Disclaimer: Harry Potter and everything related is the property of J.K. Rowling and anyone else who has claim to a piece of Harry's fame

Disclaimer 2: I own the plot, Saerry Snape, Aeyr's, and the Snapes being Slytherin's Heirs.  Nothing more, nothing less.

A/N: Finally!  I get around to typing this in!  ^^  Ah, and I got my report card yesterday.  All A's and B's and one C.  A high C!  So I'm not grounded anymore!  YES!!  *dances with glee*  I'm so happy.  ^-^

Chapter 67 **Anger, Suspicions, and Kisses**

"C'mon Harry!  Tell us."

Harry looked up from his conversation with Saeln and said, "I will Ron, don't worry.  Just – just give me a little time."

Ron frowned.  "You said you'd tell us."

Hermione looked up from her Potions homework and said, "He'll tell us, Ron.  Just give him some time."

"Oh, now you're defending him?  He's acting like he's best friends with Malfoy for Merlin's sake!"

"Ron, calm down."

"Why?  So I can listen to him tell me how good bloody Malfoy is?"

Ron glared at Hermione until a voice, cold and utterly devoid of any emotion but rage, said, "Don't be angry at her if you're angry at me, Ron."

Ron rounded on Harry, who was eyeing the other boy coldly.  Saeln hissed warningly and opened his wings, which flashed silver, then reared up in Harry's lap, his yellow-amber eyes locked on Ron's face.

"I'll be angry at who I want to be angry at."

Harry's eyes narrowed and he snarled, "Not Hermione."

Ron snapped, "Oh, I forgot.  You two are an 'item' now right?"

Hermione reached out to her friend and started, "Ron . . ."

"Sod off, Mudblood."

Hermione gasped then found herself holding a hissing Saeln.  Looking up she saw Harry on his feet.  He had one hand gripping the front of Ron's robes and the other drawn back into a fist.  His green eyes blazed as he snarled, "I don't know what's gotten into you Ron but you are going to apologize to Hermione."

Ron's blue eyes flashed angrily in response and he growled, "No."

"Apologize."

"Over my dead body."

Harry smirked and Hermione swore she was Professor Snape, as he was in their first through fourth years, standing there.  He softly said, in the same soft, dangerous voice his father would talk in when he was really angry, "I'm sure we can arrange that."

Ron's eyes bugged-out and his haughty demeanor faltered.

"You – you're not serious, Harry."

"Oh, yes, I am.  Now apologize."

Ron was silent for a moment then he hissed, "No."

"Damnit Ron!"

Harry shoved Ron backwards with a snarl.  Ron's chairs flipped over as he fell into it and he rolled out of it as he hit the floor.  He rose slowly, eyes locked with Harry's as they glared at each other.

Harry snarled, "Get out of here."

Ron lifted his chin arrogantly and said, "And if I don't?"

Harry's voice dropped to that soft, dangerous voice again as he replied, "Then I will be forced to move you out of here.  Preferably through a wall."

"You wouldn't."

"Wouldn't I?"

"No."

"Why is that?"

"You don't have the nerve."

Harry's eyes flashed again and he sprang forward, closing the gap between himself and Ron.  There was a flash of bright light that blinded Hermione for a moment.  But when it cleared she was faced with a strange sight.

Ron was standing as still as a statue, his eyes now wide with fear and horror instead of being narrowed with malice.  The sharp tip of a gleaming silver sword was pressed up against his throat, its blade emblazoned with the image a long serpent that seemed to writhe in the light from the fire.  Emeralds gleamed brightly from the hilt, which was clenched tightly in Harry's hand.  Harry's eyes blazed with fury but there was a touch of shock in them.  But that quickly disappeared as he snarled, "Get.  Out."

Ron took one step back from Harry and the gleaming sword then fled out the portrait-hole, sparing one fearful glance back.

A second later Harry collapsed into his chair, the sword lying across his knees.

Hermione was speechless for a moment then she softly said, "Harry?"  In her hands Saeln hissed worriedly and Harry turned his head toward them.  He hissed something back to Saeln then looked at Hermione.  Their eyes locked and Hermione rose from her seat and went over to him, kneeling on the floor beside him, her hands resting on his left arm.

"Harry, how . . ."

"I don't know."  Harry looked down at the sword in his hand and said again, "I don't know."

Hermione leaned forward, opening her mouth to say something, then something on the sword caught her eye.  Just above the hilt was a name etched into the blade.  She read it aloud.

SALAZAR SLYTHERIN

Hermione let out an involuntary gasp and looked up at Harry, her eyes wide with shock.  Harry's normally brilliant green eyes, bright enough to match the blazing emeralds on the swords hilt, had faded to an almost black green that made him look even more like his father than he already did.  He took his hand off the swords hilt and laid it over one of hers, his pale skin contrasting against her darker.

"I have something to tell you, Herm.  About my family and about Voldemort."

Hermione nodded vaguely, still in shock from the name on the sword.  Harry sighed then began to speak, telling her everything that had happened in the last two weeks.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A few hours (and some disturbances) later Hermione was softly saying, "So you're Slytherin and Gryffindors Heirs?"

Harry nodded and Hermione continued.

"And You-Know-Who just thinks your Gryffindors?"

"He knows."

"But he doesn't know you're actually Slytherins and not him?"

Harry smirked.  "If he knew that we wouldn't be having this conversation right now."

"Oh.  Right."

There was a moment of silence between them then Harry rose and picked up the sword.  Hermione rose after him and asked, "Where are you going?"

Harry replied, "I need to show this to my dad. He'd want to know what's happened."

"With Ron too?"

"I'll kill him about that.  Ron's been acting weird since the match yesterday."

"You don't think . . ."

"What?"

"Well, what if Ron's not himself?"

Harry's eyebrows arched.

"Pardon?"

"What is its like last year?  With 'Professor Moody'?"

Harry paled and swallowed hard.  He said, "Let's hope not."

"But . . ."

"Herm, I'll tell my dad and he'll tell Professor Dumbledore.  They'll figure out everything.  I know it."

Hermione sighed and Harry hugged her to him with his free hand. He ran a hand through her hair and softly said, "We'll figure out what's wrong with Ron, Herm.  I swear we will."

"I know."  Hermione leaned into Harry.  She liked being alone with him.  It felt – right.

They stood there for a while until Harry said, "I have to get going.  Will you be okay?"

Hermione looked up into Harry's worried green eyes and replied, "I'll be fine."

"You sure?"

"I'll be fine, Harry.  Now go."

Harry smiled and squeezed her shoulders reassuringly then leaned down and gently kissed her lips.  A moment later the portrait swung closed behind him.

Hermione started after him for a moment then reached up and brushed her fingers across her lips.  A smile broke across her face as she sank down into one of the chairs.  Saeln flitted over to her and curled up in her lap, making what sounded like a mockery of a cat's purr.  From across the room Crookshanks looked askance at the Aeyr but simply flicked an ear.  Hermione smiled at her cat then ran a hand over Saeln's smooth scales, thinking of Harry all the while

A/N: Dun dun DUN!  Slytherins sword has been revealed!  ^^  My apologizes to Ron-lover's for his bad attitude.  That will be explained later.