Chapter #7- Serpent's Vision

Taking a seat, Eric got out one of his course books and began reading.

"Well, well, well." A nasty little voice sneered.

Realizing it was Argen Malfoy; Eric tried to hide his face, but it was of no use. The sarcastic little blond haired creature took up a seat right across from him. "Hello Argen." Eric groaned.

"Nice snake!" Malfoy yelled, his face slightly white, but also interested. The snake merely flicked its tail in distain as though swatting away a large fly.

"Ssshall I harm him massster?" The python hissed at Eric, its tongue flicking in anticipation. Eric gave a stern look; he was in no mood for games, or to be blamed for another's murder. It was bad enough he had gotten his wand in a dark arts shop. He did not need his pet to do something worse.

"No!" Eric hissed back at the snake.

"What the..." Argen yelled out a particularly vulgar word, than glanced around in embarrassment as several older students gave him a rather cruel stare. He was quite the little profanity; first the worst of the unforgivable curses, now this.



Eric turned around in distain, "You should really try and keep your tongue Malfoy. You're going to get us both in trouble with that trap of yours... really!" Eric snapped. A few more students glanced back in irritation, than continued on with their conversations.



"But... you jus..." Argen tried to speak, but was quickly interrupted by Eric.



"No excuses Malfoy! I really am not in the mood to hear it!" Eric fumed.

"You hissed!" Malfoy accused, his voice louder than usual.

"What's going on back there?" An older voice questioned. It was Percy Weasley again.

"N-nothing sir... we'll be quite. Sorry we disturbed you." Eric mouthed in embarrassment.



"Very well boys, but I don't want to hear any more from you. It's not impossible to loose points even before you're put in a house you know." Percy threatened, than walked out one of the small rear doors connecting the two compartments.

"So, you gonna tell me why you hissed?" Malfoy questioned.

"Uh..." Eric hesitated. If he told Argen about his ability to talk to snakes, he might be thought strange. Than again, wasn't having a four foot long python resting on your shoulders classified as strange. Deciding against it, Eric answered, "you must be hearing things Malfoy. Why would I hiss?"

"But, I heard you. You hissed just like a snake!" Argen accused, his voice slightly squeaky.

Deciding to have some fun with this, Eric let out a large hissing sound; nothing like Parselmouth of course. "That's about the best hiss you'll get from me Malfoy." Eric laughed.



"Oh, well... I've things to do. See you at the Sorting Ceremony." Malfoy waved, kicked the rear door open and exited.

"Stupid git." Eric growled to himself.



"Would have made a good lunch" the python hissed as it slithered down from Eric's shoulders. Ignoring his pet's remarks, Eric opened his text book again and began to read. "Ssso, do you remember what I sssaid I would tell you today?" The serpent questioned, its body now comfortably coiled on the adjacent seat.

Eric closed his book again, than looked at his pet coldly. "No, I appeared to have forgotten. Can you run it by me again?" Eric asked, but quickly glanced around for any signs of Malfoy before he continued.

"Yesss... you asssked me what a parssselmouth wasss..." the snake hissed in reply. Eric sat and listened, his eyes fixed in the python's orange gaze. "It'sss a wizard who can talk to sssnakesss.... few can ssspeak it... there wasss only one and I will not utter hisss name here." The snake explained.

"Why not!" Eric fumed in outrage that yet another secret had to be kept from him.

"He wasss a very powerful wizard... but that'sss all I will sssay." The python finished.

"You forgot to tell me how you knew my name." Eric remembered.



"We sssnakes have ssspecial connectionsss to our massstersss." The snake replied inadequately.



"That doesn't tell me much. What's your name?" Eric asked in an exasperated tone.



"Sssaevusss..." The serpent vibrated.

Eric's eyes closed. His face slack. He was in the middle of a huge lake made of something which reminded him of water, but had more the translucent quality of mist. Around him were tall black trees and above the night sky twinkled with what looked like billions of stars.

"Where am I?" Eric questioned, his voice slightly drawn. No one answered. Eric repeated again, but still nothing. Feeling an icy wind on the back of his neck, Eric turned around. There was a tall hooded being standing in front of him.



"Hello..." It said in an icy voice as it removed its hood. The creature was a man who could be no more than twenty years old. He had short brown hair which was cropped off at the back and would have been quite hansom if it weren't for the twisted smile and blood red eyes which dominated his face.

"H...h...hello." Eric shuttered as he moved back several steps.



"Do not run away from me Eric..." The voice hissed again as the creature glided closer.



"Massster..." Another voice called.

"Massster?" It came back clearer now.

Snapping back to reality, Eric shook himself. "What." He responded quickly.



Saevus stared at Eric, his orange eyes widened in concern. "Massster, are you alright?" He asked.



"Yea, I think so... but that was freaky." Eric replied. His hands shaking.

"The train will be stopping sssooon." Saevus stated as they both felt a large jolt.