A Serpent's Retribution
Chapter 1: The Mark of the Serpent
Harry Potter sat alone in the Gryffindor common room, staring into the flickering flames of the fire. His mind was in turmoil, his thoughts racing with the events of the day. It had started like any other day at Hogwarts, but by the end of it, his world had been turned upside down.
Earlier that morning, as Harry had made his way to the Great Hall for breakfast, he had noticed the whispers and the stares. He had brushed it off at first, thinking it was just another bout of gossip about the Boy Who Lived. But as he took his seat at the Gryffindor table, he felt the weight of the stares on him like a physical presence.
"Harry, have you seen today's Daily Prophet?" Hermione's voice broke through his thoughts, and he looked up to see her approaching with a concerned expression.
"No, why? What's in it?" Harry asked, feeling a knot form in his stomach.
Hermione sat down next to him, her brow furrowed. "It's about you, Harry. They've written an article claiming that you're a dark wizard because of your ability to speak Parseltongue."
Harry's heart sank as he listened to Hermione's words. He had always known that his ability to speak to snakes was unusual, but he had never thought it would lead to something like this.
"They can't seriously believe that, can they?" Ron asked, joining them at the table with a copy of the Daily Prophet in his hand.
"They're not saying he's a dark wizard outright," Hermione said, scanning the article quickly. "But they're certainly implying it. They're painting him as some sort of dangerous figure because of his connection to snakes."
Harry felt a surge of anger and frustration. He had spent his whole life fighting against the dark forces of Voldemort, and now people were accusing him of being just like him. It wasn't fair.
As the day went on, the whispers and stares only grew worse. Harry could feel the eyes of his fellow students on him wherever he went, and he could hear the hushed conversations as he passed by. It was as if everyone had suddenly decided that he was no longer the hero who had defeated Voldemort but instead a threat to be feared.
That evening, Harry found himself in the library, seeking solace in the familiar rows of books. He spotted Hermione at a table, buried in a book as usual. He hesitated for a moment, then walked over and took a seat across from her.
"Hermione, why do people hate Parseltongue so much?" Harry asked, his voice quiet.
Hermione looked up from her book, her expression thoughtful. "I am not very sure, Harry. But to put it simply, Parseltongue is associated with Dark Magic because of its connection to snakes, which are often seen as symbols of evil in Western culture."
"But where did it come from?" Harry pressed. "I mean, did it just appear out of nowhere?"
Hermione closed her book, setting it aside. "Actually, Parseltongue has its roots in ancient India. It's believed to have originated from the clan known as Nagas."
"India?" Harry repeated, surprised. "So, there are other wizarding communities out there?"
Hermione nodded. "Yes, Harry. The Indian wizarding community has a rich history and a deeply ingrained magical tradition. They were practicing magic and developing their own unique spells and potions while much of Europe was still in the Dark Ages."
Harry sat back in his chair, his mind racing with possibilities. If there were other wizarding communities out there, maybe he could find some answers about his past, about his connection to Voldemort. Maybe he could find a place where he belonged, where he wasn't judged for something he couldn't control.
But for now, he was stuck at Hogwarts, facing the backlash of being a Parselmouth in a society that feared and misunderstood him. And as he looked around the library, at the books that held the answers to so many questions, he knew that he had a long road ahead of him.
Hermione's discovery of the origins of Parseltongue came as a result of her tireless pursuit of knowledge. After her conversation with Harry in the Library, she had become increasingly curious about the enigmatic language and its connection to the Indian wizarding community. Determined to uncover the truth, she spent countless hours researching in the Hogwarts library, pouring over ancient texts and obscure volumes in search of any mention of Parseltongue's origins.
One day, while browsing through the shelves of the library, Hermione stumbled upon a particularly old and dusty tome tucked away in a forgotten corner. Its pages were yellowed with age, and its cover was adorned with intricate symbols that Hermione couldn't identify. Intrigued, she carefully opened the book and began to read.
As she read, Hermione's eyes widened with excitement. The text spoke of ancient magical civilizations in far-off lands, where powerful wizards and witches had practiced magic since time immemorial. It told of a time when magic was revered and respected, and wizards and witches lived in harmony with the natural world around them.
As she reached the end of the passage, Hermione's mind raced with questions. What had caused this conflict? And how had Parseltongue come to be associated with dark magic in the British wizarding world?
Before she could ponder these questions further, the sound of footsteps echoed through the chamber. Hermione looked up to see Harry and Ron approaching, their expressions filled with curiosity.
"What are you reading, Hermione?" Harry asked, peering over her shoulder at the ancient tome.
"It's a book about ancient magical civilizations," Hermione replied, her excitement evident in her voice. "I think I may have found more about the origins of Parseltongue."
Harry and Ron leaned in, eager to see for themselves. As Hermione read aloud, her voice filled with wonder, Harry and Ron listened intently, absorbing every word.
"This is incredible," Harry whispered, his eyes shining with excitement. "Do you think this book holds the key to understanding Parseltongue?"
Hermione nodded, her mind racing with possibilities. "I think it might. There's so much we don't know about Parseltongue, and this book could be the key to unlocking its secrets."
As they continued to read, the hours passed unnoticed. The ancient tome revealed tantalizing glimpses into the history of Parseltongue, hinting at a connection between the language and the ancient magical civilizations of India. Hermione was filled with a sense of exhilaration as she realized that she might be on the verge of a significant discovery.
As the sun began to set outside, casting long shadows across the library, Hermione knew that she had to learn more. She made a mental note to return to the library the next day and continue her research.
The following morning, Hermione arrived at the library early, eager to pick up where she had left off. She spent the entire day immersed in her studies, poring over the ancient tome and cross-referencing its contents with other texts in the library. As the hours passed, she felt herself getting closer to uncovering the truth about Parseltongue's origins.
Late into the night, as the library grew quiet and the candles burned low, Hermione finally stumbled upon a passage that sent a shiver down her spine. It spoke of a time when a powerful Parselmouth from India had attacked the British wizarding community, leaving chaos and destruction in his wake. The incident had left a deep impression on the British wizarding world, shaping their perception of Parseltongue for centuries to come.
As Hermione read on, she realized that this could be the missing piece of the puzzle she had been searching for. The attack by the Indian Parselmouth had not only cemented the stigma surrounding Parseltongue but had also left a lasting impact on the history of the magical world.
Excited by her discovery, Hermione made notes of the passage, determined to share her findings with Harry and Ron. As she closed the ancient tome and made her way back to the Gryffindor common room, her mind buzzed with excitement. She knew that she was on the verge of uncovering a truth that could change everything they knew about Parseltongue and its origins.
Author's Note : Hi people. This is my first fanfiction story here. Just had a mind to try something new and delve into the world of Harry potter. Since it has so many mysteries and has many openings, I thought, why not? So here I am. Try it and tell me what you think. I am planning on finishing the story anyway. It won't be very lengthy. Maybe 50-100k long. And am planning on weekly updates as well. Also English is not my first or even second language so there might be mistakes. And I might miss some facts from Canon or mess up some parts. Well since it's called fanfiction, it is not supposed to be mainstream. If you point out important facts, I'll definitely change it if it doesn't affect the story too much. And yeah, am open to constructive criticism and I know I can't make everyone happy. Well, I definitely know am gonna trigger some with the story anyway lol. So yeah, hate speech or whatever don't care.