Disclaimer: I obviously don't own the idea of Harry Potter or any of the money making forms of it.

A/N: Sorry this part took longer to post than the others. Finals... Well, hopefully now that they are nearly done, I will have more free time. Thanks for being patient, or at least attempting to be :P

Questions Concerning:

Greg and Vincent knowing that Harry has V's memories: Yes, they were told everything on the train ride to Hogwarts and alone with Draco.

Dobby and the Custosae: He is not exactly a member, but more like a valuable ally, sort of how Griphook is.

Fawkes: He will continue to play a role, and let's just say he knows more than Dumbledore...

Who has the Diary: It's a secret... :P

Draco, a Parselmouth: Will be explained in this part, though the other things linked to this will wait until later. Thanks for having hope/faith in my coming explanations, I am pretty certain they will suffice.

:Parseltongue:

- - - Book 2 – Part 10: Parselmouths

Harry and Draco, Revlis between them and around Harry's left arm, led the way to the Hospital Wing, Snape close behind, leaving those in the Great Hall to ponder what they had just witnessed.

:Strong, young Masters, Revlis thanks you. Who is the dark one behind us?: Revlis asked.

:Professor Snape, he's the Potions Master here, and my Godfather: Draco answered.

:He's also Slytherin's Head of House: Harry added.

"Draco, Potter," Snape said, stepping beside Draco. "I think it would be best if we change our destination to Professor Kettleburn, instead of Madam Pomfrey. I do not believe she would be the best to care for…Revlis."

"Alright professor," Harry said, turning the corner and heading outside to Kettleburn.

They found him at the edge of the forest, tending to a salamander, his back to them.

"Professor Kettleburn, could you spare a few moments?" Snape asked, his voice as exciting as always.

Kettleburn had streaks of gray in his hair and was missing two fingers on his left hand. He had a number of scars, which was quite impressive, considering their shear number and the fact he was still alive and kicking.

He put the salamander down, allowing it to scurry off, apparently having finished whatever he was doing to the little thing.

"Ah, Professor Snape," he said, just beginning to turn around. "What do you have that requires my ti—" He was now facing them, his eyes quickly taking in who were with Snape, and what one of them was holding.

A Professor of his position had to be quick to notice the details, it had saved his hands (though not all of his fingers) several times in the past.

"Put that serpent down now, son," he stated, keeping his voice low and calm, though his eyes were not.

"Revlis won't bite, sir, but he's hurt. Could you take a look at him? We think he has some broken ribs," Harry said, lifting his arm a little to show him.

Kettleburn didn't move, but his eyes snapped to Snape.

"You do know what this is, correct?" he asked the other professor.

"Of course," Snape answered.

"And you are allowing a student to continue holding it?" Kettleburn asked, clearly reprehending him, though he kept his voice level.

:Is this man going to help me, or continue talking?: Revlis asked, his tongue flickering and tasting the air.

:Yeah, but I think he's afraid of you. You're poisonous, aren't you?: Harry asked.

:Very much so, Master. It would be unwise to anger me:

:I'll remember that: Draco stated.

"Good Merlin…" Kettleburn breathed. "The two of you… You're both Parselmouths…"

"Yes sir…So, will you help him?" Harry asked.

Kettleburn eyed the serpent warily, but slowly pulled out his wand.

"As long as he doesn't bite me…" he said, slowly moving forward. "You said possible broken ribs?" he asked.

"Yes sir, I think along here," Harry said, pointing with his other hand, Draco nodding in agreement.

Kettleburn waved his wand over the area, ready to pull his hand away if he felt threatened.

"You're right. Four fractures, probably the point of impact. Hmm, a simple bone refusing spell should suffice," he said, muttering the spell under his breath and causing the scales near to glow for a moment.

:Ah… that's better: Revlis said, relieved. :Tell this gentleman thanks: he said, flickering his tongue at an uneasy Kettleburn.

"He says thanks," Draco said.

"Well, um, your welcome; Revlis, was it?" Kettleburn replied.

"Yes, sir," Harry said.

"Alright, Potter, Draco, come with me. I believe the Headmaster will wish to speak to the both of you," Snape said.

"And Revlis, sir?" Harry asked.

Snape eyed the snake.

:I wish to stay with you, Masters: Revlis hissed.

"He would like to come, sir," Harry said.

"Very well," Snape said.

- - -

Ron and the others had quickly left the Hall, but decided against following Harry and Draco, rightfully assuming Snape didn't want any more people around the snake than there were already.

They headed off to the Come and Go Room, assuming Harry and Draco would go there after everything calmed down.

"Well, that was different," Ron managed as they all settled in the comfortable sitting room that had become their headquarters. Everyone nodded.

There were couches and pillows to sit on, and a rug so that they could even sit on the floor, which they often did, enabling them to spread out spell books and such.

There were bookshelves on one end of the room, and then a potions lab on the other. It was perfect for whatever they needed to have done, though for the lab, they had to bring their own materials since they couldn't leave with anything provided by the magic of the room.

"So…I assume we all know what that was?" Hermione asked.

"Y-yeah, Harry and Draco speak Parseltongue," Neville answered.

"Draco wasn't a parselmouth last year," Greg stated.

"Oh?" Hermione asked. "How could that be? Aren't you born with that ability?"

"I had thought so…" Vincent said, thinking as much as he was able (which was more than he was used to—he was hoping to improve this).

"I think we're going to just have to wait until they come back. I'm sure they were taken to the Headmaster after they helped that…snake," Neville said.

- - -

Dumbledore finally finished the letter, casting the requested security and protection spells on it as he slid it into the envelope. Sealing it with another wave of his wand, he put it aside to give to Snape later, since Snape was his link to the mysterious organization he had become a part of… the Amici Lucis of the Custosae de Lux.

He looked up, being alerted that three people were approaching.

Hmm, Harry, Draco, and Severus?

"Come in," he said, before Snape could even knock.

They entered, but Dumbledore quickly noted the extra companion.

If it hadn't been for the fact that Snape had escorted them with the snake accompanying Harry, Dumbledore would have blasted the deadly thing.

Dumbledore wasn't exactly a fan of snakes…having survived an incident with one in his youth, but he knew whatever this was about, he'd want to hear it.

He put his hands together, appearing perfectly at ease (but was mainly containing himself from pulling his wand). Dumbledore was thankful for his acting abilities.

"Headmaster, the Dueling Club had some… interesting developments," Snape stated from behind Harry and Draco.

"Oh? Has this got something to do with the Silver Mamba around Mr. Potter's arm?" Dumbledore asked, glancing at the snake that was, he noted, being gently held by Harry.

:Masters, the Headmaster is uneasy: Revlis hissed softly. :I believe it is because of me:

:Well, you said earlier you're pretty poisonous: Draco stated.

:Just stay calm and still, I don't want him to make you go away if you don't want to: Harry said.

The sudden silence in the room was palpable.

"Yes, Headmaster, they are both Parselmouths," Snape stated, seeing one of the few times Dumbledore was at a loss for words.

Dumbledore took a few seconds to gather himself.

"And where did the Mamba come from?" Dumbledore asked.

"From Nott's wand. He cast serpensortia," Snape answered.

"I see," he stated.

Revlis lowered himself slightly, resting his head in Harry's hand.

Dumbledore raised his hands slightly, pressing the tips of his fingers together as he leaned forward slightly, thinking.

"Come and sit down, boys," Dumbledore said, nodding to Snape to conjure some more chairs.

They went forward, for the first time taking in the room. Calling it grand would be putting it lightly. From the shelves full of crystal objects and books, to the impressive desk and golden stand with a red marvelous bird.

"Ah, this is Fawkes," Dumbledore said, noticing Harry and Draco staring at him. "He is a Phoenix. They can carry immensely heavy loads and have tears with the power to heal."

Fawkes thrilled, eyeing Revlis for a moment. After apparently finding whatever he was looking for in the snake, he ignored it. This was some comfort to Dumbledore.

"Um, Headmaster… I uh… wasn't a Parselmouth last year. Why am I now?" Draco asked, breaking the silence that had come.

"I am not sure yet," Dumbledore mused, before looking to Harry. "Harry, have you ever spoken to a snake before today?"

"Yeah…" he answered, looking down a little. "It was before I got my Hogwarts letter… I had been allowed to go to the zoo with the others on Dudley's birthday. Well, we had gone into the reptile exhibit and I spoke to a boa constrictor and um..." He paused with a smile, thinking back to when he had vanished the glass.

"And what?" Dumbledore asked, knowing this had to be something interesting.

"I sorta helped him escape…"

Harry had the decency to look embarrassed.

"You what?" Snape asked. Harry and Draco could almost swear they had heard a smirk in his question.

"Well, it kind of just happened… Dudley pushed me and I fell. The next thing I saw when I looked up was the glass disappear and the boa slithering out and past me, while hissing 'thanks amigo'."

"You made the glass disappear?" Draco asked, intrigued.

Harry shrugged. "I was a little annoyed about having been pushed, but I still don't know why the glass disappeared like that. Guess that's why they call it accidental magic."

They grew quiet once again, noticing that Dumbledore was deep in thought once again.

"I think I know what may be going on," Dumbledore stated suddenly. "I would ask Mr. Malfoy to leave, but this has just as much to do with him, as it does with you, Harry," he continued, a little grave.

"I wouldn't want him to go anyways," Harry said.

Dumbledore gave a slight smile before starting.

"Harry, you can speak Parseltongue, why?" he asked.

Harry glanced over at Draco. He had a slight idea of why that was, but he wasn't about to voice it.

"Because Lord Voldemort can speak Parseltongue. If I'm not mistaken, Harry, he transferred some of his power to you the night he gave you that scar."

Snape stood aghast, grateful Draco and Harry couldn't see his face because he was behind them.

Harry knew he shouldn't be surprised, but a feeling of dread filled him anyways. If Voldemort had transferred all of his memories and some of his powers to him, what else had he given him?

"Harry," Dumbledore said, seeing the troubled aura rising from Harry. "Remember, it is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."

Harry nodded.

"But, why can Draco speak it?" Harry asked after a moment.

Before Dumbledore could answer, Draco spoke up.

"It's because of what happened this summer, huh?"

"That's correct, Mr. Malfoy. I believe the fall of the Blood Ward and the Beacon Charm resulted in an interesting development. It caused a magical bond of sorts, between your magic and Harry's."

"Oh…" Harry and Draco both breathed.

"I will look into magical bonds and tell you of anything I discover. I feel you both have a right to know what might have happened between you," Dumbledore said.

"Thank you, sir," Harry said, glancing down at Revlis afterwards.

"Ah…and concerning Revlis," Dumbledore said, noticing Harry's glance. "What does he wish?"

:I wish to stay. It is not often a snake meets a parselmouth, let alone two: Revlis said.

"He'd like to stay with us," Draco said.

"I do not think that would be appreciated by the majority of the inhabitants of Hogwarts; however, I will allow it with some conditions," Dumbledore said.

The waited patiently for him to continue, Revlis too appeared to be waiting.

"The first is obvious—he cannot bite anyone."

:Agreed, as long as no one threatens my masters. If anyone tries to harm either of you, I will be relentless: Revlis stated.

"He agrees, but will defend us if warranted," Draco said.

"That is what I expected," Dumbledore said with an approving look. "The second concerns classes. He may attend lessons with you, but you must have the professor's permission, and he cannot wander the room, but must stay with you."

Draco and Harry nodded, Revlis agreeing as well.

Interesting, seems that snakes can understand us, Dumbledore mused.

"As for food and the care of Revlis; this is between you, Revlis, and perhaps Professor Kettleburn. I don't want to hear about any missing chickens or roosters now," Dumbledore said with a gentle warning.

:I will touch no fowl, rodents are far better: Revlis vowed.

Harry repeated Revlis' statement.

"Alright, then it's settled. Revlis can stay with you, but Harry, you are going to have to ask Professor McGonagall if he is allowed to stay in the dorms. Severus, I trust you shall permit Revlis in the Slytherin dormitories?"

"Yes, Headmaster. Salazar Slytherin was a Parselmouth, after all," Snape said.

"Very well, then. Off you go, I need a word with Severus," Dumbledore said, dismissing Harry, Draco, and their new companion.

Once they left, Dumbledore turned to Snape.

"Headmaster?" Snape asked as Dumbledore pulled out the charmed and protected letter.

"I need to have this message delivered to the Head of the Custosae, and I am under the assumption that my link is through you, correct?"

"Yes," he said, taking the envelope. "I will give this to my contact as soon as I can."

"Thank you, Severus."

"Is there something wrong?" Snape asked, stopping himself as he was about to turn and leave.

"I am uncertain. This bond between Draco and Harry… I must think on this."

"I understand. I shall keep an eye on them both," he said, before respectfully taking his leave, the letter now safe in the breast pocket of his robes.

- - -

Draco and Harry decided to go to the Come and Go Room, hoping the others would have thought to wait there for them.

Passing people in the halls, they all stared at the silver, blue eyed snake. The three of them hoped their curiosity would settle soon.

Waiting to make sure no one was around, they entered the Come and Go Room.

"Harry, Draco, what happened?" Ron immediately asked, but paused upon seeing Revlis. "Is, um, R-Revlis going to be staying with us?" he asked.

"Yeah, but we're going to have to ask the professors if he can attend classes with us, and we'll have to talk to Professor Kettleburn about food. Hmm, unless Revlis wants to hunt rodents on his own?" Harry asked, looking down to the serpent around his arm.

:That will suffice: he stated.

Harry looked up and nodded, confirming the arrangement.

"This is pretty weird, guys," Ron stated, looking at the parselmouths.

"Yeah," they both answered.

Harry and Draco then sat down, quickly running down everything they had just learned, covering the reason why they could speak parseltongue, and the magical bond that seemed to now be in place.

Hermione got that glint in her eye she often got when she found a good excuse to delve into research material later. The others didn't mind it at all.

"C-can I hold him?" Neville asked, surprising them all, when they had finished talking.

"Sure, just be careful here, he's still healing from his fall," Harry cautioned, Revlis slithering over to curl around Neville's arm.

"Wow," he breathed.

Soon after that, Ron and the others gathered around, carefully petting him. Revlis seemed to bask in the attention.

"Draco, I think he should stay with you most of the time, being in Slytherin and all. Besides, I still need to ask Professor McGonagall," Harry said.

"Alright Harry," Draco agreed, Crabbe and Goyle looking just as thrilled as they took turns holding him, Neville having handed Revlis off.

"'Kay, now that we have gotten over the new development," Hermione said, with a touch of teasing. "We do have some Custosae business to attend to."

"Right," Harry said. "Anyone?"

"Um, I've been thinking," Neville said. "That nurse who came and helped you two this summer, Jean Burry… I think we should invite her. I've seen her a few times at St. Mungo's and… she's a good Healer."

They all looked at each other, seeing if anyone had anything to add.

Hermione dipped her quill into some ink and added Jean's name to the parchment that had the list of possible contacts for the network.

"Do you want to be her contact, Neville?" Hermione asked, knowing there was a bigger reason to why Neville had suggested her.

Hermione guessed it might have something to do with his parents he never spoke about. Harry and Draco knew it was.

"I think that would be best, she probably kind of knows you already, right? And if she's caught contacting you, she can come up with a believable excuse, I would think," Greg suggested, deciding it best not to dwell into the reason why Neville had suggested the nurse. Like Draco, Greg and Vincent had been told about Neville's parents by their families.

"That's a good idea," Neville agreed, glad the others didn't look too deeply into it.

"Alright, we'll start her letter. Any others we should look into?" she asked.

"Hmm, why not some of the other professors?" Vincent asked.

"That could be getting a little too dangerous, though we could still do it. We would just have to be extra careful," Hermione said.

"We could wait and think about it, and just put them on a kind of 'possible' list," Neville said.

"That'll work," Draco said.

"How about my two oldest brothers?" Ron asked. "Bill is a curse breaker for Gringotts, and Charlie works with Dragons. They would be pretty helpful if things get ugly."

"Good idea," Hermione said, jotting the names down and unknowingly causing Ron to beam.

It wasn't often he had a good idea.

"I'll start working on the drafts, and hopefully your dad, Ron, will get back to us concerning Kingsley. He might even have a list of possible Friendlies," Hermione said, looking up.

:Excuse me, Masters. What is this about?: Revlis asked curiously, looking from a top Goyle's shoulder, having wrapped himself loosely around the large boy's neck.

Harry and Draco looked at each other.

:Well, we are the founders of a group who is working towards improving things: Draco said.

:Like what?:

From there, Harry and Draco gave a quick rundown on what they were doing and why.

Revlis listened intently.

:My, I am even more intrigued with you and your fellows: Revlis said. :Masters, I am at your service. It is my wish to aid in clearing the evil this Riddle, I have heard so much about, has spread:

:Thank you, Revlis: Harry said.

:Have you thought of oaths to protect your members?: Revlis asked curiously.

:Yeah, we have actually. Do you wish to take it?: Draco asked.

:A vow you all would have probably taken will not suffice for me: Revlis stated. :But I am willing to bond. In fact, this would be the best thing to do, otherwise, if another Parselmouth came along who did not agree with what you all are doing, I might be forced to obey, since the obedience of my kind rests a great deal on the strength of the wizard's will commanding it. The bond makes this null and void, and my loyalties will rest safely with you:

:A bond?: Harry asked, feeling a memory coming on. He sighed and let it come…

He was in a big, huge, damp chamber of some sort with a gigantic stone face of Slytherin on the wall…

:Slytherin, greatest of the Hogwarts Four, come:

A great giant snake came forth from the statue's mouth.

:Master, what is your wish?:

:I would like your thoughts on bonds. I read a passage that bonds are possible between wizards and magical creatures: Tom Riddle said.

:Ah, bonds…:

The large snake lowered his head and came closer.

:Any particular reason you wish knowledge on this subject, Master?: the snake asked.

:I wish to bond with you:

:As honored as I am to hear this, why do you wish this?:

:I read that such a bond would aid my magic, and that it is an easy process:

:What have you been reading? This is not correct in regard to you. For you, because you are so much more powerful than the average wizard, and, in a magical standpoint, even more than I, the process would hurt you. Not only physically, but magically as well. Bonding with me, as ashamed as I am to admit, would be like lowering the strength of your magic and raising mine. Sure, we would be bonded, but why would you wish to? I am at your service, and there are no other wizards to challenge you in this. You are the most powerful wizard in existence:

:I see. Very well then:

"Harry?" Ron asked.

"That was the strangest memory I think I've ever seen, and I've seen a few seriously odd ones," Harry muttered, trying to digest everything in the memory.

Harry quickly told them what he had seen, though none of them had anything to say that may help them understand it.

"Do you know where this chamber was?" Hermione asked.

Harry shook his head, thinking. "I think it's here, some secret underground place."

"Here, at Hogwarts!?" Ron asked, eyes wide, trying not to imagine a huge snake slithering somewhere under the castle.

"Yeah."

"You said something about Salazar Slytherin?" Goyle asked.

"Yeah, his face was on the wall," Harry answered.

The Slytherins looked at each other.

"Harry, I think you saw the inside of the Chamber of Secrets," Vincent stated.

"What?" Ron asked.

"It's a legend known by all Slytherins. Before Slytherin left Hogwarts, he made and sealed the chamber, so when his heir returned, they would be able to open it and purge the school of…well, everyone but purebloods," Greg explained.

"Purge?" Neville asked.

"Eliminate," Draco clarified.

"That's horrible," Hermione gasped.

"The legend continues by saying the Chamber is the home of a monster. I can only assume they mean the giant snake, which would make sense for Slytherin. He was a parselmouth," Vincent said.

"It's the Legend, though sometimes I wonder if Slytherin was really how they say he was. I mean, if he was so against muggleborns, why did he even agree and help build the school in the first place? He was bound to know how the others thought about such things," Draco mused.

"I guess we'll never really know," Neville said.

"Well, we still have the fact there is probably a huge snake somewhere under the school somewhere. I wonder if Dumbledore knows," Hermione said.

"A basilisk," Harry stated. "That's what he is."

"The snake? Geeze, when you said 'huge', I was thinking like a large boa constrictor, not…" Draco trailed off.

:Masters, I believe my fellow serpent you speak of may choose to become an ally of yours: Revlis interrupted.

:Why do you say that?: Harry asked.

:Because he lied to Riddle: Revlis answered. :He did not wish to bond with him, so lied about the bond:

:Why?: Draco asked, intrigued.

:Perhaps your statement concerning history is correct, Master Draco, and he did not wish to cut off all chances of being able to disobey Riddle if possible. You see, tricking Riddle into thinking the bonding process would harm him allowed my grand fellow the possibility of finding another in the future, and did not tie him to being loyal to Riddle:

:So if he is still here, the Basilisk may agree to help us?:

:Perhaps, but if I may, I believe I should go to him before hand, if we ever find the chamber, and tell him he will have visitors:

:That's a good idea: Draco said.

:So, about this bond…what is the truth?: Harry asked.

"Guys, what are you talking about?" Ron interrupted, to the relief of the others.

"Oh, sorry," Harry said, quickly summing up what they had just spoken about.

"Ooo, I might like this basilisk fellow," Ron said.

"Okay, bond," Hermione said, getting them back on track.

"Right," Harry said, looking back to Revlis who had slithered to the center of their circle.

:A magical creature can only bond to one witch or wizard, and this bond cannot lower magical strength, the least it will do is simply refine and sharpen it, which is very beneficial to both participants. The other benefits range from a slight boost in power, to sharing abilities: Revlis said.

:Is it painful for either of them?: Harry asked, thinking back to the basilisk's statement about pain.

:It can be uncomfortable, but it quickly passes. I hear it is like taking a swim in a very warm lake, takes a moment to adjust, and then it feels fine:

:You said you would be willing to bond?: Draco asked.

:Yes:

:Could we do this now? How long does it take?: Harry asked.

:Yes, and it only takes a few seconds, though it will take a few days for full results to be seen:

"Guys…" Greg said, reminding them not all of them spoke parseltongue.

"Oh, we're talking about bonding," Draco said, before continuing on to tell them what they had learned.

"So which one of you are going to be bonded?" Vincent asked.

"Hmm," Harry thought.

:Revlis, do you have to be bonded to a parselmouth?: Draco asked, since, like Harry, he did not really wish to add to the bond he apparently already had. Who knows what would happen.

:No, and I have no problem with bonding to a non-speaker, as long as one of you are near:

:Who do you wish to bond to?: Harry asked, liking the idea Draco came up with.

Revlis looked around at them all, allowing Draco to explain to the others what was going on.

:I assume you are excluding yourselves from my choice?: Revlis asked.

:Unless you truly want to bond to one of us, I think Draco and myself would rather ourselves to be excluded: Harry said.

:Very well, masters:

He slithered to Neville.

"Me?" Neville asked, shocked.

"Why not, Neville? I think it's a great idea," Hermione said.

"Alright, what do I do?" he asked.

Draco translated for Revlis.

"Hold out your wand hand," he said. "He's going to have to bite you, but he's making this one special, it will barely leave a scar, and even then, it will fade."

"Are you sure about this?" Neville asked, understandably having second thoughts.

"Yeah," Harry said certainly; even though his own common sense was having doubts, he knew this would be okay. "But if you don't want to, you don't have to."

"No, I want to," he said, holding out his hand to Revlis, having to hold his right hand still with his left.

"He says this will be quick, don't be afraid," Draco said, the others gathering around.

"Okay…" Neville whispered, deciding it best to look away.

In a flash, Revlis snapped forward, bit and released.

It was done.

Neville gasped, quickly turning back and looking at his hand.

The two holes, just under an inch apart, were glowing.

They all stared and watched as it finally dimmed and healed, leaving two small, very faint circles.

"Revlis says it's done," Harry said. "How do you feel?"

"A little weird, but good. It really didn't even hurt," Neville said, utterly relieved.

:How 'bout you, Revlis?: Draco asked.

:Very well, masters… I am actually relieved upon having done this. It is comforting to know no one can force my allegiance to themselves. Choice is everything, and I know I have chosen well:

He slithered to Neville who promptly picked him up, all of them knowing it would probably be a good idea to show themselves before dinner.

"So, how 'bout we go to Hagrid's and give him the Custosae Kit?" Harry asked, gathering the now finished potions in the lab.

"Yeah, can't wait to see his face when he meets Revlis," Ron said.

- - -

Snape went down into the dungeons and entered his chambers.

With a sigh he went to his desk and sat.

Deciding he would give the envelope from Dumbledore to Draco after dinner, he focused on trying to figure out what was going on.

He thought back to the night of the attack at Little Whinging, recalling the rush of magic that he had run into as he entered Number 4 Privet Drive.

It was a power he had never felt before, and just thinking about it gave him chills; he was glad no one was around to see him shake himself.

What had this bond done to his godson and Potter? How deeply did it go? What else should they expect from this? Would it get stronger? What exactly did it involve?

He hoped Dumbledore would be able to get the answers they needed.

And what about the Custosae? What were they doing right now? What did they expect them to do? Would they answer Dumbledore's questions that were no doubt in the letter currently in his pocket?

Did they know what was going on with Draco? Would Draco tell them, if he hadn't already? Should he write a letter to them and inform them of…whatever this bond thing was?

How could there be so much going on? How was he supposed to keep everything straight?

Snape looked at the time, realizing it was nearly dinner even though it felt like barely any time had passed since he had left Dumbledore's office.

He got up and briskly left to the Great Hall, robes billowing behind him.

- - -

Great Hall

The seven of them entered the Great Hall and split off to their respected tables, Revlis resting on Neville's shoulders.

From the Head Table, the professors were shocked to see how happy Neville was at having the deadly snake on his shoulders.

Snape smirked internally, Dumbledore's eyes twinkled cautiously, McGonagall quickly calmed her raging heartbeat, Flitwick squeaked, and Lockhart nearly fainted.

McGonagall, seeing they had a few moments before dinner would start, made her way down to the Gryffindor table.

"Hello, Professor," Hermione said, alerting the others to her approach.

"Good evening," she said, keeping a respectful distance from Revlis and Neville. "Professor Snape told me about…Revlis, and I felt it would be best for me to speak to you before dinner."

She had gotten the whole Gryffindor House's attention, as well as a number of students from the nearby tables, all of them looking either fearfully or curiously at Revlis.

"He may stay in your dorm, and you may take him to my class, but if he becomes a distraction, you will have to find a place for him to stay while you attend class."

"Yes, Professor," Harry said.

"Madam Pomfrey also would like to request a sample of Revlis' venom, if he would be willing," she continued.

They looked at Revlis.

:I will provide some, for some decently sized mice:

Harry smiled and nodded to McGonagall.

McGonagall returned the nod and went back to the table.

The seven's visit to Hagrid's was enjoyable, however short, and Hagrid instantly became friends with Revlis.

He took the Custosae Kit with near reverence and quickly put it on his belt, it blending in nicely. They told him about the bonding of Revlis and Neville, but told him they had decided to keep it a secret. Hagrid promised he would keep it.

They then gave him a rundown of what they had learned and updated him on the new things concerning the Custosae. They also christened him with his codename: Little John.

Hermione thought of it, though only Harry got it. They explained it to the others about the significance of the name.

Dinner went well, but they were all glad when it was over. It had been a busy day, and they were sure more were ahead.

- - -

Harry, Ron, and Neville went into their dorm and got ready for bed.

Revlis was staying with Neville tonight, sleeping on a pillow by Neville's head. Dean and Seamus just stared for a moment before shrugging and getting ready as well.

Harry closed the curtains around his bed and chatted with Sirius after putting a privacy ward around his bed.

Poor Sirius nearly had a heart attack when Harry told them what had happened that day (minus the bond between Neville and Revlis, and of course the Custosae stuff). But after he collected himself, Sirius was thrilled, saying how cool it was and what pranks they could do to Lupin during the holidays…

After his talk with Sirius was over, Harry began thinking about how they could include Sirius and Lupin in the Custosae. It would be tricky, but he figured they could manage. They had included Snape after all, as well as Dumbledore.

Harry decided to think more on it the next day and speak with the others about it after their classes.

Harry tucked under the covers, lifting the ward and smiling when he heard Revlis mutter:I wonder if humans snore…:

Within a few minutes all within the room were asleep. The sound of peaceful breathing and one having a tint of hisses resounded within.

Too bad the whole night didn't stay like that...

- - -

A/N: Again, for those of you who review (kindly and honestly), -thanks- each of you help me improve and type faster. :)

Next Part: Dobby's Gift