A small snake
Ok so it has been ages since I last updated! I had major writing cramp and a case of lost passwords:) I'm hoping I'll be able to start slowly again. Mina, Ps Had to resubmit the chapter due to so many small misstakes. sorry I really need a beta:(
It was three days since the big party and Harry was feeling slightly out of sorts. He had passed on all his findings to Belby and now he had nothing to keep himself busy with. He guessed it was just a matter of waiting for Belby to do his bit now.
Remus had been listening avidly to Harrys report on the night. He'd been especially happy to hear that the potion was being tried on real people already. He'd seemed surprised to hear that Belby had had a meeting with a werewolf and didn't seem to have come away hating them.
Harry's first potions lesson after the party had come far too soon for his taste. Walking into the classroom had proved bad enough.
"Ah, Harry! My clever little Gryffindor!" Slughorn called, looking up from the papers on his desk as Harry entered the classroom. "Damocles sends his regards, he is ever so grateful for having met you at the party. He's one of my finest finds you know." Slughorn continued as the class got seated by their desks.
Harry nodded feeling embarrassed by the attention. He bent down and started pulling out his supplies from his bag. He was just putting his book on the table when Slughorn arrived by his desk. "Yes I do seem to have a knack for finding new talents." Slughorn continued not at all paying attention to all the stares Harry was being subjected to. Harry was horrified to feel Slughorn's hand give him an affectionate pat on the head. "Such a clever boy." He mumbled before making his way back to the front of the classroom.
Sirius and James snickered rather loudly from the back of the classroom making Harry send them a heated glare.
"Settle down class, settle down!" Slughorn boomed glancing towards James and Sirius especially. "Pair up please. We will be brewing something fun today, a colour reversal potion!" Slughorn said looking very pleased with himself. "The reversal potion when applied onto any material will change the original colour, like so." He demonstrated the potion by dipping a white tulip into a small cauldron on his desk. When he lifted the flower it had turned a deep purple. "Very handy for personalizing gifts. And with Christmas coming up I'm sure you'll find it useful." Slughorn said cheerfully.
"Can't we just use magic?" Lily asked hesitantly. Slughorn nodded looking round the class.
"Why would this potion be especially good for you youngsters to learn?" He asked the rest of the class.
"Because of the underage restrictions." Snape answered making Slughorn beam.
"Very good Mr Snape take five points to Slytherin." He said making Snape bite his lip to keep from smiling with pride. Snape risked a glance at Harry and then quickly looked away when Harry met his eye.
"Can you make any colour or will it always be purple?" A voice piped up from the back. Harry and indeed the whole class were shocked to see it was Sirius who'd asked the question.
"Ah Mr Black how nice to hear your voice." Slughorn said dryly. "The colour depends on how much moonstone dust you add. Add a little and the colour will be lighter, add more and you get a more colourful hue. Hope that satisfies your curiosity Mr Black. Please feel free to ask more questions as the term progresses." Slughorn said, looking slightly apprehensive when Sirius actually took notes. "Right begin brewing!" Slughorn ordered watching with fatherly pride as the class got themselves busy.
Harry had noticed that the Slytherins had been giving him strange looks again in between classes and meals. He wasn't sure if that was due to having been at Slughorn's party or just because he was Harry. The Slytherins didn't seem to have changed in that regard.
Severus was also avoiding him it seemed. He wondered if the boys had done something stupid. He'd asked as much when he spotted them in the common room after a failed attempt at finding the Slytherin boy.
"Did you guys do something to annoy Sev?" Harry asked making Sirius eye James with a puzzled look.
"Why would we do anything to Snape? He's your friend right? And he's not bad for a Slytherin to be honest." Sirius said. "Besides James reckons your mum would skin us if we mess with you!" Sirius added making James nod.
"Oh ok, thanks." Harry said making the boys shrug. He wondered what could have Snape avoiding him then. He left the boys to their books and made it outside the common room before realising that the table had been stacked with schoolbooks and handwritten quickly opened the portrait to have a second look.
The boys were seated at the same table but with a Quidditch magazine each and an empty table in between them. They looked up with innocent looks.
"Where did all the books go?" Harry asked suspiciously.
"Books? What books? You know we don't believe in books. It's all about being practical when it comes to us!" James said innocently but with a devilish look in his eyes.
"You know what, I don't want to know! What I don't know won't hurt me!" Harry said before walking away shaking his head in defeat. James and Sirius highfive'd behind his back, congratulating themselves on getting Harrys obvious approval.
Harry would just have to find Snape later and sort out whatever the problem was.
"Maybe he's just busy or something." Remus suggested later at lunch whilst Harry tried unsuccessfully to spot the Slytherin.
"Sev isn't busy, he finished all his homework yesterday." Lily injected from a few seats away making Harry frown.
"So he is avoiding me." Harry muttered. Now how do you corner a Slytherin that doesn't want to talk with you? You sneak into the snake pit of course, Harry thought to himself a smirk blossoming on his face.
"Er, Harry? You look like James does whenever we're planning an awesome prank." Sirius said in a peeved voice. "You're not, right? Because that would be really weird." Sirius continued looking between Harry and James.
"Mum would blame me if you start misbehaving." James injected worriedly.
"Nope, not planning a prank at all." Harry said smiling brightly. Sirius didn't look relieved and James looked downright worried. Harry on the other hand felt much happier now that he had something to do. Remus eyed him curiously as they walked towards transfiguration.
"What are you going to do?" Remus asked curiously, as Harry was bound to do whatever Harry wanted to do.
"Well if Sev wont come to me I'll have to go to him." Harry answered nodding to himself. Now he just needed a plan of action, It was a while since he had last entered the Slytherin common room. Malfoy had been the one to let him in, but then he'd looked like a Slytherin. Harry wasn't sure he was up for the whole Polyjuice thing again, that potion was vile tasting.
Harry had had another meeting with Madam Pomfrey on the Friday, something that was starting to feel like quite a normal friday thing.
"I heard you attended one of Professor Slughorn's famous parties." Madam Pomfrey commented, as they'd gotten comfortable.
"Yes, I got to meet the maker of the Wolfsbane potion. I'm hoping to learn how to brew it before I leave Hogwarts." Harry said feeling quite awed at having had the chance really once he'd thought about it. Hermione would have done alot of things to have that opportunity.
"I've said it before Harry, Remus is very lucky to have you as a friend." Madam Pomfrey said softly.
"I think I'm the lucky one." Harry said, thinking of all the things the future Remus had in fact done for him.
"Well you are both lovely boys and I am very pleased that you met and made friends." Pomfrey said smiling softly.
Harry I would like us to have a chat about what happened this summer." Pomfrey said to Harry who stiffened slightly. No he did not want to talk about that, Harry thought. "I'm sure it was a very frightening experience, but I believe it would benefit you to discuss the day." She continued.
"I don't really…" Harry stopped talking when the door to the infirmary opened.
"Ah Mr Potter. Just the boy I was looking for!" Dumbledore said smiling brightly from the doorway. "I hope you don't mind my interrupting your weekly chat?" Dumbledore said entering the room fully. Pomfrey's narrowed eyes and stiff posture told everyone how she felt about Dumbledore's interruption. Harry too felt slightly apprehensive. "I must admit Mr Potter that I have heard of the dreadful business from this summer and have come to ask a big favour from you." Dumbledore said ignoring Pomfrey's look of anger. He made a very comfortable armchair appear opposite from Harry and sat down with a contented sigh. "I was wondering if you wouldn't mind helping an old man to fill in the blanks from that day. You see, the man you met that day is proving to be a not so nice man. I'm sure that you have heard that there have been more attacks on people. I believe that your memory of that day could be of importance." Dumbledore said eyeing a quiet Harry. "Would it be terrible of me to ask you to share that day with me?" He asked making Harry squirm. How could he say no to that, Harry wondered. "You could perhaps show me, using a pensive? I would of course return the memory back to you. You would not have to view the memory yourself unless you wanted to." He added at Harrys apprehensive face. Pomfrey huffed noisily. Harry didn't think he'd said or done anything suspiciously that day but he non the less fidgeted slightly in his seat.
"You don't have to agree to show the Headmaster anything Harry!" Pomfrey snapped, glaring at Dumbledore.
"It would be tremendously helpful though." Dumbledore injected quickly looking hopeful.
"I do not agree with your tactics Headmaster. Not at all!" Pomfrey snapped again, making Dumbledore eye her innocently.
Iggy suddenly appeared in a flash and landed on the headboard of a bed near Harry. Harry was relieved at the sight of his familiar. Iggy gave Harry a small nod as if to say all was all right.
"How lovely! How are you my friend?" Dumbledore greeted Iggy who gave a small chirp. Pomfrey sniffed and continued glaring at the Headmaster, which made Harry smile. It was nice to have the healer on his side.
"It's ok Madam Pomfrey. I don't mind sharing my memories from that day. It was a really confusing day though." Harry said making both adults give him their full attention.
Iggy left the headboard and flew over to sit on Harrys shoulder. He chattered quietly into Harrys ear making, Harry squirm at the tickly feeling.
Dumbledore waved his wand and made the Pensive appear on the table. He was wasting no time it would seem. "Now then. What I want you to do is think back to that day. Really think hard about that day. Whilst you do that I'll slowly extract the memory from your mind." Dumbledore explained eyeing the nodding Harry with an approving smile. "It wont hurt at all." He said soothingly when Harry stiffened at having the Headmasters wand pointed at his temple.
Harry was rather curious to know what it felt like to have his memory extracted. He thought back to the day he'd appeared into what had looked and felt like a huge dust cloud. He remembered the loud noises and the screams surrounding him. He remembered the buildings collapsing and the Deatheaters. And of course Voldemort. He recalled the feeling of the Imperius curse washing away all his worries and the crash of reality shortly after.
And then there was nothing. He met the blue eyes of the Headmaster with his green.
"Thank you Mr Potter for your trust in this old man. May I now view the memory?" Dumbledore asked softly. Harry gave a small nod and stroked Iggy who cooed softly into his ear.
"I don't really want to see it if that's ok." Harry mumbled making Dumbledore nod.
"Of course my boy. Perhaps you and Madam Pomfrey could partake in a small treat?" Dumbledore suggested before making another table appear laden with cakes and biscuits.
"Hmph…" Pomfrey huffed as they watched Dumbledore immersed himself into the pensive. "I do apologise, Harry, for the headmasters actions." She said still glaring at the man in question. She took a deep breath and then eyed Harry kindly. "Shall we enjoy ourselves with this feast then?" She asked motioning to the table. Harry decided not to worry right this moment about what Dumbledore would think about his memory. Iggy had approved to his sharing of the memory so it must be all right.
Harry handed the phoenix a biscuit and was rewarded with a happy chirp before Iggy disappeared, biscuit in talon, with a flash.
Harry and Pomfrey enjoyed their little snack, talking about this and that whilst Dumbledore was otherwise occupied.
It was quite some time before Dumbledore finally rose from his position by the pensive with a thoughtful look on his face. "Thank you my boy. I see you were sorted into the right house here at Hogwarts. You have plenty of courage." Dumbledore praised making Harry blush.
"I was scared." Harry admitted.
"We would all have been my boy. But you did not let the fear paralyse you. You stood up to someone twice your size, many times your age and far more experienced. Not many adult wizards could have done that with your courage." Dumbledore said making Harrys blush deepen.
Dumbledore patted Harrys knee before motioning for Harry to lean closer. The white, wispy memory rose from the stone bowl at Dumbledore's command and slowly returned to Harrys mind.
"Thank you again my boy, you humble me." Dumbledore said. "My door will always be open to you should you need me." He added before helping himself to a jam tart. "Mm, I do love a treat." He said making Harry grin. "Well I shall leave the two of you to your feast in peace." Dumbledore said, ignoring Pomfrey's snort, before leaving the room humming happily.
Harry was relieved when Pomfrey let him go shortly after the Headmaster. He wondered what Dumbledore had made of his and Voldemort's meeting.
Harry had chosen the weekend as his time to corner Snape. He had initially planned to maybe disillusion himself and then sneak into the Slytherin common room after a Slytherin. But then he'd decided to not make things more complicated than they had to be.
He left Remus, with Lily, doing homework up in Gryffindor tower before leisurely making his way down to the Slytherin common room. He'd decided to simply try his luck and knock on the door. The unfortunate Slytherin who opened the door didn't seem to believe his eyes. He did a double take at seeing a small Gryffindor waiting outside.
"Who showed you the way!" He demanded, once he'd gotten over the shock, in a surly tone, sending a heated glare back into the room.
"No one did, I just get around. Is Severus in?" Harry asked making the boy stare. A pale hand tapped the Slytherins shoulder and he moved aside.
"To what do we do the honour Mr Potter?" Malfoy asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh, hi Mr Malfoy. I just wanted a word with Severus. Is he in?" Harry asked politely.
"Who's at the door? Let them in! No sense leaving the door open." A voice called from inside. Malfoy moved aside and motioned for Harry to enter. The door shut with an ominous snick leaving the corridor empty.
"Harry my boy! How lovely of you to come an visit." Slughorn boomed as Harry stepped into the common room. "Why, you are just the boy I wanted to see! Damocles spoke to me earlier this morning, he is so very excited about your collaboration." Slughorn said as he motioned for Harry to take a seat on one of the high backed chairs. The gathered Slytherins all stared in amazement at the Gryffindor in their midst. "Ah how I wish you had been sorted into my house. You fit in so well with my boys." Slughorn said with dreamy eyes. "You remind me of myself, if I may say so. So full of potential and that thirst you have for knowledge." Slughorn continued making Harry want to squirm. "My boys are just finishing their homework, we try to have Sunday as our free day." Slughorn said nodding at the Slytherins gathered around them in the green tinted room. The tables around the room were all full of books and Harry spotted that some of the older boys had their wands out as if they had been duelling.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to disrupt you guys" Harry felt obliged to say. Slughorn clapped his back jovially.
"Not at all my boy! You're welcome here whenever you want!" Slughorn said, making more than one Slytherin gasp. "Why don't you find a group and make yourself useful." Slughorn encouraged. Harry shrugged and made his way over to the corner where Snape stood hidden in the shadows.
"Hi Sev!" Harry greeted cheerfully. This was so much fun he thought eyeing them all, they looked shell shocked the whole bunch of them.
"Hi Harry." Snape greeted, looking around at the other Slytherins nervously.
"This is such a cool common room! The tower is so different. I like how the skylights show the lake." Harry gushed, hoping to placate the though crowd.
"How did you find our common room?" Snape demanded in a hushed tone. Harry could see more than one Slytherin trying to catch his answer.
"Oh I get around." Harry said vaguely, making Snape scowl. "So what have you been up to?" He asked making Snape shrug.
"I've been busy." Snape said loftily.
"Oh ok, so you weren't avoiding me then?" Harry asked making Snape glare at him.
"I can't hang out with Gryffindor's all the time you know!" Snape snapped.
"Now, now! What's this? Why would you not be able to socialise with Mr Potter? Why I consider him an honorary Slytherin!" Slughorn exclaimed making Harry smile brightly.
"Why thank you sir! I'm really honoured by your kindness." Harry said smirking happily, this was very good he thought. Slughorn beamed at the positiv reaction.
"It's sorted then!" The professor said eyeing the gaping Slytherins with a fond look. "I don't want to hear any nonsence about not socialising with my little Harry! Why he's already making a name for himself and every Slytherin worth his magic knows the importance of connections." Slughorn said making some of the older Slytherins nod reluctantly. Harry recieved a nod from Malfoy which made a small shiver of something snake its way up his back. Malfoy's and Harry Potter was not a good mix, this could go very bad Harry thought.
"So can I help with anything?" Harry asked Snape motioning at the homework on the table. He shrugged of the negative thoughts, it would go as it went and he'd just deal with it later.
"Do you know anything about Magical Creatures? I have a question about pixies." A third year asked, eyeing Harry with a sneaky look in his eyes. Harry shivered at the memory but smiled brightly.
"Sure what do you want to know?" Harry asked making the girl frown. She eyed Slughorn who gave her an encouraging smile. She seemed to take heart at being in the teachers good graces and turned back to Harry.
What followed was one of the most surreal couple of hours Harry had ever had. He'd actually had a good time once the Slytherins relaxed enough to realise that Harry indeed did know quite a bit. Slytherins appreciated knowledge it would seem. He'd helped with a transfiguration homework, taught out the summoning charm and even helped a fourth year with her potions essay when Slughorn had been distracted by another student.
All in all it was a happy Harry that resurfaced at dinnertime. Remus who'd known that he was going to meet Snape somewhere waved him over.
"Where were you?" Sirius demanded, when he sat down, beating Remus who'd just opened his mouth to talk.
"Oh I was just in the Slytherin common room." Harry said absentmindedly as he loaded his plate with food.
"What!" Sirius and James shouted as one. "What were you doing there?" Sirius demanded looking horrified. "How did you find it?" James asked surprised. Sirius eyed James before nodding. "Yes what he said, how did you find it?" Sirius asked curiously.
"Oh I get around." Harry answered making them scowl.
"We've been all over the castle and we haven't found any of the other house common rooms." Sirius whined. Harry chuckled evily.
"You know! You know where the others are too!" James exclaimed pointing at Harry. Both boys stared at him in awe. "How do you do it?" Sirius asked reverently. "When do you have time? You read books like all the time." He added eyeing Harry who just smiled making the other boy scowl again. "It's not fair!" Sirius sulked.
Remus snorted from next to Harry. "He's got a phoenix that can flash him anywhere." Remus said eyeing Harry curious to see if his guess was right. Sirius slapped his own forehead.
"Oh yes! How could I have forgotten?" He groaned to himself. Harry just shook his head at them all. He was not going to say he'd spent years getting to know the castle with and without a magical map. And he was definitely not admitting to not once thinking about asking Iggy to take him anywhere.
The boys disappeared after lunch and Harry joined Remus outside for some Quidditch. Well he borrowed an upper year Gryffindor's broom and Remus read by the bleachers. Good end to a good day.
So any thoughts? I am looking for a Beta, if anyone knows of a good one please let me know:) Thanks for reading. Mina.