Sapphire Serpent Uncoiling

Chapter One: Frustration and Conversation

Harry slammed his way through the library door, heading for the back. His head was pounding, and he could barely see straight, too focused on the tight burning in his chest and cheeks to pay more than minimal attention to his surroundings.

Studying in the common areas was intolerable these days. Ever since the disaster at the Dueling Club, he couldn't go anywhere or do anything without being followed by half a dozen terrified stares.

Why? He'd told them the truth, that he'd told the snake to stop. No one seemed to believe him though. And now there were whispers that he was the Heir of Slytherin. Which of course meant that everyone thought he'd been the one attacking and petrifying people in the corridors.

The tension in classes was frustrating enough, but since Colin Creevy had been attacked during one episode, he couldn't even get away from it in the common room of Gryffindor Tower. The First Years were terrified of him, and everyone else was somewhere between wary and scared. He'd heard muttered rumors about how Colin had been attacked for irritating him with the camera, and that anyone who started with him would meet the same fate.

Pity no one seemed to realize that if that were the case, Draco Malfoy would have been first on his list.

Harry dumped his bag on the table in the most recessed table he could find, almost back into the Restricted Section, and slumped into the chair.

At least Hermione and Ron didn't think he was out petrifying people. But Ron had acted spooked for days after discovering he was a Parslemouth. He probably still would have been acting spooked, if his broken and often misfiring wand hadn't distracted him. Hermione had been less upset about the Parslemouth issue, but she'd been looking at him strangely ever since the night Mrs. Norris had been petrified, when he'd told them about the voice murmuring in the walls. The voice only he could hear, apparently.

So even his best friends, as much as they tried to pretend otherwise, thought he was a potential Dark Wizard Heir, or a lunatic.

Top it off with Lockhart's incompetence, Snape's vindictiveness, and Draco's constant annoying remarks, and it was shaping up to be a capital year.

"You know, brooding in a corner really isn't going to help your image. Unless you do want people to think you're the Heir of Slytherin."

Harry jerked upright. Standing next to the table was a slender girl, about his age. Pretty, with long dark hair and brown eyes. She had a Slytherin crest on her robes, but she didn't seem hostile. He swallowed. "Who are you?"

"Daphne Greengrass." She sat down across from him and pulled out a book from her bag. "Slytherin. I should hope you won't hold that against me."

His three least favorite people were or had been in Slytherin, but she hadn't done anything, and he was too fed up with everything else to get offended. "No. I won't." He sat up a little straighter in his chair. "What did you mean, just now?"

"Just what I said. Brooding in a corner near the Restricted Section of the library isn't going to stop people thinking you're the Heir of Slytherin. Most likely the opposite, actually." Daphne didn't look up at him.

"You don't think I am?" Harry sat up a little straighter.

Daphne looked at him. "Most of Slytherin thinks you aren't. Besides..." She closed the book. "You don't have to be a Ravenclaw to figure out certain things. Despite what Draco says, I don't think you're stupid enough to paint a threatening message on the wall and then just stare at it until someone comes. And even if you were, Granger isn't. And even if she was, there wasn't any red paint on any of your clothes. And why would you be friends with a Muggle-born if you targeted them?"

She ticked off points on her fingers. "And the little boy...anyone who was at the match knows where you were when he got petrified. Bit difficult to go sneaking out of the Hospital Wing, especially with a broken arm and re-growing bones and all." She dropped her hands and picked up her book again. "And anyway, why should the Heir of Slytherin be a Gryffindor?"

Harry blinked. He hadn't thought of any of those points. Then he swallowed. "But...Hermione said...the Founders lived a thousand years ago. She said I might be. The Parseletongue..."

"Hmmm...well, you can have a wizard's blood and not be his Heir, you know. Weasley ought to have been able to tell you that, being the youngest of his family." She frowned at him. "You don't know a lot, do you?"

Harry shifted uncomfortably. "I was raised by my aunt and uncle. They're Muggles, and they...they aren't fond of magic."

One pert eyebrow rose. "No wonder Draco thinks you're a bit of a dunce. Really, there's a lot you don't even realize is going on."

"I know that. But it's not as if I can just march into Slytherin and demand answers." He grimaced. "I don't even know what I'm looking for!" He put his head on the table.

"Is that why you're here?" Daphne put her book down again.

Harry grimaced. "It's just...Lockhart, and Draco, and everyone thinking I'm Slytherin's Heir, and the Parsletongue, and...loads of stuff." He looked up at her, just realizing he'd offered a Slytherin the perfect ammunition for mocking him. But 'dunce' comment aside, she'd been almost decent to him. "Even...these House rivalries and everything..."

"Yes, well, it's really just Slytherin and Gryffindor that are so sharp about it. The Ravenclaws are more interested in knowing things. The Hufflepuffs don't generally care, most of the time anyway, and they're too polite make too much fuss when they do." Daphne sighed, then stuffed her book into her bag. "It'll be supper soon, and best for you if you aren't seen missing. But, a word of advice, if you'll hear it from a Snake...if you don't like where you are, best to change it yourself, instead of waiting for it to happen for you."

Author's Note: This story is actually a request from a friend, who wanted to see a story with a Ravenclaw Harry making friends with Luna and Daphne. It's not my usual thing, but it sounded like an interesting challenge. But for some reason, it wanted to start in Book 2...I have no idea why.

Next chapter...Harry finds a possible solution...or at least a new way to do things.