New Chapter.

Good news, though it wasn't able to upload sooner but guess I could, and so soon as well. So lucky readers. :)

This is what a lot of people had been waiting for and for that I really wanted to do it justice. I hope this lives up to people's expectation's and enjoy reading as much as I liked writing.

I did have to re-write some stuff and so if some doesn't look quite right...I do tend to have that problem. Then by all mean's let me know and I will try my best to answer it as much as I can for you,

If not then happy reading, :)

Hermione was bored. She stood next to Ron, Harry, Dean and Seamus in the middle of the great hall waiting for the teacher who was to be fronting it to arrive. She sighed and looked around. There were far better places she could be right now why she allowed Ron and Harry to drag her here she didn't know but if nothing happened soon she would be leaving.

Glancing around she spotted her Mother coming through the side door and smiled as she started to move in between the groups of chattering students all eager to learn how to duel. As she got closer her Mother saw her and smiled before coming to a stop at her side.

"Oh thank Merlin it's you." Minerva tilted her head slightly as Hermione carried on. "I mean it's already bad enough I'm here in the same room as this stupid event but knowing that you're leading it makes my time more bearable." She stopped when a hand halted her speech as the older woman chuckled and replied.

"Hate to disappoint you my dear, but it's not me." The younger girl looked at her Mother trying to see if she was joking but then remembered that the deputy head never joked about anything.

"So…Not you" Minerva shook her head. "Well than who is it"

She shrugged at that and looked over her shoulder into the crowd before looking back at her,

"Your guess is as good as mine. That is why I'm here actually, to make sure everything goes ok and that no one gets hurt." Hermione bit her lip and turned so that she was facing the long table in the middle.

"So who do you think it is?" Giving her a side glance as Minerva spoke.

"Well I know duelling consists of spells that range from all sorts so it could be any one of the teachers"

"….I would have to bet on Professor Flitwick"

"Oh"

Hermione nodded, "Aye I mean he is a dueling champion isn't he? Who better than to teach us what he does best….Well that and charms of course." They both chuckled at that and continued to converse for a few moment's until the doors at the other end opened and in casually strolled the teacher who was heading the class. Unfortunately as they looked over they couldn't see due to the students in front but both let out simultaneous groans at the sound of his voice.

"Seriously" She turned to her mother who wore the same irritated expression as now the pompous Defense against the dark arts teacher moved up onto the table smiling as he did so, both shuddered at the revolting and annoying grin he wore as Hermione spoke again.

"Can't you do something about this" She asked looking at the older woman who shook her head.

"Unless there is genuine cause that a student might be in danger than no, as so far nothing has happened." Hermione looked on in slight horror.

"Surely the headmaster wouldn't have allowed him to actually run his own club?" When she saw the slight squirm from her Mother she carried on her voice slightly pitched.

"The man is a complete fraud"

"I know that love. But you know how the student's. Especially the female ones are more….."

"Deluded" The younger girl interjected with a slight miffed look on her face. "And judging by the way they are already staring at him I fear for their academic and personal intelligence." Minerva couldn't help but laugh at the word's as Hermione crossed her arms and took to glaring at the front row of girls all swooning over the golden-haired idiot who was preening at the attention and talking to the crowd.

"I know. But if Albus seems to think he is capable of running this club than we just have to trust his judgement." The little side look she got from the corner of her eye a few seconds later told her that the younger girl was thinking along the same line she was.

"Humph….I'd feel safer taking on an insulted Hippogriff blindfolded. Than go into a duel with whatever he teaches." Minerva fought to hold off the snort as she rubbed her daughters arm in sympathy letting her know she felt the same as they stood at the back and watched the fool at the front.

"So why did you come here tonight?" Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Because Ron and Harry thought it would be a 'good experience'" She sighed and shook her head slightly. "Sometimes I wonder if I'm too lenient with them." Minerva looked at the younger girl a brow raised as she did; it was amusing to say the least on hearing exactly what her daughter was like when with her friends…It was like watching a mother hen with some mischievous chicks.

"And if anything goes wrong tonight as I'm sure we both know it's likely to with him in charge?" She waited for the answer as Hermione looked to where the boys were standing both looking on with wide eyes.

"Then both will become very acquainted with the words 'I told you so' before the night is out" Was her response making her smile again.

Everyone was silent as a demonstration between Lockhart and a very reluctant Snape took place. They stood on opposite ends and bowed slightly as it was custom before and with all eyes on the two at the front. They watched as Snape blasted the blonde haired man across the table and crumpled on the other end, gasps could be heard from his many crush stricken fans as they saw him land awkwardly.

Minerva and Hermione had to cover their mouth's to muffle the sounds of their laughter, as they clung to each other shaking silently. A few students around them were eyeing both as a few stray giggles came out. Lockhart clambered to his feet shakily much to the amusement of Snape who had been dying to hex the irate show off ever since he started and the Slytherin's who had been not so subtle in their laughter at his humiliation.

"Yes. Well that was a very good demonstration. Severus," Lockhart called over cheerfully as he faced the crowd again.

"That was me showing all an example of what might happen if you allow yourself to get distracted." He spoke as the four people in the room who hated him the most stared at him mouths slightly open or more Minerva's and Hermione's both Malfoy and Snape glared hatefully.

The dueling started as the blonde haired man called for some volunteers as he gingerly limped to the very edge careful not to let anyone see as two Ravenclaws took their places. It went on for a while as a set from each house took it in turn's to try to disarm each other with no real damaging hexes being thrown around much to the Slytherin's disappointment with both witches watching and making quiet comments.

Then came the mixed house dueling as one from each house faced off with each other. Lockhart and Snape went around pairing people up Snape took great pleasure in being the first to get to Harry and Ron before splitting them up, Ron though for some reason went with Seamus which wouldn't have been so bad if he didn't give off the impression he was about to set something alight every few seconds. Harry immediately moved next to Hermione who was the obvious choice but to his dismay Snape just shook his head.

"I think not Mr Malfoy, come over here. Let's see what you make of the famous Potter." The Blonde simply didn't just walk he had to strut as he sneered at them. Hermione scoffed as she turned away and was content to just talk to the older woman who had been at the side watching. That was until the Potion master spoke again.

"And Miss McGonagall."

She sighed and turned back to look at his pale gloating face.

"You, Miss McGonagall - you can partner Miss Bulstrode." He turned and waved a girl over who came ambling towards them well she said girl, but what she really saw was a giant troll like creature pushing through the crowd. For the first time that night Hermione fidgeted in discomfort and glared back at the still gloating man who watched the miss matched pair with an air of smugness.

"Face your partners!" called Lockhart, back on the platform. "And bow!"

Draco and Harry barely did, Ron and Seamus chuckled but did so friendly as Hermione eyed the larger girl who was glaring at her. She was in no way, going to lower her head to her; it would be like offering a goat up to a sacrifice. She didn't fancy getting eaten that night and so when the blonde haired man told them all to start practicing. She waited until Minerva who had patted her sympathetically on the arm moved away to look on the others, before looking back to the Slytherin who had yet to move before speaking.

"Try anything and I'll make sure the elves serve you up for dinner before you can utter a spell."

The girl, Millicent. She had learnt blinked stupidly for a few moments before looking conflicted, the girl in front of her was nothing compared in size. She could crush her like a twig if she wanted and yet. Here she was threatening her, deciding not to heed her she made to take a step forward but was stopped by an invisible force.

"I did say try it and you would be nothing but servings. Why didn't you listen?" She looked up to see the other girl wand out eyeing her with slight derision.

"Of course you're a snake so naturally not at all on level attention wise. But still if someone was telling me that they would turn me into offerings I would be smart and turn the other way."

"You're lying." Was the first thing that came from the other girls mouth practically all day, as she looked on a little wearily at a slightly demonic grin on her face. "Want to risk finding out? I'd say you're at least three roast dinners by yourself. So should be enough for a few days." She said lifting her hand a little just as the larger girl shook her head sluggishly.

"No I'll go." Satisfied in her provocation. Hermione lowered her arm and smiled more sweetly. "Isn't that better?"

Millicent waited until she could move again before giving her a scathing look. "Don't you just love it when we all get along?" Before smirking once more when the Slytherin turned and beat a hasty retreat into the crowd. Hermione watched until she left before moving off in search of her Mother who she found at the side watching. Seeing her approach she lifted her brow as Hermione came to stand by her.

"She accepted defeat graciously." Minerva didn't say nothing merely smiled as the younger girl took a place at the side and joined in with the watching of the others as they dueled.

The Hufflepuffs being surprisingly good and disarming a few Ravenclaws before the duel between the two most rivaled houses was announced Lockhart took great pleasure in calling Harry to the stage as Hermione looked on her disdain for the fame hungry man building as he dragged the reluctant boy up next to him and beaming happily much to Harry's shame.

"Look at him….The blatant need for attention has him embarrassing Harry" She spat out sharply as Minerva hummed her agreement unhappily, she knew that Harry had his fair share of gossipers talking about his need to be in the spot light all the time and she could say that wasn't true. But with the likes of this ignorant moron constantly singling him out how was he meant to prove them wrong? Not that he had to, but if only to make his life easier.

Of course Draco had to be his opponent as the silver-haired boy stood next to Snape smirking in his direction. Hermione groaned when she saw Ron getting angry and so as to avoid any unnecessary fights she looked to her Mother and muttered.

"I'm just going to make sure Ron doesn't try anything funny" Minerva looked to the red-headed boy who was glaring at the smirking Draco and flexing his knuckles as she nodded.

"All we need, alright go and make sure he knows it not a real fight…And that there will be none whilst we are here." The look she got told her that was unlikely. It was Harry and Malfoy if it wasn't them then it was Ron and Malfoy so something was bound to happen as she snorted elegantly and wandered off to the other side and over to the youngest Weasley boy. Coming to his side and muttering to him as he nodded angrily at the stage.

She watched as they got into a little seemingly heated discussion which ended with Hermione pulling on his ear sharply making the older woman chuckle as the red-head pouted and rubbed his ear unhappily before obeying what she had said and stood silent as they watched the two enemies duel.

It was going fine with Harry blasting Draco back as he fell next to Severus who looked down grudgingly before hauling him to his feet and pushing him back in the middle. He sent a counter that had Harry falling back they both seemed evenly matched with none letting up, until Draco gave him a knowing smirk which had Minerva narrowing her eyes in slight worry, she knew just as many around them that when the young Malfoy smiled like that nothing good came from it.

A few seconds later her worry was well placed as the blonde haired boy went to strike back with a jinx but instead shouted the words.

"Serpensortia!"

As he pointed his wand at Harry as a medium-sized snake shot from the end of it landing in the middle. A few startled gasps and a scream from the front triggers the snake into moving, as it hissed before silently making its way along the table and over to a still standing Harry. Draco smirked proudly in victory but was yanked back harshly by Snape who gave him a look that promised trouble before attempting to deal with the snake only to have Lockhart move forwards.

"No problem Severus, I believe I can more than handle this," As he smiles and pointed his wand at the reptile before saying a spell and attempting to make it disappear. Instead what he got was a snake that was flung high into the air and crashed back onto the table angrier than before as it became more hostile and spat at those around it. The students at the front scrambled away from the table eager to get away from the vicious creature as quick as they could with Minerva moving forward's worry now growing.

The snake looked around at the people in front of it before it made a move and before anyone knew it had reared up, and was staring straight into the terrified eyes of Justin Finch Fletchley. The Hufflepuff boy looked at the angry reptile too scared to move as the teachers all went to try to remove the danger only to stop when low hissing sounded out as Harry had moved forward's and was now hissing at the snake.

Everyone stood still as they watched the snake slowly turn to face the boy who had seemingly spoken to it, wide eyes watched some with confusion others scared. The teachers were all shocked into silence as the volatile creature did as Harry had told it, not that they heard him as now a few had taken steps back as slow as they could.

Hermione had watched the interaction and wondered why they had moved away. All he did was tell the snake not to attack. What did they have to worry about? It once again didn't occur to her as she watched on that only she could understand what Harry was saying as he spoke nor was anything wrong with that situation unlike the rest who watched as Harry finished what it was he had said to the creature and looked up smiling, happy that he had stopped his fellow student from getting hurt only to fade as he saw the furious look the blonde boy wore.

"What do you think you're playing at?" Justin retorted angrily at the dark-haired boy who was now stammering as the reality loomed and he saw the rest of the looks that was on their faces. Fear, anger, caution and accusation all met him.

"I…I wh…." He stuttered as he desperately tried to make them see that he only told it to not hurt anyone. For that matter why didn't they hear him? Surely they must have.

Unfortunately as he was looking away he broke his concentration with the snake that was still in the middle. And seeing no one had gotten rid of it the trance that Harry had it in wore off and its natural reaction came back, immediately, it launched itself from the table causing scream's and startled yells to echo around the room as kids flung themselves as far as they could away from the now mobile creature.

Ron almost dived out of the way and was about to pull Hermione with him when he inadvertently ran into the path of the snake as it moved and stopped, panic gripping him as Neville crashed into the back of him both boys watched with fear and wide eyes as the snake slithered to them its eyes narrowed in anger and hissed as it did. Neville whimpered when the snake reared up again and was going to attack only to stop once more.

The sound of more hissing erupted around the hall. Almost immediately all turned to Harry, who was still on the table trying to make sense of what had happened. As eyes that were filled with loathing at the fact he had once more called for the snake to attack were now full of confusion as it became clear to them he wasn't speaking. His mouth was closed but the hissing got louder; turning back to the snake everyone was stunned at the scene that had now unfolded in front of them and what they saw.

For the second time that evening everyone watched in complete silence and in panic. The snake that was about to strike at the two boys stopped and took to staring at them intently. But this time instead of Harry, it was Hermione who had engaged the snake. Everyone watched as the creature turned its body and faced her as she hissed in reply to what it had said.

Unlike Harry she knew that none could understand her as she had been told by Addie she just temporarily forgot was all, she was in that time focused on what the reptile was saying. Staring it straight in its black narrowed eyes, it told her it wanted to leave.

By now the students were pressing against the wall in a bid to get as far away from the snake and the two who could talk to it. Only the teachers had dared to step closer as Snape was watching astonished and for the first time in a very long time. Was rendered speechless just like Draco was. Lockhart was taking tiny step's back as to not alert anyone to him leaving the table. Minerva on the other hand had frozen on the spot her blood turning to ice in her veins.

She had watched Harry converse with the snake and was shocked just like everyone was. Not only was it a very rare gift he had. It was also considered dark and dangerous. She watched as the Hufflepuff boy angrily shouted at him just like she knew he would. No matter his intentions the way it sounded, as no one could understand. It did seem like he was encouraging the snake to attack.

When the creature was set free again and now had made a bid for the door she was all for removing the threat once and for all. And had started to move when she saw two of her house stray into its path. She doubted that it was going to strike again only wanting peace but with everyone panicking, the more restless and scared it got. Taking her wand from her pocket she was aiming to hit it with a banishing spell only to stop dead at what she saw next.

Hermione had moved forward's pushing both Ron and Neville out of harm's way before she hissed at the now once more motionless creature. It had looked at her and slithered a little closer making her retreat back a few paces as she led it away from the group. Before she even realized what it was she had done. She had bent a little and lowered herself to the floor allowing it to slither forward and up her arm.

Everyone in the room watched in complete horror as she stood straighter and waited for the snake to stop moving as it wound itself around her shoulder and neck before looking at her, she gave the black snake a smile. It was a lot smaller than Addie but she had gotten used to her other friend using her like a totem pole so had no qualms about allowing this one either. The snake hissed once more as she looked back at it.

It wanted to go now as she nodded. Maybe she could take it outside and into the forest. Let it roam free there she looked down for a second as another though came to her,

Did Addie want a new friend?

That was it she could take it home. Just go through the Floo and go to the bottom where the other snake lived. If she explained nice enough surely he would allow another to live in his territory, he said he didn't need friend's but he had her didn't he? Maybe he could have another…She just had to change his mind.

She was in deep thought about what she could do she had no clue that everyone's attention was on her that was until Snape. Who had been silent for longer than he ever expected, spoke cutting the silence.

"Put the snake on the floor Miss McGonagall."

His sudden interruption had her startled a little as she turned to him before realizing the reality of her situation in the form of over fifty sets of eyes staring at her it hit her like a wave of ice water, and her heart began to race. She swallowed uncomfortably before hearing him speak again telling her to drop the creature that had taken to hissing at the man on the table. She nodded once before and not looking at the others who had kept wide eyes on her turned her head and hissed.

The black creature didn't look happy and loudly hissed at her to which she nudged downward before giving it a quieter and much less harsher hiss. It pondered for a moment before unwinding from her arm and neck before circling her arm as it went down and back to the floor where it was hit with spell once its whole body was on the floor making her jump a little. She gazed down to where the snake had once been and despite knowing that people know knew her secret. She felt angry that he had done that when all it wanted to do was leave.

She didn't have time to do anything as silence filled the hall with everyone's eyes on the girl in front of them who like Harry, was watching her with mixed expression's ranging from utter confusion to downright fear

A pair of hand's wrapped around her body, Hermione didn't bother looking up only sank back into the embrace as Minerva muttered something into her hair before she gave the still watching students her famous glare and turned around ushering her daughter from the room as the double door's opened and they disappeared around the corner, Hermione stumbling slightly. No one moved as they looked on at where both Mother and daughter were just second's ago until movement from the side saw Harry jumping from the table and running out after them.

He raced around the corner and left the room as Snape decided to take charge seeing Lockhart had vanished and sent them back to their dormitories with anyone still lingering to get detention. Everyone moved to the door's as the muttering's had turned into full on chatter with it all focused solely on the two Gryffindor's.

It was hard to believe that a Parselmouth was at the school. With those having the gift to be very few and far between but those that did. Were mainly dark wizards. But that a Gryffindor, a sworn enemy of the snake house was one? It had them all worried.

But two was something unbelievable. Everyone knew that snake talking came from the Slytherin house. It was no secret that the house founder was one himself with it rumoured that anyone that had the same talent were one of his descendant's. So did that mean that both Hermione and Harry were of Salazar's blood?

It was impossible to think Hermione was, as she was what Gryffindor stood for. Her Mother was the head of their house. The Lioness, she hated the snakes just as much as the rest did. So how did it come to be that Minerva McGonagall's daughter was a Parselmouth?

Either way it spelled bad news for them as now those that had seen were convinced that one of them was the heir of Slytherin. With the rest of the school to find out soon or maybe both were working together to attack the student's taking it in turn's to open the chamber and tell the monster inside to go and attack the unsuspecting students of the school.

Ron had shouted at Terry Boot for even suggesting such a thing. But as they split up and diverged to their common rooms. Every one guessing that the two of topic weren't going to be there. He had to silently think. Was it true? Could it be possible?

He knew as well as everyone that was magic that Harry was the dark lord's enemy. It was practically written in the stars. Anyone who had their own curse backfire on them and left them without a body would have to be better than those wizard monks not to hold a grudge or want revenge he got that much yes. So having the worst dark wizard since Grindelwald himself coming after you wasn't something that you would write home about on a Christmas card.

But that saying it also wasn't hidden that you-know-who was a snake talker. It was practically his main talent….After the killing and torture and just making anyone faint with nerve of course. So how did Harry, a sworn lion. Come to share in his special talent? It just made no sense.

But if that had him confused than Hermione was to give him a headache he couldn't believe it the girl who had been the poster child of their house. The all appointed Gryffindor princess. Also shared the same and unique gift? How was it possible? Everyone had been throwing their own theories around as they made their way back to the common room all he heard as they climbed the stairs was the excited chatter of the people around as they gossiped about his two best friends'.

He listened to a few both getting angry at the accusations against them but also, slightly for them in spite of how he hated himself for it he heard some about Harry and how it might have been due to the stigma that were attached to him others called him an attention seeker and this was just another way of making sure the light was all on him something of which the red-head found ridiculous.

How was having the ability to talk to Snake's counted as a good thing? How was that classed as wanting attention? He scoffed at the notion. If anything having the gift was not something anyone should be proud of. If it was him that had it. He would have gone into hiding by now.

Another theory he heard was about Hermione. How had she come to have the gift and one which stood out for him was the mystery of her father, she had told them at the beginning that he had died when she was really young. That she had never met him and she had never really discussed him other than that.

Could it be that he possibly had the talent and passed it on to her when she was born? It was after all, hereditary, and so the chance of that was more likely than anything else he had heard. He hated himself for it but he had to think that considering he had heard some of what Harry's parents were like from his dad. The likelihood of either of them having that ability was slim to none. More so on his Mum's side seeing as she was completely Muggleborn.

It was that which made him more inclined to think Hermione more so than Harry. Was if anything, even if it did sound completely stupid. Could maybe be that tiniest bit related to the Slytherin founder.

"You have to admit it mate. No one knows who her dad is." He broke out of his thoughts to hear the sound of Dean Thomas who was sat talking to Seamus who was nodding.

"For all we know he could have been a snake speaker. Could have been a descendant of Salazar himself and not known it."

"Didn't she say that her father was Muggle though?" Ron said feeling the need to defend his friend against the accusations they turned to look at him to which he responded with a heated glare

"But he could have also." Lavender added with a justified look as she glanced around but shuddered as a thought came to her, "And to think. I share a room with a Parselmouth." Like it was a terrible disease as she and Parvati huddled together.

"Do you think McGonagall knew?" Seamus spoke looking at the spot on the floor as he voiced his thought's the rest looked around as they all directed their attention to their head of house. The infallible and completely devote Gryffindor, it seemed a completely foreign concept that she would go anywhere near a Green and silver Slytherin lover. Never mind marry one.

"Maybe she didn't know. Maybe her husband tricked her and never told her that he had the gift."

They all sat in the common room throwing around their theories of the two who had not come back from wherever it was they had been taken no doubt to Dumbledore's office before retiring to bed as Ron thought on it some more.

Whatever the reason. Really, what that could be. He knew it was going to be hell for them now practically half the school heard them and he could bet anything the rest would know by breakfast tomorrow getting into bed as the lights went out he placed his hands behind his head looking up to the canopy of his bed, he just hoped that they were prepared for the backlash of what the new day would bring before turning over and closing his eyes.