The Elemental Witch (Draco X OC X George)

Year II - Chapter XXV

The four friends rushed into the Gryffindor Common Room, with Ron and Hermione mostly ushering Harry to go inside as they followed; Aurora being the last one to enter. A mere glance up, they could spot Ginny staring down at them and mostly at Harry, from the top of the stairs.

Their eyes met and she quickly turned for the girls' dormitory, confusing the young wizard.

Now finally alone, our heroes decided to address the issue and the elephant in the room.

"You're a Parselmouth! Why didn't you tell us?" Ron asked, making Aurora's mouth take a small 'O' shape once she realized what language Harry spoke to the snake.

"I'm a what?" Harry asked, clearly confused by everything.

Hermione decided to enlighten him. "You can talk to snakes."

"I know. I mean, I accidentally set a python on my cousin Dudley at the zoo once." Harry explained, amusing Aurora as she would like to see that from close; especially after he told her how spoilt and bratty Dudley was. "But so what? I bet loads of people here can do it."

Her smile dropped and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "No. They can't. It's not a very common gift, Harry. "

Hermione nodded in agreement. "This is bad."

"What's bad? If I hadn't told that snake not to attack Justin-" Harry tried to explain but he was interrupted by Ron.

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

"You were there! You heard me!"

"I heard you speaking Parseltongue, Snake language."

Harry looked beyond confused now as they explained to him what had taken place. For a moment, he felt the need to sit down since nothing truly made sense. "I spoke a different language? But I didn't realize -- how can I speak a language without knowing I can?"

Aurora looked at him with sympathy, wrapping one hand around his shoulders and pulling him a little closer while giving him a comforting side hug.

"I don't know, Harry. But it sounded like you were egging the snake on or something. It was...creepy." Hermione added.

"Not really" Aurora commented. "I mean, we simply couldn't understand what you were saying and anyone could rush to a conclusion as to what you were telling that snake" she continued, sending a passive glare at her friend.

The rest of the Gryffindors from their year and a year younger started to stream into the room. They eyed Harry warily and one even went to open his mouth but Aurora let go of Harry and folded her hands in front of her chest while lifting an eyebrow.

Remembering what she had done to Goyle, the student said nothing and continued walking; the rest followed. Even Seamus, Neville, and Dean Thomas walked by without a word.

"Harry, listen out to me," Hermione said, drawing his attention as the students left them alone. " There's a reason the symbol of Slytherin house is a serpent. Salazar Slytherin was a Parselmouth. He could talk to snakes too."

"Exactly. And now the whole school's going to think you're his great-great-great grandson or something."

Aurora let out a sigh. "Worse is the fact that even if you are not, people might think that you opened the chambers..." she explained and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Oh, this sucks"

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Winter quickly approached and not long after, the so much needed Holidays were finally here. Students had a chance to visit their families and spend holidays with them and for those that stayed back at Hogwarts, the weather had favoured them with endless snow.