Awards Next Week, No Wands Allowed

Dumbledore looked at Kane's bewildered expression and shrugged casually. "After all, the Basilisk is already dead. Its eyes might not necessarily be more useful than Medusa's Eye."

After speaking, Dumbledore looked again at the Basilisk's corpse, which Kane was about to put into his top hat.

"If you really need money, you might as well sell this snake directly to Professor Snape. Although he doesn't speak very pleasantly, he wouldn't go so far as to forcibly seize a young wizard's spoils... Besides, if you sell it outside, you might even have to pay taxes."

Kane raised an eyebrow. "That suggestion... isn't impossible."

Soon enough, Dumbledore brought a bewildered and astonished Snape into the Chamber of Secrets. Honestly, it was the first time Kane had seen a third expression on Snape's face besides disdain and sarcasm.

But when he saw the Basilisk's corpse, crushed completely flat, his expression changed more than once. There was relief that the Basilisk had been eliminated, acceptance that Dumbledore had arranged everything long ago, and then disgust. After all, the Basilisk's corpse was simply too miserable. "I assume this was your doing, Mr. Heath?"

"Mm-hm." Kane raised an eyebrow and acknowledged it.

Snape did not spew the usual trash talk Kane had expected, though there was still a trace of regret in his voice. "Terrible workmanship, but excellent luck."

After saying that, he seemed to have no idea what else to say. Only after Dumbledore coughed heavily twice did he react. "Gryffindor receives fi... five points."

With a flick of his wand, he tried to take the Basilisk's corpse away. Naturally, Kane could not allow someone to freeload with points, and the Basilisk, wrapped in shadows, hurriedly dodged to one side.

"Severus, you need to pay for it," Dumbledore reminded him.

It was obvious that after