Chapter 14: Dobby, a new pet and understanding.

(Understanding what? Heck, if I know.)

Skye's POV

I woke up to an owl tapping at the window. I scowled under my breath, who would think of bothering me this late? It was midnight, and I was not happy. I let the owl in and it perched itself on my bed.

"What?" I barked at the bird. It looked at me for a second before extending its leg – with a letter attached to it, of course. I relieved the owl of it and sat next to it, opening my letter.

'Dear Skye

Yes, I'm saying 'dear' again, you are one of the only two person I say that to, and even if you hate me, I'll continue it. My mother doesn't know that we haven't spoken in almost a year, and I would like to keep it that way. She thinks you're good for me, and I'm inclined to agree. First of all, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for calling Granger a mudblood and wishing her dead – I know she's a great friend to you, and I wish I could take those words back. Second of all, what's been happening to you? You've changed so much… why? Why won't you talk to me about it? I'm sorry that I'm writing it this late and I'll understand if you tear this letter up and give it to the owl to eat. Please send me a letter back, even if it is just to tell me you hate me.

Yours

Draco'

I couldn't help but smile, it was incredibly sweet, but also incredibly sappy. I searched for a quill and some parchment and wrote back.

'Dear Draco

Your apology is accepted, though it's not to me that you should be apologizing to. I've changed because of what I am. And, no, I do not hate you. I just dislike you at this moment in time, but that is bound to change as you still are my best friend.

Love

Skye'

I rolled it up and gave it to the owl. Who flew out the window and off into the pale moonlight. I thought about last year. I've never served so much detention in one year, but it was worth it. Severus was a great guardian, better than those at the Orphanage and much better than Harry's relatives. I've heard them talking about the Dursleys… and I shudder to think about it. He's written to me, now. Telling me that his Aunt Marge (who isn't really his aunt at all) was coming for a visit and that she was a dog breeder. He told me about his experience with her dogs and he expressed his hope that he could get out of there soon. I wrote back that I wished I could help him, and that he should lock the dog up in the cupboard (that he'd also mentioned). Hermione had written to me, saying that the Weasleys had won a trip to Egypt and that she was jealous of not being able to go with them. Ron had written to me, too. Telling me about them going to Egypt with a promise of bringing something back for me. I'd written back with great thanks and telling him to enjoy it there. The highlights of these letters were the ones from Hagrid, I called him an oaf now, but I did it to his face. I don't insult him, I call him a big oaf or a lovable oaf, and he calls me a Startling Slytherin. He had asked what subjects I would take, I said that I'd like to take care of Magical Creatures… with his reply he sent me a book that tried to gnaw my fingers off with a note saying that I'd need it later. I'd strapped its mouth close with one of Severus' belts – he still doesn't know that I'd nicked it. My room had gotten new photographs too. There was one of me and Severus and one of me and Neville Longbottom. He was another friend I'd made after giving Draco a piece of my mind for his taunting. Most of Gryffindors liked me now. I always stood up against the Slytherins and Severus – but that was just to get me in detention, something Hermione didn't appreciate.

I decided to go back to sleep, but I was disturbed by a loud 'pop'.

"Miss Skye?"

I looked down at the small creature.

"Dobby, what are you doing here?" I was delighted to see him again.

He stood up proudly and puffed out his chest.

"Dobby has come to tell Miss Skye that Dobby is free!" He said excitedly.

"What do you mean?"

"Harry Potter tricked master Lucius into giving Dobby clothes, and now Dobby is free!"

"I bet Mr. Malfoy didn't take it too well?"

He laughed his hoarse laugh.

"Yes, he is not. He tried to curse Harry Potter, but Dobby stopped master Lucius."

"You are one brave elf, Dobby."

"Thank you, Miss Skye. Miss Skye can call on Dobby anytime. Dobby is now a free elf and serves the master he chooses."

"Thanks, Dobby." I smiled at him. His large tennis ball sized eyes were shining with hope and enthusiasm.

"Dobby is returning to Hogwarts now."

"Goodbye, Dobby."

"Goodbye, Miss Skye." Again with the rhyming.

After that I finally got some sleep – only to be awakened two hours later by a bloody nightmare. Severus was instantly there, his hand on my shoulder, telling me I was fine and safe. He sat down on the bed next to me and hugged me. He had opened up to me a lot, because he now hugs me, he laughs with me, he smiles at me, he talks to me about things that bother him… I was happy. But this nightmare bothered me… it's the first one I've had in months… and it was the oddest thing…

"What did you dream?" Severus asked me, pulling me back to reality.

"I-dreamt-that-Shadow-was-being-eaten-by-Hermione-and-Neville-and-they'd-eaten-her-because-they-were-hunting-and it-was-dark-and-they-didn't-see-what-they-were-hunting-and –Hermione-was-laughing-because-she'd-eaten-the-cat-and-Neville-was-crying-into-a-bunch-of-pillows-and-then-Draco-said-that-he-had-to-carve-a-pumpkin-and-I-had-to-help-him-but-the-pumpkin-wasn't-ready-and-then-the-ostriches-were-chasing-us-and-the-school-tried-to-stop-them-and…" Then I burst out in laughter. I had dreamed a silly dream, one that didn't make sense and wasn't even a nightmare. Severus was looking at me as if I'd lost my sanity – I was inclined to think so too.

"Are you all right?"

"I'm fine. I just realized that I was yelling because of ostriches chasing me."

This time he laughed with me.

"Go back to sleep, sweetheart. And practice Occlumeny."

"Yes, Severus." I said as he left. He'd called me sweetheart. He hasn't done that before. But I decided I liked it. I settled into my pillow and held Draco Jr. close to my chest.

123

Severus and I went to Diagon Alley together, earlier than the rest of the student body would go – using the excuse that he was merely escorting me to Diagon Alley on request of the headmaster. Severus had gotten the list of books earlier, seeing as he was a teacher. He took me to the Pet Shop, saying something about getting Owl Treats for Morgana (I didn't like that owl, she was evil. I suspect plans for world domination are somewhere behind her beady little eyes). The subjects I'd chosen were Care of Magical Creatures and Ancient Runes. Severus had told me that Ancient Runes would fascinate me a lot. Once I received the text book, I realized why.

Inside the Pet Shop I looked at the cages. Snakes, spiders and lizards were staring at me, making me cringe. Then I saw him. He was beautiful. He was a shiny blue and had small black eyes. His tongue flicked out as he raised himself to look at me. A snake. One of the prettiest snakes I've ever seen. And he was half-price!

"Do you like him?" Severus' voice said in my ear. I jumped a little before furiously nodding.

"We would like this snake too!" Severus called to the shopkeeper. I turned around to stare at him.

"You have to overcome your fears, Skye. He will help you do that."

I smiled at Severus.

"I'm not afraid of the dark anymore." I said softly.

"Really?" He chuckled.

"Yes, really."

"Would you like a spider, too?" He asked me. I eyed the cages from a distance and shook my head.

"If I can have a spider I want one like Hagrid's."

"Then we shall talk to him once we return to Hogwarts."

Hagrid was one of the few members of staff that didn't know that Severus was my father – he hadn't been present at the meeting where we told everyone.

"Really? Sev, those things get huge!"

"We'll buy a big cage." He shrugged.

I laughed. The shopkeeper looked sharply at me, making sure what she was seeing was real. A student, laughing in the presence of Severus Snape, impossible! Unheard of! Until now, at least…

The shopkeeper took the snake out carefully and placed it in a cage that had sand at the bottom.

"About time someone took the beast of our hands!" She scoffed.

"But he's so small! How can you call him a beast?" I demanded, immediately on guard.

"He's attacked me about a dozen times, don't ya know. Would've killed me too if it wasn't for the gloves."

"Well, he won't attack me." I said with self-confidence. Severus looked at the snake, summing it up, before asking for some dead mice and Owl Treats before leaving.

"Thank you!" I shrieked excitedly as I held the cage up to look at it.

"Are you sure about it, though?"

"I'm positive!"

"What will you call it?"

"I don't know yet."

"We're here, take my arm."

I took a deep breath as I took his arm… that awful feeling of being squeezed through a tight tube overcame me before I could breathe again. When I opened my eyes we were at Spinner's End. As I entered the house, I smiled. It wasn't dusty anymore and it looked much more appropriate for a Potions Master. In the beginning of summer I had told him to get his act together and start cleaning before we could be strangled to death by dust bunnies. I helped, of course. It was my home too, now. I took the snake to my bedroom, where I removed it from its cage. Severus was in the kitchen, I could hear him pack things away. He slithered around my wrist and flicked his pink tongue across my fingers.

"I am honored that the mistress chose him." The snake hissed at me. I looked down slowly. It looked at me curiously with those black eyes. I wasn't sure I'd heard correctly. He repeated the sentence before I realized I was talking to a snake… or rather it was talking to me.

"How come I can understand you?" I asked, scared that if I got no answer, it would be proof that I'd gone insane.

"Mistress is the empress of shapers. Mistress can change into any animal she wishes, so mistress can understand me also." He hissed. I sighed; at least I knew I wasn't imagining it.

"Wow."

"Has mistress decided on a name for me, yet?"

"No, what would you like it to be?"

"I do not know, mistress. That is your choice."

"Give me some time, all right?"

"Yes, mistress."

"Another thing, no scaring Severus!"

"I shall do as you wish, mistress. The bat shall remain unharmed."

I grinned – even a snake could see him as a bat.

"And when I get back to school you leave my friends alone, too! And my enemies!"

"Yes, mistress. I shall not harm any human."

"Good. Now, get back to your cage." I said playfully. I could hear the snake almost laughing – or was it hissing? The snake slithered away to his cage, and I put the lid up.

I walked slowly to the kitchen. Severus had to know about the new development.

"Sev?" I had taken to calling him 'Sev' instead of 'Severus'. It was just shorter and easier to say.

"What is it, Skye?"

"I just talked to the snake." I said as he was busy packing the things away. I grabbed the nearest bag and joined him.

"That's nice." He took the can of pea soup absentmindedly from me.

"He talked back." I said nonchalantly, sticking my hand in the bag to reach for another can.

Sev dropped the can of soup he was holding.

"What?" He looked slowly at me.

"The snake told me that it was an honor to be chosen by me. I had asked him how I could understand him, and he said that I'm the 'empress of shapers', and because of that I could understand him."

"Will you show me?"

"Sure." I put down the can (tinned pears) and motioned for him to follow me.

I entered my room and lifted the lid of my new pet's cage. Sev stood next to me, anxiously. I feared it wouldn't speak back to me, thus making my own father think I'm insane. (Even if I am impractical.)

"Hey, boy." I said. The snake lifted its head. The forked tongue slicked out again as he tasted the air.

"Mistress?"

"This is Severus."

"The one I must not attack?" His tongue flicked out again.

"Yes, that one." I said with a laugh. His little mouth curved into what I thought of as a smile. He swerved his head to Sev.

"Does he like snakes?"

I turned to Sev.

"He wants to know if you like snakes."

"Yes, quite so."

"He says yes."

"I shall not harm him, then." He hissed. I turned to Sev again.

"He says he won't hurt you."

"Tell him thanks for me." Sev said dryly.

"He says thank you."

I put the lid on his cage again.

"Well, you are not a parseltongue. I could understand what you were saying the whole time."

"Hmph."

"Did you try to talk to any of the other animals?"

"No… I could try talking to Shadow, though."

"What about me?" A new voice said, it was a husky voice. I looked around. Shadow was lying peacefully on my bed. Her head was raised, but her eyes half closed. She opened them entirely and stood up, coming to rest in front of me. Her head was tilted slightly as she appraised me.

"Mistress?"

"Shadow?"

"Mistress called me?"

"Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Shadow has always understood, mistress. Mistress never understood Shadow, is all."

"Why can I understand you?"

"Because mistress is the empress of all shapers. But mistress already knew that, the snake told you already." She said, a bit forlorn. I take it she doesn't like her new sibling. No, she didn't say it, her mouth didn't move…

"Why isn't your mouth moving?"

"I am communicating with mistress through my head."

"Telepathically?"

"Yes. Mistress can also talk to Shadow with mistress' lips closed."

I tried it.

Do you still understand me? I asked.

"I won't be able to stop understanding you except if mistress wishes it so."

Cool.

I told Sev about my new findings, he was nervous. He said that he's going to go study up on shape-shifters for a while in his private library. He said I was free to come too. I did. And what we found was not what I expected at all.