The four immediately gathered around and began to analyze the situation in hushed tones.
Hermione was the first to grasp the logic. "The seal has been constantly rotating, keeping the Chamber of Secrets open, awakening the Basilisk, hatching the eggs... It's the energy core of the entire Chamber of Secrets."
"But we can't attack directly, it will trigger the defense."
Harry said,
Hagrid added gruffly, "That thing is tied to Slytherin; you can't force it."
Draco's eyes narrowed, and he uttered the key point:
"This is Slytherin contract seal, so it only recognizes one command: Parseltongue."
"An attack might trigger a backlash, but if you command it to sleep using the correct Parseltongue, it should obediently stop."
Hermione immediately grasped the idea. "So—we're not trying to destroy the cursed seal, but rather to shut it down using Parseltongue!"
"You don't need to attack; just try saying to it in Parseltongue: 'Return to slumber, close the Chamber of Secrets, end the curse.'"
Draco spoke to Harry, Harry nodded deeply, his gaze fixed on the dark green, swirling sigil in mid-air.
He let out another hiss, a sound only snakes could understand.
It was not an attack, not a provocation, but an order.
"Return to slumber, close the Chamber of Secrets, and end the curse!"
The curse seal trembled violently.
The previously dim green light suddenly brightened, turning the entire Chamber of Secrets a ghastly green.
The stone snake statue trembled, and the snake skins scattered on the ground rustled.
Everyone held their breath.
The next second, the light of the cursed seal dimmed little by little, its rotation slowed down, and the patterns receded like the tide.
There was no explosion, no backlash, no loud noise.
Like a lamp that has been gently blown out.
The Chamber of Secrets fell completely silent.
At the same time, the snake egg in the mouth of the Slytherin statue rapidly lost its texture and then shriveled up.
The strange life force it originally contained completely dissipated, turning it into an ordinary stone egg.
Draco let out a soft breath:
"It's done. The curse... is broken."
Hermione gazed at the now-peaceful Chamber of Secrets, her eyes slightly moist. "It's over. It's really over."
"Fifty years... I can finally hold my head high again." Hagrid felt incredibly relieved.
Hagrid stood there, his massive body trembling slightly.
He didn't speak, but simply looked at the darkness that no longer exuded evil, at the curse that had finally been ended, and at everyone who was safe and sound.
The next second, the usually rugged and strong Half-giant's eyes suddenly reddened.
Large tears rolled down his rough cheeks, landing on the snakeskins scattered on the ground with a soft sound.
He didn't burst into tears...
He just silently wiped his eyes...
Fifty years! A full fifty years!
Nobody knows how he's spent those fifty years!
Now, it's finally all over!
"It's over... it's really over..." Hagrid's voice choked with sobs, he breathed heavily, and tears streamed down his face uncontrollably.
"I... I didn't hurt anyone... I never..."
Draco watched him quietly, and Hermione walked over and patted his arm.
Hagrid sniffed, forcefully wiping away his tears, and tried to force a smile, but only cried harder, "Thank you... thank you... for believing in me... for bringing me here..."
Harry turned to look at the three of them and smiled with relief.
The curse of the Chamber of Secrets of Secrets was completely quelled. Draco looked around the deep underground passage and raised his wand.
" Fawkes, Accio!"
Harry, Hermione, and Hagrid were all stunned.
But Hermione then laughed.
This guy always likes to take unconventional approaches; I just wonder if he can actually summon Fawkes?
Almost the instant the incantation was finished, a clear and melodious phoenix cry came from deep above, and golden flames, like the breaking of dawn, rapidly fell from above the tunnel.
Fawkes spread its fiery wings, circled once, and landed steadily in front of the four.
It gently nuzzled Harry's hand, then leaned softly towards Draco and Hermione, as if it already knew them.
Hagrid's eyes lit up, and he exclaimed softly, "It's really here... it's amazing..."
" Fawkes, can you take us up there?" Draco asked earnestly.
The phoenix let out a soft cry, tilted its head as if in agreement, and its feathers emitted a soft golden light.
Hagrid looked at the not-so-large phoenix and scratched his head somewhat awkwardly. "It... it can carry someone as big as me up there?"
Draco's lips curled into a slight smile, " Fawkes's power has never been based on the size of his wings."
Fawkes seemed to understand, and with a flap of its wings, a warm golden light enveloped the four of them.
Hagrid felt a sudden lightness in his body as the four of them were steadily supported by the golden light and ascended upwards through the tunnel.
A moment later, the four people and the phoenix leaped out from the entrance of the girls' restroom on the second floor.
The instant of landing...
They saw Dumbledore standing calmly at the bathroom door, and Harry and Hagrid froze instantly.
" Professor Dumbledore... I, we..."
Harry expected to be severely questioned, after all, their trespassing into the Chamber of Secrets late at night was a serious violation of school rules.
Hagrid were sweating with nervousness. "Headmaster... I... I didn't mean to lead them into trouble..."
He was terrified that he would be expelled from school again because of this incident; the shadow of fifty years ago was still etched in his heart.
Dumbledore simply smiled, his gentle gaze sweeping over the four of them before finally settling on Harry and Draco.
"I know you did what you were supposed to do."
"It's late, go back and rest."
Dumbledore seemed to be speaking to the four of them.
Or perhaps it was addressed to Fawkes.
Fawkes chirped softly, flapped its golden-red wings, and gently landed on Dumbledore's shoulder.
Dumbledore smiled gently at the four of them, then turned and, with the phoenix in tow, slowly walked away down the quiet corridor.
The footsteps faded into the distance.
They eventually disappeared at the end of the corridor.
After hearing Dumbledore's words, Harry and Hagrid's last worries disappeared.
" Harry, close the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets again, so there's no potential danger," Draco said calmly to Harry.
Harry nodded, walked to the recycling counter, and whispered something in Parseltongue. The faucet, engraved with a small snake, vibrated slightly, and the stone pool slowly closed.
Everything returned to its original dilapidated and unremarkable state, as if everything that had just happened was merely a dream.
The four turned to leave when a semi-transparent white figure floated out from the corner of the restroom. "Oh dear~ You're leaving already? Won't you stay a little longer with me!"
"Remember to come here for your next date! I'll watch the door for you!" She glanced at Draco and Hermione.
"We will, thank you, Moaning Myrtle," Hermione said gently, though with a hint of helplessness.
After the four left the washroom, three of them parted ways with Hagrid, leaving only the three of them in the corridor as they quietly walked towards the Gryffindor Tower.