Story Summary: This story will be many instances of Harry using his Parseltongue in front of people who may or may not be surprised by his snake-speaking skills. I got the idea because I think that Parseltongue is kind of the coolest thing ever and I wish I knew someone who could speak to snakes… I just had the urge to write something about it! So here it is; updates may be sporadic, though I have at least three chapters planned.

Chapter Summary: Harry gets a bit of revenge on his childhood bullies.

A/N: This chapter actually involves a bit of an OOC Harry, in that he is more vindictive than I normally write him. This would take place either right before OotP or right after, probably after, when Harry's emotions are at his most volatile.

Piers's POV

I snickered with satisfaction as I watched Mark Evans bolt away from our gang. Beating him up a couple days ago had been wonderful fun. The boy tried to put up a brave front with cheeky sarcasm, but he'd run if you looked at him funny. A ten-year-old prat.

Only after he left did I frown, realizing that there was no one to torment in the immediate area.

"Oi, look over there," Gordon said, pointing to the park that we'd vandalized a couple of weeks ago. "It's Potter."

I gazed at the area with a feral smile. I'd missed the old days of Harry Hunting. Potter had been bloody fast when we were younger but we still caught up with him sometimes. Now we rarely gave chase. The kid had become moody and withdrawn – God knows where he went sometimes. Dudley just told us he'd go on walks for hours and no one could find him. Almost the entire gang missed our regular target, but Dudley seemed reluctant to fight with his cousin. Their relations hadn't improved at all, so I was surprised at Dudley's change in heart, which had started back when we were starting secondary school.

Looking over at Dudley, I noticed that he had an anxious face on as he stopped his bike. We followed his lead and suddenly Dudley's expression hardened before he hopped off and strode confidently towards Potter.

Potter was in an odd position, lying flat on his back in the tall grass of the park. My mind started thinking of insults to get him up with, but Potter suddenly shot up, glaring around warily.

When he spotted us, his eyes narrowed in suspicion, but I was surprised to notice a smirk playing around his lips.

"I'd wipe that smile off your face if I were you, Potter!" Malcolm called out, noticing the same thing I did.

Potter favored him with a slightly disdainful glance, before looking at his cousin, raising his eyebrows challengingly. "I'd leave if I were you, Big D."

Dudley glared. "Like I'd listen to you, freak."

I was surprised to noticed Potter's eyes darken slightly in anger. "Then you'll have to meet some of my acquaintances."

"Like you've got anyone, Potter," I called out, but I was surprised to see Dudley take what seemed like an involuntary step backwards.

Potter smirked. "I don't know why you'd think that. I happened to be having a wonderful conversation with some of them until you disrupted the peace."

Dennis, Malcolm, and Gordon looked around, confused, but I kept my eyes fixed on Potter as he bent down.

When Potter straightened up, a snake was wrapped around his wrist, beginning to slither up his arm. He glanced down at his leg and his smirk grew as I saw another snake twisting its way up his leg.

Dennis, who had a terrible fear of snakes, stifled a shriek and Potter seemed satisfied.

Malcolm and Gordon looked at Potter warily. Dudley looked angry but also a bit terrified. I thought the boy was nuts.

"You lost your mind, Potter? Wouldn't surprise me, criminally insane as you are…" I taunted.

The boy looked angry for a moment before his expression became eerily calm. "You're in dangerous territory, Polkiss," he said, gazing at his snakes with a small grin.

"It'll get you kicked out of that freak school of yours," Dudley spoke out loudly, eyeing the snakes apprehensively.

He didn't think Potter could actually sick the snakes on us, did he?

"But I wouldn't be breaking any rules," Potter's grin grew. "This is a natural ability and my school won't be alerted. So what's it going to be, Big D? Save yourself or your reputation?" Potter said mockingly.

I was stunned to notice that Dudley seemed to be actually thinking about the offer.

What was Potter talking about? Was his school magically alerted when he did something criminal or something?

"He's bluffing," Gordon called out, his voice scathing. "Get him, Big D."

I watched as Dudley's face became determined and he stepped closer to his odd cousin.

Potter grinned disturbingly before turning his head to his right. The snake that had been on his arm had slithered up to drape over his shoulders. The snake who'd been on Harry's leg had attached itself to Potter's right arm.

Potter let out a strangled hissing sound. My jaw dropped as both snakes lifted their heads slightly to look at him. They both let out hisses.

Potter flicked a glance at us, a smirk on his face, before hissing again. The snake on his shoulder began to coil up and bared its fangs at the gang and I, a quiet hissing issuing from its mouth.

The snake on Potter's arm slithered down his body quickly, landing on the grass and raising its upper body up, also baring its fangs.

"I don't see why you'd be worried," Potter said mockingly. "I thought I was bluffing?"

The snake on the ground darted forth towards Dennis, who couldn't help a small shriek.

Potter almost looked sympathetic for a moment before smirking again. "Really, boys, relax. I told them that they weren't allowed to do too much damage to you."

The snake on the ground lashed out again and nearly bit Dennis who'd had enough and took off running. Gordon, who'd been close by, followed our frightened friend.

Malcolm was shaking and the snake sensed it, striking at the scared boy. He backed off quickly and ran.

I glanced nervously at Dudley to see what to do, but Dudley was staring at Potter in horror. "I'll tell Mum and Dad. They'll do something about you, freak!"

Potter's eyes darkened again but his voice was bitter. "You really think I care, Dudley? It's worth it after the hell you've put me through. But I'm not cruel like you. As much as I'd like to hurt you, snake bites are a bit too physically painful. I'd much rather get you back in a spectacularly humiliating way. I'd be watching out for that if I were you."

Potter glared at Dudley and then me before looking down. Another few hisses, somehow a bit gentler sounding, and the snake on the ground slithered up to drape over one shoulder while the other one slid to the other shoulder.

"You know," he said casually, "snakes really are excellent conversation partners. Much more intelligent than you and your gang, Big D."

And with that last insult, Potter walked off, hissing to his snakes.