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Tangled Relations

Chapter 13 - Hogsmead

Harry knew that most of the students were already in Hogsmead so he made his way to the portrait of the witch with the hump. He walked quickly through the tunnel and cautiously climbed out of the door into Honeydukes. He then blended in with the crowds of students and purchased several chocolate frogs before heading out onto the street. He figured he might find Ron at his brothers' joke shop so he headed there first. When he entered he went strait to the counter to talk to Fred (or was it George).

"Harry, partner, buddy, how's it going?"

"Fine, I'm fine. Have you seen Ron around?"

"Yea, he was just here. I think he was heading to the Three Broomsticks. Would you like a box of our newest inventions?"

"Sure", he said, taking the offered box, waving, and walking down the road. He could see Ron's red hair and Hermione's bushy brown hair just up ahead. Instead of running he decided to yell. "Ron, Hermione!! Over here"

They glanced back and he saw the realization dawn on their faces. They stopped to let him catch up.

"Harry, where have you been? You never came back from your detention Friday night. We went to the headmaster and he said that everything was fine and that he'd make sure you made it to Hogsmead today."

Harry smiled, "Everything's fine. I'll explain later. Someplace a little more private. Come on, I have shopping to do."

Ron and Harry talked about the upcoming quidditch match with Hufflepuff as Hermione kept talking about how they should start writing their essays for charms when they get back. Harry stopped them as he noticed a jewelry store he hadn't noticed before.

"I'd like to look around in here guys."

He walked in and looked around for the perfect gift for his grandmother. 'Wow, that sounds weird' he thought. He spotted a brilliant emerald broach that seemed to sparkle even when it wasn't in the light. Uncle Severus said that she had the same green eyes as him and his mom so this would match her eyes well. He bought the broach and showed it to Hermione who thought that it was spectacular.

Harry decided he should go ahead and tell Ron and Hermione everything that had happened this past week so he told them to follow him to the shrieking shack. Once they were there they climbed in through a whole in one of the boarded up doors. Harry put up a silencing charm and they all sat down on the floor.

Harry told them everything about his mom being Snape's twin sister and about the adoption. He knew he was practically radiating happiness as he told them about his uncle welcoming him to the family and about him apologizing for being mean. He then told them about the vision he had and that he had spent the night in the hospital wing with his uncle. And then he told them about playing chess and reading yesterday. Hermione was practically in tears by the end of the story and Ron was in shock. Hermione recovered first.

"Oh Harry, I'm so happy for you. A real family . . . So the broach is for your grandmother?"

Harry grinned, "Yea, I can't wait to meet her. Now I just have to get something for Uncle Severus."

Ron was still dazed, "Who?"

"Really Ron, Professor Snape."

"Oh, I.. Are you sure Harry? I mean, you don't act like him or anything. Are you sure about this?"

Harry sent Ron a glare to rival one of Snape's "I'm sure."

"Well Harry, I reckon you might be right. You got that glare down. Bloody Hell. I don't need both of you glaring at me."

"Sorry Ron. Maybe one day you'll get to see the side of him that I've seen this past week. Then maybe you'll understand. Well, I still need to get him a Christmas gift. Any ideas?"

"Well I think he would enjoy a good book."

"That's our Hermione." Ron snickered, "Why don't you get him some shampoo?"

"RON!!"

"What Hermione, he needs it."

"RON!! Apologizes NOW!"

Harry held up his hands, "It's alright guys. I'll find something myself. We should probably split up so we can buy things for each other anyway."

"You're right Harry. Let's go before it's too late."

The trio crawled back out of the shack and went their separate ways through the town. Harry looked at the apothecary but figured that his uncle probably had everything in there already. He went into an antique store where he found a great antique quaffle that he bought for Ron and an old book on protective charms that he bought for Hermione.

He didn't see anything that Uncle Severus would want so he moved on. He wanted to get him something practical not just something that would litter the room. While his uncle's rooms weren't bare, everything that was there had a use. 'What doesn't Severus Snape have that he needs?', Harry mused. He finally ended up at a pet shop. He looked around not really expecting to find anything, but he liked looking at the animals anyway. He was watching some dancing rats when he heard someone crying in the back. He followed the sound and was surprised when it ended at a small cage with a runespoor. Harry had learned about these magnificent creatures from Hagrid. This one actually still had all three heads.

~Hello, why are you crying?~ Harry asked.

The left head answered, ~A human that can speak to us? Maybe you can help us. Sallisa keeps crying because she's depressed. Serticus and I are fine.~

Harry looked confused. ~Who is Sallisa?~

~The one in the middle.~

Harry had caught on now. It appeared that the three heads all had separate names. 'That wasn't in the book.'

~What is wrong Sallisa?~

The middle head picked up and met his green eyes. ~Serticus doesn't like me. All she does is criticize and ignore me.~

~Why do you ignore her Serticus?~

~I don't, it's just in her head.~

Harry had to keep himself from chuckling. ~I won't ignore any of you. Would you mind if I bought you? You would be a perfect gift for my uncle. He is a potions master and he can use your eggs for potions.~

All three answered at once, ~yes, please buy us. We may never meet another who can speak to us.~

~Okay, come with me.~

Harry turned around to see a group of about thirty students standing around staring at him and the runespoor. He ignored them and walked up to the counter. The clerk hadn't come around yet so Harry rang the bell on the counter.

"Yes sir? What can I do for you?"

"I'll take this one please."

"Are you sure? Well, I suppose if you can talk to it, it won't bite you. That will be 50 galleons."

Harry handed over the money and left the store to meet back up with Ron and Hermione. It didn't take him long because when he walked out of the store he could see them running up the street.

"What are you doing? Talking to snakes in public like that. Have you gone blimey?"

"Why not Ron? Everyone knows I'm a parselmouth."

"But still, I heard someone say that You-Know-Who used to go in there and talk to the snakes too. You don't want people thinking you're the next dark lord do you?"

"Really Ron. Me, the Boy-Who-Lived, the next dark lord? You're the one who's gone blimey."

"Come on boys. Let's just head back to the school. We all know you're not the next Voldemort."

"Thanks Hermione."

Harry told the runespoor where they were going and put it in its cage as they walked back. Harry was relieved when they got back up into the tower. He put the cage on his bed and told Siperna, the left head, who seems to make all the decisions, not to go anywhere or bite anything. With that said he headed back down to the dungeons to check on his uncle.

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