Chapter Four: Lest I Sin With My Tongue
Natalia waited in the dark for the professor to return. Since her childhood, she had acquired a remarkable ability to see in the dark. She walked toward the end of the hall and saw that it came to a dead end. I wonder where the Slytherin Dormitories are located, she speculated. Walking toward the end of the hall, she put her hand on the wall to feel around for a door. Without warning, the wall shifted and slowly slid open in a groan. She gasped and looked back to make sure Snape hadn't seen her. Looking in, she saw a large lavishly decorated room in silvers and greens. There were rich green tapestries that draped the walls and long Victorian couches that extended across the room. To one side of the room was a large fireplace with an ample ebony mantel. There were lush oriental carpets in deep emeralds that spread across the dark walnut floor. Her breath fell short when she felt a hand grip her shoulder.
"If I remember correctly, I specifically instructed you to wait outside my office for me."
Natalia turned around and saw Snape scowling down at her. She blushed from being discovered.
"I am incredibly sorry that I did not follow your instructions sufficiently Professor. I must admit that I wandered away while waiting."
The professor looked accusingly at her.
"How did you manage to get in without the password?"
She looked at him in confusion.
"Pardon me?"
Snape gave her an infuriated look.
"This is the Slytherin Common Room. No one gets in here without a password and new students never find the entrance by themselves."
A baffled look appeared on Natalia's face.
"I am sorry Professor, but I just touched the wall at the end of the hallway and it slid open. I did not even know that it lead to the Common Room."
Snape crossed him arms and stared at her as if reading her face for signs of dishonesty. Finally, after a long while, the frown on his face diminished.
"Well then, I guess you obviously are a descendant of Salazar Slytherin. Even the walls of his dungeons recognize the blood that flows through you. But for future reference, the password for the Slytherin dormitories is pure blood."
Natalia grimaced at this word. She had thought that after two generations, things might have changed a little. Obviously not. Slytherins still thought in the same mindset as her Grandfather and Mother did. Snape guided her through the Common Room into the girls' chambers. Beautiful walnut four post beds lined across the room. Intricate snakes were carved into the wood of the cupboards, mirrors, and beds.
"These are the female dormitories. The washrooms are to the left and down the hall. You, however, will not be staying in here. Dumbledore has requested that you receive your own private chambers, as you are the granddaughter of Salazar Slytherin."
He led her down another hallway which led to a door with a large oak snake that stretched itself across the door. "The password to this chamber is only one that you will know for it is in Parseltongue. Since you are a descendant of Salazar Slytherin, you should have the ability of speaking in Parseltongue. The password is as it was before, pure blood."
Snape waited expectantly for Natalia to say the correct term. She stood in a dazed silence. She had not spoken in Parseltongue since her Father had died. Sifting through her memories, she searched in vain for the word for pure blood. Being a believer of the modern concepts, her father did not support the idea of exterminating Magicals with Muggle blood, even though he was Salazar Slytherin's only son. He had rarely spoken on this topic for fear that Natalia views would follow her Grandfather's. Much to his chagrin, his wife's views quickly turned to that of his father's after their wedding. Unfortunately for Natalia, he never mentioned pure bloods, and definitely not in Parseltongue. She remembered communicating with her Father in Parseltongue when attempting to surprise her Mother on an anniversary or a birthday, but could not think of what "pure blood" could possibly be in Parseltongue. Father, she thought desperately, how I wished you had spoken with me about these matters, however dire they might be. She stood in a perplexed silence as Snape smirked openly next to her.
"Not the Slytherin heir we all expected, I see. Well, no matter, I'm sure the other Slytherins won't mind you staying in the same chambers as them."
Do not worry kjærtegn; I am with you as I have always been. Do not be intimidated by this man. He only scorns you because he does not understand.
Natalia looked about her. Did she hear her Father speak to her just then? She glanced at Snape and saw that he had not heard as he was still watching her with a smug look. Surely I am going mad, she thought, I have not heard his voice in so long that I must be imagining it now.
Not at all kjærtegn, it is really I that is speaking to you. The word you are searching so intently for is "Santsioniss Sverrkonssag".
Natalia choked back a sob. She could not believe that her Father was with her once again. Slowly, she closed her eyes and softly hissed,
"Santsioniss Sverrkonssag"
The eyes on the snake suddenly lit up with a most unusual red glow. It slow slithered its way into the doorframe as if awaken from a deep slumber. The doors opened effortlessly as if its hinges were made of oil. Past the thick double oak doors was the Slytherin Master Chamber. It fanned out into a large half-circle, twice the size of the Common Room with two fireplaces, one at each side of the room. The floor was of dark mahogany, the deep red contrasting against the intricate designs of the thick extravagant oriental carpets. Sweeping emerald tapestries with intricate silver snakes woven into the fabric adorned the walls like a majestic Grecian tunic. A single tall window led out onto a balcony. How can there be a balcony leading outside in the dungeons? she wondered, It must be one of Hogwarts' many mysteries. She marveled at the extravagance of the room. A four-post bed lay in the center of the room, complete with silken draperies and green silk sheets in the pattern of spider webs. Beautiful furnishings from the Renaissance were placed elegantly around the room with a large silver mirror hanging in the back of the room.
Snape drew a sharp intake of breath. His eyes marveled at the splendor and grandeur of the chamber.
"I am certain that your stay at Hogwarts will be more than satisfactory now, Ms. Slytherin."
He looked at her pointedly,
"I expect that you have any further requests for now."
Natalia slowly came back to her senses. She looked at Snape, still dazed by the magnificence of the chamber.
"No...no, this is more than sufficient. Thank you."
Snape turned and headed off back to the outer dungeons. Natalia suddenly remembered something.
"Professor!" she called, "Professor, wait, I have a question."
Snape turned sharply, almost causing Natalia to run into him.
"What is it?" he asked in a low voice.
"Albea, she has not arrived yet."
Snape rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"And who, pray tell, is this Albea?"
Natalia bit her lip. She hated having to seem like she didn't know where her own belongings were.
"Albea, she is my pet dragon. She was supposed to arrive at Hogwarts with my luggage."
The professor raised both condescending eyebrows.
"A DRAGON?"
She looked away quickly. Somehow, she felt that this was not a good time to mention Albea.
"May I inform you, Miss Slytherin, that dragons are not permitted on school grounds, under ANY circumstances. I do not care whose daughter or granddaughter you are, I will not have my own House responsible for burning down the school when your oversized lizard arrives. Now if you will excuse me, I am going to inform Dumbledore about this before you put the students' lives at stake any further."
He left like an angry wind, cloaks flapping behind him like a silent storm.
"Professor! Wait! Please, she isn't a large dragon. She's a miniature dragon. She's no bigger than a large hawk! Please hear me out!"
She ran after Professor Snape, breathlessly trying to convince him that Albea was not a danger to the school.
"Professor Snape, please, she has been with me since I was a child, and I assure you that she will not cause any disturbance to the school."
Snape abruptly stopped and turned to her.
"Stop your foolish ranting at once. We will see Dumbledore about this. He will be the one that tells you whether or not you can keep your precious dragon."
Natalia saw that it would be impossible to persuade Snape to do so otherwise. She followed him back to Dumbledore's office, dreading the reprimand she would get from Dumbledore.
Dumbledore leaned forward on his desk and folded his hands.
"Unfortunately, Natalia, as much as I want to let you keep Albea, I cannot permit a student to own a dragon. The only animals permitted to students are owls, cats, toads, or rats."
Natalia lowered her eyes and studied the wood patterns of his desk.
"I understand. I would not want to contradict the school's policy or see myself as an exception the rules. I apologize for not taking it to heart that I could not bring a dragon with me."
Dumbledore gave a comforting smile to Natalia.
"I'm glad that you understand, my dear, and that you came to me to see if she was allowed. Most students understand the rules very clearly but still intend on breaking them. By the way, how did you ever get a hold of an albino miniature Swedish Short-Snout? I had thought that the combination was nearly impossible."
Natalia's face lit up for she loved to tell of Albea's intriguing origins.
"She was born a runt and left to die by her mother. My Father had gone to see the Annual Swedish Broom Race between Kopparberg and Arjeplog and he happened to visit the dragon reservation in Kopparberg. He found Albea near the reservation and brought her home for my fourth birthday present."
A saddened look was cast on Dumbledore's face. He was one of the few who knew the fate of Strages Slytherin. Snape sneered at Natalia in derision.
"Had you ever thought that you could send Albea to your Father? I'm sure he wouldn't mind keeping one of his darling daughter's multiple gifts for her."
He chuckled to himself, laughing at the stupidity of the girl. She did not deserve to be of Slytherin blood, he thought, She may act like an aristocrat but she certainly did not think like one. Natalia looked up at Snape in disdain.
"My Father is dead."
A bitter silence settled in the room. Even Fawkes shuffled apprehensively on his perch. Dumbledore sighed and rubbed his eyes, seeming as if the weight of the world had been settled on his shoulders. A ribbon of red could be seen creeping up Snape's pallid face. He closed his eyes in dismay. He had not expected this. And all these years, he had believed Strages Slytherin was a coward for trying to fight the old beliefs of pure blood. He had believed in the same morals as Strages, but he never expected him to take action on them. And now it had brought him to his death. And he had just greatly insulted the dead man. And his daughter. He let out a faint sigh.
"I'm terribly sorry." he whispered, barely audible.
Natalia fought the wave of tears that threatened to spill onto her face. She took a deep breath and tried to appease her anger. After a long silence, she opened her eyes.
"It is all right," she said in a small voice, "Many people scorned my Father for his unorthodox views. But I intend to uphold to those morals, even if I am a Slytherin."
She looked directly at Snape.
"I understand that you also share those same views, but as many people also believed, you did not think that my Father would take action to those morals due to his bloodlines." she choked on a sob and spit out, "But you were wrong."
She got up in a hurry and ran out of the office.
Author's Note: OK, I know the whole lot of you are going, "What the hell...how can she be Salazar Slytherin's granddaughter? Didn't he live around one to two thousand years ago?" Well, dear readers, that is very true and congratulations on your keen observation. BUT, once we get to chapter eighteen - twenty (or once I get off my lazy bum and write them), you will see that everything makes perfect sense. Or as much sense as it can make in the wizarding world. Anyway, have faith that it will all make sense soon!
Natalia waited in the dark for the professor to return. Since her childhood, she had acquired a remarkable ability to see in the dark. She walked toward the end of the hall and saw that it came to a dead end. I wonder where the Slytherin Dormitories are located, she speculated. Walking toward the end of the hall, she put her hand on the wall to feel around for a door. Without warning, the wall shifted and slowly slid open in a groan. She gasped and looked back to make sure Snape hadn't seen her. Looking in, she saw a large lavishly decorated room in silvers and greens. There were rich green tapestries that draped the walls and long Victorian couches that extended across the room. To one side of the room was a large fireplace with an ample ebony mantel. There were lush oriental carpets in deep emeralds that spread across the dark walnut floor. Her breath fell short when she felt a hand grip her shoulder.
"If I remember correctly, I specifically instructed you to wait outside my office for me."
Natalia turned around and saw Snape scowling down at her. She blushed from being discovered.
"I am incredibly sorry that I did not follow your instructions sufficiently Professor. I must admit that I wandered away while waiting."
The professor looked accusingly at her.
"How did you manage to get in without the password?"
She looked at him in confusion.
"Pardon me?"
Snape gave her an infuriated look.
"This is the Slytherin Common Room. No one gets in here without a password and new students never find the entrance by themselves."
A baffled look appeared on Natalia's face.
"I am sorry Professor, but I just touched the wall at the end of the hallway and it slid open. I did not even know that it lead to the Common Room."
Snape crossed him arms and stared at her as if reading her face for signs of dishonesty. Finally, after a long while, the frown on his face diminished.
"Well then, I guess you obviously are a descendant of Salazar Slytherin. Even the walls of his dungeons recognize the blood that flows through you. But for future reference, the password for the Slytherin dormitories is pure blood."
Natalia grimaced at this word. She had thought that after two generations, things might have changed a little. Obviously not. Slytherins still thought in the same mindset as her Grandfather and Mother did. Snape guided her through the Common Room into the girls' chambers. Beautiful walnut four post beds lined across the room. Intricate snakes were carved into the wood of the cupboards, mirrors, and beds.
"These are the female dormitories. The washrooms are to the left and down the hall. You, however, will not be staying in here. Dumbledore has requested that you receive your own private chambers, as you are the granddaughter of Salazar Slytherin."
He led her down another hallway which led to a door with a large oak snake that stretched itself across the door. "The password to this chamber is only one that you will know for it is in Parseltongue. Since you are a descendant of Salazar Slytherin, you should have the ability of speaking in Parseltongue. The password is as it was before, pure blood."
Snape waited expectantly for Natalia to say the correct term. She stood in a dazed silence. She had not spoken in Parseltongue since her Father had died. Sifting through her memories, she searched in vain for the word for pure blood. Being a believer of the modern concepts, her father did not support the idea of exterminating Magicals with Muggle blood, even though he was Salazar Slytherin's only son. He had rarely spoken on this topic for fear that Natalia views would follow her Grandfather's. Much to his chagrin, his wife's views quickly turned to that of his father's after their wedding. Unfortunately for Natalia, he never mentioned pure bloods, and definitely not in Parseltongue. She remembered communicating with her Father in Parseltongue when attempting to surprise her Mother on an anniversary or a birthday, but could not think of what "pure blood" could possibly be in Parseltongue. Father, she thought desperately, how I wished you had spoken with me about these matters, however dire they might be. She stood in a perplexed silence as Snape smirked openly next to her.
"Not the Slytherin heir we all expected, I see. Well, no matter, I'm sure the other Slytherins won't mind you staying in the same chambers as them."
Do not worry kjærtegn; I am with you as I have always been. Do not be intimidated by this man. He only scorns you because he does not understand.
Natalia looked about her. Did she hear her Father speak to her just then? She glanced at Snape and saw that he had not heard as he was still watching her with a smug look. Surely I am going mad, she thought, I have not heard his voice in so long that I must be imagining it now.
Not at all kjærtegn, it is really I that is speaking to you. The word you are searching so intently for is "Santsioniss Sverrkonssag".
Natalia choked back a sob. She could not believe that her Father was with her once again. Slowly, she closed her eyes and softly hissed,
"Santsioniss Sverrkonssag"
The eyes on the snake suddenly lit up with a most unusual red glow. It slow slithered its way into the doorframe as if awaken from a deep slumber. The doors opened effortlessly as if its hinges were made of oil. Past the thick double oak doors was the Slytherin Master Chamber. It fanned out into a large half-circle, twice the size of the Common Room with two fireplaces, one at each side of the room. The floor was of dark mahogany, the deep red contrasting against the intricate designs of the thick extravagant oriental carpets. Sweeping emerald tapestries with intricate silver snakes woven into the fabric adorned the walls like a majestic Grecian tunic. A single tall window led out onto a balcony. How can there be a balcony leading outside in the dungeons? she wondered, It must be one of Hogwarts' many mysteries. She marveled at the extravagance of the room. A four-post bed lay in the center of the room, complete with silken draperies and green silk sheets in the pattern of spider webs. Beautiful furnishings from the Renaissance were placed elegantly around the room with a large silver mirror hanging in the back of the room.
Snape drew a sharp intake of breath. His eyes marveled at the splendor and grandeur of the chamber.
"I am certain that your stay at Hogwarts will be more than satisfactory now, Ms. Slytherin."
He looked at her pointedly,
"I expect that you have any further requests for now."
Natalia slowly came back to her senses. She looked at Snape, still dazed by the magnificence of the chamber.
"No...no, this is more than sufficient. Thank you."
Snape turned and headed off back to the outer dungeons. Natalia suddenly remembered something.
"Professor!" she called, "Professor, wait, I have a question."
Snape turned sharply, almost causing Natalia to run into him.
"What is it?" he asked in a low voice.
"Albea, she has not arrived yet."
Snape rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"And who, pray tell, is this Albea?"
Natalia bit her lip. She hated having to seem like she didn't know where her own belongings were.
"Albea, she is my pet dragon. She was supposed to arrive at Hogwarts with my luggage."
The professor raised both condescending eyebrows.
"A DRAGON?"
She looked away quickly. Somehow, she felt that this was not a good time to mention Albea.
"May I inform you, Miss Slytherin, that dragons are not permitted on school grounds, under ANY circumstances. I do not care whose daughter or granddaughter you are, I will not have my own House responsible for burning down the school when your oversized lizard arrives. Now if you will excuse me, I am going to inform Dumbledore about this before you put the students' lives at stake any further."
He left like an angry wind, cloaks flapping behind him like a silent storm.
"Professor! Wait! Please, she isn't a large dragon. She's a miniature dragon. She's no bigger than a large hawk! Please hear me out!"
She ran after Professor Snape, breathlessly trying to convince him that Albea was not a danger to the school.
"Professor Snape, please, she has been with me since I was a child, and I assure you that she will not cause any disturbance to the school."
Snape abruptly stopped and turned to her.
"Stop your foolish ranting at once. We will see Dumbledore about this. He will be the one that tells you whether or not you can keep your precious dragon."
Natalia saw that it would be impossible to persuade Snape to do so otherwise. She followed him back to Dumbledore's office, dreading the reprimand she would get from Dumbledore.
Dumbledore leaned forward on his desk and folded his hands.
"Unfortunately, Natalia, as much as I want to let you keep Albea, I cannot permit a student to own a dragon. The only animals permitted to students are owls, cats, toads, or rats."
Natalia lowered her eyes and studied the wood patterns of his desk.
"I understand. I would not want to contradict the school's policy or see myself as an exception the rules. I apologize for not taking it to heart that I could not bring a dragon with me."
Dumbledore gave a comforting smile to Natalia.
"I'm glad that you understand, my dear, and that you came to me to see if she was allowed. Most students understand the rules very clearly but still intend on breaking them. By the way, how did you ever get a hold of an albino miniature Swedish Short-Snout? I had thought that the combination was nearly impossible."
Natalia's face lit up for she loved to tell of Albea's intriguing origins.
"She was born a runt and left to die by her mother. My Father had gone to see the Annual Swedish Broom Race between Kopparberg and Arjeplog and he happened to visit the dragon reservation in Kopparberg. He found Albea near the reservation and brought her home for my fourth birthday present."
A saddened look was cast on Dumbledore's face. He was one of the few who knew the fate of Strages Slytherin. Snape sneered at Natalia in derision.
"Had you ever thought that you could send Albea to your Father? I'm sure he wouldn't mind keeping one of his darling daughter's multiple gifts for her."
He chuckled to himself, laughing at the stupidity of the girl. She did not deserve to be of Slytherin blood, he thought, She may act like an aristocrat but she certainly did not think like one. Natalia looked up at Snape in disdain.
"My Father is dead."
A bitter silence settled in the room. Even Fawkes shuffled apprehensively on his perch. Dumbledore sighed and rubbed his eyes, seeming as if the weight of the world had been settled on his shoulders. A ribbon of red could be seen creeping up Snape's pallid face. He closed his eyes in dismay. He had not expected this. And all these years, he had believed Strages Slytherin was a coward for trying to fight the old beliefs of pure blood. He had believed in the same morals as Strages, but he never expected him to take action on them. And now it had brought him to his death. And he had just greatly insulted the dead man. And his daughter. He let out a faint sigh.
"I'm terribly sorry." he whispered, barely audible.
Natalia fought the wave of tears that threatened to spill onto her face. She took a deep breath and tried to appease her anger. After a long silence, she opened her eyes.
"It is all right," she said in a small voice, "Many people scorned my Father for his unorthodox views. But I intend to uphold to those morals, even if I am a Slytherin."
She looked directly at Snape.
"I understand that you also share those same views, but as many people also believed, you did not think that my Father would take action to those morals due to his bloodlines." she choked on a sob and spit out, "But you were wrong."
She got up in a hurry and ran out of the office.
Author's Note: OK, I know the whole lot of you are going, "What the hell...how can she be Salazar Slytherin's granddaughter? Didn't he live around one to two thousand years ago?" Well, dear readers, that is very true and congratulations on your keen observation. BUT, once we get to chapter eighteen - twenty (or once I get off my lazy bum and write them), you will see that everything makes perfect sense. Or as much sense as it can make in the wizarding world. Anyway, have faith that it will all make sense soon!
