Parseltounge
"Speaking"
Thoughts
CHAPTER 4
Beginnings are Delicate
(And easily shattered)
Morning arrived too quickly for some students, but for two of the newest serpents it appeared as they finished their morning exercises. The dark heirs bowed to one another in the predawn chill before slipping gracefully into their stances. They finished every form they knew as the first early risers entered the common room. They went to their separate bathing rooms to shower and ready themselves for the day.
Draco was waiting in the boys' dorm for Harry while Blaise waited for Kira in the girls' dorm. They had both been a part of the heirs' life long enough to know the morning routine. When all four were showered and dressed they met up in the common room. From there they headed up to the Great Hall for breakfast. Once seated, they were handed their schedules by another of the Slytherin prefects. There was a note attached to the schedules which stated that this first morning was open to first years so that they could locate their classrooms.
MONDAY / WEDNESDAY / FRIDAY
5-6AM----------Breakfast/open
6-7AM----------Breakfast/open
7-8AM----------History of Magic with Hufflepuff
8-9AM----------open
9-10AM---------Transfiguration with Ravenclaw
10-11AM--------Lunch/open
11-NOON--------Lunch/open
NOON-1PM-------Lunch/open
1-2PM----------Potions with Gryffindor
2-3PM----------open
3-4PM----------Charms with Gryffindor
4-5PM----------open
5-6PM----------Dinner/open
6-7PM----------Dinner/open
7-8PM----------Dinner/open
MONDAY ONLY: MIDNIGHT-2 AM------ Astronomy all houses
TUESDAY
5-6AM----------Breakfast/open
6-7AM----------Breakfast/open
7-8AM----------Defense Against the Dark Arts with Ravenclaw
8-9AM----------Defense Against the Dark Arts with Ravenclaw
9-10AM---------Defense Against the Dark Arts with Ravenclaw
10-11AM--------Lunch/open
11-NOON--------Lunch/open
NOON-1PM-------Lunch/open
1-2PM----------open
2-3PM----------open
3-4PM----------open
4-5PM----------open
5-6PM----------Dinner/open
6-7PM----------Dinner/open
7-8PM----------Dinner/open
THURDAY
5-6AM----------Breakfast/open
6-7AM----------Breakfast/open
7-8AM----------Breakfast/open
8-9AM----------Herbology with Ravenclaw
9-10AM---------Herbology with Ravenclaw
10-11AM--------Herbology with Ravenclaw
11-NOON--------Lunch/open
NOON-1PM-------Lunch/open
1-2PM----------open
2-3PM----------open
3-4PM----------open
4-5PM----------open
5-6PM----------Dinner/open
6-7PM----------Dinner/open
7-8PM----------Dinner/open
"We have Potions first thing today after lunch, followed by Charms," said Blaise
"Both of those are with the bloody Gryffindorks though," complained Draco.
"It shouldn't be too bad," put in Kira
"Yeah, it's not like we have to put up with them while we explore the castle today," Harry added.
"And look on the bright side, those are the only two classes we have with them and Astronomy with everyone," commented Blaise.
"So you're saying that we only have to endure the stupidity of Gryffindorks without buffer students for two classes on three days a week and one of those classes is with our head of house; whom everyone knows favors us and hates Gryffindorks. Am I correct?" Draco summed up and asked.
"Yes," all three answered.
"I can live with that," finished up Draco and they ate their breakfast in silence.
The Slytherin quartet used the free morning for exploring, as that was why the first years had the morning free. The first years of the other houses also explored the castle, looking for classroom locations. The quartet used it to locate not only classrooms, but other places as well. They made sure they found Myrtle's bathroom, the portrait with the fruit bowl, the hunchbacked one-eyed witch statue, library, infirmary, and headmaster's office. The dark heirs were very specific on locating Myrtle's haunted bathroom and when Draco asked why he was told it was a 'secret'.
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After lunch the Serpentine Quartet were the first to arrive at the potions classroom in the dungeons. The dark heavy wooden door was securely closed and locked. It wasn't warded, with anything dangerous, but there was a charm on it to tell Severus Snape if anyone entered it without his permission. Because of this the Quartet waited patiently outside the door for Professor Snape to arrive.
As they waited the other five Slytherins arrived followed shortly by the Gryffindors. The bushy haired muggle-born was the first to arrive. She seemed nervous and uncomfortable around the Slytherins but soon forgot about how they made her feel, because the red headed first year showed up with two other boys. Ronald Weasley interrupted the quiet conversation of the Quartet with a loud rude exclamation of, "Hey Potter!"
The other Slytherins stopped whispering as the Quartet turned as one and looked despairingly in the direction of Weasley. Harry glanced at Ronald with disdain as he replied, "Hay is for horses and morons with no manners. If you wish to speak with me, Weasley, then mind your manners."
Weasley's face darkened, causing his freckles to blend together in a dark flush of anger. He snapped in anger, "I have no reason to be polite to a scum sucking snake. How could you turn your back on the light?"
By this time all the Gryffindors had arrived and watched with curiosity the verbal match. "Who said I was?" asked Harry with soft contempt.
"You became a bloody snake! That makes you dark! Everyone knows that." Weasley sounded quite smug and proud of his logic.
"Not every Slytherin aspires to be the next Voldemort," said Kira. Everyone, except the Quartet, shivered at the Dark Lord's name.
Ron turned his angry gaze toward her and said, "Maybe not," very disbelievingly, "but I bet you're just itching to receive the Dark Mark," he finished by spitting the words at her.
"I will never bare the Dark Mark, Weasley," Kira replied flippantly.
"Nor will I," added Harry confidently. After all father doesn't mark family.
"You lying, bloody, good for nothing scum sucking snakes," Weasley yelled.
"Thirty points from Gryffindor for trying to start a fight Mister Weasley," interrupted Severus Snape silkily as he stalked though the students. He stopped before the door and pushed it open, "Now get in and stay silent," he commanded softly, yet everyone heard him.
The students filed in quietly. By unspoken agreement to house rivalries, the Gryffindors sat on the left side while the Slytherins sat on the right side of the class room. Every table allowed the students to pair up by being designed to sit two students. This arrangement left one Slytherin not paired up, Theodore Nott didn't seem to mind over much as he took a table for himself.
Severus looked over his class, paying particular attention to the spitting image of James Potter, except for Lily's eyes staring out of that face. Part of him wanted to beat his head against the black board, but instead he began to speak in his soft silken voice, "As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses ... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death - if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."(direct quote)
He turned his attention to Ron Weasley and said softly, "Mr. Weasley what would you get if you added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Ron's face darkened slightly, "I don't know sir." Hermione Granger's hand quickly flew into the air.
"I see... well then mister Weasley lets try another one. Where would you look for a Bezoar and what is it used for?"
"I don't know sir," ground out Ron as embarrassment darkened his flush even more. Hermione's hand waved in the air.
"Well, I guess you must have felt you didn't need to open a single book before coming to this class, could that be the case? I severely hope not. Tell me did you bother with any of your books because even if all you looked at was Herbology," he softly sneered the word, " you will be able to tell me the difference between Monkshood and wolfsbane."
"I don't know the answer to your question. Why don't you ask someone who does like Granger?" Ron snapped out at Severus, while Hermione took her hand out of the air with an incredulous look at Ron.
"Forty points from Gryffindor for back-talking a teacher," Severus said in a frighteningly calm voice. He looked over the class and sneered, "Can anyone answer my questions or are you even denser then previous years?"
Hermione's hand once again waved in the air. Surprisingly it was joined by two lazy hands, one from Kira the other from Harry. Severus looked at the two new serpents and said, "Ms. Riddle, can you answer the first question?"
She nodded, "Yes Professor. If the infusion of wormwood is pure, the resulting sleeping potion is so powerful it goes by the name Draught of Living Death. However, if the wormwood has impurities the result is a poison which kills by slow suffocation of the victim. There is no KNOWN cure for the resulting poison."
A slight shiver passed through the Gryffindors at her knowledge of exactly what the poison did. Severus ignored the chill running down his spine, something in the way she said 'known' cure told him in his heart that the Dark Lord had come up with a cure. "Ten points to Slytherin for the correct answer. Mr. Potter, can you answer the second question?" Severus kept his voice low and even.
"Yes sir," replied Harry calmly, "a Bezoar is a stone found in the stomach of a goat which is the primary ingredient in most antidote potions."
"Correct Mr. Potter, ten points to Slytherin. As for my last inquiry, monkshood and wolfsbane are the same plant also known as aconite." He looked around the classroom and growled threateningly, "Why are you not copying this down?"
The class hurried to take notes. While they did that Severus opened his potion's textbook and said, "Open your books to page 26. Then get to work on the shirking potion. The ingredients are in the back cabinets. You are to work with the person you are sitting beside." He watched as the students began to set up their cauldrons.
Harry and Draco were paired up while Blaise and Kira were paired up of the Serpentine Quartet. The other Slytherins were paired Bulstrode and Parkinson, Crabbe and Goyle and of course Nott was by himself. The Gryffindor pairs were Granger and Abercrombie, Weasley and Thomas, Patil and Brown, and Longbottom and Finnigan. Severus stalked silently around the room, calmly watching and intimidating the students.
The potion was a simple shrinking potion with no volatile ingredients. It was literally the safest potion a person could brew unless you substituted beetle shells for dragonfly wings. That substitution caused the potion to explode rather violently and caused magical burns that took weeks to heal. Of course no one was stupid enough to add beetle shells to this potion... although Ron thought it'd be funny to have Neville do so. He handed Neville the shells when he asked the redheaded boy for the wings. Neville failed to notice the substitute as he said thanks and dropped the shells into his cauldron.
Kira had been observing the class and watched as Ron handed Neville the wrong ingredient. She hissed and waved her hand toward Neville and Seamus' cauldron as the plump boy dropped the shells. The shells momentarily hovered above the cauldron before clinking to the counter around the simmering potion. Not one shell entered the bubbling brew. Severus heard the soft sounds and swooped down on Neville, "Mr. Longbottom, what is going on?" He noticed the beetle shells and scowled at the frightened Gryffindor.
"S...sorry Professor, I guess my hand wasn't over the cauldron when I dropped them." Neville squeaked. Seamus noticed they were not dragon wings and glared at Ron, knowing he had given his partner the wrong ingredient, but not willing to get his new friend in trouble.
"And why were you trying to add beetle shells when the potion clearly states to use dragonfly wings?" Severus' voice was dangerously soft. Neville mumbled something incoherent. "Speak up Mr. Longbottom; I require an explanation I can hear."
"I thought they were the wings because that's what I asked Ron for and these were what he gave me." His voice trembled; he knew that the Gryffindors would dislike him from that moment on because he had told on Ron.
"I see," hissed Severus, "Ten points from Gryffindor, Mr. Weasley, for attempting to sabotage your fellow student's potion. And next time Mr. Longbottom I suggest you retrieve the ingredients from the cupboard yourself. That way you won't be sabotaged."
The rest of the class was rather quiet and uneventful after that. Weasley kept giving Neville dirty looks whenever the professor's back was to him. Severus continued to walk around the class room, praising Blaise, Draco, Harry, and Kira as well as correcting the other Slytherins. He only sneered at the Gryffindors who were making mistakes and murmured disparaging comments as he passed them.
At the end of class each pair bottled up a sample of their potion and labeled it. They handed in the samples. Seamus handed in his and Neville's because Neville was petrified with fear and uncertainty. He also did only the clean up that kept him away from Ron. Finally the students began to file out, but Neville didn't move because Ron, Dean, and Seamus were waiting outside the door. Kira took note of this and walked over to him.
Neville looked down shyly as Kira said, "Hello Neville, would you like to walk with us to charms?" He mumbled something and nodded slightly. "Good," she grabbed his elbow and dragged him over to the rest of the Quartet. "Guys, this is Neville and he will be walking with us to charms."
They nodded. "Neville," Harry said a he extended his hand. Neville looked up, "I'm Harry, this is Draco and Blaise."
Neville took Harry's hand with some trepidation as he whispered, "Hello."
"Lets go, or we may be late for Charms," said Blaise with a smile to take any sting out of her words. The five first year students quickly left the dungeons and headed to the Charms room. Harry and Draco took protective positions on either side of Neville as they passed the Gryffindork trio. Ron scowled as they passed but he, Seamus, and Dean followed silently.
Professor Flitwick was hardly an imposing individual. He stood on a dais behind a small podium as the students filed in. The room had two rows of seating against either wall. Each row easily seated five, so Kira made sure Neville sat with them. The other Slytherins sat behind the quartet. The Gryffindors sat in the rows across the room from them. Hermione Granger was slightly separated from the rest of her housemates by the careful seating arrangement the other three girls did.
The rather dwarfish professor quickly took roll call and was somewhat startled by the seating of Neville Longbottom. He proceeded to take the class through a simple series of wand movements, the swish and flick which was crucial to many charms. By the end of class Slytherin had received twenty points while Gryffindor only received five. Each of the five students who perfected the wand movement by the end of class received five points each; they were Granger, Malfoy, Potter, Riddle and Zabini.
After class the Slytherin quartet headed to the library, there were a few books they wanted to get. They arrived to dinner slightly later than the rest of their house and noticed the alienation the Gryffindor house was giving Longbottom and Granger. Just like Brandon and Lenora back home, thought Harry to Kira. She sent her silent, somewhat sad agreement. They sat at the Slytherin table and started eating. They retreated to the common room after that for a short time to do the homework Professor Snape had assigned, explain why beetle shells are not an ingredient in the shrinking potion they had done that day. They went to bed shortly after that.
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Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape, and Filius Flitwick sat in the headmaster's office shortly after dinner that evening. "Thank you for coming," Albus said with a smile, "I would like to ask you about how Mr. Potter's and Ms. Riddle's first day went. Filius, why don't you tell me how classes were this afternoon?"
"Of course," said the short man in a surprisingly deep voice, "They came in the class with Mr. Malfoy, Ms. Zabini, and Mr. Longbottom. All five sat in the same row and except for Mr. Longbottom they earned points for their house by showing exceptional aptitude in wand movement. Mr. Potter and Ms. Riddle seemed very well practiced."
"Mr. Longbottom was with them?" asked Albus.
"Yes, they walked in with him between Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Potter. Ms. Riddle was the one who convinced him to sit with them, though."
"I see, well thank you Filius, and what of potions class? How were they in your class Severus?" transitioned Albus.
"They were able to answer my impossibly beginning of the year questions," huffed Severus as he gave a 'look' at Filius out of the corner of his eye. Albus had known Severus long enough to understand he had something more to say in private.
Albus chuckled, "Anything else?"
"Not that I can think of," replied Severus as he blinked slowly to indicate he would explain later.
"Well in that case, I bid you all a good night," Albus said cheerfully.
The two professors stood up and as Severus opened the door, Albus said, "If you could stay another moment, Severus my boy?"
"Of course Albus," replied Severus as he nodded to Filius while murmured a goodnight. Severus closed the door behind him. He moved back to his seat across form Albus.
"What did you wish to add?"
"During class Mr. Weasley attempted to sabotage Mr. Longbottom's potion. Also before class he was harassing Mr. Potter and attempting to cause a fight. After class Ms. Riddle was very kind to Mr. Longbottom and he walked with them to Charms. Her behavior is somewhat confusing, as the Dark Lord's daughter she must surely know which families have been his biggest opponents. I would not have thought she would give any thought toward a child of a light family, unless it was contempt. Mr. Weasley's treatment of her and Mr. Potter may hinder your plan to redeem the lad."
"Is that all?" asked Albus.
"Not entirely... when Mr. Longbottom attempted to add the improper ingredients something stopped them from entering the cauldron. I don't know how but each beetle shell landed outside the cauldron. Even one would have caused an explosion which would have landed Mr. Longbottom and Mr. Finnigan in the Hospital wing for a few weeks."
"So someone saw what was happening and saved him?"
"I don't see how. Unless he performed accidental magic, which I don't think, there wasn't any discernable magic used. No one had their wand out or even within reach when this happened."
"I see... well keep an eye on them and keep me informed of any other unusual circumstances."
"Of course, goodnight Albus," replied Severus.
"Goodnight Severus."
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Here are the other houses schedules:
GRYFFINDOR
MONDAY / WEDNESDAY / FRIDAY
5-6AM------------Breakfast/open
6-7AM------------Breakfast/open
7-8AM------------Breakfast/open
8-9AM------------open
9-10AM-----------open
10-11AM----------Lunch/open
11-NOON----------Lunch/open
NOON-1PM---------Transfiguration with Hufflepuff
1-2PM------------Potions with Slytherin
2-3PM------------open
3-4PM------------Charms with Slytherin
4-5PM------------open
5-6PM------------Dinner/open
6-7PM------------Dinner/open
7-8PM------------Dinner/open
MONDAY ONLY: MIDNIGHT-2AM--- ASTRONOMY ALL HOUSES
TUESDAY
5-6AM------------Breakfast/open
6-7AM------------Breakfast/open
7-8AM------------Breakfast/open
8-9AM------------Herbology with Hufflepuff
9-10AM-----------Herbology with Hufflepuff
10-11AM----------Herbology with Hufflepuff
11-NOON----------Lunch/open
NOON-1PM---------Lunch/open
1-2PM------------open
2-3PM------------open
3-4PM------------open
4-5PM------------open
5-6PM------------Dinner/open
6-7PM------------Dinner/open
7-8PM------------Dinner/open
THURSDAY
5-6AM------------Breakfast/open
6-7AM------------Breakfast/open
7-8AM------------Defense Against the Dark Arts w/Hufflepuff
8-9AM------------Defense Against the Dark Arts w/Hufflepuff
9-10AM-----------Defense Against the Dark Arts w/Hufflepuff
10-11AM----------Lunch/open
11-NOON----------Lunch/open
NOON-1PM---------Lunch/open
1-2PM------------open
2-3PM------------open
3-4PM------------open
4-5PM------------open
5-6PM------------Dinner/open
6-7PM------------Dinner/open
7-8PM------------Dinner/open
HUFFLEPUFF
MONDAY / WEDNESDAY / FRIDAY
5-6AM------------Breakfast/open
6-7AM------------Breakfast/open
7-8AM------------History of Magic with Slytherin
8-9AM------------open
9-10AM-----------open
10-11AM----------Lunch/open
11-NOON----------Lunch/open
NOON-1PM---------Transfiguration with Gryffindor
1-2PM------------open
2-3PM------------Charms with Ravenclaw
3-4PM------------open
4-5PM------------Potions with Ravenclaw
5-6PM------------Dinner/open
6-7PM------------Dinner/open
7-8PM------------Dinner/open
MONDAY ONLY: MIDNIGHT-2AM--- ASTRONOMY ALL HOUSES
TUESDAY
5-6AM------------Breakfast/open
6-7AM------------Breakfast/open
7-8AM------------Breakfast/open
8-9AM------------Herbology with Gryffindor
9-10AM-----------Herbology with Gryffindor
10-11AM----------Herbology with Gryffindor
11-NOON----------Lunch/open
NOON-1PM---------Lunch/open
1-2PM------------open
2-3PM------------open
3-4PM------------open
4-5PM------------open
5-6PM------------Dinner/open
6-7PM------------Dinner/open
7-8PM------------Dinner/open
THURSDAY
5-6AM------------Breakfast/open
6-7AM------------Breakfast/open
7-8AM------------Defense Against the Dark Arts w/Gryffindor 8-9AM------------Defense Against the Dark Arts w/Gryffindor
9-10AM-----------Defense Against the Dark Arts w/Gryffindor
10-11AM----------Lunch/open
11-NOON----------Lunch/open
NOON-1PM---------Lunch/open
1-2PM------------open
2-3PM------------open
3-4PM------------open
4-5PM------------open
5-6PM------------Dinner/open
6-7PM------------Dinner/open
7-8PM------------Dinner/open
RAVENCLAW
MONDAY / WEDNESDAY / FRIDAY
5-6AM------------Breakfast/open
6-7AM------------Breakfast/open
7-8AM------------Breakfast/open
8-9AM------------open
9-10AM-----------Transfiguration with Slytherin
10-11AM----------Lunch/open
11-NOON----------Lunch/open
NOON-1PM---------Lunch/open
1-2PM------------open
2-3PM------------Charms with Hufflepuff
3-4PM------------open
4-5PM------------Potions with Ravenclaw
5-6PM------------Dinner/open
6-7PM------------Dinner/open
7-8PM------------Dinner/open
MONDAY ONLY: MIDNIGHT-2AM--- ASTRONOMY ALL HOUSES
TUESDAY
5-6AM------------Breakfast/open
6-7AM------------Breakfast/open
7-8AM------------Defense Against the Dark Arts w/Slytherin
8-9AM------------Defense Against the Dark Arts w/Slytherin
9-10AM-----------Defense Against the Dark Arts w/Slytherin
10-11AM----------Lunch/open
11-NOON----------Lunch/open
NOON-1PM---------Lunch/open
1-2PM------------open
2-3PM------------open
3-4PM------------open
4-5PM------------open
5-6PM------------Dinner/open
6-7PM------------Dinner/open
7-8PM------------Dinner/open
THURSDAY
5-6AM------------Breakfast/open
6-7AM------------Breakfast/open
7-8AM------------Breakfast/open
8-9AM------------Herbology with Slytherin
9-10AM-----------Herbology with Slytherin
10-11AM----------Herbology with Slytherin
11-NOON----------Lunch/open
NOON-1PM---------Lunch/open
1-2PM------------open
2-3PM------------open
3-4PM------------open
4-5PM------------open
5-6PM------------Dinner/open
6-7PM------------Dinner/open
7-8PM------------Dinner/open
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AN
I hope to update this once a week, but I don't know if I can type it that fast... I also have Of Magic which is a light Harry Potter Fic spanning years six and seven w/ OoTP spoilers. Thank you for partaking of my twisted little worlds.
Review Responses
Jadzania: Thank you. The plot is more convoluted then it seems on the surface and I really hope I can bring it all together with timely updates
Kage Mirai Thank you. Here's more. I believe darkness is simply the shade of life that gets a bad rap... not truly evil... this is most definitely a dark Slytherin Harry... evil... well who knows
SRAndrews Thank you... Here's an update. Hope you enjoyed.
kamui5 This Harry is no push over for Albus to manipulate. As for Sirius Black... well I have these evil plans...
SRAndrews Thank you soooo much... yeah yippy I'm on a favorites list... Here's an update, hope you enjoyed.
Sword and Magic: I have a tendency to create absolutely evil plot bunnies... this was one and its much more twisted then it seems... - I will post as often as I can, once a week is my current goal.
Roeschen: Thank you, I will.
evilharry=goodness: Thank you very much. Here is an update and thanks for being my first reviewer!!