Parseltongue- Harry speaking ; snakes speaking

'mind talking/ communicating'

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"...Fluffy?" Three pairs of eyes looked at a Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and a Slytherin incredulously. The trio nodded.

"Y-yep!" The shy Hufflepuff said.

"You know,-"

"-that actually-"

"-sounds like-"

"-Hagrid." Twins from the three onlookers said.

"So what you're telling me is," started the third onlooker, a blond, "that there is a cerberus in the third-floor corridor named Fluffy, belonging to Hagrid."

"Yes, and it is guarding something related to Professor Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel," the Ravenclaw with bushy hair said.

"Oh bloody hell," the twins synchronised.

It was the Friday after the first Quidditch match. Harry, Hermione and Neville had gone off to meet Hagrid for tea. Upon arriving there, they found out the name of the cerberus in the third-floor corridor, that it was something to do with Dumbledore and Flamel, and that Hargid's rock cakes taste like rocks.

Hermione immediately became invested in the mystery presented to them. She started searching up and down the library to find out who this Nicholas Flamel was. She already spent so much time in the library doing homework or reading ahead for the next lesson, and now the numbers had doubled. It went up to the guys to make sure she reached her dorm room safely.

The trio had told the twins and Draco as soon as they entered the castle, who were waiting for them at the entrance. The twins were hunched over a piece of parchment, listing prank ideas and how to efficiently use them. Draco was just standing to the side, talking with Pansy and Blaise, giving the twins some ideas here and there. A few minutes before the trio could come in, Pansy and Blaise left, in order to plot something. Draco neither wanted to know nor cared.

"Actually, I think I have heard of the name NIcholas Flamel before."

Hermione stopped whatever she was doing and turned to Draco.

"You have? Where? Who is he? What did he do? How is he relevant to-"

"Mione, slow down!" Neville frantically said.

"Mione?" she asked the short boy, her thirst for the knowledge from Draco forgotten.

"U-um y-yes. I-it's shorter th-than saying H-hermione. I can n-not say it i-if you want..." his voice turned into a whisper at the end.

"Oh Neville, I love it! You know, when my parents picked my name for me, I guess they were going for something poetic from Shakespear. But when you really say my name, it sounds so different from others and not as magnificent as they wanted it to be."

Harry hesitantly put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. She gently took it in her own and smiled at him.

"You're right! Mione sounds short and sweet," Fred exclaimed.

"Mhm! From now on, you are Miss 'Mione Granger." George gave her a dramatic bow, as if she was the Queen of England.

"That's right, peasant!" She went along with the act. "You are now to address me as that or as nothing at all. You are dismissed."

This finally sent the peers around them in a fit of giggles. Even Draco's blank face seemed amused.

"Anyways, back to the topic. I said I have heard of their name, not who he was. I will contact my father and ask more about him. But for now, Harry and I need to go back to our common room. Later." Draco then proceeded to drag Harry back with him.

It was a comfortable silence between the two as they headed back. Neither spoke, but they preferred it that way. Once they reached the common room, after saying goodnight to the Slytherins who were up, the two headed to their dorm. Blaise and Theo were up, whispering about something. But when the two entered, they pretended they were doing something else, and were just getting ready for bed.

"Oh, hey guys," Theo said, looking up from his book, which was upside down. "Welcome back."

Harry waved at him while Draco nodded.

"What were you doing?" Draco asked.

"Why do you think I was doing anything?" Theo cooly answered back.
"Your book is upside down, and you are panting."

"So? This is an interesting book. It had me at the edge of my seat."

"...It is a school book."

"...So?"

"You know what, whatever. I'm going to bed." He then promptly turned and elegantly landed on his bed, closing the curtains.

Harry just shook his head in amusement and turned to get ready for bed. He took Sicily out of his robes and put her on the bed he had transfigured for her.

Are you okay, girl?

Yess hatchiling. Thisss bed hasss been the mosst nicccessset thing ever. Though I prefer being out too.

That's good. I like that you are enjoying yourself. Let me finish up then we can sleep, alright?

Alright. But turn around. The Italian iss ssstaring at you.

Blaise was staring at him. The other two had already fallen asleep. Harry started to feel a little self-conscious.

"...Y-yes, Blaise?" he asked in a quiet voice. "Do you need s-something?"

"Oh, no, sorry if I was making you uncomfortable. I was just watching you speak to you snake. I think Parseltongue is cool."

"Y-you do?"

"Yes. It is a language few people know. Sadly, it is discriminated against here."

"Yeah, that's sad. I-I mean it's just a language. It's like speaking a language from a different country other people don't know."

"Mhm. Though, I read it's pretty common in some other countries, like India."

"I'll check it out, thanks."

"My pleasure. If you want, I can send some books to you. Our library is filled with all sorts of books."

"I'll keep it in mind. Thank you."

"No problem. Goodnight."

"Night."

Harry turned back to Sicily just as Blaise closed his curtain. He laid down on his bed and turned to face Sicily.

Hatchling, what isss your opinion of the mystery on your handsss.

Hmm. The Gryffindor and the Ravenclaw part of me wants to jump at the mystery and solve and face it, yet the Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and the more rational part of Ravenclaw wants me to leave it and worry about school instead.

Don't worry snakelet. You'll figure it out asss time progesssesss.

Thanks. Goodnight Sicily.

Goodnight hatchling.

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What do you think the Slytherins are planning?

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Since today is a special occasion, I've posted two chapters, plus a one-shot book. Hope you enjoy!

Edit: I have taken down the one-shot book for editing. Hopefully it will be added back soon.

(I drew the drawing above myself. Do you guys like it?)