Disclaimer: I don't own 'Harry Potter' and I'm not making any profit out of this story.

-Gravity-

Summary: When you fall you can't blame gravity. You can't fight it either. The first time we fell, we were 11 and didn't realize it. Carefree and proud. We never imagined that a catastrophe would happen in our time. But it did. In reality you can't get angry when you keep on falling, because some things are meant to be that way, you just have to do the best of the worst. Gravity don't mean too much to me, I 'm who I've got to be. Follow the story of the other side of Harry Potter and Wizard War II and you'll se that we all hurt, laugh, live, died and love.

Rating: T for language, may become M for gore, use of alcohol and/or sexual content.

Gender: Drama – Romance – Hurt/Comfort – Adventure – Family – Friendship

Pairings: includes DMHG, HPGW, RLNT and more.

Warning: Warning: OC's and non-canon. Use of French, Spanish, English, Italian, German and Welsh. May contain homosexual couples or insinuations.

Note: I come with a new chapter. I have to say that it's one of my favorites so far. also, it explains some fo teh weirness of previous chapters. enjoy.

Second year: Chapter XI. Snakes can duel and apparently, speak

"We live in a beautiful world.

Oh, all that I know,

There's nothing here to run from,

Cos yeah, everybody here's got somebody to lean on"

Coldplay – Don't Panic

Hermione huffed and leaned on the wall of the stall, the bubbling cauldron placed in front of her. The three Gryffindors were standing up, looking at her. They had told her that Christmas break was probably the best time to use the potion, seeing that Draco was staying as well as Vincent and Gregory.

"The potion is only half finished." She repeated nervously for the fifth time, stirring said potion. The Gryffindors exchanged grim looks. They still needed the bicorn horn and the boomslang skin, and the only place they were going to get them was from Snape's private stores. Harry was looking almost sick at the prospect.

"What we need," said Lisa "is a diversion. Then one of us can sneak into Snape's office during Potions this Thursday and take what we need." Harry and Ron looked at her nervously. Hermione nodded, taking her eyes of the potion. "I think I better do the actual stealing," Lisa continued in a matter-of-fact tone. "You two will be expelled if you get into any more trouble, and I've got a clean record. So all you need to do is cause enough mayhem to keep Snape busy for five minutes or so."

"Do that, and when the class ends come here straight." Hermione said before pointing her wand to the blue fire crackling under the cauldron, revving the flames a little.

-X-x-X-

Potions lessons took place in one of the large dungeons. Thursday afternoon's lesson proceeded in the usual way. Sixteen cauldrons stood steaming between the wooden desks, on which stood brass scales and jars of ingredients. Professor Snape prowled through the fumes, making waspish remarks about the Gryffindors' work while the Slytherins sniggered appreciatively. Draco, protected under the notion that he was Snape's favourite student, kept flicking puffer-fish eyes at Weasley and Potter, who knew that if they retaliated they would get detention faster than you could say 'unfair.'

They were preparing a Swelling Solution, the potions all around the dungeon bubbling over the fire some ok, some well made and some downright disastrous. Victoria smirked at Professor Snape when he complimented her potion. Theo and Blaise had also received good marks on their own potions and where abstinently doodling on shared piece of parchment. Victoria looked at scroll curiously. A very simple drawing (a stick figure actually) depicting a tall boy and an explosion cauldron, something that Victoria guessed was Finnegan in their last class when he managed to make a simple potion (a Colouring Draught) explode. Draco was sitting behind them, with Gregory, beaming with pride because Professor Snape had announced his potion was the best on the dungeon.

Suddenly, they heard a fizzing sound. Draco turned around harshly to see something sparking and hissing flaying across the air. His grey eyes rounded and the something fell on Gregory's cauldron. The potion exploded, showering the half of the class. People shrieked as splashes of the Swelling Solution hit them. Draco got a face-full and his nose began to swell like a balloon; Gregory blundered around, his hands over his eyes, which had expanded to the size of a dinner plate. Victoria shirked and cursed in Spanish. Her drenched handkerchief was discarded in the floor. Blaise hair was growing to an alarming length and Theo was standing a little bit too tall. Professor Snape was trying to restore calm and find out what had happened.

"Silence! SILENCE!" Professor Snape roared. "Anyone who has been splashed, come here for a Deflating Draft! ...When I find out who did this…" Draco hurried forward, his head drooping with the weight of a nose like a small melon. Half the class lumbered up to Professor Snape's desk, some weighted down with arms like clubs, others unable to talk through gigantic puffed-up lips, Daphne among this ones. Pansy nose had also grown making her face look almost pig-like. When everyone had taken a swig of antidote and the various swellings had subsided, Professor Snape swept over to Gregory's cauldron and scooped out the twisted black remains of something that looked like a firework. There was a sudden hush.

"If I ever find out who threw this," Snape whispered, "I shall make sure that person is expelled."

Ten minutes later, as they shuffled out of the dungeon, the Slytherins saw the Gryffindor trio run away from the class in a very hurried pace. Victoria ignored them and laughed merrily at the boys.

"Oh dios mío…" (Oh my god…) She said, covering her head with Theo's cloak. "You do have to admit it was funny, some people looked so hilarious! And Professor Snape knows that Gregory's potion was well made." She said, covering her giggling mouth with the black fabric. Draco glared at her but the girl brushed it without problem.

"Yes, indeed hilarious." The blond muttered angrily.

"Oh don't be sour." Victoria retorted and then turned towards the other boys. "Theo you had to be taller? As if you are not tall already, tough it suits you. And Blaise you should consider letting your hair grow a little, it looks nice."

"Yes, yes… miss-I-didn't-get-any-potion." Draco said rolling his eyes.

"Don't make me start on you Draco…" She said with a pixyish grin. The boys laughed and even Draco smirked after huffing annoyed.

A week later, after another usual potion lesson (witch means close to angry tears Gryffindors and close to hysterical laughs Slytherins), the second year Slytherins found the entrance hall crowded with people. All of them were gathered around the notice board, reading a piece of parchment that had just been pinned up. Draco, Vincent and Gregory elbowed people away and read the notice. They returned, after Draco pushed a little first year into the floor, with satisfied smirks.

"They are starting a duelling club." Said Draco. Gregory and Vincent nodded.

"Is that so? Who?" asked Blaise. Draco smirked.

"Didn't said who… but Professor Snape told me that he may participating on it." He said with a casual voice, his silver eyes shinning with excitement. Victoria giggled and re-arranged her white handkerchief, making sure a lock of her black hair stayed beneath it.

"Let's go." She said, before walking ahead of the boys to their next class. Blasie and Draco smirked.

At 8 o'clock they left the dungeons and head towards the Grate Hall. Hermione waved at them from the marble stair and hurried to catch up with them.

"Oh joy, look who's back from the dead." Draco said, sneering at her. Hermione huffed at him.

"What, you miss me?" She said and Draco stared at her speechless. Victoria laughed very hard and had to lean on Theo for support. Blasie patted Draco on the arm and passed his arm over Victoria should while Theo held her by the waist, escorting her together to the hall. Draco stood there, and Hermione giggle before pulling him by the wrist. Vincent and Gregory also followed, trying not to smile or laugh.

On the Grate Hall, the long dining tables had vanished and a golden stage had appeared along one wall, lit by thousands of candles floating overhead. The ceiling was velvety black once more and most of the school seemed to be packed beneath it, all carrying their wands and looking excited.

"I wonder who'll be teaching us?" said Hermione as they edged into the chattering crowd. "Someone told me Professor Flitwick was a dueling champion when he was young, maybe it'll be him." She said hopeful and prideful. Professor Flitwick was the Head of Ravenclaw after all.

"Maybe." said Victoria, smirking at Draco who was about to comment about Professor Snape.

Gilderoy Lockhart was walking onto the stage, resplendent in robes of deep plum and accompanied by none other than Professor Snape, wearing his usual black. Draco smirked. Lockhart waved an arm for silence and called ' "Gather round, gather round! Can everyone see me? Can you all hear me? Excellent! Now, Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to start this little dueling club, to train you all in case you ever need to defend yourselves as I myself have done on countless occasions… for full details, see my published works." Victoria cringed and Hermione sighed dreamily. "Let me introduce my assistant, Professor Snape," said Lockhart, flashing a wide smile. "He tells me he knows a tiny little bit about dueling himself and has sportingly agreed to help me with a short demonstration before we begin. Now, I don't want any of you youngsters to worry! You'll still have your Potions master when I'm through with him, never fear!"

"I'm more worried that we won't have a Defence Against the Dark Art teacher after this not that it will be a shame, really…" Victoria mumbled.

"Yeah… My bet is that Professor Snape wins." Theo murmured amused. Draco nodded, a smirk on his lips.

"Bonus if it something nasty." He said sneering at the smiling teacher. Hermione glared at him and the blond rose an eyebrow, brushing off the glare. Professor Snape upper lip was curling with distaste at his co-worker.

Lockhart and Professor Snape turned to face each other and bowed; at least, Lockhart did, with much twirling of his hands, whereas Professor Snape jerked his head irritably. Then they raised their wands like swords in front of them.

"As you see, we are holding our wands in the accepted combative position," Lockhart told the silent crowd. "On the count of three, we will cast our first spells. Neither of us will be aiming to kill, of course."

"Hummm…" Victoria hummed unconvinced, watching Professor Snape baring his teeth.

"One, two, three…"

Both of them swung their wands above their heads and pointed them at their opponent; Professor Snape cried: "Expelliarmus!" There was a dazzling flash of scarlet light and Lockhart was blasted off his feet: He flew backward off the stage, smashed into the wall, and slid down it to sprawl on the floor. Draco, Victoria and some other Slytherins cheered. Hermione was dancing on her tiptoes.

"Do you think he's all right?" she squealed through her fingers. Victoria turned to look at her, clearly thinking that it really didn't mattered.

"Well, there you have it!" Lockhart said, tottering back onto the platform. "That was a Disarming Charm as you see, I've lost my wand. Ah, thank you, Miss Brown... Yes, an excellent idea to show them that, Professor Snape, but if you don't mind my saying so, it was very obvious what you were about to do. If I had wanted to stop you it would have been only too easy… however, I felt it would be instructive to let them see." Professor Snape was glaring at him with cold fury. Possibly Lockhart had noticed, because he said, "Enough demonstrating! I'm going to come amongst you now and put you all into pairs. Professor Snape, if you'd like to help me…"

They moved through the crowd, matching up partners. As Professor Snape neared the Gryffindor they saw him sneer at them.

"Time to split up the dream team, I think," he sneered. "Weasley, you can partner Finnegan. Potter…" The boy moved automatically toward Turpin.

"I don't think so," said Snape, smiling coldly. "Mr. Malfoy, come over here. Let's see what you make of the famous Potter. And you, Miss Turpin… you can partner Miss Parkinson." The two of them walked towards the Gryffindors. Draco sneered at Potter who glared back and Turpin tried to smiled weakly to Pansy, who snorted. On the other side Lockhart paired Theo with Blaise and Victoria with Hermione.

"Face your partners!" called Lockhart, back on the platform. "And bow!" Victoria bowed to Hermione with a pixyish grin in her lips. The brunette did the same, unsettled by the grin. "Wands at the ready!" shouted Lockhart. "When I count to three, cast your charms to disarm your opponents. Only to disarm them! We don't want any accidents. One... two... three…"

Hermione raised her wand and shouted.

"Locomotor Mortis!" at the same time Victoria pointed harshly at the other witch and a flash of bright light exploded from the end of her wand. Hermione's curse aim failed hitting a fifth year Gryffindor behind them who loosed his footing and fell flat on his face. Victoria immediately, without the light clearing, shouted.

"Expeliarmus!" Hermione wand flew out of her hand. The brunette opened her eyes and looked at the Spanish girl in awe. Victoria giggled.

"I said disarm only!" Lockhart shouted in alarm over the heads of the battling crowd. Alarmed the two girls looked at the battling scenes. Theo and Blasie were also frozen mid spell, looking at the chaos around them. Draco was on his knees, trying to breath. Potter then was hit with a Tarantallegra, his feet moving on a wild dance. Somewhere behind them a greenish smoke covered the hall. A body fell with a dull sound beside Victoria. A silver shoot of light grazed Theo on the side and Blaise pulled him out of the way.

"Stop! Stop!" screamed Lockhart, but Professor Snape took charge.

"Finite Incantatem!" he shouted. Draco stopped laughing and took a big gulp or air. Potter legs stopped their mad dance. Longbottom and a Hufflepuff boy were on the floor panting. Weasley was holding an ashen-faced Finnegan, apologizing in broken voice. Pansy and Turpin were still fighting, their forgotten wands on the floor. Pansy had a fistful of Turpin's hair as the girl tried to scratch her. Victoria shook her head and walked towards the other girls. The Spanish girl looked undeterred at Pansy and pulled Turpin unceremoniously away from her, making the Gryffindor feel to the floor. Potter hurried and helped her up.

"Dear, dear," said Lockhart, skittering through the crowd, looking at the aftermath of the duels. "Up you go, Macmillan... Careful there, Miss Fawcett... Pinch it hard it'll stop bleeding in a second, Boot… I think Id better teach you how to block unfriendly spells." said Lockhart, standing flustered in the midst of the hall. He glanced at Professor Snape, whose black eyes glinted, and looked quickly away. "Let's have a volunteer pair… Longbottom and Finch-Fletchley, how about you?"

"A bad idea, Professor Lockhart," said Professor Snape, walking smoothly, his black robes floating behind him. "Longbottom causes devastation with the simplest spells. We'll be sending what's left of Finch-Fletchley up to the hospital wing in a matchbox." Longbottom's round, pink face went pinker. "How about Malfoy and Potter?" said Snape with a twisted smile.

"Excellent idea!" said Lockhart, gesturing Potter and Draco into the middle of the hall as the crowd backed away to give them room. Lockhart was explaining something to Potter. Lockhart dropped his wand and scooped down to retrieve it.

"Whoops…! My wand is a little overexcited..." Professor Snape was whispering to Draco who was smiling maliciously.

Potter looked up nervously at Lockhart and said, "Professor, could you show me that blocking thing again?"

"Scared?" muttered Draco, so that Lockhart couldn't hear him.

"You wish," said Harry out of the corner of his mouth. Lockhart cuffed Harry merrily on the shoulder. "Just do what I did, Harry!"

"What, drop my wand?" But Lockhart wasn't listening.

"Three… two… one… go!" he shouted.

Draco raised his wand quickly and bellowed, "Serpensortia!" The end of his wand exploded. The crow watched as a long black snake shot out of it, fell heavily onto the floor between the duelers, and raised itself, ready to strike. There were screams as the people backed swiftly away, clearing the floor. Victoria stayed there, looking at the snake with large eyes.

"Don't move, Potter," said Professor Snape lazily, clearly enjoying the sight of Potter standing motionless, eye to eye with the angry snake. "I'll get rid of it."

"Allow me!" shouted Lockhart. He brandished his wand at the snake and there was a loud bang; the snake, instead of vanishing, flew ten feet into the air and fell back to the floor with a loud smack. Enraged, hissing furiously, it slithered straight toward Justin Finch-Fletchley and raised itself again, fangs exposed, poised to strike.

Victoria stood there motionless, firmly watching the snake move and hiss. Victoria blinked and inhaled sharply. Leave him alone. The hissing sound that came from Potter sounded similar to words. The snake seamed to understand too and slumped to the floor, docile as a thick, black garden hose, its eyes now on Potter. The Gryffindor face relaxed, the snake wasn't going to attack anyone. Victoria saw how the murmurs began to spread over the room, but was hearing nothing. Potter smiled at Finch-Fletchley but the Hufflepuff boy was looking angry and scared. Just the same as many on the crowd.

"What do you think you're playing at?" Finch-Fletchley shouted, and before Potter could say anything, he had turned and stormed out of the hall.

Professor Snape stepped forward, waved his wand, and the snake vanished in a small puff of black smoke. Professor Snape, too, was looking at Potter in an unexpected way: It was a shrewd and calculating look. The ominous muttering all around the walls grew on volume. And then Weasley was pulling Potter from the back of his cloak. Turpin following after them, her face contorted with fear. People parted ways when they approached, some angry, some afraid, some calculating. They crossed the doors and the talking and screaming began.

Blaise touched Victoria's hand carefully, snapping her out of her cold state. She sighed and turned to them. Theo, Draco, Hermione, Gregory and Vincent crowded on a small circle.

"He's a Parselmouth! A bloody Parselmouth!" Draco hissed. All around them, people were discussing the same thing. Nobody paid much attention to Lockhart dismissing them and cancelling the Club.

"So?" asked Vincent. Hermione glared at him.

"You know why your house crest is a snake?" She asked sharply. Vincent looked confused. Before Hermione could answer Victoria opened her mouth.

"Salazar Slytherin was famous for many, many things, his brilliance, his disregard for the rules, his title as co-founder of Hogwarts and his ability to talk to snakes." She said, looking at for reactions. "He was a Parselmouth."

"So now people are going to think that Potter, bloody Saint Potter, is The Heir of Slytherin." Draco spat. Hermione sighed.

"He could be. After all, Salazar Slytherin lived many, many centuries ago. And Parsel… well it narrows it down considerable as its inherited." Theo said making a face.

"Not exactly." Blaise said. Four pair of eyes looked at him curiously. Draco raised an eyebrow demanding to know. Blaise looked abstinently over their heads. After some seconds of tense silence Victoria sighed.

"Parselmouths are not as rare as you think." She said and met four incredulous looks. "Perhaps in the United Kingdom but it's not like this is the only country you daff British." She said sneering at them, whom glared back. "Blaise and I came from Mediterranean cultures with heavy Asiatic influence, especially me as Andalucía was controlled by Arabs for many centuries and Córdoba was the main city of the Mediterranean dominion. In Asia there is something called Encantadores de serpientes (1), I'm sorry I don't know how they are called in English. This people can control snakes making them do their binding."

"Like the Parselmouths" Hermione said, deep in concentration.

"To a degree yes…" Victoria said hesitating. "Some are real, real Parselmouths, some others can understand under the hissing sound the meaning and words, and some can control the snakes but not communicate with them." She then looked at the enchanted sky.

"Well… it does make sense. Salazar is an Spanish name is it no?" Hermione said rapidly. Blaise nodded.

"So are you implying that Potter could have his Parselmouth for many other reasons." Draco said crossing his arms. Blaise looked at Victoria and took her hand, making her curled fist relax.

"Perhaps." He said.

"But he could really be descendant of Salazar Slytherin." Theo said. The began to move towards the entrance hall slowly, still trying to discuss the topic longer

"He's a Gryffindor!" Gregory moaned. "He could not… could he?"

"He's not." Victoria said, looking them firmly.

"Is not?" asked Draco with incredulity in his voice. "And pray tell, what makes you so sure?"

Victoria squeezed Blaise hand, moved a lock of her hair form her eyes and re-adjusted her handkerchief taking her time before speaking, choosing carefully the words.

"When the snake was about to attack Flinch-Fletchley Potter talked Parsel and he asked the snake to leave him alone. Those were his exact words: leave him alone. Potter was defending not attacking." Hermione, Draco, Blaise, Theo, Vincent and Gregory eyes were fixed on her, wide and surprised.

"How…? Could…? You...? It's… What?" Hermione said rapidly, not forming any sentences. Victoria sighed.

"You hear me and the history class I gave you." Victoria said, raising her chin slightly. "I can't talk, if you want to know. I heard the hissing sound and underneath it the words and sentiment." Draco shook his head and Theo let out a quiet amazed sound. Vincent and Gregory looked at her astonished and awed.

"You can understand snakes! Awesome!" Said Gregory. Victoria looked at him and grinned. All of them smiled, forgetting the tense moments.

"But back to the issue." Blaise said almost bored but with a hint of mischief in his golden eyes. "I am willing to bet that by tomorrow everyone is sure that Potter is The Heir." Hermione huffed with distaste.

"But he didn't send the snake to Justin Flinch-Fletchley." She said with a tired voice. Draco next to her smirked.

"Yes, but only us and him know that." The blond looked at Blaise. "I bet ten galleons that over the weekend he gets involved in a fight concerning what happen on the duelling club." Blaise looked at him with a smile stretching over his lips.

"Make it Monday." Said Theo.

"Tomorrow and five more galleons that is a Hufflepuff." Blaise said. Hermione glared at them disapprovingly and Victoria laughed.

"Pass the money boys, I'm holding it until the winner is declared." The Spanish girl said. Hermione shook her head in disappointment. The Slytherins laughed.

By mid day on Friday, the snow was falling so harshly against the windows that the hallways and classrooms where dark and cold. Victoria trembled in History of Magic under the combined extra capes of Theo and Blaise. Professor Binns was talking in his droning, reedy voice about in the early organization of the magical community and the first wizarding trails against the practice of Dark Magic when Peeves, resident poltergeist, loud voice echoed around the walls.

"ATTACK! ATTACK! ANOTHER ATTACK! NO MORTAL OR GHOST IS SAFE! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! ATTAAAACK!"

The whole class jumped awake. Professor Binns notes fell to the floor and he hurried to the door, the whole class after him. The scene that greeted them was strange. Potter, pushed against the wall by other students. A petrified Justin Flinch-Fletchley and a smoky black Nearly-Headless Nick, resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower, being examined by some teacher. Professor McGonagall used her wand to set off aloud bang, which restored silence, and ordered everyone back into their classes. No sooner had the scene cleared somewhat than Ernie Macmillan from Hufflepuff arrived, panting, on the scene.

"Caught in the act!" Ernie yelled, his face stark white, pointing his finger dramatically at Potter. Professor Binns ushered the class back towards their classroom. Sitting back on their bench Victoria took out from her bag a small sack of gold and passed it to a smirking Blaise. Theo and Draco both looked sour. Victoria giggled and ignored to boy, taking notes of the class instead.

1. Encantadores de serpientes: Snake charming is a practice local to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia. It consists of pretending to hypnotise a snake with the music performed with an instrument called pungi (an oboe-like instrument). The snakes are not deaf but they lack the outer ear that would enable them to hear the music. They react to the pungi and the charmer as a threat, thus following the movements with their heads. The most popular species of snakes used are those native, typically various kinds of cobras or vipers.

Few charmers are ever bitten during their performance as they learn to handle the snakes with grate care and they sit out of range of bite. Also the snake is reluctant to attack anyway.