December 6, 1996
Snow was coating the grounds of Hogwarts quickly. The once green hills and large lake and become blanketed in a winter wonderland. The atmosphere inside the castle was lively, even with the attacks. It seemed that everyone, teachers and students, were attempting to make the best out of it. It probably also helped that whatever or whoever had been attacking students had fallen silent.
The school had been transformed with Christmas decorations lining every wall and the Great Hall; students were all chattering with excitement for the upcoming break, as well as the Dueling club that was about to commence. The Dueling club had been a topic conversation for weeks, and if it had been any other teacher, Harry would have found himself interested. But once it reached his ears that Lockhart was in charge, all Harry could see was a disaster waiting to happen.
Harry had every intention of spending his Friday night finishing off his potion proposal. After weeks of not having the time, Harry made the time to get it done. He had hardly touched his experimental potion since the year had started, and he was boiling with ideas. But to get what he needed, Snape would have to give his tick of approval first. Harry was confident that Snape would like his idea, but his own self-doubt was giving him some grief. However, his proposal gave him the perfect excuse to avoid having to watch Lockhart prance about like a pony.
The library was quiet when he had entered after dinner and was glad that no one else had decided to spend their Friday night studying. Harry had his reference materials laid out around him and was in the middle of rephrasing his 'practical application' paragraph when he heard his name.
Carlisle was standing by the door, an excited grin on his face. Madam Pince stepped out from behind a shelf and glared at the eldest Malfoy. The excited grin wavered as he cleared his throat and shuffled past her towards Harry.
Harry rolled his eyes at his friend before looking back down at his proposal.
"You can't really be planning on spending your night here," said Carlisle, as he sat down in the seat across from him.
Harry paused and glanced up. "Yes. Because unlike you, I know what I want to do with my life, and I need to get this done." He dipped his quill in ink.
Carlisle sighed. "Oh, come on. The proposal is perfect; everyone thinks so except you. Just give it to Snape already."
"Perfect isn't good enough."
The snort that came out of Carlisle echoed through the library. Harry smirked and held in a laugh as Carlisle's head spun to find Madam Pince's glare locked on him again.
"Merlin, that woman scares me." Carlisle ducked his head. "Come on, mate." He grabbed Harry's arm. "Will and I are going to laugh as Snape makes a fool out of Lockhart."
Snape's name made Harry's head snap up. "Snape's going?"
Carlisle nodded; his excitement returned. "Snape said that Lockhart requested his assistance. You can't miss out on Snape knocking Lockhart off that perch."
The images that flashed through Harry's mind of a crying Lockhart made the decision for him. Harry put down his quill and jumped up. With a wave of his wand, his stuff collected itself, and they raced out of the library.
The Great Hall had been chosen and transformed for the needs of the duelling club; students were all piling in the doors as Carlisle and Harry arrived. Will was standing to the side with Dylan, both of them talking, but turned as they noticed Carlisle and Harry's approach.
"How many do you think actually showed up for the duelling aspect?" asked Will.
Harry chuckled. "I probably say less than 10 per cent."
"Why are we here if not to learn?" asked Dylan; he turned to frown at Will.
Will smiled and said, "I told you that you would enjoy yourself. Just trust me."
Dylan sighed, and the four of them followed the other students in.
Inside the Great Hall, the four long dining tables had vanished, and a large stage had appeared along the furthest wall. Students from all years cluttered in together along the stage, all of them a mix of curious and excited. Harry and his friends stayed towards the back of the large crowd and waited. Looking around, Harry spotted the familiar mess of his younger brother's hair, alongside the Weasley twins. They were whispering to one another as they waited.
The Great Hall's door swung closed, and Lockhart stepped up onto the stage; dressed in another set of his outlandish robes, he waved and smiled before stopping in the very centre.
Lockhart waved an arm for silence and said, "Gather round, gather round! Can everyone see me? Can you all hear me?"
The silence of the hall was the only response Lockhart got.
"Excellent." He let out a sigh before placing his hands on his hips. "Now, Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to start this little Duelling Club, to train you all up in case you ever need to defend yourselves." He swished his cloak. "As I myself have done on countless occasions – for full details, see my published works."
A small grumble came from the students, but Lockhart ignored them and continued.
"Let me introduce you to my assistant, Professor Snape." He held out his hands towards Snape as he stepped up onto the stage.
His expression telling everyone how he really felt about being up there.
"He tells me he knows a tiny little bit about duelling himself and has sportingly agreed to help me with a short demonstration before we begin." Lockhart turned and strutted to one end of the stage. "Now, I don't want of you youngsters to worry. You'll still have your Potions master when I'm through with him." He chuckled.
Harry rolled his eyes. "He's in for a surprise," he murmured to his friends.
"Wouldn't it be entertaining to see him fly through a window?" asked Will.
They all chuckled.
Lockhart turned on the stage and faced Snape. They bowed; at least, Lockhart did, with excessive hand movement and swishing of his robes. They raised their wands, and Lockhart said, "As you can see, we are holding our wands in the accepted combative position. On the count of three, we will cast our first spells. Neither of us will be aiming to kill, of course."
Harry wasn't too sure about that, and the way Lockhart's voice as he said 'kill' told him that he knew Snape would at least be aiming for pain.
Lockhart counted, "One—two—three—"
Both Professors swung their wands up and over their shoulders. Snape cried, 'Expelliarmus!' A bright dazzling flash of scarlet light shot across the stage and blasted Lockhart off his feet. He was thrown backwards and smashed into the wall before sliding down it to sprawl on the floor.
A burst of laughter emanated from the spectating children.
"Do you think he's all right?" someone asked.
"Who cares?" yelled someone back.
Carlisle had practically collapsed from his fit of laughter; he was holding onto Harry's shoulder, barely standing as Lockhart tried to push himself to stand.
Snape cleared his throat and said, "Would you like another attempt, Professor?"
Lockhart finally managed to stand on his shaking legs and flashed a trembling smile to everyone. "I think that was an excellent example, Professor Snape." He dusted off the front of his robes. "That was a Disarming Charming—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." He got back onto the stage and straightened his robes again.
Snape sneered at him.
Lockhart cleared his throat and turned away from the vicious stare, and said, "One demonstration was enough. I'm going to come amongst you now and put you all into pairs. Professor Snape, if you'd like to help me."
Harry frowned. "This ort to go well."
He watched as the teachers made their way through and wanted to interfere when Snape paired Harvey with Draco. He knew that Snape enjoyed tormenting students, but that was just going to cause unnecessary fighting.
Lockhart was the Professor to approach Harry and his friends but paused when he locked eyes with Harry. "Mr Black," he said, "I didn't think I'd be seeing you here this evening. Have you decided to better yourself by learning something from someone with experience?"
Harry snorted out a laugh. "I came here to watch Snape knock you about."
Lockhart's happy exterior wavered.
"I think perhaps we could do with another showing, Professor," mocked Harry.
The Professor's hands clenched his wand, and he held out his arm in gesture towards the stage. "How about we settle this dispute? Properly?"
Harry couldn't believe that the Professor had challenged him. A grin of pleasure filled Harry's face, and he nodded. "Absolutely."
Lockhart marched back towards the stage, and Harry followed. As they reached the steps, Lockhart cleared his throat, making all of the student's pause. They turned to see Harry moving towards one end.
Lockhart said, "There is one student among you that believes he is ready to face a real challenge." He held out his hand towards Harry. "Mr Black, if you are ready?"
Harry pulled his wand from his pocket and nodded. "That I am, Professor."
A loud hoot of cheering came from the crowd; Harry could hear his friends chanting for him as Lockhart moved to the other end.
Duelling was something Harry had often enjoyed growing up. He often used to practice with his father in one of them empty sitting rooms during his summers. Harry's defence classes had really only taught him more of the theory, all of the practical applications he was taught by his father and his godfather. Even Snape had taught him a few things.
Harry proceeded to follow duelling etiquette and bowed towards the moron of a Professor. Lockhart was looking at him with a smirk and a gleam in his eye.
Snape's voice echoed through the hall with the count. "One—two—three."
Lockhart was quick, he shot his wand forward with a wordless wave, but Harry threw up a shield that knocked the blue light away. Lockhart frowned when his spell didn't land but stumbled as Harry threw back his own.
'Stupefy!' cried Harry.
The red light barrelled towards Lockhart but didn't hit directly. Lockhart managed to project a somewhat decent shield, but the force of Harry's spell made the man stumble.
Not giving him a chance to recover, Harry fired another. "Stupefy!"
The second spell hit Lockhart square in the chest, forcing the Professor off his feet and landing on his back hard. His wand fell from his fingers and clattered across the stage towards the edge but stopped short of falling off.
The crowd of students cheered. Harry felt rather pleased with himself to see the fraud before him on his back; it felt even more satisfying that he had been the one to do it. A hand clapped down on Harry's shoulder, and he turned to see Snape.
"Nicely done," he said.
Harry smiled. "Thank you."
Lockhart sat up with a gasp, holding his chest. He took a shaking breath and glared at Harry. "Mr Black," he said, "what a good show." He grunted and pushed himself to stand. "Perhaps you'd like to continue to show off what skill you have." Lockhart glanced around the room. "Mr Potter!"
Harry turned to see Harvey standing close to the front, Hermione on one side, Carlisle on the other.
"Mr Potter, you are a talented young lad. Why don't you join us up here and duel Mr Black?" Lockhart walked down and grasped Harvey by his arm before dragging him up.
"Professor Lockhart," called Snape. "While Mr Potter may excel in his defensive subject, it would be unfair to set a second-year against a sixth-year. Let's make this a little more even, shall we?"
Lockhart wanted to argue, but he let go of Harvey's arm and stayed silent.
"Malfoy!" called Snape.
Harry thought at first he was calling up Carlisle but found Snape was pointing at Draco. The younger Malfoy lept up with enthusiasm and joined them. Harry walked down the stage to his younger brother and patted Harvey on the shoulder before standing a few paces back, not far from Lockhart.
"Wands at the ready," called Lockhart. "Three—two—one—"
Harry wasn't surprised by Draco's quick reaction. It was his spell of choice that surprised him.
"Serpensortia!" bellowed Draco.
The end of his wand exploded. Everyone watched as a long black snake shot out of it and fell heavily onto the stage between them. It raised itself up, ready to strike at Harvey. A few screams sounded from the crowding students, some of them backing away from the stage.
"Don't move, Potter," said Snape. He moved past Draco towards the creature, the small smirk on his lips showing how amused he was. "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 towards Harvey, raised itself again and exposed its fangs.
Harry moved to step forward to protect Harvey but froze when Harvey yelled out.
"Stop!"
The snake froze; its hissing quietened, and slowly it lowered itself back to the floor. The Great Hall stood silent, all eyes locked on Harvey. Harry frowned at the flashes of fear that he noticed; even Snape looked concerned. Harry reached for Harvey and pulled him back, away from the Snake. Snape stepped forward and, with a wave of his wand, vanished the snake in a small puff of smoke.
"I think that will do for tonight," said Snape. "You are all dismissed."
Harry stayed on the stage with Harvey, his hand gripping his shoulder as students turned to leave. A few of them going so far as to run out of the Great Hall. Only a few remained as Harry turned to Snape, who turned to Harvey.
He said, "How long have you been a Parselmouth?"
Harvey frowned. "A what?"
Snape sighed.
Harry said, "You can talk to snakes."
"I just yelled at it to stop," said Harvey.
"No, you spoke another language," explained Snape.
Harvey shrugged. "I've never done it before."
Harry let go of Harvey's arm and rubbed the back of his neck. If Harvey had used Parselmouth to speak to that snake, that meant he had understood him. Harry's head throbbed with the realisation that both he and Harvey were Parselmouth's.
"That is a very unusual gift," said Carlisle. He was leaning against the stage.
"It's not bad, is it?" asked Harvey.
Harry sighed. "I don't know if you would call the gift bad, but it's extremely rare. Normally it's a gift passed down through blood."
"It's also what Salazar Slytherin was famous for," added Carlisle. "It's the reason Slytherin's symbol is a serpent."
Harvey's mouth popped open.
Carlisle let out a laugh. "Maybe your Slytherin's heir." His shoulders shook. "Discovered any secret chambers recently?"
"Carlisle, shut it," snapped Snape.
Carlisle stopped laughing and cleared his throat.
"All of you should head to bed," said Snape.
Harry nodded and led Harvey out of the Great Hall. Carlisle headed off down to the Dungeon, but Harry decided it would be best to walk Harvey back to his room. As they walked, Harvey didn't say much until they reached the Gryffindor common room portal.
Harvey asked, "How rare could this parseltongue be? Do you know anyone else who has it?"
Harry sighed. "I do."
Harvey perked up. "So I'm not a freak! Yes!" He jumped up and down before asking, "Who?"
"Me."
His mouth popped open, and his body froze. Harvey stared at Harry with disbelief. "Why'd you never tell me?"
Rubbing his face, Harry said, "Because I didn't know until a few minutes ago."
"Wait, what?"
"I understood what you said to that snake."
"Really?" Harvey asked.
Harry nodded.
"So this must be a blood relation thing."
Harry shrugged. "I have no idea. It wouldn't make sense because Mum doesn't have any magical heritage. There is no one linking us that could explain it. I could have inherited it from my family, but I doubt that any Potter's have ever had the ability."
Leaning against the wall outside of the common room, Harry sunk down onto the ground. Harvey sat down beside him and crossed his legs.
It was another strange thing to add to their list for the year. Harry had hoped that things would be normal, like his first four years at Hogwarts had been. But it seemed that thing years was shaping up to be even more unusual than the previous year. There was a mysterious chamber, petrifications, they could both speak parseltongue, and they were hearing voices.
"Harry?"
Turning to look at his younger brother, Harry frowned when he saw Harvey looking scared. "What is it?"
"I'm a freak."
Harry sighed. "No, you're not."
"I feel like one. Did you see the way everyone looked at me?" he asked.
He couldn't say no; Harry had seen the fear. "They were just startled."
"They probably think I'm the one who opened the chamber and has caused the petrifications." Harvey closed his eyes and buried his face in his hands.
"That would be ridiculous. No one would think you would hurt anyone." Harry rubbed his back. "They will forget about it in a few days and move on. Just don't go luring snakes into the castle to scare anyone."
Harvey smirked. "Not even to scare Malfoy?"
Harry smiled. "He might be the one exception."
Harry watched his brother enter Gryffindor Tower before heading off to his own. He was exhausted and had a lot running through his head. While his Friday had been great, knocking Lockhart onto his ass was definitely a highlight, he now knew that both he and Harvey were Parselmouths. It was just more drama, and it was something Harry wanted to forget about, at least for now.
No one spoke to Harvey when he entered the common room. He felt everyone's eyes as he walked past, but not one person spoke to him. Harvey was quick to rush up to his dorm room to escape them all. He felt relief when the other boys were nowhere to be seen. He changed quickly into his pyjamas before climbing into his bed and pulling the drapes closed.
It was difficult for Harvey to relax enough to let sleep take him; his mind danced with thoughts about what his fellow students were saying or thinking about him. Even Harry had shown concern about being a Parselmouth. What Harvey didn't get was the big deal, so what? He could talk to snakes. It wasn't like he had directed the snake to attack someone, and he certainly hadn't opened any chambers.
Rolling over onto his back, Harvey huffed. He wanted to talk to someone who could explain it. But he somehow knew that no one would be able to.
The door to the room opened, and steps moved to the bed to Harvey's left—Ron's bed. Harvey stayed quiet as the person dropped onto the bed and kicked off their shoes.
"I can't believe you never told me that you were a Parcelmouth," said Ron.
Harvey sat up and reached for his bed drapes. Picking up his glasses, he looked over at Ron, who looked hurt. He hadn't spoken to Ron in ages, not since their argument. Ron had been determined to avoid him at all cost, even going so far as to change seats in their classes. Harvey thought that Ron would have gotten on his tantrum and would have been back to his old self after a couple of days, but it seemed that Ron wasn't going to let it go. The fact that Ron had even spoken to him at all was a surprise.
"That is the type of thing you tell your best friend," continued Ron.
Harvey frowned. "I didn't know I was."
"Yeah, right," scoffed Ron.
"Tonight was the first time I've ever done it." Harvey pulled at the threads on the blankets over his lap. "Besides, I didn't think we were friends."
Ron's cheeks turned pink, and he stood up. "Not while you're being a prat."
"I'm a prat?" Harvey snapped. "I told you that I didn't want to go hunting for some mystical chamber that could have some monster inside that might kill us. I was being smart and not stupid." He kicked the blankets off and stood up.
"So I'm stupid?" yelled Ron.
Harvey nodded. "Yeah! Sometimes you are."
Ron got right up in Harvey's space and shove him in the chest. "The only reason you didn't want to go is that you're the one behind all this crap. After last year, you wanted more fame, didn't you? Being the 'Boy-Who-Lived' isn't enough; Lockhart's got you convinced that you are some hero and to do whatever you can to show everyone."
Harvey stumbled backwards and caught himself on his bedpost. "You're insane."
"No. I'm making sense. You have everyone convinced you are some golden child, but really you are as bad as Lockhart."
Harvey clenched his jaw and rushed at Ron; he shoved the boy backwards onto his bed. He grabbed him by his shirt and yelled, "You are the biggest ass I've ever met. I wish I had never met you."
Ron grabbed at his hands and tried to pull them off. "And you are the biggest attention seeking liar I've ever met."
With a hard shove from Ron, Harvey stumbled backwards and fell onto his own bed. Both boys sat up and glared at one another. They were both panting and seeming to consider what to do next.
Instead of yelling at Ron again, like Harvey really wanted to, he took a few deep breaths. He then said, "I always thought that we would be friends our whole lives, no matter what. But I somehow think that perhaps we are too different."
Ron let out a hard huff from his nose and crossed his arms over his chest.
Harvey said, "I will help you find the bloody chamber and the person behind it. But once we do, then that's it. We aren't friends."
Ron nodded. "Fine."
"Fine."
Pulling his feet up onto his bed, Harvey closed the drapes and climbed back under the sheets. Harvey took off his glasses, placed them on his side table before laying down and rolling onto his side, facing away from Ron and closed his eyes. It hurt to know that Ron would never be his friend again, but maybe Harry had been right about him.
