Born From Madness (Harry Potter Fanfic)

56

Hermione had carefully released the snake outside from the courtyard before making her way up to Gryffindor's Common room. She was just entering it, wiping the tears from her face when Ron came rushing up to her and said, "You're a Parselmouth, too! Why didn't you tell me as well?" 

"What?" Hermione asked, confused as she darted her eyes between Harry and Ron. 

"A parselmouth! You two can talk to snakes!" Ron shouted at them. 

"I know, I mean I didn't know Hermione could talk to them as well. This is the only the second time I've done it. I accidentally set a boa constrictor on my cousin Dudley at the zoo once-- long story-- but it was telling me it had never seen Brazil and I sort of set it free without meaning to--" Harry went ranting on. 

"It told you it never seen Brazil? What about you? What did snakes tell you?" Ron asked, crossing his arms over his chest. 

"I never experience anything like this." Hermione claimed, "And what's the big deal? Don't loads of people here do it?" 

"No they can't. It's not a very common gift, guys. This is bad!" Ron stated to them. 

"What's bad? What's wrong with everyone? If I hadn't told that snake not to attack Justin or Hermione telling it to go over to her--" 

"Oh, that's what you guys said to it." 

"What are you talking about Ron? You were there! You heard us!" Hermione shot at him. 

"I heard you two speaking Parseltongue! Snake language? You two could have been saying anything. It sounded like you two were egging the snake on or something. That's why Justin fled." Ron explained to them. 

"I spoke a different language?" Hermione and Harry asked in union. 

"But how can we speak a language without knowing we can speak it?" Harry asked. Ron shrugged his shoulders. Hermione rolled her eyes. 

"What does it matter? I mean, Justin is safe and the snake it out of the castle." Hermione asked. 

"Because being able to talk to snakes was what Salazar Slytherin was famous for! That's why Slytherin House is a serpent." Ron stated, "And the whole school's going to think you two are like his great-great-great-great-grandson or granddaughter or something--" 

"But Harry and I aren't even related to each other, Ron. So how can we both be the child of Salazar Slytherin?" Hermione asked. 

"But it's only only Salazar who can open the chamber remember? So can that Betty White lady! So people could assume one of you will be the heir of Slytherin and the other the Heir of Betty White. And it'll be hard to prove you're not." Ron told them, "After all they lived about a thousand years ago; for all we know, you two could be." 

The next morning wasn't any better for Harry or Hermione. Everyone was staying clear away from the two of them. Harry was determined to find Justin and explain what had happened, which Hermione agreed and went with Harry to find him. Hermione had decided to check the library while Harry went off to the great hall. Hermione was walking between the shelves when her ears picked up a conversations. 

"Justin is hiding in our dormitory. If Potter or Hermione have marked him down as their next victim, it's best for him to keep a low profile. Of course, he was waiting for something like this to happen when he slipped and told Potter and Granger he was a Muggle-born. He actually told the Slytherin's or White's Heir he was a muggle-born." A boy stated. 

"You think it really is Potter and Granger than, Ernie? I mean, Hermione is close to Muggle-born as it gets." A girl said. 

"They're Parselmouths! Everyone knows that's the ark of a Dark Wizard! Have you ever heard of someone decent who could talk to snakes? They called Slytherin himself Serpent-tongue! And remember what was written on the wall? Enemies fo the Heirs, beware. Potter and Hermione had some sort fo run in with Filch. Next thing we know Filch's cat's attacked..."