The Awakened Ghost

At the same time, in order to remind himself not to get caught up in false memories, Ales even invented a spell.

After this spell was cast on himself, it would periodically copy the memories in his mind and let them drift out. The Memory Thread would then automatically float into a crystal bottle for storage. Ales used this method to review his memories every now and then, reliving the events he had experienced to ensure that his memories were not confused.

Sean was speechless...

Manipulating other people's memories sounds sophisticated, but turning yourself into Achieving Godhood is a losing proposition.

However, Ales did record several spells he invented, all related to memory. These included how to steal someone else's memories without being detected, how to cast a powerful Memory Charm, and how to create new memories and transfer them into someone else's mind.

Ales has a lot of experience with this. He has recorded the entire process of manipulating memory in his notebook, highlighting one word: professional.

However, since he learned the Parseltongue and entered the Stone Chamber, how could he have died in this compartment?

Sean did not discover any other danger besides the Basilisk.

This notebook should more accurately be called an autobiography. Ales recorded his entire life story in order to constantly remind himself of his past.

Sean skimmed through it. After graduating from Hogwarts, Ales became obsessed with the study of memories. He kept stealing other people's memories, and it was in this process that his self-awareness began to have serious problems.

However, instead of stopping, he chose to manipulate his memories to avoid problems.

Just like what Ales himself wrote.

"I understand deeply that memory is not just a fragment of thought, and those who try to manipulate it will eventually be devoured—but I really can't resist the pleasure that comes from peeking into life, which can even outweigh the two Galleon a bottle of Firewhisky and the five Galleon Pink Witch from Knockturn Alley."

This guy's got some fancy moves...

In his notes, Ales mentions that he stole the memories of a member of the Gaunt Family. He spent a lot of time teaching himself a fragmented version of Parseltongue (the Gaunt Family member in his memories did not explain the specific meaning of Parseltongue), and at the same time became interested in the Slytherin treasures in his memories.

"According to that unfortunate fellow's memory, Slytherin left a treasure in the Common Room. Strangely enough, his parents warned him not to try to go in there before he was strong enough."

"I think Slytherin might have set up some kind of trap to test their offspring. It must be very dangerous, but it also proves how powerful the treasures inside are. Hehe, maybe Slytherin will leave his memories inside!"

"I must go and see."

Sean looked down at Ales's skeleton. He'd come, and he was dead for good...

However, Ales did leave Sean some good stuff.

He meticulously recorded the pronunciation of the Parseltongue in his notebook and used snakes to conduct experiments to deduce the specific meanings of various pronunciations.

Sean was amazed. No matter what kind of person Ales was, he was definitely a genius.

Sean tried learning a few segments and was surprised to find that his Parseltongue fluency had increased to 280/10000.

Just like when Gormlaith taught him, his learning progress was exceptionally fast. Could it be that he truly possessed Slytherin blood?

However, learning Parseltongue isn't necessarily a bad thing. As the saying goes, learning another language means seeing another world, and mastering a foreign language is always beneficial.

Sean didn't have time to study in detail, put away the notebook and the crystal bottle containing Ales's memories.

Then, he stood in front of the huge box.

The box was made of black wooden planks, the joints were loose, and the plank facing Sean was about to fall over.

Despite his own efforts indicating no danger, the skeletons before him presented Sean with a dilemma.

Should I open it or not...?

Just as Sean was hesitating, perhaps the opening of the compartment shook the box, and the already shaky wooden plank fell straight down.

Sean leaped back onto the corridor, grabbing the Phoenix Feather in his hand.

Dave and Obscurus did not send any warning signals, and the High-Precision Sneakoscope could not light up or rotate.

Sean then poked his head out and was surprised to find a phantom-like figure floating above the open box.

That wasn't a ghost; it looked like a projection left behind using some kind of magic.

It was a male wizard dressed in a simple robe. He looked like an old, decrepit monkey, with a calm and indifferent expression. Even as a phantom projection, you could see the shrewdness and arrogance in his eyes.

Sean immediately recognized Salazar Slytherin.

He tilted his head back slightly and spoke slowly, his voice aged and weary.

"My descendant, you have finally opened this place. I wonder how many years have passed," it was indeed a projection. Slytherin's gaze was unfocused as he murmured to himself.

"Godric and the others are beyond redemption. My old friends have even forgotten the honor of being Pure-blood —I will be leaving Hogwarts, but before that, I want to leave something behind."

Sean's gaze fell on the box. Inside the open box was a stone platform with a wide, shallow dish on it, just like the Pensieve in the Headmaster's Office.

A deep blue gem floats beside the Pensieve, seemingly twinkling on its own, becoming transparent with each twinkle.

"My descendant, I have left you three things," said the Slytherin projection. "First, a gem from the forehead of a Horned Serpent. If you have a wand with a Horned Serpent horn as its core, set this gem into the base of the wand, and it will grant you temporary invisibility and the ability to fly."

"Secondly, an egg. Of course, many years later, this egg may have rotted and decayed, or even completely weathered away, but if I'm not mistaken, it should contain the skeleton of Little Snakes basilisk. The Basilisk's fangs will retain terrible venom, which will become a sharp weapon in your hand. If possible, observe the magical traces on the Basilisk's skeleton—don't worry, the gaze of a dead Basilisk no longer possesses any killing power. This is both a gift to you and one of my wishes, which is to thoroughly study this kind of creature, the Basilisk."

Eggs? But I haven't seen any, not even the so-called Basilisk skeleton... Wait, Sean looked stiffly to the other side.

The Basilisk that had nearly killed Sean was idly flicking its tail, its upper half submerged in the water seemingly swaying, and Sean could even hear some muffled water sounds.

Could this guy have hatched from that Basilisk egg left behind by Slytherin?

In "Research and Communication on Basilisk Habits," Slytherin mentions that he once tried to let the Basilisk reproduce naturally, but in the end he only obtained an egg that could not hatch...

Slytherin left behind that egg, and that egg hatched on its own over the long Years?!

The projection is still talking.

"Third, I have left you a memory containing a spell I demonstrated myself and a secret about Hogwarts Castle."

"My descendants, inherit my will, become the purest Slytherin, show me your shrewdness and ambition, and carry on the glory of Pure-blood."

"Gryffindor's courage, Ravenclaw's wisdom, Hufflepuff's perseverance—absorb and utilize the qualities of other houses. We embrace all the necessary conditions for success, even if it means using any means necessary... Remember Salazar Slytherin's creed."

The aged projection paused for a moment, then shouted in a deep voice, "Victory is paramount!"

After uttering those words, Slytherin's illusory figure gradually dissipated.

Sean's mind, however, was entirely focused on the Basilisk.

This Basilisk, unlike any other, was not born from a toad hatching a male egg, but rather from a naturally bred egg.

In other words, Slytherin did not foresee the existence of this Basilisk?!

That makes sense. Gormlaith never mentioned any danger here, because Slytherin didn't know there was Basilisk here!

The hole was normal; it was probably built by Slytherin for another Basilisk, except that guy was already lying on the school playground.

Wait a minute... Sean frowned. What about these three skeletons?

If they all suffered the same fate as Sean, and without the protection of ' Pride,' they would have died instantly, then their bones should be in the Stone Chamber. It's impossible that the Basilisk moved them there to keep their corpses warm...

That means there's a big problem with that Pensieve; anyone who enters it could die.

Although I've never heard of the Pensieve being able to kill, even Dumbledore wouldn't dare say he fully understands the secrets of the Wizarding World. All sorts of bizarre phenomena keep appearing, and no one can explain them clearly.

Slytherin's memories were certainly tempting, but Sean decided not to take the risk; who knew what was inside?

However, at that moment, a semi-transparent figure suddenly appeared beside Sean.

It was a pale ghost, it was Gormlaith Gaunt!

Oh no! I've been unconscious for too long, the magic of the Nihilo Intuor has worn off, and Gormlaith's frozen soul has returned to normal!

The ring, which had been enchanted with Undetectable Extension Charm, clearly couldn't hold a ghost.

Isn't it said that ghosts can only roam in the places they stayed in life? How can Gormlaith Gaunt still exist here?

Before he could even think about the problem, Sean immediately realized what was going on. He pulled out his wand and cast Nihilo Intuor again.

However, Gormlaith clearly realized what was happening. She didn't know where she was, but that didn't stop her from noticing the Basilisk next to her!

"Hiss—" she hissed.

Before Sean could freeze her any further, the Basilisk, which had been half-exposed, shrank back at a speed completely out of proportion to its size!

Today's update is amazing! Two chapters of 3000 words each, plus a 4000-word long chapter tonight.