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Harry Potter: The Last Scion of Sprout - 246
🕑 Added 2025-09-16 20:45:23 +0000 UTCChapter 246: Magical Linguistics, Testing, and I Was Here First!
Hearing Harry's grateful words, Ciel couldn't help feeling stunned and somewhat guilty.
"Helping classmates is what we should do. We badgers love mutual assistance the most. Come on, Harry, speak up."
Harry immediately flushed red, as if brewing something. After a moment, he hissed.
"How was that?"
Not just Ciel, but even Hermione could see something was wrong.
"Harry, this feels completely different from your Parseltongue just now."
Ciel also nodded. He hadn't sensed any dark-natured magical particles gathering due to Parseltongue at all.
"It's fine, Harry. Try a few more times."
Harry nodded, then hissed several more times. But obviously, compared to natural Parseltongue, this was like putting a donkey's head on a horse's body.
Harry himself was quite troubled. After all, he didn't know how he'd spoken Parseltongue earlier.
After pondering briefly, Ciel recalled how Harry triggered Parseltongue in the original story. The first trigger should have been before entering Hogwarts, when Harry conversed with a python at the zoo, unconsciously using Parseltongue.
The second time was during his duel with Malfoy in second year. Facing Serpensortia, Harry instinctively used Parseltongue to control the snake.
Subsequent Parseltongue instances seemed unintentionally triggered by Harry. Perhaps this was because Harry was only influenced by a small soul fragment from Voldemort. Though he possessed Parseltongue, this talent didn't truly belong to him.
Unlike his almost innate Quidditch talent that naturally activated upon touching a broomstick. So Harry's Parseltongue wasn't as smooth as true Parseltongue users like Herpo, Salazar Slytherin, and Voldemort.
Triggering it required certain conditions for quite some time.
Thinking this, Ciel's eyes showed understanding. Then he said softly to Harry: "Harry, relax. Look at my wand."
The next moment, Ciel thrust his wand forward. With a low incantation: "Serpensortia!"
A miniature black snake immediately flew from his wand tip, landing before Harry and hissing menacingly at him. Hermione screamed at this sudden snake.
Harry was momentarily dazed, looking at the snake and making similar hissing sounds. Along with this came magical particles with dark magic properties gathering around Harry.
Ciel waved his wand again, dispelling the black snake. Only then did Harry react, covering his mouth in surprise: "I? I just did it?"
Ciel nodded: "That's right, Harry. What did you just tell that snake?"
Harry hesitated briefly, then swallowed and said to Ciel: "Just now it was badmouthing you. It said you're particularly exploitative, even squeezing spells and magical items dry. If possible, it said it wanted me to adopt it..."
Ciel's brow suddenly furrowed tightly, then slowly relaxed.
"Nonsense, Harry. I'm a little badger. How would Hufflepuff badgers understand exploitation? Heh, the spell was just being mischievous, joking with you."
"Alright, you should have found that feeling now. You shouldn't need spell assistance anymore, right? Harry, let's continue."
Harry felt suspicious. Had that black snake just been joking? But it seemed to be crying piteously. Whatever. Ciel had said so; surely he wouldn't lie?
Then Harry caught that wonderful feeling of conversing with snakes again. Parseltongue flowed from his mouth: "Hiss, hiss, hiss."
"Two long, one short, right? This means eating. Two short, one long – this means sleeping. More urgent sounds – this indicates fighting."
As Harry spoke Parseltongue, he explained their meanings to Ciel.
Until much later, the hissing in the greenhouse gradually stopped. Harry was already parched, feeling like smoke was coming from his throat. He'd never talked so much in his life.
Now Harry looked at Ciel with trepidation: "How is it, Ciel? Is it not done yet?"
Ciel looked at his notebook filled with dense Parseltongue vocabulary, nodding then shaking his head: "Let's stop the first part here."
As Harry sighed with relief and gulped down tea, Ciel's next words nearly made him spit it out: "Let's start part two."
Harry was sweating profusely now, suddenly feeling that asking Ciel for help might have been a mistake. What that little snake said about "exploitation" might be true?
Now Ciel said: "Harry, Parseltongue is an extremely special talent. Very rare throughout magical history. Everyone possessing it was, without exception, a top-tier dark wizard."
"I think its influence on people might be extremely deep. For your safety, we need a deeper examination. Harry, you don't want to become a murderous dark wizard someday, do you?"
Hearing this, Harry was startled. Then his heart became alert: "Harry, you've already misunderstood Ciel once. How can you misunderstand him a second time?"
"Ciel is clearly helping you examine Parseltongue. He's being so patient. How can you suspect ulterior motives?"
Harry even had a sinking feeling. Could this be where his dark wizard tendencies showed? How could he be so suspicious, even doubting Ciel's good intentions?
Ciel was a little badger. What bad intentions could Hufflepuff have? Harry, wake up!
Next moment, Harry nodded without hesitation: "What should I do in part two?"
Ciel's eyes flickered strangely: "Try using Parseltongue to recite spells?"
Harry paused: "Parseltongue, can recite spells?"
Now Hermione perked up. This was her forte after all. She was the know-it-all Miss who excelled in History of Magic and other subjects.
Hermione coughed: "It's possible, Harry. Spells can be recited in many different languages, even with dialectal accents. After all, not all wizards have standard London accents. Many magical world wizards don't even know English."
"But magically, the same spell works whether recited in English, French, German, or even Ancient Greek or Hebrew. As long as you know what the spell is and get the rhythm and stress right, casting succeeds."
"Magical history has a whole chapter on establishing magical linguistics, with several wizards perfecting this subject by studying how roots, vowels, and consonants affect spellcasting."
"I've specifically read papers mentioned in that chapter. Harry, if you're interested, I can borrow them from the library to explain..."
Harry's expression stiffened: "Ah, wonderful! Thanks, Hermione, I don't need that. Um, Ciel, let's start quickly."
Compared to Harry's apocalyptic expression, Ciel was quite interested in the magical linguistics Hermione mentioned. Worthy of being Miss Know-it-all. Though her magical mastery in Herbology and Potions still didn't match his, regarding broad knowledge, especially mastery of various obscure historical materials in magical history, he suspected even many professors couldn't match Hermione.
After all, everyone knew Hogwarts had only one History of Magic professor for nearly a millennium, the ghostly Professor Binns. His History of Magic lessons were like being enchanted with sleep magic.
Ciel had attended one History of Magic class and couldn't stop yawning despite normally needing little sleep. One could imagine other young wizards' experiences.
Under such hypnotic courses, magical world wizards' understanding of magical history was probably no better than the long-vacant Defence Against the Dark Arts position.
"Hermione, when you have time, let me see that paper."
Hearing this, Hermione's disappointed expression from Harry's rejection immediately brightened, feeling like she had found a kindred spirit.
Harry also widened his eyes, looking at Ciel gratefully. Ciel must be asking Hermione for papers to help judge whether Parseltongue was harmful. What a good brother! I knew Hufflepuffs were all good people!
Thinking this, Harry, who had felt weary with a smoking throat, suddenly felt energised. No way. Good brother Ciel was sacrificing so much for him. How could he slack off?
So moments later, Harry had no lazy thoughts whatsoever. Wand moving, hissing Parseltongue sounds emerged: "Hiss, hiss. Lumos!"
This was Lumos cast in Parseltongue. Harry had long mastered this spell's key points, succeeding even when converted to Parseltongue.
A faint light appeared at his holly wand tip, but much dimmer than Harry's usual Lumos level, even flickering unsteadily.
Initially, Harry thought he wasn't proficient enough with Parseltongue casting. But after several attempts, results remained the same. Then Harry tried several simple spells.
Better ones, like Levitation Charm, using Parseltongue made levitated objects hover higher but shake unsteadily, falling more violently than normal casting, like trying to kill someone.
Worse performing spells showed varying degrees of weakening. Overall, Parseltongue casting greatly weakened Harry's magical abilities.
This made Harry somewhat suspicious. Historically, wizards with Parseltongue were almost without exception powerful dark wizards? Really? This Parseltongue felt like a hindrance.
Nearby Ciel observed magical fluctuations throughout Harry's casting, his eyes showing understanding. Harry's Parseltongue casting results didn't surprise him, instead strengthening his previous hypothesis.
Language was indeed another medium affecting spell power. Perhaps this was why Dumbledore deeply studied Mermish, Gobbledegook, and Draconic.
Then Ciel's eyes flickered, saying to Harry: "Harry, try a different spell, this one I taught you."
As he spoke, Ciel waved his wand: "Serpensortia! Come on, Harry, try this one in Parseltongue. It shouldn't be difficult for you."
Ciel wasn't flattering Harry. Harry's dark magic talent was quite high. In the original, he successfully used Sectumsempra on the first attempt, later using all Unforgivable Curses during their escape, basically succeeding in one or two tries with remarkable effects.
Though Serpensortia wasn't orthodox soul-twisting dark magic, it certainly didn't relate to sacred or protective magic. Plus, being snake-related and created by Voldemort, it was definitely BUFF-maxed for Harry.
Not succeeding would be truly strange.
Under Ciel's encouragement, Harry gripped his wand tightly. Parseltongue hissed: "Serpensortia!"
The next moment, extremely rich dark magic particles swirled around Harry. From his wand instantly gushed a black python raising its body, making intensely threatening hisses.
Ciel narrowed his eyes, unable to hide his amazement. By system assessment, Harry's first Parseltongue Serpensortia was already Silver-level.
Recalling how long it took him to practise this spell to Silver level, Ciel couldn't help sighing. Comparisons were truly maddening.
But from his sensing, this directly proved one point: Parseltongue provided considerable amplification for Serpensortia. Though Harry hadn't tried other dark magic, Ciel could estimate, perhaps not as dramatically amplified as Serpensortia, but definitely beneficial.
This made Ciel's eyes flash with fervour. At his current magical mastery level, further improvement was quite difficult. If learning Parseltongue could benefit his magic, it would certainly be worthwhile.
But as Ciel's thoughts returned, he saw Harry looking somewhat lost. Harry stared at his wand blankly, seemingly not expecting such talent in aggressive magic.
Seeing Harry's expression, Ciel first felt puzzled, then understanding. Right, for him, whether white or dark magic, as long as it didn't affect souls or twist minds, using either was fine.
But for Harry, recognising his dark magic talent was probably quite a blow. This made Ciel feel complicated. He'd indeed overlooked this point.
Current Harry wasn't the experienced Auror from decades later in the original, nor the Harry from near graduation who'd experienced countless escapes and hardships, bearing important missions and daring to face Voldemort directly.
He was still just an eleven-year-old child who'd recently entered the magical world without fully formed worldviews.
Ciel paused: "Harry..."
Harry looked at Ciel, somewhat lost: "Ciel, will I also become a dark wizard? If so, I'd rather not learn magic..."
Ciel shook his head: "How could you become a dark wizard? You're the saviour, Harry Potter."
Harry mumbled: "But I have Parseltongue. Just now with that spell, I..."
Hearing this, Ciel showed an amused smile. Then he waved his wand: "Serpensortia!"
The same Serpensortia emerged from Ciel's hand. Then appearing before Harry and Hermione was the cursed serpent they hadn't personally witnessed during the Forbidden Forest trial.
A seven-headed black snake wreathed in rich curse magic manifested in the greenhouse. Just the snake's glance at Harry and Hermione made them feel bone-deep terror and chill.
If not for Ciel immediately dispersing the snake, they'd probably have collapsed in fear.
Harry stammered: "This, this?!"
Ciel smiled: "My mastery of this spell is much higher than yours, right? This spell, after my modifications, isn't exactly positive magic; it's more like dark magic. But Harry, the magic I used to protect everyone was this."
"Whether something is dark or light depends not only on its nature but also on how you use it. If you plan to use your strong talents against darkness, like you did in the final chamber protecting the Philosopher's Stone, then you'll never become a dark wizard but will be the magical world's greatest saviour."
Witnessing Ciel's casting plus his comfort finally lifted Harry's spirits somewhat. "So this spell..."
Ciel nodded: "You can absolutely continue practising. Perhaps at crucial moments, it'll help protect those around you. Also, Harry, Parseltongue seems harmless to you. Feel free to use it."
Harry sighed with relief, nodding excitedly. Then he and Hermione left together.
On the way back to the Gryffindor common room from the greenhouse, Harry kept repeating one thing to Hermione: "I can't believe I once misunderstood Ciel, thinking he was a bad person. Merlin above, how could Hufflepuff have bad people? He's simply the best!"
Hermione's mood became unprecedentedly relaxed, constantly smiling. Until irrepressible sleepiness from staying up all night hit them, they returned to their dormitories.
Harry didn't even have time to remove his shoes before heavily collapsing on his bed. After staying up all night plus constant spellcasting and Parseltongue recitation, his exhaustion persisted even after experiencing the Philosopher's Stone's final chamber.
Almost the instant he touched his pillow, Harry fell into deep sleep.
Moments later, on the nearby bed, Ron Weasley's figure slowly sat up. Looking at Harry's face, his eyes showed complex emotions: anger, reluctance, and struggle.
Slowly, Ron pointed his wand at Harry, gently moving it. A nearby blanket covered Harry.
Now Harry seemed to dream of the earlier greenhouse scene, mumbling: "Thank you, Ciel. You're really a good person."
Ron's movement instantly froze, eyes widening. "I was here first! Ciel Sprout!!"
Now Ciel was unaware of this Gryffindor dormitory drama. His mind recalled Harry's earlier Parseltongue sounds, his gaze falling on his system panel's not-few but not-many dark magic spells.
His eyes showed anticipation. What results would using Parseltongue for these spells bring?
Next moment, Ciel's wand moved like a sword: "Sectumsempra!"
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