I was speaking a different language? How could I have done that and not realised?" Harry frowned.
"I don't know. But it sounded like you were egging the snake on or something," Hermione told him.
"Well I wasn't!" Harry cried, exasperated.
"We know that mate. It's just…" Ron began.
"It's just what? Why would anybody think I was egging it on?!"
"Harry, there's a reason the symbol of Slytherin House is a serpent. Salazar Syltherin was a parselmouth – he talked to snakes too," Hermione explained.
The penny dropped.
"They think I'm the heir, don't they?" Harry realised.
Ron just gave him a sympathetic look.
"But I'm not. I can't be," he frowned. "I think I'd ought to know if I was going round opening mysterious chambers!"
"That's true, I suppose," Hermione agreed. "But it still doesn't get us any closer to finding out who is. Or who set that bludger on you."
Checking around to ensure no body else has entered the common room, Harry manoeuvred in his chair to get a better look at his two friends. "I've got loads to tell you…"
And so for the next twenty minutes or so, the three of them sat huddled together, whilst Harry brought them up to speed with what had happened at the infirmary the previous night – his attempt to discuss Malfoy with Snape and his guardian's blunt response, Colin Creevey being petrified, and the strange conversation with Dobby.