*Parseltoungue* and "Human Speech" IOKI

"Her name is Sherlock." Lokki said.

Harry took his gift out of Lokki's hands. It was a beautiful green snake. Harry, who didn't study snakes, didnt know what type it was, but he knew she was pretty.

She had silvery diamonds going all the way down her back, and green covered the rest of her scaly body. Most snakes had a rather murderous look to them, but Sherlock actually seemed nice.

"She's beautiful." Harry said. *Hello Sherlock. My name is Harry." Harry added to the snake.

*Hello Harree. Asss you know, my name iss Ssherlock.* The snake replied, rather politely to tell you the truth. *Are you my new Masster?*

*Yes. But don't call me Master. Call me Harry, or shithead, or whatever, just dont call me master.* Harry joked.

*Ok Shithead.* Sherlock said rather seriously.

*I was joking.*

*Oh.*

"Well Harry. I decided she might be nice for you to talk to. And, she can't give away any of your secrets." Lokki said. Harry gave him a hug as Sherlock settled herself around Harry's wrist, underneath the robe he was wearing.

"Thank you so much. You really don't know how much this means to me. I have never had apet, and especially never had one I could talk to." Harry said happily.

*Who iss your friend?* Sherlock asked.

*This is Leutenant Lokki.* Harry hissed. He noticed that Lokki shivered every time he spoke in Parseltongue. "What's wrong?"

"It's just freaky hearing someone speak in a VERY foreign language." Lokki said smiling.

**************************************************************************** ******************

"But Professor Dumbledore." Someone called out from the end of the Slytherin table. "We have to be able to go to Hogsmeade, how will we do Christmas shopping?"

Dumbledore had just told the school about visits to Hogsmeade being cancelled, atleast until things settled down. He was in fact hoping that maybe he could have a few Ranger's staying around the village, helping out. They seemed good enough people, a little touchy sometimes, but trustworthy.

"You will have to get your presents by order then, wont you." McGonagall said from Dumbledore's side. "Anyway, you lasted when you were first, and second years." She added huffily, obviously miffed about something or another.

***

"I wonder if Harry will come here, I mean, if Dumbledore can even get any Rangers to come." Ron said to Hermione and Neville. Hermione and Ron were still being nice to her, Ron was being especially nice actually.

"I dunno. He said he would get into a fair bit of trouble the other day." Hermione said doubtfully. "And anyway, I don't think he would just drop everything for our world, do you?"

"You never know. He may be nice!" Neville piped in.

"He is very nice." Hermione said. "But I still doubt it, Neville."

"Oh well. He and his friend might come, you never know." Ron said hopefully.

"Mmm." Hermione mumbled. "Maybe."

**************************************************************************** *************************

"But Leuitenant." Harry said angrily. "Why can't I go? I mean, they are people my own age!"

"I know Harry. But your on 'background duty', meaning you have to work from the inside of Ranger Cetral, you know that." Lokki said sternly back.

"Blah Blah Blah." Harry muttered angrily.

"Watch your cheek Potter." lokki said sternly. "Or I will be forced to take your punishment further."

"Yes sir." Harry said, half mockingly, half seriously. "Well, I guess your going to let IHelena and JonI go, they will most probably even join the seventh years." He added bitterly.

"Yes, they are going, as well as some of the elves." Lokki said.

"Yeah yeah yeah. They all get to go to Hogwarts, but not me." Harry pretended to pout, taking the sting out of his voice.

Lokki looked at him sternly, then at the snake wrapped around his neck. "I think I might go and get the others ready, they will be leaving soon. I might even let you go later, you've only got one week left of your punishment."

Lokki walked out of the room and Harry cursed under his breath. Why did he have to stay away? Helena and Jon were sure to improve their relationship, though Harry had noticed they hadn't spent too much of their little free time together, strictly business.

As the sun went down Harry saw the capsule leave for Hogwarts and he felt his heart sink, this would be a very boring week, in fact, a very very boring week.

**************************************************************************** ******************************

"The Rangers should be arriving soon." Dumbledore spoke out over the Great Hall. It was dusk and the students were all waiting for the Rangers to arrive so they could eat, and so that Ron and Hermione, as well as the rest, could see if Harry was coming. "Please act politely," Dumbledore glanced at the Slytherins "And welcome them nicely. I am also hoping you will be on your best behaviour because from what I hear, the Rangers are very well behaved. Two of the people will be joining seventh year classes also, this year, the rest are out of school and will be staying at the castle but roaming Hogsmeade."

There was a timid knock on the Great Hall doors, it opened slowly and hesitantly and behind it were a group of assembled green cloaked figures, most had their hoods thrown off, and some kept them up.

"Welcome to Hogwarts." Dumbledore said. There was applause from the student body and the rangers shifted uncomfortably. Dumbledore silenced them with a glare. "You may sit at any table you like, and feel free to talk to the students." Dumbledore sat down, clapped his hands and the food appeared.

Most students didn't start eating though, Hermione noticed Crabbe and Goyle, two friends of Draco Malfoy, well they were more like his cronies, and they were eating.

About five of the fifteen Rangers sat at the Gryffindor table, seeing as it had the least amount of people there, as there were barely any first year Gryffindor's, three girls and four boys in all.

"Hello." Said a person from next to Hermione, well about a seat in between, and there was a boy on her other side. "I'm Helena and this is Jon." She said.

"Really?" Ron asked. "You two are Harry Potter's friends right?" He added.

"You could say that." Jon muttered, his Dark eyes darkening even more.

"Oh?" Hermione asked questioningly.

"Never mind. Who are you?"

"I am Hermione Granger and this is Ron Weasley, Neville Longbottom and Ginny Weasley, Ron's sister." Hermione said.

"Oh. Yeah, Harry said something about you and Ron. Hello Ginny and Neville." Helena said.

"Where is Harry?" Neville asked.

"He got in trouble for something or another, I think it was for going out at night. Anyway,that's not unusual, but this time he was put on background duty." Jon answered, shuddering.

Hermione and Ron looked at each other guiltily.

(¯`·.·´¯) `·.,(¯`·.·´¯) `·., AllieSkittllez.

Hey peoples, I know that Chapter is really short, sorry, anyway, I thought I might as well get one out, seeing as its been a while. Hope you liked it, as small as it was. Cya's. Next chapter should be out soon, since it is the weekend.