Chapter 51: I Want to Learn Parseltongue
Chapter 51: I Want to Learn Parseltongue
The three of them walked out of the Great Hall, following a stone path to an open area.
It was nearly nine in the evening, and the sky had turned pitch black.
"What's going on? Why are you acting so strange?" Harry broke free from their arms and asked irritably.
Ron glanced at him, "Harry, you've been exposed."
"What—?" Harry suddenly choked, a wave of immense fear gripping his insides, "You mean, about the Parseltongue?"
"We heard you talking to that big black snake, in another language."
Ron's words made Harry's heart sink. He struggled to find an explanation, "But I was trying to save Justin's life! If I hadn't told that snake not to attack him—"
"Was that what you meant at the time?" Ron interrupted him.
"Of course! You were there..."
"Mate, the way you spoke was a bit scary... like you were giving it orders, encouraging it to attack."
Hermione spoke with a hint of sadness, "Harry, I think... the reason might be that Parseltongue sounds inherently evil. Your voice was a raspy hiss, with a terrifying echo. It was quite chilling to hear."
"Professor Hup said that Slytherin was seen as a Dark Wizard by others because he used his Parseltongue ability without restraint, controlling snakes to do his bidding."
Meanwhile, Felix approached Dumbledore later that evening, and the two had a lengthy conversation.
"Felix... your insight is impressive. I will inform the castle's portraits and the professors to be vigilant. During the Christmas holidays, most young wizards will return home, and the castle will be much quieter. We can conduct a thorough search then..."
"Have you considered the issue of Parseltongue, Dumbledore?"
"Yes, Parseltongue might be the key to opening the Chamber, but I believe you will find a way, Felix?"
"Of course. However, regarding the Dueling Club..."
Dumbledore remained noncommittal, "If Professor Lockhart has no objections, I have no issue with it."
Would Lockhart object? The Dueling Club was already his.
Felix rose, satisfied, and took a few steps before stopping, "With all due respect, Headmaster Dumbledore, have you considered telling Harry Potter directly? He and his friends have been investigating the Chamber's clues."
Dumbledore fell silent, "I'm not certain yet, Felix. Harry's ability to speak Parseltongue has raised some concerns. I need to clarify a few things..."
...
That night, Harry tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He gazed through the gaps in the curtains, watching the snowflakes drift past the castle windows, feeling lost and confused.
He recalled the Sorting Hat's suggestion.
"I belong in Gryffindor", he reiterated to himself.
Harry had thought this day would be the second most difficult of his school year (the first being the day Ron received Mrs. Weasley's Howler), but he was wrong. By the next morning, the news had spread throughout Hogwarts, and everyone looked at him with strange, wary eyes.
It was as if they expected him to suddenly open his mouth, filled with fangs, and bite off their heads.
Most of the afternoon, Harry hid in an abandoned classroom in the dungeon, watching Hermione brew the Polyjuice Potion with Ron.
Harry watched as Hermione tossed bundles of flobberworms into the cauldron, and he suddenly remembered something, "Hermione, you said Professor Mcgonagall called you yesterday. What was it about?"
Ron lifted his head, stopping his dozing.
Hermione's expression brightened, and she announced gleefully, "My essay has been published."
Harry nearly forgot about it. He had been eagerly anticipating it, but after three months, the essay had completely slipped his mind.
"It's strange it took so long to be published", Ron said.
"That's because I spent over two months revising it, not to mention the time it took for the review process. They sent me an acceptance letter yesterday, along with a copy of the Daily Prophet and a sample issue of Who Decides Ancient Runes, courtesy of Professor Mcgonagall."
The young witch was in good spirits as she poked some leeches into the bottom of the pot, stirring continuously.
"Why two publications?" Ron asked, puzzled.
"The main text of the essay is in the Who Decides Ancient Runes magazine, but the Daily Prophet also reported on it", Hermione said, squinting her eyes. She was quite pleased with this.
She carefully stored both the Daily Prophet and Who Decides Ancient Runes to take home during the summer holidays.
After enduring Friday, the weekend finally arrived.
On Saturday morning, the Golden Trio hid in a corner of the common room. Harry's mood grew increasingly irritable. He felt that everyone who passed by him would deliberately glance at him, and their voices would suddenly lower.
But the Gryffindor young wizards’ behavior wasn’t that bad. If Harry walked out now, he could clear an entire corridor, his presence as intimidating as Mr. Filch, the castle caretaker.
Mr. Filch, whose cat had been petrified, had recently adopted a different strategy—hiding in the shadows and waiting for rule-breaking young wizards to come to him. Using his familiarity with the castle, he had caught three couples who were violating the rules by sneaking away to date. This made the young wizards of Hogwarts fear him even more.
Around noon, Professor Mcgonagall came by to collect the names of students staying for Christmas. She did this every second week of December.
The three of them found Draco Malfoy’s name on the list; they had all chosen to stay at the castle.
After Professor Mcgonagall left, Harry and Ron played Wizard’s Chess, sighing from time to time.
Just as Hermione couldn’t resist saying something, an owl flew in and landed on her shoulder.
Hermione opened the note tied to the owl’s leg.
"It’s a letter from Professor Hup", she said, looking at Harry and Ron with a peculiar tone. "He’s invited Harry and me to his office tonight. He says it’s important."
Harry was taken aback.
At seven o’clock that evening, the three of them walked to the Ancient Runes Office. Ron suddenly asked, somewhat anxiously, "Can I come too? I mean, Professor Hup invited Harry..."
"You’ve asked that three times now. Professor Hup did mention you. He said if you’re interested, you’re very welcome to come", Hermione replied, sounding impatient.
They stood at the door, and Hermione knocked. She then pushed the door open and entered.
Professor Hup was leaning over a book, a rare sarcastic smile on his face.
This expression was unusual, and Hermione quickly glanced at the book title: Amando Dippet by Rita Skeeter.
The young witch noticed a Daily Prophet on the table, with a photo of Headmaster Dumbledore on the front page. The headline read, "Dumbledore’s Major Blunder."
Her curiosity was piqued, but Professor Hup placed the book on top of the newspaper.
Hermione: "..."
"Professor Hup, good evening", Harry greeted him nervously.
"Come in, all three of you, please have a seat."
Felix sat on a sofa, facing the three young wizards.
"Professor, what did you need to see me about?" Harry asked, feeling uneasy. Please don’t mention Parseltongue, please don’t mention Parseltongue.
"Potter, you are a Parseltongue."
Harry: "..."
"Professor, I swear, I didn’t open the Chamber. There’s another Parseltongue in the castle, and he’s the Heir of Slytherin!" Harry exclaimed loudly, almost revealing the Polyjuice Potion and Malfoy’s involvement.
"Calm down", Felix said, using his wand to summon three glasses of orange juice. "No one said you opened the Chamber."
"Then why did you—"
Harry was confused, but Professor Hup gestured to the orange juice floating in front of him, so he picked up the glass and took a sip. Hermione and Ron also sipped their drinks.
"The reason I called you here is simple. I want to learn your Parseltongue."
"Spit!"
"Cough cough cough!"
"Cough!"
"Professor, what did you say?" Harry felt incredulous. If he could shed his Parseltongue ability, he would be willing to pay any price. Now, someone was actually offering to learn it?
(End of Chapter)
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