Disclaimer: I don't own HP. If I did, the date would not have been with Cho, and it would have gone considerably better.
Authors note: As people have attempted to correct me on this allow me to explain. I am aware that Harry has black hair, however, I would like to point out that people with black hair are termed brunettes, thus Harry may be called a brunette. Thanks.
How do I get myself into these things? Harry looked around at the twenty or so wands that were pointed at his face. How was I to know that the voice speaking Parseltongue was human, and conducting a meeting with what looks like all of Slytherin house? Those in the circle around him seemed all too ready to hex and curse him, but they waited. An arm slipped around his waist, surprising him and most of those that surrounded him. A warm body, masculine, if the Boy Wonder was any judge, pressed up against his back. Harry stood perfectly still, hoping that the feeling that he knew who stood behind him was wrong. That would be just what I need, it's the only thing that could make this worse, okay one of the few things that could make this worse than it already is.
"Wands down." Draco Malfoy's voice rang out from directly behind the boy-who-lived.
"But my prince…" A Slytherin that Harry couldn't name stepped forward.
"Did I not make myself clear? Wands down." Power and authority radiated from the teen, but still the group hesitated to lower their weapons. The next statement that reached the Gryffindor's ears was not in English, or any other human language. The words that flowed from Malfoy's mouth were Parseltongue. "Say something in the language of the snakes, Potter."
"How do you suggest that I do that? I can't speak it on command." It wasn't until he stopped talking that Harry realized that his words had been hisses.
"How can we bring harm so rashly to one with such a talented tongue?" A few chuckles followed that statement, but several of those in attendance still looked wary. "Now, wands down." The group slowly lowered their wands. "As a member of this respected council I lay claim to this Gryffindor. He is not to be harmed by any other member of this council. Do any challenge my claim?" The unnamed teen who had spoken before raised his voice again.
"The Dark Lord will not be pleased with your claim."
"Do you honestly think that I care? My claim will be announced before the council proper, if Riddle can challenge me then, though the King will not look kindly on the demand. He has had plenty of time to bring his own application of claim to this council and has never done so." This shut the teen up, Harry was still too confused to raise his own protests and a nearly imperceptible tightening of the hold on him made sure that he stayed silent. "Any other challenges?" No one spoke. "Good. I believe that we were about to adjourn when we received our unexpected guest?" A few nods of assent answered him. "Then I call this meeting adjourned." Slowly, people filed out of the room; that was when Harry noticed that others in the group, non-Slytherins, three in number to be exact. Marietta Edgecombe of Ravenclaw, and Ernie Macmillan of Hufflepuff hurried out of the room, a Ravenclaw that Harry didn't recognize followed closely behind. Draco's arm stayed around his waist, keeping Harry from leaving with the crowd. Blaise Zabini approached Draco, ignoring Harry entirely.
"Does this mean that the Lion's Den is finally open?" The boy-who-was-claimed did not see the response, but from Blaise's smile he could only assume that Draco had nodded. When they were the only two in the room, Draco released Harry and stepped around him walking to a throne-like chair centered on the far side of the room. The blond collapsed gracefully into the seat, before turning his gaze to Harry.
"What in Merlin's name were you doing Potter? Walking right into the middle of a group of possibly hostile people? You can't 'save' the wizarding world if you're dead." The Gryffindor was surprised to say the least.
Malfoy's on our side? "I've had bad experiences with other Parseltongue speakers in this school. I had hoped to nip any potential threat in the bud." He crossed his arms defensively.
"The meetings of the Serpent Council are conducted in the language of snakes, I also throw in a comment or threat every now and then during meetings to ensure that my authority is respected." Draco was looking at Harry as a botanist would look at a new species of plant.
"I didn't know that you spoke it." The response he received was in Parseltongue.
"I don't speak it naturally as you do. My mother has tutored me in it since I was a very young child." As he listened Harry realized that Malfoy had what he could only call an accent.
"What is this council? Why were there students from other houses here? You don't support Voldemort? What exactly did you mean by 'claiming' me?" After the last question Harry found himself unable to speak.
"Calm down Potter. Did you want me to answer any of those or did you just want to annoy me? That was rhetorical by the way." Draco made a gesture to one of two chairs placed on either side of him. Hesitantly, Harry made his way over to the chair and sat. "You want to know what the Serpent Council is? We are a governing party. We run quite a bit of the wizarding world, mostly through others. No, I don't support Riddle, though he is a member of the council. That does not mean, however, that we will automatically give him our support; he will learn that soon. As for claiming you, it was the only way to ensure your safety. We don't usually treat those who walk in on our meetings quite so nicely. Malfoy's are also possessive, we don't like to share, not even our rivals. This was simply an opportunity to ensure that I don't have to. Harry froze as Malfoy reached over and brushed a raven lock out of Harry's eyes. "As for the students from other houses, they are people who the sorting hat was uncertain about; they were nearly sorted into Slytherin. They may have chosen other houses, but that doesn't eliminate the part of them that belongs in our house. The blonde stopped speaking; and Harry found that his ability to speak had returned.
"Other people were given a choice too?" From the way that Ron spoke, Harry had been led to believe that he was the only to ever have been given a choice. Malfoy raised his eyebrow, a smirk forming on his lips.
"You could have ended up in another house?" The tone made Harry regret having spoken, he wasn't even sure why he was still here with Malfoy of all people.
Curiosity killed the cat. Whispered one part of his brain. But satisfaction brought it back. Another portion argued.
"Which house, prey tell, was good enough for the Golden Boy if not Gryffindor? Surely not Ravenclaw." Harry shook his head, looking down at his lap. He ignored the insult that he wasn't smart enough. "Hufflepuff then?" A blush colored Harry's cheeks, it crept down his neck as he shook his head. He knew that he shouldn't have been embarrassed, but Malfoy's tone and the fact that he had never actually told anyone which house he may have ended up in made him slightly nervous. "What house was it Harry?" Amusement colored the Slytherin's tone as he asked. The blush deepened as Harry realized that he had been addressed by his first name.
"Slytherin." The brunette whispered.
"Speak up, I can't hear you."
"Slytherin, alright. The hat all but told me to choose Slytherin, but I am happy with the choice I made, thank you." He stood then and made his way to the door.
"Potter." Harry paused to hear what Malfoy had to say. "If anyone bothers you tomorrow, tell me. I also expect you to return here tomorrow night at eleven."
"And if I don't?"
"I didn't say that you had a choice."
Next chapter: Draco wins a bet, the Golden Boy keeps a secret, and someone gets a piercing.
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