Author's Notes: Thanks to everyone who commented on the last installment. For those of you who were upset by the results of the Sorting, I hope you aren't as upset as you were and are ready to read on. I don't think this chapter will be as bad as you may be predicting it to be, but perhaps I only think that because I wrote it. At any rate, thanks for reading and commenting!
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Ginny awoke with a start and sat straight up, at first uncertain where she was. Thick creamy white muslin curtains were drawn around a four-poster bed of carved honey gold wood, and she sat atop a soft butter yellow duvet. She'd fallen asleep in her school robes and her diary lay open upon the bed. The ink was smeared across the page where she had cried herself to sleep, and scrubbing her fingertips against her eyes, she could feel the tender, puffy skin. She sighed as the memory of the previous evening came crashing back. She had been placed in Hufflepuff and worse, Harry in Slytherin. After the Sorting there had been no time to commiserate. Throughout the Welcome Feast she had tried to talk to Harry, but his head had been buzzing with the shock of the proceedings, and then they had been shunted off to their respective common rooms.
It was devastating that they had not been placed in Gryffindor, as they had planned. However Ginny had taken some small consolation in the fact that both Hufflepuff and Slytherin common rooms were located at the dungeon levels, albeit at opposite ends. With that thought, she reached out to him.
Harry?
It was a moment before he responded, but even before she had called his name she had faintly sensed that he was awake, and had been for some time.
Ginny.
Did you sleep?
Not really, you?
Yes, she felt terrible admitting it, but he would know if she were lying.
Good. he replied, and she knew he meant it. I've been thinking and I have an idea. Meet me outside the Great Hall?
I'll be right there.
She moved to the edge of her bed and pulled back the curtains. The curtains were still drawn around her dorm mates' beds, and the windows were just beginning to turn from black to grey with the rising sun. Slipping off the bed, Ginny opened her trunk and withdrew a clean school uniform and robe, along with her satchel. As they hadn't received their daily schedules yet, she placed all of her books in the satchel. Exiting through the round door to her room, she quickly made her way to the shared washroom to shower and dress.
She dropped her soiled clothes in the hamper by the door and walked down the round tunnel to the Hufflepuff common room. She hadn't taken much notice of it the prior evening, but with the rising sun now warming the room, she could see the large round room was adorned with bright yellow curtains that hung at each round window that overlooked the castle lawns. In the distance through the windows she could make out the trunks of the large trees that announced the entrance to the Forbidden Forest. Under the windows over-stuffed chintz armchairs and settees were intimately arranged around low, honey wood tables to accommodate students who wanted to study, play games, or merely chat in the evenings or during free periods. A large round fireplace sat between the two doors that led to the boys and girls dormitories, but the fire that had been blazing the night before was now nothing more than cold ashes in the grate. It was a warm and cosy room, and Ginny felt as if she were back at the Burrow. Her mother would definitely have approved of the decor.
Departing, she quickly navigated the hallway, cresting the stairs that led to the Entrance Hall and saw that Harry was already waiting by the doors to the Great Hall. His hair was dishevelled from a restless night of not sleeping and there were dark circles beneath his eyes. Despite that she had to admit that the green and silver of the Slytherin robes suited him. A foreign jittery sensation settled in her chest and belly at the sight of him, and she paused, as a strange emotion she had no name for briefly overcame her. Harry looked up from where he had been studying his polished black loafers and looked over in her direction. His brilliant green eyes, bright despite his exhaustion and worry locked with hers and Ginny felt warmth flood her cheeks.
Squashing the alien feeling within her, she focused on the issue at hand and quickly closed the distance between them.
"Thanks for coming so quickly," Harry said in greeting when she stopped in front of him.
"You're my best friend, of course I came quickly," she replied, shifting her heavy satchel higher on her shoulder.
"What's all that?" he inquired, nodding towards her bag.
"Books. I wasn't sure what we would need this morning for our first classes," she confessed.
"Right," he nodded absent-mindedly and Ginny noticed he did not have his rucksack.
"So, what is your plan?" she asked instead.
"I thought we could speak to Professor Dumbledore, I'm sure he can help us," Harry informed her, his expression darkening. "I tried to speak with Professor Snape, but he became extremely angry with me."
"Why?" Ginny asked.
Harry shook his head. "I have no idea, but he demanded I leave his office when I asked if there was any way to switch houses."
"Maybe you hurt his feelings," she suggested.
"No," he negated. "It was more than that. I've never seen him look so angry, not even during our lessons."
"So, Dumbledore then," Ginny stated. "He's our last hope."
"Yeah," Harry nodded. "I was hoping we could catch him at breakfast, or ask Professor McGonagall how to see him."
"You can ask me now," the voice of Professor McGonagall echoed through the Entrance Hall as she approached. She descended the main staircase and stopping before them, studied them keenly. "You two are up early this morning."
"We were hoping to see Professor Dumbledore," Ginny offered.
"Why?" the deputy headmistress asked.
"We would like to switch houses," Harry announced. "The Sorting Hat must have made a mistake."
"I am sorry, but once the Sorting is complete it cannot be changed."
"But why?" Harry and Ginny protested together.
"It is how the Founders deigned it," she replied. "The hat looks within the students for traits they may share with the four founders, and places them in the House they are best suited for."
"I am not a Slytherin," Harry ground out, his face suddenly a mask of anger. Ginny flinched at the vehemence she felt within him.
Professor McGonagall sighed. "Unfortunately, there is nothing I can do. I have often thought the Sorting is not always the best way to determine where our students would fit in best, but it has been the tradition of Hogwarts since the beginning."
"But you're the Deputy Headmistress!" Ginny protested. "Surely you and Professor Dumbledore can have some say in the matter."
She shook his head sadly. "I am sorry, but I do not. It lies solely upon the Sorting Hat to make the decision, and once made, cannot be unmade."
"This is complete rubbish!" Harry shouted.
Other students were beginning to trickle into the hall and Professor McGonagall sighed once again. "I am truly sorry, Mr Potter, but the decision cannot be unmade." She assessed him sternly. "I see you do not have your school things. I suggest you gather them immediately and then return here to eat before classes begin. I will be handing your schedules out shortly, and it would not do for you to be late on your first day."
She turned to enter the Great Hall, but paused to turn back to them, "I should remind you, that not all who are in Slytherin, or any House for that matter are cut from the same cloth."
She continued on into the Great Hall, and Ginny turned to Harry. "Well, that wasn't very helpful, was it?"
"No, and it sounds like we are stuck," Harry replied. He shook his head in defeat. "I was up all night hoping they would all agree it was a mistake. I'd better go collect my things like she said, Ginny. I'll see you later."
Harry, Ginny called as he moved to leave. I know you're worried, but this doesn't change anything between us. You're still my best friend.
I know, Ginny. Thanks.
There was a roaring in Harry's ears, effectively drowning out the sounds of the anything else around him. Muttering a hasty good-bye to Ginny, he headed back towards the Slytherin common room to gather his things for the day as Professor McGonagall had commanded of him. The Slytherin dormitories were in the dungeon and Harry felt his spirits lower with each step he descended. He should have known the past year with the Weasleys had been too good to be true and now the other shoe had well and fully dropped. Reaching the bottom stair, a long, damp corridor stood before him. Rusted suits of armour stood on plinths set intermittently down the walls on either side; instead of holding swords or shields, they held guttering torches that cast a flickering, uneven light along the passage. He stopped about halfway down, next to a plinth that contained a knight who didn't appear to be in any better shape than his counterparts. However, his breastplate had a small and faint etching of a snake in the upper left-hand corner.
Facing the blank wall to the left of the knight, Harry uttered, "Asphodel."
The stones slid silently to the side to reveal an alcove with a black oak door behind. Shoving the door open, he stepped through to the Slytherin common room. The room was bathed in a pale green light from the sunlight reflecting off the surface of Great Lake. The overstuffed dark green leather armchairs and sofas scattered tastefully about the room were empty as most of the students had already made their way to breakfast. He headed across the room to the door that led to the boys dormitories, only to be stopped by the sound of a high-pitched squeal behind him.
"You useless piece of filth!You brought the wrong books!" Draco Malfoy's nasal drawl spat from the far corner of the room, and turning, Harry saw the second year boy kick a bedraggled creature with large bulbous eyes and long pointed ears that crouched shivering at his feet. The creature cried out again, its long thin arms covering its head as it shrunk into itself in an attempt to ward off further attack.
"What do you think you are doing?" Harry shouted, running across the room to stand between Malfoy and his prey.
"Reprimanding my house-elf, what does it look like, Potter?" Draco snarled, taking his eyes off the quivering creature to glare at Harry.
"By kicking it?" Harry asked incredulously, having no idea what a house-elf was.
"I wouldn't expect you to understand, Potter," the blond boy sniffed. "I imagine the Weasleys are too poor for a house-elf to even want to be indentured with them!"
"What's your problem with the Weasleys?" Harry asked, noting this was the third time the Slytherin boy had made a derogatory comment towards Ginny's family.
"Aside from being piss-poor, they're Blood Traitors, Potter, and since you've been Sorted into Slytherin you'd do well to steer clear of associating with them," Draco advised. "Now, move out of the way!" He pulled his wand and brandished it in Harry's direction, attempting to shoot a spell towards the house-elf still cowering behind him.
"No," Harry firmly said, drawing his own wand and pointing it at the blond boy before him.
Draco snorted with laughter. "Do you even know any spells?" He narrowed his eyes, studying Harry as he backed up a few paces. "Why didn't you attend school last year? Afraid your secret would get out?"
Harry was momentarily taken aback by the other boy's statement. It was impossible Draco could possibly know the link he shared with Ginny. His wand wavered in his hand, eliciting more laughter from the second-year boy.
"Welcome to Slytherin, Squib! Serpensortia!" Draco sneered, flicking his wand as he spoke. A large snake slithered from the tip and dropped to the floor at Harry's feet. He quickly backed up, placing his left hand behind him to shield the elf as the cobra uncurled its body and rose up in the air, fanning its hood, and baring its fangs. It reared back, preparing to strike.
"Stop!" Harry yelled, and the cobra hesitated, wavering back and forth on its tail as it studied him. "We won't hurt you." The snake hovered a moment longer before coiling back to the floor and turning to slither towards the source of its appearance.
"What are you doing, Potter?" Draco shouted, panic filling his voice, as he backed away from the serpent. His shout startled the snake and it rose up, again fanning its hood as it lunged forward.
"No! Don't attack him!" Harry called, just as Professor Snape appeared in the entry doorway and the house-elf scampered out from behind Harry, flinging its hand out towards the snake. It flew up as if an invisible force had grabbed it and had flung it high into the air.
The professor and two boys watched it pinwheel across the room to land in front of the fireplace. Draco stumbled away from the serpent, placing as much distance and furniture between it and himself. Professor Snape's wand appeared in his hand and he waved it silently at the snake, which disintegrated into a pile of ash. Panting, Draco glared over where Harry still stood rooted to his spot.
"What do you think you were playing at, Potter?"
"Me?" Harry asked, coming out of his daze to return Draco's glare.
"You sicced that snake on me!"
"You conjured it!" Harry protested, "I was trying to stop it!"
"That's not what that gibberish you were speaking sounded like!" the other boy cried.
"Enough!" Professor Snape sternly stated, silencing any further outbursts from either boy. He turned his attention to Draco. "Mr Malfoy, what is your house-elf doing here?"
"He was bringing me some school things he had failed to pack, Professor," the blond boy obsequiously replied. "Potter interrupted and attacked me with that snake!"
"That's a lie!" Harry protested.
"Mr Malfoy, dismiss your elf and go to breakfast," Professor Snape responded, ignoring Harry's outburst completely.
"You heard him, you vermin!" Draco commanded, roughly shoving his house-elf away from him while smiling triumphantly over at Harry. The elf paused to glance between the two boys before disappearing with a small pop.
"Thank you for coming to my assistance, Professor," the blond Slytherin said unctuously after the elf had departed.
"Yes," Professor Snape replied turning to look at Harry. "Mr Potter, gather your things for school immediately. You will report to me at the end of day in my office, is that clear?"
"But," Harry began, only to be cut off.
"Do not question me, Mr Potter," Professor Snape retorted, his black eyes glittering coldly.
While his Occlumency professor had expressed his displeasure in the past, he had never done so in quite this manner, and instead of arguing, Harry thought it best to do as he was instructed. Perhaps by the end of day, Professor Snape would have thought the incident over and realize that he couldn't possibly be at fault. However, the dark look he was now giving him didn't give Harry much hope that this would be the case.
Escaping the gaze of the Potions Master, he headed to his room to collect his things, inwardly fuming that Malfoy had gotten off without so much as a warning. His feelings had not abated by the time he returned to the Great Hall and he scanned the Slytherin table to find Malfoy deep in a re-enactment of what had transpired in the common room. The blond boy stopped mid-sentence when he spied Harry approaching and the students around him turned to glare in his direction.
Ignoring them, he continued down the table until he found an empty space at the end as far removed from the others as he could go. His stomach growled, signalling he was hungry despite the angst consuming him over his present situation, and dully he took a slice of toast and spooned a dollop of marmalade on top. He felt like he was outside his body, everything spiralling out of control even as he took a bite of his breakfast. It was dry and tasted like cardboard to him, but he choked it down, knowing the alternative of spitting it back out into his napkin would only signal to his fellow housemates how truly upset he was. Glancing down the table he saw Draco looking over at him as he whispered to his thuggish friends. Harry looked away and caught Ginny gazing over at him.
Harry, what happened? she asked with concern.
Malfoy happened, he responded. I spoke Parseltongue in front of him and Professor Snape.
Why?
Malfoy conjured a snake, I was trying to keep it from attacking us. Professor Snape ordered me to come see him after school today.
"Draco's been talking about you this morning, mate," a voice sounded in Harry's ears, somehow breaking through the pounding of the blood in his veins and Ginny's assurances. He looked up to find a pair of dark blue eyes studying him. They were set in a handsome boy's face, framed by a fringe of thick, dark blond hair. He had separated himself from the group of other first years that were assigned to the same room as Harry.
"I bet he has."
Harry glanced down the table where Draco was still shooting dark looks his way while having an intense discussion over his bowl of oatmeal. Harry would have laughed at the comicalness of the tableau if he wasn't currently worried about his well-being. Malfoy had mentioned knowing his secret, which was impossible, but the boy did now know that he could talk to snakes. From the way Ginny had reacted at Christmas over discovering Harry's ability, he knew having the entire student body know he could speak to snakes was not going to be a good thing.
"I'm Geoffrey Hemby, by the way," the boy offered, smiling and revealing even white teeth. He reminded Harry of the pictures of Gilderoy Lockhart. "You seemed so preoccupied last night we never were able to be properly introduced."
"Harry," he replied.
"I know who you are," Geoff replied, still smiling, "We all do. So, is there any truth to the tale Draco is spinning about you?"
"Which parts?" Harry warily asked, uncertain of the other boy's intentions. While it had been true he had been preoccupied the prior evening, none of the other four boys he shared a room with had made much effort to engage him.
"Well, all of it," Geoff said.
"Does it really matter?"
"Not really, no," the boy answered truthfully. "Just watch yourself. Seems kind of early to be picking fights with the upper class."
Harry snorted, wondering if the boy was referring to Draco's status as a second year or the fact that he came from one of the most prominent and richest wizarding families in Great Britain. Either way, as with Professor Snape earlier, he knew it would be futile to argue with the boy.
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A flash of light momentarily blinded Harry, where he had been sitting slouched at a table at the back of his last class of the day, Defence Against the Dark Arts. Thinking a student had finally worked up the courage to hex him, he jumped from his seat and looked around the spots popping in front of his eyes.
"Hi, Harry," Colin said brightly, standing beside the table and lowering his accursed camera. "I didn't mean to scare you."
"Colin," he said through gritted teeth. "Would you mind asking me before you take any more pictures?"
"Oh sure," the boy answered, oblivious to Harry's discomfort. "May I sit with you?" He nudged the chair next to Harry's and was already placing his rucksack on the table before he could respond. Nodding his assent, he sat back down in his recently vacated seat.
The Gryffindor boy grinned wider than Harry thought his mouth could stretch. "Thanks, Harry!" he said, plopping into the seat next to him. "How has your first day been? Mine has been amazing! I wanted to sit next to you in Transfiguration class but you arrived so late..."
Harry stared at him, flummoxed, "Er…"
He was a bit perplexed at the boy's behaviour. Throughout the day most of the student body had avoided him like the plague, whispering about him as if he weren't even there. Fortunately, he and Ginny were scheduled for the same Charms class first thing that morning, so it had been a relief to have her as buffer. She had sent several looks of rebuke to anyone who had attempted to question why she would affiliate herself with not only a Slytherin, but one who was obviously exhibiting signs of Dark wizardry.
At one point she had verbally assaulted a fellow Hufflepuff, Jason Cadwallader who had been daft enough to suggest that Harry shouldn't be allowed near the other students, seeing as how he had defeated a powerful Dark Lord. The fact that Harry had been quite unable to perfect an adequate Levitation Charm had seemed to go unnoticed to the rest of his class. Ginny had assured him that plenty of first years had difficulty mastering simple spells, but it hadn't helped that she had had no trouble making her feather float about the room.
The rest of the day hadn't fared much better with the exception that at least he had endured History of Magic with Luna. It appeared she was as much an outcast in her House as he was in his, as none of her fellow students wanted to sit near her. He had gladly shared a desk with her at the back of the class and used the heavy textbook as a pillow as Professor Binn's, who just so happened to be a ghost, and had as much personality as a gravestone droned on about the first Goblin Wars. After a long sleepless night, he had fallen asleep during the lecture, and woke up quite ashamed that he didn't have a clue what had transpired in class. Fortunately, Luna informed him he hadn't missed much and could copy her notes later if need be. He thanked her and they made plans with Ginny, who was waiting for them outside the Great Hall at lunch, to meet in the library after dinner. They had reluctantly parted ways to sit at their own tables for lunch. Luna and Ginny were lucky enough to share the same schedule for the afternoon.
He'd dawdled at lunch, waiting for most of the student body to depart before making his way to Transfiguration. He had hoped to avoid running into anyone, but unfortunately he was uncertain where his next class was located. He'd wandered the halls and was lost on the first floor when he bumped into Hermione who had just been exiting a door. She'd looked quite preoccupied and squeaked in dismay when she saw him. She had backed up against the wall, fearfully clutching her books to her chest.
Overcoming his exasperation, he'd asked her for directions to his next class. She had hesitantly pointed him back down the stairs and towards the middle courtyard before running off in the opposite direction. He'd finally managed to find Professor McGonagall's classroom, but as Colin had mentioned he had barely made it on time. Once he had arrived, no one had looked too happy to see him and he had taken a seat at an empty table at the back of the class.
"Oh, I know," Colin interrupted his reverie, casting a commiserating look Harry's way. "Everyone is talking about you, but I for one don't believe you are going to attack me."
"You don't?" Harry asked.
The other boy shook his head. "Is it true you can talk to snakes?"
Colin appeared to be too naive of the wizarding world to equate Harry's ability to talk to snakes, a trait he had learned he shared with You-Know-Who, with him turning Dark, unlike the rest of the school. All day long he had suffered wary looks from the student body as they whispered about the fact that he had been Sorted into Slytherin and the rumour that he could talk to snakes. Both of those subjects led to the third subject of conjecturing on if he would follow the same path as Lord Voldemort.
"Yeah," Harry answered.
"Really? It's really true?" Colin asked.
"Er," he mumbled again. "You're not afraid of me?"
The younger boy looked surprised, "You seem nice enough to me. My dad always said I was a good judge of character."
"Huh," was all Harry was able to summon in response and instead listened to Colin prattle on while the rest of class filed in and took their places. The other four Slytherin boys sent him odd looks as they took seats at tables near him. After they had settled, their elected spokesman, Geoff, who had introduced himself to Harry that morning leaned over from his chair:
"What gives, Harry, sitting with a Gryffindor?"
Harry shrugged, "What does it matter?"
"It's just not usually done, is all," Geoff replied. "From what I have heard, at least."
"Well, there doesn't look to be anywhere else to sit, does there?" he responded gesturing to the full tables in the room, just as Gilderoy Lockhart swept into the room, wearing bright aquamarine robes that perfectly accented his blue eyes. All the girls in the room released an audible sigh as the man turned to face them, passing his hand lightly over his hair to ensure each blond lock was in its proper place. Harry turned to share an eye-roll with Colin only to find the boy rapidly snapping pictures of their Defence professor with his camera. Lockhart smiled broadly for the camera as he walked back up the aisle.
"Now, now," he gushed. "I know it's exciting to have someone as famous as myself as your instructor, but I must ask you take one more picture and then put your camera away, Mr Creevey." He stopped at their table, placed both hands on his hips, puffed out his chest and smiled broadly, exposing as many of his pearly white teeth as was possible. Colin snapped a few more quick pictures and already had girls leaning over to urgently ask him for copies. Lockhart basked a moment longer in the spotlight before fully taking stock of his surroundings. Spying Harry slouched next to Colin, he barked with joy.
"Harry Potter! Now, you are the man of the day!" Lockhart announced. "I have been hearing quite a number of stories about you, my dear boy. I must say, you are quite young to be boasting of your heroic deeds. It wouldn't do to have such a puffed head so soon."
"What?" Harry asked in shock, staring up at the pompous man, who had turned from him to address the class.
"Yes, I heard how young Harry here attempted to save Mr Malfoy from a disastrous fate at the hands of a viper he had unwittingly leashed upon him." Lockhart exclaimed. "And it brought to mind the time I, too, had to tame a vicious Burmese Python over twenty four feet long before it wreaked havoc upon an entire village. If it hadn't been for my skill in Parseltongue, I am sure it would have succeeded in carrying off the eight-month-old baby it had in its coils."
"Wait, you're a Parselmouth, too?" a girl with curly brown hair, wearing Gryffindor robes asked.
"Oh, yes, Miss Robbins, I'm quite fluent," Lockhart boasted.
"I thought only Dark wizards, like You-Know-Who were Parselmouths," a pale girl with with thin black hair and wearing Slytherin robes commented.
"Do I look like a Dark wizard, Miss Wilkie?" the Defence professor asked, once again flashing his even, pearly teeth. He gestured towards Harry. "Harry, come here please."
The last thing Harry wanted to do was bring more attention to himself, and hesitated from rising in his seat. This only seemed to spur Lockhart on.
"Now. now, don't be shy, Harry!" he called. "Come on, stand up!"
Reluctantly, he rose from his seat, but made no move to join the professor at his side. Unperturbed, Professor Lockhart moved around the table, placed an arm around Harry's shoulders and steered him to the front of the class. Turning to face his class he squeezed Harry's shoulder tightly, causing him to grimace.
"Does Harry here look like a Dark wizard?" Lockhart asked rhetorically before barrelling on. "No! He looks like a scared little boy to me."
There were titters from the girls and sharp laughter from the boys at this pronouncement. Harry felt his face burn with humiliation, and wondered what was worse, having the whole school compare him to You-Know-Who or think he was a scared boy. He gritted his teeth against the anger and embarrassment and attempted to squirm out from underneath Lockhart's death grip.
"Not so fast, Harry! I know you are eager to learn what I can bestow upon you, but wait just a moment!" he merrily said. "Since the entire school has been talking about you and of course, defence against poisonous snakes, I thought it fitting that our first demonstration be against none other than the Burmese Python I had to tame all those years ago. You may return to your desk now, as I am sure you do not want to be anywhere near this creature when I unveil it." He gave Harry a tiny shove back towards his table as he turned to a large cage that was sitting in the centre of his desk.
As Harry made his way back to the table he shared with Colin, Lockhart pulled the cover off the cage to reveal a very large glistening black snake that lay coiled within. It took up nearly the entirety of its enclosure, and with the sudden exposure to the late afternoon sunlight streaming through the high arched windows of the classroom, raised its head, its tongue darting rapidly in and out of its wide mouth. There were gasps at the sight of the ferocious serpent, and a few squeals of dismay from the girls.
"Now, there is no need to fear, so long as I am here!" Lockhart called with much bravado as he flung open the door of the cage.
Quicker than Harry thought a snake of its size and girth could move, it had uncoiled itself and was rapidly slithering out of the cage. It fell to the hard flagstone floor with a loud slap and began to slither across the floor towards where Professor Lockhart was standing. Back stepping like a dancer, he gave a small shriek as he brandished his wand in the direction of the python. The students who had been seated at the front of the class had quickly jumped out of their chairs and the entire class was now clustered behind Harry and Colin's table at the back of the class.
"Observe as I subdue him with Parseltongue!" Lockhart called, his voice going up a pitch on the last as the snake lunged towards him.
"Aaaassssssssssstaaaaaaay!" He shouted flinging his wand arm towards the serpent as he attempted to scrabble up onto the window ledge.
"Gesundheit, Professor!" Colin yelled as he fearlessly snapped pictures of the spectacle taking place at the front of the classroom.
"Ssssssssssssssssssshtooopppp!" Lockhart squealed as the python coiled its body around his leg and began working its way up to his torso. Losing his balance, the professor fell to the floor. Waving his wand wildly about, he shot a few stray spells that missed the snake entirely and instead headed towards his assembled class. They dove beneath nearby tables and scattered further back to avoid the errant spells.
"Professor, is this what you did in the village?" Demelza asked, peering around a leg of a desk, her dark brown eyes watching him worriedly.
"Everything's under contromph!" His words were cut off as the python had managed to coil itself completely around him and was slowly beginning to squeeze. Lockhart's tanned complexion paled and then began turning bright red.
"Stop!" Harry called from his spot amongst the other students. "Let him go. Please."
The python paused from choking the life out of the Defence professor and turned its head to gaze over at Harry. It studied him with its tiny black eyes, its tongue flickering in and out to gain a better sense of its surroundings and who had just spoken.
Sssspeak? It said.
"Yes. Please, let him go."
Hhhhhungry.
"He's too big for you to eat!" Harry hissed.
"Professor Lockhart! Do you have anything for it to eat?"
The blond professor jerked his head, rolling his eyes towards his desk. Harry ran over to the desk and began looking through the drawers for something for the snake. Most were filled with headshots of the professor or copies of his book series, and he was becoming increasingly desperate.
Foodssssssss?
"Yes!" he announced triumphantly, finally uncovering a cage filled with white mice underneath a pile of what appeared to be fan mail. He hated giving the creatures to the snake, but it was either that or allow the daft Defence professor be crushed to death in front of his class. Taking the cage he held it out towards the snake. Loosening its coils from around the now limp man, it slithered back towards Harry. Depositing the mice in the snake's cage, he waited until it had entered to take its meal and quickly closed the cage door.
Professor Lockhart had meanwhile rolled to his knees and was gasping as he attempted to catch his breath. The remainder of the class still stood warily at the back of the classroom and were eyeing Harry with various expressions of suspicion and respect. Ignoring them, he knelt down next to the man on the floor.
"Are you all right, Professor?"
"Harry!" Lockhart rasped joyfully, and using Harry's shoulder for support boosted himself up to a standing position. His hair was in disarray and his formerly pressed robes were creased and rumpled, but he stood loftily in front of his shocked class.
"That was an excellent display!" he announced. "I couldn't have done better if I had tried! Well done!" He slapped Harry on the back, causing him to stumble forward. "Now, everyone, return to your seats and you can now read about my exploits starting with chapter one of Break With a Banshee."
Slumping into the chair behind his desk with a relieved sigh, Lockhart hastily draped the cloth back over the cage, effectively blocking the sight of the snake slowly ingesting the mice. Harry returned to his seat to find Colin grinning widely at him.
"That was really impressive, Harry!" he whispered excitedly. "And how nice of Professor Lockhart to allow you a chance to try for yourself!"
Harry gaped at the boy in disbelief. He shook his head, glancing up at the professor who appeared to have recovered fully and was adjusting his robes and smoothing his ruffled hair. Sighing, he pulled his book out of his rucksack to begin reading along with the rest of the class, and found himself for the first time in over a year wishing the day would be over already.
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"Sev," Lily pleaded. "It doesn't mean anything. What does it matter that we've been Sorted into separate Houses?"
"It matters," Severus said bitterly, glancing over at his best friend. It was the end of their first day of classes and they were sitting at a table near the windows in the library. It was a somewhat secluded location and he hoped they would be undisturbed. Lily's face was still glowing with excitement from her first full day in the magical world, or perhaps it was the golden rays of sunlight streaming through the windows as the sun set behind the lake. Regardless, he grudgingly took note that she looked splendid in her school robes, the deep Gryffindor red complementing her auburn locks.
"Well, it doesn't matter to me," she insisted. "Nothing has changed between us. You are still my best friend. Aren't I still yours?"
"Of course!" he exclaimed.
"Good!" she swatted playfully at his shoulder. "Why are you being so silly?"
He couldn't tell her. The Slytherin boys in his room had already been talking about the influx of Mudbloods entering the school. They had also taken notice of his friendship with Lily and had questioned him on his reasoning. It didn't matter that Lily was already displaying far superior magical ability than her inbred, pure-blood counterparts. That only seemed to make their derision of her worse. Where he admired everything about her and could see how she would add, and not detract from the magical world, his Slytherin brethren did not hold his worldly view. They were as narrow-minded as ever to the merits of half-blood and Muggle-borns who had a modicum of talent.
"Evans!" the wretched voice of James Potter called, disregarding Madame Pince's rule of speaking in only whispers while amongst her beloved stacks. He approached their table, once again accompanied by his shadow, Sirius Black.
"Well, well," he said, observing their surroundings. "This is a cosy little hide-away you've discovered. What could you possibly hope to have happen back here, Snivellus?"
Lily sighed loudly and rolled her eyes dramatically before meeting Potter's dancing hazel eyes with a stern gaze and thin-lipped smile.
"What do you want, James?" she asked. "Can't you see we are studying?"
"Come study with us," he cajoled sweetly. "I'm sure you'll learn much more than if you stay with this ponce."
Sirius smiled apologetically over at Severus for the jab his friend had just given him. It had been a surprise to everyone when the eldest son of the Black family had been Sorted into Gryffindor. To the point where his parents had actually arrived at the school this morning, demanding to see the Headmaster. Of course, everyone knew once the decision had been made it could not be undone, but that had not stopped Orion and Walburga from attempting to bribe Professor Dumbledore, to no avail. The headmaster stood firm by the decision, and rumours were running rampant through the school on how he may have dismissed the offending parents.
Sirius, however, did not appear to mind having been Sorted into Gryffindor, and if nothing else, seemed to be relishing the moment. His friendly smile turned to a mischievous grin and he feinted towards Severus, making to draw his wand. To his shame, Severus jumped a fraction in his seat. Both James and Sirius dissolved into fits of laughter, further riling the pretty red-head at the table.
"What is wrong with you two?" she hissed, rising from her seat, her green eyes shooting daggers at the two boys.
"Oh, relax, Evans," James said. "We're just having a bit of fun."
"Well, have it somewhere else!" she sternly ordered, crossing her arms over her chest and staring the two boys down. Severus inwardly seethed, unable to bring himself to even come to his own defence. The two boys sniggered some more, clearly unruffled by Lily's hard look and ambled off to cause trouble elsewhere.
She sat back in her seat with a huff, her pale cheeks and neck mottled with red blotches. "They are absolutely incorrigible, and they've already been enticing poor Remus to aid in their schemes." She turned to look over at her friend. "I'm sorry, Sev. I have no idea why they like to pick on you so much."
"I don't need you protecting me!" Severus choked out, his tongue feeling like a thick wad of cotton in his mouth.
"What?" she asked in shock.
"I can stand up to them myself," he reiterated.
"I never said you couldn't. I just want to help!" she argued, her already red cheeks turning redder.
"I don't need your help, all right?" he yelled, hastily gathering up his books to leave.
"Sev!" she called after him as he escaped her, Potter, and anyone else who may have witnessed the small scene. He had no idea why he had suddenly become so upset.
Just as he had become angry with Lily that day so long ago, he had found himself feeling very similar feelings when first Harry had requested to be moved to a different House, and then when he had come upon the boy speaking Parseltongue. It was a trait he had not been suspecting, and it angered him that in the months he had been training the boy in Occlumency he had not discovered it. The boy was weak and his memories easy to sift through, but it was clear Severus had not been trying hard enough to train him. He had barely scratched the surface of delving into the boy's mind and he knew it was because he was afraid of what he would find there.
Now he sat in a chair facing Severus looking extremely obstinate at having to be there. From the stories that had been travelling through the school, Harry's first day hadn't been as good or as bad as he would have thought. The idiot, Lockhart had effectively subdued any fear the student body may have been feeling towards the boy by having him rescue the Defence professor from the coils of the python. Severus was certain that had not initially been Lockhart's intent, but he was cleverly spinning the tale to make it seem that he had planned for Harry to save him all along.
"It would seem Professor Lockhart did you a valuable service today," he began, looking the boy over.
A small snort of derision came from the boy. "I didn't conjure that snake this morning."
"I have no doubt of that," Severus replied coldly. "As you have yet to exhibit any skill as a wizard."
The hurt that flashed across the boy's eyes was unmistakable, and Severus felt an annoying twinge of guilt.
"You are after all, merely a first year," he amended. "It would be unlikely you would be able to perform an advance spell such as that. Be that as it may, it does not change the fact that you exposed a trait of yours that would have been better kept a secret."
"It's not like I did it on purpose!" Harry protested. "If I hadn't, Malfoy probably would have been bitten!"
"Why did you not inform me that you could speak Parseltongue?" Severus asked, ignoring the boy's outburst.
"I didn't think it was important," he replied sullenly.
"It was most fortunate for Mr Malfoy you can, as well as Professor Lockhart."
"So, why am I here instead of him?" the boy asked.
"We must continue your lessons in Occlumency," Severus explained. "It would not do for any more of your secrets to be revealed. In that regard, for the incident involving the snake and putting a fellow student in danger, you will serve detention with me every Monday evening after dinner until further notice."
"That's not fair!"the boy objected. "Why should I be blamed and Malfoy not receive any form of punishment?"
"As I have just explained," the older man replied, beginning to lose his patience. "It is an effective cover, and I need not give you any further explanation. You will report here at seven every Monday. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Professor," Harry replied, not bothering to disguise his frustration that his adversary would receive no punishment. "May I go now?"
"You may." Severus replied. He had always wanted James Potter to meet his comeuppance while they had been at school. Instead, it seemed the golden boy always received everything he always wanted. Before last year, he had thought he would enjoy holding an authority position over Potter's offspring, to make up for all the times he had been wronged by the father. It wasn't as satisfactory as he had hoped it would be.
