The Magic of Love

Chew, chew, chew, chew… swallow—

After finishing the last apple cinnamon pie, Professor Dumbledore listened to Adam’s story and examined the diary, which had only four pages left.

Looking at the somewhat pitiful diary, Professor Dumbledore suddenly sighed.

Tom, had you ever imagined that the Horcrux you created by taking a life would one day become so fragile?

"What is it, Professor Dumbledore?"

"Nothing. I merely thought of a few things…"

Professor Dumbledore shook his head and began answering Adam’s questions.

"This diary should be a Horcrux, an extremely evil dark magical object. One must kill a person to create it, which is why it possesses such powerful magical resistance."

As he said this, Professor Dumbledore’s brows twitched.

"In fact, most methods in this world cannot harm it…" Otherwise, Voldemort would not have gone so far as to split his soul in order to make Horcruxes.

Unfortunately, Voldemort’s Horcrux had encountered Adam.

As he reflected on this, Professor Dumbledore suddenly remembered the basilisk. If he recalled correctly, the basilisk’s evil magic was also sufficient to destroy a Horcrux.

"Is the basilisk’s body still in the Chamber of Secrets?"

"Oh, no. It isn’t dead yet."

"It isn’t dead? Good… huh?!"

Professor Dumbledore’s eyes widened as he watched Adam pull a dark, round container from his shoulder bag. Looking closely, it turned out to be a glass jar wrapped in black cloth.

"I shrank the basilisk and caught it. It’s in here."

As Adam spoke, he pulled back a small gap in the gauze and peeked inside.

"It’s sleeping right now."

"…"

Professor Dumbledore opened his mouth, his mind momentarily unable to process this.

"Professor, do you want to see it?"

"Er, no."

Professor Dumbledore finally sorted out his thoughts.

"You… shrank the basilisk?"

"Yes. Its strength shrank with it, so now even a glass jar can keep it securely contained."

Professor Dumbledore wanted to say that a basilisk’s hide had magical resistance nearly on par with a dragon’s. But then he remembered that a Horcrux’s magical resistance far surpassed that of both basilisks and dragons, so he said nothing about it. He merely stared at the black jar, hesitating before he spoke.

"Adam, I must remind you that keeping a basilisk is illegal…"

"Professor, I looked into wizarding law. Breeding basilisks is illegal, but keeping one is not."

Adam blinked at Professor Dumbledore.

"So as long as I can prove that I didn’t breed this basilisk, I won’t be breaking wizarding law."

"…Very well. You’re right."

Professor Dumbledore fell silent for a moment after searching his memories.

"But keeping such a dangerous creature on school grounds—"

"Professor Dumbledore… this basilisk is safest in my hands. Should I release it? Or kill it? Although it once killed someone, The Dark Lord was the one who ordered it to, wasn’t he?"

Adam looked earnestly at Professor Dumbledore, trying to awaken his affection for his students.

"Besides, from the day it was born until now, all it has done is sleep at Hogwarts for nearly a thousand years—it is almost as old as Hogwarts itself, and it has witnessed Hogwarts’s history!"

Looking into Adam’s eyes, Professor Dumbledore found nothing through Legilimency. Yet he could see Adam’s pure love for magical creatures, and it reminded him of an old acquaintance.

If that person were here, he would probably find a way to protect this basilisk too…

Besides, Adam was only a student. He was a Hufflepuff, Nicolas Flamel’s heir, and had just saved the school. What ill intentions could he possibly have?

In the end, Professor Dumbledore relented.

"Very well… but you must guarantee that no student will be harmed by this basilisk’s attacks—not even petrified."

"Of course I can guarantee that, Professor."

Adam smiled as he put away the basilisk jar, then looked at Professor Dumbledore.

"By the way, Professor, I read in a book that although you were not born with Parseltongue, you learned the language of snakes later in life… is that true?"

Professor Dumbledore blinked, understanding what Adam wanted to do. Still, it was indeed a good idea… at the very least, being able to communicate with the basilisk would help Adam keep better watch over it.

After a brief moment of thought, Professor Dumbledore raised his hand, and a book floated from the bookshelf into his grasp.

"This is a book about the languages of snakes and merpeople… I hope you remember to return it after you finish studying it."

"Of course~"

"Do not tell your classmates about what you said in the Headmaster’s Office today. If they insist on asking, tell them that I ordered you to keep it secret."

"No problem, Professor, but…"

Adam thought back for a moment.

"Harry seems to have heard quite a lot too."

"…I will have Minerva remind him."

Professor Dumbledore sighed.

"Well then, that is more or less everything. Lastly…"

After a pause, Professor Dumbledore smiled.

"For resolving the basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets before anyone came to harm—Hufflepuff gains 200 points!"

Adam was a little surprised, but then he realized there was no need to be. It would have been stranger if Professor Dumbledore had not awarded him points. Although the points Professor Dumbledore gave Gryffindor for Harry at the end of every year sometimes seemed forced, the things Harry did truly deserved points.

Otherwise, why would the other professors simply sit there and watch Professor Dumbledore perform?

However, Professor Dumbledore’s performance was not over yet.

"For uncovering the truth behind that old case—Hufflepuff gains 50 points. On behalf of Moaning Myrtle and Hagrid, who was falsely accused all those years ago, I thank you for your great deed. It seems an award in the trophy room needs to be removed."

"It was only what I should have done, Professor."

Professor Dumbledore smiled and nodded.

"Do not forget to keep these matters secret, and make sure to keep an eye on your little pet. Off you go."

After leaving the Headmaster’s Office, Adam took stock of what he had gained today.

First, he had brought the existence of the Clow Cards and his knowledge of Horcruxes into the open. The magic he had never bothered to conceal could now be used more openly, and he could also make arrangements for Ravenclaw’s diadem, which he had obtained from the Room of Requirement.

Second was the basilisk. He had received a book on learning the language of snakes from Professor Dumbledore, with merpeople’s language included as an extra gift. That was an unexpected gain.

Lastly, there was the test of The Love’s magic.

"As expected, The Love, which has been active all this time, is incredibly powerful."

Adam had discovered The Love’s effect by accident: it could subtly influence the people around him.

For people who already had a certain emotional foundation with him, The Love seemed to act like an aura that made things seem reasonable. Its effectiveness was directly proportional to the depth of their feelings and how susceptible they were to emotional influence.

Professor Dumbledore had actually agreed to something as absurd as keeping a basilisk at school. It seemed that Professor Dumbledore really was a very sentimental man.

Originally, Adam had thought it would only make the old man waver at most. He had even prepared to sacrifice the basilisk. Now, however, it seemed the other basilisk could be prepared for the pot. Basilisk stew, or dragon-and-phoenix battle…

Snapping out of his thoughts of food, Adam turned his attention back to The Love. So far, he had discovered that its effects went beyond merely influencing the people around him.