Hello! It has been decided that this story will have 19 chapters.

My plan is to finish typing up and posting the last of these chapters while I finish writing the chapter outlines for Musical Companion. I have neglected that story due to focusing on this one. After this story is finished, I will work on writing and posting the chapters for Musical Companion while I write up the outlines for the sequel to this story.

I will begin posting the chapters to the sequel after I have written up the first three or five chapters. I will also post an update on this story so you will know when that is posted.

Also, while re-reading these chapters, I noticed I had Harry finding parseltongue books in the Cottage library twice, and I have gone back and fixed that. The first time was in chapter four, the second is in this chapter. I have changed it in chapter four so he finds a book on defense, instead.

Anyways, enough of my rambling.

Enjoy (:

Harry POV

~ Harry, the hairless wolf is back

I snorted, glancing up to see Remus walk into the room as Aeron settled on my lap again.

"Sorry you didn't get a chance to meet earlier, this is Aeron." I rubbed lightly on the top of said snake's head, before looking back up at Remus. He looked a little surprised, though thankfully not frightened, "the owl that delivered the letter is Loki." Remus frowned slightly, a crease forming between his brows.

"Yes, he seemed to find enjoyment in flying just out of my reach so I couldn't get the letter from him. Though I guess he grew bored of it and decided to give it to me."

"Sounds like something he would do. If you would like, you can sit. Or join me and visit the library. I will have a house elf take your bags to your room."

"I would be glad to visit the library." Remus placed his two small bags on the floor, before following me to the library. After walking into the room, with Aeron wrapped around my shoulders, Remus headed towards the potion books, and I wandered over to a section I hadn't gone through yet. 'Oh, right. I need a house elf to deal with his stuff.'

"Bire." I turned to my right, seeing a small elf standing there, bouncing on the heels of his feet.

"What can I's do for master Harry?"

"Please take Remus' stuff to his room."

"Of course! I's do it right away!" The elf popped away soon after, and I turned back to the shelf I was looking over. It was when I almost picked out a book on magical creatures that I spotted a rather odd book. It was thick, with a leather cover, and no title written on the spine. Picking it up instead, I walked over to the table and sat across from Remus.

"What have you found there Harry?" I glanced up to see a curious expression on his face.

"Oh, I am not sure. There was no title on the spine." There isn't anything on the front or back of the cover either. I showed it to Remus, only to be confused as his eyes widened slightly.

"I recognize that book. It was during summer break, I had come to visit your dad here. He showed me that book and two others, stating that they were parseltongue books. He didn't know what was written inside of it though due to no one having the ability to read it in the Potter line." I blinked at this new information, not realizing there could be books like this here. 'I would expect them to be in the Malfoy library, or with Voldie. But with the Potters? Though this could be helpful, whatever has been written inside.'

"Could you show me the other two books?" I asked, ignoring the curious expression Remus is now showing me.

"Of course." He stood, walking over to the potion section, grabbing a book, then doing the same in the defense section. Walking back over, he placed both of the books on the table beside the first one. They had the same leather cover, all three a worn black color.

"What are you going to do with them though?" I smirked at the question, taking my eyes off of the books to look at Remus again.

"I'm going to read them of course. I am able to speak parseltongue." This succeeded in shocking the poor wolf, who simply gaped at me for a good minute.

~ Harry, why not learn parselmagic?

Remus jumped slightly at the sudden sound of hissing, probably forgetting Aeron was still there. I looked down at the snake, rather confused.

~ Parselmagic? I can do that?

~ Of course you can, silly wizard. It isn't that hard to do, though it is easier without a wand. A wand cannot channel your intentions as easily when they are in the tongue of snakes.

~ Why not?

~ Because a wand is made for humans, not snakes. Being able to speak the snake language is very rare, therefore not taken into consideration when making a wand.

~ I suppose this makes sense. I will have to start practicing this then. It could come in handy.

"What happened?" Remus spoke up, probably trying to not freak out over the hissing.

"Oh, Aeron was explaining parselmagic to me. I decided it would be useful to learn how to do it." Remus smiled in acceptance, going back to his book. 'It makes sense though, now that I think about it. I didn't need my wand whenever I opened the Chamber of Secrets.'

Roughly twenty minutes later, I was nose deep in the first book reading about the previously mentioned magic, when Remus spoke up again.

"We should begin your animagus training tomorrow since it will be the first of the month."

"Oh, alright. Why the first of the month though?"

"You will need to meditate for one month and hold a leaf of a mandrake in your mouth."

"Very well. There is a hidden training room in the basement that we can use." Remus nodded, and we returned to our books.

For those last two months of summer break, I trained in: parselmagic, runes, defense, offense, potions, healing, ward's, wordless and wandless magic, and became an unregistered animagus. I also memorized all of my school books. Severus stopped by only twice, once each month. Both times were during the full moon to give Remus the wolfsbane potion. Though that was a cover up to see if I was doing fine. I didn't mention my training to him, preferring to keep it a secret for now. I know that Remus won't be telling anyone anything, especially Dumbledore. He mentioned making a promise to my parents to keep me safe, and if that means not following Dumbledore then he doesn't mind.

Sliding open one of the many doors on the train, I was expecting an empty compartment but instead came face to face with Draco who was poised to open the door himself.

"Harry, it's about time, I was just about to go looking for you." Draco smirked, before sitting back down.

"Sorry, Remus was a little slow this morning." I sat on the bench across from him, after pulling on the Hogwarts robes, "I also ran into Ron Weasley who held me back for a few minutes." I wanted to laugh at the expression Draco made at the name, but merely smirked.

"I do hope you put him in his place."

"No worries, I doubt he will bother me again." Draco's lips formed a matching smirk as I settled down, remembering what had taken place on my way here.

I was walking towards the barrier for platform 9 ¾ when I heard Molly Weasley shout out about where to go. I calmly watched them for a few moments, before making my way to the platform before them. It was a few moments after, when I was walking towards the train that I was stopped by Ron Weasley.

"Aren't you Harry Potter? Like the Harry Potter? I'm Ron Weasley!" The ginger was grinning, his hand stretched out in greeting. I felt my eyebrow twitch in irritation.

"Bugger off, Weasley, I'm not interested."

"What? But you're the Gryffindor Golden Boy! We could be great friends!" he had let his hand drop, and was now trying to force his grin to stay on his face.

"Sorry, but I am not interested. I'm sure we could be great friends, in a different time line. Now I am late meeting with Draco, so please excuse me." I spoke calmly, before walking past the gaping Gryffindor. I should hurry to the compartment Draco is in before Weasley decides to snap out of his shock and comes after me in hopes of befriending me.

"Harry." A jab from a finger brought me back to attention. I looked up to see an annoyed Draco, "finally! I've been poking you for five minutes now! But anyways, meet Blaise, my best friend and one of the very few people I actually trust." Looking over to the boy he was pointing to, I gave a small nod in greeting.

"Nice to meet you, Blaise."

"Likewise, Harry." Blaise returned the nod, before pulling out a book on defense. We spent the rest of the ride like that; Blaise reading, while Draco and I talked about our summers. I left out the training I did, only talking about Remus coming to live with me and Severus bringing the wolfsbane.

We arrived at Hogwarts pretty quickly, and we all gathered in front of Hagrid to be brought to the school. As the castle came into view, I couldn't help but feel happy to be back. After all, Hogwarts is my one true home. I glanced over at Draco, smiling at the silent awe in his eyes. By the time we were placed in front of Professor McGonagall, everyone was chattering nervously, and excitedly.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall began, which was my cue to tune her out. 'It was here that I declined Draco's offer of friendship, and I admit that even though he went about asking the wrong way, I was stupid to say no. I was stupid to be so drawn in by Weasley. Though I guess it couldn't be helped. I was a child who knew nothing of the world he was being thrown into.' I blinked back to attention when the ghosts begin coming through the walls, causing a bunch of people to scream. They were muttering about Peeves, before noticing the new students staring at them in fright. Professor McGonagall returned, ushering us into a line before leading us into the Great Hall. I was content to stand there listening to Draco muttering under his breath about how awesome the place was, when the Sorting Hat began it's song.

*"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,

But don't judge on what you see,

I'll eat myself if you can find

A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head

The Sorting Hat can't see,

So try me on and I will tell you

Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

Their daring, nerve, and chivalry

Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal,

Those patient Hufflepuffs are true

And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

if you've a ready mind,

Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folk use any means

To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

I watched as Professor McGonagall unrolled a piece of parchment.

**"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. "Abbott, Hannah!" went to Hufflepuff, as did Susan Bones.

"This is bloody boring." Draco complained five minutes later. I simply gave a small sigh in reply. It was almost his turn anyways, though it is understandable that he was bored since he already knew he would be in Slytherin. It was when my name was finally called that the hall went silent, everyone's attention on me. Ignoring it, I sat down on the chair and the hat was placed on me. Harry Potter, good to see you again. Are you willing to go into the house you belong in this time?

Of course.

Good… then it shall be...

SLYTHERIN!

I wanted to smirk when suddenly everyone started talking all at the same time, completely shocked. Dumbledore's glare was boring a hole into my back, but I ignored it. However, on my way to the Slytherin table, I consciously made eye contact with Professor Quirrell. Or should I say Lord Voldemort? I expected the burning in my scar, so didn't flinch when it happened. There was a mixture of shock, confusion, and interest in his eyes so I knew that Voldemort was in control at that moment, making it all the more interesting.