I'm glad everyone seems to be enjoying it so far. I will continue with smaller but weekly updates and we'll see how it goes from there. I encourage everyone to stick around until Harry returns to Hogwarts as I have many interesting things planned. On that note i'll get out of the way and let you enjoy the story.

Chapter 2

Breakfast was a quiet affair. Harry tiredly limped around the kitchen being careful of his bruised ribs on the sharp corners. Vernon and Petunia seemed particularly interested in the news this morning. A major developing firm whose CEO was good friends with his uncle had just fired their director of operations. The guy had been using company funds to pay for his monthly vacations. The scandal went on and on but Harry couldn't be bothered to listen anymore. The up side was no Petunia to bark at him and push him around the kitchen. How that women managed to fool anyone with her cooking was a wonder. The only thing she knew how to make was sweets. The food cooked, Harry carried it to the table. Three perfect looking plates piled high with everything one could want for breakfast. The tea was set out next followed by the coffee for Uncle Vernon and the expensive new energy drinks for Dudley.

Murmurs from the next room could be hear over the running water as Harry made quick work of the dishes.

"I never liked that jackle. I told Miller he was a shady one."

"His wife had such poor tastes in jackets. Did you see her at the christmas party? No respectable person would wear that yellow disgrace. You would be a much better fit for that job."

"It's likely put a wrench in Miller's plans I'll stop by this morning before work and have a chat with him. With some luck we'll be moving up Petunia."

"We can move to a bigger house? I want the new 70' TV and a new game system!"

"Whatever you want my Dudley. Oh Vernon this could be our big chance."

Rolling his eyes Harry gathered the now clean pots and pans to put away. His stomach twisted in protest at the smells leading in from the dinning room. It had been 3 days since he had eaten a meal and unfortunately the cakes Hagrid had sent only lasted so long. Poking his head around the kitchen to insure that everyone was still engrossed in the scandal, Harry tucked a half burnt piece of sausage into his pocket and quietly made his way upstairs.

The first thing Harry noticed was the large bird sitting on his bed. Not having the heart to see his beloved friend locked in her cage Harry had set her free to remain at Hogwarts over the summer. This bird was definitely not from the school. It's coloring, beak and talons suggested an eagle of some kind. The bird watched him closely with it's large intelligent eyes as Harry closed the door behind him. Walking carefully towards the bed Harry spotted a plain looking scroll held in one of the birds clawed feet.

"Easy easy. You're a beautiful bird. May I have that?" Harry reached down to take the note causing the bird to shriek and fan his feathers. A sharp bite to his hand later and Harry pulled the note free. Turning it in his hands he could find no indication of who had sent it. The parchment didn't look evil in fact it didn't seem to contain anything at all. There was no curse or spell that he could detect with his wand. Surely someone hadn't sent him a blank piece of parchment as a joke.

Harry looked back to his bed to see the bird still watching him as if expecting an answer. No someone had sent this for a reason. Maybe the message could only be viewed a certain way? It's not like Harry could do any real magic outside of school the person who sent this must have known that. Unless..Harry dove under the bed and pulled his book out.

"Hespur"

The snake slithered across the book's surface but refused to reply. "Oh come now you know I can't allow anyone to see you. Dudley would have tossed you into the fire."

Still the snake book stubbornly remained silent. Grumbling Harry apologized for tossing the book so rudely under the bed last night.

"Asss you sshould Masster. I may be a book but I will not be treated sso poorly."

"Yes yes i'm sorry already. Now will you answer my question or are you going to sulk all day?"

The snake moved around the cover of the book curlling up on the front to stare at him. Taking it as silent permission Harry carried the book over to the piece of parchment.

"Is it possible for there to be spell on an item that hides all trances of magic and text from someone looking at it?"

"Many such spells exist Masster."

"If..say..a Slytherin wanted to hide something in a message would you know a way to break the spell?"

"You think thisss iss from him Masster?"

"I think it is from someone who doesn't want to be tracked. The bird is waiting though so there must be a way for me to read this without needing to use magic."

"Use blood"

"Blood? But we're not supposed to put our blood on anything we don't.." The snake cover looked at him scathingly. "Okay maybe you're right."

Harry reached for the broken pen his Aunt had gifted him for Christmas last year and used the sharp side to slice his finger letting a few drops of his blood drip onto the parchment below. Putting his finger in his mouth to sooth the cut, Harry watched for any change – Nothing happened.

"Well that's a no"

"Look again Massster there are liness appearing."

Looking back down sure enough long spidery text was slowly filling the parchment. Frowning Harry leaned closer. The text was very fancy and it took him a few moments to understand what he was reading.

"It's in Parseltongue"

"What doess it ssay Masster?"

Harry leaned in to get a closer look, "I'm not sure it looks like some sort of poem. Why would Voldemort send me a poem?"

"Can to read it Masster?"

"No I don't think it starts at the beginning more like something from the end of a poem. It doesn't really make any sense."

"Maybe it is a tesst Masster"

Grabbing a spare quill and parchment from under his bed, Harry wrote out the lines. "I don't know where this is from but i'll find out. Maybe there's something more to the poem or Voldemort could just be screwing with me. On the other hand finding out could explain why everything has been so weird this past few months."

"The bird Masster, what will you send in reply? Use me I will translate it for you"

Harry picked up Hespur and carefully wrote across the bottom of the parchment as neatly as he could.

Dear Snake Face,

Lets be honest who else would send me anything in parseltongue. I would ask how you know where I live but I'm not even surprised. I don't know what you're getting at by sending me a poem.

Don't you have any other teenagers to terrorize?

Harry

Ps: I have nothing to give your bird for his troubles.

Harry wrapped the scroll back up turned to the bird which was still watching him. "If you don't bite me you can have this" He pulled the stolen sausage out of his pocket and held it out for the bird. It was quickly devoured. Harry gently tied the note to the bird's leg and moved back to pull the curtain from the window. Sensing it's job to obtain an answer was complete the eagle jumped to the window sill and soared out.

"I'm never going to have a normal year at Hogwarts am I?"

Harry sore Hespur was laughing at him as the book cover became inactive again.