A Changed Lestrange (1-2) (under editing)

17: A Hero In A Villain's Skin

Ever since Harry had learned he was a Parselmouth, he seemed much more panicked and insecure - not eating much, not sleeping much. It took him back to the days at the Dursleys.

Ashton, on the other hand, wasn't affected whatsoever by people's newfound beliefs that he was the descendant of Salazar Slytherin. He took joy in seeing people's panicked faces as he walked past them in the hallways. Sure, it wasn't a healthy source of enjoyment, but it was his only one.

It was really getting to Harry, however. He was beginning to get nightmares, and it was evident that he couldn't withstand the pressure of, potentially, Slytherin being his ancestor - and the fact that people were starting to suspect that it had been he who had opened the Chamber of Secrets definitely wasn't helping his struggles. 

Ashton had a plan to relieve Harry's stress, although it meant him doubling down on the threats he made to Justin Finch-Fletchley previously.

Herbology had been cancelled on the last day of term, much to the dismay of Neville Longbottom, meaning the second-years had a free period. Harry used this time to search for Justin and explain to him what had really happened at the Dueling Club. It seemed Ashton had beaten him to it, as he was already there, listening in to the conversation of a few Hufflepuffs.

"So anyway," a stout boy was saying, "I just told Justin to hide up in our dormitory. I mean to say, if Potter really has marked him down as his next victim, it's best if he keeps a low profile for a while. Y'know, come to think of it, it was Lestrange's name that really made Justin sweat. I wonder if they had an encounter or something..." Harry noticed Ashton smirking nastily. "They both know Parseltongue, you know. It has to be one of them... or could it be both? Yeah, what if Weasley and Granger, the rest of their gang, what if they're just his apprentices, helping him out whenever they can. It makes a lot more sense. Lestrange wouldn't miss a chance to attack Muggleborns, his family are probably the purest out there - especially his parentage."

"You think it's Potter and Lestrange then, Ernie?" asked a girl with pigtails anxiously.

"Hannah," said the boy solemnly, "they're both Parselmouths. Everyone knows that's the mark of a dark wizard. Have you ever heard of a decent one who could talk to snakes?"

"She's talking to you right now," whispered Ashton under his breath.

Some murmuring followed, and Ernie continued. "Remember what was written on the wall? Enemies of the Heir Beware. Potter and Lestrange were both there. They had some sort of run-in with Filch, and then the next thing we know, his cat is attacked. That first-year, Creevey, was annoying Potter at the Quidditch match, taking pictures of him while he was lying in the mud. Next thing we know, Creevey's been attacked."

"Harry's always seemed so nice though. I get why you'd suspect Lestrange, he's like the reincarnation of You-Know-Who. But Harry? He can't be bad, can he?" said Hannah. "After all, he did make You-Know-Who disappear."

"Doesn't the fact that he actually befriended that bastard seem suspicious? Why else would Potter want to be friends with someone like Lestrange? Potter's always acted decent, but Lestrange's cold and blunt with people. And people are even saying that Potter only survived the attack from You-Know-Who due to dark magic."

Ashton took one look at Harry and knew that Ernie had taken things too far. The poor boy was already having nightmares at the thought of being the Heir of Slytherin, and these Hufflepuffs had the nerve to make his fears worse by talking like that? 

"It's time," Ashton whispered to Harry. Harry finally seemed to have enough, because he cleared his throat loudly. All of the Hufflepuffs looked as though they had been petrified solely by the sight of Harry Potter and Ashton Lestrange standing there, and the colour was draining from Ernie's pompous face.