Pre-Hogwarts -
Chapter 3: A Snake at the Burrow
Harry
I was picking fresh tomatoes. There were woven baskets full of vegetables of to the side of the garden I was in. There was a pig pen and chicken coop off to the side, a Nissen hut shed, and a large shanty looking house that looked as if it had floors added on every time a family member was born. That building had definitely been held up by magic. This was the Weasley home, which was affectionately called, The Burrow. If I wasn't at Godric's Hollow, I was usually here. I was good friends with all the Weasley children, but one of my best friend's was the youngest son, Ronald "Ron" Billius Weasley.
I was up before the others and already picking vegetables that Mrs. Weasley wanted us to do today. Well, when I say wanted us, I meant that she told her sons to De-gnome the garden and harvest what was ready to be picked. Guess where they were? Asleep. I had already de-gnomed the garden and was finishing up what I was doing, around 9:00 A.M. I yawned and stretched as I saw a little potato start to move on the other side of the garden near the chicken coop. Well, it wasn't a potato. It was a gnome. The muggle gnomes looked like little bearded men with a pointed hat and red coveralls on. These were brown and had large potato-like heads with sharp teeth, which was slightly disproportionate to their bodies.
I had been studying them when I could sneak away from the Weasley's, not that it wasn't an issue being around them. I just had an interest in magical creatures that no one except Charlie ever understood. Charlie had just finished his seventh year in Hogwarts and had taken a job at the Romanian Dragon Preserve. I was jealous and happy that he got to do so. I wanted to study dragons as well, along with Hippogriffs, Griffins, Phoenixes, Thunderbirds…I shook my head from those thoughts before getting up and watching the little potato head.
They made their burrows in or near wizarding gardens, while creating tunnels underneath them. Their diet consisted of roots of the plants they burrowed under and worms. Apparently they bred like rabbits. The gnome that was trying to creep back by me stopped and stared at me as if it was a child that got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. It scurried back out the garden comically.
I just shook my head and chuckled good-naturedly before dusting the dirt off my pants and walking over to an outside awning where Mrs. Weasley usually kept harvests from the garden. I picked up another woven basket and walked towards the chicken coop. Mrs. Weasley walked out the front door before I could get far.
"Oh Harry dear," She said motherly, "You didn't have to do everything by yourself. Why didn't you wake the boys?"
I shrugged. "It's no problem," I replied, "I like doing it. I tend to the garden at my house too. We just don't have Gnomes. Besides, I couldn't sleep with Ron's snoring. He sounds like a bear."
"That boy could sleep through a herd of Erumpets," Mrs. Weasley said with a grin, "I'll go get them up anyways after I start on breakfast."
"I'll collect the eggs and join you," I replied.
"Now there's no need for that," Mrs. Weasley said, "You've already done the boys' morning chores. You shouldn't have to do more."
"But I want to," I replied smiling and made my way to the chicken coop. It didn't take long to collect the eggs by reaching under the hens that were nesting. There were two hens that were sitting on eggs that were meant for being raised for more chickens. The other nests were for eggs for consumption. I collected twelve eggs, getting pecked by the hens who were still sitting. But there was something in the coop that wasn't supposed to be there. Coiled up in a small circle was a black snake. It was a juvenile snake, with an eggshell on its head.
"Well what are you doing here?" I asked rhetorically, "You're a bit too small to be eating chicken eggs." The last thing I expected to see was the snake raising its head up as if it understood me.
"Hiding from danger," A voice replied. I furrowed my brow looking around.
Who said that?" I asked looking around.
"I did," The voice said once more, "You just asked me what I am doing here." My eyes snapped back to the snake. I realized something, my mind going into overtime. My dad had once told me that there were a few people with the gift of talking to serpents. We were descendants of the Peverell's, who had an ancestry line from Salazar Slytherin. The bloodline was tarnished by others such as the Gaunts due to their belief that because the descendant of Salazar Slytherin was born out of wedlock, blood magic itself would see this as an affront to the natural order of things and keep Salazar's noble gift from being passed down. As far as I knew, the gift died out in our bloodline a long time ago. There was only one thing that could have happened. Albus Dumbledore theorized that part of Voldemort's gifts were transferred to me that night he hit me with the killing curse. He was also a gifted Parselmouth. I literally just discovered that I could talk to snakes. It was too much of a coincidence. I sighed inwardly. I wondered if this was a gift I could keep. I'd have to ask my parents. We had an open door policy when it came to knowledge and family. At least that's what they told me. The problem with Parseltongue, was that it often came with a stain of being the association of the Darkest of Arts and Dark Wizards. If that was true, then I would be happy to prove the theory wrong.
"I'm sorry," I replied, "I didn't know I could speak with snakes."
"I knew when you entered this dwelling," The snake replied, "I can smell it in your blood….and you have a magical signature that also exudes the ability."
"You can sense my abilities?"
"I am not a normal snake," The serpent replied, "I have magical blood as well."
"So you're kind of like a magical snake?" I asked, "You're not a basilisk are you? I heard they were born from chicken eggs or something."
"No," The snake replied, "I am not one of those. I do not know what species I am, but I know my kind can eventually change size."
"What do you mean?" I asked, "In your terms, I am a young serpent, but when I'm older, I can change my size and appearance of most species of snakes. My mother told me this before she left me to fend for myself."
"That's kind of cool," I said impressed, "What kind of snake are you now? You don't look like any that is native to the British Isles." There was the Common Adder, the Barred grass snake, and the Smooth Snake. There were introduced species of snakes known as Aesculapian snakes and Grass snakes. This snake was neither. It had black scales and a lighter underbelly. The shape of its head suggested that it was non-venomous.
"I do not know," The snake said, "I do know that this form is from a land to the West. My mother called it America."
"Hmm," I said, "I got an encyclopedia that has a listing of snakes at my home. I could find out then. Where do you plan to go now? You can't stay here right?"
"I do not know," The snake replied, "I have been surviving off small frogs and insects. At the moment, the Gnomes believe I am a worm. I am prey to them."
"Well why don't you stick with me?" I asked, "I've got an interest in studying magical creatures. You're a magical snake correct?"
"I am." The snake replied, "We could come to an agreement. You keep me safe from predators, and I will serve you."
"I don't like forced servitude," I replied to the snake.
"It is not forced if I ask to be in it," The snake quipped back, "I think it could be mutually beneficial."
"And how's that?" I asked curious at the intelligence of the snake.
"I am a snake," It replied, "I can sneak in and out of places unseen while also giving you information. You provide me with protection."
"Like a little spy huh?" I asked. I was amused because
"Somewhat," The serpent said, "I forgot to mention something."
"What is that?" I asked.
"When I am smaller," It replied, "I can turn invisible." And just like that, the snake faded from existence.
"That's…" I said highly impressed, "Just absolutely cool." I started to wonder more about the snake. What else could it do? The snake could prove useful to an extent. If I ever needed to eavesdrop on someone, it would come in handy. Plus, when it shed its skin, I wondered what kind of properties it would have. Also, this snake seemed intelligent. It could be an interesting partnership. "But I want to make one thing certainly clear."
"What is it?" The snake asked.
"You will not prey upon anything I tell you not to do so when you're older," I spoke, "I don't know if you're venomous or not, but you cannot go around killing pets, especially if you're going to Hogwarts with me. I may not be able to speak to you there openly either. People will fear what they cannot understand. I may see being able to talk to you as a gift, but others will see it as the mark of a dark wizard."
"I understand," the snake spoke, "But I can sense that you will not allow the dark arts to corrupt your soul. Your soul is…..different from other humans. Even with the curse upon you." I'm pretty sure he meant my scar and the powers that Voldemort unintentionally transferred to me. "I must say though, I cannot keep up with you if I were to follow you."
"That's fine," I replied, "You can coil up on me. Does the invisibility waste energy?"
"No," The snake spoke, "It is a natural ability that requires no energy to use. I also do not have to worry much about colder weather. My body is resistant to the cold. But I dislike snow."
"Good," I replied, "Because if you're with me all the time, Hogwarts gets snow." The snake partially revealed itself as I moved my hand closer to it. The snake slithered on my outstretched arm, being a little over a foot long. "By the way….." I plucked the eggshell off his head. "Where did that even come from?"
"I may or may not have accidentally struck at a bird's egg in a next and missed my mark." The snake replied as it slithered up to my shoulder and coiled around the back of my neck. It wasn't quite big enough to wrap around my neck comfortably. Its head was right next to my ear. "Its warm up here."
"What's your name?" I asked as I walked out the chicken coop.
"I do not have one," The snake softly hissed, "I am a female. My mother did not give me a name." I thought about what I could name her then. She was currently a black scaled snake. The perfect name came to me.
"How about Nyx?" I asked.
"Nyx?" the snake replied contemplating for a moment as I walked towards the house, "I like it."
"Well I thought about danger noodle," I continued, "But that'd be too silly."
"I would bite you on principle," the newly named Nyx replied.
"Feisty aren't you?" I said, "You might want to be invisible before we go inside. I don't know how the Weasley's are going to react to me having a new pet, let alone being able to talk to it."
"I understand," The snake replied before visible disappearing.
"I'm going to try and let them know I have a new pet," I replied, "But if not, I'll at least show my parents. Dad will understand. He should let me keep you. If not, I'll just do it anyways."
"You have a rebellious streak huh?" Nyx asked.
"Only when I feel strongly about something."
"Who are you talking to?" A girl's voice asked. A red-headed girl walked from the flower gardens her mother had planted. It was Ginevra "Ginny" Weasley.
"Huh?" I asked trying to play it off, "No one?"
"You were whispering or something," Ginny replied, "I couldn't make anything out, you're not going barmy are you?"
"No," I spoke, "I just saw a snake over in the chicken coop."
"I see them all the time," Ginny replied, "I don't know if they're poisonous or not, so I go in very cautiously." I could have been snarky and reminded her that it's venomous, not poisonous, but I decided against it.
"Hmm," I said immediately testing the waters, "Are you scared of them?"
"No," She said frowning, "I don't mind them. Unless they're a basilisk."
"You don't have to worry about basilisks," I replied, "Unless there is a frog somewhere. Anyways, I'm thinking about getting a pet snake." We walked into the front door, where Mrs. Weasley had dishes scrubbing themselves clean and the wood fueled stove burning so food could be cooked atop the iron skillets. I walked over to some lukewarm water in a bowl. This was the same bowl the Weasley's washed the eggs off with.
Ginny furrowed her brows in confusion. "Why?" She asked. She wasn't disgusted or anything. She seemed genuinely confused.
"I don't know," I replied shrugging as I began to rub the dung and mud off the eggs, "Just because. I like snakes."
"You like every animal you come across," Ginny replied with a smirk, "I remember the first time you came over. You hugged a goose."
"I was seven," I said with false aghast.
"Don't kid yourself," Ginny said stifling a laugh, "I'm pretty sure you'd try to pet a dragon if it wouldn't blast you into ash."
"You know what…." I said then trying to come up with a comeback but conceded, "No, you're absolutely right." Ginny had always been a good friend since I met her. At first, she was extremely shy, but after a few years of visiting the Weasley's, she warmed up to me. I was pretty sure Ron, Fred, and George teased her about me at one point. I'm also aware they regret it. Whatever she did, involved accidental magic and I refused to be the next victim or hurt her feelings.
She giggled before saying in a deadpan tone. "So where's the snake?"
"What snake?"
"I know you Harry James Potter," Ginny replied, "Where's. The. Snake?"
"Uhhhhhh." I uttered not coming up with a way to lie.
"This girl knows you very well," Nyx said, "I like her."
"Quiet you," I whispered.
Apparently, I didn't whisper low enough. Ginny visibly recoiled. "Were you speaking Parseltongue?" She asked looking shocked but with a low voice. I stared at her, color draining from my face in slight fear.
"Ginny…" I said with trepidation, "I…." I steeled myself with a huff, prepared for the worst. I could never lie to her. "Yes."
Her eyes widened. "Harry you know that…." She said quietly and nervously, "You know that parseltongue is the mark of a dark wizard. Like You-Know-Who."
"I'm not a dark wizard," I replied quietly and defensive, "I will never become like him or Salazar Slytherin."
"Then why speak it?" She asked me.
"Because there's nothing wrong with it," I replied, "I've heard the rumors. I know what people say. But to me, it's just like speaking a different language…..only to a snake. And I only just learned I could do it this morning. I feel the same as two years ago."
Her concerned look seemed to slowly melt away into mild confliction.
"What's this all about?" Mrs. Weasley suddenly asked as she came down the stairs, "The boys will be down in a moment."
"N-nothing," Ginny said trying to avoid the subject.
"Harry dear thank you!" Mrs. Weasley spoke as she walked over passed me to the iron skillet, "We'll get those cooked right away."
"No problem Mrs. Weasley."
"Ginny dear," Mrs. Weasley said before pulling her wand out and flicking it at the freshly cleaned eggs and pointing at an empty bowl, "You look a bit peaky dear. What's wrong? And Harry if you're going to have snakes in the house could you not have it in the kitchen."
"Oh no…." Nyx uttered.
My heart sank. I looked down to see that Nyx was perfectly visible along my shoulders. "Uh," I stammered trying to come up with an excuse, "I-I don't know what-s-sorry."
"It's alright dear," Mrs. Weasley replied with a loving tone, "Make a new friend did we? Did it tell you it's name?"
Ginny and I looked at each other and I looked at her mouth hanging open. "How did you know?"
"Your mother told me you would talk to them when you were little," Mrs. Weasley replied, "I know what they say about those who could speak it, but I don't think you'll be like those dark wizards." She turned to Ginny shaking her finger at her. "You best not be giving Harry a hard time Ginevra. Just because Harry can do something like talk to snakes does not mean he's a bad person."
"I-I know mom!" Ginny said looking scolded, "It just caught me off guard. After all the stories you and dad told us…."
"Those were bad wizards," Mrs. Weasley said pointing her wand at the eggs. They started to crack themselves on the rim of the bowl and dumping the contents inside before throwing themselves in a trashcan. "Harry is not a bad wizard. He has a lot on his-" She paused as if remembering she shouldn't say anything else. "Never mind. The point is, just because one has a gift, no matter how dark it may seem, does not mean they are bad. It's how you use these gifts. Understand?"
Ginny paused for a moment before nodding. "Yes mother," She said.
"Right then," Mrs. Weasley said turning back to her motherly attitude, "What's the little dearie's name Harry?" She then pointed her wand at a whisk. It floated over to the bowl of egg yolk and began beating the eggs.
"Nyx," I replied, not believing the turn of events. I couldn't recall talking to snakes. But then again, how could I remember everything from growing up. "Her name is Nyx. She's…..a special snake."
"Special?" Mrs. Weasley asked, "You mean she's magical?"
"Yeah," I replied, "Nyx?" I realized that I had automatically switched from English to Parseltongue.
"I can try," Nyx replied, "I got nervous when the girl found out about your gift as a speaker." She faded out of eyesight, but I could still feel her on my neck.
"Well I'll be," Mrs. Weasley said putting her hands on her hips, "That's neat dear."
"She can also…." I stopped for a moment before realizing I wasn't speaking English, "She said she can change her species as well."
"Really?" Mrs. Weasley asked looking astonished, "Well. As long as she doesn't bite anyone, I think she'll be okay to be around dear." Mrs. Weasley turned around to focus on breakfast.
I stared at her back as she made kitchenware and breakfast foods fly around the room. Ginny stayed quiet, probably not knowing what to say. But after a moment or so, I finally got the courage to speak again. "Mrs. Weasley?"
"Yes?" She asked still concentrating on preparing breakfast, "I-I don't know how to break the news to….to Ron and the others."
She turned around looking surprised. "Oh don't you worry," Mrs. Weasley said, "I'll give them a talking to for you, if you'd like. I'm sure they won't judge you. If they do, they should know who you are. You aren't some dark wizard Harry. You're just a normal wizard who's about to start at Hogwarts. You might be a little better trained, but still."
"Trained?" the voice of Percy Weasley said, "What do you mean by that mother?" Percy appeared around the corner.
"Hmm?" Mrs. Weasley said absentmindedly, "Oh I meant all the extra things Harry gets up to. Muggle stuff Percy, nothing more. It was stuff I tried to get you and your older brothers to do, but you all said it was beneath you. Now you're doing some of it in Hogwarts."
"Oh," Percy said not challenging his mother, "Yeah Harry is a different breed." He looked at me with a grin. "Hence the snake."
"I'll take that as a compliment," I replied with a chuckle.
"You watch," Percy said, "He'll be bringing in Acromantulas next.
"Sounds like a big spider," I uttered. I really wish I was allowed to pick up a "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" book Growing up.
"It is," Percy said, "Man eating spiders."
"I want one." I quipped jokingly.
"No you don't," Ron said making his appearance. Ron was many things. A boy with a crippling fear of spiders was one of them. "Don't ever say that blasphemy again mate." I grinned.
"Finally awake are we?" I asked.
"Unfortunately."
Fred and George came down next.
"Morning Harry," Fred said.
"Morning Potter," George said.
"Er," I said matching their energy, "Good morning Gred and Forge"
"So what's all the commotion about?" Fred asked sitting at the table next to his twin.
"We heard mum giving Ginny a telling off." George said.
"Right." Mrs. Weasley said, "Now that you're all down here, Harry dear?"
I gulped slightly. "I can speak to snakes," I said slowly. The room went silent for a moment. It was a very uncomfortable silence. The reaction was not what I was expecting.
"That's so cool!" Fred said looking impressed.
"You're joking." Ron said amazed.
"Why didn't you tell us?" George asked astounded.
"I'm not surprised," Percy said simply.
I was taken off guard. I figured they'd react a little differently.
"You guys aren't….scared or upset?" I asked. The Dark Arts was a taboo subject. I had learned from dad that there were three sides of forces when it comes to the magic. Those who practiced light side of the magic, the dark arts, or those who practiced both. The Weasley's were notorious for being those who practiced the light side of magic along with many muggleborns and other families who weren't on Voldemort's side last time. Then there were those who dabbled in both the light side and the dark arts that were just shy of being outright illegal. I planned to study both sides. Knowledge of both would be beneficial. After all, knowledge was power.
"Why would we be?" Ron asked, "We know you. You aren't going to be some dark wizard mate. If you do, I'm gonna smack you upside the head." I had to chuckle a little.
"See there?" Mrs. Weasley said, "Nothing to worry about dearie. Time for breakfast."
Mrs. Weasley was a great cook. Eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, and freshly squeezed orange juice was delicious. There was so much talk going on. Quidditch, Hogwarts, summer homework(in the case of Percy), foreign relations with other magical communities, and current events that they had heard about through the Wireless. The Wireless was basically the Wizarding version of the Muggle Radio. There was news, music, radio talk shows, radio plays, and wizarding sports. Two of the most popular Wireless Stations were the Wizarding Wireless Network and the Wizard Sports Network. The Wizarding Wireless Network was my mother's and Mrs. Weasley's favorite station. Everything but the sports and radio plays was on there. Wizard Sports Network gave the play by play on Quidditch matches and other sports. Speaking of Quidditch Teams, there was a rather heated debate on the subject.
"I'm just saying the Chudley Cannons aren't going to do well this season either," Fred said as we walked out to the Weasley Quidditch field, "They haven't had a good game in ages." All of us had racing brooms. It was probably the only thing I could actually do that was considered "magical."
"This will be our year for sure," Ron said assuredly.
"Oh please," George said rolling his eyes, "The only way they'd win the League Cup would be if all the other teams let them score free goals." There were major divisions of Quidditch teams that the British/Irish Wizarding Community followed. There was the British-Irish League, which had thirteen of the best teams. This was the league that most people spoke of or were fans of, like Ron and the Chudley Cannons. Then there was the International Quidditch Tournament, which had various regional teams across the globe participating in. The Third major Quidditch League was the Quidditch World Cup, which various national teams participate in, such as Ireland, England, Bulgaria, or the United States.
Each Quidditch team consisted of seven players. Three Chasers, two Beaters, a Keeper, and a Seeker. There were three different balls that were used in it. A Quaffle, a Bludger, and a Golden Snitch. Three goal hoops were on either side of the play area called a Quidditch Pitch. The three Chasers on each team would try to get the Quaffle and throw them in the opposite teams hoops, while playing against the other Chasers. Keepers would defend the hoops to stop the other team from scoring. Bludgers would fly around and attempt to try and hit players on both teams. The Beaters are armed with bats, which are used to knock Bludgers away, or into the players of the other team. The Seeker's job was to stay out of the way of the other players as much as possible and to catch the Golden Snitch, which ends the game. When Chasers score a goal with the Quaffle, ten points are awarded to the team who scores. Once the Golden Snitch is caught, it awards the team who caught it one-hundred and fifty points. Because of this, usually the team who caught the snitch wins the game. But it was possible to be far enough ahead in points for the team who didn't catch the snitch, to win the game.
I had a few teams I looked into that I enjoyed, but I wasn't a big fanatic about a particular team like Ron was. My mother and Ginny loved the Hollyhead Harpies, which was an all-female Quidditch Team. Dad was a fan of Puddlemore United, which I had heard from dad that the headmaster of Hogwarts, Professor Dumbledore was a fan as well. I didn't have a particular team I rooted for, but I kept up with Quidditch teams for conversations sake.
Fred and George were Beaters for the Gryffindor Quidditch Team at Hogwarts. I wanted to join my house team as well, but I'd have to wait until second year to try out. First year students weren't allowed to have their own brooms or fly unsupervised on school grounds. My dad had taught me how to ride a broom and I got plenty of practice with Quidditch with the Weasley's. I had been practicing with Charlie, since he was the last Seeker for the Gryffindor team. My dad had that honor too.
"Harry tell him," Ron said, "We're going to win this round."
"Harry doesn't pick Quidditch teams," Ginny quipped.
"Sorry mate," I replied, "Can't help you on this one. The Cannons are terrible."
Ron looked at me speechless for a moment. "Cat got your tongue Ronniekins?" George asked after a few moments.
"I don't believe it," Ron said in false annoyance, "You're supposed to be on my side Harry."
"I am," I replied putting him on the shoulder, "Until it comes to your taste in Quidditch teams."
"How are we friends again?" Ron questioned.
"Well you see," I said grinning, "Our parents are friends and then they scheduled a playdate between a handsome devil named Harry and a boy with a big head and red hair. And somehow another we each said, you know what? This bloke's alright."
"Shove off," Ron said sounding done with me and that conversation, "We playing or what?"
With that, Ron, Fred, George, and I played a makeshift game of Quidditch, while Ginny watched as she held Nyx. What the other boys weren't aware of, was that Ginny practiced flying all the time. She wanted to be a Chaser. I had caught her a couple times sneaking out and going to practice, mostly when her brothers were asleep in the early mornings. She had spilled everything out when I caught her. I had promised to keep her secret. The boys didn't think she should be allowed to learn to fly because she was their little sister. Her mother wanted her to learn things a girl should learn at her age so that one day she'd be a good homemaker for a future husband. If only they knew her to know that she'd never want to be just a housewife. And I supported her in that.
…
A/N: So these first few chapter is dedicated to a little bit of world building and lore building outside of Hogwarts. It's also about how Harry's life is vastly different with his parents being alive this go round. He's much closer to the Weasley's in this chapter because he spends a lot of time with them. Ron is still his best friend and Ginny is, at this moment, like a little sister to him. Harry, being a young kid is intelligent, but girls will always be a mystery to him. Besides, he's only 11. I also included a new character, Nyx, to establish a connection with his inherited abilities which were awakened due to his connection to Voldemort. Nyx will have her uses.