Harmony of the Seas

by AstralEarthShaker

Hermione starts having strange encounters with water all over her first year at hogwarts. When her parents take her on a vacation to the U.S.A and she meets a certain black-haired sea spawn, secrets will be revealed, pasts uncovered, and stories rewritten. How will this change Hermione's life at hogwarts, her family and her future? And what will become of her and her scar faced be

16. To Catch a Heir

A/N: Guys , We are extremely sorry about not updating for so long . Please do comment and give us your thoughts on how the chapter should go . Please do comment . We were suffering from a terrible disease called laziness

To Someone :Yeah since it is the Quarantine we will try to update more often

Harry's POV

"It's me,"I murmured, closing the door behind me. There was a clunk, a splash, and a gasp from within the stall and I saw Hermione's eye peering through the keyhole.

"Harry!" she said. "You gave us such a fright - come in how's your arm?"

"Fine,"I said, squeezing into the stall. An old cauldron was perched on the toilet, and a crackling from under the rim told me they had lit a fire beneath it. Conjuring up portable, waterproof fires was a speciality of Hermione's. I thought fondly.

"We'd've come to meet you, but we decided to get started on the Polyjuice Potion," Ron explained as I, with difficulty, locked the stall again. "We've decided this is the safest place to hide it."

I started to tell them about Colin, but Hermione interrupted.

"We already know - we heard Professor McGonagall telling Professor Flitwick this morning. That's why we decided we'd better get going -"

"The sooner we get a confession out of Malfoy, the better," snarled Ron. "D'you know what I think? He was in such a foul temper after the Quidditch match, he took it out on Colin."

"There's something else," I told them, watching Hermione tearing bundles of knotgrass and throwing them into the potion. "Dobby came to visit me in the middle of the night."

Ron and Hermione looked up, amazed. I told them everything Dobby had told me - or hadn't told me. Hermione and Ron listened with their mouths open.

"The Chamber of Secrets has been opened before?" Hermione said.

"This settles it," said Ron in a triumphant voice. "Lucius Malfoy must've opened the Chamber when he was at school here and now he's told dear old Draco how to do it. It's obvious. Wish Dobby'd told you what kind of monster's in there, though. I want to know how come nobody's noticed it sneaking around the school."

"Maybe it can make itself invisible," said Hermione, prodding leeches to the bottom of the cauldron. "Or maybe it can disguise itself - pretend to be a suit of armor or something - I've read about Chameleon Ghouls -"

"You read too much, Hermione," said Ron, pouring dead lacewings on top of the leeches. He crumpled up the empty lacewing bag and looked at me.

"So Dobby stopped us from getting on the train and broke your arm," He shook his head. "You know what, Harry? If he doesn't stop trying to save your life he's going to kill you."

Not knowing how to respond, I turned towards Hermione. "Are you sure this is a safe spot to brew it? What if Percy were to walk in on us again?"

**Flashback **

I had barely closed the door on Myrtle's gurgling sobs when a loud voice made all three of them jump.

"RON!"

Percy Weasley had stopped dead at the head of the stairs, prefect badge agleam, an expression of complete shock on his face.

"That's a girls' bathroom!" he gasped. "What were you -?"

"Just having a look around," Ron shrugged. "Clues, you know -"

Percy swelled in a manner that reminded Harry forcefully of Mrs. Weasley.

"Get - away - from - there -" Perry said, striding toward them and starting to bustle them along, flapping his arms. "Don't you care what this looks like? Coming back here while everyone's at dinner -"

"Why shouldn't we be here?" said Ron hotly, stopping short and glaring at Percy. "Listen, we never laid a finger on that cat!"

"That's what I told Ginny," said Percy fiercely, "but she still seems to think you're going to be expelled, I've never seen her so upset, crying her eyes out, you might think of her, all the first years are thoroughly overexcited by this business -"

"You don't care about Ginny," said Ron, whose ears were now reddening. "You're just worried I'm going to mess up your chances of being Head Boy -"

"Five points from Gryffindor!" Percy said tersely, fingering his prefect badge.

"Oh, please! Like what he said wasn't true. If you had cared about her half as much as you claim to you would have showed her around and make her feel welcome. Instead, I found her wandering around by herself nearly in tears. So don't try to claim you care, especially not when you should be comforting instead of scolding Ron!" Hermione spoke furiously.

Percy bristled at that. "How dare you talk to me like that. I am a Prefect and I demand the respect -"

"Oh puh-lease." Hermione interrupted. She crossed her arms and shifted her weight onto one leg. "Respect is earned. Any proper authoritarian figure would know that! And so far you haven't done anything to deserve my respect."

She took a step forward and placed her hands on her hips. "In fact I highly doubt your fit for this position at all. After all you don't even bother checking up on your charges. If you had, maybe I wouldn't have been stuck with a 12 foot tall mountain troll last year." She glared up at Percy, who was turning a shade of red so dark that it matched his hair and uniform.

"Now, if you're done taking points for no good reason, we will be on our way. Hopefully the next time I see you, you'll at least try to do your job, but honestly, I'm not going to hold my breath on that." She sassed. " Ta - ta," she mock waved before grabbing Ron and my hand to drag us away.

**Flashback end**

It was still the most incredible thing I've ever seen. Ron had practically worshipped her for the days after.

"Don't worry about that" Hermione reassured. " I made sure have a few monitoring and notice-me-not charms are put up."

Hermione POV~~

**Flashback**

"Fred, George! Come here for a moment." I called the twin terrors of Gryffindor over to my corner.

"Why George, if it isn't little miss perfect." Fred exclaimed.

"I wouldn't believe it, if I didn't hear it with my own ears. What could she possibly want with a pair of pranksters like us?" George replied.

"You haven't caused any mischief without me have you brother?"

"I wouldn't dare to do so brother!"

"Well, if you bothered to remain quite long enough for me to explain, you would know, wouldn't you" I interrupted.

"Oh, a feisty one, isn't she Forge?" "Indeed Gred. So, tell us Miss Granger,"

"How may we be of service to you today." They finished in unison.

Shaking my head in amusement, I answer, "I need you guys to help me out with something very special. In exchange for your cooperation and silence I'm willing to make a deal with you guys."

The twins shared a look before replying "We're listening."

"I assume you two have never been inside the slytherin dorms, have you?" I asked.

"Of course not."

"We're been trying for years but they're paranoid little bastards they are."

"Oh, George! Don't go running your potty mouth in front of a lady now." Fred scolded.

"Gee, your right Fred. Terribly sorry miss. But back to the matter at hand." George declared with a slight bow.

I giggled at their antics. " Well what if I told you guys, that I could get you the slytherin password?" They stare in shock. "All I need, is for you to set up some monitoring charms around the second floor girls bathroom and make sure no one comes near it. If everything goes as planned then you will be able to give them your own personal Christmas gift." I looked Fred and George in the eyes. "What say boys, do we have a deal?"

They began discussing it with their eyes and slight movements. They both turned to me and Fred spoke, "One more thing Granger." I raise one eyebrow. "You see, we have a little project going on as well."

"And in exchange for our help we would like you to help us out with this should we require it" George continued.

"So you want the slytherin password and help with this project?" I confirm. They both nodded and I thought over it a bit. I finally said, "I will only help you out with the theory part of whatever project you have. Other than that I'm okay with everything else." I struck my hand out to them, "Deal?" The twins glanced at each other before they both shook my hand, "Deal!"

**Flashback End**

Harry P.O.V~~

We sit and help Hermione brew the potion and then hurry on into the Great Hall , all of us ravenous and starving .

TIME SKIP ~~

I was having a very fitful sleep . After an hour or so of restless tossing and turning , I sigh and sit up on the bed .This heir business is starting to get under my skin . I look around the dorm to find the rest of the boys sleeping soundly in their beds . Ron was half out of his bed . I shake my head at his position and head out of the dorms into the common room to take my mind off the nightmare because I know it will be sometime before I can fall asleep again .

I see a silhouette in front of the fire place and realise that I was not alone in the common room . I take a closer look to find Hermione looking into the fire thoughtfully , her eyes all red and puffy . She had been crying . I silently make my way over to her and say "Hey 'Mione "

She whips her head in my direction and only now realizing my presence . She heaves a sigh of relief when she realises it is me . She punches my elbow and shouts "DON'T SCARE ME LIKE THAT HARRY . " She then taps the spot on the rug next to her . I take a seat and ask her playfully "What brings you to the Common room at two in the night ? "

She looks at me a small smile gracing her face as she counters "I could ask you the same thing . "

I shrug my shoulders and nonchalantly state "Couldn't sleep . What about you ?"

"Same here ." She turns her attention back to the roaring fire in the common room. She keeps staring at it deep in thought . For a long time we both stay silent wrapped up in our own thoughts .

Unable to take it anymore I say "Penny for your thoughts "

I see an internal debate happen on whether or not to tell me what is going on . I reach over and give her hand a reassuring squeeze as I say "You can trust me you know 'Mione "

She nods her head and looks at me and takes a deep breath before saying "I was just thinking about things back home . I am just really new to all this . I feel like it is too much . "

"What is ?"

"Harry , I am the daughter of one of the big three . I'm the daughter of the most powerful Olympian . The God of the Seas and on top of that I am a witch. My crazy ass Titan grandfather is on the rise and is going to try to kill me . Not to mention my dad - adoptive dad at least was always kind of distant and now he is gone and I have two moms and a dad who cares . At least I hope he does ."

By this time her eyes have started to well up with tears . I pull her into a hug and say "No one who knows you will be able to hate you"

She hugs me even tighter . I wait until her breathing evens out and then say "'Mione , whatever happens you're not alone . You can count on me and your family . You have plenty of people who you can trust . You don't have to do this alone . You don't have to bear this alone "

She rests her head on my shoulder before mumbling a thank you . After a few moments of comfortable silence she pulls away and asks me "Why could you not sleep ?"

"Just couldn't sleep ."I say nonchalantly hoping she'll let the matter drop .

We spend some time in amiable silence , her head on my shoulder and my arm around hers until I see her try to stifle a yawn .

"Well someone's sleepy " I say playfully and she gets up and offers me her arm .

I take and rise to my feet as she tries to stifle another yawn when she says "Yeah . I should probably go and get sleep . You should too "

I nod my head and say "Yeah I'll probably go after a few minutes "

I watch her as he goes up the staircase to the Girls dorm praying to everything up there that nothing should happen to her . What with this heir and all . At the top of the staircase she gives me one last look while we exchange goodbyes before she disappears into the girls dorm and I sink back onto the rug left with my own thoughts.

Hermione P.O.V

I take one look around the girls' dorm to find all the girls sound asleep . I was extremely sleepy but I still need to tell my mom that I wouldn't be coming home for Christmas holidays due to the polyjuice potion thing . I will leave out the last bit .

I take a minute to calculate the time difference . It was 2:00 o clock now meaning it was still 9:00pm in Manhattan . Mom was probably still awake .

I take one last look around to make sure everyone is sleeping and tip toe my way into the bathroom and lock the door .

I turn on the faucet in the sink . Somehow the water has a calming effect on me . Perk of being Poseidon's kid I guess .

The running water forms a very vague impression of a rainbow and I toss a drachma into the small cloud of mist and offer up a prayer to Goddess Iris and I say "Sally Jackson".

A holographic figure forms in front of my eyes . Mom was busy tidying up the kitchen after dinner I guess .

I sit down on the tiled floor and say "Hey mom"

She drops a wooden ladle on the ground in surprise and looks around .I chuckle and say "Behind you mom"

She turns around and shakes her head at me and points the wooden spoon at me while saying "Don't ever scare me like that again ." . She tries to be mad but the smile on her face says otherwise .

I laugh and say "Sorry for giving you a fright mum"

She drags one of the dining table chairs and takes a seat . This was now a regular thing between us .

"Sweetie are you in a bathroom ? What time is it over there ?" She asks as she takes in my surroundings.

I gulp and look down at my PJs knowing that if she found she wouldn't be happy and I mutter "Two Oçlock "

She hears it anyway and her eyes widen "Two O'CLOCK . YOUNG LADY , WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT OF BED SO LATE ? PLEASE TELL ME YOU WERE NOT WITH SOME BOY . YOU ARE TOO YOUNG FOR THAT -"

I cut her off before she could continue scolding cum shouting"-No chill mom I wasn't with some boy . At least not in that sense . "

She gives me a glare and I quickly say "I couldn't sleep so I went to the Common Room to get some stuff off my mind . Harry comes down from the boys' dorm claiming to be unable to sleep either and we talked and that is all . Just talked ."

She sighs but I can see the ends of her lips stretching into a smile as she says "You know if it wasn't for the fact that I know Harry and happen to like him and know that he is a gentleman , we would be having a very different conversation right now . So what happened ?"

"You know the usual school craziness . Gilderoy Lockheart one of my teachers -" I say glad to able to have a normal mom daughter conversation . I needed this amidst my crazy and abnormal life .

She cuts me off and asks "Which one was he again?"

"The one we met in Diagon Alley looks a bit gaga, blonde with blue eyes . The narcissistic dude ." I state .

Realisation dawns on her face and she says "Oh him... What of him ?"

"He seems to be a fraud who doesn't know his head from his arse " I say

She gives me a look at the last word and asks "What makes you say that ? You seemed to be quite taken with him " She meant the second sentence teasingly .

"Well there is an error in the timeline of his adventures . Two of his adventures occur at the same time . That just is not possible ."I say gesturing wildly with my hands as I tell her of what I found in Wandering with Werewolves and Break with the Banshee .

After hearing my tale she takes a moment to think and carefully choosing her words and says " Yeah something seems fishy . But that is a very serious accusation to make and it can be seriously dangerous so you need to continue digging for more solid evidence before saying something to the authorities ."

"Yeah ...that is what I am doing . How is Percy nowadays ? Still getting in trouble ?"

"Don't start with that boy . I get a call once every 2 days about him and his mischief making ." She says exasperatedly the resignation clear on her face along with happiness and pride .

"Its a start mom . At least he hasn't gotten himself expelled " I say and both of us share a hearty laugh.

"Yeah I guess it is an improvement . So what else ?"

"So there is side project that I'm doing that requires me to stay in school for the Christmas holidays ...I hope that is okay with you . I know we were really looking forward to Christmas " I say slowly .

"Sweetie its alright . There is always next year and summer break . But why do I get the feeling there is more to this side project than you're letting on ?" She asks as she narrows her eyes suspiciously .

"No nothing like that mum . Why would you say that ?" I say quickly and I hear her sigh .

"Whatever sweetie just don't get into too much trouble " She says resignation clear on her face .Hopeless cause I guess

"Sure ,mom "

"I mean it young lady ."

"Yeah . yeah I will stay out of too much trouble . No promises though . Bye "

"Bye sweetie . Go straight to bed now . No monkey business"

"Yeah I'm sleepy now anyways . Bye mum ."

I wave a hand through the image causing it to fizzle out . Then I scramble off the floor and go into the dorms to find Ginny's bed empty . I was pretty sure she was asleep when I went in . But I'm too tired to think about it yand just drop myself onto my bed and slip into a dreamless sleep.

TIME SKIP~~

Third Person P.O.V

In the second week of December Professor McGonagall came around as usual, collecting names of those who would be staying at school for Christmas. Harry, Ron, and Hermione signed her list; they had heard that Malfoy was staying, which struck them as very suspicious. The holidays would be the perfect time to use the Polyjuice Potion and try to worm a confession out of him.
Unfortunately, the potion was only half finished. They still needed the bicorn horn and the boomslang skin, and the only place they were going to get them was from Snape's private stores. Harry privately felt he'd rather face Slytherin's legendary monster than let Snape catch him robbing his office.
"What we need," said Hermione briskly as Thursday afternoon's double Potions lesson loomed nearer, "is a diversion. Then one of us can sneak into Snape's office and take what we need."

Harry and Ron looked at her nervously and Harry was about to protest to this idea.
"I think Id better do the actual stealing," Hermione continued in a matter-of-fact tone. "You two will be expelled if you get into any more trouble, and I've got a clean record. So all you need to do is cause enough mayhem to keep Snape busy for five minutes or so.
Harry smiled feebly. Deliberately causing mayhem in Snape's Potions class was about as safe as poking a sleeping dragon in the eye.

Snape prowled through the fumes, making waspish remarks about the Gryffindors' work while the Slytherins sniggered appreciatively. Draco Malfoy, who was Snape's favorite student, kept flicking puffer-fish eyes at Ron and Harry, who knew that if they retaliated they would get detention faster than you could say "Unfair."
Harry's Swelling Solution was far too runny, but he had his mind on more important things. He was waiting for Hermione's signal, and he hardly listened as Snape paused to sneer at his waterypotion. When Snape turned and walked off to bully Neville, Hermione caught Harry's eye and nodded.
Harry ducked swiftly down behind his cauldron, pulled one of Fred's Filibuster fireworks out of his pocket, and gave it a quick prod with his wand. The firework began to fizz and sputter. Knowing he had only seconds, Harry straightened up, took aim, and lobbed it into the air; it landed right on target in Goyle's cauldron.

Goyle's potion exploded, showering the whole class. People shrieked as splashes of the Swelling Solution hit them. Malfoy got a faceful and his nose began to swell like a balloon; Goyle blundered around, his hands over his eyes, which had expanded to the size of a dinner plate - Snape was trying to restore calm and find out what had happened. Through the confusion, Harry saw Hermione slip quietly into Snape's office.

"Silence! SILENCE!" Snape roared. "Anyone who has been splashed, come here for a Deflating Draft - when I find out who did this -"
Harry tried not to laugh as he watched Malfoy hurry forward, his head drooping with the weight of a nose like a small melon. As half the class lumbered up to Snape's desk, some weighted down with arms like clubs, others unable to talk through gigantic puffedup lips, Harry saw Hermione slide back into the dungeon, the front of her robes bulging.
When everyone had taken a swig of antidote and the various swellings had subsided, Snape swept over to Goyle's cauldron and scooped out the twisted black remains of the firework. There was a sudden hush.

"If I ever find out who threw this," Snape whispered, "I shall make sure that person is expelled."
Harry arranged his face into what he hoped was a puzzled expression. Snape was looking right at him, and the bell that rang ten minutes later could not have been more welcome.
"He knew it was me," Harry told Ron and Hermione as they hurried back to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. "I could tell."
Hermione threw the new ingredients into the cauldron and began to stir feverishly.

A week later, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were walking across the entrance hall when they saw a small knot of people gathered around the notice board, reading a piece of parchment that had just been pinned up. Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas beckoned them over, looking excited.
"They're starting a Dueling Club!" said Seamus. "First meeting tonight! I wouldn't mind dueling lessons; they might come in handy one of these days ...
"What, you reckon Slytherin's monster can duel?" said Ron, but he, too, read the sign with interest.
"Could be useful," he said to Harry and Hermione as they went into dinner. "Shall we go?"
Harry and Hermione were all for it, so at eight o'clock that evening they hurried back to the Great Hall. The long dining tables had vanished and a golden stage had appeared along one wall, lit by thousands of candles floating overhead. The ceiling was velvety black once more and most of the school seemed to be packed beneath it, all carrying their wands and looking excited.
"I wonder who'll be teaching us?" said Hermione as they edged into the chattering crowd. "Someone told me Flitwick was a dueling champion when he was young - maybe it'll be him."

"As long as it's not -" Harry began, but he ended on a groan: Gilderoy Lockhart was walking onto the stage, resplendent in robes of deep plum and accompanied by none other than Snape, wearing his usual black.

Lockhart waved an arm for silence and called ' "Gather round, gather round! Can everyone see me? Can you all hear me? Excellent!
"Now, Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to start this little dueling club, to train you all in case you ever need to defend yourselves as I myself have done on countless occasions - for full details, see my published works.
"Let me introduce my assistant, Professor Snape," said Lockhart, flashing a wide smile. "He tells me he knows a tiny little bit about dueling himself and has sportingly agreed to help me with a short demonstration before we begin. Now, I don't want any of you youngsters to worry - you'll still have your Potions master when I'm through with him, never fear!"

"Wouldn't it be good if they finished each other off?" Ron muttered in Harry's ear.

Snape's upper lip was curling. Harry wondered why Lockhart was still smiling; if Snape had been looking at him like that he'd have been running as fast as he could in the opposite direction.
Lockhart and Snape turned to face each other and bowed; at least, Lockhart did, with much twirling of his hands, whereas Snape jerked his head irritably. Then they raised their wands like swords in front of them.

"As you see, we are holding our wands in the accepted combative position," Lockhart told the silent crowd. "On the count of three, we will cast our first spells. Neither of us will be aiming to kill, of course."
"I wouldn't bet on that," Harry murmured, watching Snape baring his teeth.
"One - two - three -"
Both of them swung their wands above their heads and pointed them at their opponent; Snape cried: "Expelliarmus!" There was a dazzling flash of scarlet light and Lockhart was blasted off his feet: He flew backward off the stage, smashed into the wall, and slid down it to sprawl on the floor. That settled it in Hermione's mind . This guy was a fraud who was in no way qualified to teach DADA.

TIME SKIP~~

Hermione just finished duelling Millicent Bulstrode, a heavy set bulky girl . It was an easy win for her as she used her demigod agility and battle instincts to dodge the spells thrown at her and firing her own well timed spells earning her a couple of 'oohs ' and 'aahs ' from the crowd . Now it was Harry vs Malfoy

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

Harry and Malfoy barely inclined their heads, not taking their eyes off each other. The duel quickly went from solely disarming to hexing the crap out of each other .t would have spiralled out of control if Snape had not intervened and stopped Harry's feet from dancing .

Most duels ended in much more unpleasant condition . Ron's messed up wand had somehow blown up something causing Seamus' face to ashen . Neville and Justin were covered in green smoke .

Seeing the aftermath of the duels Lockheart said "I think Id better teach you how to block unfriendly spells," standing flustered in the midst of the hall. He glanced at Snape, whose black eyes glinted, and looked quickly away. "Let's have a volunteer pair - Longbottom and Finch-Fletchley, how about you -"

"A bad idea, Professor Lockhart," said Snape, gliding over like a large and malevolent bat. "Longbottom causes devastation with the simplest spells. We'll be sending what's left of Finch-Fletchley up to the hospital wing in a matchbox." Neville's round, pink face went pinker. "How about Malfoy and Potter?" said Snape with a twisted smile.

"Excellent idea!" said Lockhart, gesturing Harry and Malfoy into the middle of the hall as the crowd backed away to give them room.
"Now, Harry," said Lockhart. "When Draco points his wand at you, you do this."
He raised his own wand, attempted a complicated sort of wiggling action, and dropped it. Snape smirked as Lockhart quickly picked it up, saying, "Whoops -my wand is a little overexcited -"

Snape moved closer to Malfoy, bent down, and whispered something in his ear. Malfoy smirked, too. Harry looked up nervously at Lockhart and said, "Professor, could you show me that blocking thing again?"
"Scared?" muttered Malfoy, so that Lockhart couldn't hear him.

"You wish," said Harry out of the corner of his mouth.
Lockhart cuffed Harry merrily on the shoulder. "Just do what I did, Harry!"
"What, drop my wand?"
But Lockhart wasn't listening.
"Three - two - one - go!" he shouted.

Malfoy raised his wand quickly and bellowed, "Serpensortia!"

The end of his wand exploded. Harry watched, aghast, as a long black snake shot out of it, fell heavily onto the floor between them, and raised itself, ready to strike. There were screams as the crowd backed swiftly away, clearing the floor.

"Don't move, Potter," said Snape lazily, clearly enjoying the sight of Harry standing motionless, eye to eye with the angry snake. "I'll get rid of it ...
"Allow me!" shouted Lockhart. He brandished his wand at the snake and there was a loud bang; the snake, instead of vanishing, flew ten feet into the air and fell back to the floor with a loud smack. Enraged, hissing furiously, it slithered straight toward Justin Finch-Fletchley and raised itself again, fangs exposed, poised to strike.

Harry wasn't sure what made him do it. He wasn't even aware of deciding to do it. All he knew was that his legs were carrying him forward as though he was on casters and that he had shouted stupidly at the snake, "Leave him alone!" And miraculously - inexplicably - the snake slumped to the floor, docile as a thick, black garden hose, its eyes now on Harry. Harry felt the fear drain out of him. He knew the snake wouldn't attack anyone now, though how he knew it, he couldn't have explained.

He looked up at Justin, grinning, expecting to see Justin looking relieved, or puzzled, or even grateful - but certainly not angry and scared.
"What do you think you're playing at?" he shouted, and before Harry could say anything, Justin had turned and stormed out of the hall.
Snape stepped forward, waved his wand, and the snake vanished in a small puff of black smoke. Snape, too, was looking at Harry in an unexpected way: It was a shrewd and calculating look, and Harry didn't like it. He was also dimly aware of an ominous muttering all around the walls. Then he felt a tugging on the back of his robes.

"Come on," said Rons voice in his ear. "Move - come on -"
Ron steered him out of the hall, Hermione hurrying alongside them. As they went through the doors, the people on either side drew away as though they were frightened of catching something. Harry didn't have a clue what was going on, and neither Ron nor Hermione explained anything until they had dragged him all the way up to the empty Gryffindor common room.

Then Ron pushed Harry into an armchair and said, "You're a Parselmouth. Why didn't you tell us?"
"I'm a what?" said Harry.

'A Parselmouth!" said Ron. "You can talk to snakes!"

"I know," said Harry. "I mean, that's only the second time I've ever done it. I accidentally set a boa constrictor on my cousin Dudley at the zoo once - long story - but it was telling me it had never seen Brazil and I sort of set it free without meaning to that was before I knew I was a wizard -"

"A boa constrictor told you it had never seen Brazil?" Ron repeated faintly.

"So?" said Harry. "I bet loads of people here can do it."

"Oh, no they can't," said Ron. "It's not a very common gift. Harry, this is bad."
"What's bad?" said Harry, starting to feel quite angry. "What's wrong with everyone? Listen, if I hadn't told that snake not to attack Justin -"

"Oh, that's what you said to it?"

"What d'you mean? You were there - you heard me -"

"I heard you speaking Parseltongue," said Ron. "Snake language. You could have been saying anything - no wonder Justin panicked, you sounded like you were egging the snake on or something - it was creepy, you know -"

Harry gaped at him.
"I spoke a different language? But - I didn't realize - how can I speak a language without knowing I can speak it?"
Ron shook his head. Harry couldn't see what was so terrible.
"D'you want to tell me what's wrong with stopping a massive snake biting off Justin's head?" he said. "What does it matter how I did it as long as Justin doesn't have to join the Headless Hunt?"

"It matters," said Hermione, speaking at last in a hushed voice, "because being able to talk to snakes was what Salazar Slytherin was famous for. That's why the symbol of Slytherin House is a serpent."
Harry's mouth fell open.
"Exactly," said Ron. "And now the whole school's going to think you're his great-great-great-great-grandson or something -"

"But I'm not," said Harry, with a panic he couldn't quite explain.
"You'll find that hard to prove," said Hermione. "He lived about a thousand years ago; for all we know, you could be. " Harry's face fell at Hermione's words pierced through him . Hearing it from her stung a lot for some reason . Maybe he was a rotten person after all ...Maybe he was evil . The sorting Hat did want to put him in Slytherin after all.

Seeing Harry's crestfallen face Hermione places a hand on his chin making him look at her . She looks him in the eyes as if staring into the dark depths of his soul and says "Harry just because you could be related to Slytherin doesn't make you an evil person . "

Harry scoffed at her "Oh Yeah ? Name one wizard from that house who wasn't evil ."

"Merlin wasn't . Merlin was a muggleborn wizard who was in Slytherin . You must have heard about him and Prince Arthur "She says . Of course Harry knew of that story . But he didn't know that Merlin belonged to the house of Slytherin .

Seeing him unconvinced Hermione takes both his hands in her own and says "You're still Harry Potter , my bestfriend . The most brave wizard I know . You are not evil . You are kind , compassionate and slightly thick headed with zero sense of self preservation ."

Harry laughed at the last bit but he didn't let her know the shadows of doubt that lingered in his mind .

TIME SKIP~~

Harry lay awake for hours that night. Through a gap in the curtains around his four-poster he watched snow starting to drift past the tower window and wondered . . .
Could he be a descendant of Salazar Slytherin? He didn't know anything about his father's family, after all. The Dursleys had always forbidden questions about his wizarding relatives.
Quietly, Harry tried to say something in Parseltongue. The words wouldn't come. It seemed he had to be face-to-face with a snake to do it.
But I'm in Gryffindor, Harry thought. The Sorting Hat wouldn't have put me in here if I had Slytherin blood...
Ah, said a nasty little voice in his brain, but the Sorting Hat wanted to put you in Slytherin, don't you remember? Those were his last thought as he drifted into a disturbed sleep.

TIME SKIP~~

Hermione P.O.V

I was wandering through the dark hallways looking for Harry . He had gone to talk to Justin and wasn't back yet . I was worried about him . He was obviously hurt and angry and I didn't want him to get hurt.

On my way I see Ernie Macmillan wafting a petrified Nearly Headless Nick . He sees me and says "Hermione stay away from Harry . He is the Heir of Slytherin after all . Don't want to end up like Nearly Headless Nick and Justin now do we ?"

I glare at him and scoff "What a load of bull ! Harry's my bestfriend and he has given me more than enough reason to trust him and if he wanted to hurt me he would have . I am muggleborn after all ."

He glares at me and is about to say something snide but I'm already on my way and he shouts after me saying some very hurtful things about Harry and I lose it . I storm upto him and point my wand at him and growl "Shut your trap Macmillan ! If I hear you say one more hateful lie about Harry I will personally make sure you end up in the Hospital Wing "

He gulps and is frozen on the spot for sometime . Without waiting for him to recover I sprint down the corridor to see Professor Flitwick carry Justin to the Hospital Wing and Professor McGonagall was leading Harry away to what I guess was the Headmaster's office .

I sigh guess Harry and I will have to talk afterwards about this whole thing and turn and head towards the Gryffindor tower glaring at anyone who said crap about Harry.