A/N: Sorry about the delay faithful readers! My flash drive got a virus (sobs uncontrollably) and I couldn't update! I lost all my stories! Every. Single. ONE! NOOO!...alright, I've had my moment, onto the story you've all been so keen to read (I DON'T own it)BTW: I'm a little behind on the abbreviations. Someone explain the difference between a Severitus and Sevitus as well as any other ones.

Severus blinked, the boys words echoing in his skull. "I'm not worthy of books, or the paper they're printed on." Where did precious Potter get that ridiculous notion? Surely he meant that books were not worthy of him, or some other presumptuous thing like that. And then there were the glamour charms. Where had almost muggle-born Potter learned glamour charms? And why?

Snape scowled as he placed a disillusionment charm on himself, banishing his ingredients to his office at Hogwarts before turning and trailing after the Boy-Who-Lived.

He reached the boy just as the groundskeeper boomed, "Alright Harry, now all you need is your pet! Wha' does yer letter say?"

Harry looked down at his school list and read aloud to placate the half giant, "Students may be allowed an owl, toad, cat, or rat. Any other pets may be approved before the term begins by a member of Hogwarts staff." Hagrid smiled and Severus noticed how Harry's face softened, as one's would when gazing at a small child. An unexpected snort passed through Sev at the boy as he urged Hagrid on gently.

Sev followed them into the shop, dodging the many swooping owls and bats. A few cats hissed in his direction, no doubt Kneazles, but no people noticed the invisible Potions master, save a small eleven year old girl. Severus's initial instinct was to sneer and snap at the child but when he saw her he stopped quickly.

Her eyes were a pale and piercing blue, probing his invisible ones with nothing but curiosity. She had bleach blonde hair, obviously natural, electric blue robes, and radishes dangling from each ear. She spoke softly, still holding onto his hand, "Why are you following that boy?"

Sev was cautious, "And who, might I ask, is asking me?"

The girl smiled serenely, "Luna Lovegood. Hush, please, he's picking out his pet now." Snape blinked again, something that seemed to become a habit. "Why must I 'hush'?" Luna simply smiled again and placed a small finger on her lips. Severus stared at her. No one her age had ever been so blunt with him, or so not afraid. Briefly he wondered if she was a seer. He shook his head and turned back to Harry.

The boy was bent over a glass tank, his hand reaching for something inside as he ignored the clearly labeled sign that read: "Poisonous."

Snape made to grab the dim-witted child but Luna grabbed the back of his cloak. He scowled at the blond and turned back to the Potter-brat, wondering why he even followed him in the first place.

What he saw made his jaw drop unceremoniously.

Potter was smiling happily as a rainbow and black snake wound itself around his arm, licking the boy's fingertips and electing a small giggle from the normally impassive boy.

The snake was pretty, Severus could easily admit. It was a deep black with a glimmering trail of iridescent rainbow scales from its head to its tail, the scales shining and twinkling even in the dark.

Snape brought his attention back to Potter. The boy wasn't cringing at the odd warm/cold feel of the snake's scales. He seemed rather gentle with the poisonous being, not nervous or scared as the snake continued to wind itself around the boy's arm and up to his neck, its tongue occasionally flashing out to touch skin, causing the dark haired youth to giggle again.

What was even more shocking, though, was what happened next. So shocking that the normally stoic potions master nearly looked like a drowning fish.

Harry Potter spoke Parseltounge.