Parseltongue

**Parseltongue** was the language of serpents (as well as other magical serpentine creatures, like the Runespoor and Basilisk) and tended to sound like hissing noises. A magical who could speak Parseltongue was known as a **Parselmouth**.

## Description

### Characteristics

Parseltongue was, when spoken, a hissing sound, similar to that of a snake; as such, normal people could not understand it (one known exception being Dumbledore). Apart from merely communicating with serpentine lifeforms, Parselmouths also seemed to be able to influence the will of serpents to a certain extent. Aside from serpent-based creatures, Parselmouths can communicate with each other with the language, as Harry understood Tom Riddle's commands to the Serpent of Slytherin, and members of the House of Gaunt communicated with each other almost exclusively in Parseltongue.

### Ruputation

The ability to actually speak Parseltongue — not just imitate it as Ron Weasley did — was considered an attribute of a Dark wizard, which was partly due to the fact that both Salazar Slytherin and Voldemort possessed this ability.

However, as Albus Dumbledore pointed out, there were Parselmouths among the great and good as well, the most well-known of which was Harry Potter. Paracelsus, a notable alchemist and a "*medical genius*", was credited with the discovery of Parseltongue in the sixteenth century, despite the existence of speakers like Herpo the Foul or Salazar Slytherin in the classical and medieval ages. Because of the uncommonness of Parselmouths, Voldemort came to believe it made him special.

## Examples Parseltongue

### Harry Potter as a Parselmouth

Most Wixen whom are Parselmouths are descended from Salazar Slytherin, with Harry Potter being revealed as a Parselmouth whom inherited the dormant ability from his mother Lily Potter, one of the few living descendents of Salazar Slytherin. Harry didn't actually exhibit the ability until Voldemort attacked him as an infant, untintenionally turning him into a Horcrux; Due to members of the House of Gaunt being descended from Slytherin, Harry and Voldemort's relation linked with the Horcrux awakened the Parselmouth ability within him. Harry first experienced conversation with snakes at age ten when he was taken to the zoo with his cousin Dudley Dursley and found himself communicating with a snake while in the reptile exhibit. Harry inadvertently caused the glass of the snake's tank to vanish, enabling it to escape.

### Atlantean Royal Family

Members of the Atlantean Royal Family were known for having unique and extremely are magical abilities, which have all been passed down throughout generations of Atlanteans, with Parseltongue being an ability linked to Dark Majistra, whom later passed the skill onto her twin sons Arion and Garn Daanuth. As both Arion's godson and directly descended from him, Perseus inherited the ability to speak Parseltongue.

Chaos and Gaea stated Perseus was Demiurge's reincarnation, with Demiurge being known under many names prior to comitting suicide; After the genocide of the Elder Gods and the Godwave's creation, Demiurge was known as **Ophion the Serpent** before the Titans came into power - Ophion was visually seen as a serpent coiled around the Cosmic Egg. He was remade into Perseus Lykaios using Ouranos' blood, with Chaos taking into acount Perseus fading in the future and ensured his ancestry from his current incarnation would be a permement attribute upon his rebirth. Furthermore, Perseus has also been known as The Horned God and Cernnunos, both deities seen with a snake coiled around their necks.

Aquaman was revealed to have a limited variation of Parseltongue due to being a son of Poseidon and Arion's descendent. He can speak with sea snakes and serpent monsters that are native to the sea such as Leviathan and Jörmungandr, being capable of manipulating such creatures using words in Parselmouth combined with his marine telepathy. However monsters similar to the aforementioned beings exhausted him greatly when doing so, thus Aquaman often resorts to his mental control over marine life.

### Loki Laufeyson

As the God of Serpents whom fathered Jörmungandr, Loki Laufeyson has the natural ability to speak and influence serpents. His daughter Alex suspected Loki had sent an ancient lindworm to her and this was revealed to be true due to the fact that Loki holds control over snakes, serpents, dragons, and lindworms and wyrms of fire. It's remains unknown how extensive Loki's Parseltongue abilities were in comparison to Perseus and Majistra.

## Known Parselmouths

* Dark Majistra
* Arion
* Garn Daanuth
* Aquaman (limited; sea snakes and snake-like sea monsters)
* Perseus Lykaios
* Herpo the Foul
* Salazar Slytherin
* Voldemort
* Harry Potter