Harry came down the steps one day into the Slytherin common room and saw there was a small group clustered around the announcement board.
"What is it?" Harry asked, approaching the board.
Tracey Davis, a buxom Slytherin second year with honey blond hair, turned to Harry.
"School's starting a dueling club." Tracey replied. Harry had never hung out with Tracey much in their year and a half-ish of education of Hogwarts, but he had nothing against her.
In fact, based solely on her physical appearance, Harry would very much like to hang out with her. She was gorgeous, and her breasts, which had been slightly smaller than Daphne's back in first year, had really grown since first year, and she was now quite a bit bustier than Daphne.
"Uh, why? Do they think a giant snake can duel?" Harry asked sarcastically. Tracey laughed.
"I doubt it. Probably just to help us defend ourselves in general." Tracey said, "Not that people like you need any help."
"I'm decent, but I'm stupid enough to think I know everything." Harry said, gesturing pointedly with his head over to the right, where a certain pale, ugly asshole was chattering on about how amazing he was at dueling, despite getting his ass kicked in quite possibly his only duel ever.
Tracey giggled.
Draco Malfoy glared at Harry, who had made zero effort to be quiet when calling out the little ferret.
"Are you going to do it, then?" Tracey asked.
"Yeah, I don't see why not." Harry shrugged.
———
That night, at about eight, Harry, Daphne, and Astoria walked into the Great Hall, which had been transformed into a dueling club. A long stage had been set up, a long rectangle of navy blue with gold decorations, a true dueling platform.
On it, to Harry's immense disappointment, was his two least favorite professors, Lockhart and Snape. Harry had hoped his mother would be in charge of the dueling club, but it seems that his hopes had been in vain.
Gabrielle appeared at Harry's shoulder, a bit breathless from running.
"What took you so long?" Harry frowned. Gabrielle blushed.
"I was reading a letter from Fleur." she said, but wouldn't quite meet Harry's eyes. He believed her, of course, but guessed that the content of the letter was why she couldn't look at him.
Fleur could get a little wild with the detail of her stories or advice, Harry knew from experience.
"Alright students! If you pay close attention, myself and Professor Snape will teach you all of the intricacies and strategies used by master duelers! I myself, of course, being a master dueler, while Professor Snape is rather alright as well." Lockhart said with bravado. Harry rolled his eyes.
"What an ass." Harry muttered.
Isobel MacDougal, a Ravenclaw second year, glared at Harry.
Gabrielle quickly glared back at Isobel, and demonstrating that Ravenclaw wit, Isobel had the good sense not to piss off a French girl.
Susan and her close friend Hannah emerged from the crowd, and Susan smiled at Harry.
"Can you believe his bullshit?" Harry muttered. The redheaded girl shook her head.
"He thinks he's the second coming of Merlin or something." Susan rolled her eyes in agreement.
"Alright, how about a demonstration? Potter, how about you? Get up here!" Lockhart crowed, and Harry had the unpleasant situation of every eye in the room being on him.
A very disgruntled Harry walked forwards and climbed onto the dueling platform, glaring daggers at Lockhart, who was genuinely so idiotic he didn't notice.
"As for the other… Weasley?" Lockhart suggested. Ron Weasley, looking a bit green, came forwards and climbed up onto the platform as well.
Harry noticed Ron's wand was broken. How had the fucker managed that? It wasn't like wands were a cheap branch!
Snape looked amused as he beheld Ron's wand, and Harry felt an odd similarity with Snape, which he instantly hated.
"Alright lads, we'll be teaching you the Disarming Charm today." Lockhart clapped his hands together.
A very exasperated Harry rose his wand, pointed it at Ron and spoke the charm.
"Expelliarmus!" Harry said with almost no enthusiasm, and Ron's hand arced out of his hand and flew into Harry's.
Ron's cheeks reddened.
"Well, it looks like Mr. Potter already knew the charm!" Lockhart exclaimed jubilantly.
Harry tossed Ron his wand back, and Ron flushed darker when he missed the catch.
"Shall we try something more difficult, then? Let's go for the Body-Bind Curse!" Lockhart exclaimed.
Harry looked at Lockhart.
"Know that one too, eh?" Lockhart muttered. He looked genuinely stumped trying to come up with another spell for Harry to do.
"Flippendo!" Harry exclaimed, and Ron went flying backwards, hitting his back onto the platform. Snape looked even more amused, and Lockhart rather incredulous.
"It appears we already have a proficient dueler on our hands, Professor Snape!" Lockhart exclaimed.
"Indeed." Snape said, raising an eyebrow and taking Ron's place opposite Harry.
"Tarantellegra!" Snape exclaimed. Harry flicked his wand in a quick diagonal motion, shouting "Protego!".
Snape's jinx was absorbed by Harry's shield, and Harry dropped the shield to respond with the Bat-Bogey Hex. To his infinite annoyance, Snape flicked it aside like it was nothing without even using a shield charm, and replied with "Serpensortia!"
Harry was surprised to see a snake burst from the tip of Snape's wand and land on the dueling platform. The thing coiled up and reared its' head at Harry.
Lockhart lifted his wand and cast some nonsensical charm that only pissed off the snake. The snake snapped it's jaws at Justin Finch-Fletchley, a dark haired Hufflepuff second year.
Harry felt an odd sensation wash over him.
Don't hurt him. Harry ordered.
Why not? the snake asked innocently.
He's just an innocent kid. Harry reasoned.
Fine. He looks pretty skinny anyway. the snake replied off-handedly, and slithered lazily towards Harry, who felt no fear of it.
Snape lifted his wand and vanished the snake, looking in shock at Harry.
Harry looked around, and saw similar shock on everyone's faces.
"What the hell did you think you were doing?" Justin roared.
"What?" Harry asked, confused.
Daphne approached the stage, Susan and Hermione with her.
"C'mon." Daphne urged, and Harry climbed off the platform. The four of them went out into the hallway, and Daphne folded her arms.
"Why didn't you mention you were a Parselmouth?" Daphne demanded.
"A what?" Harry asked.
"A Parselmouth. Someone who talks to snakes?" Hermione filled in.
"I've never heard of that." Harry said.
"I guess you wouldn't, considering the majority of your education comes from your mum, and she'd have no way of knowing about them." Daphne admitted.
"Right. So, why's it some big deal I can talk to snakes?" Harry wondered.
"Because of the heir thing." a voice answered, and Harry turned to see Astoria entering with Gabrielle behind her.
"Exactly. Salazar was a Parselmouth, and his the majority of his bloodline has been Parselmouths, so if you can speak it, and you're in Slytherin… that's a pretty convincing argument for you being the Heir of Slytherin." Daphne explained.
"But I'm not! Why would I go after Muggleborns? My mum's one!" Harry exclaimed.
"Nobody's saying it makes sense." Gabrielle said, "But the general populace is idiots, especially in Britain."
"Laugh it up, France." Astoria retorted, and Gabrielle chuckled.
Harry was glad to see the two younger girls getting along.
"So… you think I might face some accusations?" Harry summed up. The girls all exchanged glances.
"Maybe a few." Susan answered.
"Just one or two." Daphne agreed.