A/N: Hello! Ravenous here. I hope you enjoyed the lovely Fawkes chapter. Now onto some seriousness. Or somewhat seriousness. Either or. I hope you enjoy! Maybe drop a line or two.

Chapter 10: Conversations

Birdman was fuming. How dare Lazarus insinuate something so vile. He was just glad he had the opportunity to sock the little git a few times. Birdman could only thank whatever diety, be it Merlin himself, that it was not the night of a full moon.

While stalking up and down the corridor like some sort of caged animal, Birdman was struck with a sudden inspiration. Of course the inspiration was in the form of a stubbed toe, but nonetheless. The pain from his sore appendage brought about the clarity that had been lost when envisioning violent ends for Lazarus. Birdman was able to think back to the beginning of the conversation with Harry. His resolve was steeled, he was going to speak to the hat. Now.

Severus Snape was having a nice quite evening. Ever since he had looked into teh mind of one, Harry Potter, he had been staying clear of students in general. He had managed to replenish his ingredient stores, and had even managed to collect some flobberworm mucus. Everything was going quite well. Until, a large young man burst through his office door. Severus refused the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. "You're early. Your detention isn't until this evening."

"I'm not here for my detention," the boy scoffed.

"Then, what could you possibly need?"

"I want you to distract Albus Dumbledore."

"What! Why on earth would I distract headmaster Dumbledore for the likes of you? A snivelling student," Severus replied curtly. Inwardly he was surprised, but of course he couldn't let his students see that. Despite common misconception, Severus really did care for his students well being. He didn't flap around the corridors at night because he liked it, no matter how much Madame Hooch chided him for looking like a giant bat.

"This matter concerns Harry Potter"

"Harry Potter. Why am I not surprised? Our new celebrity."

"No sir, you don't understand. I need to ask the sorting hat a question."

Severus arched a greasy eyebrow. "Why should such an important relic waste it's time with a troublemaking first year."

"Look, sir. I need your help."

Severus blinked. Urging Birdman to continue. If he didn't start talking, Severus was willing to extend the boy's detention by a few weeks.

Birdman was visibly frustrated. "With all due respect. We both know something was up with Harry's sorting. He shouldn't have been in Slytherin. He had his heart set on Ravenclaw."

Severus' lips curled into an unpleasant sneer, "As true as that may be Mr. Pressley. Why should I have to distract the headmaster for your foolish inquiry "

Birdman sighed and began to fiddle with his glasses. "Sir. There is something about the headmaster. I have reasons to believe, he had his own plan for Harry." Birdman paused and looked straight into the Potions professor's eyes. "Please sir? I need your help."

Something seemed to click into place in Severus' mind. He was having such a nice evening! Harry Potter was indeed some sort of pawn in the Headmaster's plan. "I did need to speak to the headmaster concerning Mr. Potter. Be on your way Mr. Pressley. I have no time for your silly little scheme," Severus said with a subtle smile. "You're dismissed."

Birdman gave the Potions professor a grateful nod and exited his office very quickly.

Severus brought his wand up and cast a wordless patronus spell. The silver doe looked towards him expectantly. "Tell the headmaster: I wish to speak with him. It's in regards to the Potter boy. "

The silver doe blinked, as if in understanding, and galloped through the wall. Severus paced towards the large stone fireplace. Awaiting, Albus' speedy reply. Just as he predicted, the green floating head of the headmaster of Hogwarts appeared quite quickly. "Ah. Severus. What was it you wanted to speak to me about? Has young Harry been causing you any trouble?"

"Albus, I think you may want to come through. I have much to discuss, but I cannot leave my vertisium brewing. "

The elderly headmaster nodded, "Fair enough Severus. Make room."

The glowing green embers of the fire gave birth to a green outline of a man. The man became more than a silhouette, and stepped out of the fire. He spoke in a gravelly voice, thick with age. "So, Severus. What did you wish to see me about?"

Birdman snarled as he came to his third dead end. He needed to get to Dumbledore's office. He needed to speak to the hat. He needed to get to the bottom of this. As if responding to his pleas, a stairwell appeared. Birdman nodded in approval. As soon as he had stepped foot on the stairs, they began to move. Gripping onto the banister, Birdman closed his eyes and waited for the stairs to stop moving. The sound of gravel on gravel was not a very pleasant one, thankfully it quickly came to a hault.

Shakily Birdman got off of the magical steps, and came face to face with a giant gargoyle. The gargoyle grinned. Once again the sound of stone scraping off of stone filled the air. A deep voice bounced of the walls, "Password?"

Shit. Birdman never thought he would need a password. Think. Think. Think. Birdman thought back to on the train, he remembered Nuala and Hermione having a conversation. Something about Dumbledore. Aha! The old man had a fondness for sweets! His greatest achievement was to have his image on a chocolate frog card. Maybe that was the password. "Chocolate Frog?"

The gargoyle's grin got wider. It jumped to the side revealing a large winding stairway. Birdman saluted the gargoyle, and sped up the stairs.

Carefully, Birdman opened the headmaster's office and crept inside. He scanned the room quickly. His heart pumping with adrenaline. There! Sitting on top of a large gold cabinet, was the hat. It looked positively grimy on such an expensive looking piece. With a wave of his wand, Birdman brought the hat down from it's perch. The slit at the brim opened, "Ah! What do you want?"

"I want to know why you put Harry Potter in Slytherin."

The hat scoffed, well it scoffed as well as a hat can. "My dear boy. Is it not obvious? Harry Potter would do well in Slytherin. I stand by my sorting. No batty old wizard would ever interfere with my sorting of a child."

Birdman pondered for a second. "I thought you took where we wanted to be placed into account. Harry wanted to be a Ravenclaw."

The hat made a weird snorting sound. "My boy. Harry Potter may have wanted to be a Ravenclaw, but it definitely wasn't for the right reasons. He fit into Slytherin the best, all of that ambition. That power to prove. Just the sort of thing Salazar prided. The reason your young friend was denied into the house of Ravenclaw, was not simply because I refused to listen. Oh no! He wanted into Ravenclaw because of Miss Lovegood. I couldn't, in good conscience, let such a Slytherin into the house of Rowena. It would be a shame I would have to carry forever."

Birdman nodded. He understood it now. It wasn't a ploy. Infact, the hat was just doing it's job.

The hat coughed, "Now lad. You've got your information. Put me back on the shelf. Let an old hat rest."

Birdman smiled, and levitated the hat back to its perch. He had gathered his information, now he had to move as quickly as possible out of Dumbledore's office.