Chapter Text
Harry hadn't lived with Sirius and Remus for twenty four hours yet. And he was already in trouble.
"What I don't understand is," said Remus leaning on the table, glaring at Harry furiously. "Why you didn't tell us that as soon as you saw us!"
"I forgot-"
"How the blood fuck do you forget about something like that!"
"I dunno."
Sirius was sitting flipping through Serpent Sorcery, his brows knitting together.
"I already had it all figured out," Harry said.
"Oh did you," Remus deadpanned. "Why worry me then?"
"I do!"
Harry explained everything. From the moment he first saw things in heat signature, could taste and identify scents, and feel vibrations through the earth. He told them about meeting Seamus, Dean, and the Slytherins at night, and the realization he had about his bite and parseltongue. How he couldn't sleep, pills, and his talk with Professor Messenger. When he finished, he sat back, carefully observing the expressions they wore. Remus was squinting at him, his eyebrows raised slightly. Sirius was frowning and repeating 'basilisk venom' under his breath. As though trying to remember something.
"That's- I doubt you're trouble sleeping has much of anything to do with it...It's much of anything to do with it...It's just restlessness," Remus said finally. "You're body is probably just adjusting to the changes it under went-"
"So it's caused by it?" said Harry.
"Well...Yes...But it's no big deal. Dearest?"
Sirius tapped the table with his middle and ring fingers, staring out the window.
"Everything is right...But this isn't some random phenomenon. It's known that Parselmouths can enhance their serpent-like abilities with venom and an activating agent. With normal- nonmagical venom does does eventually wear off I hear- the effects. But with magical venoms, like basilisks- it's more permanent."
"Could Fawkes tears have done anything?" asked Harry.
"I was just about to get to that," Sirius nodded. "See the venom latched onto you because you're a Parselmouth, that means the tears didn't have much to do- so it latched as well."
"I suspect that's why you generated gold lightning," added Remus. "That's why it was so damaging."
Harry slowly rubbed his arms; generating lightning was something he hadn't thought to try and recreate. He didn't think it would be safe or wise to...is he knew how to, that is.
"As for this book," Sirius flipped through it. "This isn't something you can attempt to teach yourself...It was good of Professor Messenger to give it to you though."
"And to offer you a spot in her class," Remus was smiling.
"Hermione didn't think it would be right for me to take it," Harry said, peering over at the page Sirius was on. "So, I wasn't going to-"
"Hermione's learning right along with you," said Remus. "She isn't going to be right all the time."
Harry blinked. Of course he knew Remus was right, but for some reason it seemed like a personal insult.
Remus reached over Sirius's shoulder to pick up the book and turn to the front, "When you're offered an opportunity to get ahead, you take it, like she did with the time turner....'Understanding the Bounds and Possibilities of Serpent Magic.' Hmm...."
Harry stood to try to see the page; Remus snapped it shut with one hand, the scent of the old pages flying up Harry's nose.
"Hey!"
"Hey, yourself," Remus lightly tapped the top of Harry's head with the book. "You're not ready for this quite yet."
He made his way past Harry and out the room, Sirius following closely behind. Harry raced to catch up with them, which wasn't hard to do, as Remus was walking slowly with his cane.
"What do I have to do to be ready?"
"Hmm-"
"Aww, come on Moons," Sirius said as they entered the study. "I'm already teaching him sword fighting. What's one more thing?"
"You are?" Harry looked at Sirius with wide eyes.
Sirius winked, flashing his brilliant grin.
The study was a part of the house Harry had never spent more than a fleeting second in. It was just as cozy as the rest of the house, with heavy curtains on the two windows, candles lit, and bookshelves lining all but one wall. That wall had a moving photograph up. Sirius and Remus were laughing, Remus in a white suit with a long tail and Sirius in the white dress robes. Harry smiled, watching Sirius cling to Remus's neck, Remus gazing down at Sirius with a gaze Harry had never seen a human look at another with.
"Let's see," Remus placed the book down on a small table, flipping it open and reading to himself.
Sirius was staring at Harry with a puzzled but curious gaze.
"What's wrong?"
"Short sword."
"Short sword?"
"I'll teach you with a type of short sword first, I think."
Harry nodded, but he personally didn't care, as long as it was a sword. He thought of the cartoons Dudley watched when they were little. One had a prince turning into a warrior when he wielded his magic sword...That was one of the only cartoons Harry peaked into Dudley's room to watch.
"No sword would do better," said Remus, taking down a book and giving it to Harry. "Read this and write a summary on it."
Harry looked at the cover, Understanding Magic.
He sighed, "it's the summer holidays."
"No, Serpent Sorcery then," Remus said taking it back. "There is no way you're even reading this without reading and fully understanding that-"
"Fine, fine," Harry took it back. "I'll read it."
And that was how he began learning sword fighting.
~~~~~~
The fog was heavy surrounding the carriage like a cage. Pansy could've mistaken the white vapor to be some sort of sleeping agent, as it's weight seemed to slowly closing her eyes. The road was only visible when they were right above it, nothing else around them could be seen. Pansy was surprised that her driver could even navigate it.
The interior of the carriage had purple velvet seats on both sides, the walls, floor, and ceiling were black with silver details.
The seats opposite of her were slightly worn, years ago they had been sat in plenty. Her father made it a priority to take her everywhere, show her what was outside the walls of their estate. She never minded, in fact, she loved it. Making trips to the Ministry of magic, where he met with the Aurors Department and other Law Enforcement Officers. As a Baron, he helped raise money for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and helped it function. Though he wasn't born into nobility, he did the job as though he were trained - born for it. The Aurors had loads of funding after the war, people regained their trust in them. That couldn't protect Baron Parkinson...
There was a dip in road, Pansy held onto the door handle stopping herself from slamming face first into the window. Pansy crossed the carriage to kneel in the seat and peer out the window. She still couldn't see anything. Wendell sat at ease, guiding the black Chocobos forward. Wendell had been their main footman for years. Pansy completely trusted him, as she did all their servants. Baroness Parkinson, let go of all the house elves after she inherited the title and replaced them with people, mainly squibs then sorcerers and halfbreeds after marrying Pansy's father. She cared more for organizing the behind the scenes rather than sitting in meetings. Pansy smiled remembering it. Baroness Parkinson had always been a hot head, Baron Parkinson was more even tempered, but quick witted. Pansy wished she was like this, but she was more like her mother. She would rather hex a person who insult her. And Baron Parkinson was insulted a lot.
Mainly for taking his wife's last name; Pansy always found this stupid, as it was normal for couples to choose which last name they were going to share in the wizarding world before the middle of the century when many wizards began taking on Muggle beliefs and customs. Choosing which last name they went by was much more logical, as certain families had more respect than others, regardless of gender.
She wrinkled her nose, stupid muggles. She would never see the appeal of their beliefs, if anything, they were restricting. She nearly felt bad for them.
The carriage came to a slow stop, looking out the window, she could see the courtyard damp with mist behind the thick stone walls with purple vining flowers the glowed slightly, begging for any unaware passerby to touch it. Ziyosoku. A magical flower that Baron Parkinson brought from his homeland, Wizarding Japan. It was poisonous, deathly poisonous. Baroness Parkinson always said, "out of every beautiful flower that grows in Japan, he brought the one that eats you from the inside out."
Pansy strolled through the open gate way. The courtyard was empty, though she wasn't sure what she was expecting. The staff was most definitely inside, tending to Baroness Parkinson. Pansy stared at the dark stone door. She was aware of what was inside, but she couldn't help but feel the dread that seeped out of the cracks in the door, the the pointed shadowed windows, and the very air she inhaled.
"It's not going to eat you."
Pansy smiled for the first time since the train ride. She turned to see Kurogane, her butler and her father's best friend. His face was than of a white tiger, the black stripes and white fur traveled down his bulky human body down to his pawed feet. He as usual, wore a black button up and breeches and had his arms crossed at his chest. A long cigar rested in his jaws.
"How's Mother Kurogane?"
"No greeting for me?" Kurogane shook his head. "Disappointing but nonetheless-"
"Is she alright?"
Kurogane removed the cigar from his mouth, "a healer is inside. Her temper rose again, they got it down but-"
Pansy rushed up the stairs, swinging open the heavy doors, ignoring Kurogane's calls from behind her. She passed a parlor maid who was exiting the corridor from the west wing, turning down the one to the east. She her heels slid as she stopped when she reached the opened door of her mother's bed chamber. A man's quiet voice from inside was speaking. Pansy entered. The chamber maids all turned to look at her. The curtains were drawn and the room so chilled that it send immediate goosebumps up Pansy's arms.
She crossed the room to sit on her mother's bedside. She was always a pale woman, but at that moment, she was nearly the color of her bedsheets. A ghostly crisp white. Pansy took her frail hand into hers. At that moment a small smile appeared on Baroness Parkinson's thin lips.
"Pansy," she whispered.
"How did you know it was me?"
"A mother always knows the feel of her child's hand."
Pansy smiled, blinking back furious tears. Dragonpox. That's where it started. A year after Baron Parkinson's death, a maid came down with dragonpox, she was the Baroness's main chamber maid. It was enviable. The maid died shortly after, leaving Pansy's mother with a disease that opened the doors for many more like it after it was long gone.
Dragonpox-Crystal Lung Infections (that one required surgery)-stone skin rash- void rot(she was scarred from that one)-stone skin again-dragon pox-Vorel's Phage(the bumps and swelled joints were so painful they kept her awake screaming without potions)- now they had no idea what she had...She was just ill. It was a continuous cycle, one Pansy had gotten used to after enduring five years of it.
"How do you feel?"
"Tired," admitted Baroness Parkinson.
"I'll let you rest," Pansy gently squeezed her hand.
She stood, put her mother held onto her hand.
"Don't stay cooped up all summer for me, love. Promise?"
Pansy nodded, "I won't. You'll be up with me before long."
Baroness Parkinson smiled sadly. Pansy looked away. After five years, she didn't need anything stomping on the little hope she had left. The healer's gaze at the bed didn't help. Pansy didn't speak as to him as she left the room. Kurogane was right outside it. Pansy walked past him. She knew he would follow.
"You will honor you're mother's wishes won't you?" he asked.
"And what?" Pansy snapped over her shoulder. "Leave her here to die alone?"
"She's not alone," Kurogane said lowly. "The maids care deeply for her-"
"The maids are here because they are paid," Pansy left the east wing and made her way to the south. "Once those funds stop coming in, they leave."
"I know...The ports generate plenty. There's no need to worry."
Pansy stopped to turn on her heel, "I wasn't. Is there a reason for me to?"
"Not at all, like I said. Wizarding London's especially busy right now, the World Cup is coming up...You should go."
Pansy turned back around, "Draco will drag me there, even if I didn't want to go."
Pansy and Kurogane stepped out to the back of the castle. It was a forest with a path leading to the one garden in the clearings a few kilometers away. The stables were also there.
"Maybe you should join a martial dueling club," Pansy could hear the smile in his voice. "Win a few trophies."
"I'm rusty," said Pansy. "I wouldn't win...Besides." She put two fingers in her mouth and whistled. "The Ministry heavily regulates those now. Father's tricks would be banned."
There was the sound a large paws beating against the ground, brushes and trees rustling as they raced through. A horse sized white tiger came galloping towards her, smashing it's head against her stomach. She stumbled back.
"Shiro!" She gasped petting her anyways.
Shiro, her Byakko, backed away turning to her side.
"Guess she wants to go for a ride," said Kurogane.
Pansy pulled herself onto Shiro's back, "my saddle is at the stables, and I'll check on the gardens."
"I'll see you when you get back."