HP: Bad Intentions

"That's a good idea..." Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully, his piercing blue eyes glinting with curiosity.

Parseltongue, the language of snakes, is rare and often misunderstood. While wizards like Harry Potter are born with the innate ability, others, like Nagini, could naturally speak it as a snake.

Blake, too, possessed a way to communicate in Parseltongue, but it wasn't through natural inheritance. Instead, it stemmed from his mastery of Druid magic, which allowed him to transform into various animals.

However, Blake was careful about revealing this particular skill. Unlike taming animals, a feat common to magical creatures' experts like Newt Scamander or Hagrid, transforming into an animal was an ability far rarer and more suspicious. It was a power that couldn't simply be explained away as "transfiguration."

For now, Blake decided to keep this skill to himself. With Nagini already present, there was no need to complicate matters. Besides, her ability to communicate with other snakes was more than sufficient for their purposes.

"Minerva," Dumbledore said, turning to Professor McGonagall, "please escort Miss Weasley back to rest. Blake, we must head to the entrance of the Chamber of Secrets immediately."

Blake, however, raised a hand to stop him. "Please, Professor, wait a moment. If you truly understood what lies within that chamber, I believe you'd reconsider rushing in unprepared."

Dumbledore tilted his head, intrigued but sceptical. "Isn't it a giant snake?" he asked.

Blake sighed. "It is, but it's not just any giant snake. Allow me to explain."

The mention of the snake jogged Dumbledore's memory. His eyes flickered to the object on the table—a tarnished diadem that radiated an unsettling aura. It was none other than Ravenclaw's crown, tainted by Voldemort and turned into a Horcrux. Over the past year, Blake had been "interrogating" the remnant soul within the artifact, prying out whatever secrets it was willing to share.

"Did the crown reveal something to you about the Chamber of Secrets?" Dumbledore inquired.

"Some," Blake admitted. "But as you know, getting a Horcrux to talk isn't easy. It's incredible I got anything at all."

Dumbledore nodded in agreement, conjuring chairs and a table laden with steaming cups of black tea. He gestured for everyone to sit.

Blake frowned at the tea, his expression a mix of distaste and disappointment. "Professor," he said pointedly, "you know I don't like black tea."

Dumbledore chuckled softly, waving his wand again. A glass of pumpkin juice materialized, which Blake accepted eagerly, taking a long, satisfying sip.

Once settled, Blake began to explain. "From the fragments of information I've pieced together—some from the crown, some from Ginny's experiences—I believe I know what the monster in the Chamber is."

Dumbledore leaned forward. "And what is it?"

Blake hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "First, let me take you back fifty years. That incident with Hagrid? Voldemort framed him, didn't he?"

Dumbledore's expression darkened. "Yes. Hagrid was innocent, but... the odds were against him. On one side, a boy with a penchant for magical creatures; on the other, Tom Riddle, a model student and the head boy. People believed Tom without question."

Blake shook his head in disbelief. "They convicted Hagrid without any evidence. The so-called monster wasn't even captured, and yet Tom walked away with a Special Services trophy. The irony is that trophy is still in Hogwarts' trophy room today."

Dumbledore sighed heavily. "Hagrid was an easy scapegoat. His love for magical creatures made him a target, and Tom took full advantage of that."

Blake's tone grew firmer. "And that's why I didn't want you to destroy the diary immediately. It's evidence—evidence that can clear Hagrid's name. Surely someone in the Ministry of Magic knows what a Horcrux is. If they realize Tom Riddle and Voldemort are one and the same, they'll have no choice but to reevaluate the case."

Dumbledore appeared pensive. Blake pressed on, "Professor, wouldn't it be unjust to let Hagrid continue bearing this burden? He's carried this false accusation for decades. Don't you think it's time to set the record straight?"

Dumbledore looked deeply moved. "You're right, Blake. After we deal with the monster in the Chamber, I'll personally take the evidence to the Ministry and ensure Hagrid's name is cleared."

Blake nodded. "Good. Now, about the monster..." He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a more serious tone. "It's not just a big snake—it's a basilisk. The King of Serpents."

Dumbledore and McGonagall exchanged alarmed glances, while Ginny gasped softly.

Blake reached into his enchanted pocket, producing a hefty tome titled Encyclopedia of Magical Animals and Plants. Flipping quickly through its pages, he landed on the relevant entry and pushed the book toward the others.

"There," he said, pointing to an illustration of a massive green serpent. "A basilisk is hatched from a chicken egg incubated by a toad. Its fangs are deadly, but its gaze is the real danger. Anyone who looks directly into its eyes dies instantly."

He continued, "Now think about what Ginny said earlier—how she woke up near Hagrid's chicken coop. She was being manipulated into killing the roosters because their crowing is fatal to a basilisk. That's why Tom summoned the basilisk tonight. He wanted to ensure it was still alive and ready to carry out his plans."

Dumbledore's face grew graver with each word. "If the basilisk were unleashed fully..." He trailed off, the implications too horrifying to voice.

"Exactly," Blake said. "That's why I stopped you from going to the Chamber unprepared. If we face the basilisk head-on, we must have a solid plan. Otherwise, the consequences could be catastrophic."

Dumbledore nodded solemnly. "You've done us a great service, Blake. Without your vigilance, Tom could have killed countless students before we even realized what was happening."

Blake shrugged modestly. "It's just common sense, Professor. We should always prepare for the worst."

"Still," Dumbledore said, his voice tinged with gratitude and guilt, "your actions tonight may have saved countless lives. And you've reminded me of something important: the truth must prevail, no matter how long it takes. After this is over, Hagrid will finally get the justice he deserves."

Blake smiled faintly. "Let's deal with the basilisk first, Professor. Then we can talk about justice."

With that, the group began to strategize, determined to face the deadly serpent and end its reign of terror once and for all.

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