In J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, a basilisk lives in the Chamber.
The basilisk is a gigantic serpent controlled by the heir of Slytherin. Its stare can kill directly, although several characters in the novel encounter its gaze indirectly and survive because the view is obstructed or reflected. Harry discovers the creature beneath Hogwarts and defeats it with the Sword of Gryffindor.
The basilisk explains several earlier mysteries, including the attacks that appear to petrify students and the messages written on the walls. It travels through the castle’s pipes and is connected to the Chamber’s opening by a Parseltongue command. A basilisk is not a dragon or a large ordinary snake; in the novel’s magical lore, it is a legendary serpent with lethal powers. The creature’s presence also links the school’s history to Salazar Slytherin and the identity of Tom Riddle.