Chapter 39 – Chamber of Secrets
We couldn't afford to just rush into the unknown, not even when Draco was ahead of us and making a deal with the Basilisks. If that was possible at all. We tried hurrying the best we could, edging along the wall until the pretty wide corridor opened up into a vast chamber. Water was flowing down from the holes in the walls into small canals, forming an underground river. A giant statue stood at the end, high as a building, representing Salazar Slytherin himself. Its enormous mouth was wide open, and I already knew why.
"Drink..." Quincy whispered, downing her side of the potions, and I did the same without question.
As to why, the reason was right out in the open; a humongous snake, coiling before us, hissing and speaking to Draco, who was standing in place, head lowered, trembling. I wasn't getting what it was saying, but looking at Draco, the yellowish pool below his legs and his legs barely supporting him, I was sure it wasn't something encouraging. Well... at least he was alive, unlike his cronies. I don't know if I felt anything, maybe I was a little bit sorry for them... but they were dead, I was sure of it. Their bodies were turned entirely to stone; even we couldn't feed potions down on the throat of a rock statue. I just hope they won't return as ghosts; that would be the most annoying.
"What is he saying?" I whispered, trying not to look up and stare only at its lower body.
"It is debating whether to eat Draco or not!" Quincy answered, "It is astonished at the fact that Draco can understand him, yet he does not smell the blood of Salazar in him..."
"So the snake is bound to Salazar's bloodline..."
"It very well seems like it! And I guess Draco did not know what he was going to find here! We can't save the two others... It is too late!" She added, looking at them, encased in stone for all eternity.
"Yeah, I guessed so. Oh well... I need Draco alive!"
"Why?"
"We need a scapegoat... are we not? So... this rooster... should we unfreeze it? Let it go and hope it works?"
"I don't know how close we need to be..." Quincy bit her lips, passing our 'weapon' to me, "Try to sneak in while I distract the beast!" And before I could say anything, she strolled forward without showing any fear.