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Chapter 4: Slips and Snakes

Oh bloody hell, Harry thought as he watched Snape's normally pallid face tinge a soft rose shade. He looked much healthier for it, though his thinned, white lips contrasted oddly with the newfound color in his face.

"Get out, Potter." Snape was clearly making an effort to keep his temper under control.

Harry dashed to the door, ready to escape Snape's wrath.

Before reaching the door, however, Harry steeled his nerves and turned to face Snape. Surely he was already expelled, he might as well have his say.

Harry looked Snape directly in the eye. "I did what I had to do and you know it. Good day Professor." With that, Harry turned around and walked calmly away.

Harry's heart was racing rapidly, but he certainly wasn't about to let Snape have the satisfaction of knowing that he could affect him like that. He was an adult now, the last person who could have been almost like a parent to him was dead, at Harry's own hand, and it was time that he stopped acting like a silly child.

Harry stopped when he reached the entrance hall. It was too soon to go to Hagrid's. Harry really didn't feel like explaining what just happened to the half-giant, and if he came so soon, Hagrid would know that something was up.

Harry decided he would visit Hedwig. Before making his way to the Owlery, Harry stopped by his room and threw a roll of parchment, a quill, and a bottle of ink into a bag and slung it over his shoulder. He figured he really ought to write to Ron and Hermione, if for no other reason than the fact that it would be easier to explain to them that he managed to get expelled from Hogwarts once they were aware that Harry was currently residing at Hogwarts.

Harry wondered what Dumbledore's reaction to all of this would be. He had only seen the headmaster briefly the night he arrived, before Snape had sent him to wait outside. Would Dumbledore let him stay at Hogwarts, in some capacity or another? Harry certainly hoped so. The thought of having his wand snapped and returning to the Dursleys' was almost too much to bear.

Harry fingered his wand lovingly. He had grown quite attached to his wand. He really didn't think it was right that his wand should be broken for something he did.

Dumbledore would certainly be disappointed with him. In retrospect, Harry was fairly certain that the headmaster had had at least some inkling of what Ron, Hermione, and himself had been up to, and would have been more amused than upset by their actions had Harry not gotten caught.

Really, Dumbledore would have made an excellent Slytherin, Harry mused.

Harry spotted Hedwig as he entered the Owlery. She was asleep, so Harry decided to write his letters first.

Harry walked to the far end of the room and sat down, his back against the wall. He pulled out his writing materials and a book to use as a surface for writing on.

Harry decided to write to Ron first, and he chewed on the end of his quill as he debated what he should say.

'Dear Ron, I'm at Hogwarts now. I just got here last night, but Snape's talking to Dumbledore and having me expelled right now. I wouldn't be surprised if he tried to get you and Hermione expelled as well while he's at it. Hope your summer is going well. -Harry' just didn't sound quite right somehow.

Harry sincerely hoped that he hadn't gotten his friends in trouble as well. He would take the blame himself if possible. Keeping his mouth shut and being force fed Veritasserum would surely have been more incriminating for all. Harry highly doubted that Snape would have limited his questioning to the issue at hand. Harry shuddered at the thought.

Harry dipped his quill in the jar of ink he had brought, and began writing his letter.

Dear Ron,

How are you? Sorry I haven't been able to write much this summer, you know how the Muggles are. Anyway, that's what I'm writing about,

Harry paused mid-sentence, frowning. Was he allowed to tell Ron and Hermione he was here? Would this information be considered politically sensitive? He should ask Dumbledore about that. In the meantime, he would just have to be discreet. Harry crumpled the parchment he had been writing on into a ball and started on a fresh piece.

Dear Ron,

How are you? Sorry I haven't been able to write much this summer, you know how the Muggles are. Anyway, I should be able to write freely for the rest of the

summer.

Harry stopped again. That was far too subtle for Ron. Hermione should be able to pick up on his meaning though. Harry tore off the bit of parchment he had written on and crumpled that up as well. Harry was beginning to wonder if one role of parchment was going to be enough.

Harry decided to leave Ron's letter for later.

Dear Hermione,

How has your summer been? Studying much, I presume. Sorry I haven't been able to write often, you know how the Dursleys can be. I should be able to write freely for the remainder of the summer holidays though. Dumbledore has decided that I should continue with my studies from last year, so I've been working on that a bit. I have to go and help take care of some new pets now. Write back soon.

-Harry

That should be enough for Hermione to figure out where he was. She would also pass the information on to Ron, if she could do so safely. Ron could be more than a tad thick at times. He was a wonderful strategist, but logical deduction was simply not his forte.

After drawing this conclusion, Harry's letter to Ron proved much simpler to write.

Ron,

Hey mate! How's your summer been? Sorry I haven't been able to write much. My summer has taken an interesting turn, I'll tell you all about it next time I see you. Can't write much now- you know how it is. Anyway, let me know how you've been.

-Harry

Harry then went over to Hedwig, and petted her gently. Hedwig hooted indignantly at being woken, but nipped Harry's finger gently to show that she wasn't mad.

"Hey girl," Harry said.

Hedwig hooted in response.

"I need you to take these to Ron and Hermione, please," Harry said, ever polite.

Hedwig blinked in acknowledgement, and Harry tied the scrolls to her leg.

Hedwig nipped Harry's finger once more and hooted as she took off through one of the many large Owlery windows.

* * *

Harry approached Hagrid's hut a bit warily. He steeled his nerves for the second time that day and knocked on the door. He was immediately answered by Fang's barking, closely followed by Hagrid's approaching footsteps and the door being pulled open.

"Harry, good of yeh to come," Hagrid greeted Harry, slapping him on the shoulder as he did so. The force of Hagrid's clap on the shoulder didn't quite cause Harry's knees to buckle, as it once would have done. Harry had grown a number of inches over the summer, although he was still a bit short for his age.

"Hey Hagrid," Harry greeted as he entered the cabin.

"Have a seat and I'll make you a cuppa tea," the half-giant said.

Harry sat down and looked around the room as Hagrid bustled about.

In one corner, Harry noticed a cage which contained creatures he had never seen nor heard tell of before. They had long, slithering bodies, forked tongues, and about a hundred stubby legs with splayed feet.

"Are they venomous?" Harry asked as Hagrid set down a tray with the tea, two mugs, and a plate of rock cakes.

"Oh, yes, very," said Hagrid proudly. "They're fangs are growin' in real nice. And they have little suckers at the bottoms of their feet that let them attach to things- those are poisonous too," Hagrid said cheerfully.

Harry didn't want to know how Hagrid had discovered that his little snakes, for lack of a better name, were quite so venomous.

"What are they, exactly?" Harry asked, not quite sure he wanted to hear the answer.

"They're a cross between snakes and centipedes," Hagrid answered, "I was hopin' you might be able to talk to 'em."

"Sure, I'll give it a shot," said Harry.

Hagrid beamed.

Harry walked over to the cage containing the creatures he had dubbed serpedes. There were about two dozen of them in the cage.

Harry looked down at the creatures, and one of the little snakes looked back at him. He suddenly felt the pangs of hunger, although he really wasn't hungry at all.

"Hello, little one," Harry hissed. He was pretty sure he hadn't spoken in English.

Harry felt another semi-dissociated pang of hunger before hearing a reply.

"Hungry," the little snake hissed.

"What's 'e sayin'?" Hagrid asked excitedly, as he joined Harry by the cage.

"I think this one's hungry," Harry responded, as he tried to prevent the smirk he was feeling from finding expression on his face.