A/N: Here's the January chapter. I hope that you can forgive for the wait. Thanks to S for being a great beta. I hope this chapter is good for every one.
Chapter 7 January
Harry was in the great hall as he awaited the return of his friends. He didn't have to wait long before his friends came in, faces red from the snow and cold. "Happy New Years you guys!" Harry called to them, going forward and hugging them. "How was your break?" he asked excitedly.
"It's been just fantastic." they all replied as they made their way towards the room of requirement. Once inside, they ate lunch and shared stories from their breaks. Harry sadly told them of the attack on Seth and how him and Ichiro had both tried to help the boy. They felt awful for what the small boy had gone through.
"We're sorry Harry." Hermione told him, the girls hugging the small boy. He nodded with a heavy sigh.
"It'll be all over the school in a few days. Some of us have already given gifts and condolences to the family." Harry let them know.
"We'd like to give something as well." Daphne and Neville said. The others nodded and after talking it over, they ordered some little things and all wrote notes to the family, expressing their condolences and their wish to help in any way. It was time for dinner when the group finally left the Room of Requirement. At dinner the group seperated to their tables for the night. It was with full stomaches that the students in the school went to bed, classes starting up again the day after tomorrow.
The last day of break, the friends hung out and talked with each other. It had felt like a long time since they had done this. In the Room of Requirement the group sat down in a circle with each other. Once everyone was settled and they decided to talk about what ever came to their minds. According to Neville and Daphne, things in the Hufflepuff dorm was going well. Cedric and a couple of the older Hufflepuffs had been helping them with the subjects they'd had problems with. They'd gotten better and felt good about their classes when school started back up tomorrow.
Theo and Hermione told them, exciteably, how the entire Ravenclaw dorm was holding a powow for all years. Four sixth and seventh years were in charge. They'd have a game out of it. And they were all excited because the winner in each year would get sugar quills and a book that none of them have read before. It was going to be really competetive and they both looking forward to it that night.
Draco, Blaise, and Harry told them how the Slytherin dorm was dueling with others in their dorm. It would be safe and with no serious harmful curses or spells. Heck, even Severus was refereering the duel. The groups were so excited about their houses activities for the night.
It was after lunch when the group decided to go visit Hagrid. After bundling up, the group headed down to the hut at the edge of the forest. Harry knocked on the door, all of them jumping when he opened it with a cross bow pointed at them.
"Whoa! Hagrid, what's with the crossbow?!" Theo and Blaise cried in surprise, Draco, Blaise, and Neville dragging Harry and the girls behind them on instinct.
"Sorry about that kids. But you can't be too careful now adays." he told them, looking embarrassed about the incident, as well as guilty for startling them. "Come on in. I put some tea on. You could use it by the looks of it." he said, ushering them in side the hut. The group sat wherever there was room. Harry, Hermione, and Daphne sat around the table with Hagrid as Nevile and the others sat on the large bed with ease. Once everyone had a hot cup of tea, they once more started conversing on their breaks and year so far. Draco, Blaise, Theo, and Daphne had been to the Ministry's Yule Ball that year, as had the Potters.
The four of them told the group about how the Potters and Cornelius Fudge, the Minister, had made fools of themselves. Fudge had been tripping over himself to please the Potters. He got them what ever they needed personally. They were boasting about having the Minister on their sides for anything and no one save Fudge's assisstance, Dolores Umbridge, was happy. The Potter's were being fools and the Minister was being so pathetic. Many of the party guests were muttering about how pathetic it was of the minister and how obnoxious the Potters were being. Many flocked to the Malfoy's and Zambini's.
"There's an election for the new Minister of Magic coming around in a while, the date's not fully set, but Fudge's hopes aren't looking too good. Even the Potter's followers are starting to get fed up with them." Blaise told the group. The others nodded, glad that the Potter's hold on society was starting to waver. It was starting to get late when the group finally left to go to dinner before they turned in for bed that night.
It was two weeks back into the new semester, and it was late and Harry had finally gone to bed after finishing the last of his homework. He was in bed, but he couldn't sleep though. The events of the break, no, the year, were going through his head. He sighed, he just couldn't sleep.
'Maybe I can go visit Aragog. I'd like to learn more about his family and achromantulas. There's stuff you can't learn in the books.' with that as his goal, Harry quietly got up, dressed, and left the dorm. Careful to dodge the teachers that roamed the halls, such as Minerva, Fillius, and the Potter idiots. As he left the castle, he realized that his dad wasn't among the teachers in the halls. 'Must be asleep or grading.' he thought. Without alerting anyone in the castle, Harry snuck outside and silently crept through the grounds, and into the trees of the Forbidden Forest.
Severus was enjoying the quiet of the forest. He had come out here this late to collect a couple items that he needed for some of his more advanced potions. He was also out here though, because he had a feeling something would happen. Some how, he felt it would involve his son, and he felt he wasn't going to be happy when it did. He was brought out of his thoughts by the sound of soft foot-steps near by. He sighed, it was definately a student. 'Damnit. They should know better than to come in here, let alone this far. It's dangerous.' he thought to himself. He went in search of the wayward student.
He saw a figure in the trees. When the child came into the light, he felt his blood boil. "HARRY HADRIAN SNAPE!" Severus Snape roared, making Harry whip around, eyes wide and fearful. And, Severus noted, guilty. "What, young man, are you doing in the FORBIDDEN Forest?" Severus growled lowly. Harry gulped.
How was he supposed to answer that with out revealing EVERYTHING that he was trying so HARD to keep AWAY from his DAD? To keep him from the dangers that might happen. He promised to tell the adults when things got dangerous or he got put in danger, but he hadn't been put in danger as it was. He didn't know what to say except. "I wanted to meet some centaurs. And I was looking to see what plants grew in the forest." he explained, rather convincingly, he thought. His dad was neither amused or believing.
"We are returning to the castle young man, and you will be grounded to our personal quarters until I decide otherwise. You will also have detention every night between myself and Filch, for at least a week. You can't hang out with your friends or Draco outside of classes and meals. You will go to breakfast and classes, but every free-period or break you will return to our quarters without your friends. After dinner, you will report to your detentions, and then go straight back to our quarters. I also want a 6 foot essay on why you're in trouble and I want that at the end of this school week. And, as much as I despise having to do it, I'm taking 40 points from Slytherin. Do you understand Harry?" Severus asked.
Harry nodded with a gulp. "Y-yes sir." Harry stuttered. "Sorry." Guilt was heavy in his eyes, voice, and heart. His dad had been speaking with a calm and quietly calculated voice. Which meant he was seething on the inside. 'I can't believe how STUPID I was. What was I thinking?' Harry wondered to himself as his father led them out of the forest. Together the duo arrived at the castle, causing Minerva and Filius to be shocked that a student had slipped past them. Once inside their quarters, Severus called for a house elf to bring Harry's school bag and books into his rooms, since Harry already had extra clothes in his room. He was planning on Harry being in their quarters for a long while. Once that was done, he sent Harry off to bed, where Nagi was waiting. Once inside, Nagi lectured Harry for a good 20 minutes about leaving with out him, let alone at all. Especially with how dangerous it was for him to be alone. With a heavy mind and conscious, Harry fell into a fitful sleep, under the watchful eyes of his father and familiar.
The next day was very painful for Harry. It was right before breakfast and all of his friends were waiting out side the great hall for him. Upon seeing his dejected and guilty look, they rushed over to him. "Harry, what's wrong?" Hermione asked quietly. Harry took a deep, calming breath before he answered in an almost whisper.
"I'm grounded." he said.
"Wh-what?" Theo asked, not understanding, much like the rest of the group.
"To my dad's personal quarters until he sees fit for me to return to the dorm." Harry elaborated.
"Why? Is that all?" Daphne asked. Harry shook his head.
"I can't hang out with any of you until he tells me other wise. It's to breakfast, classes, lunch, and dinner. During any free-periods, I'm to return to our quarters alone to do home work or what ever else I have. After dinner it's strait to my detention with either Filch or dad. After the detention, strait back to our quarters. He also took 40 points from Slytherin." Harry told them.
"Hade, Uncle Sev's usually chill. What did you do to make him so upset?" Draco asked curiously, though still in shock at such a severe punishment. It wasn't even that bad when Harry got caught about the dragon last year.
"I-I...He caught me out of bed...way past curfew...with out Nagi...in the Forbidden Forest." Harry sighed defeated. He had his head down as they took that all in. He flinched at the 6 shrill cries.
"YOU DID WHAT?! YOU WENT INTO THE FOREST?" they cried.
"Are you daft Snape? You know how dangerous it is, especially with all of the attacks!" Daphne cried.
"What were you thinking Harry Hadrian Snape?" Neville finally made his voice known. Harry decided to go with a semi-truth.
"I couldn't sleep, and I've wanted to meet some magical creatures." he said softly.
"If you can't sleep, you sneak into the kitchen for some warm milk or come get into bed with me like when we were small Hade, you don't go gallivanting into the forest at night." Draco told the boy, voice filled with his disappointment at Harry' actions. Harry continued looking down, not meeting any of his friends eyes. He was surprised when his friends all hugged him.
"Damnit Harry. You could have died. I can't imagine how Severus must have felt seeing you un-protected in the forest." Blaise said with a sigh.
"How about we all go eat. We'll all stay at the same table today." Hermione said, realizing meals and classes were all they would have with each other for a while. Nodding the group of friends went into the hall, gaining many students attention as they all sat at the Hufflepuff table. The day went by painfully for everyone.
But by the time a week had gone by, they were finally used to seeing each other only at meals and classes. And a few days had been all it took for word to get around that Harry had been grounded. It gave Liam Potter and his fan club enough fuel to pester him about it. It was the end of the second week of his punishment, and the end of the third week of the month, and he was in their personal quarters-which with Liam's never letting him live down how he broke his fathers trust, had become a sanctuary- as it was his free period. After setting aside all his finished homework, he had finished his dad's essay a day ago, he saw it was time for his potions class. It was with a sense of dread that he left their quarters and headed down the hall way to the potions classroom. Once there he saw all of the students were actually there on time. He was the last student to arrive, which was a rarity.
They were waiting for Severus to arrive when Harry felt the evil he was familiar with now, permeate the castle. He leaned slightly on the wall as he was hit with a dizzy spell that lasted only a minute. Harry could hear Bast in his head. 'It has attacked once more. And once more we are too late.' Harry heard Bast's voice. 'But there has been no life taken. It has petrified once more.'
'DAMNIT! How do we keep missing this thing?' Harry wondered in his head. The students were discussing why they thought the punctual potions master was almost five minutes late for class. Some idiot Gryffindor-probably Ron, no, definitely Ron, thought the man had finally gotten sacked. It was 5 minutes later that Severus arrived, paler than before and looking worried-which alerted the students that something bad had happened. Seeing the students all safe, including his son, had him sagging slightly with relief, though only those who knew what to look for could see it.
"Professor, what happened?" Pansy asked the tall man. Severus looked tired as he answered.
"Everyone to the Great Hall, things will be explained there." he answered, surprising them all with the hesitance and gentleness in his voice. It was in absolute silence they arrived at the great hall, where the rest of the school was assembled. After they all took their seats, they looked up at Dumbledore as he stood.
"Students, it is with great sorrow that I inform you, there has been another attack." he told them. They all gasped, but Harry was the only one not surprised. Bast was usually right about the attacks. "It was the Ravenclaw Prefect, Ms. Penelope Clearwater who has been petrified." he informed them. Plenty of first years, from all the houses started crying softly, as did plenty of the other students. Penelope had been liked by almost everyone, much like the other victims. "From now on," Dumbledore continued, "NO STUDENTS are to wander alone. You will be guided to your classes by a teacher or head boy or girl. Curfew is officially at 7pm, an hour after dinner. Be sure to follow these rules. They are placed for your own safety." he told them. "Your last class of the day has been canceled. You will return to your common rooms, and your head of house and house Prefects will lead you down to dinner when it is time." he told them. With that, the students were lead away by their heads and prefects.
Harry was wondering by the time they reached the dorm if he would be made to stay in the dorms, or still in his fathers quarters. Severus seemed to realize what Harry was thinking , because as he had his students file into the common room, he kept Harry by his side. "Harry, I still want you to stay in our quarters, you are still grounded. However, I will be there with you for the most part, and when I'm not there, I'll have Salazar's portrait guarding the room. I will come get you before we get the rest of the house for dinner or meals, understood?" he asked his son. Harry sighed but nodded. "Good." Once the last snake was in their den, he led Harry to their quarters where he stayed with Harry until almost dinner time when he had to go make some rounds, leaving Slytherins portrait in the room to act as a barrier against whatever was out there. The next week was constantly filled with worry and unease. It was towards the last week of January that it happened.
It was breakfast time when Dumbledore stood up, telling the students that Gilderoy had an announcement. Smiling at the crowd, he stood and started to speak. "Due to the dangers the students have had to face, Dumbledore has agreed to let me host a Dueling Club with our resident potions master for you to learn self-defense. It will take place after lunch today, since there won't be any classes. Who-ever wishes to participate need only stay after lunch, I hope to see you all there." Gilderoy said. A majority of the Gryffindors applauded while the Hufflepuffs and other houses only did it to be polite.
"Now we can find out if he's all bark and no bite." Harry muttered to his friends, who nodded their agreement. It wasn't long after the announcement that the Weasley twins had a poll going around on whether or not Lockhart can defend himself, or if he'd get injured or die (Whether it was by his own mistake, Severus's wand, or a random students wand didn't matter). It did get a majority of the students attention though, and all the Slytherins decided to go just so they could see their head curse the annoying man who seemed to have it out for their head's son, as it was obvious to any one with a brain. And Severus wasn't happy about it either, even if he was still mad at his son for running into the forest defenseless.
So after lunch, the majority of the students stayed behind. Once it was time, the tables where replaced with a large stage structure. The teachers, save Snape and Gilderoy left and once they had everyone's attention, Gilderoy began. "Welcome to the dueling club and I must say, I'm very happy that so many of you could make it." he told them with a smile. What he didn't know was that the majority of the students were there to see if either Lockhart was skilled, or just to see the potions professor jinx their defense professor. "Me and my assistant, Professor Snape will show you how to defend your selves from curses and jinxes. First, let's give you a demonstration." he told the group of children.
They watched as the two professors stood a few feet away from each other on either side of the stage. "In a proper duel, you first have to give a bow to your opponent." he gave a grand bow, while Severus inclined his head, a steely look on his face. They could all see that the look was nerving Lockhart. "Now, we duel!" Lockhart said.
Before Lockhart could do anything, Severus simply muttered a spell "Expelliarmus!" and disarming Lockhart and sending him to the other side of the room, off the stage. Slytherins, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs-as well as the twins since they were present- sent up cheers at that. Severus was surprised, but smirked. It was such a great feeling, that he almost, smiled. Almost. He wasn't going to send some kid to the infirmary for fainting from seeing he could actually smile.
"That was a good idea, showing them that spell professor." Lockhart said, once he was able to stand again. "Where's my-oh thank you Ms. Weasley." he said. "But, I must say it was obvious to a trained duelist such as my self that you would use that spell." he told the potions professor, who scowled darkly. "I was just allowing them to see the effect. I could've easily blocked that move." he added. "Now let's have our students practice some dueling." he said, seeing that Severus was a hairs breath from cursing him.
Going around the room, the students were put into groups of two. Out of their group, Hermione and Theo were against each other. Neville and Daphne were paired up together. Blaise and Draco were put together. And Harry ended up being pitted against Ginny Weasley. Much to his displeasure. "Remember students, you are just disarming each other." Lockhart told them.
"There will be no foolish-ness and if even one student does anything other than the Expelliarmus spell, they will receive a weeks worth of detention split between me and Filch." Severus added darkly to his students. As the teachers went around, the groups were quick.
Hermione had disarmed Theo very quickly. Neville had quickly disarmed Daphne. And Draco and Blaise disarmed each other at the same time. Harry didn't even have to try. Ginny literately dropped her wand in the middle of taunting Harry. Not even hesitating he had cast the spell the second it was in her hands.
Other students hadn't been so lucky to do such a good job. Though surprisingly, Liam Potter, who had been present, had successfully disarmed his friend Ron. Other students cast a multitude of different spells. Lockhart and Severus went around having to break up the different groups. At least six students had gotten detention, though none of them had been Slytherins. And Severus only took points from the Gryffindor rule breakers.
"That was a mess for the most part." Lockhart sighed. "Maybe we should just have two students go against each other on the dueling platform." he muttered. His eyes widened at the idea. "YES! Mr. Potter and Mr. Snape, Harry, onto the dueling platform. Let's have you two show off this spell for the others." Lockhart told the group of students. Students were surprised and shocked, Liam and Harry's animosity for each other well known. Harry though thought it wouldn't be too bad. And seeing Liam just saunter onto the stage like he was the holder of the world (the exact opposite in the school) it made him just want to smack him, but humiliating him in front of the student body would have to work for now.
"Are you sure about this Harry?" Severus asked his son as he got onto the side. They watched as Lockhart dropped his wand before patting the boy who lived on the back and left the stage. Harry nodded.
"Pretty sure dad." Harry replied. Severus nodded.
"Begin!" Lockhart said. The boys raised their wands and sent the spells towards each other. Both shouting the dis arming spell. The spells met in the middle and Harry's shot at the other boy, Harry's over powering Liam's. Liam ducked and the spell flew over him, sending Lockhart back a few steps.
"SERPENSORTA!" a voice from some where cried. A poof and the largest snake any of them had seen appeared. It was an inky black color with venomous green eyes, remarkably close to Harry's had appeared.
'Who disturbs my slumber? I will make you pay for this dis-respect.' the snake hissed, though only Harry and Nagi could understand the creature. It's eyes found Harry and hissed, the child seemed like the least likely culprit, but the snake was angry and not thinking right. And Harry got that real quick. Harry was frozen as the snake started towards them. Never had a snake been a threat to him before like this, and his dad was too far away to do any thing.
Suddenly a silver blur shot out of no where. 'Don't touch my snakeling! He has the blood of Salazar and is your king!' the blur hissed as it tumbled with the black snake.
'NAGI? STOP! Don't fight! He's just confused and not thinking strait.' Harry cried, running to stop the two fighting snakes, but his dad grabbed him and moved him away shortly before the spitting and hissing ball of black and silver went past where he had been standing. Finally Nagi had proved his dominance and prowess over the black snake as he grew to half his full size. He now greatly out powered the dark snake.
Harry heard his dad whisper a spell and the black snake disappeared in a poof of smoke. Nagi gave a hissing gloat to the area before moving to rest at Harry's feet. 'So much for keeping your parsel tounge abilities a secret.' Nagi grumbled. Harry looked up confused to see the horrified looks of the students that weren't his friends or at least some part of Slytherin. Even Dumbledore and the Potters were there, coming in to see what the ruckus had been about.
"We will take this to my office at once." Dumbledore said. "I will not have a poisonous and deadly snake around these students." he told them, motioning to the silver snake who hissed warningly at the headmaster. They could see the brief flash of fear in the mans eyes.
'Nagi, stop antagonizing people and get back around my wrist.' Harry hissed quietly, but in the silence of the room, was deathly loud, making Harry wince when so many people flinched at the sound.
"Let's go Harry. Since Nagi is your familiar and therefor not harmful unless protecting you, the man can not get rid of him." Severus whispered, lips not moving enough for any one to read them. Harry nodded as Nagi decided to sit on his shoulders. Together Severus, Harry, Nagi, Dumbledore, Lockhart, the Potters and the other head of houses went up to the Headmasters office, the other teachers and the head boy and girl being told to take students back to their common rooms or to stay in the great hall. The meeting had lasted a good almost hour.
"This creature is a danger to our students, you must see why it can't be allowed to stay." James told the group present. Only Lockhart and Lily agreed. Dumbledore was quiet.
"You can't get rid of the snake Potter." Minerva said haughtily.
"Why not?" Lily said. "Dumbledore could be allowed, since he is this school's headmaster." Lily growled.
"Nagi is a familiar. You can't separate a familiar from it's witch or wizard." Harry told them.
"Lies! No one is allowed a snake!" Lockhart said.
"There is a spell we can cast to prove it." Filius said, attracting the groups attention.
"Oh yes, that'll prove this is just the boy's attempt at attention." James said. Severus and the other heads hissed with Nagi at the man who paled.
"Very Well." Dumbledore said. He looked at Severus who looked at Harry who nodded. "Familiarus Revelus." Dumbledore said. This spell would cause the familiar of the witch or wizard the spell was cast on to glow. A picture of the familiar would be shown if the familiar wasn't there. They watched as Harry and Nagi both glowed a green and silver color before showing the tie between them.
"That settles it." Pomona Sprout said with a grin. "The snake stays." she said.
"Very well, but there's the issue of the snake's danger to other students." Dumbledore began.
"Nagi is only a danger to a student if that students tries to harm my son. In which case it is my son's familiar's right to attack in order to defend his master." Severus said.
"Very well, but out side of your dorm, Harry, your familiar shall be down sized." Dumbledore said.
Harry nodded. "He usually is sir." he answered.
Dumbledore sighed in defeat. "You may go." he grunted. Harry nodded and left after saying good bye to the head of houses. Severus sighed. Now his son would be in more danger if any thing since rumors would spread that Harry was the one behind the attacks. This was a great way to end the first month of the new year. Severus thought with a grumble. Merlin he didn't want to think about the upcoming month.
Dumbledore watched as the teachers, both triumphant and resigned left the room. Severus's son was a mystery. So much he didn't know, yet somehow he knew there was more to the boy. He was powerful. He was also hiding something from every one in that room. Even Severus, he could tell, knew something was up. 'But Severus has no idea what his son's hiding from him.
'Speaking of son, why didn't Severus tell me about the boy when he first got the child. If he remembered, Severus didn't have the boy 7 years ago. The boy was 12, and had to have been taken in by Severus when the boy was 6. The same time Harry Potter had died so tragically.' Dumbledore thought on that for a moment. 'Could Severus's Harry be Lily's and James's deceased son?' Dumbledore contemplated that thought for a moment. "No, impossible. I would have seen it in either Severus's mind or the boy's. It's just a coincidence with the name is all. Severus is loyal to me. Maybe it's just a long line of squibs from Slytherin's line that he has the parseltongue ability." Dumbledore said out loud to himself. He nodded. The theory was sound to him.
"Though, since Liam is a horcrux of Voldemort's, I wonder when his parsel tongue abilities will reveal themselves. Guess we'll just have to wait and see." Dumbledore leaned back, popping a lemon drop in his mouth. 'Though I wish I could under stand parsel tongue. I bet the serpents have many stories they could pass on. Stories...and secrets.' Dumbledore watched as the sun set over the forbidden forest, lost in his thoughts.
A/N: There we go. Please review and let me know what you think.
