Chapter 5 – The Hidden Room, New Speakers, and Nightmares
--- indicates thoughts, not out loud words.
The three new Slytherins kept themselves carefully separated from the others, not yet sure of all of the reactions to their being sorted into the House of the Snake, not only did they get the boy-who lived, but a mudblood and a strictly light-side pureblood!
It was obvious that they were going the longest way possible to the dormitory so they looked around and made sure to pay careful attention to any shortcuts that would save them time later.
Finally they walked down into the dungeons and walked through some dim hallways; they stopped at a gargoyle statue, "These are Professor Snape's private quarters don't ever bother him here unless it is an emergency." With this they moved on down the corridor.
As they reached the portrait of a dark haired man with a large snake wrapped around his waist the Prefect, who also happened to be the Quidditch captain Marcus Flint turned around and sneered, "Remember the password, if you forget Salazar will not let you in." Turning to the portrait he said clearly, "Serpensortia"
Ron, Harry, and Hermione looked at each other and snickered under their breath, they were truly walking into the snake's den. The room they entered was huge, centered around a large fireplace on one wall; the dungeon floor was covered by dark silver and green carpets and there was plush green dragonshide chairs and couches around the room. The walls were covered with expensive tapestries showing different serpents, who were at the moment asleep.
All the wood in the room was a deep brown, nearly black, and one wall of the dungeon was covered in a large bookcase full of books on barely legal spells. Hermione's eyes lit up and she nudged Ron and Harry as she looked at the vast array of books on the shelves.
All in all the room was very opulent and rich, Harry smiled as he looked around at the different snake tapestries, he had always thought snakes as his favorite creature, though owls were quickly ranking right up there.
Their attention turned back to Flint as he gestured at two staircases, "Boys on the right, girls on the left, first year dormitories are straight ahead."
Soon all the Slytherins had headed to their individual dorms to check out the occupations and the trio were the only ones left in the Common Room.
Looking at eachother they moved over to the long, soft, green leather couch that sat in front of the fireplace, none of them were really ready to go to the dorms yet, each one was lost in their own thoughts.
Hermione leaned against one of the tall arms unconsciously rubbing the lines on her arm through the fabric of her shirt and robes, ---I have to share a dorm with the other Slytherin girls! What the hell! They already hate me because I do not have 'magical' parents, but who really gives a fuck?--- Her eyes widened as a stray thought crossed her mind, ---WHAT IF THEY FIND MY KNIFE!! It's safe in the bottom of the trunk, those bimbos will never find it---
Harry and Ron failed to notice any of Hermione's actions as she tried to calm herself since both of them were also floundering in the thoughts threatening to consume them whole.
Ron had sank back into the leather his eyes becoming cold and hard, ---Damn Percy! Those stupid bite marks are still there and the bruises on my waist, it's pretty freakin' obvious what happened. I can't let anybody see, they might take me away form the Burrow, I cannot let that happen!---
As Ron planned his defense Harry was also lost in thoughts parallel to his, ---I can't let them see what a freak I am, I mean I deserved it all, right? Absolutely, they'll hate me if they realize how much of a loser I am. Even my own family hates me, what the hell am I gonna do?----
Before he could come up with an answer he heard someone speak, "Ssstupid human children, tressspasssing without my permisssion. None are worthy of the door, not a sssnake ssspeaker or one great power among them."
Turning Harry saw a portrait of a Nightshade Viper on the wall making the displeasing sounds, he replied, not realizing both Ron and Hermione turned to look at him as the sound came from his mouth. "Thossse human children are not ssstupid, they are merely ignorant compared to a beautiful ssspeciman ssssuch asss yourssself."
The snake's slit eyes widened slightly as she examined the small boy sitting in front of her, "Well, a sssnake ssspeaker, we have not had one of your kind in many generationsss."
Harry looked startled as he continued, "You mean I am ssspeaking sssnake tongue? How interesssting, what doesss that make me?"
The snake on the wall seemed to hiss in amusement at his response, "That makesss you a Parssseltongue young child-sssnake." The midnight blue, silver, and black snake bobbed her head at the other two on the couch, "What isss your name, and who are they?"
"I am Bolt, that isss Burn and Brigid, my compatriotsss."
She nodded, satisfied, "I am Isssisss, and your two friendsss have great power and anger within their sssoulsss, ass do you young Bolt. But none of you are dark, rather againssst the dark in your anger, interesssting. You are mossst definitely worthy young Bolt, there is a small dorm behind me that isss only for thossse I deem fit, you and thossse two behind you are worthy."
Harry's eyes widened as he looked over at the other two, "Isis says there is a secret dorm behind her that we can stay in by ourselves!"
Ron and Hermione both brightened and then turned serious, "Bolt, it's best if you don't go around advertising you're a Parseltongue, it's considered the mark of a dark wizard, the only other known one was Voldemort!"
Ron winced slightly though he understood why she said the name, fear of a name only increased the fear itself, and he was trying to rid it. He spoke up after Hermione, "Though I wish we could speak it as well, it sounds wicked!"
Harry turned back to the portrait, "Isssisss is there any way for Brigid and Burn to ssspeak sssnake tongue?"
The beautiful snake evaluated the two others on the couch, finally she nodded, "It isss in my power that they can underssstand by drawing on you, your underssstanding would be shared with them."
Smirking Harry turned around to face the other two, "Isis says that she can make it so that you two can speak and understand Parseltongue by drawing on my knowledge, sure would make communicating easier, especially writing, we would be the only three who could understand it. Are you in?"
Ron and Hermione looked at eachother as dark smiles crossed their face, they answered in unison, "Most definitely."
Nodding Harry told Isis the news, "They wisssh to have the knowledge, what mussst we do?"
"Ssssimply come over here with them young Bolt, ssstand in front of me, one hand on me and the other classsping eachother."
Following instructions Harry grabbed the other two and dragged them in front of Isis telling them what to do. Once they were ready a bright green light seemed to emanate from the picture surrounding them, after a few seconds it dissipated.
Isis looked down at them, "You are now truly my children, young sssnake ssspeakersss, you are worthy of my ssssecretsss."
With this she swung open revealing a passageway. Harry was the first in followed closely by Ron and Hermione who were amazed at their understanding of the snake.
On the other side of the passage was a large room separated into two areas, on one side sectioned off with hanging curtains three beds in varying shades of black, silver, and green fabric, each of them had a small area that was their own.
On the other side there was a large fireplace, a soft black leather couch, three desks, and a multitude of book shelves.
Swinging shut behind them a matching portrait of Isis was revealed. Harry regained his composure striding forward and bowing, "Thank you noble lady, thisss isss far more then we expected."
Ron and Hermione accompanied him the hissing coming from their mouth a new experience.
Isis smirked, as well as a snake could, "It wasss nothing my sssmall sssnakesss, off to bed with you, tomorrow you attend classsssesss and I expect detailsss."
Chuckling at the motherly tone the snake had taken each of the three went to their 'room' and changed into nightclothes, happy that their individual secrets were safe.
Isis glanced sadly after each one of them, "Ssssleep well my sssnake children, trussst eachother with your sssecretsss, if you do not they will dessstroy you."
Later that night Harry woke up from a dream with a scream on his lips that he forcefully pushed down. He shuddered as he remembered the dream, his uncle had been standing over him with a knife. Grabbing his wand and muttering, "Tempus."
The glowing numbers above him displayed the time 1:00 AM, still much too early to get up. Knowing that he probably wasn't going to get anymore sleep, Harry threw on his glasses and opened his curtain headed for the large couch in front of the fireplace.
As he settled himself on it, the fireplace in front of him sparked to life, it was obviously charmed to come alive whenever someone was in front of it, looking at the calming flames he heard a noise behind him, turning around he saw Ron emerge from his own sleeping area.
Right behind him Hermione emerged from her own little area, the other two sat down right next to Harry. Looking at them he saw the same dark circles and drowsy look he often wore quietly he spoke, "Nightmares?"
Startled they looked over and both nodded, all three leaning back against the couch and unconsciously moving closer together.
They knew now was not the time fore baring their demons but soon, after awhile the three first-years fell asleep snuggled against each other, each one of the them slipping into the first nightmare free sleep they had had in a long time.
--- indicates thoughts, not out loud words.
The three new Slytherins kept themselves carefully separated from the others, not yet sure of all of the reactions to their being sorted into the House of the Snake, not only did they get the boy-who lived, but a mudblood and a strictly light-side pureblood!
It was obvious that they were going the longest way possible to the dormitory so they looked around and made sure to pay careful attention to any shortcuts that would save them time later.
Finally they walked down into the dungeons and walked through some dim hallways; they stopped at a gargoyle statue, "These are Professor Snape's private quarters don't ever bother him here unless it is an emergency." With this they moved on down the corridor.
As they reached the portrait of a dark haired man with a large snake wrapped around his waist the Prefect, who also happened to be the Quidditch captain Marcus Flint turned around and sneered, "Remember the password, if you forget Salazar will not let you in." Turning to the portrait he said clearly, "Serpensortia"
Ron, Harry, and Hermione looked at each other and snickered under their breath, they were truly walking into the snake's den. The room they entered was huge, centered around a large fireplace on one wall; the dungeon floor was covered by dark silver and green carpets and there was plush green dragonshide chairs and couches around the room. The walls were covered with expensive tapestries showing different serpents, who were at the moment asleep.
All the wood in the room was a deep brown, nearly black, and one wall of the dungeon was covered in a large bookcase full of books on barely legal spells. Hermione's eyes lit up and she nudged Ron and Harry as she looked at the vast array of books on the shelves.
All in all the room was very opulent and rich, Harry smiled as he looked around at the different snake tapestries, he had always thought snakes as his favorite creature, though owls were quickly ranking right up there.
Their attention turned back to Flint as he gestured at two staircases, "Boys on the right, girls on the left, first year dormitories are straight ahead."
Soon all the Slytherins had headed to their individual dorms to check out the occupations and the trio were the only ones left in the Common Room.
Looking at eachother they moved over to the long, soft, green leather couch that sat in front of the fireplace, none of them were really ready to go to the dorms yet, each one was lost in their own thoughts.
Hermione leaned against one of the tall arms unconsciously rubbing the lines on her arm through the fabric of her shirt and robes, ---I have to share a dorm with the other Slytherin girls! What the hell! They already hate me because I do not have 'magical' parents, but who really gives a fuck?--- Her eyes widened as a stray thought crossed her mind, ---WHAT IF THEY FIND MY KNIFE!! It's safe in the bottom of the trunk, those bimbos will never find it---
Harry and Ron failed to notice any of Hermione's actions as she tried to calm herself since both of them were also floundering in the thoughts threatening to consume them whole.
Ron had sank back into the leather his eyes becoming cold and hard, ---Damn Percy! Those stupid bite marks are still there and the bruises on my waist, it's pretty freakin' obvious what happened. I can't let anybody see, they might take me away form the Burrow, I cannot let that happen!---
As Ron planned his defense Harry was also lost in thoughts parallel to his, ---I can't let them see what a freak I am, I mean I deserved it all, right? Absolutely, they'll hate me if they realize how much of a loser I am. Even my own family hates me, what the hell am I gonna do?----
Before he could come up with an answer he heard someone speak, "Ssstupid human children, tressspasssing without my permisssion. None are worthy of the door, not a sssnake ssspeaker or one great power among them."
Turning Harry saw a portrait of a Nightshade Viper on the wall making the displeasing sounds, he replied, not realizing both Ron and Hermione turned to look at him as the sound came from his mouth. "Thossse human children are not ssstupid, they are merely ignorant compared to a beautiful ssspeciman ssssuch asss yourssself."
The snake's slit eyes widened slightly as she examined the small boy sitting in front of her, "Well, a sssnake ssspeaker, we have not had one of your kind in many generationsss."
Harry looked startled as he continued, "You mean I am ssspeaking sssnake tongue? How interesssting, what doesss that make me?"
The snake on the wall seemed to hiss in amusement at his response, "That makesss you a Parssseltongue young child-sssnake." The midnight blue, silver, and black snake bobbed her head at the other two on the couch, "What isss your name, and who are they?"
"I am Bolt, that isss Burn and Brigid, my compatriotsss."
She nodded, satisfied, "I am Isssisss, and your two friendsss have great power and anger within their sssoulsss, ass do you young Bolt. But none of you are dark, rather againssst the dark in your anger, interesssting. You are mossst definitely worthy young Bolt, there is a small dorm behind me that isss only for thossse I deem fit, you and thossse two behind you are worthy."
Harry's eyes widened as he looked over at the other two, "Isis says there is a secret dorm behind her that we can stay in by ourselves!"
Ron and Hermione both brightened and then turned serious, "Bolt, it's best if you don't go around advertising you're a Parseltongue, it's considered the mark of a dark wizard, the only other known one was Voldemort!"
Ron winced slightly though he understood why she said the name, fear of a name only increased the fear itself, and he was trying to rid it. He spoke up after Hermione, "Though I wish we could speak it as well, it sounds wicked!"
Harry turned back to the portrait, "Isssisss is there any way for Brigid and Burn to ssspeak sssnake tongue?"
The beautiful snake evaluated the two others on the couch, finally she nodded, "It isss in my power that they can underssstand by drawing on you, your underssstanding would be shared with them."
Smirking Harry turned around to face the other two, "Isis says that she can make it so that you two can speak and understand Parseltongue by drawing on my knowledge, sure would make communicating easier, especially writing, we would be the only three who could understand it. Are you in?"
Ron and Hermione looked at eachother as dark smiles crossed their face, they answered in unison, "Most definitely."
Nodding Harry told Isis the news, "They wisssh to have the knowledge, what mussst we do?"
"Ssssimply come over here with them young Bolt, ssstand in front of me, one hand on me and the other classsping eachother."
Following instructions Harry grabbed the other two and dragged them in front of Isis telling them what to do. Once they were ready a bright green light seemed to emanate from the picture surrounding them, after a few seconds it dissipated.
Isis looked down at them, "You are now truly my children, young sssnake ssspeakersss, you are worthy of my ssssecretsss."
With this she swung open revealing a passageway. Harry was the first in followed closely by Ron and Hermione who were amazed at their understanding of the snake.
On the other side of the passage was a large room separated into two areas, on one side sectioned off with hanging curtains three beds in varying shades of black, silver, and green fabric, each of them had a small area that was their own.
On the other side there was a large fireplace, a soft black leather couch, three desks, and a multitude of book shelves.
Swinging shut behind them a matching portrait of Isis was revealed. Harry regained his composure striding forward and bowing, "Thank you noble lady, thisss isss far more then we expected."
Ron and Hermione accompanied him the hissing coming from their mouth a new experience.
Isis smirked, as well as a snake could, "It wasss nothing my sssmall sssnakesss, off to bed with you, tomorrow you attend classsssesss and I expect detailsss."
Chuckling at the motherly tone the snake had taken each of the three went to their 'room' and changed into nightclothes, happy that their individual secrets were safe.
Isis glanced sadly after each one of them, "Ssssleep well my sssnake children, trussst eachother with your sssecretsss, if you do not they will dessstroy you."
Later that night Harry woke up from a dream with a scream on his lips that he forcefully pushed down. He shuddered as he remembered the dream, his uncle had been standing over him with a knife. Grabbing his wand and muttering, "Tempus."
The glowing numbers above him displayed the time 1:00 AM, still much too early to get up. Knowing that he probably wasn't going to get anymore sleep, Harry threw on his glasses and opened his curtain headed for the large couch in front of the fireplace.
As he settled himself on it, the fireplace in front of him sparked to life, it was obviously charmed to come alive whenever someone was in front of it, looking at the calming flames he heard a noise behind him, turning around he saw Ron emerge from his own sleeping area.
Right behind him Hermione emerged from her own little area, the other two sat down right next to Harry. Looking at them he saw the same dark circles and drowsy look he often wore quietly he spoke, "Nightmares?"
Startled they looked over and both nodded, all three leaning back against the couch and unconsciously moving closer together.
They knew now was not the time fore baring their demons but soon, after awhile the three first-years fell asleep snuggled against each other, each one of the them slipping into the first nightmare free sleep they had had in a long time.