Skinny Love - Ron Weasley

Chapter 6

"Gather 'round, gather 'round! Can everybody see me? Can you all hear me? Excellent! In light of the dark events of recent weeks, Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to start this little Dueling Club to train you all up in case you ever need to defend yourselves, as I myself have done on countless occasions- for full details, see my published works."

Alex rolls her eyes and huffs as she stands between Ron and Harry, "Let me introduce my assistant, Professor Snape. He has sportingly agreed to help me with a short demonstration. Now, I don't want any of you youngsters to worry- you'll still have your Potions master when I'm through with him, never fear. One, two, three."

Snape smirks as he lifts his wand, the pair bow to each other and before Lockhart can think of a 'counter curse' Snape lifts his wand, "Expelliarmus!"

Alex lets out a bark of laughter along with Harry and Ron, "Do you think he's all right?" Hermione asks standing up on her toes to see over the students heads.

Ron snorts, "Who cares?"

"An excellent idea to show them that, Professor Snape, but if you don't mind me saying, it was pretty obvious- ah- what you were about to do. And if I had wanted to stop you, it would have been only too easy."

Snape rolls his eyes, "Perhaps it would be prudent to first teach the students to block unfriendly spells, Professor."

"An excellent suggestion, Professor Snape! Ah... Let's have a volunteer pair," He turns to look at the crowd, "Um, Potter, Weasley, how about you?"

"Weasley's wand causes devastation with the simplest spells. We'll be sending Potter to the hospital wing in a matchbox."

"Very well then, McGonagall-"

"Might I suggest someone from my own house? Malfoy, perhaps?" Snape gestures for Malfoy to get up and the Slytherin boy clambers to his feet.

Professor Lockhart taps Harry on the back, "Good luck, Potter."

"Thank you, sir."

"Wands at the ready." Lockhart calls to them.

Draco raises his brows as he looks at Harry, "Scared, Potter?"

"You wish."

"On the count of three, cast your charms to disarm your opponent- only to disarm. We don't want any accidents here. One, two-"

"Everte Statium!"

Hermione gasps as Harry gets knocked backwards, fuming, the brunette quickly gets to his feet, "Rictusempra!"

"I said disarm only!"

Draco stands up, anger clear in his face, "Serpensortia!"

Snape sighs and steps forward, "Don't move, Potter. I'll get rid of it for you."

Lockhart steps forward pushing Harry back, "Allow me, Professor Snape. Alarte Ascendare!"

The snakes gets hit into the air before landing in front of a Hufflepuff boy, Justin Finch-Fletchey, Harry begin to hiss at the snake making everyone stare at him wide eyed.

"Vipera Evenesca."

"What are you playing at?" Justin yells as it had looked like Harry was setting the snake on him.

~~~~~

"You're a Parselmouth? Why didn't you tell us?" Ron asks as the quartet walks into the common room.

"I'm a what?"

Hermione steps forward, "You can talk to snakes."

Harry nods, "I know. I mean, I accidentally set a python on my cousin Dudley at the zoo once. Uh, once! But, so what? I bet loads of people here can do it."

Hermione shakes her head quickly, "No, they can't. It's not a very common gift, Harry. This is bad."

"If it helps, I think it's kinda cool." Hermione sends Alex a stern glare making her slowly put down her hand.

"What's bad? If I hadn't told that snake not to attack Justin."

"Oh, that's what you said to it!" Ron says.

Harry looks between the three of them as if they have grown three heads, just like Fluffy from last year. "You were there! You heard me!"

"I heard you speaking Parseltongue. Snake language?"

"I spoke a different language? But- I didn't realize I- how can I speak a language without knowing I can?" Alex rolls her eyes and falls onto the sofa just ready for her third nap of the day.

"I don't know, Harry, but it sounded like you were egging the snake on, or something. Harry, listen to me. There's a reason the symbol of Slytherin House is a serpent. Salazar Slytherin was a Parselmouth. He could talk to snakes, too."

Ron nods and points to Hermione, "Exactly! Now the whole school's gonna think you're his great- great-great grandson, or something."

Harry shakes his head in denial, "But I'm not... I can't be."

"He lived a thousand years ago; for all we know, you could be."