51 51. Koko, The Basilisk’s Menace 

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Tap! Tap!

Koko, the Goose, didn't care to be scared due to the brainwashing he had received from Happy. The Basilisk towered over the Goose, its scaly body coiled, ready to strike. Its eyes, glimmering like orbs of malevolence, fixated on the fearless fowl. The Basilisk hissed, venomous fangs bared, and released an ear-piercing roar that echoed through the ruins.

Pat! Pat!

As if Koko taunted the snake, he patted the ground with his feet. His favorite straw hat hid his eyes from the snake, but in those hidden eyes was fire. It was his time to shine, and he was going to be the brightest boy to ever grace the planet.

"HISSS!" With lightning speed, the Basilisk lunged forward, its massive fangs aimed at the Goose.

"COCK-A-DOODLE-DO!" Koko roared from the bottom of his belly. His voice was so sharp and loud that it echoed a dozen times in the giant Chamber of Secrets.

The Basilisk writhed in fear as it cowered back instantly, slithering away from Koko at the fastest speed. It didn't spare a single glance and entered one of the pipes to hide. However, it was not the snake's day—it was Koko's day.

"Cock-a-doodle-do!" Koko followed the snake as if truly trying to hunt it.

But, in the end, it was indeed a hunt as Koko crowed like a rooster and pursued the mighty giant Basilisk no matter which pipes the creature tried to hide in. The Goose went into each and every spot, and each time he made a rooster noise, the snake revealed itself by flinching and making more noise.

Tap! Tap!

Menacingly, Koko's feet made a sound. He was the bane, the worst fear of the Basilisk that night.

"Grrrr…Hissss!"

"Cock-a-doodle-do!"

Alas, the snake could not muster any courage and continued to flee as much as possible. However, just scaring it wasn't the goal that day, so Happy intervened.

"Koko, bring it towards us!" he ordered. "We need its fang to destroy that diary, or else Hermione will die!"

Koko seemed to understand as he changed his direction and began to scare the Basilisk towards the open area again. Cornering it with ease into one-way pipes, he felt mighty.

"Wreeee!"

However, the game was not over, as out of nowhere, the bright red bird came from the chamber's entrance, flying to land beside Koko. It was Fawkes, the loyal Phoenix of Dumbledore.

Koko and Fawkes looked at each other, both sizing the latter. They had almost similar heights, but while one was a stylish white goose donning a hat, the other was a majestic phoenix with its fiery red feathers. Ultimately, as if they both came to a mutual understanding without making a sound, they raised their left legs.

Tap!

Koko's webbed feet and Fawkes' claws seemed to clasp each other as if shaking hands, similar to humans. Then both of them faced the cowering snake running away from them before giving chase.

"Cock-a-doodle-do!"

"Reeeee!"

Such teamwork was never seen before. Koko successfully pushed the snake back into the main hall of the chamber. Seeing the opportunity, Fawkes flew up and landed on the Basilisk's head, quickly starting to attack the two fiery yellow eyes with his beak or claw.

"Graaaaassss!" The Basilisk thrashed in pain and tried to escape, but it had no arms or feet. Fawkes successfully mauled the eyes, destroying one of the greatest weapons of a Basilisk.

Thud!

The snake fell down as if tired of running and feeling pain. Seeing that, Koko and Fawkes decided to walk away from the snake's body as it posed a threat.

Both of them clasped their feet once again and walked towards Happy, who stood with the rest in the direction of the entrance to the chamber.

Happy's jaw was touching the floor. "T-That was so badass!"

"Hisss!" Basilisk tried to get up.

"Cock-a-doodle-do!" Koko softly voiced this time without even looking.

That instantly put the snake in more terror, making it shrink back again. With that, the two birds bobbed their heads and reached Happy.

Heck, even Snape was wide-eyed and speechless. A goose defeated a centuries-old Basilisk with the help of an immortal Phoenix. Even in the rowdiest taverns, nobody would believe him, not that he drank or went to those places.

Harry, meanwhile, was stuttering. "H-How are they so strong?"

Happy looked at his friend and remembered Hedwig, the loyal owl. She was also brave and strong enough to sacrifice her life for him. Who said birds could not be awesome? Koko was the same.

"Come here, you!" Happy picked Koko and ruffled his head and neck. "You were brilliant there. Tonight, after returning, I will feed you five cans of your favorite meat and fish."

"Awoooooo!" Koko howled like a wolf suddenly.

Though Happy noticed Fawkes' envious gaze then and chuckled before leaning to pet him as well. "Don't worry. I'll add five cans of the best herbs and fruits for you."

"Wraaa!" Fawkes responded in acknowledgment, spreading his wings wide.

Tom Riddle anxiously saw everything since he could do nothing while being a mere memory. On top of that, Happy had already picked up the diary and kept it earlier.

"You still won't win!" Tom said. "She is close to her death. Just a little more, and..."

Happy knew what had to be done. But the sword of Gryffindor had not arrived, and Fawkes was already there with them, so expecting him to return and bring the hat was illogical.

"We need the Basilisk's fang to damage the diary! Only that will kill this Tom Riddle!" Happy shouted, reminding them of the goal.

Harry was quick to jump into action. Unlike the original, he had his wand with him. So he began to send a flurry of spells at the snake, trying to harm it. Sadly, it was a creature too strong, and all spells simply got deflected away.

Happy sighed and decided he'd have to get close to it. "Koko, I need backup!"

"That won't be necessary." Snape suddenly walked forward, stopping Happy by raising his arm before him. "Tell your pet rooster…goose to walk with me."

Woosh!

"Sectumsempra!"

"Graaaa!"

A slash of light emerged from the tip of Snape's wand and struck the blind Basilisk in the face. The spell proved potent and left a visible mark. However, it did not inflict a fatal wound.

Koko let out a mighty Cock-a-doodle-do!, taking short steps to Snape's left. Happy also joined in and walked on Snape's right side. Following their lead, Harry positioned himself to Happy's right while Fawkes chose to perch on Harry's shoulder.

"Incendio!" Harry shouted.

"Bombarda!" Happy followed.

A relentless storm of spells bombarded the snake's face without pause. The Basilisk recoiled in fear as Tom Riddle stood behind it, continually commanding it to advance and kill them. Sadly, no matter how strong one's mental control might be, pain was still pain, and pain brought fear.

"Granger is too close to the snake's tail," Snape voiced. "Lestrange, go and move her out of the way. By then, you will have the snake's fang."

Happy wasted no time and moved to the far left, stepping into the knee-deep puddle of water. Keeping a safe distance, he made his way toward Hermione. Her face had turned even paler, and her lips had begun to dry up.

"What are you? A Seer?" Tom Riddle suddenly asked, his voice filled with helplessness.

Happy proceeded to pick Hermione up in a princess carry and faced the Dark Lord. "Tell me why you are after purebloods, and maybe I will answer you. Neville, and then even Draco Malfoy. Lucius is your man, isn't he? Then why?"

Tom Riddle sneered. "Why not kill them when I have the chance? The Longbottoms are blood traitors. As for Lucius—this was merely a lesson to teach him manners. I never intended to kill that Malfoy brat, but the others... they were lucky."

'It makes sense, but why only in this reality? Did he see Draco being friendly with me? Is that why he did it? Does each of the Horcruxes share memories? Will Voldemort be aware when I destroy this Horcrux? In the books, he wasn't, but in the movies, he was aware in the ending parts...this is so confusing.'

"You should have killed them when you had the chance. Now you die," Happy feigned ignorance of Voldemort's current invincibility.

Tom Riddle smirked. "I won't... But I am certainly intrigued by you. I've answered, so now it's your turn."

Happy continued to walk away, refusing to reply.

Being disrespected and defeated fueled Tom's rage. "What is it, Lestrange? Are you a Seer? Do you know how I will return to this world? Tell me—we had an understanding!"

Happy looked back and winked. "I lied."

He then glanced at Hermione's face and smiled. 'Ah, less nagging Hermione is the best Hermi...'

"No, no, no!" Happy's face suddenly turned pale, and he put her down again. He lowered his head to her chest to listen to her heartbeat. "I-It's almost gone!"

"Professor! She won't survive another minute!" Happy shouted at Snape, who, with Koko's assistance, had single-handedly kept the Basilisk at bay.

'Not enough time... The moment she dies, Tom Riddle's body will become real,' he realized and took out the diary to take action.

"Haha... You thought you were clever. You've only given me more time," Tom Riddle laughed from afar. "The Basilisk won't die in this minute—nor can you destroy that diary with magic."

Happy disregarded the unimposing memory of the Dark Lord and attempted to think. 'What kills a Horcrux? The sword with the venom... the Fiendfyer, but I don't know how to cast it...'

"Incendio!" He cast a simple fire spell on the diary.

"It won't work, Lestrange." Tom taunted.

'Something magical, something potent and strong... that's what is required to destroy a Horcrux... then...?'

Happy briefly glanced at his own palm, pondering about himself. Who was he? A boy crafted by God himself, and not just an ordinary god, but the Grandpa God who ruled the omniverse.

'Then, is my body ordinary? I'm blessed with luck, so even my blood isn't ordinary.'

He couldn't wait any longer and swiftly made a large incision on his palm. It pinched him, but he paid no attention and forcefully pressed his palm onto one of the open blank pages of the diary.

Boom!

The moment he touched it, his head turned to the right as a loud explosion resounded. All he saw was Snape's wand brightly illuminating in a green hue, and what followed was Snape's audible incantation aimed at the Basilisk.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

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