Persephone POV
Waking up, I crawl out of bed, stretching. Drawing back the curtains, I'm greeted by an amused portrait.
Letting out a yawn, I ask, "What has you in a good mood?"
His face splits into a devious grin. "You talk in your sleep." I start to panic. Up until yesterday, I lived part time in a MUGGLE orphanage. What if the other girls heard me? Did I accidentally expose the Wizard world? "While your panic is amusing, you shouldn't worry. I doubt they understood you, considering I am well-versed and couldn't translate."
"What, am I speaking a foreign language in my sleep?" I ask, incredulously. I only speak English fluently.
"It isn't just when you sleep. Yesterday, you switched tongues to yell at me. I assume with my mother as well, considering her reaction to you and what you said about Sirius." I stare at him confused. "If you don't believe me, go speak to that Harry kid you mentioned. If he told Sirius what you said, I'll bet he speaks it too. He can probably explain better."
Running down to the kitchen, I stop to greet Walburga. She bids me good morning as I pass. Inside my destination, my housemates are attempting to make breakfast. While Harry seems to know what he's doing, Sirius keeps messing up his progress.
"Harry, can I ask you something?" He takes the bacon off the stove, then gives me his full attention. "I was thinking about last night, and those other two times I mentioned... Did I accidentally speak another language?" Harry looks torn between concern and laughter. He finally settles on concern.
"You didn't know you were a Parselmouth, did you?" I shake my head. "Parseltongue is Snake Language. It's why everyone was either scare of or hated me last year."
"That explains the strange voice I heard all year, and why I was able to help you talk down the snake Mini Malfoy summoned. Why didn't I know until now?"
Sirius cuts in to answer, "I would bet anything the Slytherins knew. Parseltongue can only be spoken by Salazar Slytherin's descendants, and the Gaunts were the last known relatives. We'll have lessons about your heritage later, so you both can better understand your families. But Sef, I warn you, the Slytherins were always a dark family, so you may find some disturbing information."
Harry walks past me to go change for the day, whispering in what I now know is Parselspeak, "When we get to school, I have something to show you. Hopefully by then, I'll have a decent apology."
Knowing Harry's adventures, I'm interested in what he found. That map of his is also fascinating, so I'm attempting to recreate a few extras for myself and school defense purposes. Entering my bedroom, I tell the portrait, "Parseltongue? You couldn't have just told me that! I would have worked out the rest easily."
He just gives a devious grin. "You're impossible. Look, Sirius is taking us shopping for our rooms. Is there anything you want me to add? This is your room after all."
He looks bewildered. "This hasn't been my room since January 1979, when I died. It is yours now. Do what you wish with it." Nodding, I go to the ensuite to change.
"Goodbye, Korre," He calls, as I reach for the door. I tell him that isn't my name. "In mythology, Korre is the daughter of Demeter. She changed her name to Persephone upon her marriage to Hades. You are Korre, just as you are Persephone."
"You could just call me Sef like everyone else."
He replies with a grin, "Never. Have fun.
Inside a muggle shopping center, Harry and Sirius walk down the paint aisle discussing colors for their rooms, while I follow, bored out of my mind. On the shelf containing paint stencils and wall art, I see packs of glow in the dark stars. Grinning, I grab a few, along with a small tub of white paint.
Heading over to the bedroom sets, Harry finds one with a wolf howling to the moon. "Padfoot's room, Moony's blanket. That way I represent both uncles."
Seeing a throw blanket with constellations, I throw it in the cart. When asked about all the stars, I answer, "I'm not much into astronomy or astrology, but I do like the stories behind the constellations."
After getting things for our bathrooms, Sirius pays. Directing us across the mall to a clothing store, he tells us to go wild. I grab some ripped jeans and skirts, then head to the shirts. A variety of crop tops, tshirts from my favorite bands and a few nice dresses join the basket. Walking to the wall of accessories, I grab a few bracelets, choker necklaces and two pair of converse.
Meeting up with the men at the front, I notice my basket has half the number of clothes theirs do. I guess it's understandable. I have muggle clothes already, but they both need a whole wardrobe replacement. Harry and I wait outside for Sirius to pay. "Harry, I have a question. How do you feel about purebloods?"
He looks startled by my question. Thinking for a few seconds, he replies, "I have nothing against them as a whole, but some of the lot are horrible people, I wouldn't want to be around."
"I'm a pureblood from a dark line. Will you still want me around if they did horrible things?" The question has been nagging at me all day. Sirius comes from a dark family, so I know he, nor Regulus, would judge me for it. Harry, though, has had to face dark wizards for the past three years. I wouldn't fault him if he did abandon me.
"You aren't your family. Sirius grew up in a dark household and became a light wizard, so why not you?" He explains quietly. "You have been nothing but nice and helpful since we met, so I don't think you could go dark. If you do, though," He jokes, "leave me off the hit list. I have enough people trying to kill me already." I nod at him, grinning. If I were asked, I would admit Harry's a good little brother.
Sirius walks out, weighed down with bags. We go to one of those photo booths for Sirius to discreetly shrink our bags, so I can put them in my purse.
Sitting in the food court, I decide it's time to ask about wizard robes. "Sirius, since all three of us come from pureblood lines, we'll be expected to join events, won't we?" At his frowning nod, I continue, "I think it would be best to get some dress robes for all of us. People will be watching the long missed Lord Black to see if he fits into proper society. As for the walking trouble magnet over here, well, enough said."
An hour after entering Madame Malkin's tailor shop, we exit with three sets of dress robes each, not including a black set baring Black Family Crest.
Getting home, I give the boys their bags, then go up to put my things away. Greeting Regulus as I enter, I drop the bags on my bed, heading to the bathroom with my soaps and towels.
Returning to my room, I find the items sorted on my newly made bed. The grumpy house elf stands in the corner of my room. "Kreacher came to see good Master Regulus. Kreacher won't harm new Mistress." I smile at him, telling him I don't mind if he stays longer.
Grabbing the pants, I head to the closet to hang them. Dresses and shirts slowly follow, while I try to avoid listening in. As I'm finishing up the closet, Kreacher approaches. "Kreacher apologizes for coming in without permission. Kreacher will ask from now on."
"It's okay, Kreacher. Were you and Regulus close?" I ask. He tells me that Regulus is the only master to show him kindness and respect. Who treated him as someone instead of slave. "You are an intelligent being with extraordinary magic. He was treating you how you deserve. I've got some decorating to do, so would you mind coming back in a little while?" He nods and pops away.
"He's going to spoil you now," Regulus calls from his spot beside my bed. "Kreacher genuinely treats people how they treat him, so that little speech just got you priority in the house."
"I wasn't trying to manipulate him. He honestly isn't that bad. Sure, he's grumpy, but I'm pretty sure it's because he's lonely."
"I never said you were. I just thought you should know," He tells me, smiling.
Rolling my eyes, I flop down on my bed. "I guess I should just accept it. Kreacher seems to be a really determined person, so I can't really argue anyway."
A few hours later, I drift to sleep, mid-debate with Regulus over what the best way to prank Sirius would be.
