Before Lucas came back to his room, Pansy decided to enter it again. His lie to Draco, combined with the hissing she had heard earlier, compelled her to investigate. Stepping inside, she glanced around for any changes. Lucas hadn't been gone for very long, so whatever he had done should have been obvious. Her eyes traced over the large trunk all students used to carry their school supplies. Finding nothing else out of place, she assumed he must have hidden something inside his luggage—or perhaps something small enough to conceal elsewhere.
However, a sudden loud hissing noise froze her in place just as her hand touched Lucas's trunk. Slowly, she turned her head toward the sound, her eyes locking onto two gleaming blue orbs piercing through the darkness.
"Hi…" she said shakily, her voice trembling in a feeble attempt to calm the creature.
The hissing softened, and the creature slithered out from its tank, allowing Pansy to see its blackened scales glimmering faintly in the dim light.
She took a cautious step back, fearing the snake, but the way it tilted its head stopped her. Its posture was not predatory—it seemed more curious than hostile. The snake hissed again, but this time it was higher-pitched and almost chirpy. Its tail wagged against the table it rested on.
Hesitantly, Pansy took a step forward. When the snake didn't recoil or hiss in agitation, she inched closer until she was beside the desk. Slowly, she extended her hand, watching as the black snake examined her with a sharp, intelligent gaze. It lowered its head slightly, then flicked its tongue out, tasting the scent on her skin.
Pansy held her breath, willing herself to remain perfectly still. She knew a little about snakes from her family, who often spoke of them as symbols of their Slytherin heritage. However, she had never been this close to one before.
After a moment, the snake rubbed its head against her hand, hissing in a higher pitch that almost sounded… happy.
Pansy let out a small chuckle, finding herself oddly charmed by the creature. As she watched it affectionately nuzzle her hand, she finally understood Lucas. He hadn't been hissing himself—it was his pet. One he clearly had to keep hidden from the staff or risk having it confiscated for the year. It explained the strange movements she had noticed beneath his cloak.
Yet, as she smiled at the realization, she remembered something else—the odd expression Lucas had worn earlier, after asking that strange question.
'My answer was exemplary. I wasn't wrong…'
She became lost in thought until the snake suddenly tensed. She glanced down, confused, and watched it quickly slither back into its small habitat. Pansy's brow furrowed until she heard the faint creak of the door handle turning.
Her eyes widened in horror. Lucas was unlocking the door. With no time to flee, she instinctively dived under the bed and held her breath.
The door opened and closed swiftly behind Lucas. From her hiding spot, Pansy could only see his familiar shoes as he stepped into the room. To her shock, the sound of hissing filled the space—the unmistakable sound of two voices.
Her blood ran cold.
'He's talking to the snake… communicating with it.'
Her parents' words echoed in her mind: "Some pure-bloods, able to trace their lineage back to Salazar Slytherin himself, can speak to snakes. Parseltongue. It's rare—and feared."
Her pulse quickened as she pressed her hands over her mouth, desperate to remain silent. She strained to hear more, hoping for some clue as to what Lucas was hiding. However, as she shifted slightly, her foot accidentally bumped against the frame of the bed.
The soft thump seemed to thunder in the stillness.
Lucas's head snapped toward the sound, and their eyes locked. For a brief moment, neither of them moved. His expression darkened slightly, his eyes sharp with suspicion.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice low and firm.
Pansy averted her gaze, unable to meet his eyes. She remained silent, struggling to come up with an excuse.
"Do you speak Parseltongue?" Lucas asked next, his tone calm but piercing.
Her eyes widened, and she quickly shook her head. The shock on her face told him she had no idea what language he had spoken.
"Fine… What did she do?" he asked Val, who slithered out of his tank and onto Lucas's arm—this time on the outside of his sleeve.
"She played with me for a bit. She's nice," Val hissed contentedly.
Lucas clicked his tongue softly, inwardly relieved. 'She doesn't understand Parseltongue. That's good. But I still need to find a way to make sure she keeps Valdemar a secret.'
After a brief pause, Lucas turned back to Pansy. She flinched slightly, glancing between him and the snake.
"This is Valdemar," he said, extending his arm toward her.
Val hissed a friendly greeting. Tentatively, Pansy reached out, still a bit on edge. The snake licked her hand again, making her stifle a giggle. She couldn't help but smile.
"The school doesn't allow him here, so I smuggled him in," Lucas admitted.
Pansy nodded in understanding but let out a startled "Eep!" when Val suddenly slithered up her sleeve. She stiffened, shivering at the strange sensation.
"Sorry, Val! Get back out here," Lucas ordered.
"Ok…" Val whimpered softly, slithering back down and coiling around Lucas's arm.
Pansy chuckled once Val was safely back in place. 'So it really was just his pet hissing under his cloak. I almost feel foolish for imagining something darker.'
However, as she watched Val affectionately nuzzle Lucas, another memory struck her—the night he was dragged into the icy waters. The way he had smiled at the abyssal creature beneath the waves.
"The giant thing under the water… that's your pet too?" she asked, her voice laced with disbelief.
Lucas shook his head with a soft chuckle.
"No. I met Abarrane that night, and we became friends."
Pansy stared at him, stunned. She could barely fathom that in the brief time he was submerged, he had befriended something so terrifying.
But another thought nagged at her.
"Then why did you scream?" she asked, her tone quieter.
Lucas's expression darkened slightly, barely noticeable under the dim light, but Pansy caught it. His hand clenched briefly into a fist. He opened and closed his mouth a few times before finally answering.
"My parents… are opposed to all magical creatures. If they hear about my closeness to them… I may have to change schools."
That last part struck a chord with Pansy. She didn't want Lucas to leave. There was so much she could learn from him. She had seen his skill and cleverness firsthand. However, her parents' teachings echoed in her mind: "Never do anything for free."
With a mischievous glint in her eye, she made her decision. Forgetting his strange question from earlier and focusing only on what she could gain, she smiled slyly.
"I'll keep Valdemar and Abarrane a secret," she declared, giving Lucas a glimmer of hope that he might be able to stay at Hogwarts without his parents' wrath.
"But!" she added, suddenly pointing her finger at his face, her grin widening impishly. "You will help me study magic!"
Lucas considered her terms carefully. 'She doesn't know about my blood beliefs, but this is still a risk. If my parents hear about my fondness for magical creatures, they might force me to leave. I only made that up to gain her sympathy—a trick my mother taught me—but it might actually be true…'
Still, her offer seemed reasonable. With a nod and a small smile, he accepted.
"Deal. We can study together."
Pansy glanced at the clock, noting the time before curfew.
"Then let's start now. I'll get my things. We'll study in your room—I don't want anyone else profiting off my gain," she declared.
Lucas scoffed lightly but found himself regarding her in a kinder light.
"See? She is nice," Val chimed in with an upbeat hiss.
Lucas rolled his eyes.
"Yes, she might be better than most Slytherins," he admitted, though he kept his admiration for her shrewdness to himself.
Before long, Pansy returned with her study materials. They spent the evening reviewing potion ingredients and practicing spells. Under Lucas's guidance, Pansy's magic control steadily improved, each success fueling her growing determination.