The Serpent's Secrets

A Weasley and A Parseltongue

Later the next day Edelweiss was walking down the hall, and ran into no other than Ginny Weasly.
"Sorry Edelweiss." She said nervously and hesitantly.
"It's alright Ginny, I haven't seen you since your sorting. How is Gryffindor suiting you? The door is always open if you need to spend a night away, I know your brothers can be irritating." Edelweiss said politely, attempting to joke about the girl's many brothers in an effort to cheer her up.
"No it's fine. I'm fine." She said quickly, causing Edelweiss's eyes to narrow in suspicion. Not that she'd let the obviously terrified girl see.
"I know that most of the time Slytherins and Gryffindors don't get along but if you ever need a person to talk to I'm always around. And if Draco tries to give you any trouble tell him I'll laughing jinx him again." She said both teasingly and concernedly.
"Okay." The first year said before darting off her books tucked in her arms.

A week later Edelweiss heard of the new dueling club, and at first she was interested believing she needed to practice her skills. However, once she learned that Gilderoy was leading it she immediately shielded away as if it was a poisonous toadstool. Draco was quite interested and when he told her that she should at least come watch the first meeting since Severus would be teaching as well, she agreed.
    "Del. Come on you have to at least come to the first one. I know Lockhart's a moron but Professor Snape will be there." He whined to her in the common room the day of the first meeting.
    "Alright fine, but you have to be on your best behavior, if I see a single blood related comment out of you I'm out." She said looking up from her Fantastic Beasts book.
    "I'll keep my mouth shut, unless it's Potter, then can I?" He pleaded, and Edelweiss sighed.
    "Only if he insults you first. So no antagonizing him." She said without looking at the 12 year old.
    "Deal." He replied and Edelweiss stood up and followed him down to the new club's meeting. Upon their arrival Severus glanced at Edelweiss but paid her no more attention. Gilderoy made his obnoxious introduction and Edelweiss almost laughed aloud when she heard that Gilderoy and Severus would duel. Her first thought was before anything shouldn't they practice the shield charm, Protego. She watched with pure amusement as Severus spoke his single spell.
    "Expelliarmus." He snapped and Gilderoy was blasted back losing his wand in the process.
    "Haha, that is exactly what not to do!" He tried to cover up his ineptitude while Severus commented Edelweiss's thoughts.
    "Perhaps you should teach the students to ward off ill intended spells first." Gilderoy laughed.
    "Let's pair up and practice shall we? Harry and Ron why don't you come up to demonstrate?" Gilderoy invited only for Severus to interject.
    "Now now, if those two are paired then we won't see anything with Wealsy's damaged wand. Draco, come up here." Severus ordered and Edelweiss winced.
    "Bow." Gilderoy said and Harry and Draco dipped their heads as little as possible. "Begin." He said and the boys exchanged an array of spells. Neither giving the other a chance to recover.
    "Tarantallegra."
    "Titillando."
    "Cantis."
    "Steleus." The pair threw every jinx or hex they could come up with at each other. After a moment break Gilderoy was giving Harry useless advice and Severus was whispering something into Draco's ear.
    "Serpensortia." Draco shouted pointing his wand at Harry, who was shocked by the snake that came out of it. Harry backed away, and Gilderoy stepped up.
    "I'll take care of this, depulso." He said and the spell hit the snake and knocked it back slightly but didn't dissolve it like it was supposed to. The snake turned on a boy in the crowd, a Hufflepuff.
    "sssavvvrrr." Harry hissed at the snake who turned to him.
    "Deletrius." Severus snapped and the snake disintegrated. Everyone turned to stare at Harry except Edelweiss who was glaring at Severus, who in turn was glaring at Harry. Harry took off with his friends and Edelweiss followed Severus back to his office