Chapter 162 - 161 — Vesey Speaks Parseltongue

Chapter 162: Chapter 161 — Vesey Speaks Parseltongue

# Chapter 161 — Vesey Speaks Parseltongue

Malfoy gave Harry a sinister smile.

He raised his wand and shouted, "Serpensortia!"

A long black snake appeared in front of Harry.

Most of the students were shocked and hurriedly backed away.

Only Vesey trotted a few steps forward and raised her wand. If the snake dared to attack Harry, she was clearly prepared to deal with it.

Snape snorted.

He walked over to Malfoy with a disdainful expression and said lazily, "Don’t touch Potter!"

But Lockhart beat him to it.

"Allow me!"

He raised his wand.

With a loud bang, the black snake didn’t disappear. Instead, it grew until its head reached the ceiling, then lunged toward Justin.

Harry didn’t understand why Lockhart had done that. He immediately stepped forward and shouted at the snake.

"Back off! Don’t hurt him!"

To everyone’s astonishment, the black snake actually obeyed.

It slithered back and lay limply on the floor like a black pipe.

Everyone seemed stunned.

Only Vesey appeared not to realize how serious the situation was.

Snape walked toward the snake and gave Harry a meaningful look.

He was rather shocked.

He had never heard of the Potter family having any connection to Slytherin.

Then he remembered the strange voice he had seen Harry hear in his memories.

He immediately understood.

That voice had been speaking Parseltongue.

A snake that could petrify people and animals?

Snape felt as though the ground had shifted beneath his feet.

He grabbed Vesey, who still seemed lost in thought, and led her away.

When they reached the entrance to Vesey’s dormitory, he said sternly, "Don’t wander around during this period. Stay with the other Slytherins. If you don’t, I’ll forbid you from seeing Harry Potter!"

Vesey was still wondering whether she should reveal her ability to speak Parseltongue or pretend to be like Ron and learn the language herself.

The latter seemed more intelligent.

The former might make Voldemort less hostile toward her, but it would certainly make Dumbledore suspicious again.

However, if she explained that she could speak Parseltongue, she could also fill in some of the gaps in the diary.

For example, why was Dumbledore wary of her?

Because she could speak Parseltongue.

That was certainly a reasonable explanation.

There was no way the diary would continue concealing the reason Dumbledore wanted her dead forever.

Dumbledore must have been driven nearly bald from worrying about it.

Vesey thought for a while and decided to reveal the truth.

She glanced at Snape and decided to tell him directly.

That would at least save him from worrying all day long.

So she raised her head and asked with a puzzled expression, "Professor, I don’t understand. Why did everyone become so strange after my brother spoke to the snake?"

Snape replied calmly,

"Historically, only those descended from Slytherin could naturally speak to snakes. This ability is called Parseltongue.

"Of course, it’s possible that some people have specifically learned the language. But I don’t think Mr. Potter has either the intention or the ability to learn it."

Vesey looked thoughtful, then hesitantly said, "Professor, I think I might be a Parselmouth too. I can understand what my brother was saying to the snake, and I feel as though I was born knowing how to speak it."

[Ding! Energy Points +10]

Vesey even demonstrated by speaking a few words.

To Snape, it was utterly shocking.

Almost instinctively, he remembered Dumbledore’s rejection of Vesey in the diary and how the old wizard had ultimately wanted to kill her.

Was it because of Parseltongue?

At present, Voldemort was the best-known wizard who could speak it.

Could Vesey and Harry Potter have some connection to Voldemort?

Snape’s expression grew increasingly troubled.

He suppressed his anger, rubbed Vesey’s hair, and spoke gently.

"Don’t tell anyone else about this, and don’t demonstrate it in front of others...

"Actually, forget it. Hiding it would probably be too difficult for you. Just say you learned it yourself. I’m sure everyone will understand how talented you are at learning things!"

Vesey looked uneasy.

"Professor, have my brother and I caused you trouble?"

[Ding! Energy Points +10]

Snape’s expression softened.

*Trouble?*

They had nearly cost him his life.

But he didn’t mind.

He owed Lily this much. He couldn’t possibly stand by and watch Vesey die.

"No, you haven’t caused me any trouble!"

He was perfectly willing to do all this for her.

"Don’t overthink things. Go back and get some proper sleep. Do you still need a sleeping potion?"

Snape took a bottle out of his pocket.

Vesey hurriedly slipped into her room.

"No, no, no! Professor, I don’t want it! Good night!"

[Ding! Energy Points +10]

Snape almost hit his nose when she quickly shut the door.

He rubbed his nose helplessly, a smile appearing on his face.

However, that smile immediately disappeared when he saw the other Slytherin students returning from the Great Hall.

"Everyone, go back to your dormitories and sleep immediately! If I find any of you lingering in the common room and disturbing other people’s rest, don’t blame me for giving you detention!"

Once all the young snakes had returned to their dormitories, Snape hurried to Dumbledore’s office.

At first, he hadn’t wanted to report that Harry and Vesey were Parselmouths.

But he understood perfectly well that Dumbledore must already have figured out what had happened in the Great Hall.

And Vesey’s ability to speak Parseltongue would inevitably be mentioned in the diary sooner or later.

There was no point in hiding it.

It was better to visit Dumbledore now and find out what the old wizard intended to do.

When Snape arrived, Dumbledore was reading what appeared to be a Muggle book.

The moment Snape entered, Dumbledore hastily covered it with another book.

Snape had no time to investigate what Dumbledore had been reading.

He stared directly at the old wizard and said each word distinctly.

"Vesey is a Parselmouth!"

Dumbledore’s smile faltered.

After a moment, he reassured Snape.

"Severus, don’t worry. I’ve recently learned something important. I won’t let Vesey die.

"Now, just like you, I want Vesey to live!"

Snape didn’t entirely believe him.

"You have that kind of heart?"

Dumbledore was momentarily at a loss for words.

"I wouldn’t lie to you about something like this. That thing has developed new abilities, and I think you’ve probably gained something from it too.

"You’ve been doing certain things behind my back lately, but I haven’t interfered.

"Severus, as long as I know you still belong here, that you’re still loyal to Hogwarts, I can be certain you won’t join him or do anything too terrible..."

Snape asked calmly, "Nothing escapes your notice, does it? You have countless spies in this school!"

"No. The Prince family asked their house-elves to send me a message. They wanted to know about your character. Without them, I certainly wouldn’t have thought of this so soon."

Dumbledore answered honestly.

Snape’s expression remained unchanged as he continued staring at Dumbledore.

After a long silence, Dumbledore finally raised his hands in surrender.

"All right, all right, Severus. You’re reopening an old wound, but there’s something I must tell you to put your mind at ease.

"Vesey is the reincarnation of an old friend of mine. At least, that’s what I believe. Although I suspect she might be someone else entirely, I could never bear to watch that old friend die again.

"I regret what happened in that world. I don’t want to make the same mistakes a second time!"