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“Scared?” Quietly taunted Malfoy, so that Lockhart couldn’t hear him.
“You wish.” Harry muttered under his breath. Lockhart roughly cuffed Harry merrily on the shoulder.
“Just do what I do, Harry!” Lockhart excitedly cheered.
“What? Drop my wand?” Harry softly scoffed but Lockhart wasn’t listening. Lockhart waited for the tension to build between Harry and Malfoy before suddenly counting down.
“Three- Two- One- Go!”
Malfoy raised his wand quickly and bellowed, “Serpensortia!” The end of his wand exploded into thick black smoke, Harry's heart dropped as a long black snake shot out of the smog. The snake fell onto the floor with a thump and a loud hiss of pain.
The snake hissed loudly as it recovered from the fall and rouse itself, posing to strike if threatened.
The crowd quickly moved away from the snake, clearing the floor. The screams of the students closest to the snake fell onto deaf ears as Harry took a step closer to the panicked snake.
“Do not move, Mr. Potter.” Drawled Snape, his smirk dripping off of his face. His beady eyes narrowed when Harry took another step closer to the snake. “I’ll get rid of it.” Snape growled when Harry once again moved slightly closer to it.
“Allow me!” Shouted Lockhart purposely bumping into Snape, shoving the potions teacher out of his way. Snape glared at the floundering blonde once he regained his footing.
Only instead of vanishing the snake, Lockhart threw it across the room. The snake crashed into the wall right where the crowd of students stood.
Hurt and furious the snake slithered straight into the crowd. Screaming and loud yelp’s erupted into the hall as the snake headed straight towards Justin Finch-Fletchley.
The Hufflepuff tried to move out of the enraged snake's way, only for it to have the opposite effect. The snake, seeing the sudden movement, targeted the boy. Its fangs bared and ready to strike, Harry yelled.
“ Stop! Leave him be! ” Miraculously the snake stopped midway in its attack. Its head swiveling toward Harry and its tongue flicking out of its mouth. The crowd quickly moved away while the snake was docile. The Hufflepuff’s glare went unnoticed by Harry.
“ A Speaker? ” It hissed. Harry hurried to the black snake, just barely dogging Ron’s outstretched arm reaching for him.
“ Speaker? ” Harry answered back, when he was crouched down to meet the snake. Excitedly the snake bobbed its head up and down.
“ I’ve found a Speaker!! ” The snake exclaimed happily, forgetting about the people around it. “ Such a young Speaker! Young Hatchling! ” The snake repeated. Hesitantly Harry moved to touch the snake. It made no move to attack his hand, instead it curled into the touch. It loudly hissed in pain as Harry moved to lift it.
“ I’m sorry! Are you hurt? ” Harry hurriedly moved his hand from grasping the snake coiling around his wrist, moving to only try to support it.
“Hurts.. Yess It hu-rts” The snake hissed almost as if it was surprised.
“ Where? ” Harry questioned the snake as it uncoiled around his wrist and slithered up his arm, disappearing into his robe. The snake's reply was interrupted by Ron reaching Harry and grabbing him.
“Mate.” Ron whispered grimly. Harry looked up at his friend's freckled face, fear and anxiety clearly shining in his blue eyes.
“What? Ron, are you alright?” Harry questioned his friend as he got up off the floor, the snake still hiding up the arm of his robe. None of his questions were answered, only increasing his confusion.
Harry saw Hermione’s figure rushing to where he and Ron were standing.
“Come on,” Ron whispered into Harry’s ear. “Move - come on!” Stranded Ron as he pulled Harry out of the hall, away from the gawking students, Lockharts look of pure confusion, and Snape’s shrewd, calculated look.
Hermione finally reached them once Ron and Harry were out of the Hall. Before she could question or berate them, Justin Finch-Fletchley rushed out after her.
“What do you think you're playing at? Sending that snake after me!” The Hufflepuff shouted and rushed down the hallway. Leaving the three Gryffindors in confusion.
“Did he not watch the snake come out of Malfoy's wand?” Whispered Harry glancing at his two friends for confirmation. Ron hesitatingly nodded while Hermione only gave him a calculated look.
Hermione pushed Harry towards Ron, Ron grabbed hold of his robes and dragged him towards the Gryffindor tower. Once reaching the common room, Ron pushed Harry into an armchair then turned to face him.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Ron softly cried once he dramatically fell onto the armchair in front of him. Hermione less dramatically sat down in the armchair next to Harry.
“Tell you what?” Harry asked dully.
“About you being a…” Ron started but stopped to look around the common room, a small group of first years sat doing homework.
“A Parselmouth .” Hermione whispered, finishing Ron’s statement.
“I’m a what? ” Harry softly exclaimed. The snake hiding in his robes found his movements to be too disturbing. Slowly it poked its head out of the neck hole of Harry’s robes.
“ Hatchling Upset? ” Questioned the snake.
“You brought the snake with you!?” Ron screeched.
“What else would I have done?! Leave it to Snape to be taken care of, or better yet Lockhart?!” Harry shot out of the armchair, causing a few first years in the common room to stare at him.
Quickly Hermione grabbed the sleeve closest to her and yanked him back down. She shot a quick apology to the group of first years looking over at them in curiosity.
“Professor Lockhart could have taken care of the snake, and you both know it.” Hermione huffed, earning her pointed looks from both of the boys.
“Ignoring the fact that he was the one to throw the poor snake across the room.” Harry mumbled underneath his breath. Ron quietly laughed, trying to turn it into a cough when he saw Hermonie’s reaction. Hermione blushes at Harry’s soft words and Ron’s poorly hidden laugh, earning both the boys a glare. The snake hissed, regaining Harry’s attention.
“ I’m okay, just a bit startled. ” Harry answered the squirming snake climbing out of his robes.
“I can’t believe you never told us! This is so bad!” Ron wailed softly. Ron dramatically twisted in his armchair causing him to fall out of it. Hermonie glared at Ron as he dragged himself up onto the chair with a dramatic huff.
“You should have told us Harry.” Softly agreed Hermione albeit a lot less dramatically than Ron.
“Again! What does me being a Parsel-thingy have to do with anything?” Harry glared at his two friends. Hermione's stern stare became more calculated.
“It's Parselmouth, Harry. And it means the ability to speak in Parseltongue.” Hermione strained.
“It means you can talk with snakes.” Ron quickly translated Hermione's more academic response. Harry gave them both a dull look.
“I know I can.” Harry deadpans. “I’ve talked with a boa constrictor at a zoo once, I accidentally set it on my cousin. It’s a long story, but it was telling me how it had never seen Brazil and I sort of, well.” Harry bashfully scratches his head. “I kinda set it free.”
“I’m sure we have time for the details, Harry.” Hermione’s response left Harry blushing in embarrassment at her bluntness.
“It was before I knew I was a Wizard.” Harry rushed to justify himself, trying to stray off the approaching embarrassment.
“A boa constrictor told you it had never seen Brazil?” Ron repeated softly, seeming to have processed the information and was rejoining the conversation.
“Yes, it said it was born in captivity.” Harry softly explained. “But I bet lots of people can talk to snakes! I mean, there's got to be spells that let you speak to all kinds of animals.” Harry turned back to the snake now fully out of his robes trying to burrow back into his robes. Ron softly whimpered.
“This is so bad…” Ron whined. Harry returned his attention back to his friend.
“What's so bad, Ron?” Harry strained, starting to get angry at the red head.
“Not a lot of people can speak with any animal naturally, Harry.” Hermione swiftly interrupted anything Ron was going to say. “Being a Parselmouth is a rare talent but it's also a different language. Only people born with the talent can understand and speak with snakes.”
“I was speaking in a different language?” Harry whispered, fear creeping up his spine. “And you can’t understand me?” Hermione softly confirmed Harry’s fear.
“People are going to start thinking you're related to Salazar Slytherin!” Ron moaned. Hermione’s face paled drastically, the small glint in her eyes extinguishing.
“Why would they think that?” Harry asked. Ron loudly groaned, causing a brunette fourth year to glare at him from where the older boy was sitting across the common room writing on a piece of parchment. Harry blushed and kicked Ron’s foot, causing him to glare at Harry. Hermione in the end softly apologized to the annoyed fourth year.
“The talent to talk to snakes is what Salazar Slytherin was famous for. That's why serpents are Slytherins' mascot.” Hermione whispered.
“Well I’m not!” Harry squeaked, his voice attracting the attention of a few upper years, who glowered at him. “I’m not related to him.” He softly repeated.
“That won’t stop people from talking about you being some great-great-great- relative of him, Harry.” Ron softly whines. Hermione stayed quiet but the glint in her eye returned. Ron continued to moan dramatically about Harry being related to Salazar Slytherin. Harry tried to return his attention to the conversation but the snake trying really hard to borrow into his robes left Ron’s whining as background noise.
“ What are you doing? ” Harry hissed, lifting the snake up off of his lap and letting it slither up his arm.
“ Getting comfortable, Hatchling. ” The snake hissed back, it found a way into the robes with the help of Harry guiding it. “ Thanksss, Hatchling. ”
“ I have a name you know. ” Harry hissed once its head popped out of the neck hole. “ Do you have one? ” Ron and Hermione’s attention was focused on the conversation between Harry and the snake.
“ A name? ” The snake hissed back confused.
“ Yes, What are you called? I’m Harry! ” Harry hissed. The snake squirmed out of his robes once more before it softly hissed its reply.
“ I don't have one, Hatchling Harry. ” The snake softly hissed.
“What did it say?” Ron hurried to ask, he was leaning closer to Harry almost out of his seat.
“I was asking for its name, but It doesn’t have one.” Harry answered dejectedly.
“If it doesn’t have one, why don’t you name it?” Hermonie suggested softly. Harry considered Hermione’s suggestion. The common room was slowly emptying as Harry silently stared down at the snake.
The trio sat in silence as the light fully dimmed outside, causing the fire to surround them in its warm glow. Finally Harry whispered into the nearly empty room.
“Do I really speak in a different language?” He saw Hermione nod her head from the corner of his eye.
“You did.” She softly confirmed.
“You really can’t understand me?” Harry asked, lifting his gaze from the snake curled in his lap to Ron. Ron quickly shook his head, his hair flying in the air from the speed his head shook.
“No, we can’t understand you hissing.” Ron huffed dramatically, but lowered his voice. “Really, mate, it's kind of creepy. You hissing and all.” Ron whispered. Hermione glowered at Ron, causing him to slouch back in his seat.
“Why don’t you ask the snake what they want to be called?” Hermione turned her attention back to Harry.
“Have I ever told you how brilliant you are, Hermione?” Harry gave her his best grin.
They ended up trying to name the snake well into the night. The trio had found out that the snake was in fact a girl early on as she refused to be called a he. Annoying her further whenever Ron had tried and getting quite crossed with Harry when he wouldn’t translate her vulgar name calling.
Hermione had taken to researching what species she could be, and if that could help with naming her. Hermoine quickly dropped the book she was reading labeled Snakes of North America: Eastern and Central Regions in the slowly growing pile of books and parchment beside her.
“She’s a North American Racer!” Hermione cried, causing Ron to jolt awake from the armchair he was draped across.
“A what?” Ron stifled a yawn as he adjusted to sit properly in the armchair.
“A Northern American Racer.” Hermione stated. She picked up the book she had just sat down and began to read passages out of it before Ron could question her more.
“North American Racers are a long and slender snake with smooth scales in 17 dorsal rows at midbody. Adults are black or bluish/black with white or brown and white markings on the chin and throat. Young members of the species have a gray body with red and light color markings looking almost like a completely different species. Many young North American Racers are confused with the highly dangerous and venomous Pygmy rattlesnake although the Northern American Racer is non venomous.”
“The species gets its name from its capacity to constrict its prey. However, most adult snakes aren’t known for constricting their prey as they prefer to swallow it alive.Fast hunting and fast-moving around characterize the North American Racer. This snake quickly follows prey and swallows it. This snake prefers to run away instead of biting.” Hermione finished reciting proudly.
“Well, what the bloody hell is an American snake doing here?” Ron grouched. Harry shrugged at Ron.
“Ask Malfoy, he was the one who conjured her in the first place.”
After an hour or so of research Hermione and Harry -Ron was passed out on the rug decorating the floor, using Harry’s robe as a pillow and Hermione’s as a blanket- had found a name that the snake agreed with.
“ Artemis, The name is from the Greek goddess of the Hunt. ” Harry hissed. Hermione sluggishly putting away books and parchment. The snake took a long while to decide, slowly hissing the name to herself.
“ Yes. ” The snake finally decided. “ Yes. I like that name very much, Hatchling Harry. ” Artemis proclaimed. Harry let out a breath of relief and threw a thumbs up to Hermione. She looked as if she could squeal in pure happiness if not for the exhaustion clinging to her eyes.
Both of them decide that trying to sneak back into their respective dormitories would be to much of a hassle and settled down on either the floor next to Ron in Harry’s case or on one of the empty couches near one of the two roaring fireplaces in Hermione’s case.
Harry wished the Hufflepuffs would stop treating him as if he would curse them and their bloodlines. Harry turned to complain to Ron about it, but stopped when he saw Malfoy’s figure strutting up to them from the corner of his eye.
“Malfoy.” Harry glared at the other boy as he refused to let Ron or him pass.
Malfoy’s face split into a nasty smirk. His gray eyes squinting at Harry as his lips turned up to sneer at him. Ron’s freckled hand reached for part of Harry’s cloak, holding him back from drawing his wand.
“So, Potter.” Malfoy drawled. His eyes sharpening at the sight of Ron’s hand clenching Harry’s cloak. Parkinson's high cackle bounced off of the castle's walls. Malfoy’s two grunts were nowhere in sight.
“Lay off it Malfoy!” Ron’s voice echoed off the walls, causing Harry to cringe at the loud noise.
“I’d be careful if I was in Gryffindor, weasel.” Malfoy quietly sneered. “Potter is after all a sssnake lover .” He cackled as he drew out the S’s. Parkinson’s pugged face scrunching up more than he thought was physically possible as she let out a belly laugh, causing Harry to once again cringe at the sound.
“Harry is no snake lover!” Ron loudly proclaimed. His ears and the back of his neck turning red as his hands shook with fury. Though Ron’s wand stayed up his sleeve. Harry’s cloak shook in Ron’s tight grip. Malfoy ignored Ron’s exclamation of Harry’s dignity.
“Next you know weasel, Potter's have a snake replace you and the Mudblood soon!” Malfoy sneered. “Oh wait! He already has replaced one of you! Hasn’t he, Pansy?” Malfoy drawls.
“He has, Draco! He’s replaced his familiar with one already!” Parkinson's high voice pierced into Harry and Ron. “Next you know he’ll replace his old company for snakes!” Her high giggle sounded like nails on a chalkboard. Slowly both older students and younger ones had stopped to watch the interaction.
By this point Ron’s face was beat red, his whole body shaking. He drew a long breath before yelling at the two second year Slytherins.
“HARRYS NO SNAKE LOVER!!! HE'D RATHER HANG AROUND A TRUE LION! HELL HE’D RATHER SNOG PROFESSOR MCGONAGALL THAN ANY OF YOU SLIMY SERPENTS!!”
Fully embarrassed from Ron’s loud yell and the words he just loudly proclaimed… In a cordour… In public... In front of other students…that were staring at them…at him.
Harry stared detachedly as a few of the gathered students laughed. Both of the slytherin second years erupted into hysterical laughter.
Roughly grabbing Ron’s robes, the two gryffindor’s hurriedly fled the hallway. Harry dragged the red haired boy as he nearly ran to the Gryffindor tower.
Once on the moving staircase, Ron fumbled an apology.
“I’m.. look mate, I didn’t really- I mean! I’m sorry! That just slipped, you know how that git makes me! I.. I -“
“It’s fine Ron.” Harry muttered, trying to hide his anger and embarrassment.
Once into the common room, they spotted Hermonie slamming her book shut as she saw them entering.
“Well? Where were you two? It's almost curfew?” She narrowed her eyes. Ron stumbled under their friends' hard gaze. Artemis slithered up to Harry. She bobbed her head up and down in excitement.
“ Harry! The-One-Who-Knows has let Artemis off to the hunt! She said the rat belonging to He-Who-Hunts-Flames is not food. So Artemis can not hunt the rat. Though Artemis wishes to! The vile vermin! ”
Harry let out a small laugh. His thin expression breaks into a smile. Hoping whatever Scabbers had done to annoy Artemis wasn’t too big and she’d forget it soon.
“ The-One-Who-Knows is known by a different name. Remember? ” Harry gently reminded the over excited snake.
“ Yes! Artemis knows her name and the other one! ” The snake hissed back as her voice dropped in annoyance. “ It is funnier to give Harry’s friends hatching names! You need them to become strong hunters. ” She announced.
“Well? Harry?” Hermonie gave him a pointed look when she turned her attention toward him. Sparing Ron from continuing to fumble over himself.
“A run in with Malfoy. He got on both of our nerves.” Harry muttered. Hermione's eyes softened just a tad.
“Well let's not let that arsehole get to us, Harry.” Hermione got up from her seat and began collecting her books and parchment. “Get some sleep,” She whispered to Harry, then turned to Ron. “I mean it Ronald, If I catch you out of bed I'll make sure you never leave it again.” She threatened, causing Ron to shrink more into himself.
Hermione left the common room and traveled up to the second year girls dormitory. Harry grabbed Artemis. After Ron gathered his bookbag, Ron and him climbed the stairs to their own dormitory.
Not long after Ron was snoring loudly in the bed beside him, but Harry could not sleep. Artemis curled close to him in what Harry hoped was her trying to comfort him. His mind ran around the mess that was this school year.
Sometime around midnight Harry finally fell asleep.
Harry trekked to the owlery alone. Ron hadn’t left Hermione’s side since she was brought into the hospital wing, except when Harry dragged him to class. Harry had no intention of dragging Ron away from Hermione without an important reason.
Artemis squirmed underneath Harry’s robe, she stuck her head out from the neck opening and tasted the air.
“ Where are we going Harry? ” She hissed. A few passing students scurried down the stairs trying not to bump into Harry and Artemis as they fled.
“ To see a friend. ” Harry whispered back.
They entered the owlery. Hedwig quickly found Harry and landed on his shoulder. Artemis startled and hid back in Harry's robe.
“Hullo girl. Long time no see, huh?” Harry scratched her head, as she tried to preen his messy mop of hair on the top of his head. She hooted back her response, causing a small grin to spread across his face, which had become grim over the past few days.
Hedwig searched around waiting patiently for something. Harry guessed that she was waiting for him to pull out a letter of some kind.
“No girl, I just came to say hullo.” Harry reached into the pocket of his robe to give Hedwig an owl treat. She stayed on Harry’s shoulder for sometime, preening and hooting comfortably to him.
When curfew was drawing near a sixth year barged into the owlery. A Ravenclaw by the looks of her blue uniform. She quickly called her owl, a beautiful spotted barn owl.
“Scram Kid, it’s almost curfew. There’s no reason for a firsty to be out.” She growled at Harry. Harry blushed and grumbled that just because he was short it didn’t make him a first year. The older Ravenclaw ignored him.
Hedwig flew off of his shoulder and back to the perch she was on before Harry had arrived. He shuffled to his feet and made his leave before the older Ravenclaw could embarrass him more.
Harry made his way back into the castle. Climbing the stairs and back to Ron's side in watching over Hermione.