Chapter Thirty-Three: The Parseltongue
Harry's POV
Harry had left the chamber behind and moved quietly through Hogwarts, paying no attention to passing students.
"Harry… there you are!" Somebody grabbed his arm, and he started, hands speeding to his pockets, and restrained himself from holding his disruption at knife point.
"Uh…" He blinked slowly, looking vacantly into their face. "Hermione!" he exclaimed, wild curls and bright eyes coming into focus.
"What's wrong with you?" she demanded, bemused.
"Nothing." he said softly, and was about to walk on.
"Hold it right there. You're never around anymore, come hang out with us! We have… food…"
He lifted an eyebrow. I haven't eaten since yesterday night… perhaps its time.
"Sure. Let's go." She hooked elbows with him, and brought him over to where the twins, some of their friends and Ron sat with several large foaming bottles of what Harry first mistook as butterbeer, but was sorely mistaken. For one it was bright red. To appearances, it looked like the mischief makers had moved on to bigger and greater things. He also noted that nobody seemed to be touching the stuff.
"Eh… cup, Harry?" George asked, slinging the red liquid around by the bottle neck.
"How about not." Harry eyed them. "You try to trick me, and I'll personally turn you both into flower pots."
Fred looked disappointed, frowning. "How did you know that's what it does?"
"Harry!" somebody suddenly yelled, and Harry turned. Surprisingly enough, it was someone he had never met before. She sat straddle style on a wide bench, across from Ginny Weasley. As he turned towards them, Ginny's eyes went wide in shock and they burst into giggles.
"I can't believe you just did that." She gasped. Harry waved, and the girl fell off the bench.
Ginny got up. "Uh… yeah. Harry this is my best friend Darla." She waved back, pulling the girl to her feet.
Darla wasn't beautiful in any sense of the word. She was short and heavyset, with jowls and meaty arms, plus her eyes were set deep in her head, a dark muddy color. Coming face to face with Harry, she seemed a bit taken back and sat down silently, turning her face away. Sneaking a look at him, she decided that it was time to stride away dramatically. Ginny followed after, stumbling a bit.
"Mum says she's a sweetheart. Ain't much to look at though…" Ron said ruefully. "She's kind of strange. Real quiet, though Ginny really brings something out in her. They seem to be fast friends, Ginny didn't seem to have anybody close to her before Darla came along."
Harry sat in the library, getting some of his studying done. He opened his transfiguration book, poring through the pages. You know, this is actually doable. Some of it's easy, but a lot of stuff I didn't get the first time around. He grinned ironically. This review thing is really working for me, I guess.
Somebody slid into place into the seat across from him, and Harry looked up, expecting Draco or maybe Ron. It was Darla.
"Without your other half today I see." He commented, noting her lack of red haired friend.
Darla nodded. He waited for an explanation but she just looked at the table, glancing up at him periodically.
"So you're Ron's friend." she said. "A lot of people really highly of you."
"I guess they do."
She scowled, looking down at her hands. He waited patiently, wondering what she wanted.
"So where do you come from, have both your parents still?" She asked, an almost bitter quality to her voice.
A pang went through Harry's heart. "Yeah… both of them." he lied. That was a really odd question.
She leaned closer. "You from around here?"
"Yup. Family lived here for generations."
"I see…" she nodded slowly, leaning back again.
"Anything I can help you with?" he asked finally.
"No, nothing at all." She got to her feet, smiled unconvincingly at him and disappeared around a bookshelf.
That was a bit strange, he decided. I guess Ron was right.
Harry turned back to his book, and then shifted, uncomfortable. He wasn't wearing one of his knifes, a short, very sharp one that he usually kept in the small of his back, and it was irritating. He couldn't seem to find it anywhere. In fact, it was one of several he seemed to have replaced recently. Discreetly Harry pulled a similar one from his boot and slipped it under his shirt.
Snape's POV
The floor creaked as Severus Snape walked unfalteringly back and forth across the Headmaster's office. The door opened.
"You called for me, Professor?" Harry Potter asked, stepping into the room.
Dumbledore nodded. "Take a seat, please, Harry."
Harry complied, sliding one from across the room and sitting attentively at the left end of the large desk. He leaned against the wood, eyes flickering back and forth between the Potions master and the old man. "What's going on."
"Some fool fancies himself the son of The Dark Lord." Snape rolled his eyes, finally coming to a stop in front of the other two.
Harry crossed his arms. "Lord Trucido." He said softly. Dumbledore leaned forward, blinking in surprise.
"You've heard of this man?" he inquired.
Harry nodded, and then hesitated. Snape narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Some people I knew were talking about him. They mentioned he was trying to recruit."
"You aren't taking this seriously, are you Dumbledore?" Snape asked, incredulous. "It's just some young wizard who thinks he can get power and respect by claiming to be He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's heir."
"Lucius is with him." Dumbledore pointed out. Snape's disbelief crumbled.
"They're trying to…recruit!" he demanded, thumping into a chair. "Are you sure?"
"That was years ago. I couldn't have been more than seven or eight." Harry added.
Dumbledore regarded them solemnly. "I'm trying to locate them as we speak. I thought it best to warn you, Harry, in case this Trucido fellow decides you, as Voldemort's defeator, are his target. It's very likely."
Harry nodded. "I'd forgotten about him… it's been so long." He closed his eyes, drawn back into reflection.
"Since what?" Snape asked, puzzled
Harry blinked languidly. "Since- the time when I heard of him."
Snape just looked back. What is it about this kid?
"Harry," Dumbledore interrupted. "Before you go…you don't have any information, about the Chamber of Secrets, that might help us out, do you?"
They waited but Harry just looked at them. He seemed stricken.
"Harry?" Dumbledore asked. Harry seemed to draw within himself without moving, eyelids gliding down to form slits and fingers curling deliberately around the arms of his chair.
There was a long, pregnant pause.
"None." Harry said softly, almost sadly. "None at all."
He took his leave before they even noticed. Suddenly he was at the door, and a slim boot heel disappeared as he drew it out behind him. Snape leaned back in his chair, idly gazing at the door.
He's definitely grown. Snape thought. It's been years… I never really thought about the day that he would return to Hogwarts, as a student. That's most likely because we never expected to find him again. I- we, spent years of effort and manpower scouring the world to no avail, and then he just drops out of the sky.
Then naturally he goes home to daddy James, He thought, a bit crossly. I sure hope he doesn't become another clone, a James- mold like all pretty-boy's admirers back in school.
At least he came home safe, he thought, and for once was not surprised at himself for thinking it.
"Do you think he's telling the truth?" Dumbledore asked Severus, a half smile on his face.
Snape snorted. "Not a chance in hell."
Jason Wolfsbane
Feather of a Swann was a casual restaurant that captivated the glamorous. It had a deep plush interior that combined dark rich colors with exotic flowers and the light yellows and greens of plant-life. It cascaded out of its building on Diagon Alley and out onto a broad raised wooden deck where antique looking yet magically stable dining tables and chairs clustered. In a back corner of the deck at a fairly plain table that always seemed to have branches drawn around it by the tree above, Jason raised his glass to his lips.
Across from him, Moody slid down further in his seat, taking a swig from his hip-flask. "Let's cut the crap." He said, irritated, leaning forward and almost falling out of his chair to stare at Jason intently. "We're here because I believe that you have some information that I should have." he rasped.
Jason stared back, not surprised. "Now where did you get that idea?"
"Just an impression I got over our talks." He divulged. "You're keeping secrets from me, friend."
"Am I?" Jason asked, skeptical. This relationship is getting a bit clichéd.
So what am I going to do? Jason rubbed his forehead tiredly. I think I know I just have to figure out why I shouldn't obey the law officials like Moody here… He sighed, and determination crept into his voice.
"I think you are mistaken." he said to Moody.
Moody's eyes flickered. "Excuse me?"
"You are mistaken." he said louder. "I have nothing that would be interest of you. But if you ever have need of a decent Deimonologist," he raised his glass. "I'm the one to ask."
Moody's eyebrows lowered dangerously. "I have my eye on you." he said quietly. Jason laughed, and the scarred Auror got to his feet and strode away, disappearing dramatically into the crowd.
Jason ordered another drink and settled down in his chair, deciding to relax in The Feather's scenic panoramic view of a Wizard paradise.
I have a hunch… I'm not sure what to think of it. Harry Potter…
Harry Potter is an enigma. He decided. But he's an enigma I'd much rather keep to myself.
Harry's POV
"Where did you get this?" Hermione shrieked, almost tearing it apart.
"Library." He said. I have been ignoring them lately, but I want to make up for it. Honestly, he'd bought it from a limited edition bookstore, it had cost a fortune. I know she wanted this one particularly badly.
She shook. "I searched the entire library… seven times, Harry."
"It was misplaced." He took the copy of Dam Jastanial's Collected Works of Barely Legal Original Spells and tossed it onto the table. "It was in the Gardening Magic section."
She giggled insanely, kissing the cover. "This has got to be one of the only copies ever." She squealed, somehow smacking Ron in the face. He fell backward. "There are whole books devoted to the theories it contains!"
"Which naturally, you've read." Harry grinned. "I knew there was a party animal in you somewhere.".
"Eh!" Ron stumbled by. "No-the!" Nose?
"…and somehow I'm not surprised that this tattered paperback brought it out in you," he finished as she ignored Ron and flipped through the pages hungrily. Something beyond her caught Harry's eye, and he focused in on it.
Jason Wolfsbane was passing by the doorway. Seeing Harry he stopped, gazing coolly at the trio, and then turned away to walk briskly away. Harry was confused by the glance and started for the door, and for some unbeknownst reason Hermione followed close behind, leaving Ron beaten to the floor.
She hopped slightly as they went down the hall, but seemed too enraptured to make a sound, so Harry didn't mind. He stopped at the next corner and peered around. Hermione kept going down the hall, appearing not to notice he had stopped.
Snape and Professor Dumbledore had been watching students on the grounds below through the window, engaged in conversation, and Professor Wolfsbane headed in their direction. Harry leaned against the wall, sliding down a bit and listened closely. His keen hearing picked up their footsteps. Hermione continued on and the others turned and awaited Wolfbane's approach.
"You wouldn't happen to have a plan, would you Headmaster?" Snape mumbled before their comrade was in hearing distance.
"None at the moment, Severus. We may have to wait until more information arises."
"Don't you think then it might be too late?"
Hermione muttered unintelligibly. Harry frowned. What are they talking about?
"Jason." Dumbledore said, acknowledging Professor Wolfsbane.
"Dumbledore, Snape. Anything interesting happen while I was gone?"
"No new attacks if that's what you're asking."
Hermione suddenly screamed, her shriek echoing down to Harry, burning pain for his sensitive ears. He spun around the corner, and seeing her frozen at the other end of the hall, he rocketed in her direction. I never should have given her that book!
She had dropped it, and it lay between her feet as she threw her head back to shriek in fright at the huge rip that appeared in the air in front of her. From her proximity apparently she could see something that they couldn't. All watching felt the sudden need to get their wand between themselves and the awful rip that hung in the air itself.
The professors went for her, and Harry stopped, unsure. The rip seemed to be unchanging for the moment. Snape picked up the book and looked distastefully at it. "Dam Jastaniel." He said, displeased. "Royal Bastard. Genius, but a complete and utter-" he stopped, checking his language. "This should be in the restricted section. Where did you get it, girl?"
Hermione was verging on hysterics. "Harry. Harry Potter gave it to me. He said he found it in the Gardening section."
Dumbledore opened his mouth, no doubt to proclaim some wise verdict on the situation, but he never got the chance for at that moment the rip tore wide open and hell rained down upon them.
It was a huge mass of dirty slime, spiders, and writhing, poisonous snakes. The spiders bounced on the floor, attempting to skitter away, and Hermione's scream was cut short as her hair filled with slime and snakes curled around her body, pulling her to the ground.
"Hermione!" Harry yelled. The three Professors had fallen back. Having turned their attention to Hermione the moment the rip appeared, they had never even noticed Harry's presence. Suddenly he was there, and they had no clue where he might have come from.
"Get off her. RIGHT NOW!" he yelled in Parseltongue, his mouth working franticly to accommodate the bizarre and exotic language. "NOBODY is to touch the girl! All you get back NOW!"
The snakes slid back rapidly into an accumulative heap, their slit eyes watching him attentively. An extremely large specimen lifted his head, nodding in a humanoid fashion.
"As you wish."
Hermione looked up at him, eyes wide. He took her arms and helped her to her feet, and she wiped the slime off of her face on his sleeve.
"Crap Harry. Legal or barely legal, I'm not touching that stuff." She eyed him speculatively. "That was Parseltongue, Harry."
"Yes, it was." Snape said with fervor. Jason Wolfbane nearly swallowed his tongue.
Tracy's POV
Tracy had a nagging suspicion that there was a Shadows meeting going on that very minute that she hadn't been invited to. The others had been strangely uninformative about their plans for the next meeting, and now she couldn't find a single one of them. She didn't feel like going and looking for them, but the whole charade was totally against their policy. She scowled, irritated.
I hate this. I'm stuck here studying, and I can't even find a simple book on artificial plant-life reduction for Herbology!
She moved among the shelves, now deep in the heart of the library. Recognizing a familiar voice a couple aisles over, she went for it in relief. Harry. At last!
"Harry do you realize how serious this is?" Hermione's stricken voice projected over to her, even over the private quality of her hushed voice. Tracy stopped abruptly, not wanting to walk in on some big scene.
"You have no idea." was his reply.
"They're already after you because of some lame suspicion that you're the heir of Slytherin."
"Believe me, I'm not."
"You can't know that!"
"Heirs of Slytherin don't get into Gryffindor, no matter what the consequences." This was said softly, almost inwardly.
"… but you didn't."
He didn't answer, but Tracy could practically see his face before her, smiling wryly. What is going on here?
"All I know is from now on, I'm staying out of the lake. It now hosts a plethora of writhing, poisonous snakes out to get my blood."
"I wouldn't worry about that. I don't think they would touch you, Hermione." Harry said. "EVER."