Parseltongue is the language of snakes, which only people descended from Salazar Slytherin (one of the four Hogwarts founders) can speak. It is generally associated with dark magic. In the play, Voldemort, Delphi, and Harry can speak Parseltongue.
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Parseltongue Term Timeline in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
The timeline below shows where the term Parseltongue appears in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 1, Act 2, Scene 1
...appears in red robes and looks at the young Harry before Albus is pulled away. Parseltongue whispers reverberate around the stage, and Voldemort says, “Haaarry Pottttter.”
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Part 1, Act 2, Scene 20
Whispers in Parseltongue erupt, and Dolores Umbridge pulls Scorpius Malfoy out of the water. She says that his...
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Part 2, Act 3, Scene 12
...and Albus bursts out of Voldemort’s cloak, calling after his dad. There are whispers in Parseltongue, a scream, and then a voice saying, “Haaarry Pottttter.”
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Part 2, Act 3, Scene 21
...there’s no record of her at the Ministry. When Ginny unscrews a lamp, they hear Parseltongue. Harry says in fear that he hasn’t been able to understand Parseltongue since Voldemort died,...
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Part 2, Act 4, Scene 10
...but Harry knows it has to be him because he’s the only one who speaks Parseltongue. The others realize that Harry is right.
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Part 2, Act 4, Scene 11
...and Bellatrix Lestrange’s, born in Malfoy Manor before the Battle of Hogwarts. She speaks in Parseltongue and flies in the air as proof, explaining that she is the Augurey to his...
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