Then I Met You [D.M.]

Year Two: Parseltongue

Every student around Violet tensed up and started muttering, moving back away from the table. Whatever Harry was saying seemed to cause the snake to stop moving, but then it turned to face Justin Finch-Fletchly, a second-year Hufflepuff. It suddenly moved towards him, hissing in it's face. Everyone around them froze as the snake turned back to stare at Harry.

"Vipera Evanesca." Snape's voice was hard as he spoke the spell, causing the snake to burn away.

"What are you playing at?!" Justin shouted at Harry. Harry only stared at Justin, a confused expression on his face.

Harry looked at both the professors before rushing out of the hall, Hermione and Ron running after them.

"What was that?" Violet questioned, looking to Hannah and Aimee, who both had terrified expressions.

"He's a Parselmouth..." Aimee responded, "He speaks Parseltongue."

Violet snapped her fingers in front of Aimee's face, capturing her full attention, "I don't know what that means."

"Parseltongue," Hannah explained, "He can talk to snakes. It's a very, very rare gift that very few people have. It's typically only Slytherins that can speak it..."

"I told you he was the Heir!" Justin was suddenly beside them, fear in his voice, "I told you, didn't I?!"

"Yes, I believe you now, Justin." Hannah answered.

"What? You think Harry's the Heir because he can speak to snakes?" Everyone was in shock, she decided. Surely they weren't thinking clearly, "How do you know he didn't just warn the snake away?"

"Are you mad?" Justin snapped at her, "You saw it! He was obviously telling it to attack!"

"But it didn't attack, now did it?!" Violet snapped back.

"Okay, let's go!" Aimee drug Violet out of the hall by her arm, the two of them escaping the chaos.

Once in the hall, the two girls moved to the side as the rest of the students exited. They waited for Hannah, who was still speaking to Justin.

Suddenly a pair of grey eyes were in front of Violet's, causing her to stumble back.

"What gives?" She demanded, until she realized it was only Draco. Then she shouted, "What was that?!"

"What was what?" He snapped back, "The fact that your little mate is a Parseltongue?!"

"Why'd you spell a snake at him? And how was I to know he's a Parselmouth?! I didn't even know what that was until five minutes ago!"

"Oh, right! You've been defending him all year, so surely you knew something!"

Draco was in Violet's face now, his anger overwhelming. Before Violet could respond, Draco was thrown back away from her.

Violet blinked up at Cedric, who was seething in anger. His hands were fisted at his sides, "Don't you ever get near her again."

"Cedric!" She shoved past him, kneeling beside Draco, who was laid out on the ground, blinking up at the ceiling, "Draco? Draco! Did you hit your head? Look at me."

"You- you can't be serious." Cedric stuttered, "After what he just did, how could you possibly-"

"Alright, Cedric, I think they get it." Aimee pulled the boy back by his arm, guiding him down the stairs, "We should go."

Cedric was still muttering as they left. Violet was still sat beside Draco, who was sat up and mentally cursing Cedric. For the moment his anger was forgotten.

"I'm fine, stop fussing." He gently pushed Violet's hands away, which had been feeling the back of his head for any injury, "Violet, really!"

"Sorry, I just wanted to make sure." Then she smacked him on the shoulder, "And that's what you get for coming at me like that! I had no idea about Harry, Draco. But even so, I don't think he meant any harm."