Chapter 35

Over the next few days, Hermione was up earlier than usual, having breakfast early and making her way to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom to check on the potion that she and Ron had started the night Harry was in the hospital, after she'd sent the letter to Oliver. When she wasn't busy with classes, homework and the potion, she could be found in the library trying to find answers to what could possibly be petrifying students and animals alike that could be linked back to Slytherin. So when Professor Lockhart announced in class that Professor Dumbledore gave him permission to start a duelling club and when it would be held, she was both surprised and delighted. She hoped that it would be better than his classes had become. Since the first day of class with the pixies, Professor Lockhart hadn't brought in live animals, and they had just reenacted — well, Harry — had helped him to reenact scenes from his books.

Still, she was excited to see what the duelling club would be like, so she made sure that she was there early enough on the evening of December 17th after dinner to be in the front row.

"Gather round, gather round! Can you all see me?" Professor Lockhart said loudly as he strode down the two long tables that had been left as a stage in the Great Hall after dinner. "Can you all hear me?" he asked, lowering his voice when he had everyone's attention though no one answered his questions. "Excellent."

"In light of the dark events of recent weeks, 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 as I myself have done on countless occasions. For full details, see my published works," he finished with a smile as he removed his cloak and tossed it into the crowd.

Hermione's heart plummeted when the cloak was tossed over her head toward the back of the room, and she looked to see Alicia Spinnet, Katie Bell and Angelina Johnson fighting over it, before relenting it to Alicia.

"Let me introduce my assistant," Professor Lockhart said, drawing Hermione's attention back to the stage. "Professor Snape."

Hermione gazed down toward the other end of the table with everyone else as they watched their dower Potions professor mount the makeshift stage and head toward Professor Lockhart.

"He has sportingly agreed to help with a short demonstration. Now I don't want any of you youngsters to worry," Lockhart continued jovially. "You'll still have your Potions master when I'm through with him. Never fear."

The students watched as their professors faced off, presenting their wands in a salute before turning and pacing away from each other. When they reached the ends of the table respectively, they turned and faced each other.

"One... two... three..." Lockhart counted out.

"Ex-pelliarmus," Professor Snape called out, pointing his wand at Professor Lockhart, sending the man flying backward.

Hermione gasped, wondering if the defence teacher was hurt and watched him worriedly as he lay there.

"Do you think he's alright?" Hermione asked.

"Who cares?" Ron answered, as he laughed with Harry, and it was all Hermione could do not to elbow the two.

"An excellent idea to show them that, Professor Snape," Lockhart said after he pushed himself to his feet once more and strode forward. "But if you don't mind me saying, it was pretty obvious what you were about to do. And if I had wanted to stop you, it would have been only too easy."

"Perhaps it would be prudent," Professor Snape returned stiffly. "To first teach the students how to block unfriendly spells, Professor."

"An excellent suggestion, Professor Snape," Lockhart said and turned his back on him as he looked around. "Let's have a volunteer pair... Potter, Weasley, how about you?"

"Weasley's wand causes devastation with the simplest spells," Professor Snape informed him. "You'll be sending Potter to the hospital wing in a matchbox. Might I suggest someone from my own house? Malfoy, perhaps?"

Without waiting for a response from Professor Lockhart, Professor Snape turned and motioned the blond onto the stage as Professor Lockhart turned to stride past Harry, leaving the stage.

Hermione couldn't hear what was said between the two, but figured that Lockhart had wished him luck because she heard Harry tell him thank you as he walked by her toward Malfoy at the point where the two long tables met.

"Wands at the ready!" Lockhart called out.

Hermione and the other students watched Harry and Malfoy face each other standing close. She looked on worriedly, wondering what was going to happen, knowing the animosity the two held for each other. They went through the same motions the professor had, saluting and then pacing away.

"On the count of three," Lockhart said. "Cast your charms to disarm your opponent, only to disarm. We don't want any accidents here. One. Two -"

"Everte Statum," Malfoy yelled, sending Harry flying backward in a cartwheel to land hard on the table.

"Rictusempra!" Harry shouted when he got to his feet and retaliated with the tickling charm that also knocked Malfoy back onto the table with the force of the spell hitting him.

Professor Snape grabbed him and shoved him back into the duel with a sneer.

"I said disarm only!" Lockhart called out pathetically as he tried to rein in the duel.

"Serpensortia," Malfoy called out, ignoring the man, and a cobra shot out of his wand and landed on the table to everyone's surprise as they moved away to avoid it as it slithered toward Harry.

"Don't move, Potter," Professor Snape said as he strode forward. "I'll get rid of it for you."

"Allow me, Professor Snape," Lockhart said angrily. "Alarte Ascendare," he finished, pointing his wand at the cobra which rocketed up into the air before being slammed down onto the table, angrier than it had been previously.

Harry eyed it and spoke to it as it rose up ready to attack, looking for a victim. Hermione swallowed as she watched the snake turn toward a Hufflepuff boy who had introduced himself to Harry earlier as Justin Finch-Fletchley when she'd been standing nearby waiting for the duelling club to begin. Everyone held their breath, and silence reigned over the room as Harry spoke to the snake as it turned to him and then back to Justin, wondering what was going to happen, not sure what was going on.

"Vipera Evanesca," Professor Snape said, stepping forward when Lockhart didn't, and watched the snake vanish in a puff of smoke and fire before looking at Harry again. Hermione wasn't sure, but the professor seemed paler than normal.

"What are you playing at?" Justin demanded of Harry.

Hermione watched Harry look around to everyone in confusion, even to the professors, apparently unable to understand what was going on. Even Hermione saw her own agitation, accusation, fear and uncertainty mirrored in the eyes of those around the room.

With only silence and the accusations greeting him, Harry turned and ran from the room. It was a moment before she and Ron could make their way through the crowd to follow him. She and Ron didn't reach him until they had followed behind him into the common room.

"You're a Parselmouth?" Ron asked, reaching out to stop him. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"I'm a what?" Harry asked in confusion.

"You can talk to snakes," Hermione clarified.

"I know," Harry said. "I mean, I accidentally set a python on my cousin, Dudley at the zoo once. Once. But so what? I bet loads of people here can do it."

"No, they can't," Hermione said. "It's not a very common gift, Harry. This is bad."

"What's bad?" Harry asked. "If I hadn't told that snake not to attack Justin -"

"Oh! That's what you said to it!" Ron exclaimed.

"You were there," Harry accused. "You heard me."

"I heard you speaking Parseltongue," Ron clarified. "Snake language."

"I spoke a different language?" Harry asked in confusion. "But I didn't realise — How can I speak a language without knowing I can?"

"I don't know," Hermione said when he looked at her. "But it sounded like you were egging the snake on or something. Harry, listen to me," she said worriedly. "There's a reason the symbol of Slytherin house is a serpent. Salazar Slytherin was a Parselmouth. He could talk to snakes, too."

"Exactly," Ron interjected. "Now the whole school's going to think you're his great-great-great grandson or something."

"But I'm not!" Harry protested. "I can't be."

"He lived a thousand years ago," Hermione said. "For all we know... you could be."*

The common room was quiet that night when Harry was around. Finally, he exhaled heavily, shaking his head. "I'm going up to bed," he told Ron and Hermione. She felt sorry for him, being the centre of attention when he obviously didn't want it, and hostile attention at that. She had felt everyone's eyes on them that night too.

"Good night, Harry," she called.

"Good night, mate," Ron added. "I'll be up in a while."

"Good night," Harry told them before mounting the stairs.

"I wish there was something we could do," Hermione whispered to Ron.

"Yeah, me too," he said.

"Well, I'm going to say good night too," she said and stood up. Looking around, she caught Oliver's eye and mimed writing on her hand. He gave a slight nod and watched as she headed for the stairs.

17December 1992
Oliver,
I'm not sure if you heard what went on at Professor Lockhart's duelling club or not. Professor Snape got Malfoy into a duel with Harry as a demonstration to teach everyone how to use the disarming charm... only they didn't. I kind of think he knew it was going to happen, but Professor Lockhart allowed them to duel, though he really lost control of it when they started using other spells.
Malfoy used the serpent summoning charm thinking it would scare Harry. After that, everyone thought Harry was egging the snake on when he spoke to it in Parseltongue when it turned its attention on this Hufflepuff boy, Justin Finch-Fletchley. It really upset Harry when no one spoke to him after that, and seemed to be afraid of him and judging him.
Ron and I followed him after he left the duelling club when Justin asked him what he was playing at, and found out that he'd actually told the snake not to attack him, but the snake wasn't really listening to him. Harry told Ron and I later on after everyone returned to the common room and we were talking by the fire as Harry tried to ignore everyone because they were staring at him, that the snake had told him it wanted to attack someone because it was angry and injured when Professor Lockhart's charm thrust it into the air and it hit the table so hard. It wanted to retaliate, and Justin was closest. Harry tried again, but it didn't listen to him. It might not have seemed it, but it was a good thing for Justin that Professor Snape stepped in because I don't think the snake would have listened to Harry if it felt that way.
I'm really concerned about Harry though. I told him about Slytherin house, Salazar Slytherin and why the symbol for Slytherin is a serpent. I didn't mean to, but I think now he's wondering why he's in Gryffindor. I just wanted him to be aware of why people reacted the way they had. I think he believes that I feel the same way when really I'm more concerned about his state of mind over this. He told Ron and I that he'd known he could talk to snakes before coming to Hogwarts, and that he didn't say anything to us about it because he thought everyone could do it. He also admitted to setting a python on his cousin one time at the zoo to scare him.
I know Harry's brave, and he's a good friend and that's why he's in Gryffindor. I hate seeing him the way I did tonight, questioning where he belongs. He seems so lost, and now with the way everyone's acting toward him, he seems so alone too.
Hermione
17 December 1992
Hermione,
Yeah, I heard about that. Fred and George told me what happened, they were the first anyway. I also heard from Angelina, Katie and Alicia later on. I wasn't there, I had been out on the Quidditch pitch running laps. Maybe now I should have been there, too. I know it must have been scary for everyone, I mean, while Fred and George told me that they had been startled by it, they thought it was cool. They're trying to make a strategy for Quidditch to scare everyone away from him during games so that we can use it to our advantage.
I see what you mean by the way people are acting toward him though... especially with the writing that had been on the wall. Katie, Angelina and Alicia brought that up. I told them to can it. He's our Seeker, we can't play without him. I told them they need to put any fear they have aside and play with him when it comes to games and practices. Honestly, I don't think Harry's that sort of person. I don't think he'd go around attacking anyone, and what? We've had the attack on Mrs Norris and Colin?
Creevey might be a nuisance, but I don't think Harry would have attacked him. And as far as Mrs Norris, I have to admit, I hung back a bit from the scene when Professor Dumbledore told everyone to go to the dorms. I was curious about what had gone on and I heard Lockhart say that Harry had been serving detention when Professor Snape brought up not seeing him at dinner. I don't think he could have attacked her, not only that, it was a petrification spell that was dark magic according to Professor Dumbledore, and no first or even second year student would be capable of it. It's my guess that you'd only find those referenced in the restricted section.

And if you've any doubt about any of that, I ask you, Salazar Slytherin was known for promoting blood purity. One would think the Heir of Slytherin would be the same. Has Harry ever done that? I haven't known him to do anything of the sort, besides, you're one of his best friends. That alone should answer the question.
For my part, Harry has never been angry with me or appeared to treat me differently for any reason, so why should I treat him any differently just based on hearsay, when I wasn't even there? So to me, he is and will always be Harry. He's a nice kid. I know there are people who are scared of him, but it will pass. I don't believe for one second that Harry would attack anyone, and you're a good friend for sticking by him. As far as I'm concerned, you both belong in Gryffindor.
Oliver

Hermione sighed in relief, reading Oliver's message that night. Putting quill to parchment once more, she wrote him a final note that night before bed.

17December 1992
Oliver,
Thank you so much for your letter and letting me know that you stand by Harry. I know that he will appreciate it. I will let him know in the morning if you don't talk to him before. I really wish there was another, faster way to brew the Polyjuice Potion, as I know that would put Harry at ease, at least a little, to know who's really behind opening the Chamber.
Ron and I started it the night he was in the infirmary after I sent the letter to you. He and I snuck out of the common room that night after everyone went to bed. Don't worry, I can't explain it, as it's not mine to divulge, and I've had them mad at me enough for that in the past and don't want to go through it again, but Harry has — something — that Ron borrowed so we wouldn't get caught. But the potion won't be done until Christmas, so really there's not much more we can do. I feel so helpless right now. There has to be something I'm not thinking of. Anyway, I hope that you have a good night. I'm off to bed myself, so you don't have to write back tonight. I just hope that wondering about all of this won't keep me awake all night. Maybe it's time to pull out the Pensieve again.

Hermione