Veteran Members of the Order of the Phoenix

Basilisks were not natural creatures. For thousands of years, they had always been symbols of evil.

That was because the first basilisks recorded in history had usually been created by Dark wizards for some evil purpose.

Starting with the second generation, more and more wizards began creating them for research purposes.

Salazar Slytherin's purpose had been simple: he merely wanted to protect Hogwarts in what he believed was the most suitable way.

Having finally touched Jormungandr's enormous forehead, Vincent let out a sigh.

"The Gaunt Family's last heir is Tom. When he truly dies, you will no longer need to fulfill Slytherin's mission."

Jormungandr seemed to understand him.

It rubbed its forehead against the little hand, and its coiled body completely relaxed.

"Hiss—"

Vincent tilted his little head and thought for a long while.

"Are you talking about Harry?"

"Hiss—"

He seemed able to understand what Jormungandr was saying now. "Harry's Parseltongue wasn't innate?"

"Hiss—"

All seven people present knew that was an affirmative reply.

They might not have been able to speak it, but they could all understand a little Parseltongue.

Vincent was the only one who could be certain.

"Do you know how Harry got his Parseltongue?"

"Hiss—"

That was a negative reply.

Jormungandr seemed to possess the ability to identify its creator.

It had sensed something from Tom, yet it had not found the slightest trace of it in Harry.

"What exactly is going on?" Even Hagrid understood the importance of this information.

He had arrived too late twelve years ago.

When he reached the Potter cottage in Godric's Hollow, the only one still alive had been Little Harry in his swaddling clothes.

The lightning-shaped scar on his forehead was proof—proof that he had survived Voldemort's Killing Curse.

Vincent recalled the first time Harry had seen Quirrell's