Vivi stood by his side, also reaching out her hand, but just like Harry, there was no way to reach into that basin.
"Step aside for a moment, please." Dumbledore said, stretching out his magic wand to separate the pair, pointing it at the edge of the basin, muttering words under his breath.
When he stopped, Harry glanced at the green basin and then at Dumbledore.
"Do you think the Soul Artifact is in there, Professor?"
"Oh, yes."
Dumbledore observed the Stone Basin more closely, and Harry saw his face reflected on the smooth surface of the green Magic Potion.
"But we've also tried, hands can't touch the Magic Potion, so we can't separate, scoop, or siphon it out—I've just tried Transformation Spells and Disappearing Spells, none of those work, and no other methods can change its state."
Saying this, Dumbledore absentmindedly waved his magic wand in the air, conjuring a crystal goblet out of thin air and grabbing it.
"However, I can infer that the Magic Potion should be drunk."
"Drink it?" Harry suddenly remembered what Kreacher had said, "I remembered, Kreacher told us before, when Regulus brought him here, Regulus drank this Magic Potion and made Kreacher leave—this is the Magic Potion he mentioned!"
Dumbledore nodded and said, "Yes, I think so. Only by drinking it all can I empty the Stone Basin and see what's placed at the bottom."
Harry was a bit baffled, do we have to drink the Magic Potion to retrieve this fake Soul Artifact knowing it's fake?
"So, just drinking these Magic Potions is enough?" Vivi said uncertainly, her eyes looking at the goblet in Dumbledore's hand.
"Yes, these Magic Potions, let me..."
Dumbledore hadn't finished speaking when Harry interrupted him.
"Dumbledore! You're holding a cruel fate, but it doesn't belong to you!"
"Harry?" Dumbledore said with a relieved smile: "Rest assured, Voldemort didn't intend to kill everyone who reaches the island."
"But we have to drink all the Magic Potions to find the fake Soul Artifact, and thus find Regulus." Dumbledore nodded and said, "And I used to be Regulus's headmaster, so this Magic Potion, of course, is..."
"Not necessarily." Harry suddenly said, "I actually have a candidate to drink the potion, but I need you all to close your eyes first..."
Saying this, Harry thought fiercely to himself.
Aren't you going to let people drink these Magic Potions, Voldemort?
Then today, I'll show you the weight of an old Hogwarts senior!
"What candidate?" Dumbledore said with great interest.
"Of course, it's the Snake Monster in the Secret Chamber." Harry said cheerfully: "It's well known there's a saying in toxicology, that talking about toxicity without dose is just nonsense—maybe these Magic Potions could poison us, but for a Snake Monster dozens of times larger than us, they might not even be enough for a lick of its tongue."
"Indeed, that's a good choice." Dumbledore put down the goblet in his hand and said to Harry: "Voldemort's spells have a loophole, these Magic Potions do need someone to drink them, but House-Elves can also drink them, so this spell doesn't limit what can drink the Magic Potion... so, a Snake Monster can certainly do it too."
"Then I'll release it." Harry said.
"Go ahead." Dumbledore said.
Only Little Sirius's eyes were wide as copper bells, not knowing when his godson became so bold as to secretly keep a Snake Monster.
Then his heart was filled with joy!
Look, this is indeed James's son! Indeed my godson! When it comes to loving adventure, it runs in both of us!
"Sirius?" Harry noticed Little Sirius's widened eyes, assuming the godfather was shocked about the Snake Monster.
He comforted him by saying, "Don't worry, Little Sirius, this Snake Monster is kept with Professor Dumbledore's permission, but you have to close your eyes, because looking into its eyes can have some unpleasant consequences."
Little Sirius immediately closed his eyes, of course knowing the consequences.
When Harry saw everyone had their eyes closed, he opened his wallet and called inside, "Alfonso! Alfonso!"
"Yes, my dear master!" Alfonso said ingratiatingly.
"I need you to help me drink some Magic Potion." Harry said honestly: "This Magic Potion isn't fatal, but it's enough to feel uncomfortable for an ordinary wizard, but you're a Snake Monster, your body is hundreds or even thousands of times stronger than wizards, drinking some Magic Potion won't be a problem."
"Ah...this..." The Snake Monster became a bit flustered.
No, young master?
When it comes to eating... oh no wait, even when it comes to eating you think of me, but you can't think of me in such a situation!
What is the deal with that Magic Potion, I...
Seeing the Snake Monster a bit worried, Harry's eyes twinkled, and he continued to persuade: "This is a trap set by that Mixed Blood Mudblood Tom Riddle, just break through this trap and we can destroy his Soul Artifact..."
No, wait?
There's still that Mixed Blood Mudblood involved here?
Upon hearing Tom Riddle, the Snake Monster perked up completely.
If you mention him, then I'm wide awake!
"Drink!" The Snake Monster said angrily: "Must drink! Let me see who is defiling the noble bloodline of the old master! This reckless Mudblood, I must personally..."
"You don't have hands." Harry kindly reminded.