A/N: Part of this chapter randomly switches in to first person, live with it I meant to do it. It's a flashback sort of thing but I didn't want to write flashback on it, it, of course, refers to what I had said right before, if your still confused after you read it, review or PM me and ask about it. There is however a double space before and after it, to show a bit of a difference.

Now to any of you still out there that haven't given up on me completely, I'm incredibly sorry that it took this long, but in my defence I was attacked by plot bunnies controlled by my muse that demanded (with me at gun point) that I write a story in which Harry is a Demon. Me, not wanting to get shot, obliged and started one; the bunnies and muse have since then receded a tad and agreed that the new story can wait until this one is finished. Which by the way will be in about three or four more chapters after this one.

Disclaimers- These characters are not mine. I just play with them while JK Rowling isn't looking.

'Parseltongue'

Chapter Fourteen- fires and flashbacks

"I would like to be the one to perform the incantation."

Silence reigned for several seconds as Severus tried to regain his footing. Literally and figuratively as he had stumbled back a few steps at Ginny's words.

"No. of course not! It's absolutely out of the question Ms. Weasley!" Albus held up a hand to forestall further protestations on his part.

"Severus my boy-"

"Don't you my boy me! This is serious Albus! She could die!" Severus yelled.

"I know my boy, but listen a moment. You know we need someone to perform the incantation, and I do believe Ms. Weasley has earned herself that right."

"No! Albus, think of what you are saying. This is too dangerous for her, and as for all the rest. I can perform the incantation as well as administer the potion."

"Professor, you know it's going to take all your attention just to do the potion, it would be better for Harry and all involved if there was someone there to help!"

Severus was silent again for several minutes, "I know Ginevra, I know," he whispered, then took a deep breath before continuing, "but as I've said before, I do care for all my students."

Ginny laughed slightly at that, "I had realised as much sir, did you know you had begun to call him Harry?"

Severus' eyes widened at that but he answered honestly, "yes I had noticed that in fact, although I had hoped no one else would."

Albus laughed as well this time.

"But as I was saying Ginevra, I care for my students, yourself included, and I don't believe that I could handle letting you come along for this. Even if it were to make my chances at living better in the end…"

"Ah, but Severus, this is where the situation gets rather… more… complicated. Ginevra being there would not only improve your chances but Harry's as well, if this were just a question of your well being I would of course leave this up to you completely, but this will help to save Harry and his soul mate as well. This is a very important matter Severus, and I believe you should listen to the rest of what Ginevra has to say on the subject."

Severus was silent as Albus explained it all to him and for several moments afterwards. In fact if it weren't for the conflicting emotions flickering across his face it would have seemed like he was carved of stone. Finally he shook his head to clear it and looked to Ginny, nodding for her to continue.

"Sir, I have always loved Harry, and always will no matter what happens. Even if he- even if he dies. I feel like I need to do more for him, so many times he has saved my life, as well of those of everyone else of course. But in my first year, he saved me personally, and now I finally have the chance to pay him back for that. I need to take the chance sir, I need to. Because if I didn't and he were to die, I would not only never forgive myself but I would never be able to continue with my life. I love him sir, he's like family to me, and I need to do this."

Severus sat there and absorbed her words for a long time before walking over next to her chair and crouching down at her eye level. Looking deep into her eyes as if he could see the truth in them (which he most likely could) he finally nodded and said, "alright Ginny, if you are sure of this then I cannot stop you, but we must speak with your head of house and, of course, your parents. When this is done and if you have there support behind you I will help you to learn the incantation and will teach you the rest of the knowledge you will need to perform it."

When Ginny nodded in understanding Severus stood and made to leave the room after nodding to the Headmaster, but when he reached the door he looked back at Ginny and said quietly, "this is a very brave thing you are doing Ginevra, I am… I am very proud of you."

With that said he swept out of the room before she could give her response.

ooOoo

Harry had come to really hate mornings before he left school. At least most of the time he had, on bad days, exhausted days and even sometimes on his happy days he would still have a lingering feeling of foreboding in the mornings. But on the trip he had come to rather like them. He always woke with Draco's arms around him and he always seemed to feel better when he was in the other boy's arms.

This morning however when he woke to the usual feeling of Draco's arms around him it did nothing to quench his misery.



For long minutes he lay there to see if it would abate but it just grew worse as he woke more and his thoughts began to return in more force. He remembered what was happening today, meeting up with the others and canoeing to the end of the lake.

No mater how much he wanted to see his friends again and talk to them, he wanted to not see them even more. Ron and Hermione had an uncanny ability to sense when he wasn't telling them something, and the rest of his friends weren't oblivious either. He didn't want to tell them of the curse, he didn't want them to worry until they absolutely had to, as in when they got back to the castle.

He rolled carefully out of Draco's arms and stood. Wandering towards the lakeside he sat down on a large rock and gazed out over the water. After several minutes of reflection he heard Draco stirring behind him. With a barely audible sigh he stood and returned to the blonde's side.

Sleep blurred blue eyes slowly meet his, "ready to go?" a voice raspy from sleep asked quietly.

"Hmm, breakfast, then we can go."

"Sounds good."

ooOoo

Ginny took a deep breath and looked around at the newest additions to the headmaster's office. It was the day after Severus had agreed to let her participate in the incantation, if the three others in the room let her of course.

The Weasley parents faces were pale and drawn after the tale they had just been told of the boy to which they had become surrogate parents. Minerva was also pale, but not because of the story, she had already known all of those details. No she was pale because she knew what was coming, she guessed what the girl was going to ask and she wasn't sure what to think even if she already knew what her answer would be.

Just as the transfiguration professor had suspected Ginny opened her mouth and said, "Professors Dumbledore and Snape have already agreed to support my decision, but have told me I will need your support as well," she paused to make sure they were listening, "I wish to be the to help professor Snape with the incantation."

Their reactions were instantaneous and exactly as predicted; her father palled even further and sank back into his chair, his face clouding as he thought over what his daughter had said. McGonagall's lips were pressed into a firm line as she nodded in agreement. She knew that if Dumbledore had agreed to it then it was the best chance they had.

Molly Weasley, of course, yelled.

"Absolutely not! I will not allow it!"

"Mrs. Weasley, if you would refrain from yelling for a moment we can let Ginevra explain why she needs to do this," Severus said quietly, his onyx eyes fixed on the angered witch.

When the woman nodded and sat down he turned to Ginny, "Ginevra, if you would relate the same incredibly convincing argument you gave to the Headmaster and I."

Ginny nodded and took another deep breath preparing to tell her parents and Head of House the reasoning behind her determination.

ooOoo

"Sirius Orion Black!"

The dark haired man opened his eyes and squinted into the sunlight, until a shadow fell across his face. He looked up to the face of an angry and amused Remus Lupin.

"Yes darling?"

"Don't you darling me! You were supposed to be watching the water for students! And look how I find you, napping on the beach! You ought to be ashamed!" Remus said, trying to keep the smile off his face.

"But Moony!" Sirius whined from his relaxed position on the sand a wicked glint in his eyes, "it's so comfortable!! You really should try it."

"Oh no you don't!" Remus warned trying to flee.

"Come on Moony," he started as he tackled the other to the ground, "you'll love it." He finished, the smaller man now pinned underneath him.

"Having fun?" came a familiar voice from the water.

The two Marauders looked up to see two highly amused teenage boys watching them. One blond and the other with raven black hair.



"Harry! Draco! How was your week?" Sirius yelled as he jumped to his feet and ran to hug his godson and –to every one's surprise- the blond as well.

Harry laughed at the mans actions, "it was pretty good Siri, how was yours and Moony's?"

"Fun all around!" Sirius announced.

"Hmm, for you maybe," Remus said as he walked up and put his arms around Sirius' waist, "I can honestly tell you that this man is ten times more annoying when you are on a secluded island with him for a whole week. Even if I was a wolf for three of the nights."

""Hey!" Sirius yelled, jumping at the other man as he laughed.

Harry and Draco shook their heads and laughed as they turned back to unload their canoe.

The next pair to arrive is Ron and Blaise; their canoe hadn't even reached the shore when Ron jumped out and ran to Harry. For several minutes Ron hugged him and didn't say a word.

"Ron? I missed you too mate, but what's up?" Harry said his head buried in the redheads shoulder.

"What? Oh, nothing," Ron said quickly pulling away but not taking his hands from Harry's shoulders as he looked him over intently, "I missed you is all."

Harry laughed as he pulled away gently, "Ron I'm fine, I promise."

The redhead nodded and finally went to help Blaise unpack the canoe.

Harry looked over at Draco who was just as unsure about what had happened, they both shook their heads and continued unpacking.

Over the next hour or so the rest of the groups arrived and everyone greeted each other enthusiastically with much hugging and yelling.

When order was finally restored (order being a relative word as it was Sirius restoring it) the seventh years and their instructors decided to go for ice cream in the small town before heading out again.

Walking towards the ice cream parlour Sirius and Remus didn't fail to notice how close all their charges seemed to have become. There were groups of several students from all the houses walking together as if they'd known one and other since they were children.

They were also two of the select few that noticed how watchful a certain redhead was over his best friend. Harry and Draco noticed as did Hermione and Pansy, Blaise of course new what it was about. To all but the dark skinned boy it was a mystery as to why Ron was walking closely to Harry or why he would glance at the brunet several times a minute, even while laughing with Blaise and the others.

Not feeling up to searching for his best friends reasoning just then Harry put it off as Ron being protective and not seeing him for a week.

After the ice cream was bought the two Marauders told the teens that they could explore the small town for an hour or two before they would head out.

Harry, Draco and their four close fiends decided that they needed time to catch up separately and they headed off after promising to meet up in a half hour.

Harry and the Gryffindor couple went towards the park near the lake while Draco and his two friends went to look around the town a bit.

Ron was watching Harry intently again and the brunet decided it was past time he knew why.

"Ron, you know I can tell when there's something wrong so could you please just tell me why you are watching me like that?" he said, smiling slightly when his friend blushed a little.

"I- on the first day of our solos I felt a disturbance," he paused and looked at Harry intently, "in your magic Harry. I felt it… weakening, the power diminishing as if something were draining it, or actively attacking it. I didn't know what was going on if it weren't for Blaise I most likely would have in the lake and swum to your island, completely forgetting about canoes and paddles."

The three friends smiled at the small joke but when Harry looked into the redhead's eyes he noticed tears shining there. His own eyes teared up at the sight and he launched himself across the space between them to be caught by his best mate and held tightly for several minutes as Hermione came over and grabbed their hands in hers.

"I'm sorry Ron, that I made you worry, I didn't mean to. About my magic though, it wasn't being attacked or anything… well not by an outside force at least," he noticed his friends' confused expressions and continued quickly, "I was the one attacking my magic, I needed to find out what was wrong with it. It's just… when we arrived on the island Darishka… discovered something…" Harry then proceeded to tell his friends of what had happened while on his solo with Draco.

They were thoroughly stunned when he finished speaking; Hermione had her hands over her mouth and tears in her eyes. After that the three of them simply sat in silence until it was near time for them to meet up with their Slytherin friends.

However as they were walking back to the ice cream shop an unnerving stench hit them.

Smoke.

All of the sudden they heard a wailing noise, one that only two of their group recognized; fire truck siren. Ron was of course rather confused by the noise but he recognized the smell and what it could mean; fire, people might be hurt. The three students immediately began running in the direction of where they could now see the smoke rising above trees and buildings.

Upon arrival at the scene two of them immediately relaxed, the fire was on a small house separated from the rest of them so it would not spread and from the looks on everyone's faces no one was in the building. The third person however was no longer seeing this fire; he was seeing another one, one that had happened over the summer of their fifth year.

Flames. All I can see is flames. All around me as high as the ceiling, from wall to wall are flames. I still have a grip on my wand so they can't harm me, but I can feel the heat and that could hurt me. I know for certain that many people lost their wands in the fray. I hold it tighter and hope that nothing happens to knock it from my hand.



I scan around the large antechamber of the Ministry building looking for my friends and praying to every god I've ever heard of that they are alright. There is a crash off to my right as several large beams fall; it is followed quickly by a scream.

I run in that direction trying my best to see through the smoke around me. Another crash and this time I can see the beams that caused it; several of them were now heaped around on the ground burning bright and hot.

I hear a whimper coming from behind them. Rushing forwards I try to climb over them, but the heat is too intense, I can already feel the skin on my hands beginning to blister a bit. So I back up and try to levitate them up and away. They are piled to high however and every time I try they wobble and begin to fall. Standing as close as I can to the flaming beams as I can. It's not close enough, I yell over the cackle of flames. For long minutes no one answers me. I hear a small voice crying out and a face appears in a space between the beams.

Amelia Bones.

I can't get t her. She's calling out to me, asking for help that I can't give her.

In a last ditch attempt to save her I raise my wand to cast the same charm I wear on her. Just as the point is directed at her a flaming piece of rubble falls and knocks my wand from my hand. It rolls away and is quickly swallowed by flames.

I can't help her now and we both know it. The fire creeps closer to her, there are tears running down my face that dry almost instantly from the heat.

I stand there and watch, refusing to let her suffer this horrible end alone. Her hair and clothes catch fire and I can see her face beginning to blister like my hands had done. I watch as she burns alive, her screams echoing in my head, the tears in my eyes desperate to be shed but the heat makes it impossible so they remain trapped. All I can do is stare as she dies in front of me.

Suddenly there is a hand on my shoulder shaking me slightly. I look over and see my redheaded best friend, and all of the sudden I am back in the present.

Ron's surprised by the tears running down his best friends face and pulls the smaller boy into a hug. The brunet struggles for a moment before going limp and sobbing into the others shoulder, "I'm sorry, so sorry! I tried, I'm so sorry!"

"Ron, Harry, we should go find Drac-" Hermione turned around and stopped, "Harry what's wrong?"

The brunet didn't answer.

"Come on Hermione, I'll get him out of here and we'll find Remus and Sirius, you go find Draco."Hermione nodded and ran off.

Ron quickly led Harry away from the burning building. Harry was shaking the entire time.

Suddenly Draco was at his side, the blonde's eyes flashing between a worried bluey-green colour and a protective deep grey rimmed in silver. Draco shot the redhead a questioning glance to which Ron nodded and relinquished his hold on Harry. The boy was quickly enveloped in Draco's arms instead and the three boys continued on their way to find their former teacher and their friend's godfather.

ooOoo

Ginny sat in the common room, so absorbed in the large tome in her lap that she didn't realise her friend Amanda had sat down next to her until the other girl spoke;

"Gin?"

The redhead jumped a bit, "Yes?"

"What are you up to? I feel like we haven't talked in weeks!"

Ginny shifted in her seat, "ya... sorry about that, I've been busy-"

"Don't start with that again! Please, if you don't want to tell us the truth at least don't lie to us," Amanda whispered.

"No! Mandy- I want to tell you... I just- can't," Ginny finished in a whisper.

"Since when Gin? We're friends! You can tell me anything! You should know that by now, how many times have I come to you with my problems? How many times have you been able to help me?" the girl was yelling now, "How many times have I helped you to heal in return? And now all f the sudden I'm not good enough?!"

Ginny stood up, angry and ready to defend herself but her friend stormed off before she could. Ginny cooled down in a moment and whispered to herself, "it's not my secret to tell."

Neither girl noticed the tears in the other's eyes.

ooOoo

Severus Snape, Potions Master of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was standing in his lab staring at a potion that was stumping him like none had since his NEWT year when they were sprung a new one on the first day back. And even that one hadn't stumped him as much as this one was. The potion had deceptively simple ingredients, such as newt eyes, lizard tongues and bat hearts but many of them when combined imperfectly could cause a great deal of damage.

He had no idea how he was to combine powdered cobra scales and yeck fur without the usual toxic fumes and imminent explosion, or bat heart and boomslang skin without causing the drinker to develop massive seizures. The more he looked at the paper the more confused he became until he finally picked up the book and threw it across the room in frustration.

"Didn't mean to interrupt professor, maybe I should come back later," said I slightly amused voice from the doorway.

His robes billowed as he spun to face the door in which a redheaded witch stood slightly awkwardly.

"No Ms. Weasley, do stay, I'm quite done now."

"If you say so sir, what was that if I might ask," Ginny said as she entered the laboratory and closed the door behind her.

"This potion is quite a bit more confusing then I believed it to be. There seems to be no solution to its many problems," Severus said in a tight voice.

"What sort of problems sir?"

Letting out a tired sigh he answered, "Mixing certain ingredients will of course result in difficulties for the brewer or the drinker or others in the vicinity. Potions generally steer clear of such combinations unless a levelling agent can be incorporated to stop the two active ingredients from interacting and causing problems," he sigh again and rubbed the bridge of his nose, "in this potion however any levelling agents I would have used all have an opposing ingredient that would cause other problems."

"I think I understand," Ginny said, looking a little confused.

"For example, when you mix giant slug mucus and desert lizard tail?"

"A rather large explosion," Ginny answered.

"Indeed and how would one counter act such an explosion?"

"By adding a pinch of powdered unicorn horn."

"Correct, if this were class you'd have received thirty points for Gryffindor by now."

Ginny smiled a little, "alright but what are you getting at?"

"Picture this, a potion that combines giant slug mucus and desert lizard tail," the redhead nodded, "now add to the equation a pound of Antarctic ice fox fur, what would happen if you were to add the unicorn horn to the potion if the other three ingredients were already included?" Severus asked.

"The explosion would happen anyways," Ginny said, beginning to understand.

"And why is that?"

"The ice fox fur counteracts the levelling agent in the unicorn horn so it would be as if you had never added the horn at all," Ginny said with confidence.

"Exactly, that is what is happening in this potion, to lesser and greater extents."

Ginny nodded her understanding.

"That was quite the fastest I've ever had a student catch on to that subject, other than Draco Malfoy, has a natural gift for potions. It quite deserves the points I would have doled out if this were a class so fifty points to you, and another fifty may just be in it for you if you can help me to solve my dilemma."

"I'd love to help sir, but I have a question first, about the counter curse."

Severus nodded for her to continue.

"What would happen if I mispronounced a word, or got a wand movement slightly wrong?" she swallowed dryly and asked the hardest question, "Could Harry die?"

She had been standing all this time, answering questions as if in class but now collapsed into the chair in front of the professor's desk.

Severus was silent for several moments, trying to reign in his own troubled thoughts so as to give an accurate and true response. Without knowing it the sixth year girl in front of him had just asked him about his own worst fear.

"There is a chance of that Ginevra; there is a chance that any of us, you, I Harry or his soul mate could die in this. There is always a chance that we could die, but think of it like this, there is a chance in this that one or more of us die, but if we leave things as they are an do nothing for Harry. He would live the rest of his life in misery, if we don't try this we may as well leave him for dead right now; he is an extraordinary young man and deserves to live a full life free from this shadow. If you do not wish to do this we can find another to take your place, or I could do both, it is for you to decide."

"No sir, I want to do it, I won't be able to forgive myself if I don't try. It will be worse though, if I am the reason he dies," Ginny whispered tears filling her eyes.

Severus swooped over and went down on a knee beside her chair, "Ginevra, you are the bravest person I know for volunteering to do this for your friend, and not for the risk it puts on your life but for the risk on his. It is much worse to lose a friend by your own hand then it is to lose one in any other way. However I happen to have faith in you, your spell casting ability is terribly good and you have always been capable of keeping a steady hand in the worst of situations. I 

distinctly recall the day of the last battle you standing up with the others as the Death Eaters approached and not one of you even twitched. Your hand was steady then and it will be when we perform this counter curse, I know it will."

Ginny was all out crying now but grinning at the same time, "Thank you sir," she whispered and with a steady hand wiped away the rest of her tears then stood.

"This potion then, what needs to be done?" she asked then groaned at the look she got, "More research?"

Severus only smiled.

ooOoo

Throughout all the drama that had passed while Harry explained many things to his friends and the fire began to roar a small, emerald green snake was slithering about, exploring the town. Her harmless exploration was interrupted though when she felt the distress of her adopted human. The moment Harry became anxious over the happening of his flashback Darishka froze just long enough to learn in which direction he lied then quickly slither off to find him.

Harry had calmed down somewhat sitting next to Draco back at the edge of the lake, where the breeze over the water kept the smell of smoke away and his head clear. A moment later Sirius was at his side, Remus stood a couple steps back. Harry reached out and grabbed Draco's hand and clung to it like a life line.

Sirius placed a hand on his shoulder and he gave a slight involuntary twitch, the hand remained however and he soon relaxed again. He heard a small voice at his feet and looked down.

"Master? Are you alright?" the small serpent wrapped around his arm as he lowered it to her height.

"I'm fine Darishka; I thought you were investigating the town, what are you doing back here already?" Harry asked.

"I sensed your distress master, I came to find you."

"Thank you but I am fine now. I did not know you could feel my distress, how did you do that?"

"It is a gift all serpents share, you are my human and I have decided you need protecting so I am able to sense when you are in pain or distressed so that I may come comfort you."

"Thank you, but I think I'm okay now. I'd like it if you stayed with me for now though."

"Gladly master," the small snake replied as she curled around his shoulders and got comfortable.

Harry turned his attention back to his godfather and smiled slightly at the worry he saw on the man's face.

"Harry, are you alright?" Sirius asked.

"I'll be fine Siri, just need to clear my head a bit, I think I'll stay over here 'til everyone else is done in town, if that's alright," Harry said quietly.

"That's just fine kiddo, I'll hurry everyone a bit, well be done soon," Sirius said and gripped Harry's shoulder for a moment before turning back to the town with Remus at his side.

Harry continued to sit there holding Draco's hand and didn't look up even when Ron came to sit on his other side, or when Hermione placed a hand on his back in support, he just stared out over the water until the rest of the group arrived to continue their trip.

End Chapter Fourteen

A/N: thanks to Karone-Sakura and Kyla Mizuki for the ideas and everything else and to anyone else that gave me ideas that I ended up using or not. Thanks for all the support! Also to Marly and Carson for pressuring me to write and correcting it when it was crap! Love you all with fiery soul consuming passion!

DerangedxandxSarcastic

Kay as a reward to all of you still reading and an apology I've included a bit of teaser from the new story I was forced to write; here you go and enjoy! These are by the way actual lines from the story, just shortened slightly and changed a bit so you can't tell who some of the characters are, although in most cases you will be able to guess quite easily I'm sure ;)

Harry James Potter's own personal domain in the fiery pits of Hell had been granted him by Hades, God of Death and the Underworld, for his brilliant performance in demon hunting. Harry was by far the best Slayer under Hades' rule.

"You will be returning to the Mortal Plane. However you will be going to a . . . special location."

Harry passed through the great iron gates guarded by winged boars, and drawing to the top of the stairs he knocked on the immense oak doors.



He stopped in front of an old man with a long white beard who was seated in the middle of the table.

"To Slytherin I think, my boy."

Harry turned his eyes back to the professor and raised an eyebrow in question.

He nodded as Severus invoked a bit of advice, "The teachers here are reasonably fair but if a situation should arise in which you are being judged unfairly do try not to react for that will only get you sent to see the Headmaster, and to be quite frank, he is the worst of the lot."

"Thank you for the advice sir; I will see you later I am sure."

Standing inside the shadows of the entrance was the youngest, as they paused next to him a carefree grin spread across his face.

The blond held out his hand, "Draco Malfoy."

"Harry Potter," he replied as he accepted the gesture.

Review please and tell me what you think of the new story as well!