Chapter Two: Visum Draconteus
The Golden Trio, otherwise known as Ron, Hermione, and Harry, joyfully made their way to their Care of Magical Creatures lesson.
"'Mione, what do you think Hagrid has for us this time?" Ron asked apprehensively.
Hermione Granger, bushy brown hair tied back out of her face, just shrugged in response to the redheads question.
Vivid green eyes filled with concern as Harry began to wonder what had been keeping their studious friend distracted since the first week of their fifth year.
"'Ello there!" cried Hagrid, his beefy hand waving to the trio enthusiastically. "I bet yer can't wait ter see what I've got fer yer today."
Beside Hagrid's large feet was a wooden crate. Hisses and growls greeted the three Gryffindor students. Ron paled at the threatening sounds and tried to hide his lanky body behind a very annoyed Hermione. Harry, amused by his friends' antics, turned to eye the crate warily.
"Er . . . Hagrid? What are we supposed to do with whatever is in that crate?" Harry asked nervously.
Hagrid just beamed with a "Yer'll see. Yer'll see, 'Arry."
As the rest of the class, including a sneering Draco Malfoy and his two bodyguards - Crabbe and Goyle, finally arrived, Hagrid pried open the top of one of the crates. He gently lifted an aggravated creature, turned slowly and raised it up to show the class.
The creature, a seemingly ordinary cobra, flared up its magnificent hood and hissed menacingly at the young students. Black scales gleamed dangerously in the sunlight as the fifteen foot long snake twisted vainly to escape from Hagrid's strong grip. Eerily beautiful, silver eyes glared at Hagrid. Oddly enough, a silver and green pentacle graced the back of the snake's flared hood.
"Ain't he a beauty? 'Arry 'ere is going to translate for us today. Hope yer don't mind, 'Arry. I want fer all of yer ter take notes on this snake. Now can anyone tell me what he is?"
For once the entire class was quiet. Even Hermione, who was the one who always knew the answers to the professor's questions, was unusually quiet and subdued.
"Well, seeing how no one knows, I'll just tell yer. This lil' fella 'ere is a Visum Draconteus. Many rumors claim that this breed was created by Salazar Slytherin himself. Not much is known about the breed except that they are immune to most magic and their tears, willingly given, enable a person ter become immune to all truth potions. It is also rumored that they life-bond to a certain witch or wizard and have the ability ter see into the future."
"Great, a snake that can Divine our futures. What will happen next? One of the Founders rising from the grave?" sneered Draco Malfoy.
The embarrassed Professor gave Harry the snake to translate. The snake gazed deeply into the eyes of the Boy-Who-Lived. "Green Eyes," it growled softly, "My kind has been waiting for a thousand years for this day. My name is Sepis."
Harry translated. The class and Hagrid began asking questions but were soon disappointed as the snake's only reply was "I cannot answer that. Only the Serpent Lord, the Prince of True Darkness, knows."
As soon as the class was over, Hermione rushed off to the library, claiming that the snake helped her answer something. The two boys shook their heads and headed off to lunch.
"Who do you think the Serpent Lord is? It can't be Voldemort, can it? And what did Sepis mean by 'true darkness'?" Harry wondered out loud.
"Don't know, mate. All I know is I am hungry," replied Ron, his stomach grumbling.
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I closely watched and listened to the lesson concerning the V§sum Dracontus with interest. The black snake occasionally glanced in my direction as it answered numerous questions about how it came to be, if it was a Seer, and what was Salazar Slytherin like. Fortunately, none of the children took notice of the creature's strange behavior.
I knew for certain now. It was time.
AN: I know it is short, but I am not one to write a long chapter. It seemed longer than on paper. Salazar will always be written in first person when he is alone. Makes it easier for me. Hope you like it.
Visum : sight, appearance, vision
Draconteus: serpent's, of serpent