della luna: try and stop me from writing. = P well, anyway, that chapter
wasn't REALLY about Harry. More about Sev and Siri.... which still isn't
resolved.
Mikee: Yeah, poor Remy. Not sure what's going on there, but I'm quite likely to form a lynching mob if Siri doesn't apologise. You're all welcome to join the fun....
Lee Lee: *trembles at the thought of getting stuck between a pissed off Sev and a pissed of Siri* well that explains why Harry didn't say much....
kristy: I think that had I killed someone I would have been in deep kimchee.
nsngirl: Severus was always going to get off easier in a confrontation between him and Sirius. And about Severus's father? I kinda slipped up *had* to make him weak. Severus and James had to like him enough to name Harry after him....
Lisa: yes, Sirius's reaction isn't over yet. I don't yet know what he's going to do. For the Remus-Sirius thing you can thank one of my earlier reviewers, Lali. She made a good point.
hermionegranger: amazing as always? *grins stupidly* thank you!
gwendolyn-flight: I do love a good evil cackle. And who cares if you wake everybody up. ^_~
Pagan witch: *swipes brow* I was considering leaving of writing altogether if I ended up compared to Pettigrew. Are you short? All the craziest people who tried to take over the world were short: Hitler, Napoleon.... Heh. Tell your flatmate that I talk out loud too. Often to the characters in the story when they don't do what I want....
M. F. Luder: Studying? What is this.... studying? =P If Remus loves Sirius, it's a lost cause. In this fic, Sirius is (as far as I know) straight. And he needs to be thwapped upside the head.
Tantz: Yes, Severus and Sirius really do need to talk, but not just yet I don't think. How's about we take away their wands in lock them in a cupboard together? On second thoughts, maybe not...
Sailor Millennium: Hey! You kidnapped Dray and Harry! I demand that you return them to me at once! Erm... *cough*cough* Sorry about that. Draco may or may not be changing. Haven't decided yet. Anyways that won't come until the sequel, regardless.
So, now on with the next chapter:
Chapter Seventeen: Ancient gods from distant lands
As he pounded down the halls, Severus was well aware that he had left the animagus still stupefied. For all he cared the mutt could stay that way indefinitely.
Severus was breathing heavily, all out of proportion with the energy he had expended. The last time he had been this angry had been the night James and Lily had died, that Halloween almost fourteen years ago.
Severus had promised himself that he would try to deal with Sirius for Harry's sake.
He had failed miserably.
He simply could not move beyond his own dislike and mistrust of the man. Ever since their first day at school, Sirius had pitted himself against Severus, seeming to believe that as a Gryffindor, he required an enemy in Slytherin. In every prank that Sirius and his friends had pulled on Severus, his intent had seemed especially malicious.
If it had never gone beyond that, Severus could readily have survived. But then had come the incident with the Whomping Willow. Severus had nearly died as a result of that 'prank' instigated by Black. If James hadn't saved him, Severus would not have survived that night and his blood would have been on the hands of Remus. Black hadn't even stopped to consider the possible consequences of his actions: he could have landed one of his best friends in Azkaban before they ever graduated.
In the years after, Severus had learnt to tolerate the mention of his name, if only for the sakes of James and Lily. Remus, he had come to like over time, but he had never even attempted to like Black, even though he had been James's best friend. James had always loved Sirius like a brother but had never found the words to tell him that he was gay.
James had once gathered the courage to tell Sirius of his sexual preference, but had backed off when Sirius had made some poorly thought-out derogatory remark about homosexuals. After that, James had drawn away from Sirius, but Black had never noticed. He had been oblivious to the distance that now stood between James and himself.
Severus could see how lying to his best friend was hurting James, and he blamed only Sirius for it. And this only served to anger Severus more. But he had always tolerated Black's existence because James still loved him regardless.
Then had come the blow that Severus could never forgive.
James and Lily had chosen Sirius to be their Secret Keeper and Severus had conceded, deciding to trust in his husband's judgement of his best friend.
There was nothing he regretted more. When he had arrived at Godric's Hollow that Halloween night to find nothing left, he had vowed to kill Black if he ever layed hands on him again. He had desperately wanted to feel the man's windpipe collapse under his bare hands.
Sick of storming through the halls, Severus stopped in a window aperture. He braced his hands against the cold stone, hoping in vain that it would cool his hot rage.
Even years later when Sirius was proven to be innocent of dealing James and Lily death, Severus could not bring himself to forgive him. It didn't matter to Severus that Black hadn't directly betrayed them: he had been the one to convince them to make Pettigrew their Secret Keeper in his place, and in Severus's eyes, that made Black as guilty as if he had cast the killing curse himself. How anyone could ask Severus to forgive Black when he couldn't even forgive himself was beyond his comprehension.
Intellectually, Severus knew he was being unjust, but he simply didn't care. James and Lily and Harry had meant the world to him, and in one fell swoop, Fate and Sirius Black had conspired to take them away from him.
And simply to add insult to already grievous injury, when Harry had found out that Sirius hadn't been James and Lily's Secret Keeper, the man had taken the place in Harry's life that was rightfully Severus's: He became the only father figure Harry knew. Severus had hated the fact that throughout Harry's fourth year, the boy had been communicating with Black, turning to him for advice. And then to see his son taking comfort from the great mangy mutt lying on his hospital bed after the Tournament, and knowing that that mutt was really Black....
One hand balled into a fist on the cold stone of the windowsill. Severus had thought he would take great delight in rubbing Black's face in the fact that Harry was *his* son when he finally found out. All it had done was stir up feelings of anger and regret he would have rathered leave alone.
Beyond the warm glass, bounding down the lawn, Severus saw a great black dog retreating from the castle. He smiled, rather grimly. At least he wouldn't have to deal with Sirius again any time soon, if ever again. Now that Black had been told, Severus intended to keep himself as far away from the animagus as possible.
If he could, he would even have considered denying Harry the right to see him. But he knew he couldn't: as much as he hated it, Black was Harry's godfather and that was the way James had wanted it. He could only be satisfied with keeping his own distance.
In a deep pocket of his robes, nestled against his ribs, the tightly wrapped parcel shifted and Severus placed a soothing hand on it. It seemed the spell had worn off. And damn Black for that as well. Now he had to search out his son instead of having the boy with him in the first place.
'Harry, what do you think you are doing up there?'
Harry looked up to see his father cautiously approaching the low wall that bounded the top of the tower on which Severus had finally found him. Harry was sitting in one of the large crenellations, tucked up with his feet braced against the stonework of one side and his back braced against the other.
'Thinking,' Harry shrugged.
'What is so particular about *there* that you would chose it to think from?' Severus inquired from the exact centre of the tower top, where he had retreated.
Harry stared at him, then laughed in realisation, 'You don't like heights.'
Severus drew his already erect self stiffly up right, 'I have nothing at all against heights,' his shoulders sagged ever so slightly, 'Provided I am at the bottom of them. Now get down from that ridiculously precarious position and come over here. I have something to show you.'
Severus gestured at a small, elaborately carved casket that floated on the air behind him. Harry hadn't noticed it previously. He slipped from the wall and padded over to his father.
'What is it?'
'Something I was fortunate enough to pick up in Knockturn Alley,' Severus levitated the casket to chest height in front of him and flipped open the lid, obscuring Harry's view of the contents, 'I hope you have not been neglecting your language skills.'
Harry thought it odd for his father to make such a comment. It had even sounded.... strange....
It was only when Harry saw what Severus lifted from the casket that he realised his father hadn't been speaking English....
'You're a Parselmouth too!' he exclaimed.
Severus was holding in either arm two snakes that were far too big to have emerged from a casket no bigger than Harry's two fists. At least, Harry thought they were snakes. They were certainly the most unusual specimens Harry had ever seen. They were as long as Severus's hand and forearm. Their heads and first third of their lengths were covered in bright plumage, one in shades of blue and purple, the other in shades of red and gold. Most unusually of all, from the midst of the plumage sprouted wings.
Banishing the casket with a thought, Severus turned and slanted Harry a sarcastic look, 'Where did you think you had gotten it from?'
'Well.... Dumbledore said that it was because Voldemort transferred some his own powers to me,' Harry went almost crossed eyed in a vain attempt to see his mouth. The words had come out in a series of sibilants hisses and Harry realised he had unconsciously spoken in Parseltongue.
Severus was completely unfazed by the language. He snorted, 'And you swallowed that pap?'
Harry bristled in his own defence, 'Well it's not exactly like I knew who my father was.'
Severus paused for a moment before responding, 'Touche.'
The purple-and-blue plumaged snake reared its head from Severus's arm. It's tongue flickered and it spoke in a distinctly feminine tone, 'Asss entertaining asss thisss isss, Ssseverusss....'
Harry hastily stifled a snicker. A snake had just told his father off.
Severus glared down at the snake wrapped about his left forearm, 'I was *about* to introduce you, you impatient little reptile.'
The tongue flickered again, and if snakes could smile, Harry would have sworn this one was smirking. Severus glowered blackly at her and turned back to Harry.
'Harry, may I introduce you to Sasu,' he raised his left arm with the purple and blue snake. She regally inclined her head in Harry's direction, 'and Sakuna,' the right arm rose, 'Sakuna is to be your.... familiar, if you will.'
The red-and-gold plumaged snake, whose name was evidently Sakuna, unwounded itself from Severus's arm and lifted into the air. The wings barely stirred as it drifted over to Harry.
Harry stared into its silver eyes. For a moment, the world spun about him. When it settled again, it seemed there was something *else* there. Whatever it was, Harry couldn't lay his finger on it at the moment. In somewhat of an awed daze, his raised his arm and allowed the snake to settle about his wrist.
'Pleased to meet you,' he murmured.
The snake raised its head until its eyes were level with Harry's face. Its tongue flickered out and ghosted over Harry's features. Having tasted him, the snake drew back a ways.
'The pleasssure'sss all mine,' it hissed, and Harry realised Sakuna was male.
Harry allowed Sakuna to wind his way up until he was draped about his neck. He turned back to his father.
Severus was watching Harry interact with the snake. When he saw that he had Harry's attention again, he spoke.
'Sasu and Sakuna are quetzalcoatl-'
Harry interrupted, 'Wasn't Quetzalcoatl an Aztec god?'
Severus nodded in approval, 'The Winged Serpent. The quetzalcoatl snakes originate from Central America. They have many fascinating magical qualities, which I will expect you to learn as you come to know Sakuna better.'
Harry almost groaned. Was there ever a time that Severus stopped trying to teach Harry something? Severus smirked slightly and continued.
'The thing that sets Sasu and Sakuna above most other quetzalcoatl, however, is that they are twins - born from the same egg.'
Harry looked singularly blank at this little snippet, and Severus fought a sigh, 'When two quetzalcoatl are born from the same egg, they share a telepathic link. This pair can communicate mind-to-mind, instantly and over any distance. There is yet to be a spell found that could block it.
'This phenomenon is incredibly rare, but not considered very valuable....' Severus trailed off and ran a finger down Sasu's plumage. The snake leant into the caress and slitted her eyes in pleasure.
Harry shifted impatiently. He was about to ask why it wasn't considered very valuable when the answer occurred to him. It was blindingly obvious really...
'Because there are so few Parselmouths?' Harry confirmed his theory.
Severus ceased caressing Sasu, 'Yes. Even if the trait were more common, it doesn't usually occur in the type of person that is inclined to want to keep in close contact with another,' he snorted, 'Just look at Voldemort for example.'
Harry eyed his father cannily, 'But we can take advantage of Sakuna and Sasu's link.'
Severus smirked, 'Precisely. From now on, whenever you leave Hogwarts' grounds, Sakuna will go with you. That way, if anything was happen to you, Sakuna would be able to contact Sasu, who would in turn inform me.'
Both snakes had raised their heads and were nodding their agreement.
Harry found it odd that the snakes were so adamant about protecting Harry when they had only met a short time previously. He thought for a moment, remembering his momentary dizziness when Sakuna had looked him in the eyes.
'Pater,' he mused, 'You mentioned earlier that quetzalcoatl had many interesting magical qualities.'
Severus nodded and Harry continued, 'Is one of those qualities the ability to bond with their owner?'
Severus smiled, 'Indeed. I'm sure you felt it when Sakuna bonded with you. It is a most intriguing sensation.'
Harry contemplated this for a moment then nodded decisively, 'I'll agree to take Sakuna with me wherever I go on one condition.'
Severus looked up in indignation, 'What? No conditions, Harry. You'll-'
Harry interrupted his father before he could be given an ultimatum, 'I'll take Sakuna with me wherever I go, provided Sasu goes with you every where *you* go.'
Severus was about to reply when Sasu beat him to it. She lifted her head and stretched towards Harry.
'Assssuredly,' she hissed.
Severus glared at his familiar. Harry laughed and about his neck, Sakuna hissed in delight.
TBC
AN: I don't know where the snakes came from. They just slithered their way into my story some time last night. Oh well. They're firmly encamped now. I can't be bothered trying to oust them.
Ok, that was officially a warped chapter. I guess the last half's there because that little package Sev picked up in Knockturn Alley made itself prominent, and because I wasn't ready for school to start yet... I'm working on that chapter now. Kind of.
Anyway, I thought this chapter was a little.... well, weak would be the word I'm looking for....
Mikee: Yeah, poor Remy. Not sure what's going on there, but I'm quite likely to form a lynching mob if Siri doesn't apologise. You're all welcome to join the fun....
Lee Lee: *trembles at the thought of getting stuck between a pissed off Sev and a pissed of Siri* well that explains why Harry didn't say much....
kristy: I think that had I killed someone I would have been in deep kimchee.
nsngirl: Severus was always going to get off easier in a confrontation between him and Sirius. And about Severus's father? I kinda slipped up *had* to make him weak. Severus and James had to like him enough to name Harry after him....
Lisa: yes, Sirius's reaction isn't over yet. I don't yet know what he's going to do. For the Remus-Sirius thing you can thank one of my earlier reviewers, Lali. She made a good point.
hermionegranger: amazing as always? *grins stupidly* thank you!
gwendolyn-flight: I do love a good evil cackle. And who cares if you wake everybody up. ^_~
Pagan witch: *swipes brow* I was considering leaving of writing altogether if I ended up compared to Pettigrew. Are you short? All the craziest people who tried to take over the world were short: Hitler, Napoleon.... Heh. Tell your flatmate that I talk out loud too. Often to the characters in the story when they don't do what I want....
M. F. Luder: Studying? What is this.... studying? =P If Remus loves Sirius, it's a lost cause. In this fic, Sirius is (as far as I know) straight. And he needs to be thwapped upside the head.
Tantz: Yes, Severus and Sirius really do need to talk, but not just yet I don't think. How's about we take away their wands in lock them in a cupboard together? On second thoughts, maybe not...
Sailor Millennium: Hey! You kidnapped Dray and Harry! I demand that you return them to me at once! Erm... *cough*cough* Sorry about that. Draco may or may not be changing. Haven't decided yet. Anyways that won't come until the sequel, regardless.
So, now on with the next chapter:
Chapter Seventeen: Ancient gods from distant lands
As he pounded down the halls, Severus was well aware that he had left the animagus still stupefied. For all he cared the mutt could stay that way indefinitely.
Severus was breathing heavily, all out of proportion with the energy he had expended. The last time he had been this angry had been the night James and Lily had died, that Halloween almost fourteen years ago.
Severus had promised himself that he would try to deal with Sirius for Harry's sake.
He had failed miserably.
He simply could not move beyond his own dislike and mistrust of the man. Ever since their first day at school, Sirius had pitted himself against Severus, seeming to believe that as a Gryffindor, he required an enemy in Slytherin. In every prank that Sirius and his friends had pulled on Severus, his intent had seemed especially malicious.
If it had never gone beyond that, Severus could readily have survived. But then had come the incident with the Whomping Willow. Severus had nearly died as a result of that 'prank' instigated by Black. If James hadn't saved him, Severus would not have survived that night and his blood would have been on the hands of Remus. Black hadn't even stopped to consider the possible consequences of his actions: he could have landed one of his best friends in Azkaban before they ever graduated.
In the years after, Severus had learnt to tolerate the mention of his name, if only for the sakes of James and Lily. Remus, he had come to like over time, but he had never even attempted to like Black, even though he had been James's best friend. James had always loved Sirius like a brother but had never found the words to tell him that he was gay.
James had once gathered the courage to tell Sirius of his sexual preference, but had backed off when Sirius had made some poorly thought-out derogatory remark about homosexuals. After that, James had drawn away from Sirius, but Black had never noticed. He had been oblivious to the distance that now stood between James and himself.
Severus could see how lying to his best friend was hurting James, and he blamed only Sirius for it. And this only served to anger Severus more. But he had always tolerated Black's existence because James still loved him regardless.
Then had come the blow that Severus could never forgive.
James and Lily had chosen Sirius to be their Secret Keeper and Severus had conceded, deciding to trust in his husband's judgement of his best friend.
There was nothing he regretted more. When he had arrived at Godric's Hollow that Halloween night to find nothing left, he had vowed to kill Black if he ever layed hands on him again. He had desperately wanted to feel the man's windpipe collapse under his bare hands.
Sick of storming through the halls, Severus stopped in a window aperture. He braced his hands against the cold stone, hoping in vain that it would cool his hot rage.
Even years later when Sirius was proven to be innocent of dealing James and Lily death, Severus could not bring himself to forgive him. It didn't matter to Severus that Black hadn't directly betrayed them: he had been the one to convince them to make Pettigrew their Secret Keeper in his place, and in Severus's eyes, that made Black as guilty as if he had cast the killing curse himself. How anyone could ask Severus to forgive Black when he couldn't even forgive himself was beyond his comprehension.
Intellectually, Severus knew he was being unjust, but he simply didn't care. James and Lily and Harry had meant the world to him, and in one fell swoop, Fate and Sirius Black had conspired to take them away from him.
And simply to add insult to already grievous injury, when Harry had found out that Sirius hadn't been James and Lily's Secret Keeper, the man had taken the place in Harry's life that was rightfully Severus's: He became the only father figure Harry knew. Severus had hated the fact that throughout Harry's fourth year, the boy had been communicating with Black, turning to him for advice. And then to see his son taking comfort from the great mangy mutt lying on his hospital bed after the Tournament, and knowing that that mutt was really Black....
One hand balled into a fist on the cold stone of the windowsill. Severus had thought he would take great delight in rubbing Black's face in the fact that Harry was *his* son when he finally found out. All it had done was stir up feelings of anger and regret he would have rathered leave alone.
Beyond the warm glass, bounding down the lawn, Severus saw a great black dog retreating from the castle. He smiled, rather grimly. At least he wouldn't have to deal with Sirius again any time soon, if ever again. Now that Black had been told, Severus intended to keep himself as far away from the animagus as possible.
If he could, he would even have considered denying Harry the right to see him. But he knew he couldn't: as much as he hated it, Black was Harry's godfather and that was the way James had wanted it. He could only be satisfied with keeping his own distance.
In a deep pocket of his robes, nestled against his ribs, the tightly wrapped parcel shifted and Severus placed a soothing hand on it. It seemed the spell had worn off. And damn Black for that as well. Now he had to search out his son instead of having the boy with him in the first place.
'Harry, what do you think you are doing up there?'
Harry looked up to see his father cautiously approaching the low wall that bounded the top of the tower on which Severus had finally found him. Harry was sitting in one of the large crenellations, tucked up with his feet braced against the stonework of one side and his back braced against the other.
'Thinking,' Harry shrugged.
'What is so particular about *there* that you would chose it to think from?' Severus inquired from the exact centre of the tower top, where he had retreated.
Harry stared at him, then laughed in realisation, 'You don't like heights.'
Severus drew his already erect self stiffly up right, 'I have nothing at all against heights,' his shoulders sagged ever so slightly, 'Provided I am at the bottom of them. Now get down from that ridiculously precarious position and come over here. I have something to show you.'
Severus gestured at a small, elaborately carved casket that floated on the air behind him. Harry hadn't noticed it previously. He slipped from the wall and padded over to his father.
'What is it?'
'Something I was fortunate enough to pick up in Knockturn Alley,' Severus levitated the casket to chest height in front of him and flipped open the lid, obscuring Harry's view of the contents, 'I hope you have not been neglecting your language skills.'
Harry thought it odd for his father to make such a comment. It had even sounded.... strange....
It was only when Harry saw what Severus lifted from the casket that he realised his father hadn't been speaking English....
'You're a Parselmouth too!' he exclaimed.
Severus was holding in either arm two snakes that were far too big to have emerged from a casket no bigger than Harry's two fists. At least, Harry thought they were snakes. They were certainly the most unusual specimens Harry had ever seen. They were as long as Severus's hand and forearm. Their heads and first third of their lengths were covered in bright plumage, one in shades of blue and purple, the other in shades of red and gold. Most unusually of all, from the midst of the plumage sprouted wings.
Banishing the casket with a thought, Severus turned and slanted Harry a sarcastic look, 'Where did you think you had gotten it from?'
'Well.... Dumbledore said that it was because Voldemort transferred some his own powers to me,' Harry went almost crossed eyed in a vain attempt to see his mouth. The words had come out in a series of sibilants hisses and Harry realised he had unconsciously spoken in Parseltongue.
Severus was completely unfazed by the language. He snorted, 'And you swallowed that pap?'
Harry bristled in his own defence, 'Well it's not exactly like I knew who my father was.'
Severus paused for a moment before responding, 'Touche.'
The purple-and-blue plumaged snake reared its head from Severus's arm. It's tongue flickered and it spoke in a distinctly feminine tone, 'Asss entertaining asss thisss isss, Ssseverusss....'
Harry hastily stifled a snicker. A snake had just told his father off.
Severus glared down at the snake wrapped about his left forearm, 'I was *about* to introduce you, you impatient little reptile.'
The tongue flickered again, and if snakes could smile, Harry would have sworn this one was smirking. Severus glowered blackly at her and turned back to Harry.
'Harry, may I introduce you to Sasu,' he raised his left arm with the purple and blue snake. She regally inclined her head in Harry's direction, 'and Sakuna,' the right arm rose, 'Sakuna is to be your.... familiar, if you will.'
The red-and-gold plumaged snake, whose name was evidently Sakuna, unwounded itself from Severus's arm and lifted into the air. The wings barely stirred as it drifted over to Harry.
Harry stared into its silver eyes. For a moment, the world spun about him. When it settled again, it seemed there was something *else* there. Whatever it was, Harry couldn't lay his finger on it at the moment. In somewhat of an awed daze, his raised his arm and allowed the snake to settle about his wrist.
'Pleased to meet you,' he murmured.
The snake raised its head until its eyes were level with Harry's face. Its tongue flickered out and ghosted over Harry's features. Having tasted him, the snake drew back a ways.
'The pleasssure'sss all mine,' it hissed, and Harry realised Sakuna was male.
Harry allowed Sakuna to wind his way up until he was draped about his neck. He turned back to his father.
Severus was watching Harry interact with the snake. When he saw that he had Harry's attention again, he spoke.
'Sasu and Sakuna are quetzalcoatl-'
Harry interrupted, 'Wasn't Quetzalcoatl an Aztec god?'
Severus nodded in approval, 'The Winged Serpent. The quetzalcoatl snakes originate from Central America. They have many fascinating magical qualities, which I will expect you to learn as you come to know Sakuna better.'
Harry almost groaned. Was there ever a time that Severus stopped trying to teach Harry something? Severus smirked slightly and continued.
'The thing that sets Sasu and Sakuna above most other quetzalcoatl, however, is that they are twins - born from the same egg.'
Harry looked singularly blank at this little snippet, and Severus fought a sigh, 'When two quetzalcoatl are born from the same egg, they share a telepathic link. This pair can communicate mind-to-mind, instantly and over any distance. There is yet to be a spell found that could block it.
'This phenomenon is incredibly rare, but not considered very valuable....' Severus trailed off and ran a finger down Sasu's plumage. The snake leant into the caress and slitted her eyes in pleasure.
Harry shifted impatiently. He was about to ask why it wasn't considered very valuable when the answer occurred to him. It was blindingly obvious really...
'Because there are so few Parselmouths?' Harry confirmed his theory.
Severus ceased caressing Sasu, 'Yes. Even if the trait were more common, it doesn't usually occur in the type of person that is inclined to want to keep in close contact with another,' he snorted, 'Just look at Voldemort for example.'
Harry eyed his father cannily, 'But we can take advantage of Sakuna and Sasu's link.'
Severus smirked, 'Precisely. From now on, whenever you leave Hogwarts' grounds, Sakuna will go with you. That way, if anything was happen to you, Sakuna would be able to contact Sasu, who would in turn inform me.'
Both snakes had raised their heads and were nodding their agreement.
Harry found it odd that the snakes were so adamant about protecting Harry when they had only met a short time previously. He thought for a moment, remembering his momentary dizziness when Sakuna had looked him in the eyes.
'Pater,' he mused, 'You mentioned earlier that quetzalcoatl had many interesting magical qualities.'
Severus nodded and Harry continued, 'Is one of those qualities the ability to bond with their owner?'
Severus smiled, 'Indeed. I'm sure you felt it when Sakuna bonded with you. It is a most intriguing sensation.'
Harry contemplated this for a moment then nodded decisively, 'I'll agree to take Sakuna with me wherever I go on one condition.'
Severus looked up in indignation, 'What? No conditions, Harry. You'll-'
Harry interrupted his father before he could be given an ultimatum, 'I'll take Sakuna with me wherever I go, provided Sasu goes with you every where *you* go.'
Severus was about to reply when Sasu beat him to it. She lifted her head and stretched towards Harry.
'Assssuredly,' she hissed.
Severus glared at his familiar. Harry laughed and about his neck, Sakuna hissed in delight.
TBC
AN: I don't know where the snakes came from. They just slithered their way into my story some time last night. Oh well. They're firmly encamped now. I can't be bothered trying to oust them.
Ok, that was officially a warped chapter. I guess the last half's there because that little package Sev picked up in Knockturn Alley made itself prominent, and because I wasn't ready for school to start yet... I'm working on that chapter now. Kind of.
Anyway, I thought this chapter was a little.... well, weak would be the word I'm looking for....