No Mouth But Some Serpent's

Sacrifices Arc #2

by Lightning on the Wave

Fandom: Harry Potter
--------------------------------------------------
AU of CoS, Slytherin!Harry. Harry goes back to Hogwarts, determined to protect his brother Connor, the BoyWhoLived, and stay in the shadows. But last year two people learned the truth about Harry... and this year, two more will.

Cover art by Sockcat (deviantart.com).

Genres: Fan Fiction, Fantasy, Magic, Young Adult, M M Romance, Harry Potter, Fiction

677 pages, ebook

First published November 8, 2005

About the author

Also known as Limyaael.

Reviews

[Mika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book, where have been all year?

I first read book 1 earlier this year. It was good but it lacked some stuff that kept me from immediately jumping into the sequel. Then a couple of days ago I saw the prequel on someone's shelf and, because I wasn't really in the mood for anything in particular, I decided to continue with this series.
So I quickly reread the first book to dive into this one.

And God, I'm so glad that I finally did.

This book has everything I liked and wanted in book 1 and more. It is so amazing and heartbreaking. Slytherin!Harry is the best and his development in this book was magnificent. And Draco was awesome as well, really developing from being merely a second character to a bad-ass of his own. One of the best scenes in this book is when Harry stood up to Conner and the scene where Draco stood up to his father.
And Snape. I love him so much. He cares about Harry in his own way and it is fascinating being in his mind.
The snake was lovely. I adored her, she is sarcastic and says everything that Harry really needs to hear.

The plot is carefully woven with enough hints here and there to make you want to read the whole book in one setting. It is alternative of Chamber of Secrets and it is so different from the original book yet the plot is equally amazing.

Also, one of the best things about this book is Harry's magic. You won't really understand what I'm talking about unless you've read the book but it was incredible. For example, there is part of a scene in which Harry is in his mind:

Harry reached down further, plunging through dark water and tearing webs, and back into the hole underneath the webs. It seemed almost tame now, no longer seething with power, and he sank through it, and down, and down, and still found no trace of new magic waiting for him.

Then he called.

With wild rejoicing, with a glad cry, the power was free, and rushed up and around him. Harry had never felt such magic. It was mad. It would tear everything apart if it could, take the sun and the moon from the sky and use them as juggling balls. It knew no boundaries, no limitations.

Except that it will, thought Harry, and brought down his own will upon it.

The magic bucked and fought him like a wild horse, and it was ten times worse than Tom Riddle’s fighting had been, because Riddle was at least foreign to his mind, and this was familiar. But Harry was stern.

I can't wait to read book 3.

[Julesmarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoo! When I said in my review of #1 that I hoped she'd relax into the world and let us spend more time with and get to know the characters a little more, I had no idea my wish would be granted to this extent.

This was incredible! A fascinating, enthralling, heart-breaking, inspiring examination of the mind, free will, responsibility, sacrifice, friendship, and family.

We learn more about what has really happened to Harry because of the way Lily chose to raise him. It's fascinating to get to head-hop and therefore see multiple peoples' reactions to what is going on in Harry's head. The descriptions of what the structure of Harry's mind has become were vivid and powerful, and having so many of the battles take place there was fascinating!

Yes, this is dark. But it never claimed to be otherwise, and we're also given the assurance just before the darkest chapter that things only get better from here. Plus, ever and always in the midst of the darkness there's some light and some hope.

Draco is the most vivid example of this. This Draco annoyed me in the first book and the first half of this one. He just seemed so one-dimensional in is adoration of and devotion to Harry. He seemed weak and silly when Harry tried to break off their friendship for Draco's own good, and Draco kept refusing. But after he stands up to Harry and insists on going with him to the Chamber, I loved him for his simple and uncomplicated view of the world. Things get so VERY complicated after that point, with seemingly every character having several different secrets and motivations for doing some of the horrible things they've done. Draco became the breath of fresh air. The one thing I didn't have to question. That was fantastically well done and I find myself eager to return to this world for book 3 partly to get to see more of how he develops and whether he continues as the only ulterior-motive-free person in Harry's life.

The whole thing was beautifully well done. I can't wait to see where we get taken from here!

[Anna Kļaviņa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harry/Draco friendship
Slytherin!Harry
Mentor!Snape
AU

Just as good as I remembered, and I'm enjoying this more knowing how the series end and noticing small things knowing they're going to be explained/matter later in the story.

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how well this is written. All the elements of Harry Potter that we all loved is here, smashed, and molded even better. There are unfortunate parts, but more, there are extremely splendid parts. The author combines and flits on canon in the best of ways, adding layers and layers behind the original story, deepening backstory, describing emotion and strategy and society in ways Rowling hadn't, and in ways I'm enjoying so much more. Truly fantastic, and what I hope to come across every time I search for a book to read.

*Connor's scar: I really gag every time it comes across. Sooo cheesy. I'm appalled. But I ignore it carefully for the merits of the rest of the story.
*Connor: Actually, Connor. Gross. Kill this kid off now. Everything about him revolts me. Redemption gone. (And now he's been possessed too? Psh, I still label him a douche.)
*Draco: And then we have Draco. Oh my god, I need one! So cute. It's giving me whiplash, the hate for Connor and adoration for Draco. And the ever so promising echoes of compatibility and romance to come is brilliant (their mental twining, their tight friendship). And the splashes of the pureblooded heir superiority in action? Fabulous. I like my characters multifaceted.
*Sylarana: Um, hello, awesome. Familiar not-familiar companion? Pinicle of traditional fantasy. Owls have no chance, these snakes beat ALL. Harry's owl Hedwig had, like, one mention in the last book.
*Sniffles: I cried. Kicked puppy is the worst, and again, chapter 10, Connor is a fucking douche. I wanted to share Harry with Sylarana and hiss at fucking Connor. Ungrateful brat. And then chapter 11! Officially dead to me.
*Other houses: Yay! The other houses actually get a say now, they have exposure! Rejoice! And Harry's turning out to be a web of leadership and worthy of followship.
*Harry's gift to Draco: Um, yup, extremely thoughtful, and super cute. That was lovely.
*The prophecy: "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies… He is the younger of two, and he shall have the power the Dark Lord knows not…For the elder is power, but the younger is power united with love…O guard him, O shield him, for the darkness through which he passes otherwise is vicious and hideous, and love has but a scant chance of surviving…The elder will stand at his right shoulder, loving him, but the younger will love the whole of the wizarding world…The Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, and in so doing mark his heart… The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches, born as the seventh month dies…"
*Harry's magic: That it's higher form is sentinent is rather awesome. As far yet, not evil or good, but self-serving, and wholly under will of Harry. Extremely fascinating.
*Snape: Fuck yeah, Snape. Quickly becoming a favourite character. Scratch that -- IS a favourite character.


Quotes:

"Wait until you see what we bought you, Harry! It's wonderful. And you can't guess what it is! Go on, guess!"
Why does he think that you can guess what it is when he just told you that you couldn't? Sylarana hissed into his mind. This one is my second choice for someone to bite, if I cannot find your brother. He is spitting on me. Tell him to stop it.

"It's true that you've given us no gift of equivalent price, Harry," she said gently. Her smile reminded him of Sirius's when he had played a particularly good prank, but with a different twist to it. "You've given us something greater." She glanced sideways at Draco, who was examining the broom in silent rapture, and lowered her voice. "I have never seen my son so happy as he was this summer."

"I hope that utter prat isn't really going to be our Defense teacher."
"Draco," said Narcissa. "You will show respect to your professors."
Draco turned and gave his mother an innocent look. "Even to him?"
Narcissa's lips twitched, and Draco beamed.

I am never going to get bored of you. You speak with serpents. That is rare. You are my human, and I am going to defend you from other snakes who might try to take you away.

"Drop the shield, Harry!" he screamed. "Let me at him!"
"No," Harry said, and then felt slight movement behind him. "Draco, if you fire a spell at him, I will drop the shield, and then I'll hex you," he added.

Harry nodded again and called on the Protego, which he wrapped around himself just a few inches above his skin. It caused all the malicious hexes that the other students cast at him when the teachers weren't around to bounce right back at them. Next, he cast a spell that Snape had shown them, Muffliato, one which made the voices of the other students sound like a distant buzzing in Harry's ears. Snape had looked vaguely ill-at-ease when Harry had managed to change it so that it obscured the conversations of not just one person but all of them, except Draco, the other Slytherins, and the professors. Harry did not know why. It was a useful spell, and the variation was easy to make, just involving a bit more emphasis on the first two syllables than normal.

"Well, I don't know, really," said Justin amiably, following him down the rows. "But, see, that's one of the nice things about being a Hufflepuff. The Ravenclaws think that you have some deviously intelligent plan that your every motion is part of. The Slytherins think—or would, I assume, if any of them were aligned against you—that you're just lying about everything. The Gryffindors are sure that you're Dark, and they're in an agony trying to make everyone else see it. But Hufflepuffs rely more on common sense. So I thought I'd ask. Are you evil and Petrifying people?"

"You're the evil House, you know," he said. "Everyone always tenses up when there are Slytherins around. And they relax with Gryffindors, or the Gryffindors think they do, and the Ravenclaws get asked for help on homework. But we just get ignored. It's weird.[..]"

The box bucked in his mind, and Sylarana hissed at him. Could you avoid talking about him unless you absolutely must? You know how he gets.
I do know, Harry told her, and stroked her back where she lay on his arm. And you are a wonderful snake, a magnificent snake, for holding him in so effectively.
Sylarana made a small suspicious sound under her breath, but accepted the praise and the petting.

With wild rejoicing, with a glad cry, the power was free, and rushed up and around him. Harry had never felt such magic. It was mad. It would tear everything apart if it could, take the sun and the moon from the sky and use them as juggling balls. It knew no boundaries, no limitations.
Except that it will, thought Harry, and brought down his own will upon it.

Let him believe what he needs to believe, or wants to believe, in regard to his brother. Instead, offer him training, what he doesn't have and will yet need in the battles to come.
It is more important that he succeed than know why he is succeeding.
But if and when he ever changes his mind…
I will be ready.

"Let Zacharias do this," Justin whispered. "He's the best I've ever heard at this. He's skeptical of everything. He even talks back to Professor Snape if he doesn't think the potions are made right. And people will take it better if they see it coming from someone who's not the person he's accusing, or a Slytherin."

She closed her eyes. "And he said there weren't any Gryffindor Death Eaters, and I thought of Peter Pettigrew, and didn't say anything."

And then the cold voice was silenced, because a different self had come forth from the box.
It had no voice. It had no boasting. Harry could feel its rage, though, and the coldness of that rage.
He opened his eyes to see Draco encased in ice, the dead basilisk frozen, and blue-white fire cutting the darkness and racing towards Tom Riddle and Connor. In a moment, Connor, too, was a statue, and then the magic reared high above Tom Riddle and the diary and stared at them.
Riddle stared back for a long moment. Then he swung his head to look at Harry, and his eyes had gone mad.
"Not him," he breathed. "Never him. It was you, it must have been, and the nature of our connection—"
The silent self had had enough of him. Down it coiled, and made itself into a snake, a constrictor, so black that Harry's eyes bled as he watched it. His own voice was distant now, a sobbing scream, worse than a kicked animal would make. He could do nothing but watch. He was not in control right now. The silent self was.
It coiled around Tom Riddle and broke his ribs with one squeeze, his newly formed body with another, and then his life from him with a third. Then the snake placed him on the floor, stretched its jaws wide, and ate him. Harry felt, distantly, that cold power settle within him, consumed by his own magic, adding to its strength.

"Because he is ours, too," said the centaur, utter seriousness on his face. His eyes were piercing, bright. "Vates."

He had been a Death Eater. He had been a Dark wizard, and still was, in the sense that he knew the Dark Arts. He had sometimes thought that his sense of right and wrong had long ago drained away from him. He had made his choices, but for selfish reasons as much as anything else. His courage was nothing that a Gryffindor would recognize.

"Fawkes says that Harry Potter is on the road to being a vates," he said.
"What is that?"
"All of us know," said Dobby, instead of answering. "All the magical creatures know. House elves, phoenixes, centaurs, unicorns, dragons." He shuddered convulsively as he spoke the last word. "We know what might happen. No prophecies, no destiny, no masters. What might happen, if it is chosen. We wait, and we hope."

"They canceled our exams with all the excitement, you know. Hermione was moping."

[Menglong Youk · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

After finishing this book, I realized that there is no way turning back; I must prepare myself for this promisingly long, but incredible journey of several thousand of pages in this series next year. Oh, my review on this book? it's weird, yet addicted since I'm only used to the original story of Harry Potter; however, this series will take me to another new time line of my most favorite series of all time. it's time to buckle up.

[Roxana Chirilă · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely as good as I remembered - here's a series that makes me happy from so many points of view, not the least of which is its brilliance.

Reading it for the second time is different from reading it the first time around - I noticed more things, I knew what to dread and what to enjoy while it lasted. And I really love how everything is working awesomely together.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even better than the first one. I love the characters. Narcissa is awesome. Remus is awesome. Dumbledore scares me. Compelling plot that mirrored the Chamber of Secrets while also containing new and creative elements. The exploration of occlumency is fascinating.

[Kudrat Kaur · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll review the series once I finish - but may I just say. Wow. This is...Just. Wow.

[Tea and Spite · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a lot of ways I think this might be the weakest fic in the series. It's interesting, it works well with what comes before it and sets up quite a bit for later, but it doesn't quite seem to know what it is yet. It's still a bit too firmly grounded in canon for the melodrama to seem reasonable, but too obviously an extreme AU for the canon morality that underlies Harry's though process to not be frustrating.

I can understand it from a writing perspective. The somewhat disjointed feeling of the story works well to mirror Harry's character development. From a reader perspective, on the other hand, it's just a bit annoying.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

RIP Sylarana :’(

Hufflepuffs taking Connor down a peg was the best part of this one; I love it.

Also, I know Draco is infatuated with Harry himself as well as Harry’s magic, but it threw me out of the story how much Harry and Draco touched each other, hugs especially. Maybe wizarding culture is different, but at that age my friend group wouldn’t have hugged each other if ours lives depended on.

Love how well the author is starting to lay the whole plot out, though; I’m excited for the vates aspect to begin.

[Janina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one! Really, really did. I absolutely love the unlikely childhood friends that slowly but surely grow closer over the years and Harry/Draco definitely fit that trope. I mean, they are best friends and so different but so loyal to each other and my heart just melts. Melts. It's a puddle on the floor right now; a sugary puddle because it overdosed on sweets.

I'm not even One Of The Big Drarry Shippers but THIS makes me understand why some people are, truly. I know that I'm gushing right now but I'm having an emotion. I think it's well written, indeed, to put it mildly. In this book, my feelings for Connor get a little more complicated and complex. Mostly, I dislike him. BUT! I'm trying not to do that because he's important for the story and Harry's brother and he loves him. And I do understand his actions in certain moments (because he grew up with his fame, the prophecy, his specialness. It obviously changed how people viewed him, how friends viewed him, how his family viewed him and how he viewed himself.) So I get that, I do. He's used to that behaviour, to that mindset. But overall that doesn't excuse his repeated behavior for me -- he's flimsy with his decisions, second-guesses and mistrusts after even the slightest of hints and clues, disregards his own affection and positive memories of his brother almost immediately after Harry get's blamed for the Chamber of Secrets, treats his friends like he already earned them just because he's the Boy Who Lived, is extremely prejudiced when it comes to Slytherins and most of the time doesn't let other people change his mind on something even if they have definite proof that it's the truth). This got angry and long fast lol. I'm sorry. Rant and ramble over lmao.

I also absolutely adore the Malfoys/Harry dynamics. I LOVE THIS. Kinda found family? Kinda enemies-to-allies? Kinda unlikely-fragile-bond and mind games and clever connections and so much more. Their interactions have nuances, they are shapeshifters.

Some things are driving me nuts and I hate all the stuff that Harry has to deal with because of his role (the role that was assigned to him in his family) in the story but overall, I really enjoy the experience.

[annika · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be the best fanfiction series I have ever read.
These subtle moments between Harry and Draco may have had me squealing. Several times. This friendship is just the purest love. I can't wait to see how Harry will react when he realizes that there may be more deeper feelings between them. That ought to be interesting.
I'm really sad that Sylarana won't be there anymore, I very much liked her sarcasm.
And Narcissa was simply badass in the end. I love her.
The next book has over 270,000 words; well, better start now. Who needs sleep anyway?

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Review In Six Words

Fanfiction has never been so good.

[Douni Sully · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have so much to say but I need to breathe first

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am dying for more pureblood customs. Bring on the dance.

[Oliwia (Diana) · Rating 5 out of 5]

ta ksiazka rozwala mnie psychicznie i juz nie wiem czy smiac sie czy plakac, nienawidze teraz wiekszosci postaci z universum hp but im here for it

[LeeAnn]

This was a much better book than the first. For one thing, all of Harry's brainwashing was slowly unraveling, and for another, much more important reason, we were introduced to the best character I've met so far: the snake, Sylarana. I love her so much. She was exactly what the fic needed, something very non-canon and new. Different than PoS and RBC (though RBC has Dom of course).

Oh yeah! One of my favorite parts of HP fic (in general) is emphasized heavily here, all the pureblood dances. They really feel older, more alive, more important here. And Every Single Time Draco and Harry exchange birthday/Christmas gifts, love it. Draco isn't perfect, he's still bigoted and doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut but somehow I love him anyway. The parallels between him and RBC Draco are very clear. Though at least in this fic we know the eventual ending between our Harry and this Draco.

This book consists of Voldemort possessing Harry first, forcing him to paralyze both Luna and Neville. He learns of his parselmouth status early, through Sylarana, and chooses to announce it to the school. He also chose to take the diary before Lucius can drop it into Ginny's cauldron. This book heavily centers around occulumency, while Harry attempts to stuff his strongest emotions in a box at the bottom of his mind. The box is what ends up hiding Tom, allowing Tom to come back and possess him later on. I believe this is also the book we learn of the phoenix web cast by Dumbledore. Connor is pretty much an ass throughout the book. Then we find out he was also possessed so I can't really hold it against him but honestly he really does not deserve Harry's love at all.

Sometimes this fic feels like if Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality was allowed to finish, at least it's ideals about freeing all magical creatures is very similar. Connor finds out he has the gift of compulsion and really distrusts Harry because he believes Harry might actually be the "Boy Who Lived". Because he's an ass. Anyway, a mid-tier book overall, bringing it a bit higher with the existence of Sylrana. Lockhart exists but not nearly in as brilliant way as in PoS and he makes me wonder if TSM took some inspiration from this one. It is interesting to see the strong parallels between the two WBWL stories. I'm not sure how they compare yet, I'll have to keep reading.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is trying to ruin my life. How am I supposed to sleep or focus on work, when there is another chapter to read?

I'm not going to say this is perfect. There are definitely some minor inconsistencies, but nothing consequential. (Such as Dumbledore telling Harry that he can't be alone anywhere and it being completely ignored by everybody.) And there are plenty of grammar and typo errors. Not an obscene amount, but on par with many self-pubs. There are also some motives and scenes I don't really get. I don't really get Draco's obsession, but I think it might just be the hints of true love, since I know they get together eventually. And at the end, where it seems Connor's fighting with Harry is blamed on the possession, but the fighting started first. But all the drama and emotion!! It is so compelling and heart-breaking. I'm getting used to thinking of the characters in their own right instead of as their HP counterpart. And I am so adoring Snape. And I love so many of the secondary characters getting involved in their own rights. Yay Hufflepuffs!

[Sean Randall · Rating 4 out of 5]

As we pull further away from Canon, things continue to become more intriguing. Much of this book sets up the thought picture of harry's mindscape, and we learn about the abuses, both magical and mental, that have constricted our young hero and made him what he is. The books get much bigger from here on out, and darker, too. It's a fascinating lens through which to view the wizarding world, and I am just as hooked now as I was when I read these well over a decade ago

[Eri · Rating 4 out of 5]

While some of the characters do act quite agelessly and not what you'd expect from this type of genre, I do like how the story keeps on getting dark.
There was a warning that people will start noticeably dying, no one of importance died yet, besides my beloved companion snake.

[Elise Stern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sad ending. I really didn't want Sylarana to die.
I hope Harry finds himself another snake :-)

[Chalilodimun Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much much better than the first book. I really fell in love with the series with this book. I loved Sylarana the best.

[Marge Flemming · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice

[gabriella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is where it gets really good

[Julieta Jimenez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Connor and Lily are a little bitch (Like always)

[Benni Ley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[C.K · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I really enjoyed it, my only issue is that certain parts were unnecessarily long and that Connor is HUGE PRAT, but besides that, I enjoyed the whole thing.

[Candice Larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rip snek

[Alejandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

odio a todos ojalá muera Connor

[Sabro · Rating 5 out of 5]

sylarana zasługuje na osobną recenzję

przyniosłabym temu wspaniałemu stworzeniu wszystko, nawet całą ciężarówkę tarty melasowej