Yes, yes. You see correctly, I did indeed update the story. And you know what? The next chapter also is nearly finished. ;-)

Marked

Harry had a great time at the zoo. It was much bigger than the one in London, and of course they had different kinds of animals too. Harry couldn't say what he liked most. There was so much to see; it was like a trip around the world.

"Next are the snakes!" Lin cried, exited and pulling Harry along. Severus and Caroline followed behind at a more moderate pace.

Most of the snakes were asleep, but a few watched the humans with wary eyes, including one of the most beautiful snakes Harry had ever seen. "Wow!" he stepped close to the glass.

"That's a python. They're my favorite too. They're so cool!" Lin exclaimed.

-Yeah, yeah, ssstare all you want. Ssstupid humansss-

-Sssorry- Harry answered automatically.

"Did you say something?" Lin heard Harry's hiss, but couldn't understand what he said.

At that Harry's eyes grew larger. "Did I?" he asked and at Lin's nod he said, "Well,… I thought I could understand her."

"Because of the translator?" Lin asked. "May I try it too?"

"Erm… I don't know. Okay, give it a try." With that Harry pulled the translator out of his ear.

The snake watched them curiously now waiting what will happen next. As Lin was ready she looked at the snake and said "Well, say something." But the snake just blinked at her. Or at least she thought it only did that.

But Harry heard the snake saying –Ssstupid girl. You are no ssspeaker-

Then the snake turned her head to Harry. –But you are-

-SSSpeaker? What do you mean?-

The snake seemed to roll her eyes. –You ssspeak the sssnakess' tongue-

"Harry, are you hissing? Are you okay? Is the snake speaking to you?"

Now Harry was really uncomfortable, as he realized he could understand the snake, but Lin couldn't. He was so confused he didn't realize that Lin now spoke English because of the translator and therefore he could still understand her.

"Erm,… yes? Is that bad?"

"Of course not, but a bit… uncommon. There are not many people who can. But I think it's cool. So can you tell me the name of the snake?"

Harry shrugged and then turned to the snake again. –Whatsss your name? I'm Harry.-

Now the snake blinked, astonished. –You are the firssst who asssk me. Well, I'm Regina.-

-Thatsss a nice name- Harry smiled warmly at her.

It was clear that all of the snakes were listening to the two, but nobody dared to interrupt, as Regina was the Queen of them all.

-It sssemss your name isssn't unknown to us. You are not the ssssame boy who freed the boa in England, are you?-

Harry looked flabbergasted. –How did you know?-

Regina smiled. –Becaussse ssshe isss here. Three tanksss down. Ssshe told usss everything. Ssshe isss much happier here with usss all, asss ssshe hasss no family of her own.-

-I need to sssee her!- Harry hissed, and raced down the way Regina said, leaving a bemused Lin behind.

The boa was already waiting for him, as she had heard everything that was said between Harry and Regina.

-Hi- She greeted Harry excitedly.

-Hi- Harry answered, unable to find more words.

-I really mussst thank you, my dear. You helped me a lot- The snake said.

-But you are ssstill in a zzzoo-

-Well yes, I wasss born in one. I cannot sssurvive outssside of one, but here it isss ssso much better. Better food, nicer humans and ssso many othersss to talk.-

- I'm glad you like it here.-

-I have sssomething for you- the snake said and then pulled herself up. Some people around Harry screamed, but the boy didn't hear them. He was in his own world.

Then the snake looked directly into Harry's eyes until Harry felt a faint sting on his left hand. "Ouch!" he said and closed his hand automatically. But then he opened his hand and looked at his palm. There was a fine white outline forming the shape of a snake.

-What isss it?- Harry asked.

-A sssnake'sss blesssing. I am sssorry but you will feel unwell for a few minutes, but with…-

Harry didn't hear more as his head began to spin violently and he felt sick. Before he could hit the floor however, someone grabbed him and pulled him away.

As he was able to focus back to the world he found himself with his back pressed against Severus' chest, on a bench under a big shady tree. Caroline had one hand on his head and the other on his chest murmuring something under her breath. Lin was watching with a worried face. "Hola," she said shyly as she noticed that Harry was conscious.

Caroline stopped whatever she was doing and removed her hands. "Cómo te sientes, Harry?"

Harry turned towards her at in puzzlement. So Severus repeated her question: "How are you feeling?"

Now the boy looked up into Severus' eyes and wondered why the Potions Master appeared so worried. "What happened?"

"You lost consciousness. Caroline said there is a foreign magic on you that wasn't there before. And Celine said you talked with the snakes?"

Harry blinked slowly as everything came back to him. Then he balled his hand. He didn't dare to look at his palm right now. He wasn't sure why, but he had the feeling that he shouldn't boast about the snake mark.

"Harry what happened?" Severus asked still worried, as Harry's mind drifted away again.

"I'm sorry. I can't explain right now. But I'm okay. Please believe me, I'm okay now. I talked with the snakes - I didn't know it was so unusual to speak with them. But nothing bad happened. I'm… okay." With that Harry looked deep into Severus' eyes until the other man nodded his head.

"Very well. I believe you, but we will talk about this later." Severus finally said.

"Yes, dad!" Harry grinned cheeky.

"Aquí," Lin said and held the translator out to him.

"Gracias!" Harry said and then placed the little button back into his ear.

"It's really strange to think you speak in one language and at the same time you hear your voice in a different language. Isn't it confusing to you?" Lin wondered.

"It's better than not understanding what was said." Harry shrugged his shoulder.

"Yeah, but it would be even better, if you would learn to speak Spanish!"

"Yeah, probably," Harry agreed.

"You will stay with us now. I don't want a repeat of this situation." Severus said sternly and stood up, placing Harry back on his feet.

"But I don't have to hold your hand, do I?" Harry asked anxiously.

"As long as you behave yourself," retorted Severus.

The rest of the day went smoothly. Every now and then, when he thought nobody was looking, Harry would steal a glance at his palm. The snake was still there, but you would have to know that it was there to notice it. Harry wished he hadn't fainted. The boa was about to tell him more. Now Harry need to find out by himself what a Snake's Blessing is. He didn't dare to go back and ask the snake. And he was sure Severus wouldn't let him.

-oxo-

"Let me see your hand!" Severus demanded as soon as they were back in the flat.

"What?" Harry asked and hid his hand behind his back.

"Your hand. I want to see it. I noticed you have been staring at it. So please, show me."

Harry gulped, unsure if he should do it. Unconsciously he stepped back until he hit the wall. Severus frowned at that. "I know some kind of magic happened with the snakes. I just want to have a look."

Slowly Harry pulled his hand out from behind him and looked again at his palm. Then he watched Severus' fingers curling slowly around his wrist and with a gentle but demanding pressure the man pulled Harry's hand towards him. Carefully his thumb stroked the snake shaped mark.

"I never saw something like that. Do you know what it is?" Severus asked, releasing Harry's hand again.

"I'm not sure. The boa said something about a Snake's Blessing. I met this boa before in London a year ago. I accidently freed her and she was very grateful about that."

"She must have been. I daresay, she gave you a very rare and precious gift, but I don't know much about it either. We will have to find more when we are back at Hogwarts."

Suddenly a sad look crossed Harry's face. "I miss Hogwarts," he whispered. "It's really great here, but I feel home at Hogwarts."

"I miss Hogwarts, too!" Severus admitted and then drew Harry into a hug.

"Is there any chance I could write Ron or Hermione?" the boy asked in a small voice.

Severus signed deeply. "It wouldn't be wise."

"I'm afraid they will hate me, when we go back."

"Why would you think that? They will be happy to have you back, out of the Death Eater's claws."

At these words, Harry suddenly sobbed.

Worried again, Severus guided the boy to the living room and sat them at the sofa. "Why all these tears?"

"I… I don't know. It's… it's just… I'm afraid something bad will happen. I really want back to England, but at the same time I don't dare to go back. I'm afraid I could lose you, but I miss my friends, too."

Severus was at a loss. He wished he could reassure Harry that everything was going to be fine, but he couldn't. All he could do was hugging Harry and giving him silent comfort.

-oxo-

Severus was not surprised when he was woken in the middle of the night by Harry's screams. He had somehow known the boy would have nightmares. He had been so depressed last evening and Severus couldn't find a way to lighten the boy's mood. Maybe finally all the events at Privet Drive were catching up with him.

He pushed his blanket aside and walked to Harry's bedside to wake the boy up. The boy was curled into a tight ball murmuring incoherently.

"Harry! Come on, wake up. You are safe here," Severus said loudly, unsure if it would be a good idea to touch the boy. Finally Harry bolted up in his bed, tear streaks visible on his cheeks.

"I'm sorry!" were Harry's first words as soon as he noticed the other present in his room.

"You don't have to be. Do you want to talk about it?" Severus offered, but Harry shook his head and closed his eyes while more tears rolled down his face.

"Talking would help," Severus tried again, but Harry shook his head more violently. Severus signed and sat himself at Harry's bed to pull the boy into a hug, but Harry jerked away. "Don't!" he whispered.

Severus frowned in confusion.

"Look. I'm not really your son. I'm just Harry." The boy suddenly said.

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

Harry looked up with desperate eyes. "I lost my parents. I lost my chance to… to have… a… family." The last word was spoken so softly that Severus nearly missed it.

"I still don't understand what you are trying to say. What is wrong with what we are having?"

"I don't earn you," Harry whispered nearly inaudibly.

"What's this rubbish? Why would you think that?" Severus asked softly so as not to frighten the boy.

"I don't deserve to be happy. I'm just trouble."

"Not for me. I'm glad to be here for you. You are filling me with new life. I don't mind being woken in the middle of the night. If I get the chance to help you it's worth it. I want you to be happy. Because when you are happy I am too."

At these words the boy threw himself into Severus' arms crying his heart out.

"I will always want to be here for you, even if you think you are too old to need my advice any longer. If I could, I would adopt you and make you my son, but I fear I ruined this chance as I made a stupid mistake in my past. But none the less, I will always see you as my son."

"Really?" Harry asked his voice thick with tears.

"Really!"

"I dreamed of my uncle. He said I will never have a family, because my parents died. And whoever takes me in will realize that I'm just a burden and kick me out again."

"Your uncle is a monster. You shouldn't listen to him. One day he will realize what a big mistake he made when he treated you so badly. But luckily that's behind you. You will never have to go there. I will kidnap you again, if somebody ever thinks you should go back there."

"What will happen when we return to England? Will they imprison you? I wouldn't survive if they did."

"I see. That is troubling you," Severus noted.

"Aren't you worried, too?" Harry asked.

"Of course I am."

Suddenly a new thought hit Harry, "But we are going back, aren't we?"

"Yes. I promised Albus I would bring you back at the start of the new term. I cannot lose his trust, as he is my only chance not to get imprisoned. At least I hope he is."

Harry signed, snuggling deeper into the comforting arms. "Why can't we just be left alone?"

"Because my little one, you are just too important to them, or at least Harry Potter is. I'm not so sure they care much about the boy behind this name. But while you are their perfect hero, I'm the perfect bad guy. We are both branded."

"This sucks!"

"You said it!"

After a while Harry tugged at Severus sleeve and looked at him with pleading eyes. Severus smiled and then lowered himself onto the boy's bed while Harry huddled against him as close as possible.

I know it ended pretty much the same way as the last chapter. I don't know why my muse suggested it, but the next chapter will be different. The timeline will get a little boost.