Harry Potter and the Green Snake of Slytherin

6.

Moments of Doubt

Harry left the Slytherin Common Room in a state of utter confusion. He was now completely unsure of who he was. What if his whole life had been one huge lie? Firstly, during his Muggle childhood, and now... for the past four years at Hogwarts, where he had struggled to be sorted into Gryffindor, perhaps in vain... denying his real talents.

Looking back at the gigantic stone serpent that was guarding the place, Harry thought of Malachius and Avara. He wanted to stay with them, the green snake curled around his arm, making jokes in Parseltongue, awestruck by Avara's sheer grace, mesmerized by her unfathomable shimmering eyes.

She was right, it was not love they felt for each other. What was this feeling? What did she mean by "We stand both far above it all"? Then again, her eyes were also frightening; they had revealed to him who Voldemort really was... If he saw him in a crowd, he would recognize him and...kill him...

Yet he was suffering of being so deeply torn. He had to get rid of this devastating feeling, immediately. Only one person came to his mind who could help him in those moments: Albus Dumbledore.

***

Breathing silently under his invisibility cloak, Harry stepped up erratically the giant moving staircases that led to Dumbledore's office.

From behind the door, he could distinguish two voices: Albus Dumbledore's and a dark, cruel, velvet-like voice he knew all too well: Severus Snape was talking to the Hogwarts Headmaster.

Unwilling to disturb the professors while they were having what seemed to be a serious discussion, Harry stayed hidden behind the door, trying to make out what they were talking about :

... Mixed classes? Are you sure, Severus? ...

... At least give a try....

... Hmm...I must admit...Ms. von Argentum's idea made its way at Hogwarts... many supporters here...

... Brilliant wit... Slytherin...I myself had been thinking of mixed classes about three years ago... my past activities...not the best moment...

Dumbledore's and Snape's voice became clearer as they moved towards the door:

"Alright Severus, we'll give it a try tomorrow. Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs will be easier to start with."

"Thank you Professor", said Snape, respectfully and he added, cynically "I hope they will at least avoid melting cauldrons this time"

While Snape opened the heavy oak door, Harry walked back a few steps, as if he just had been arriving.

Snape did not seem surprised to see Harry in Dumbledore's office in the middle of the night, as if he knew he had to come here. "Mr Potter... I should be normally taking fifty points from Gryffindor for your unauthorized - wandering - through - the - castle - at - night..." he paused, his voice silkier than ever "However strange it may seem, I'm in a good mood tonight, Potter... and you...seem quite upset - maybe I should go down and bring you some revigorating potion"

"I'm...I'm alright, Professor", muttered Harry, as if Snape had offered to feed him poison.

"Besides... your friends have already cost Gryffindor House a mere forty points... I will not be taking any points from you tonight, Harry Potter. Consider this as highly exceptional. And... of course, needless to say that I was not in Dumbledore's office tonight. Is that clear? Now goodbye..." said Snape, his voice almost threatening.

"Pfew!", said Harry, knocking at Dumbledore's door in a sense of deep relief.

"Harry? Why aren't you sleeping with your fellow housemates? What's happening?"

"Professor Dumbledore, I am feeling deeply tormented. You are the only person I could think of seeing right now", said Harry in a feeble voice.

'What is it? Tell me..." said the Hogwarts Headmaster warmly, trying to soothe Harry's distress.

The young Gryffindor decided not to speak about tonight's encounter with Avara. Instead he started thinking how he could ask Dumbledore questions without telling him the whole story. Suddenly, he felt an itching pain in his scar, as if Voldemort was ready to come back once more.

Harry's strength seemed to be nullified. He told Dumbledore "Professor, I... don't know... I'm just feeling exhausted and...my housemates' attitude...I don't feel like going back to my dormitory tonight."

"Aha. I understand" said Dumbledore, wondering if Harry was hiding things from him. "Harry, you can stay here tonight if you wish. You can sleep in that leather couch right there... I have enchanted it so that it feels most comfortable"

"Oh thank you!" replied Harry, his feeble voice almost dying. He lay onto the couch and fell asleep right away.

During his slumber, he could feel the presence of Voldemort even closer. The Dark Lord was different from the man he had seen in Avara's eyes, yet Harry could not be mistaken: that sallow greenish skin and evil glooming red eyes were undoubtedly Voldemort's. He could hear his disembodied, hissing voice "I will kill you...Harry Potter... This time I will succeed... Avara is too pure for you...Stay away from her... Stay away!"

Harry woke up, iced and crying: Voldemort knew that he was seeing Avara von Argentum, he was willing to break up what they had succeeded to build: a strong, deep friendship between students from different houses.

Turning around, he realized that the light had been shut off and that he was alone. Maybe Voldemort was lurking in the back of the room, waiting for the perfect moment to cast the Most Unforgivable Curse at him...But he remembered that he was in Dumbledore's office, a place Voldemort feared above all and where he, Harry Potter, would be safe.

He looked around for something to read, something to do... anything that would prevent him from thinking about the Dark Lord. He remembered that last time he was in this vast, circular room he had found the Sorting Hat, put it on and asked him for advice... he had already felt the thirst to know if he had made the right choice...Maybe the hat could be useful to him once again ?

Harry had a hard time finding the Sorting Hat, which Dumbledore had put in one of his few empty bookcases. "Please help me" he muttered, crossing his fingers as if he were almost praying.

He could feel the ancient hat come to life as he put it on his head. He could almost hear it breathe. Its leather mouth opened and spoke:

"Aha... here you are again, Harry Potter, what can I do for you?"

"I'm pleased to see you, faithful Sorting Hat", said Harry, flattering the old piece of cloth. "I have a few questions that I feel unable to answer myself and... I thought you might help me"

"Go ahead", said the hat, "though I cannot answer any type of question... only man's deepest feelings can be explained by an old torn hat like me"

"Alright, then, hat! ... I can call you 'hat', can I?" said Harry, trying not to sound too serious.

"Sure"

"What do you think of Avara von Argentum?" asked the young wizard as if freed from a heavy burden.

"Hmm... you like that girl, do you, Harry Potter?" said the Sorting Hat in return

Harry remained silent.

"Avara has a very strong Dark side. She is capable of evil things. Her family I know very well... I had them sent all to Slytherin and they went as bad as you can go. But young Avara seems different...and yet I cannot say why... Her heart looks pure... However, I sense a strong thirst of power. You'll have to find out who she really is, I'm afraid"

"Alright", whispered Harry, not sure whether the hat had given him some useful information or nurtured his confusion.

"And what about me, wise hat? Avara told me the blood of Salazar Slytherin was flowing through my veins... Is that true?"

"I'm afraid she's right, Harry Potter. I was not allowed to reveal this fearsome fact to you myself. However, I also had no right to deny it if you asked me. You are one of Slytherin's heirs..." After a careful pause, the ancient patched hat went on: "And yet, you found Gryffindor's own sword inside of me in moments of despair. The Great Godric would be proud of his great-grandchild, Harry, if he had been lucky to meet you."