Thick Of It

NeBuLa

_Mist18

thanks for power stone 

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The Great Hall was abuzz with excitement as students gathered around the makeshift stage where Professor Lockhart stood, beaming as if the entire affair was his personal award ceremony.

Lockhart: "Gather round! Gather round! Can everybody see me? Can you all hear me? Excellent!"

Jason, seated with Simon and the rest of the Ravenclaws, leaned back in his chair.

Jason: "I bet five Sickles Snape wipes the floor with him."

Simon: "You're on. Though, honestly, I feel like this is going to be the most entertaining thing we've seen all week."

Lockhart: "In light of the dark events of recent weeks, Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to start this little Dueling Club..."

Jason: "Dueling? Oh, this'll be rich. I doubt he could duel his way out of a paper bag."

Simon chuckled, and the students quieted as Lockhart theatrically removed his cape and tossed it into a gaggle of giggling girls.

Lockhart: "Let me introduce my assistant, Professor Snape."

Snape strode onto the stage, his dark demeanor a stark contrast to Lockhart's peacock-like flamboyance. The room buzzed with anticipation.

Simon: "Snape looks like he's about to enjoy this way more than he should."

Jason: "Can't blame him. He's been waiting for this moment since Lockhart showed up."

The duel began, and as expected, Snape's Expelliarmus blasted Lockhart across the stage. The students erupted into laughter, with Ron's sarcastic commentary ringing out.

Lockhart scrambled to his feet, brushing off his robes with a sheepish grin.

Lockhart: "An excellent idea to show them that, Professor Snape..."

Lockhart, clearly eager to move on, called for volunteers.

Lockhart: "Potter, Weasley, how about you?"

Snape intervened with a smirk.

Snape: "Weasley's wand causes devastation with the simplest spells. Might I suggest someone from my own house? Malfoy, perhaps."

As Harry and Malfoy took the stage.

Simon: "This is going to be good. Place your bets—Potter or Malfoy?"

Jason: "Harry. He's got more heart. Malfoy just has an attitude."

The duel started, with Draco's Everte Statum sending Harry sprawling backward. Harry retaliated with Rictusempra, sending Draco flying into Snape. The crowd roared with laughter.

Then came the twist: Draco's Serpensortia conjured a cobra that slithered menacingly across the floor. Lockhart's attempt to deal with it only made things worse, and the snake turned its attention toward Justin Finch-Fletchley.

The Hall fell silent as Harry began hissing at the snake, his Parseltongue echoing eerily. The snake hesitated, then focused on Justin, who recoiled in fear.

Snape quickly stepped in, vanishing the snake with Vipera Evanesca. The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the sound of shuffling feet and murmurs.

Justin: "What are you playing at?!"

The accusing tone and the horrified looks on the students' faces were enough to make Harry bolt, Ron and Hermione hot on his heels.

Simon: "Well, that just took a turn. Did Harry just... talk to that snake?"

Jason: "Yeah, and it's going to cause him more trouble ."

The Hall buzzed with speculation .

-----

Harry sat silently, gazing out at the castle across the lake, his thoughts as turbulent as the wind rustling through his hair. Hedwig perched beside him, her soft hoot the only sound in the stillness.

Harry: "Who am I, Hedwig? What am I?"

A voice from behind cut through his musings.

Jason: "Walter White, a drug lord."

Harry turned, startled, to see Jason approaching with a cheeky grin, his hands tucked casually into his pockets.

Harry: "Jason, what are you doing here?"

Jason plopped down beside him, casting a glance over the serene view before them.

Jason: "Nice spot you've got here. Good for thinking. Or brooding, in your case."

Harry: "I wasn't brooding."

Jason: "Sure, mate. And Snape's secretly a stand-up comedian." He smirked before turning more serious. "So, what's on your mind? You don't look like you came up here just to enjoy the view."

Harry hesitated, but the weight of the whispers and stares he'd endured all day pressed him to speak.

Harry: "You know what happened in the Great Hall... when I spoke to the snake?"

Jason: "Yeah, pretty wild. Impressive, even."

Harry frowned.

Harry: "Impressive? Jason, I'm a Parseltongue. Only Salazar Slytherin could speak to snakes. Now everyone thinks I'm the Heir of Slytherin—that I'm some sort of evil wizard."

Jason tilted his head, considering Harry's words.

Jason: "Alright, let's get this straight. You're a wizard, Harry. You can fly on a broomstick, turn teacups into rats, and blast spells from your wand. And you're worried because you can chat with a snake?"

Harry: "But it's different! Parseltongue is rare only people like Salazar Slytherin could do it. It's tied to Dark magic."

Jason sighed and leaned back on his hands, letting the breeze tousle his hair.

Jason: "Do you remember when you first found out you were a wizard? When Hagrid told you? How it felt to learn you weren't just a 'freak' like they said?"

Harry nodded, a flicker of a smile crossing his face.

Harry: "Yeah. I finally felt like I belonged somewhere."

Jason: "Exactly. And now, because you've got this extra ability, people are calling you a freak again? So, what's the plan? You're going to start believing them?"

Harry: "No, but—"

Jason: "Listen, being different doesn't make you bad. It makes you unique. Magic's a gift, Harry. You've got something special. It's up to you how you use it. Don't let the whispers of a bunch of nosy students tell you who you are."

Harry looked down at his hands, Jason's words sinking in. For the first time all day, the knot in his stomach began to loosen.

Harry: "You really think it's just... magic, not something dark?"

Jason: "Mate, magic's like a wand—what matters is the hand holding it. You're not the Heir of Slytherin. You're Harry Potter. The bloke who stuck a wand into a troll nose to save his mates."

Harry chuckled softly at that, and Jason clapped him on the shoulder.

Jason: "Now, come on. It's getting late, and I'm starving. Dinner awaits."

Harry stood, a small smile playing on his lips.

Harry: "Thanks, Jason."

Jason: "Anytime, mate. Just remember—next time you start questioning who you are, maybe skip the melodramatic hilltop. It's a bit much."

The two walked back toward the castle .

-----

[The study hall buzzes with the usual low hum of whispers and rustling parchment as Harry quietly gathers his things. The stares bore into him, making his ears burn. Ginny, seated nearby, glances at him with wide, nervous eyes before hurriedly returning to her mysterious black book. Harry mutters a quick excuse.]

Harry: "I'll see you back in the common room."

[He strides out, but the moment he's past the door, a conversation drifts to his ears. Curious, he pauses, stepping just out of sight as he listens.]

Ethan: "So anyway, I told Justin to hide up in our dormitory. If Potter's marked him down as his next victim, it's best he keeps a low profile for a while."

Hannah Abbott: "But why would Harry want to attack Justin?"

Ethan: "Hannah, he's a Parselmouth! Everyone knows that's the mark of a Dark wizard. Have you ever heard of a decent one who could talk to snakes? They called Slytherin himself Serpent-tongue!"

[At that moment, Jason, sitting at a nearby table, looks up from his notes. His brows furrow as he tunes into the conversation. He stands, walks over, and interrupts.]

Jason: "Ethan, mate, are you seriously listening to the sound of your own voice right now? Because I think even you can hear how ridiculous you sound."

[Ethan turns, startled, then doubles down, puffing up indignantly.]

Ethan: "What's ridiculous about it? Parselmouths are Dark. Everyone knows that. It's in the history books!"

Jason: "Oh, the history books, is it? Which ones? The 'I-made-it-up-myself' editions?" [Jason folds his arms, his tone cutting but calm.] "You're spinning a yarn based on hearsay and ignorance, and you're painting Harry as the villain without a shred of evidence."

Ethan: "Evidence? He's the only Parselmouth at Hogwarts! That's more than enough evidence."

Jason: "Brilliant detective work, Ethan. By your logic, anyone who likes snakes is clearly a Dark wizard. What's next, accusing the Slytherin mascot of plotting world domination?"

[Hannah stifles a giggle but quickly covers her mouth. Ethan flushes but refuses to back down.]

Ethan: "You can laugh all you want, but it's not just me. Everyone's saying it. Where there's smoke, there's fire."

Jason: "And where there's gossip, there's usually a fool fanning the flames. Congratulations, Ethan—you're the fool of the hour." [He leans in slightly, lowering his voice.] "I'd love to see the look on your face when you're proven wrong. And you will be wrong."

[Ethan glares, his pride clearly stung.]

Ethan: "You think you're so clever, don't you?"

Jason: "Clever enough not to jump to conclusions based on playground gossip. You should try it sometime." [He turns to Hannah, his voice softening.] "And you, Hannah, you seem reasonable. Think about it—Harry's the one who stopped Voldemort. Does that sound like something a Dark wizard would do?"

[Hannah hesitates, clearly torn, but nods slightly.]

Hannah Abbott: "I suppose you're right… it doesn't really add up."

Jason: "Exactly. Use your head, not the Hufflepuff grapevine."

[Ethan, scowling, mumbles something under his breath and slouches back into his seat. Jason straightens and adjusts his robes.]

Jason: "Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got better things to do than play defense attorney for someone who's already innocent."

[Jason strides out, passing Harry just outside the door. He gives Harry a quick nod and a smirk.]

Jason: "Keep your chin up, mate. Some people's brains move slower than their broomsticks."

[Harry manages a small smile, watching Jason walk away before heading back to Gryffindor Tower, his spirits lifted slightly despite the whispers that still lingered.]