The point this answer misses is that a non-parseltongue can't hear a snake speak. They can hear a human speak in parseltongue, and they can even - as Ron did - mimic some of those sounds, at least well enough to fool a magical door lock (we have no evidence whether such mimicry would fool an actual snake); but they can't hold a conversation ...
In HPMoR, it's just a lovely bit of irony that Draco desperately wants some way to establish trust with Harry, and then they communicate with Parseltongue, but Harry doesn't know that it makes lying impossible.
I believe it’s implied Snape suggested Draco use Serpensortia, but everyone was shocked by Harry’s response to it. Love Alan Rickman’s reaction face in the movie. But what was going thru Snape’s mind at this point in the books? Did the teachers or Snape and Dumbledore have an emergency meeting about it, or did everyone just brush it off?
Parseltongue - resourcefulness - determination - a certain disregard for rules. So, does anyone know what specific powers Harry got from Voldemort and is there anyway to tell if he lost anything else besides Parseltongue?
Parseltongue is a magical language that snakes understand - and, conversely, a Parselmouth understands snakes. But nothing says it is the same language, just that Parseltongue is made of hissing sounds.
I’m only wondering cause Dumbledore explains in the King’s Cross chapter in TDH that parseltongue was an ability passed on to Harry when Voldemort made him a horcrux. But since that part of Harry was killed, does that mean he can speak in parseltongue anymore?? Share Add a Comment Sort by: Best Open comment sort options Best Top New Controversial Old Q&A Ravenchef •
According to the wiki, Parseltongue, the language of snakes, can be learned by humans and possibly other beings, though it is an arduous task. Professor Albus Dumbledore, a renowned wizarding scholar, managed to understand it but could never speak it fluently.
To add; Harry doesn't realise how to control his Parseltongue until the Half-Blood Prince because he doesn't know how and doesn't get much of a chance to as mentioned by Anthony Grist.
Can Parseltongue be learned? Parseltongue is a language unique to snakes, but it is an extremely rare gift in the wizarding world. Languages can be learned through translation, so someone who spoke parseltongue and english could potentially teach the average witch or wizard to speak it.
In the second movie, Harry Potter is seen communicating with the snake that Draco Malfoy conjured with the spell "Serpensortia!" in the duelling club. He communicates with the snake in Parseltongue...
