School was over and the boys were excited they will no longer return to muggle school. The uncle spent time with Harry to allow conversation to be open up between them, which left Harry to confine in a man who treated him much like his son and special. Harry didn't feel the need to rebel, break rules, or have an attitude. Severus was rather pleased to see behavioral changes to be happening and more positive reaction.

With the boys out of school, Severus began to teach them the basic potion and brewing. Vernon couldn't do anything since most of it involved magic, but he listened while he was reading. It was done in the living room, curtains closed, and room spelled for its protection. Dudley saw the way he taught and it was dangerous. He caught Harry from almost over pouring the amount of dragon blood and explained what could happen. Severus was impressed and Harry was quick to learn from his mistake.

His guardian stated that if he had made that mistake or almost did, he would have taken points away. Harry took that hint and realized there was more to learn from the older wizard.

Minerva did eventually come over, but as a muggle act. She wore a fine and dark green dress and her hair still in a bun. Harry remained by Severus' side and only clenched onto his robe when he felt uncertain or unsafe. Dudley would often chatted about a few things here and there about what they learned of their world. Vernon asked her careers and hobbies were, she explained she's a professor at Hogwarts and a deputy headmistress. Severus added in her subject and she explained the rest.

Eventually, Harry came around comfortable enough to speak around her and realized she was much the same as Severus. This witch didn't see him as weird or a freak, just one of them. The way she was happy to see him made the past disappeared and he began to ask her about her class. Dudley and Harry asked as much as they could and she was happy to give them a small lesson. They were quick to learn and understood much more than they realize.

"Oh," The witch quickly gets something from her purse and pulled it out, "Harry, the headmaster Dumbledore would like you to have this." She handed him a small wrapped gift.

Harry immediately recognized the name and thanked her for the small gift to pass on. He unwrapped the soft red and gold wrapping paper, the rustling noise comforted his ears and Dudley curiously wondered what this would be. The emerald eyes peered in closely inside the small box to find something different, unlike anything he has ever seen. A pocket watch encrusted with dark green gemstones on the edges, the silver to compliment it altogether, and a small written scripture on the front, 'Don't watch the clock, do what it does. Keep going.'

The boy-who-lived found it very strange, but he smiled at the simple message. His thumb pressed the button and opened to show him more than he expected out of a pocket watch. It popped up like a holographic in the air for ticking clock, but on the side cover showed his name and others within the room. Severus hummed and took a closer look.

"Now that is a rare gift, Harry," Severus spoke, "You see all our names, correct?"

Harry nodded, "Yes, but why is it showing our names?"

"When holding this, it knows your names and who you are within close range. It seems to be within the room. It is known to inform you who is in the room, but you can say the name and it will show you when that person came into the room or how long they have been here." He nodded, "With the time," He tsk'ed, "You can ask it to show you the time from the past only. For an example, you could request the time you were in class at that time to recall what was happening. Like a muggle device for recording or video recording," Severus coughed, "But limited in a day. However, it is useful."

Harry beamed at the precious gift he received and felt much safer than he realize. He quickly clipped the pocket watch and tucked them in his front pocket. His hand wrapped around it to feel the cold gold becoming warm by his hand. He looked at the woman with a gracious smile.

"Thank you for delivering the gift! I love it! Could you pass the message to Albus for my thank you to the gift and how much I love it?"

Vernon and Severus exchanged glances to give a nod in an approval with Harry's progressive changes in his behavior. They knew he would be well mannered to others, but the outcome itself was better than expected. Minerva couldn't help it but cherished the moment. Her arms spread out and hugged him.

"I will, young man. He will be delighted to hear you appreciated his gift. I best be going, but Severus," She handed him a small box of one rare ingredient, "I have another set at my mansion. I think next week would be best to visit. I'll have the tea and other things ready to go."

Severus grimaced, "In another word, to tell him the stories of myself as a student to humiliate me."

"Stories?" Harry piped up, "About you going to Hogwarts?"

Severus saw the look upon the boy and the way he seems so curious, it made things less worried than he wanted to be, and Minerva saw the needs to leave now. She bid them good day and left after walking out the door. Harry watched her leave and saw how she apparated with a pop! Vernon decided to take his son out to pick up food to order and said they would return in an hour. Dudley learned a way to make sure Harry ate at certain times, like before lunch or before dinner to prevent disappearance. Severus understood, so he did manage to make a brief distraction by giving the man his fair share on the orders and requested a couple of things – Which Vernon assumed it would be a reward for good behavior.

As soon both Durselys left, Harry saw down on the sofa and admired his pocket watch. Severus sat next to him and-

A heavy trembling around the house, items falling off the ground and crashed hard. The electricity flickered on and off until no more power. The older wizard almost fell off the sofa and found himself wrapped in the dark feathers and covered from toe to neck. He was quickly pulled in and without a second thought, Severus hugged him in comfort.

"You're safe, Harry," Unable to move, but whispered helped, "I am safe as well…"

He whimpered, "…Dudley hurts…"

Severus understood and realize the boy must have been injured by a surprise earthquake. He nodded and kissed the boy's head.

"But he isn't dying, Harry, he can still be safe. He has a connection to your magic and get to safety. Your uncle is with him, he will protect his son."

Somehow, Harry 's wings unwrapped the man and he curled up into Severus' arms. His wings disappeared, but he still felt unsafe. The older wizard held him closely and kept telling him how safe they were. The shaking ground finally stopped and allowed Harry to calm down. There was one thing Severus didn't think about was ducking for cover and wondered how they didn't get hurt. When his dark eyes looked around, he realized that Harry held them under a shield through his magic. The boy was powerful, especially for a Lamia.

… … …

Summer hasn't been the same, especially Harry grown suspicious of anything unusual. He often checked on Dudley and Severus in the middle of the night or random times. His worrisome was increasing, even with the talking sessions with his uncle didn't help ease the problem, and the man had no knowledge about Harry's Lamia heritage.

The acceptance letter did come and it was a celebration. Severus picked the day they were going to collect their things and Vernon was shock to learn the cost would be. He didn't think it was this cheap and wondered how the school was supported. Severus didn't think much of it since school was meant to be important for their education and magic. To learn magic at the age of eleven was an exciting adventure, a place to grow up and develop to the point they become powerful.

However, their birthdays were around the corner and Harry wasn't much excited. Severus had learned more through Vernon that he never had a celebration for his birthday due to Petunia and her hatred. Severus would often plan from time to time or shop late at night for the past two weeks. Vernon was also trying to make things up for the best and kept thinking what he could do for the boy. He tried to think of everything, but it didn't feel right to him as much. A boy, who rarely got anything for his birthday other than socks or hand me down clothes that Dudley once wore, Petunia knew how to make a child feel unwanted. It was a dreadful nightmare to marry the woman who couldn't be overjoyed to have a nephew and a playmate for their son to live with. At least…the boys became brothers no matter what now and that's how it should have been in the first place.

Right now, Dudley's birthday came first and the trip to the zoo was enough. Dudley always found going out to places would be fun and he can bond with his cousin in public without fear. Harry hadn't felt much involved before and it was scary for him. Severus wore muggle clothes to appear normal, but Harry felt that was too surreal and unlike the man. He was used to the same style and wizardry clothes.

Dudley dragged Harry around the zoo to check out the wild animals. Harry grew fascinated with the creatures and did reading on their displays. He knew some things, but the rest was a surprise. Severus saw that Harry liked to express himself in reading and learning, which he decided to note that for later.

"Severus, sir?" Dudley looked at the wizard, "Do you think we have our world creatures too?"

The professor coughed, "Yes, which you will learn more in your future courses, Dudley. There are a lot of things that muggle animals cannot do, but magical creatures can do much more. For an example, the unicorn's blood is precious and valuable."

His jaw dropped, "Wow…do you use their blood for brewing?"

"No. However, if a unicorn approaches you and allows you to kill them for their blood. It grants you immortality. However, if you kill them without their permission, you get a curse of immortality."

Harry hummed, "Make sense. Sort of like, give respect and you will gain more. Without respect, you lose more?"

"Something like that, yes."

Vernon turned paled, "Who'd be willing to kill such creatures for the sake of immortality?"

Severus sighed, "Anyone who believes they can live forever, Vernon, but a fool to accept such offerings."

"No kidding. As much it is nice to live long, but it'd be boring to live forever and lonely."

Harry hummed and glanced at the reptiles who moved around to chase each other for a fly.

"Then he must be stupid to come after me."

Severus didn't expect that kind of response and didn't exactly know how else to say it otherwise.

"What do you mean?"

Harry looked up at his guardian, "He came after me…a baby. A baby who doesn't know what his future is going to be and found me a threat? How did he disappear?"

Severus didn't know what to say or what to expect. It was something that sparked Harry to say it.

"I don't know myself either, Harry. It was strange how he disappeared and it left us no answers." The memory of holding Harry's mother and cried over her dead body, while he wept for her death.

Dudley ran up to his cousin and grabbed him by his wrist, "Check this out!" The birthday boy was too excited for his eleventh birthday.

Vernon glanced up, "Harry hasn't discuss anything about the dark man, what gotten into him?" He hummed.

The professor shook his head, "I don't know."

Dudley knelt down and tried to tap on the window. The boa constrictor barely moved his head and eyed the visitors in front of him. His cousin frowned and didn't understand why it wasn't moving.

"Do you think he's ill?"

Harry looked at him and tried to read the display, "I don't know…I'm not a veterinarian to tell you he is or not."

'More like trapped inside and rather roam somewhere,' The voice.

"Or that." Harry replied.

Dudley looked at him funnily and wondered what that was about. Harry glanced at his cousin and realized that wasn't his voice.

"…erm, did you say something about being trapped and roam somewhere?"

His cousin shook his head, "No. No one even said that."

'You can hear me, speaker?'

The boa slithered up the window and the boys noticed. The snake continued to hiss, which had Dudley's attention and he gave him the attention immediately. The snake looked at the boy in puzzling state.

'You can hear me, speaker? I apologize for asking again.'

Harry looked at the snake and realized this one was talking to him, 'Yes, I can. Was that you I heard?'

'Yes,' Nodded his head, 'To have a speaker here is rare visit. Are you going to set me free for me to roam somewhere?'

'I do not know if I have the authority, but I understand. Being trapped inside a place is no fun. It's miserable.'

Dudley stared at his cousin, "…are you hissing at the snake?"

"What are you talking about? I'm talking to him in plain English like he is. Can't you hear what he says?"

"No…you were hissing a lot." Frowned, "I don't think I could translate hissing language or whatever it is called."

"Weird." He turned around and waved Severus over, "Severus, come here! I have something to ask you."

Severus was taken by surprised with the boy wished to ask him more personally. Vernon joined the man and gained closely to their little ones.

"Yes, Harry?"

Harry looked up at him, "I can hear the snake talking to me and Dudley can't hear him."

Dudley agreed, "He was hissing a lot with the snake, almost like he was having a conversation."

"The snake wants to be out and go somewhere to explore."

Vernon turned pale at this sudden news, "Does your kind communicate snakes?" Getting worried that he might have to adopt snakes…it didn't seem like a good idea to have in the house.

Severus stood in frozen fear, despite the fact they cannot tell by his face and being quiet. He glanced over to the snake and saw how depression the state of his' environment.

"It's a rare talent, to speak a snake language…" He muttered, "…considering in our society, we view it as dark and evil language. I wouldn't allow anyone to know this, Harry, it's dangerous to what people will do and how they will treat you."

"Cool!" The birthday boy grinned, "A secret that we know, but no one else will. What's the language called?"

"Parsaltongue. He is considered Parsamouth."

Harry frowned, "Why do people view it as dark or evil?"

Severus glanced his surrounding to see that strangers were about to listen in, "This is something to discuss at home. However, inform the snake I will send him home during the closing hours."

Harry nodded and turned the snake. He just looked at the snake and hissed. The snake was pleased and looked forward for the freedom. It was an unusual day, but Severus found it for a Lamia to have the rare language would be riskier for anyone else to know. He needed to get a few books for Harry, especially he wouldn't be much help.

Since he lived with Harry during the winter, Severus found himself changing more than he could have thought. Petunia was the person who did everything in her power to make one child's life miserable. He wondered how Dudley coped without her, considering that was his own mother…Vernon was practically a single father and it wasn't fair. The woman was mad, but she wasn't fit to be a mother in the first place.

Now, Vernon and Severus were looking forward to celebrate Harry's eleventh birthday and to make it unique for a change. The Lamia child will not see anything coming and it would be worth it every moment.