Okay No Review Replies this time, I'm rushing to get this up! Sorry guys. Oh yeah I forgot to translate the Irish that Seamus used in the last chapter.
Amadán: Idiot.
Phleidhce: Fool
Ludramán: Fool/Dope.
Naithir-Nimhe: Snake.
Gránna: Ugly
Okay that's done. PLEASE REVIEW GUYS! TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK OF MY TAKE ON THE TROLL ATTACK! Thanks again!
It's not a question of who is wrong and what is right
Time cannot heal what you would never recognise
Because of all of this is all that I can take
You could never understand the demons that I face
The news of Harry Potter becoming the new Seeker for Slytherin spread like wildfire throughout the school. While the Slytherins and Hufflepuffs seemed indifferent, the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws were put out, to put it lightly.
The weeks continued to fly by and soon enough Halloween raised its head. While Harry loved the holiday and all it stood for, nothing could swallow the loneliness he felt every year. It would now be ten years since Lord Voldemort had killed his parents… and attempted to kill him too.
"Harry, seriously what is up with you lately?" Draco asked obliviously and Harry glared at him.
Daphne Greengrass swatted the blonde across the head and glared at him.
"You prat, it's Halloween! Ten years ago? It's his parents anniversary!" she snapped and Draco paled visibly.
"Oh Harry… I'm so sorry, I forgot."
Harry smiled wryly. "Wish I could."
Daphne slid closer to him and tentatively took his hand, squeezing it slightly.
"We're all here for you."
Harry nodded and stood up from his seat in the Common Room, avoiding everyone's eye and dropping Daphne's hand.
"I think I just need to be alone for a while." Harry murmured. "You go on ahead to the Feast okay?"
They nodded but Draco began to protest, only to be silence by Blaise gripping his shoulder firmly.
"Sure thing Harry. See you later on?"
Harry nodded and walked out of the Common Room, Laini wrapped around him underneath his robes. He walked up the stairs and continued his wanderings throughout the corridors.
"Master… Laini senses your sorrow… can Laini do anything?" she hissed and Harry shook his head.
"Nothing can bring the dead back to life… not truly." Harry whispered and gritted his teeth as he felt tears welling up in his eyes. He refused to let anyone see him cry and so he ducked into a nearby lavatory. He sat down on a cold stone floor and let the accumulating emotions out. Tears streamed down his face and he attempted to stifle a strangled sob, to no avail.
"Who's there?" a voice asked and Harry jerked his head up. It was a ghost of a girl, she had big glasses and her hair was in pigtails, she also wore Hogwarts robes.
"This is a girl's lavatory, you can't- are you crying?" she asked.
He shook his head violently and she swooped down closer to him, sympathy in her transparent eyes.
"What is it? You can talk to me. Nobody comes in here anymore, nobody likes Myrtle."
"Your name is Myrtle?" he asked and she nodded.
"You are?"
"Harry Potter."
Her eyes widened. "I hoped to meet you Harry, why are you crying?"
"I… I just… I'm lonely."
She nodded. "I know that feeling. Nobody ever comes to talk to me. Even when I was alive I was bullied."
Harry sniffed. "That's horrible. My parents died ten years ago today."
"Oh Harry. I wish I could hug you… but… I c-can't!" she started sobbing.
Harry shook his head. "It's fine Myrtle, thanks for listening."
"All I have is time Harry… do you want to be alone?" she asked and he looked at her sadly.
"Well I barged in on you so I'll leave."
"No!" she exclaimed. "No Harry you need somewhere quiet, where you won't be disturbed. I'll go but… will you come and talk to me again?"
Harry nodded. "Yes Myrtle, I will."
"Thank you Harry."
She smiled at him before drifting out through the opposite wall and leaving him, once again, alone with his thoughts.
"Master… Laini is not much good for comfort…" the snake hissed as she slithered out of his robes and on to the stone floor.
"Laini don't be silly. Really, it's just something that can't really be made better so easily." Harry replied and stroked her smooth head gently.
"Laini understands… Laini never knew her parents either… although Laini is pretty certain that her mother ate her father…" she hissed and Harry stared.
"It is our nature. A natural- Master… Laini smells… ICK!" Laini suddenly started shaking her head from side to side.
"It smells horrible Master! What is it?" she asked and Harry inhaled. Sure enough, a stench strong enough to wake the bloody dead polluted the air.
"Ugh!" Harry exclaimed and headed for the door, leaving Laini, sitting on the floor. He opened the door but he couldn't see down the corridor. Instead he saw two legs, thicker than tree trunks in front of him. He stepped backwards and looked up to see the most ugly creature he'd ever seen in his life.
"L-Laini… troll…" he stammered and the troll raised its giant club, advancing on Harry.
"Shit!" he yelled and dived out of the way as the troll swung the club at him.
He whipped out his wand but his mind was blank, he couldn't think of a single spell.
"NO! You will not harm HARRY!" Laini spat and dived at the troll, sinking her fangs into its thick hide.
"Master! Its skin is too thick!" Laini exclaimed and renewed her efforts. The troll didn't even notice and kept coming at Harry.
Harry was backed up into a corner, trapped, the troll advancing menacingly, ignorant of Laini's vicious bites. Harry could only watch as the troll raised its club for the killing blow. Laini leaped off and coiled around Harry tightly.
"Laini get away!" he yelled.
"No Master! Laini will never leave you!" she hissed and Harry tried to shove her off.
"NO! I won't let you Laini!"
"Laini refuses to let you die Master!" Laini hissed frantically and the two curled up together as the club swung down on them.
"Drake? Didn't Harry say he'd come to the Feast for a little while at least?" Blaise asked.
"Yeah… where is he?" Draco replied and both Daphne and Neville shrugged.
The double doors of the Hall suddenly burst open and Quirrel tore up the length of the Hall, screaming his turban-clad head off.
"TROLL! In the Dungeons! TROLL in the dungeons!" he screamed and Dumbledore jumped to his feet.
"Thought you ought to know…" Quirrel mumbled and collapsed in a faint.
Chaos ensued as the students began screaming and charging for the doors.
"SILENCE!" Dumbledore roared and the whole Hall froze.
"Everybody please, don't panic! Prefects will escort their Houses back to the dormitories. Teachers will follow me to the dungeons."
Neville turned to Flint and yanked his robes, causing Flint to glare.
"What Lo- Neville?" he asked.
"Our dorm is in the Dungeons!" he exclaimed and Flint paled.
"Damn… nice save Nev! Okay… to the Library!" Flint yelled and led them upstairs to the Library.
Neville froze, his face suddenly pale and Draco and Blaise paused too.
"Nev? What's wrong?" Blaise asked.
"Neville come on!" Draco exclaimed.
"He doesn't know about it!" Neville exclaimed.
"Who?" the two boys asked.
"HARRY!" Neville shouted.
"Crap!" Blaise exclaimed. "Where is he?"
"Library?" Draco asked.
"No."
"Common Room?" Blaise suggested.
"No."
"Bloody bleeding Hell and damn it all to Merlin!" Neville swore, causing the two boys to stare at him.
"Whoa Nev… didn't know you swore like that!" Blaise exclaimed.
"It's rude!" a high-pitched voice exclaimed.
"Who're you?" Draco asked the ghost of a schoolgirl.
"Myrtle, why did you swear?" she asked.
"Myrtle, there's a troll in the school and our friend doesn't know about it!" Neville answered quickly.
"Your friend? Is it Harry?" she asked and the three boys nodded frantically.
"He's in my bathroom, he was upset and crying so I left him alone. Nobody ever goes in there."
"Myrtle… thank Merlin you're in this school!" Neville exclaimed. "Where's the bathroom?"
"Second floor. It's a girl's lavatory though."
"Blaise shook his head. "Don't care, we've got to get Harry. Thanks!"
They doubled back to the second floor and skidded to a halt outside the wide open door.
"Ugh… that stinks!" Draco exclaimed, turning green.
"Draco, go get the teachers, we'll get Harry!" Blaise barked when they saw the troll.
Draco nodded and took off full speed down the halls, yelling wildly for help and barking orders at the portraits.
Harry pressed his back hard against the wall and the troll's club came down hard. A shout distracted it and instead of killing Harry instantly, the club shattered his left leg. Harry screamed and Laini renewed her attack on the troll.
"HARRY!"
Neville and Blaise both stood in the doorway, gaping at the troll before they randomly started throwing things at it. It made no difference until Neville yelled at it.
"Oi! Ugly!"
The troll turned around and Blaise yelled at Harry to move.
"C-Can't…" Harry hissed.
"HARRY? What's happening?" Skatha's terrified voice exclaimed.
"T-Troll… 'm hurt…" Harry mumbled, fighting to stay conscious. The troll continued to charge at Neville and Blaise but they managed to avoid it. Not for long though, as Blaise was thrown against the wall and he slid to the floor with a sickening crunch.
The troll now had Neville backed into a corner but Neville's face showed only a vicious defiance.
Neville suddenly heard a fierce, ear-splitting screech echoing around through the castle before everything was suddenly illuminated with a blazing orange light. He gaped as he saw a vicious creature attacking the troll, a mane of fire on its head.
The troll let out a roar before suddenly its head was ripped from its shoulders and it fell to the ground in a bloody and burnt heap. The creature continued to viciously attack it with its claws until Harry's weak voice called out.
"S-Skatha… it's dead…"
The creature stopped and suddenly began morphing into a different form. Its mane of fire fell limply down its back in the form of black and white hair, while the rest of the creature's body turned into that of a girl, looking no older than seventeen. Her fangs retracted and she rushed over to Harry, grabbing him in her arms.
"Get away from him your foul beast!" Neville screamed and began hurling things at her.
"N-Nev… it's okay…" Harry mumbled.
"Harry…" the girl whimpered and cradled him to her before pulling out a long white wand.
She traced it over his leg and Neville as all the cuts and bruises faded away.
"You," she snapped at him. "Bring the other boy."
Neville didn't hesitate and dragged an unconscious Blaise over to the orange-eyed girl. He watched as she repeated the same spell and Blaise's eyelids fluttered as he awoke.
"Harry?" she whispered and the small boy sat up, embracing her tightly.
A snake coiled up on Harry's lap, flicking its tongue against his cheek frantically and Harry smiled before looking up at Neville.
"Nev… thank you, you and Blaise saved my life."
Neville shook his head. "Harry… we almost didn't make it. If we hadn't met Myrtle…"
The girl stood up and walked over to Neville, placing her hand gently on his shoulder.
"Thank you for saving my Harry. Are you hurt at all?" she asked and he grimaced slightly.
"Just my hand."
The girl held up his hand and waved her own briefly, causing it to instantly heal, leaving the skin unblemished once again.
"T-Thank you… um… Miss?" he replied and she smiled kindly.
"Skatha LeFay, just Skatha actually."
Neville nodded. "I'm Neville."
"Neville what?" she asked and he sighed, bowing his head.
"Just Neville. I was disowned."
The girl gasped and Neville raised his head to see pure heartbreaking sadness in the orange depths of her eyes.
"Why?" she asked but jerked her head up as the sound of echoing footsteps approached.
"Shit, Harry, Neville and um, whatever your name is, your wands quick!" she barked and they threw them to her. She quickly shot off a few different curses and hexes before handing them back to the confused boys.
"So they think you did it!" she hissed. "Laini, hide!"
The snake hissed and promptly turned invisible before the girl transformed into a spider and perched on Harry's shoulder.
Harry watched as McGonagall, Snape and Quirrel burst into the bathroom, expressions of utter horror and surprise on their faces.
"E-Explain yourselves this instant!" McGonagall spluttered.
"Well… what happened is…" Blaise began.
"It's my fault Professor." Harry cut him off. "I wasn't at the Feast because… well you know… I wasn't really up to celebrating so I was in here talking to Myrtle, then she left. The troll came in and attacked. Then Neville and Blaise showed up and distracted it. We started cursing and hexing it and eventually managed to kill it."
McGonagall paled. "Well… ten points from Slytherin for endangering yourself and other students! However… I award five points to each of you… for sheer, dumb, luck."
They nodded.
"Back to your dorms." Snape barked and they nodded.
"Y-Yes… hurry, m-might wake up." Quirrel stammered and they quickly left.
No words were spoken until they got back to the Common Room and Draco practically leaped on Harry.
"Harry! I was so scared! Thank Merlin you're okay!" he cried but Harry merely dragged him down to his room, along with Blaise and Neville.
Once the door was closed, the Skatha spider leaped off Harry's shoulder and returned to her original form.
Draco yelped in surprise but Skatha merely glowered angrily.
"A troll… a goddamn fucking TROLL!" she screeched and shuddered with rage.
"Skatha… I-"
"Harry… just… shush." Skatha bit out and Harry clamped his mouth shut. That tone was not one he had ever heard before but it was the kind that hinted the inferno of rage that was barely staying below the surface.
"You're lucky you weren't killed!" she shouted. "What the hell were you thinking wandering around alone huh? After everything I taught you about being cautious!"
Skatha LeFay was fuming. A Mountain Troll had attacked her ward and no one had shown up until the troll had been incapacitated. Harry had almost died!
"Why didn't you bloody well run Osiris?" she roared. "You could have died! Don't you understand how close you came to death? What if I hadn't gotten there on time? You and your friends could be DEAD!"
She froze as she suddenly saw tears dripping on to the floor from Harry's bowed face. Her anger drained away, like desert sand absorbing a trickle of water.
"Oh Harry…" she whispered as his shoulders quaked. "I'm sorry."
She bent down and the child launched himself into her arms, sobbing loudly, clearly uncaring as to the presence of his friends.
"I'm s-sorry! I was just s-sad and I wanted to be alone! I d-didn't mean to g-get everyone in danger!" he sobbed and she tightened her hold on the boy.
"Laini couldn't protect him… Laini failed…" the snake hissed as she came into view again.
"No Laini, it is my fault. I almost failed to save him." Skatha replied and Harry shook his head.
"No… I can't expect you to be there all the time. It's my fault. No one else's."
Skatha held the boy at arm's length. "Don't cry my sweet Osiris. What's done is done and you are all safe. That's what matters."
Harry nodded and she turned to face the other three boys. All of their faces were bordering on grey and Skatha released Harry.
"Thank you boys."
They nodded and she turned to Blaise. "What is your name?"
"Blaise… Blaise Zabini."
She nodded. "Yes Harry mentioned you. Now Neville, tell me how you came to be disowned."
Neville paled even more, if it was possible and his legs seemed to shudder. Skatha flicked her wrist, conjuring five plush chairs along with five Butterbeers. Everyone took deep gulps of the warm drinks and settled into the soft chairs.
"I became a Slytherin and refused to get ReSorted." Neville mumbled. "So Gran disowned me. She even took my pet toad off me."
Skatha couldn't believe that someone could do that to a child so young and she flicked her wrist, causing Neville to be yanked bodily to her. She wrapped her arms around the trembling boy and seated him on her lap, humming a long forgotten lullaby, not unlike the one she used to soothe Harry to sleep when he had a nightmare.
The effect was instantaneous. The other three boys curled up on their chairs and slipped into sleep. Neville stayed awake and Skatha carded her hands through his hair softly.
Neville was in shock, he was in the lap of a creature he'd seen decapitate a troll mere minutes ago and she was singing to him. Strangely enough… he felt like he could trust her, she cared.
"Do you have anyone else to go to?" she asked softly.
"No… no-one. I'm alone, I haven't told Harry or the rest but… I don't even know if I can continue my education here next year. I have nothing but a first name. I'm just Neville, a nobody." Neville whispered.
"No, you are somebody Neville. You are so strong and brave… what is it you want to do with life?" she asked.
"I love working with plants and helping things grow. I love Herbology, anything to do with nature really." Neville replied. "Why?"
She smirked."Then I shall call you Cerrunos, after the Celtic god of fertility, life, animals, wealth, and the underworld."
"You're giving me a name?" he asked and she nodded.
"Yes, I call Harry after the Egyptian god of the underworld, Osiris."
"Wow, well… thanks." Neville replied and she smiled.
"Neville, you and Harry are quite close no?" she asked and he nodded.
"I guess so. He was the first friend I ever had here." Neville replied, thinking back gratefully to the day the gods had fated him to meet Harry Potter.
"I know you don't know me that well… and your first impression of me was that of a vicious and mindless beast… but I will not see a child without a home or a family. I don't expect an answer right away but… would you like to be part of my family? It is Harry and myself only so there is plenty of room." Skatha asked and Neville jerked up, staring at her in awe.
"Y-You…want me to come and live with you?" he spluttered, in utter shock.
"If you want it. Harry of course would have no objections I'm sure."
"Wow… well, I mean… I…"
"Think about it. Use Hedwig, Harry's owl to write to me when you decide okay?" she asked.
"Thank you ma'am." Neville replied politely and she laughed.
"None of that! Now, you can tell Harry whenever you wish but do not feel pressured into replying anytime soon. In fact, decide no sooner than May. You can come to my home for the holidays and see what you think. That should be fun huh?" she asked, her voice taking an eager tone.
"Thanks Skatha. Um… not to be rude but… are you about seventeen?" he asked and she giggled.
"Not even close Cerrunos. I am a lot older than I look. Harry can tell you all about me but for now… sleep. Go on, off you go."
Neville nodded and made his way back to his room, plopping down on his bed with a sigh.
"Holy crap… she wants to adopt me?" he muttered before drifting off.
Meanwhile, Skatha was gently rousing the young Zabini boy and he looked at her blearily.
"Huh?"
"Hello sleepy, I thought you'd prefer your own bed than the chair. Okay?" she whispered and he nodded, getting to his feet.
"Thank you for saving us and healing me."
She smiled at the dark-skinned boy. "Don't mention it kid."
He returned the smile and headed to the room while Skatha turned to Draco. The blonde was snoozing peacefully and she gently roused him.
"Draco, wake up."
He jerked awake and looked at her in confusion before groaning pitifully.
"Can't I sleep another bit?" he asked and she shook her head.
"You've already missed Potions."
Draco leaped off his seat, running towards the door before suddenly pausing as Skatha roared laughing.
"HA! That was fun! Don't worry kid, it's still night. Go to your own bed."
Draco stuck out his tongue and suddenly his expression turned to one of pure horror. He had just realised that he'd been disrespectful to a non-human with a vicious temper. His fears abated when she mirrored the gesture and waved at him.
Harry slept on peacefully, Laini draped over him, hissing softly. Skatha gently picked him up and laid him in his bed, switching his robes for his pyjamas and tucking him in.
"Goodnight Harry."
"S-Skatha?" Harry breathed and she pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.
"Write to me okay?" she murmured.
"Okay… d'you have to go?" he mumbled.
"Yes Osiris. Sleep well."
"K… night and… thanks."
"For you… a thousand times over my Osiris. Rest well." Skatha whispered and stroked Laini softly before taking her shadow form and bidding farewell to Hogwarts.
"Thank you Lady Hogwarts."
"Anytime Lady LeFay, safe travel."
"Thank you."
Skatha took to her flaming method of transport, finally touching down on the darkened grounds of the Isle. And deep and rumbling ground issued from the shadows and two eyes, exactly the same colour of Skatha's own except way larger, blinked at her.
"Well it took you long enough."
Skatha grinned at the eyes before shrugging. "What can I say? I have a weakness for cute kids."
"Indeed."
"Oh hush you grouchy lizard."
"LIZARD!"
"I jest Vanilor. Bloody hypersensitive dragon."
"Humph! Bitch." Vanilor retorted.
Skatha scoffed. "Vanilor, I'm a Demon, what'd you expect, a halo and hymn-singing?"
"Ugh the torture…"
Skatha merely laughed and headed into the castle, thoughts of adoption racing through her ancient mind.
"Well why not?" she asked herself.
A/N: Hey guys hope this chapter is better than the last one! Although I am happy to say that apparently Harry's random crazy pirate moment was funny, so YAY!
Oh YEAH! Cerrunos is pronouced "Seh-run-ohs"
AS BEFORE SUGGESTIONS FOR THE PLOT/CHARACTERS ARE WELCOME, ANY QUESTIONS YOU WANT ANSWERED GO RIGHT AHEAD AND ASK!
Your Ever the Serpentine Author: DominaDeSerpensDorcha.
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