The gift of a name
Severus ran as fast as he could to the Chamber and hastily said the password to get down the slide. Honestly, after some cushioning charms and a few pillows it was fun to go down this way. Jogging further down and going through the large vault like door, he started to yell, "I have a list for you! Come and look!"
The Basilisk could hear his heart pounding from the large door and hastily came out of her nest, hissing a quiet, 'open' she slithered out of her first wizards statues mouth.
"What bringss you here in ssuch hassste, child?" She asked lowering her great head to scent him.
"I made a small list of names for you." Severus replied and hoisted the list to her eye
The list read:
Hissaelil-wise eyes
Corien-cunning
Lûgeth-snake/serpent
Baralinthel-gleam in the eyes
Branthel-noble/fine
Arahaelil-noble and wise
Her eyes softened and gazed at the innocent hatchling before her. Salazar had a good one in his house, if only he knew it.
"I didn't want to just call you Basilisk or something random, so I did more research, you took a great liking to Tolkien's works that Lily sent by owl, and I made the list from that." continued Severus as he watched her read the parchment.
'Ah, the red-haired Gryffindor who sent those lovely books and those muggle things called 'movies' that sadly didn't work'. She thought.
"I can tell you that the first three I do not like but the last three are good options. Let me think of them while you tell me of your day hatchling." She replied and soon Severus picked up his bag and walked beside her to the nest. She circled the nest first, nosing around the straw and blankets into a new shape, slithering over it and getting comfortable, she gently picked the young snake up by the nape of his clothes and deposited him right in the center of her coils. Protected.
"Now what have those foolish Gryffindors done now?" She inquired and Severus burst with frustration and tears. It took no time for Severus to regale her with the tales of the Foolish Four (it was a fitting name instead of The Marauders). Pranks, ruined clothes, torn books, and crumbled homework, all in just a few days. She gently shook her mighty head, Godric would have tanned their hides for their recklessness and bullying, not to mention the other Founders.
As Severus kept speaking, she pondered the question; what is in a name? She had never cared before in her young years, Salazar and her never needed it honestly and the others just threw random ideas or jokes (Godric). Nothing stuck and it was left behind. Now though, as she looked down at this black-haired boy, so much like Salazar but so different, a gift of a name...yes. There is power in names, in a true name.
Pondering of the last three names, rolling them around in her mind until Severus noticed She wasn't paying attention. Severus looked up and saw her with a glazed expression; like she was lost in thought.
"Are you ok?" He asked petting her scales
"Indeed I am Severus. But let me introduce myself anew. My name is...Arahaelil." Arahaelil said touching his chest with her nose, scenting him with her tongue.
Severus smiled, showing his crooked teeth from a few punches too many, "Pleasure to meet you Arahaelil. My name is Severus."
If only Basilisks could smile, "Well met hatchling."