I cant believe I didn't realise that I had never updated Chapter 13 here! But never fear readers of I have two chapters going up right now and then have two with my Alpha to upload as soon as she reads them. Thank you for your patience.
Hermione couldn't wait to show Tom all of their favourite spots to go in France, especially the Wizarding parts of the country. There were so many hidden gems within Paris and they had the whole summer to show him. Aldrich and Theo of course had their own spots they wanted to take him but they could take turns showing their spots.
Tom wasn't expecting much, but they would be able to talk him around. One International Port Key and they would have the best summer.
Hermione was worried about him since he had started hearing the voice within the walls at school, what if he was sick? She would talk to their parents whilst away from prying eyes and ears and see what they could do to help him.
He had gotten more withdrawn since he had started hearing the voices and Dumbledore had been watching more closely than ever as he noticed the changes.
It was getting ridiculous with how they couldn't even move between classes without either his watchful eye or one of his minions.
The morning of the trip they all rushed around packing last minute things and then met the Avery's at the Port Key office.
Within an hour they were in France and making their way to their townhouse, the closer they got the more excited the children became. They had so much planned for the summer and couldn't wait to get started.
It was just before lunchtime they arrived and the older children decided to go for a walk around the estate before lunch.
Hermione lead them towards her favourite spot by the lake and was about to take a step when she was pulled back by Aldrich and Theo and Tom started to back away.
Looking at where she had been she saw a hissing snake that had flared up to strike. If Aldrich hadn't pulled her back she would have angered it even more than it was by being disturbed.
Tom had a scared look on his face, and Hermione was about to reassure him that she was fine when he began to hiss along with the snake, there were pauses in each of their hissing as if they were in conversation and that's when it hit Hermione, Theo and Aldrich. He was talking to the snake who was calming down and turning around to slither the other way.
Tom was a parselmouth.
"Tom! Why didn't you tell us that you could talk to snakes?" Aldrich questioned him.
"Because I didn't know I could until now," Tom responded, "What does this mean?"
"It means that you're a Parslemouth. It's a very rare trait." Hermione explained.
"Wait, Hermione didn't Salazar hide something within a chamber?" Theodore asked.
"He did, I remember reading that in one of the history books." Aldrich said.
"Do you think that's what he was hearing in the walls? That it's a snake?" Hermione asked.
"Excuse me, someone want to clue me in?" Tom snapped.
"When the founders built the castle it was said that they built a secret area for themselves as you know. Well Salazar was said to have placed some kind of beast or monster in his that only his heir would be able to control," Hermione explained.
"He put a snake in the castle? Don't you think someone would have noticed that there was a snake." Tom said.
"Not if it was moving out of view and wasn't doing anything to harm anyone," Aldrich explained.
"But what does it mean that I can hear it?" Tom asked.
"Maybe when we get back you should try talking to it now that we know what's going on and seeing if it'll tell you exactly what it is." Hermione said.
"It's worth a shot," Theo said, "Let's keep all this between us for now. Don't want to scare mum, dad and Aunty Annalise and Uncle Nicholas."
"Good idea, let's wait until we get back to school to confirm what is going on before we tell them." Hermione said.
Tom walked back to the house with them after sitting by the lake for a time. On the way back all he could think of is if the voice he was hearing was a snake and he could ask it questions, maybe they could find Salazar's secret chamber a lot easier than they thought. Maybe they could find all the founders rooms quicker than they had planned because maybe the snake knew where it all was. It was within the castle walls after all.
What if he could control it? What could he get done? What could they do with a snake at their bidding? What kind of snake was it? There wouldn't be much panic over a small one. Maybe an anaconda or some other dangerous snake.
Another thing they would have to research when they got back to school. But for now he could enjoy his holiday not having that worry hanging over his head anymore.
For the rest of the summer they were rushing around to sight see and he got to see the Wizarding side of France. It was a lot richer in appearance than London Wizarding areas. They all got their school robes and supplies while in Paris and Annalise and Nicholas lined up a tour of Beauxbatons Magical School for them, not many people would ever see it if they didn't have the connections the Notts and Avery's had. It was much nicer than Hogwarts but Hogwarts was home and they all agreed they would never want to leave to one of the other schools with everything they had to learn and achieve at Hogwarts.
Soon they would go back to school but for now it was nice to not have their every move watched. They got to relax.
Hope you enjoy! xo