"Ok guys, we have to figure out who would want to petrify Mrs. Norris, or any 'enemies of the Heir'." Hermione said, not even bothering with a greeting. The second years of Les Amis all had an hour before their next class, so they had met for a quick meeting in their classroom.
"Hello, Hermione, nice to see you too. But yes. We do need to figure out who would petrify Mrs. Norris. And what is this about an Heir?" Harry asked.
"We didn't tell you? There was a message above Mrs. Norris' body. It said, 'Enemies of the Heir, beware.'" Neville broke in before Hermione could answer.
"Ok, so why does it have to be the actual Heir? Couldn't a friend or ally have done it?" Hermione stopped her pacing and stared at Harry. "What?" he asked defensively.
"Nothing. I think that Bludger did you good, [redacted]. It must have knocked a couple of braincells loose for you to use," she answered cheekily.
"Wow, thanks, Owlet."
"Ok, so who is it?"
"Lockhart." Two voices spoke at the same time and Ron and Draco turned to each other with vastly different looks on their face.
"I was kidding," Ron said, holding his hands up.
"I wasn't," Draco replied. "The man is hiding something. Maybe it's not that he's petrifying cats, but it's something, and until we know what it is, I refuse to rule him out. Besides. No one can be that bad at everything. He's either exactly as incompetent as he looks, and is stealing these stories from other people, or he's far too dangerous to work at a school. Ok, he's too dangerous either way, in opposite ways, but he's definitely hiding something big."
"There's no way Professor Lockhart didn't do what he says in the books." Hermione sounded tired, and Harry figured it was because they had had this discussion almost every day.
"Ok, fine. But that means that he's acting like the world's biggest buffoon to hide something big. Maybe the fact that he used to be a Death Eater. My father mentioned once that Morty told everyone that he was the Heir of Slytherin," Draco countered.
"Headmaster Dumbledore wouldn't allow a Death Eater inside the school!" Hermione didn't sound tired anymore. Now she was almost scandalized.
"Oh, of course not. Just like we didn't have Flees from Death himself teaching us last year. Very protective of us, Dumbledore is." Neville's voice was dry, and Harry couldn't help but snort.
Hermione paused, then nodded. "Good point. Let's not rule Lockhart out then. Harry, how much does Salmissra see? Do you think she sensed anything?"
"I'll ask her after classes. Draco, come on, we have Transfiguration in a few minutes. See you guys! I'll let you know what she says." Harry dragged Draco out, asking him something about Jormungandr and if he would enjoy talking to the older snake.
After classes, Harry stopped by the dorms quickly to drop off his bag and grab Jor, then headed to the little hallway in the dungeon he had found last time he talked to Salmissra. He casts a cushioning spell on the floor and sits down.
What are we doing Harry hatchling? Jor asked.
We're going to ssspeak with the sssnake who you met when you came here. Sssalmissssssra? Are you here?
Hatchlingsss! It hasss been too long sssinccce you've come to ssspeak with me.
I had a quessstion for you, Sssalmissssssra. How much do you sssenssse around the ssschool?
I can hear anything if I'm in the right placcce, hatchling. What isss it you wisssh to know?
Did you hear anything the night the fluffy-sssmall-animal belonging to the man who cleansss wasss frozen? Huh. That was an interesting term for cat. He'd have to try other terms.
I did not hear about the fluffy-sssmall-animal. I do know that only a few sssunsss ago I wasss visssited by my Tom.
Your Tom wasss here in the ssschool? I didn't sssee any other adultsss besssidesss the teachersss.
Perhapsss he did not wisssh to be ssseen, Hatchling.
Yeah. Can you tell me more ssstoriesss about your Sssalazar?
Of courssse, Hatchling. The day I wasss hatched will alwaysss be my favorite day. I wasss very sssmall then, and my egg-layer had left long ago. My Sssalazar had found my egg and kept it warm and sssafe. My firssst meal wasss a frog that was hoping near me. My venom killed it quickly. The story continued and Harry began falling asleep. Salmissra's voice was soothing and he hadn't gotten much sleep the night before because of a nightmare about his parents and a green flash of light.
Hatchling, a voice whispered from beside him.
Mum? He mumbled back. There was silence for a moment, then the voice came back, softer than before.
Hatchling, it'sss time to wake up. Your friendsss are looking for you and will ssstart to get worried before too long.
Still half asleep, Harry groaned, Five more minutesss, mum.
A different voice came from his arm. Harry hatchling. I want to go back to the green nessst now.
Harry sat up instantly. Arms didn't talk. He looked down and relaxed. Oh, Jor. It'sss jussst you. I thought I wasss ssstill dreaming for a minute.
Hatchling, you need to find your friendsss now. They will get worried sssoon.
Ok. Thanksss, mum. Harry froze for a second, then bolted down the hallway, not looking back. What was that? Had he just called Salmissra mum? This had to be a nightmare. It was also a testament to just how messed up his life was that the closest thing he had to a mother figure was a snake he'd never even seen. He shook his head and entered the main part of the dungeons.
Ten minutes later he reached the Great Hall and found it full of students. It must be supper time. Had it really been that long since he went to talk with Salmissra? A moment later he was almost tackled from behind as Ron and Hermione came in. Draco, Neville, and Luna came in much more normally and they all sat at the Ravenclaw table. After supper, Hermione had to get ready for Astronomy, so the group split up to do their own homework.
Later that night, Harry collapsed dramatically on Draco's bed. "Draaaaacooooooo," he whined, then buried his head in the blankets. Draco flopped gracefully down next to him and Harry was a little jealous about the fact that Draco could flop gracefully.
"What, Harry?"
"I called her mum!" There was silence for a few seconds, then Draco snorted a little, like he was trying not to laugh. Harry instantly flopped on top of him, knocking the breath out of his best friend.
"Who did you call mum?" the blond wheezed, still trying not to laugh, because obviously something happened, but also Harry is freaking out over this when he has an exam in Charms in the morning?
"I called Salmissra mum! She woke me up in time for dinner and I was half asleep and I called her mum at least twice!"
"Did she seem to mind?"
"I don't know! I was mostly asleep for at least one of them, then I ran away as soon as I realized what I said!"
Draco really did laugh, and shoved Harry off his bed towards his own. "Go to sleep Harry. You can have an existential crisis after the Charms exam." With that reminder, Harry was quickly in his own bed and had grabbed his textbook to put on the bedside table.
"Night, Dray,"
"Night, Harry."