Chapter 64: Bloody Snakes

His mum was pregnant. Aunt Andromeda had confirmed that and had begged him not to lose his temper with his parents.

He gave her a weird look.

"They thought…well…"

"We would throw a fit.." He stated. " You know I'm not Draco."

Draco who would lose his temper at the drop of a dime these days. He could see why his parents would be scared, but not everyone was a brat like his cousin. He wasn't.

"I know that, honey." Aunt Andi said rolling her eyes. "Your parents didn't want to keep it from you but…"

"Mum's had complications in the past." He stated, "I know they called me their miracle child. It's not exactly hard to put two and two together, Aunt Andi."

She sighed heavily, "You are way too smart for your own good."

"Ravenclaw," He said, "Also, it was sort of noticeable after Aunt Cissy…"

He trailed off as he usually did when he discussed his aunt. He had been thinking a lot about her lately. The babies would've been born soon had she not died in that fire…it wasn't fair.

Aunt Andi nodded. "I'll…I'll let them know. They'll probably want to talk to you about it and about your abilities."

He groaned.

"They'll be proud of you, sweetie. You'll see."

"He's a what?" Sirius asked when she told them about Harry's ability to speak to snakes.

"A parseltongue." Andi said, "I have to say Phee was quite impressed with him. He was able to talk to Daphne quite effortlessly."

"Well, being a parseltongue obviously he can talk to girls that are botchily transformed into snakelike creatures." Her cousin said, "But that still doesn't…"

"Figured it out didn't you," She said.

"The taint." He looked down at the floor when he said that. No one wanted to admit what had happened to the boy even if it had almost been a year since the soul fragment was destroyed.

"Or it could be inherited," Bella said, "Perseus Black was rumored to have spoken it."

"Although, his existence is questioned." Andromeda said, "But yes, mentioning to Harry that it is in the family line might be the better explanation than what it is more likely."

Both Bella and Sirius frowned thinking about the fact that their son had hosted Riddle's soul for the better part of a decade.

"Well, it's at least a useful talent to pick up." Andromeda said. "Parselmagic was always rumored to be one of the fundamental building blocks to healing magic and I know you've studied it when it comes to dueling, Bella."

"Though he'll want to hide it…" Sirius said.

"He already knows," Andromeda said, "He had done some reading…"

"He is such a Ravenclaw," Sirius said. "I still don't know how he ended up an eagle."

"Probably because he spent the better part of a year limited to books and reading," Bella said, "And Draco ruined Slytherin for him and, well, do we even have to talk about his old house…"

Sirius groaned at the current bane of his existence. "Do not remind me. I still do not know what to do the rest of the little brats that are left."

"I…it's not only his abilities I wanted to talk to you about," Andi said. "He knows."

She didn't have to say it since she was looking at Bellatrix's stomach.

"I…"

"Harry's fairly astute." Andromeda said before adding, "And he's worried about you. He said you had a dizzy spell the other day."

"A dizzy spell?" Sirius said looking at her and then waving his wand at her undoubtedly to perform another series of diagnosis charms on her.

"Yes," Andi said deciding to put fuel on the fire, "And he said you mentioned that no one needed to know about it."

Bella frowned. "It…it's not a big deal."

"As are the constant headaches?" Andi asked.

"It was before I started taking the potions," She said before adding, "Though I'd like to check to make sure we do have the right levels. My head has been killing me, though it may have been Draco…"

Sirius and Andi both groaned at that because even they had been stressed out by the boy. His behavior as of late had devolved. Everyone knew he was upset, but he was starting to become outright unbearable again. Probably because he was due for his cycle again, though no one wanted to tell Draco he had PMS.

"He was up on my ass about taking the drought today," She said to both of them.

"Seriously," Sirius asked, "I told him that we weren't revisiting this conversation until we got more data. We don't know…"

"I know that Siri, but he is so dysphoric about the whole thing. And he almost seemed desperate today. I may have snapped at him…but…"

"But he acted like a brat," Andi said. "I had a similar conversation with him earlier. It's not helping his cause by any means."

"Did he insult Harry?"

They gave her a weird look.

"He insulted Harry several times when we were arguing today and I know he has made some rather snippy remarks at him as of late." She said, "I know he's on edge but…well, I may have charmed him with a combination silencing spell and stinging hex."

"Of course you did." Sirius said. "Though I don't blame you, I have noticed he has been particularly acidic lately when it comes to Harry."

"He's jealous" Andi said. "Not that he'd ever admit it."

A parselmouth. A part of her was excited for her son having such a rare gift another part of her hated that it came from him. Even though she knew it was unlikely, she was still going to hold onto the belief that he got his talents from Perseus Black.

They had asked to speak to Harry alone after Andi had left to discuss his newly found talent and her pregnancy.

She still couldn't believe he knew.

Harry's eyes went wide when he saw her. She had decided to forgo the glamor spells and took off that dreaded band and she knew she looked very different and very pregnant. She had indeed popped recently and there was no denying that she was with children.

"So, Aunt Andi told you I know about the twins."

She nodded as she motioned him to come to where she was sitting the babies were active and she thought he might want to feel them kick. Lord knows she and Sirius both did.

"They are kicking if you want to…"

He nodded and put his hand on her stomach and smiled when the babes had almost instantly responded to his touch.

"I can't believe there's two of them. How far along are you?"

"I just entered my second trimester." She said, "We were going to tell you soon after…"

"Aunt Andi told me that you had concerns," He said. "You don't need to go into detail, Mum. I've just been worried."

"Because of her headaches," Sirius said.

Harry nodded. "That and when you got dizzy."

"Your father and aunt are checking on me," She said, "I'll be fine."

Harry gave her a look, "You shouldn't let Draco stress you out. I can tell he has been getting to you…"

He had been getting to her more than she liked. It annoyed her that even Harry noticed, but like Andi mentioned he was an astute child. And Draco had likely been under everyone's nerves lately including Harry's.

She sighed, "It's fine…honey, don't worry about me. We probably will keep the babies between us though until…well, until a little bit more time has passed."

"You mean you're not telling Draco."

"Not now," She said. She didn't think she could handle that bombshell on him. He'd probably claim that they cared more about the twins than him or something else equally ridiculous.

Harry raised an eyebrow.

"He's dealing with a lot of stuff now." Sirius said, "Between Cissy and everything else. That's not all we wanted to talk about with you though. We heard you have a newfound talent."

He found himself blushing. "I don't know if it's really a talent. It's just something I can do, I guess."

She hated that his self-esteem was so low. It had gotten better, but she knew that it would never be what it should be. It was one of many things he was working through in therapy. At least he seemed to be receptive to Gunther unlike Draco…

"It is an amazing ability," Sirius said knowing that Harry would likely think he would think the ability was dark. "A lot of healing magic was discovered through parselmagic."

"Parselmagic? Aunt Andi mentioned something about it being used for dueling but for healing as well?"

Bella nodded, "There's a couple of books in the family library that I'm sure you'll find helpful. We can also get you a pet to practice with if you want one."

"Maybe, though I'll probably practice with Daphne until…" He looked at them, "She's not going to be trapped like that forever, is she?"

Bella felt a little nauseous after she had heard what had happened to Phee's little girl earlier this afternoon. She could only imagine what her best friend was feeling. A part of her was surprised the school hadn't burnt down and blood feuds hadn't been declared knowing her friend.

"Hopefully not," Sirius said. "Though it might be a while before she's back to herself. You're welcome to visit her anytime you want as long as it's fine with her healers and her parents."

He nodded, "I'd like to. I can't imagine not being able to talk to someone and dealing with all of that…"

He was such a compassionate child. It was amazing how different he was from Cissy's son. Inwardly, she grimaced comparing the two of them, but Draco had admittedly been on her nerves a lot lately.

"I'll reach out to Phee," She heard herself saying. She may no longer be able to be a friend to her as Bellatrix Black but at least she could try as Claire Black.

Ophelia Greengrass was surprised when Claire Black of all people fire called her a few days after Daphne was admitted into the hospital.

The woman was apparently Henry Black's stepmother. She raised an eyebrow instantly recognizing what the woman was.

Veela.

Her sister in-law had been one and it was obvious looking at the woman what she was. Honestly, she shouldn't have been that surprised that Sirius Black had decided to marry a veela when he had made out with a siren.

Not that he knew that tidbit. She hadn't exactly been out and proud with her heritage.

She had been lucky enough the gene hadn't been active in her where she would kill people like it had with her grandmother. Unfortunately, her daughter had not been so lucky. There were signs very early on which was why they had resulted into her sister in-law blood adopting her….since veela genes made the genes a little less potent.

She still never understood the full extent of it just the dumb down version that Narcissa Black had told her.

Narcissa Black who had apparently fallen off the face of the Earth. Even Andromeda had pretty much mentioned she had no idea where her sister was when she talked to her and seemed to think she wouldn't get back in contact.

"Sirius and I are both concerned," she said with a sad look on her face. "She had asked him to do the adoption with Draco right before she left. We…we don't know if or when she'll be coming back. I'm sorry, Phee. I…I could look and see if I can find someone in her contacts to look at Daphne. I might even be able to help as well. I have been doing more research on blood disorders lately since I had a patient last year that suffered from one."

At least Andromeda knew enough about what was going on to increase the doses of the flushing solutions that were being given to Daphne. There had finally begun to be some progress in getting her to normal. But it was rather slow progress. Bits of ear and a nose had finally started to grow last night. She knew that was a relief to her daughter that at least some part of her was returning to normal…but…well, she saw Daphne's face when she had to force herself to eat the dead rodents they conjured for her today. She saw the same look on her face when she still couldn't talk, when she even had to look at her hand.

The woman had wanted to ask her if it was okay if Harry continued to see Daphne. To say the least she was a little surprised. She thought the boy would've been horrified to see her daughter and yet...

And yet he had stayed there and talked to her the entire hour he was there. And even held her hand. She had wondered if it was politeness and he wasn't coming back, but he wanted to continue seeing her. It made the suspicion she had about the two of them the other day seem a little more likely, but she still told herself she was being ridiculous.

"This isn't out of pity?" She asked the woman.

The woman's eyes looked wide. "No. I think he sees Daphne as a friend. He is horrified with what happened to her yes, but he clearly misses her. Plus, he is the only one who can talk to her currently."

"Yes, a Black with the parseltongue ability. I'm surprised that hasn't been spread through the news."

"My husband isn't like a typical Black."

"No, I suppose he's not." She said with a laugh thinking of Sirius. "I'm fine with him seeing her as long as she's fine with it. It has been hard for her as you can only imagine."

"How is she…"

"She's strong," Phee answered. "Maybe too strong."

Daphne always was a stoic one. She had gotten that from Cygnus. That and being ridiculously studious. Phee had been a good student, but not the extent her husband or her daughter was. They had this tenacity about them where they would get absorbed into subject matters they were studying. Daphne's latest obsession had been Astronomy. Though she now wondered if it was really Jupiter's moons she was interested in.

Though even she had to admit the muggle probe pictures that Henry had given her of the moons were rather fascinating even though she found Astronomy in general to be rather droll.

Claire Black sighed. "Is she seeing a mind healer?"

Phee laughed, "She technically sees one every day."

Claire had a weird look on her face.

"I'm a mind healer," Phee said. "I've been in private practice for a few years focusing on severe cases of mind damage, but yes she probably needs to see someone who's not her mother when she's more stable. We're probably going to transfer her at some point. Probably to the same facility your husband was at in Bern. Apparently, they do wonders for long term patients like she'll be."

"Indeed, they do," Claire said.

Long term patient?

Albus was horrified at the letter he was just sent from the Greengrass's lawyer—Ted Tonks—letting him know the school was being sued again and that the girl at the very least would be residing in the long-term ward at St. Mungo's for the next few months due to the alterations that were made on her body.

"I thought you said they were only basic prank spells," He asked Poppy who he brought into his office.

"That's what they looked like to me," The woman said shaking her head. "I…well, I don't know what to say, Albus. I feel terrible."

He frowned. "You're overwhelmed."

"I might as well be," She said, "Black was insulting my healing skills of all people. Black!"

It might have been true but Black was right about rushing Hermione Granger to St. Mungo's and apparently he was right about Daphne Greengrass as well.

He didn't want to upset Poppy. She was probably one of the dearest members he had on staff, but at the same time…there had been a lot of issues with care as of late. He still hadn't forgotten about the claims that Ted Tonks was making against her for causing Hermione Granger's recovery to be significantly impaired by not outright transferring her to St. Mungo's from the beginning.

He sighed. "I think you're overwhelmed, Poppy."

She gave him a weird look, "Don't be ridiculous, Albus. I am trained mediwitch. I can deal with a couple of prank spells and scraps on a daily basis."

"But it hasn't been prank spells and scraps lately," He said. "The past year we had three students die and what happened to both Ms. Granger and Ms. Greengrass were unconscionable."

"But…"

"You saw Mr. Weasley that night," Albus said. "I remember you were inconsolable."

The healer looked down. "I could've…"

He shook his head. "No, you couldn't have done anything to save the boy. He was dead at the scene. You couldn't have done anything for Harry either, Poppy. It has overwhelmed you. I should've realized…"

"You're going to fire me, aren't you?"

He shook his head. He knew he should, but he couldn't do that to her. However, if he didn't act know he knew the board was going to demand her head. Instead, he said. "I want you to take a sabbatical. I want you to get some help and some refresher courses. I am also going to see if maybe we can get an assistant for you or someone as well."

"But who…"

"St. Mungo's has already offered to have a rotation healer or mediwitch here." He said.

She looked at him, "This is not by choice is it."

"I'm afraid not," he said smiling at her sadly. "I'm trying to save your job before the board orders me to let you go."

She sighed heavily. "I appreciate that Albus. Honestly, I'm worried about you too and even Severus. They are going to demand someone's head for this."

He knew that as well, but he still had some fight in them. However, he did not know how much he would be able to protect Severus. Amelia Bones had all but demanded a team of aurors come in and do an investigation. Even he had to admit something did not seem right about the whole thing, but Severus had sworn up and down that it was an accident. And he believed him…he had to because the alternative was too horrifying to believe.

"You're lucky you're also not being disowned," Sanjay Patil said to Padma Patil.

She couldn't help but cry. Suspended because of Parvati and her friends wanting to play a stupid prank on Daphne Greengrass of all people.

Had she known who those ingredients were for she never would've….well, she thought they were supposed to be for the Rat of Gryffindor and at least she could understand the purpose behind that.

Sort of.

Honestly, she never understood why the Gryffindors had pretty much gone insane against Hermione Granger. Parvati said it was about house honor. And she had agreed to hold the ingredients for her because it had made sense at the time. But now…now she wondered what she had done.

Seeing her sister all but kicked out of her family home this afternoon with only the clothes on her back was too much to bear. She wondered where Parvati would go. She knew she couldn't contact her. Not if she wanted to remain in the family.

"You better hope that man does not reignite the blood feud or I will disown you," Her father snapped at her.

She grimaced knowing that the past blood feud had all but destroyed their family and only know her parents had started to make ends meet again until…well, until she and Parvati fucked up.

"I didn't know she was going to give it to Greengrass, Papa."

"We know, beta." Priya Patil said. "But you should've asked her what she was going to do with those potions. It wasn't going to be good whatever the case. The girl could be permanently disfigured."

Inwardly, Padma blanched, she had seen some of the potions and ingredients Parvati had asked her to get last year. She knew they were enough to alter someone's life. She had heard some of the things that Parvati said it would do to the girl and it horrified her.

Again, not much thought was thought into it because she believed it was being used on Granger. Granger who had taken Harry Potter away from them…it was so easy…to not think there would be any consequences when there was a mudblood involve.

"Have they…"

Her mother shook her head, "They haven't yet. But you know that family, beta. They don't usually say anything until something has been done. We're hoping that well by disowning Parvati it will keep things from boiling over but…"

But she knew they didn't think it would. She knew that if push came to shove that if the Greengrass family asked her family would likely disown her to avoid another blood feud.

Chapter 65 Preview: A slight time jump. Halloween is a time for rituals to be performed, Snape goes off the deep end, and Draco ends up in a nightmare of his own making.