NABC Chapter 201 Embers and Celebration
Chapter 201 Embers and Celebration
Chapter 201 Embers and Celebration
The cold Soul Prism trembled slightly in Cullen's hand. The imprisoned black energy, like a dying serpent, futilely crashed against the invisible barrier, each impact causing faint ripples within the crystal. Outside the cave, Professor Snape had already slid like a ghost to the side of the collapsed basilisk, his pale fingers carefully examining the enormous scales and ghastly white fangs, his eyes gleaming with the shrewdness of someone assessing a precious potion ingredient.
"Severus," Dumbledore's voice echoed in the empty cave, carrying a hint of weariness, but more so a calm after the dust had settled, "It's yours now. A thousand-year-old basilisk, I trust you can make good use of it and avoid wasting it."
Snape didn't even look up, only letting out a short "humph" from his nose in response. His wand had already begun tracing the basilisk's massive body, marking the cutting points. Cullen could feel Snape's magical field becoming excited and active; he was already quite impatient. A thousand-year-old basilisk was indeed extremely rare material. He'd get some later, and also inform the teachers.
They must be very interested in this too; Professor Snape himself certainly wouldn't use it all. Of the crowd, only Hagrid looked at the giant beast that had once wronged him, now reduced to a cold shell, its massive body slightly hunched, and let out a heavy, complex sigh.
Professor Flitwick patted Karen on the shoulder excitedly, his high-pitched voice filled with barely suppressed excitement: "Incredible! Karen! Absolutely incredible! You did it! By Merlin, second-year student! Facing the Basilisk! And you caught it!" His gaze swept over the enormous creature.
"Professor, you're too kind. This operation mainly relied on Headmaster Dumbledore!" Cullen turned her attention away from the prism in her hand, and scratched her head somewhat embarrassedly after hearing Professor Flitwick's words.
Dumbledore walked to Cullen's side, his deep blue eyes gazing at him gently, then glanced at the black aura reflected in the prism. "No need for modesty,"
"You've done very well, Karen, better than I imagined. Now, let's leave. The people in the castle need to know that the threat has been eliminated." Then she summoned her guardian spirit, a silver phoenix, which flew to the castle to deliver the news.
As they emerged from the Forbidden Forest and were bathed in the warm light emanating from Hogwarts Castle, a strange sense of disconnect arose within them. It seemed the castle had received some kind of signal; the tension that Dumbledore had been suppressing for weeks had clearly melted away like ice and snow. Although the curfew wasn't completely lifted, there were noticeably more figures peeking through the windows, and the faint sounds of excited conversation and laughter drifted in.
Instead of heading straight for the entrance hall, Dumbledore led Cullen around to a secluded side door. "Appearing directly in the cheering crowd might frighten some people and give us no time to sort things out," he explained gently.
However, they were spotted by sharp-eyed students as soon as they appeared in a corridor connecting to the main staircase.
"It's Headmaster Dumbledore and Karen Hawthorne!"
"They're back!"
"Look! They're alright!"
"Has the monster been defeated?"
The whispers quickly turned into cheers and applause. Students poured out of the various doorways and stairwells, their faces filled with unbelievable joy and relief. Professor McGonagall and Professor Sprout also appeared at the front of the crowd; Professor McGonagall's tightly pursed lips finally relaxed, while Professor Sprout excitedly waved his fist.
"Quiet! Please maintain order!" Professor McGonagall raised her voice to maintain order, but there was also a hint of relief in it. "Yes! I can confirm that the creature that threatened the safety of the castle has been completely dealt with by Headmaster Dumbledore and the brave teachers and students! The danger has been averted!"
"Wow—!"
"marvelous!"
"Long live Hogwarts! Long live Dumbledore!"
A louder cheer erupted, nearly lifting the roof off. Students hugged and high-fived each other, many looking at Karen with astonishment and adoration. Although the specific details remained unknown, the fact that Karen had been attacked by the basilisk, participated in the final operation, and returned safely was enough to leave a deep impression on the students.
A deafening roar of cheers and applause erupted down the corridor. Students poured out from every corner, their faces beaming with incredible joy and relief. Many embraced, jumping and shouting excitedly. Shouts of "The monster has been defeated!" "Long live Dumbledore!" "Hogwarts is safe!" echoed throughout the hallways. Even the wizards and witches in the portraits clapped enthusiastically within their frames, and the Fat Lady even broke into a cheerful, off-key toast. The magical sky on the ceiling seemed to share in the joy, sunlight piercing through the clouds and casting a warm, golden glow.
Dumbledore smiled and waved to the students, then said to Professor McGonagall, "Minerva, inform all houses that the alert is lifted and normal routines resume. Get a good night's rest; tomorrow will be a fresh start." He then turned to Flitwick, "Felius,"
Please take Karen back to Ravenclaw Tower; I think his friends are eagerly awaiting his arrival. Later, please have Karen come to my office again.
Karen was swept up in this sudden wave of enthusiasm, practically being ushered towards the Ravenclaw Tower. Along the way, students, both acquaintances and strangers, cast admiring and curious glances his way, while upperclassmen generously patted him on the shoulder.
He kept saying things like, "Well done, Hawthorne!" He tried to remain calm, but a slight smile involuntarily crept onto his lips. This pure, surviving joy was incredibly infectious.
The door knocker in the Ravenclaw common room seemed unusually cooperative today. As soon as Karen walked up to the bronze eagle head, before it could even ask a question, the door clicked open automatically.
"Karen!"
"You're back!"
"Merlin, are you alright?"
The moment the door opened, three figures rushed out impatiently. Wesley's red hair was a mess, and his face was smeared with ink; he had obviously jumped straight up from beside the desk. Fabian's black curly hair framed wide eyes behind his glasses, filled with lingering fear and concern. Even Ernesto, who was usually somewhat reserved, had lost his composure, his gray eyes fixed on Karen as if he wanted to examine him from head to toe.
"I'm fine, nothing's wrong," Karen quickly reassured them, and was pulled into the warm common room by her three roommates. The blue curtains, the familiar velvet sofa, the flickering flames in the fireplace, and the air filled with the scent of books and a faint aroma of mint tea—all of this completely relaxed his tense nerves.
There were other Ravenclaw students in the lounge who greeted Karen with enthusiastic applause and friendly smiles when she entered, but tacitly refrained from crowding around to disturb the four of them.
"Tell me quickly! What happened?" Wesley impatiently pressed Cullen down on the most comfortable sofa by the fireplace, then plopped down on the rug next to her, tilting her head back with an astonishingly bright look in her eyes. "Dumbledore said the monster had been banished, but we know it was you! You went with the Headmaster! What was that thing? Was it really a basilisk? What did you do to it? How did the Headmaster do that?"
Fabian squeezed in beside her, offering a cup of warm mint tea: "Have some, Karen. Rumors are flying everywhere, but nobody knows what really happened. We're worried sick!"
Ernesto didn't speak, but he leaned forward slightly, his tightly pursed lips betraying his nervousness and curiosity.
Karen took the teacup, the warmth spreading through his fingertips. He looked around at the three faces filled with concern and excitement, took a deep breath, and decided to reveal part of the truth to satisfy their curiosity and put their minds at ease.
"Yes, it's the Basilisk." Cullen's voice wasn't loud, but it was clear enough. "Headmaster Dumbledore found its lair, in a cave deep in the Forbidden Forest near the cliffs of the Black Lake. We—the Headmaster and I, along with Professor Flitwick, Professor Snape, and Hagrid—went in together."
He omitted the details of the pursuit and Voldemort's possession, since they were still in the common room, focusing instead on how Dumbledore instantly subdued the raging basilisk with overwhelming magical power. "The Headmaster's magic—it's incredible. Those chains were like living things, binding it so tightly it couldn't move at all," Cullen said with genuine admiration.
"And then?" Wesley pressed impatiently. "The basilisk died? The headmaster killed it?"
Karen nodded. "Yes. It's dead. Professor Snape is dealing with its remains."
"Wow!" Wesley exclaimed. "The Basilisk! Snape is going to be rich! Its fangs, scales, and shed skin!" He looked on with envy.
Fabian was more concerned about Cullen: "And you, Cullen? The headmaster said you were also involved in the 'expulsion'? What did you do?" He keenly caught the wording in Dumbledore's announcement.
Karen gave Fabian a wink, and he immediately understood that this was not something that could be discussed in public, so he quickly changed the subject.
The common room was filled with a cheerful atmosphere, as everyone shared their treasured juices and snacks. Karen was surrounded by her roommates and classmates, answering a few questions she could, savoring the hard-won peace and the joy of victory.
After a period of celebration, Karen and her three friends finally found a chance to return to their dorm room.
Entering the dormitory, Karen hesitated for a moment upon seeing the three expectant faces in the room. Then, she carefully took out the warm, silver-gray Soul Prism from her inner pocket. At this moment, the soul at the center of the prism seemed even weaker, having been separated from the basilisk's massive magical source. Like a wisp of black smoke that could be extinguished at any moment, it slowly and unconsciously tumbled within the crystal, emanating a pure, unsettling, and chilling malice.
"Wow! What's this?" Wesley peered closer curiously. "There seems to be something moving inside? It's black?"
Ernesto's grey eyes narrowed sharply: "This is Voldemort's soul? Very dark and evil, very—broken."
"This is part of the result of the 'expulsion'," Karen explained simply. "Voldemort's soul, guided by the headmaster, was stripped and sealed away using this special alchemical artifact. It's extremely weak now, and," he carefully felt the cold touch emanating from the prism and the chaos, pain, and pure malice contained within it, "it now feels to me like a pile of ashes burned to ashes, with only a few sparks and choking smoke remaining, only instinctive destructive urges and malice; its main consciousness seems to have fallen into a deep sleep."
He recalled the same malevolent, yet clearly determined and cunning soul he had sensed at the back of Quirrell's head. It was worlds apart from the chaotic, weak, purely instinctive fragment of malice reflected in the prism before him, yet it was indeed Voldemort's soul, only now its consciousness was dormant.
"So, that's why it suddenly attacked you later?" Ernesto asked thoughtfully. "You said it was being very cautious before."
"Very likely," Karen nodded. "Transferring it from Quirrell into a magical creature like the Basilisk would likely have been a significant weakening and damage to Voldemort's soul. Coupled with its current state after being extracted, it should no longer pose a threat." He spoke with certainty, both to his roommate and to convince himself. After all, he possessed the "Eye of Truth," and if there were other powerful, parasitized dark magic entities within the castle, he couldn't have been completely unaware. The mass before him was the once-feared Dark Lord, now in its most vital and weakest state.
The immense sense of victory and confidence in his own judgment temporarily suppressed the extremely vague doubts deep within him about the "Hornet." He could only observe the school more closely afterward, since he hadn't found any other clues after observing and tormenting the school for many days.
"Fantastic!" Wesley slapped his thigh and jumped up excitedly. "We're completely safe now! I knew you could do it, Karen! You're Professor Flitwick's prized student, and Professor Castor's secret apprentice!"
Fabian breathed a sigh of relief and smiled warmly: "It's good that you're back safe and sound. Now everyone can finally get a good night's sleep."
Ernesto looked at the faint wisp of black smoke in the prism, then at Karen, and finally nodded, his tense shoulders relaxing.
A rare, relieved smile appeared on his lips.
Later that evening, Karen came to the principal's office again.
The atmosphere in the office had become much more relaxed. Fox preened his ornate feathers on the perch, the silverware tinkling softly. Dumbledore sat behind his desk, his blue eyes behind his half-moon spectacles holding a gentle smile.
"Sit down, Karen. Lemon Olaf?" He pushed a plate of candy towards him.
Karen thanked him and sat down, not taking any candy. "Headmaster, about the Philosopher's Stone," he cut to the chase, "Now that 'it' has been dealt with," he gestured towards the pocket where he kept the Soul Prism, "does the Philosopher's Stone still need to remain at the school? That..."
restricted area?"
Dumbledore chuckled softly, his fingers crossed on the table. "Oh, that. Cullen, you've thought it through very well. But rest assured. That Philosopher's Stone left at the school, placed in the forbidden area as 'bait,' isn't entirely fake." He winked.
With a hint of mischief, he said, "It does possess a partial form of the Philosopher's Stone and very faint magical fluctuations, enough to fool—well, some less careful detection. But the true power it contains has already been safely transferred. It's more like an empty shell, a symbol. How could I possibly risk Nico's life's work in a place I know is inhabited by dark wizards?"
Cullen suddenly understood, and at the same time admired Dumbledore's shrewdness. "I see. So—does the restricted area still need to be maintained? I mean, now that the 'threat' is gone."
Dumbledore stroked his silver beard, a thoughtful glint in his eyes. "That's an interesting question. Originally, that forbidden area, and within it—well, some of the little 'challenges'—was what I had prepared for Harry." He spoke calmly, as if discussing something perfectly ordinary, "a stage for him to understand his potential, hone his courage, and ultimately confront parts of the truth. But now," he shrugged, a hint of resignation and a slightly mischievous smile on his face, "it seems our main actors have left the stage prematurely, and the script has been thrown around."
He looked at Karen, his blue eyes gleaming with intelligence. "Perhaps it could have new uses? For example, as a special practice space? Or to store some less dangerous but carefully guarded teaching materials? I need to think about it some more. Do you have any suggestions, Karen?"
Karen shook his head. "No, Headmaster. I was just checking on its status. Since it's harmless in itself, how you use it is naturally up to you." He paused, then added, "However, the idea of it as a 'stage' is certainly unique."
Dumbledore chuckled. "Life is always full of surprises, Cullen. The important thing is that we won this battle, and Hogwarts is peaceful again. That's something to celebrate. Well, go back and rest. You've been on edge these past few days; you deserve a good rest. By the way, regarding that Soul Prism, Nico told me before that if the operation goes smoothly and we capture a soul, you can handle it first, and then hand it over to him when you're ready."
Cullen, who was about to take out the prism and hand it to Dumbledore to give to their teacher, heard this and put the prism away. He did need to observe it further.
Leaving the Headmaster's office and walking back to the Ravenclaw Tower, Karen could clearly hear the cheerful laughter echoing throughout the castle. The common room was especially lively, with many students still excitedly discussing the conversation, and they greeted Karen warmly upon his return. He weaved through the crowd back to his dormitory, where his three roommates were indeed still eagerly waiting for him to share the details of the conversation in the Headmaster's office.
That night, Hogwarts Castle was immersed in a long-awaited, complete relaxation and joy. The faint wisp of black smoke in the Soul Prism...
In Karen's view, it was merely a spoil of war from this great victory, a weak and insignificant remnant. The crisis seemed to have truly passed.