A Home At Hogwarts

Part Twenty Three

The room fell silent.

"What?" Voldemort seemed to smirk.

"A Parselmouth. You speak Parseltongue." Your brow furrowed.

"I-I don't know what that means." He hummed and sat down in his chair. The Giant Snake, Nagini as you had been told, slithered about on the floor.

"It means you can speak with snakes. Like me." Your heart beat in your chest.

"Oh...is that...unusual?" He laced his fingers together and leaned forward on the table.

"It is uncommon. Usually only the decendants of Salazar Slytherin can speak it. What's your family name?"

"Oh, um, I have my mother's last name. I...don't know my father." His eyes narrowed.

"And her name is?" You cleared your throat to try and calm your nerves.

"Cessair. Cessair L/N" His eyes seemed to light with recognition. You are surprised but also not. Your mother had been a Death  Eater before you were born, and before the disappearance of the man in front of you.

"Ah, I remember Cessair. She was quite the follower years ago. Also a skilled witch if i remember  correctly. What ever happened to her?"

"Oh she's...gone now. Dragon pox is quite gruesome." You weren't actually sure what happened to her but lying has always come easy to you. It saved your life many times in your youth. You're sure your mother would have escalated from Crucio to the killing curse had you defied her enough.

"So you're alone then? Why only join during third year?" You got the feeling he was trying to get you to trip up. But it wouldn't be that easy. Years of fabricating aided your efforts.

"My mother thought the education at Hogwarts was...lacking...in certain aspects. So she took it upon herself to homeschool me. But once she got sick she was unable to. So we made the decision for me to attend Hogwarts. Unfortunately she passed during the school year. So I stayed with friends over the summer, or stayed at the school for extra studying." He hummed and leaned back. It seems like he believed you. Even if he didn't he wouldn't be able to get true information out of you. Your mother had trained you well on that front. Your intimate knowledge of two of the three unforgivable curses had gotten you far. As well as your knowledge of Occlumency. She had said that it was a good skill to have. To protect the mind from scum who led desire the downfall of 'The Dark Lord' as she called him. You were great full for the training now as she had told you the man in front of you now was a Legilimens, and a very good one at that.

"I see. She is certainly correct in that assessment. Though with the new Headmaster I'm sure things will be changing for the better." You furrowed your brow.

"New Headmaster? They found a replacement?" His smirk grew sinister.

"Oh yes. Severus will be taking the role. I'm sure he'll ensure your education is...thorough." You faked a pleased smile.

"Oh! Wonderful, He is a great professor. I did miss his instruction in Potions this past year though." Voldemort seemed pleased with the information he had learned. Though you could see a hint of curiosity in his eyes when he looked at you. You heard a light hiss and the end of a tail flicked you making you jump slightly.

"Oh, don't worry, Nagini only attacks when told. And it'd be a shame to loose an asset such as yourself." You could see the three across the table flinch slightly at his words.

"I don't see how someone of my age could be much of an asset, but thank you sir." His smirk grew.

"I can assure you, I have much use for you. But I do wonder, how were you unaware of your ability to communicate with snakes?" You blinked a few times.

"I'm not sure actually. I don't recall interacting with snakes before so maybe that's why. There certainly aren't any snakes at Hogwarts," You took notice of his scowl at those words. "So maybe I just never had the chance? I didn't even realize it had done it." Your answer only seemed to increase his curiosity.

"I don't recall your mother ever being able to. Shame you don't know your father, he could have been a great ally." He waved his hand dismissively.

"No matter, shall we eat?" It wasn't really a question, more of a demand.

———

The meal was had with much uncomfortable silence. You felt like your every move was being analyzed by the two on either side of you. Once the meal was finished the four of you were dismissed. You followed Draco up to his room cautiously as you could still feel Voldemorts eyes lingering on you. Once his door was shut he pulled you close and whispered in your ear.

"Bloody Hell! I thought he was going to curse you! What was all of that? Since when can you speak Parseltongue? And what was all that about your mother? You never told me she was a death Eater!" You let him rattle on until he was done.

"Like I said, I didn't know I could. As far as my mother goes, it's not really something I like to talk about. The only reason Harry knows is because i might have yelled at him once about it." A flood of emotions filled his eyes.

"Harry knows?!" You rolled your eyes.

"Yes, and I'm sure Hermione and Ron do as well. He was being rude about you after Katie Bell was cursed by that necklace. Was saying you were evil because your father is a Death Eater. It kind of just...spilled out. I wanted to defend you and I was angry at him. So I just said it. I didn't intentionally keep it from you Draco. You know me, I'd never do that." He sighed in defeat but nodded his head.

"Alright. I guess I'll forgive you this time. But please be more careful. You were so brazen with him in was scared out of my wits." He slumped onto his bed and you sat next to him.

"I do apologize for that. But if my mother taught me anything its that you can't be afraid in the face of danger,  you must be confident in yourself and your words." 

"Just...try to be more careful, please. I don't know if my heart can take the stress. I thought it was going to burst out of my chest." You chuckled.

"I'm sorry. I'll try to be more careful, but I wont promise anything. You know neither of us can." His face grew solemn.

"I know."

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