Basilisk's body rose and fell slightly, as if it were resting on Slytherin's promise, and then it fell into a deep sleep.

Wizet looked at the Basilisk with a complicated expression. He felt that the Basilisk at this moment... was like a simple-minded child.

Slytherin said, "It's just a Magical creature, so it's not that complicated."

Wizet was puzzled. "But it... doesn't feed on ' Muggle-born ' students; it eats all sorts of small animals."

Slytherin asked, "What is the biggest difference between the Basilisk and other Magical creature...?"

"The biggest difference?" Wizet frowned slightly, his mind flashing through various information related to the Basilisk. "It was specially bred... just like the Acromantula."

"Slytherin Headmaster, you mean... this is the result of your training?" He recalled records related to Salazar Slytherin and information about the Basilisk's habits.

"The Basilisk clearly preys on all flesh and blood, yet it just stays in its Chamber of Secrets, feeding on all sorts of small animals... So its role isn't 'cleaning'... but 'guarding'?"

"An interesting idea." Slytherin smiled. "Washing is a necessary means; some stains always require more effective cleaning agents..."

Wizet was still somewhat puzzled and continued, "Slytherin Headmaster, I still don't quite understand. What is your true purpose?"

Slytherin stroked his beard, gazing at Wizet, and said, "Very interesting information... You really put in a lot of effort to complete the test. Is this how people in later generations think?"

"I can satisfy your curiosity. At least I don't care at all about what you consider ' Pure-blood '. If we had to base it on that, how many talented people would Slytherin lose?"

"Strong, intelligent, resourceful, and determined, with a disregard for rules and an ambition that is even rarer than courage... these are the qualities I hope they possess."

"Ambition is even rarer than courage?" Wizet suddenly thought of the tradition before the Sorting Ceremony —upperclassmen would always tacitly exaggerate the horror of the Sorting Ceremony.

"Could it be... that the legend of the Chamber of Chamber of Secrets and the Basilisk is actually a test for you? It has been passed down to filter out those with ulterior motives? Especially those from ' Muggle-born '?"