Fifteen minutes later, every professor at Hogwarts had gathered in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom on the third floor. Even Gilderoy Lockhart was present, though his confidence was conspicuously absent.
"So this really is the basilisk's entrance," Snape said grimly. He crouched by the exposed pipe and picked up a palm-sized shed scale, his expression darkening as soon as he saw it.
McGonagall drew her wand, her voice firm. "Now that the entrance has been confirmed, we end this today. That creature will not be allowed to endanger another student."
"Well, I-I do think perhaps not everyone needs to go down," Lockhart said nervously, peering into the darkness. "Someone should stay behind. Perhaps I—"
He didn't get to finish.
"Absolutely not," Snape cut in coldly. "Professor Lockhart, this is your moment. You should go first."
"Yes," Professor Sprout added with an uncharacteristically sharp smile. "We'd all love to watch you defeat the basilisk single-handedly. It would make a wonderful new book."
"I—I—" Sweat broke out across Lockhart's forehead.
Flitwick tilted his head thoughtfully. "Didn't you say just yesterday that a basilisk would be no match for you? One spell, and it would fall over dead?"
"I don't recall saying that," Lockhart stammered, trying to laugh it off.
"I do," Snape said flatly. "You said we'd made a mess of everything and should have handed the matter to you from the start. Well then, by all means."
McGonagall gave the final verdict. "Very well, Professor Lockhart. You may proceed. We'll wait here for your success."
Lockhart swallowed hard. "I—I'll just fetch something from my office."
He turned to flee.
Snape stepped forward and shoved him without hesitation.
"If you're that capable, you won't need to prepare."
Lockhart vanished into the pipe with a terrified scream that echoed all the way down.
The professors exchanged satisfied looks.
"Rowan," Snape said calmly, turning to Rowan Mercer, "you can fly. Go to Hagrid and bring back as many roosters as you can. Potter, you're coming with me."
Without another word, Snape and Harry vanished into the pipe like shadows. According to Ginny, there was still another sealed door deeper inside, one only Parseltongue could open.
McGonagall had already arranged for Hagrid to acquire roosters earlier that morning. The basilisk's weakness was well-known, and with enough crowing, killing it would be far easier.
"You three, back to your common room," McGonagall ordered Ginny, Hermione, and Ron. "Everything else can wait."
Rowan nodded to them, unfolded his wings, and shot from the third floor to the entrance hall. Gasps erupted among the students being herded together by the prefects as he streaked past and out of the castle.
"Hagrid!" Rowan called as he landed outside the hut. "The basilisk's been found. The professors need the roosters now!"
Hagrid bolted upright so fast he nearly kicked Fang across the room. Moments later, he returned with a large wooden crate.
"They're all in here," he said breathlessly.
The box had been enchanted with an Extension Charm. Inside were over a hundred full-grown roosters.
Rowan winced sympathetically. "That basilisk's about to have a very bad day."
He lifted the crate and took off at once, returning to the third floor. To his surprise, Ginny, Hermione, and Ron were still there, anxiously waiting.
"Figures," Rowan muttered. "Gryffindors."
"I'm going down," he said aloud. "Don't worry. This will be over soon."
Cradling the crate, he jumped into the pipe and slid down into the depths.
The tunnel below was vast. As he moved forward, he passed a massive, shed snakeskin before finally rejoining Snape and the others.
"These are the roosters," Rowan said, handing the crate over.
Snape glanced inside, then nodded. "Potter. Begin."
McGonagall turned to Rowan, concern evident. "Once the door opens, take Harry and fall back immediately. Don't look forward under any circumstances."
Harry muttered, "I am older than him. And a year above."
"And still less competent," Snape snapped. "Open the door."
Harry clenched his jaw, then turned to the stone wall where two carved serpents intertwined.
"Open," he hissed in Parseltongue.
The emerald eyes of the statues flared with green light. Stone groaned as the wall split apart, revealing a vast, dimly lit chamber. Towering pillars carved with coiled serpents lined the space, and at the far end stood a colossal statue of Salazar Slytherin himself.
"Rowan," Snape said instantly, pulling Harry back, "get him clear."