Wandless - A Harry Potter Fanfic 18 Chapter 17 - Goodbyes And New Beginnings

The Basilisk, without sight, started slithering towards Vincent's footsteps as a last-ditch effort. His golden eyes flashed as he merely sidestepped to the side before stabbing his rods down on the snake as is slithered past.

The combined strikes multiplied the pulse potions' effectiveness, sending a shockwave that was accompanied by a snapping sound. The surrounding splashed up into a wall of water. Vincent gritted his teeth as the Basilisk was tossed not too far back. He didn't expect some of the shockwave to recoil back towards him. Vincent ignored the pain and dashed after the beast which started thras.h.i.+ng about again.

"Now that I can see you, you're actually a bit slower than the Willow," Vincent said nonchalantly as he dodged each strike. He sidestepped, jumped and even rolled to avoid the blows before he arrived under the Basilisk.

He quickly sheathed his rods before pulling out one yellow potion and his silver knife before he jumped. Vincent then landed on the head of the Basilisk, stabbing into it for a better hold. He then held the potion in his mouth before unsheathing one rod and throwing it downwards. Before it hit the floor, the moment Vincent reached out his hand it shot up to smash into the Basilisks jaw snapping its head back. Vincent then used his free hand to toss the yellow potions directly inside the Basilisks mouth before kicking off. After a momentary pause, a silent boom rang out from the snake's mouth.

In pain, hissed madly before letting out a long breath of smoke from its mouth.

"The skins too thick!" Vincent cursed.

He then jumped back to avoid a downward strike of the Basilisks tail before tossing both his rods at the head. The pulse it made wasn't as powerful as it had been when it started since it only seemed to bash the head instead of snapping it back.

"I'm running out of gel, the Thunderbolt potions' not working," Vincent thought before resheathing his rods and pulling out two silver potion knives, "and I don't have the weapons to take this thing down."

Vincent ran back towards the Basilisk dodging another strike before climbing on and jumping towards the head again. The two knives stabbed into its head, with much difficulty. Vincent hung there as the Basilisk thrashed even more violently than before. It then started slithering around the chamber, trying to throw Vincent off, but to no avail. It hissed in frustration before shooting up towards the ceiling.

Vincent's eyes widened before he groaned, "Oh come on—"

They smashed through the ceiling causing multiple pipes to burst and pools to crumble, leaking into the chamber below. Vincent let go of one of the knives and used his arm to block his face. A piece of rubble smashed into it making him shout out in pain as he let it dangle by his side. As the Basilisk reared its head, Vincent noticed Tom Riddle and used the momentum to jump in his direction.

"Will people stop interrupting me for one li—"Riddle was saying before a foot plowed into the back of his head, sending him flying towards a startle Harry and Ron. Ron s.n.a.t.c.hed Ginny's wand back before kicking Riddle to the side. Riddle dispersed into a black mist before reappearing beside the Basilisk. Despite his glare, he couldn't hide the shock of Vincent still being alive.

"Screw you," Vincent muttered as he glanced at the two boys, "Hey guys, long time no—ow, hurts to talk."

"Vince!" The face of the boys lightened up before turning horrified.

"What the actual b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l happened to you?" Ron asked hollowly seeing Vincent's state.

His clothes were all ripped and his upper body was barely covered by a badly torn hoodie that didn't cover up half the scratches and bruises he received. His right arm hung loosely at its side with a large bruise on his elbow. His face had a nasty cut at the side with a wet blood trail that led down to his neck. All in all, Vincent was a b.l.o.o.d.y mess.

"Well excuse me," Vincent mumbled coughing slightly, "I've been fighting a b.l.o.o.d.y giant snake!"

"What are you doing! Kill them!" Riddle roared before speaking in Pa.r.s.eltongue.

The boys braced themselves while Vincent caught sight of the silver sword.

"Harry!" Harry looked confused before seeing Vincent eyeing the sword. He handed it to Vincent who only had his left hand available.

"Harry, Ron," he said grimacing, "I have an idea..."

After listening to Vincent's quick plan, the two boys looked absolutely pale.

Riddle watched the boys coldly before talking to the snake in Pa.r.s.eltongue, commanding it's every move. The Basilisk hissed before shooting straight for the boys. He narrowed his eyes as he saw Harry run to the front while Ron held a small pouch.

"We only have once chance," Vincent muttered as he stood behind them, "you guys ready?"

"Yes!" Harry gritted his teeth.

"You're b.l.o.o.d.y mad!" Ron muttered looking pale but still held his position as the Basilisk closed in on them.

It bit down on the two boys and swallowed them whole.

"..."

"..."

"Ha, hahahahahaha!" Riddle laughed so hard that he fell to the ground, "what were you trying to accomplish?! You literally sent your friends into the jaws of death!"

The Basilisk kept moving before slowing down considerably. Vincent merely dodged it during that time, still having that resolute expression on his face. Riddle felt that something was wrong and looked back to the Basilisk. When the Basilisk turned around, he saw a sight that made his eyes threaten to pop out of his head.

Harry had blocked the Basilisk's mouth from closing with the s.h.i.+eld while Ron held on to him for dear life. Riddle noticed that the bag was gone and his eyes widened in realization. But he was too late. The Basilisk had slowed down to an incredibly slow crawl. Vincent's eye's flashed as he dashed towards the head.

"Harry, Ron, go!" Harry immediately dispelled the s.h.i.+eld while leaping out with Ron, whose robes nearly got caught on a tooth.

"NO!" Riddle yelled and reappeared next to Vincent, intending to stop him.

Harry, however, tackled the older boy away.

Vincent jumped before stabbing down into the head of the Basilisk.

The Basilisk made a final thrash about, throwing Harry and Ron to the side while Vincent stuck to the head. Not too long after, the Basilisk's merely raised its head as a last effort before falling back to the ground with a thud which echoed throughout the whole chamber. All of them stared at the giant snake, making sure the beast was dead. There was a short period of silence that Vincent used to recover his breath.

"You filthy little muggle!" Riddle yelled before reappearing next to Vincent with his hands held towards his throat, trying to strangle him.

However, Riddle soon found his arms falling to the floor. He stared blankly before realizing that Vincent had just cut them off.

"B—but how?!" he thought alarmed as he reappeared several meters away, "when Potter used it, it didn't even make a scratch."

"Guys, take this and destroy the diary, it should be the thing that's keeping him here," Vincent said tiredly as he walked off the snake. He gave the sword to Ron who nodded, "I just want to beat the c.r.a.p out of this guy."

"Wh—?!" Vincent's left hook sent Riddle spiraling towards the ground.

"Why can't I apparate?!" Riddle thought-feeling alarmed as he watched Vincent walk closer to him.

"I'm guessing you can't disappear right?" He was snapped out of his thoughts by Vincent who had his foot over Riddle's head. It was brought down, smas.h.i.+ng Riddle's head to the stone floor below, "It's simple, I cut off your arms remember? I must have cut off some of your abilities."

Despite being a soul that couldn't be destroyed by normal means, he could still feel pain. Harry and Ron merely watched, their mouth's wide open as Vincent totally smashed Riddle. Harry regained his senses when he walked off to where Ginny was taken. She had the diary after all. Ron followed soon after, feeling extremely terrified of the b.l.o.o.d.y boy.

"This—is—for—all—the—c.r.a.p—you—made—me—go—through," Vincent muttered with an emphasis on each word while stomping on the young Dark Lord.

Riddle tried his hardest not to yell but failed in the end. His screams of agony echoed throughout the chamber. At this point, he wished that he could die.

Only after one minute of constant stomping were there signs of Riddle about to disappear. Vincent stopped, seeing the glowing hole that suddenly appeared in the middle of Riddle's chest and knelt down till he looked Riddle right in the eye.

"I'm not sure if your real body will remember this, but just in case—"

Vincent's golden eyes met Riddle's dark ones, after a small staring contest did Vincent give a confident smile, "I win. You lose."

Riddle's mouth dropped open, dumbfounded before it was consumed by pure rage, "My real self will ki—!"

He finally disappeared mid-sentence. Bursting into a bright golden light.

Vincent sighed before making his way back to the entrance, stumbling every now and then. He was about to reach it when he felt a large stomach pain, making him fall. He braced himself but felt someone catch him. He looked up to see a girl with bright red hair and a tear stricken face. He smiled.

"Had a good nap Ginny? I think I'll have one too," he said before the darkness took him.

...

Far away, a certain Dark Lord woke up with cold sweat. He had just awoken from a nightmare that he couldn't remember for some reason. The only thing that stuck with him was a pair of golden eyes that made him feel chills.

...

Snape sat in the medical wing watching over a certain magicless boy.

"Overdosing in potions," he muttered as he looked at Vincent's sleeping face, "can cause illness or stomach pain. He must've drunk around twenty or so potions in the past day."

He sighed as he got up. Madam Pomfrey was the nurse, not him.

"All this boy knows is to cause trouble," he thought, "as long as he doesn't cause some to me—"

"Mmn, Professor?" Snape paused as he noticed Vincent opening his eyes. Vincent looked extremely tired as he spoke in a voice so dreamy that even Luna would be impressed, "Do I add the Wicksprout first? Or the Billypalm oil?"

"Still half-asleep," Snape thought as he answered curtly, "Billypalm."

"Mn, thanks Professor," Snape nodded before he started to walk out. He paused again as Vincent kept talking, growing faint with each pa.s.sing word, "I don't care what others say of you, you're a good man. I wish I had a father like you."

Snape's eyes widened as he turned back to Vincent who had returned to his slumber. Snape sighed as he walked back and readjusted the sheets. He glared at the boy before walking off.

"Ah, Professor Sna—?" Madam Pomfrey paused as Snape walked past her swiftly, "Uh, Professor, are you crying?"

"No, whatever made you think that?" Snape snapped without turning around. He walked off leaving Madam Pomfrey to shrug before heading in the Hospital Wing.

"A troublemaker indeed," Snape thought wiping the sleeves of his robe over his eyes. Fortunately, he encountered no one on the way back to the dungeons.

...

Vincent woke up with a start, he scanned the hospital wing before sighing and falling back onto his sheets.

"Ah, Mr. Wong, you're awake at last," Vincent looked at the doorway to see Madam Pomfrey, "those were some serious injuries you've had. Not to mention you overdosed on potions."

Vincent just chuckled before looking at all of the empty beds, "So all the petrified are cured now?"

"Yes, they were all up and going," she said before clapping her hands together, "ah, that reminds me."

She walked off, leaving Vincent alone in the wing. He looked outside as the bright light streamed through the window. She came back cartwheeling a trolley full of goods and cards. Vincent just stared blankly as he looked through them.

//Harry—here are some Chocolate Frogs, get well soon man//

//Ron—Bertie Botts Every Flavour beans, has every flavor imaginable. Worst. Plan. Ever. Get well soon//

Vincent came across Luna's present and smiled as he pulled out a nice black and blue checkered scarf along with a bottle cap necklace. He laughed a bit at her note.

//Luna—You'll be fine. That charm will keep the Nargles away. I didn't get you a Christmas present, I hope a scarf is fine//

Vincent then looked at Hermione's gift.

//Hermione—Get well Vince. It's a bit late notice, I mean, being petrified and all, but here's your late Christmas gift//

It was a few old notebooks of Hermione's. Although it wouldn't mean much to others, to Vincent, it contained all of the girl's knowledge from her cla.s.ses. It was like a mini-library.

"That's so Hermione," Vincent smiled, he knew that she probably would have gotten something else if given the time, but with everyone giving him something she probably didn't want to be left out or thought as unthoughtful. Even though no one could fault her being petrified and all. He was about to place it down when he saw a pair of fingerless silver gloves hidden among the books. His mouth opened in surprise before he grinned.

Vincent opened gift by gift. One gift, in particular, contained a whole basket filled with love potions. Vincent felt cold sweat run down his back as he read the letter or letters.

//x.x.x-Get better soon (Winky face)//

//Have some, promise it's not love potion or anything//

//GIVE ME YOUR BA—//

Vincent didn't even bother reading the rest as he was far too scared to know what else was sent. He soon came across a very light parcel and looked at the letter.

//To Vincent Wong—Thank you so very much for saving our daughter. We wanted to thank you in person, but that will have to wait. Maybe we'll meet at the train station. Heres a token of our appreciation//

//Signed, The Weasley's//

//P.S. You will always be welcome to come to our home//

Vincent opened up the package and pulled out a black hand-knitted sweater. It had a blue V-shaped letter on each of the sleeves.

"Vincent," Vincent looked up to see Dumbledore standing by the doorway.

"Professor," Vincent greeted as he slid his feet off the side of the bed. He gave a smile at the wizened old man, "how are those socks going for you?"

"Bit itchy at first, but they eventually fit as all things do," Dumbledore chuckled remembering the colored socks, "but that's not what I want to talk about."

Vincent remained silent as Dumbledore took a seat across him. They were silent for a period before Dumbledore pulled out a wrapper of sorts.

"Lemon squat?" Vincent raised an eyebrow before accepting it.

Only after popping it into his mouth did Dumbledore speak again, "You've been through a lot Vincent, far more than any Muggle and most witches and wizards have. You nearly died this year."

Vincent stayed silent.

"The Wizarding world is not as wonderous as it seems Vincent," Dumbledore said solemnly, "where there is light, there is darkness, darkness lurking around every corner. If you continue to stay in this world, then there's a chance that very darkness will try to consume you. So I ask you again, are you prepared for this?"

"Do you even need to ask?" Vincent said looking directly at Dumbledore, pairs of golden and blue eyes meeting, "My answer will always be yes."

Dumbledore smiled warmly as he placed a comforting hand on Vincent's shoulder and shook it a bit before standing up. He walked past the bed before stopping and turned around.

"Do you remember what I told you all those years ago?"

Vincent nodded.

...

Vincent was seven and had just been dropped off at Sister An's orphanage. He stood outside seeing Dumbledore about to leave. Vincent clenched his small hands before asking, "Is there no way for me to be a wizard?"

Dumbledore had paused before turning around, "While not everyone can be a wizard—"

...

"—Anyone can be a hero—" Vincent said.

"—But while anyone can be a hero—" Dumbledore continued.

"—a good person is what this world needs—"

"—not wizards—"

"—or Muggles—"

"—But—"

"—A good person," they both finished together.

Dumbledore nodded with his eyes twinkling.

"I hope that you will always stay that, a good person," He gave a warm smile before walking out of the Hospital Wing. When he reached the door he turned back one last time.

"Oh, I nearly forgot," he scratched his beard, "good job."

Vincent continued to suck on the candy as Dumbledore left.

"So sour," he thought.

...

"OI! Vince!" Vincent had just walked out of the Hospital Wing when he was tackled by what he thought was a giant bear.

"AHH HEL—oh hey Hagrid!" Vincent started yelling before returning a hug to the giant man.

"Didn' think I was a monster did ya?" Hagrid chuckled as he ruffled Vincent's hair.

"When did you get back?" Vincent asked.

"Oh, hmm, the night two days ago," Hagrid said, "everybody was celebrating that the heir was caught."

"Ah, so I was asleep for that long huh?" Vincent thought glumly before feeling a large hand pat his back, making him stumble forward.

"You did good Vince," Hagrid said with a gruff smile, "I'm pretty sure the whole school has heard of your deeds by now?"

Vincent froze "Wait, the whole school?"

That seemed to be the case, while Vincent was heading back to the Griffindor dorms, people were whispering and taking glances at him. All he could do was scratch his head in embarra.s.sment.

He got back to the entrance to the Common Room and stood there thinking.

"Pa.s.sword?" the Fat Lady asked.

"I'm sorry, I really don't know," Vincent said. The pa.s.sword probably changed while he was away.

"Hm," the Fat Lady's eyes softened as she looked at Vincent, she, of course, had heard the rumor of his what he did in the Chamber of Secret's.

"Just this once," she said as she opened up to Vincent whose eyes widened.

"Thank you, Miss," Vincent said before walking in.

The Common Room wen silent upon his arrival. Vincent stood at the doorway awkwardly before he raised a hand.

"Hi—" Vincent was interrupted by the explosion of cheers in the Common Room.

"Vincent's back!"

"How'd you do it?"

"Did you really kill a Basilisk?!"

"Give me your ba—"

"What was it like?"

"I felt like I nearly heard a really bad one," Vincent thought before he spotted a certain trio and made his way towards them, "excuse me."

He finally made it to the three, "Hey guys, long time no s—!"

A bushy-haired girl tackled Vincent making him step back a few steps before steadying himself. The girl looked up with a smile. She had small tears in her eyes.

"Welcome back Vincent," Hermione said.

Harry and Ron both smiled as well before placing their hands on each of Vincent's shoulders respectively. All of a sudden, their gazes turned into one of blame.

"Never—" Harry began.

"Ever—" Ron continued.

"Make a plan like that again," Harry and Ron glared at Vincent who just scratched his head.

"I um, don't have anything to say against that," Vincent chuckled wryly. The plan of them getting swallowed really was just on the spur of the moment.

"Also, would you mind telling us what was in your pouches before pa.s.sing it off to us?" Ron complained causing Vincent to tilt his head in confusion.

"Uh, what?" Vincent looked at Harry for an explanation.

"When Nyx contacted us, she pa.s.sed the glove to me and the pouch of Sleep potions to Ron," Harry explained, "we had just visited Hermione who had a clue to what the beast was and where the Chambers was located. When we went down the tunnel, Ron was checking the potions and found a Pulse potion mixed among the sleep ones. He panicked and dropped it, causing the cavern to collapse partly. He turned up to the fight a little later because of that, good thing too since he caught Riddle off guard."

"...Really?" Vincent raised an eyebrow at Ron.

"Hey! I still managed to throw that pouch with who knows how many sleep potions inside that monster's mouth, I should get a little credit!" Ron folded his arms as his face went red in embarra.s.sment. The three of them chuckled at Ron's antics before Vincent was lifted high into the air by two pairs of arms.

"Let's give it up for Vincent!" Fred yelled.

"The Mad Scientist!" George followed.

"The Magic Chef!"

"The Mad Chef!"

Vincent couldn't help but feel a rush of deja vu as he was paraded around the Common Room. Even though the names annoyed him somewhat, he couldn't help but laugh along.

...

The rest of the final term pa.s.sed rather quickly. Hogwarts was back to normal with only a few, small differences. Defense Against the Dark Arts cla.s.ses was canceled, apparently, when Vincent and Ginny were captured by Riddle, Lockhart was tasked to deal with the monster by the teachers. Afraid, he ran away from the school to who knows where.

"Good riddance," Vincent heard Professor McGonagall say.

Only Hermione seemed to be upset that the exams had been canceled.

Draco was no longer strutting around the school as though he owned the place. On the contrary, he looked resentful and sulky. It probably didn't help that he owed Vincent fifty galleons. Ginny Weasley was perfectly happy again. The girl had become much more chatty than what she had been this past year.

On the day that the train was about to depart, Vincent stood outside a certain Potion-masters office. He knocked and heard a voice say "Enter."

Vincent found Snape writing some notes before looking up. He put down his quill before speaking in his usual curt tone, "Mr. Wong, whatever do you need?"

"It's the last day, I thought a farewell was in order?" Vincent said.

Snape raised an eyebrow before going back to his writing, "Very well, but make it quick."

"Thank you for teaching me this year," Snape paused, "I look forward to the next time I'm here."

Snape merely got up from his chair before walking towards a shelf and took some items out, "Is that all?"

"Yes, I won't bother you any longer," Vincent was about to walk out when Snape threw a box at him.

Vincent caught it and looked down on it in surprise, he opened it to find two long finely crafted silver potion daggers. They were far better quality than his original ones.

"I heard that your other knives got ruined by the Basilisks poison," Vincent hear Snape say as he walked by to his desk and started writing again, "these should last you for a good while."

Vincent stared at the knives as he closed it, "Thank you, Professor!"

"Thank me by creating or staying out of trouble," Snape grumbled.

"Never going to happen, seeya!"

Snape's eye twitched as the door closed. He then leaned back in his chair.

"Troublesome brat," he couldn't help thinking.

Soon enough, it was time for the train back home. Vincent looked back at the giant castle in the distance before heading into the train.

Vincent, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred and George all sat in the same compartment playing exploding snap on the way back. At one point when they were all busy disarming each other, Vincent excused himself and walked the corridors. Along the way, he greeted a few students who said hi to him. He soon found himself at a near-empty compartment and opened it with a smile.

"Anyone sitting here?" Vincent asked, startling a certain blonde reading with her magazine turned upside down.

"Vince? Oh, come in," Vincent nodded as he sat on the opposite side of Luna. She looked up and had her eyes widen slightly as she saw him wearing the scarf she got him.

"It's a comfy scarf, thank you, Luna," Vincent smiled as she hid her face behind her magazine in embarra.s.sment.

"Di—did you know that Nargles like blue? N—no they hate it, that's why it keeps them away," Vincent chuckled a bit as she tried to regain her composure.

"Thank you, Luna," Vincent said seriously making Luna lower her magazine, "you were a big help this past year. I couldn't have done it without you."

Luna fully lowered the magazine at her side as she gave her own warm smile, "No worries, after all, I rather like solving mysteries and puzzles."

She pulled out several finished Rubix cubes from her bag, some of them even arranged to have patterns on it.

"Wow, you solved them so quick!" Vincent said amazed as he observed them.

"I made sure I attracted no Wrackspurts," Luna said confidently, "you know, their invisible magical creatures that float into a person's ears, making their brain become unfocused and confused."

"Really now?" Vincent said.

They looked out at the pa.s.sing scenery for a while before Vincent got up making Luna look at him.

"I've got to get back to my compartment, the others must be wondering where I am," Vincent observed Luna see if she would be sad about this, "want to come along?"

"Don't worry about me," Luna understood Vincent's intentions and smiled warmly, "goodbye Vincent, I'll see you again soon."

Vincent nodded before leaning down and wrapping Luna in a hug. She returned one in response. They then parted with Vincent walking out of the apartment and Luna looking at his retreating back. She sighed before turning back to her magazine.

The Hogwarts Express slowed and finally stopped. Harry pulled out his quill and a bit of parchment and turned to Vincent, Ron, and Hermione.

"This is called a telephone number," he told Ron, scribbling it twice, tearing the parchment in three, and handing it to them, "I told your dad how to use a telephone last summer — he'll know. Call me at the Dursleys', okay? I can't stand another two months with only Dudley to talk to"

"Your aunt and uncle will be proud, though, won't they?" said Hermione as they got off the train and joined the crowd thronging toward the enchanted barrier, "When they hear what you did this year?"

"Proud?" said Harry, "Are you crazy? All those times I could've died, and I didn't manage it? They'll be furious…"

"Hey, Malfoy!" Vincent yelled. Draco froze as did his father and a woman he supposed was his mother. He turned to look at Vincent who waved, "Don't forget our bet!"

Draco paled while his father looked coldly at him.

"So what're your plans now?" Ron asked the three of them as exited the platform.

"Home," Harry answered.

"We might be going on a trip," Hermione frowned, "I think they mentioned it at some point."

"Trespa.s.sing," the trio looked at Vincent as he chuckled, "I'll be fine."

Vincent looked around at the familiar station and felt like his whole near-death adventure was just a dream. He couldn't help but let out a breath before turning to his friends.

"I think I'll head off now," the trio looked at him before nodding.

"See you Vince," Harry held out his hand as did Ron.

"Don't die on us before the next term," Ron joked before getting elbowed in the stomach by Hermione.

Vincent nodded as he shook the boy's hands. He then turned to Hermione who instantly gave him a hug which he returned.

"Stay safe," her m.u.f.fled voice came.

"I'll be back," he said.

The moment she separated from Vincent, Ginny called out to Ron.

"Mum's here," she said before seeing Vincent who smiled at her.

"I'm about to go now," Vincent said.

Ginny nodded before going up to hug him, "Thank you, thank you for saving me."

"I promised right," Vincent said, "ask and I'll be there to help."

Soon the sound of a train came, which prompted Ginny to let go.

"Ron! Ginny!" all of them turned to see a short, plump, kind-faced woman coming towards them, "We're about to leave! Oh h.e.l.lo, Harry dear! You must be Hermione!"

"Mum, this is Vincent!" Ginny said.

Mrs. Weasley looked around frantically, "Vincent? Where? Oh, I need to thank him personally."

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"What are you talking about Mum?" Ron said exasperatedly, "He's standing right—here?"

Everyone turned to find that Vincent was no longer there. Ron's jaw dropped as he looked around.

"How the b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l did he do that?!" Ron looked at the others who had a similar expression, "I thought he wasn't a wizard?!"

...

"HA HA HA!" Dracula sat in his throne room laughing. Axel stood silently on his right while Zwei was on his left.

"Excellent!" the messenger kept kneeling, not daring to look up.

"This boy is far too good to let go!" he said laughing with joy, "Slaying a Basilisk? What an accomplishment indeed!"

He calmed down after a while before talking to Axel, "Inform Arnya to keep a close eye on him."

Axel's eyes widened. He quickly regained his posture, "Do you want her to follow him quietly or out in the open?"

"It's up to her how she wants to proceed with this," Dracula said.

"Understood, Fathe—Milord!" Axel bowed biting his tongue at the small slip.

Dracula merely glanced his way and nodded before striding away.

Axel straightened himself before sighing at the thought of Vincent, "That kid has a harsh future, I feel pretty bad for him already."

...

Outside an orphanage, a boy approached a woman watering her plants. She smiled as she stood up.

"I'm back Sister An."

"Welcome back Vincent."

....

((//AUTHORS NOTE))

Originally going to make this whole chapter about the fight scene but then I was like, "I could probably be finished with this book and be done with it."

Finally done with the Chamber of Secrets. And boy does it feel satisfying. I just want to say thank you to everyone who has read up to this point in time, I honestly didn't expect many to read it in the first place. Just saying, I'm not done yet. But at the moment, I'm p.o.o.ped.

Again, thanks for reading, and I hope that you all continue to do so. If you don't then that's fine too. Hope to see you guys again!