Setting: This initial chapter is set within the first few weeks of Harry's first year where he has been sorted into Slytherin. It follows the common AU story of Harry having an older brother who falsely wins the title of The Boy Who Lived and consequently gains all the attention and adoration of his parents. There is the suggestion of abuse at the hands of his OOC parents but nothing extreme. Both parents are teachers at Hogwarts, Sirius is alive and as usual Remus is the only one who really cares about Harry. Also, as Harry is from the well known Gryffindor family he doesn't have many fans in Slytherin – Snape included.
'Normal Speech'
'Snake Speech'
Enjoy!
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A Cold Green
Innocence
Harry brushed a hesitant hand over his mouth, gazing sadly at the blood shining on his fingers. Another split lip. He sat forlornly in the corner of the balcony, no longer feeling the cold of the stone against his back or the sting of his wounds. The icy evening wind whistled round the tower, whipping his thick black hair in front of his eyes. But he was glad of it. The darkness hid the few slow tears that trickled down his face.
He scowled darkly at himself and wiped them away, rubbing his arms for warmth against the winter winds as he stared at the heavy stone banister before him.
"I hate them." He muttered to himself, not even able to hear his own mutinous voice over the violent wind.
"I hate them!" He screamed in a challenge to the gods, his voice whipped away with a swirling roar.
His energy dissipated for the moment, he sat back with a heavy sigh.
The only thing worse than being the black sheep of the Potter family was being a Potter in the house of Slytherin. Harry's scowl darkened at the thought - they all hated him. No matter what he did, or where he was. At least his classmates couldn't yet throw a punch as hard as his disappointed father.
He wrapped his too-large cloak around himself as it started to rain. Lost in his thoughts it must have been quite late by the time he picked himself cautiously up from the ground and wandered silently back indoors. Drifting through the deserted corridors he walked with a practised gentle step to prevent making a noise.
Standing mutely in front of the entrance to the Slytherin common rooms Harry played out his choices in his mind. He could stay and guess the password until he got the right one, or he could find an empty room to spend the night in.
"Are you ever going to give me the password?" The man in the portrait snapped impatiently.
Harry gazed slowly upwards at the weathered face looking darkly down at him.
"I- don't know." He replied without emotion, his voice cracking slightly with use at such a late hour of the night.
If he returned to the common room there was no guarantee he'd make it to his bed without being noticed by the older Slytherin's he knew would still be awake. Perhaps it would just be easier to find somewhere else to sleep.
"Isss he mentally sound?"
Harry scowled, his eyes snapping back to meet those of the man in the portrait.
"What did you say?" He asked quietly, green eyes glittering in the darkness.
The large man's eyes narrowed.
"I didn't say anything." He replied suspiciously, regarding Harry with a raised eyebrow.
"You sssee, he is hearing voices."
"I am not hearing voices! I'm hearing you and I don't appreciate your comments!" Harry growled back.
The man in the portrait crossed his arms and the hint of a smile passed his face.
"I didn't say anything."
"You did!" Harry cried out, trying to keep his voice down while his frustration bubbled underneath the surface. He was tired of people stepping on him today.
"Perhaps you are mistaking my friend's voice as mine." The man continued calmly.
But there was no-one else in the portrait, Harry thought to himself with a frown. He was suddenly very tired and just didn't want to argue any more.
He rubbed a hand across his face, appearing much older than the twelve years that he was.
"Introduce me…"There was a pause during which Harry couldn't be bothered to look up. The man in the portrait was obviously insane.
"Very well, if I must... Boy, this is my friend – Luthas."
Harry rolled his eyes.
"Look, I'm tired and I-"
He stopped as his brilliant green eyes met a pair of brilliant yellow ones.
"What iss your name, boy?""You're a… snake." Harry said eyes wide in realisation.
"He's a clever one." The bearded man commented with a smirk.
"But he does not answer my questions. He is rude." The snake hissed, glittering black scales glinting as it slid up the large man's arm.
"But I- no. How is this possible?" Harry stammered in confusion. He had read his history books. He knew that it was extremely uncommon to be able to talk to serpents.
"Your thoughts mirror my own." The man replied slowly, eyes shrewd as he studied Harry's bruised face and wet robes.
"I'm not of Slytherin descent." Harry murmured to himself, "The only living relative of Lord Slytherin was Voldemort…"
The snake's clever yellow eyes met those of his bearded master before turning back to Harry's slight form before them.
"What isss your name, boy?" Luthas asked once more.
"I- My name is Harry. Harry Potter."
There was a stillness as the snake flicked its tail.
"Brother to the famous Potter boy?" The bearded man finally asked.
Harry's expression darkened momentarily. It seemed this was how he was forever to be known. Brother of Benjamin Potter. Relative of The Boy Who Lived.
"Yes." He sighed.
Again a look passed between the two painted figures.
"Interesting… very interesting." Luthas hissed quietly.
Harry couldn't bear the scrutinising eyes anymore and made his excuses to leave, deciding that an evening on the floor of some empty classroom would not be bad at all.
"I beg your pardon, sir, but I must leave."
"You don't want to enter the common room?" The man seemed amused.
"I have to-"
"POTTER!"
Harry winced and took a step back into the shadows hoping that the rapidly approaching figure would pass.
He was not in luck.
"Potter, what do you think you're doing? It's well past curfew."
Harry dragged his eyes upwards to meet those of the tall potion master. His eyes were glaring and impatient – the black robes and hair merging into the blackness of the corridor, making his eyes the one focal point that Harry could focus on.
Unfortunately.
"Well?" He snapped.
Harry opened his mouth to reply, but couldn't find an answer to suit and closed it again.
"Just as I thought. Well, don't expect your dear parents to get you out of this one," Snape threatened quietly, "Your brother has already been in trouble this week and got away with one nights detention. You, boy, will not be so lucky."
Harry swallowed painfully but forced himself not to drop his head.
"Sorry, sir." He whispered.
"You will be." Snape sneered, grabbing Harry by the upper right arm and guiding him rather forcefully to face the common room portrait once more.
"I don't care what your father may have suggested as acceptable behaviour in this house," He hissed, depositing Harry where he had just been only two minutes beforehand, "And I'll warn you again – any points you deliberately get deducted from Slytherin, I will personally see to it that you pay for them, understand?"
Harry slid a blank expression on his face, not daring to argue with the seething man next to him. Something had obviously set him off into a bad mood tonight and Harry didn't want to act as the catalyst to any further anger.
"Yes, sir." He replied smoothly.
Snape glared at him, obviously having expected a different reaction. Harry wouldn't give him the pleasure of retaliation and met his gaze as evenly as he could.
"Perhaps you are the more sensible of the two after all." Snape finally replied quietly, eyes narrowed.
"I'm not like my brother." Harry replied equally as quietly, eyes moving to study the floor.
"We'll see." Snape sneered, "I want to see you in my office tomorrow morning at six."
Harry frowned and looked up in surprise. Snape obviously wanted to enforce his punishment before Harry got the chance to go to his parents. As if they would have helped him anyway - 'It's for your own good', 'Why can't you be as well behaved as your brother', 'Don't be stupid, boy. If you're enough of an idiot to get caught then you deserve any punishment Snivellus gives you'.
"Yes, sir." Came Harry's tired reply.
It must have been at least one in the morning. He wasn't going to get much sleep tonight. Again.
"Good, now get back to your room. I don't care if the castle is on fire, you're not to leave your chambers again tonight." Snape snapped.
Harry nodded numbly, and turned back to the man in the portrait. His snake had disappeared once more and he stood imposingly, a small smirk on his face.
"So now you do want to enter." He said in amusement.
"Not really." Harry muttered under his breath.
"Potter." Came Snape's dangerous voice behind him.
"I would like it more than anything else in the world." Harry replied in false politeness.
"Make sure he doesn't come back out." Snape growled to the bearded man as the portrait opened wide for Harry to enter.
"Goodnight." Harry murmured to no-one in particular as he trudged into the dark passageway.
As the portrait swung shut Harry considered the reasons Snape must have had for ignoring the obvious bruising on his face. Probably thinks I deserved it, Harry sighed. At least he could use his potion/cream on them tomorrow. He needed the practise from some of his more advanced first aid potions, and that was one thing the house of Slytherin afforded him in abundance.
"Alright, Potter."
Harry fought down the familiar twisting in his chest as he turned to face the three large figures moving from their seated positions by the fire.
"A bit late for you to be out isn't it?" The boy Harry now recognised as a sixth year called Morgan asked threateningly.
"Professor Snape wouldn't like that, would he boys?" Another laughed, blocking Harry's exit route to the bedrooms, "We'd better reinforce some of those Slytherin house rules into your little Gryffindor head, hadn't we?"
Harry rubbed one hand against the other nervously. He knew what was coming. It was inescapable, just as the fight earlier this evening had been. He just had to make sure he regained consciousness by six o'clock tomorrow morning.
He just hoped he'd made enough bruise lotion.
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Hope you enjoyed. As I said, this is just to set the scene. Will hopefully move faster after this. Feel free to review. Next chapter up soon.x