I read that quote as saying that snake Animagi were more common than Parselmouths, because snake Animagus could be learned, but Parseltongue has to be transmitted directly or indirectly through Slytherin’s line (directly, by genetics a la V, or indirectly, by bit-of-soul transfer a la HP. Though Rowling never says whether Harry lost his Parseltongue after the bit of V’s soul in his died in DH.)
/shrug if so then there goes that theory. I had thought Parseltongue was just rare. Didn’t realize you needed to be one of Slytherin’s heirs (or get in through a loophole like HP).
I read that quote as saying that snake Animagi were more common than Parselmouths, because snake Animagus could be learned, but Parseltongue has to be transmitted directly or indirectly through Slytherin’s line (directly, by genetics a la V, or indirectly, by bit-of-soul transfer a la HP. Though Rowling never says whether Harry lost his Parseltongue after the bit of V’s soul in his died in DH.)
/shrug if so then there goes that theory. I had thought Parseltongue was just rare. Didn’t realize you needed to be one of Slytherin’s heirs (or get in through a loophole like HP).
It doesn’t say in the books, but I think she’s said that he did.