9. Parselmouth
Jem's P.O.V.
Since the article so many people had written to me claiming to my mother, father, siblings, and relatives of all sorts. I didn't think any of them were really related to me. The most interesting was when I spoke to Harry and Ginny who related the red hair, green eyes like their missing daughter had along with the fact I turned up on the Christmas day, was the right age and left in similar clothes. But they had got it wrong so many time before the Potters were scared to believe without any solid proof. I didn't like to take the hope away from the young parents but there was no way I could be the first daughter of The Boy Who Lived. Was there?
We were spending a lot of time in the Library usually we would sit by the Lake and talk and laugh but now we were researching more and more advanced magic. Okay I wasn't up to the same standards as my opponents… well maybe in Defence. It turned out I had a natural proficiency in Defensive spells. A part of me wondered if the same would apply to Dark Magic but I ignored this voice as usual. The voice that wanted me to cut ties with Grace, and now Teddy, and hurt others. In charms which I was good at I was up to fourth year learning Accio. Even in Transfiguration which I was really quite bad at I had finished first year work. We didn't know what the Task would involve so we just had to hope and pray things would be okay.
It was the First Task before I knew it. I hadn't eaten much when Professor Longbottom came running up to me in bright gold to tell me to go down to the Champions tent. Out of the corner of my eyes I saw the same happen with Luck and Maisie, Malfoy and Alyssa and, Maxime and Piers. We all slowly got up making our way out to the grounds. My breathing was coming short and fast.
In the tent I looked around and saw that Maisie's curls seemed less ordered than usual a sure sign that she'd been tossing all night. Alyssa's eyes were red and her nose still dripping. Piers looked less assured than usual. Running my hands through my hair nervously I couldn't believe that anyone would volunteer for the Tournament of their own free will. I supposed it was something with being older.
The judges minus Harry arrived. McGonagall stood between Maisie and I who were standing beside our House Heads. Jones was flicking her hair back and Percy Weasley came in with his sister both looking very serious. The Bulgarian came last standing back to look at the students observing in utter silence. Ginny came and stood behind me looking incredibly grim. Her brother stared at his younger sister before beginning to speak 'Champions we have four dangerous creatures you must simply get past them collecting the object they guard. The object must be collected without which you cannot hope to proceed.'
At this I couldn't help but question in my usual obtrusive way 'Mr. Weasley what are the objects?' the other Champions nodded along with me.
Percy Weasley looked affronted that I had interrupted him Ginny Weasley was the one who answered 'their will be different objects for each creature.' With a nod from her bespectacled brother Ginny continued 'those are a Basilisk, a chimera, a Manticore, and the Loch Ness monster. The Basilisk will have a sword, the chimera a golden trident, the Manticore an axe, and the Loch Ness Monster will have a silver bow. How this will help you I cannot say but you will learn or fail to get past the second task at your own cost. Now we have miniature models of the four beasts I would like you to pick one out. If you get in trouble there will people on sight to help you,' that made me realise where Harry was this set my mind to rest, well slightly.
Meanwhile Percy had pulled out a plush, red bag with a golden tassel tying it opening it he asked Maisie to come up and pick one quickly putting her hand in and out of the bag as though frightened that they would bite her. When she opened her palm I realised that was a distinct possibility. In her hand was a struggling, long green beast like images I had seen of 'Nessie' with a silver number three tag tied around her neck. Alyssa was next handed the bag she stared resolutely at the side of the tent slowly picking out a model. I bent closer to see what the older girl had retrieved what at first thought it was a lion but it had scaly black tale and a human like face with a number one tied around its muscular neck. 'The Manticore,' breathed Percy Weasley. Piers moved and carelessly pulled out a creature with a long green, scaly tail and furry body and a golden mane of hair on its lions body and number two tied to its tail 'The Chimera for our young man. That leaves Miss Winters with the basilisk,' I heard Ginny let out a faint whimper turning to look at her I saw her freckles stand out fiercely on her ghostly white face I continued to stare at her not understanding. Percy walked behind me to stand beside his youngest sibling patting her one the shoulder somewhat awkwardly not being very good at comforting people. He gave me the last creature a snake with a four tied on a piece of string around the widest part of its frame. So I was last not sure whether to be glad it gave me a chance to prepare or that I gave me ample time to panic. Nothing I had looked over would equip me to fight a creature like the basilisk.
The judges walked out. There was a cannon blast and Alyssa walked out head held high. One by one the champions left to face their beasts. I walked planning to summon the sword hoping that would be all I needed to do. Then I walked out and was hit by what I was facing the Basilisk eyes were missing but it was sniffing around the whole lucid green body before its head the size of a small car went for me fangs glistening. I jumped to my left feeling angry as I turned and looked at it. Then something strange happened I felt all the fear and rage dissipate as I looked at the massive snake. 'Stop,' I said without fear and to my surprise it did. So the snake would do as I told it to 'bring me the shiny object,'
'Cannot touch,' it hisses at me and to my surprise I can understand it 'hurtsss, burnsss. Want to go home,' I reach out to touch it feel sympathy for the creature so far from its home.
'It's okay you'll be home before you know it. Just let me past,' the Basilisk slithers away from me and I walk over to the sword and pick it up in triumph. Expecting cheers like everyone else. But there is complete silence in the arena.
Not understanding I instinctively look over to Harry who's stood up. 'It's okay,' he calls softly 'Jem why don't you come here and we'll give you your scores.' Why wasn't anyone explaining what was wrong with the way I got past the Basilisk. Harry smiled kindly at me and shot a golden 9 up into the air. Ginny following suit shot a bright red 10 into the air. Michel Pinchev shot a silver 8 into the air. McGonagall looking flustered shot an emerald green 7 into the air. Malfoy smiled and shot a dark purple 10 into the air looking at me with fear. Madam Maxime-Hagrid shot a purple 0 in the air. What was everyone's problem all I'd done was ask the basilisk to move why was everyone looking at me like I'd done something heinous? I felt like going up to them and hitting them who cares how I did it. It's not like I used dark magic or anything. But they'd probably like it better if I did at least there would be something to punish. Percy gave me a seven not looking like he thought I was dangerous like a lot of people were looking at me. I quite clearly saw Gwenog Jones give me the evil eye and then promptly shot a 0 in the air not looking at me. That was it I stormed of into Hogwarts, my home. Finding an empty room I sit down I've ruined my chance at finding some sort of family. 'Hello Jem,' Harry speaks softly 'do you want to talk about what happened?' I shake my head furiously blinking tears back furiously. 'Okay you should know you got a round total of 51 that places you tied second with Maisie, Alyssa winning with 60 points, Piers got into trouble so we had to help him giving him only 20 points. You're still in with a chance if you perform well in the next two tasks.'
His talking seemed to ease my mind asking the question that was burning on my mind 'what was the problem all I did was ask the Basilisk to move. It's not like I did dark magic or anything.'
'I know I heard you it was a pretty nice Basilisk that's why it was chosen we didn't want it to kill anyone. But what you have to understand everyone else only heard hissing. Parseltounge or being a parselmouth is the ability to talk to snakes. Slytherin and Voldemort were parselmouths and people tend to remember the evil parselmouths rather than the good so parseltounge has become associated with the darks arts even with me. I remember when I was twelve the whole school decided I was the Heir of Slytherin when I saved a boy from being attacked by a snake. Actually they fought I was attacking Muggle-Borns for fun until my best friend was attacked people will realise who you are but give them time. Ginny and I are both parselmouths so our children are likely to be as well. I know James is.'
