Tom stared at Bones in surprise, he hadn't expected her to have such a close connection with his future mother-in-law.
"Ahem… Dumbledore, some things really don't need to be remembered so clearly," Bones said, feeling awkward under Tom's gaze and quickly changing the topic. "Tom, tell us about the basilisk."
"Yes," Umbridge chimed in, her voice dripping with that fake girlish coquetry. "I've grown up all this time and never seen a basilisk. Does such a creature really exist?"
Just moments ago, the group had been chatting and laughing together. Umbridge felt completely excluded, reduced to the same level as the Auror guards.
"Shall we see it here?" Tom didn't even glance at her, directing the question to Fudge instead. Umbridge's face turned a mix of pale and green at the blatant snub.
"Uh… sure, here's fine," Fudge hesitated for a moment but nodded.
"Headmaster, please expand the space," Tom told Dumbledore. "This little room won't do."
With a gentle flick of his wand, Dumbledore instantly expanded the office to more than five times its original size. Tom pulled out a dragon-hide bag, cast an enlargement charm, and with a thunk, the massive basilisk head dropped onto the floor, luckily, its hollowed-out eye sockets aimed directly at Umbridge.
The ferocious head, still stained with blood around the sockets, radiated a deadly aura.
Umbridge screamed and collapsed backward, while Fudge, standing too close, nearly shouted as well. Umbridge reacted faster, shocking Fudge into stumbling backward. A single armchair slid over just in time to catch him.
Surveying the room in relief, Fudge found the one responsible and nodded gratefully at Tom. A good man indeed, if not for Tom, he would have ended up making a fool of himself like Umbridge.
With just this one act, who could doubt that Tom had slain the basilisk? No one, certainly not him!
Bones and the other Aurors held their breaths, staring at the colossal creature. Just the head was nearly half the size of a dragon's body, imagine the full basilisk in all its terrifying glory.
Even a small creature of that size would be deadly; let alone a basilisk whose mere gaze could kill. The Aurors' eyes on Tom now carried awe and confusion.
How could such a disparity exist? They, second-years, could barely manage a few complete attack spells.
"Mr. Riddle… you may… put it away now," Fudge said.
Tom raised an eyebrow, feigning hesitation. "Minister Fudge, I think you should take a photo with the basilisk. Publish it in the newspapers. That would reassure the public and prove Hogwarts is safe."
Fudge's eyes lit up instantly.
Though he was greedy for power and sometimes clueless on major matters, when it came to public reputation and image, his brain switched on immediately. He sprang from the chair, looking at Tom with a softer, more sincere gaze.
"Mr. Riddle is right. The public deserves an explanation."
Seeing Umbridge still sprawled on the floor, Fudge frowned. "Dolores, how long are you going to stay there? It's just a head, you really fainted over that?"
You're no better than me! Umbridge silently cursed both Fudge and Tom for releasing the basilisk head, but outwardly she obediently moved aside.
"Albus," Fudge said warmly to Dumbledore, "let's take a photo together, it will do us both good. At least parents won't send angry letters in droves anymore. Derrick, where's your camera? Get it out!"
A burly Auror quickly produced a camera usually reserved for evidence and crime scenes. Who would have thought it would one day be used to photograph the Minister of Magic?
"Cornelius, in reality, all those angry letters were absorbed by my owl postboxes. I regret not seeing what they actually said," Dumbledore said, standing beside Fudge. "By the way, Cornelius, the basilisk caused severe damage to the castle. The school's funds are already tight."
"No problem. I'll help you request additional funds when we return," Fudge replied readily. After all, it wasn't his money, and it was a chance to earn public goodwill and boost his approval ratings.
With that promise, Dumbledore immediately wore his professional smile and exchanged a glance with Tom. In unison, they muttered under their breath:
"Old fox!"