snake language; the ability to speak Parseltongue was extremely rare, and Salazar Slytherin was famous for it (thus his nickname was “Serpent-tongue,” and a serpent was the symbol of Slytherin house); Tom Riddle inherited this ability from Slytherin; Harry unwittingly acquired this ability from Voldemort when he attacked Harry as a baby; Harry spoke Parseltongue to a boa constrictor in the zoo, to the snake conjured by Malfoy at the Dueling Club, and to open the Chamber of Secrets; the Gaunt family spoke in Parseltongue (CS11, 16, 18; GF31; HBP10, 13)