Disclaimer: Err, I guess I don't own the adorable little munchkin but then again J.K brought him to us at 11…he's four now…#rubs chin thinking before grabbing him# MINE! MINE! MINE! Muahahahahahha!

Rejected Runespoor

Chapter 13

Harry's face was dark and angry as he stormed along the school corridors. He was pretty much wandering aimlessly with Potty wrapped around his wrist, hissing irritably at him.

:Don't let the old man get to you.: The left head said sagely.

:Slow down! I'm trying to sleep here.:

:Child: his mother said softly. :It will be hard but this is all for you. Your own good. The road is long…but the end will be worth it.:

:You're so lucky I trust you Potty.: Harry sighed heavily, then turned a corner and realized he was outside the staff room. He sighed again and decided to go in.

Harry pushed open the door and poked his head in, wiping the scowl off his face.

"Oh my. Is that…?"

"Mr. Potter." Professor McGonagall's strict voice cut over the squeaky one. "Is there a reason you are in the staff roon?"

"Professor. Ms." He gave a small tight smile to the woman. This one had been with the man to capture him. "The Headmaster," Harry bit his lip to hold back a sneer. "Showed me where this room was and told me I could come here to…talk." He couldn't resist wrinkling his nose. Flitwick seemed to take his actions for fear and smiled helpfully.

"You can come anytime Mister Potter. Anytime. I didn't know you had been found yet!" His voice chirped excitedly. Harry hoped he wouldn't have to listen to him talk a lot. His voice grated on the ears.

"I supposed Albus will announce it to the staff tomorrow or some day soon." Minerva gave Flitwick a disapproving look. "Mr. Potter feel free to come here…when it's for an emergency, you need a teacher or for a good reason. Not just for idle chatter."

He didn't like her. He decided it then. It wasn't for the strictness, that could be admired. It was her steeliness. She'd be stubborn. Difficult to bend to his will. Too Dumbledore. He sniffed lightly and turned his attention to Flitwick, who from his attitude was a much more likely candidate.

"Well Professor Dumbledore did tell me to talk to someone…"

"As much as I'd enjoy having a chat with you Harry, I have some charms to study for the incoming classes this year. Why! You'll be in them won't you? Better get cracking to get you something interesting then!"

Harry growled internally Who was he supposed to talk to then?

"Well Mr. Potter you could always go outside for walk instead of loitering inside the school…"

"Ah, Minerva. Could you help me out I need a quick little spell down in greenhouse three. The Snapping Begonias are feeling a bit iffy today." A grubby looking woman wringing her hands came in. Harry quickly classed her as useless to him. She seemed to out of it to be of use. Though the snapping flowers sounded interesting.

"Well Potter. Run along." MvGonagall looked at him sternly and he turned with another smile and trounced out.

'With pleasure.' The hands that had been tucked behind his back relaxed at his sides as he made his way back downward.

:I already hate this place. But I get the feeling I'm going to come to hate it more.:

The right head hissed in laughter. :I can smell the annoyance coming off you.:

Harry snorted. :Huh. That wouldn't be hard. Hmm, hey let's go deeper.: Harry hissed to the snake as they reached the ground floor.

:Why:

:Because this is where Dumbledore didn't show me: Harry grinned. :That's reason enough.:

:What's down here: The left head inquired.

:Dungeons. Cold, dark, wet, creepy dungeons. Like…a stone den. Well we had one of those too. But a dry one.:

Harry wandered down a few stone stairs, down a few corridors and peeked behind a few doors until he came to one he couldn't open.

:Well, here's something hidden. So we should explore this level.: Harry looked around the dank corridor.

:Agreed. It's nice down here.: Potty looked around.

Harry went down the corridor, fingers gliding over the cool stone and listening to Potty hiss before he met up with a portrait of a man with a snake around his neck. The picture moved as others in the castle did, Harry had noticed, but this one was just staring. And staring. And staring…

:Do you have issues Sir: Harry smirked sarcastically.

:No more than you.: The man hissed back acidic.

:Oh. Wow. You speak, what did they call it…parseltongue: Harry almost smiled truly at the picture.

:What I wonder is how you come to be speaking my tongue.: The man said haughtily.

Harry shrugged. :I just do. I'm glad there's someone I can talk to like this besides my snake.I'mgoing to be stifled in this place. The people suck, the school sucks. Everything sucks.: Harry grumbled.

:Ugh, teenage angst. And you're not even a teenager: The man rolled his eyes. :And I suggest you change that attitude young man because Severus will not…:

The portrait was pulled open suddenly and the pale man from his capture was suddenly glaring down at him.

"My doorway is not a place for chatting with portraits!" He whispered dangerously. "What do you want Potter!"

"You!"

AN: IT'S NOT MY FAULT! Saturday was my day off, yes. Then yesterday afternoon, I'm writing. Becca is talking to me and suddenly is all 'Is there a problem with FF cuz I can't sign in' and she ORDERS me to sign out and try to sign in again. So...controlled and dictated as I am by her I did it! I was locked out! Her fault! #points finger and hands out fliers to the people with pitchforks# And if she tries to pin anything on me...it's a lie of course #grins widely#.