Finally the last weeks of term arrived, and with it finals. After Harry's last test, he went to his Head of House's office.
"Yes, what is it, Mr. Potter?"
"Sir, I've kept quiet about something all year, not wanting to cause panic or to be blamed for something I didn't do, but with the plan to brick over the girls bathroom I feel that I should say something. Bricking up the bathroom is a poor solution to the problem in my opinion, what would stop someone from vanishing the bricks? The only way to ensure the basilisk is never used to harm students again is to kill it, is it not?"
"I agree but without a parseltongue to open the chamber we have no way of doing so."
"Can you give me your word never to tell anyone what I am about to tell you without my express permission and without garnering the same promise from them?"
Severus Snape's instincts sharpened. Here was possibly his chance to build a tie to the world's next powerful wizard. He didn't kid himself: Albus was old, and he had his eye on Harry as a successor. Harry- while quiet- was a powerful young wizard in his own right, despite how much as he personally might wish to deny the fact. He instinctively drew his wand and used the wording of a wizard's oath to answer. "I, Severus Snape, swear on my magic to hold the information Harry James Potter tells me to myself. Telling only those he gives me permission to tell, and only after getting an oath of secrecy from them."
Harry recognized the wording and a half-smile crept across his face at the glow from Professor Snape's wand. "I am a parselmouth. I am not completely sure of the how. I spoke with the portraits of my ancestors over the Christmas holidays and one mentioned a dark spell that has in the past been used to steal family magics. If a family was hunted to extinction before the last member was killed this spell could be used to take magic that is traditionally passed by the blood. But if both were the last of their line and the attacking wizard failed in his attempt then his family magic would be the one forfeited. I believe that Voldemort was the last of Slytherin's line and that he had intended to take the Potter family magics. But when whatever happened happened it cost him the Slytherin magics instead. I tell you this because I believe I could possibly open the chamber of secrets so the basilisk could be dealt with."
"You have spoken with a snake before?"
"Yes, several times. To me it just sounds like English, but I've been told I'm hissing."
"Interesting. I agree that the plan to brick over the bathroom is impractical. Your explanation as to how you, a Potter, is a parselmouth also makes sense. I will need to speak to the Headmaster-" Snape watched as Harry's face hardened. "Why so much dislike for the Headmaster? He is the acclaimed Leader of the Light, to dislike him is to cast one's own goodness into question."
" I tell you this in confidence, under the same instructions as the fact I am a parselmouth. I dislike those that deny others their right to choose their own path: those that manipulate, tell half-truths, and guilt or otherwise force others into doing their bidding. Those who, while maybe having good intentions, commit heinous acts in the name of the greater good. Who is to say his greater good isn't the road to hell? To quote a muggle saying, the road to hell us paved with good intentions. I know this is a rather heretical notion in the wizarding world, but I believe that everyone has a bit of larceny deep down in their soul. I find myself asking what is in it for the Great and Powerful Albus Dumbledore as I look at how he tries to force me into a certain mold.. I ask what is his greater good going to cost me, and finally, would I also count it as worth the price?
"He has lead the wizarding world for the better half of the last half-century. But prejudice is rampant even here at Hogwarts or perhaps I should say especially here. The wizarding world is limited in philosophy, art, music and in many respects it lags far behind the muggle world. If this is his idea of leadership, perhaps it's time for someone with new ideas. Just so it is clear, when I say it's time for new ideas; I don't mean ideas of the sort that Voldemort espouses. That if anything is moving us backwards."
Severus felt stunned. He had never before heard such a succinct summation of the Headmaster's modus operandi. "So, do you want to be this new leader?"
"Not really, I'm actually somewhat lazy at heart. I want to be happy, to have work to do, people to love, and things to keep my body and mind stimulated. I want the world around me to be a mostly happy, safe and prosperous place."
"That's it? That is the sum of your ambition?"
"Yes."
"But…" Severus Snape blinked dumbfoundedly at the boy across from him. "How could you possibly be sorted in to Slytherin with that bit of Hufflepuffish drivel as the sum of your ambition?"
A half-smile crossed Harry's face, "Consider who I am, and who seeks to use me, and who seeks my destruction, Professor. I find it ambitious enough." Harry thought for a moment. ""You have my permission to tell the Headmaster I came to you and informed you I am a parselmouth, but that is all you may tell him, nothing of my speculation of how that came to be and certainly nothing I've said of my motives. With Marcus leaving, you and I are going to be forced into a working relationship of sorts. If even a whisper of my motives or ambitions becomes known I will know from whence the leak was sprung and rest assured what little trust I place in you will dry up and blow away. Don't disappoint me." Harry rose to his feet and left the office, leaving the Professor to contemplate the truth in his words and to decide how and what to say to the Headmaster.
Severus Snape sat -quietly turning over what he'd been told in his head- for several minutes. He was startled when a knock sounded on his office door. It was Draco.
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