**Goodness me, I think this is the fastest update for months! Aren't you pleased?

New Disclaimer: All references of and towards Xera and the Dryads belong to David Eddings, master of fantasy. Do not sue me for their use. Oh yeah, and Harry Potter's not mine either.

Thanks all who reviewed, though I think some chickened out once they read about the Blood Bond. CHICKENS!

I know there was something else I meant to say – OH yeah! Thanks to Reignbow and Phoenix Flight for the use of their Snake names! And for those who have not been used yet, do not despair. I mean to use them all before the end. Well, maybe all.

This chapter is a rest chapter, a chance for me to write something that doesn't put a character in mortal danger. As fun as that is, it's tiring!! So sit back relax, and try to laugh! **

…

"God, you two look awful." Hermione greeted them as they made their way over to the Gryffindor table in Great Hall.

"We had a little trouble sleeping," said Ron, glancing at Harry.

Harry made a face at him. 'A little' was somewhat of an understatement. How he was going to get through the days lessons was beyond him.

Harry had spent the rest of the night going through the vast encyclopaedia in his head for all the faces of Ron's family. It felt odd, now that he knew what having a family was like, not having one.

Ron, on the other hand, had lain awake trying to remember all the Harry had learned during the last week of the holidays.

Unfortunately, he didn't seem to have Harry's memory powers. The spells, charms and curses trickled away as fast as he could recall them. 

Only the main events of Harry's life so far stood out in his memory, as did Ron's in Harry's mind.

One thing was for sure, if either of them were ever to play another game of chess against each other, it would end in complete stalemate.

"Were you up all night talking?" Hermione accused them, buttering her toast.

"Er... sort of," said Ron.

"Well, you're not the only ones who didn't sleep," said Fred, sitting opposite Ron, George by his side as per usual.

"Why?" asked Harry.

George nodded towards the first year Gryffindor girls. All six of them looked completely exhausted, especially little Sarah Pordell, who had rings around her eyes to rival Remus Lupin on a bad day.

"Poor kid," Ron muttered, grabbing a hot cross bun.

"Those are rather out of season, don't you think?" said Hermione, looking at the plate.

"Doesn't bother me," Ron said, spreading marmalade all over it, while yawning explicitly.

"Yuck, Ron, I can see what you had for dinner!" said Fred, in mock horror.

"Post has come and gone," said George, with a wink at Harry, who came alert at once.

"What happened?"

"Nothing. All the teachers had their wands out, but nothing came for you, don't worry."

Harry didn't really pay any attention to the rest of the conversation. He nearly fell asleep in his cornflakes as it was, and he tried to concentrate on staying awake until the bell rang for Care of Magical Creatures.

Hagrid was waiting for them by his hut. The Slytherins were already there.

"Come on now!" said Hagrid excitedly to the Gryffindors. "You all right there Harry?"

"Yeah, yeah," said Harry, rubbing his eyes.

"Righ' then," said their teacher as they all clustered together in their respective houses, each keeping their distance from the other. "Got a great lesson lined up fer ye today…"

"That's what he said last time," Malfoy could be heard saying from the back. "And look what happened then."

Despite it only being the first time Harry had heard Malfoy's voice since term had started, he still felt a prickle on the back of his neck as the cold slime of the words slid over him.

"Tha's enough, now, Malfoy," said Hagrid, his eyes twinkling. "Round the back now, all of ye."

Rather dubiously, Harry, Ron and Hermione led the way around the back of Hagrid's cabin. What they all saw made both houses stop in shock.

…

…

…

"Oh, hello!"

It was the tiniest young woman any of them had ever seen. She wore what appeared to be a belted tunic and sandals.

Her hair was a tawny colour, her grey eyes were curious, and her pale skin had a faint greenish hue to it.

In her left hand she carried a strung bow with an arrow held to it. She wasn't pointing it at any one in particular, but the tip of the arrowhead was sharp enough to look a little menacing.

She sat gracefully on a grassy knoll. The tunic showed rather a lot of leg, not to mention certain other things.

"Aren't there a lot of you," she exclaimed happily, though there was a tone in her voice Harry didn't like. "And all so beautiful!"

"This is Xera," Hagrid announced to the stupefied students. "She's a Dryad."

"Oh, they know that!" said Xera. "Don't you?"

Everyone just stared at her.

"Oh," she said. "I suppose not."

"Xera lives in one of the forests in the Norwegian mountains," went on Hagrid. "She decided to visit me a couple of weeks ago. "

Xera got up and made her way up to Seamus Finnegan. She only came up to his chest, but Seamus backed away from her until he bumped into Lavender Brown.

"I like this one," she said, her voice almost a purr. "Can I have it?"

"No, Xera," Hagrid said patiently.

Seamus had gone white, and he looked up at Hagrid in horror. He tried to speak, but it just came out as a croak. His view of the little woman's body shape was a lot clearer now she was so close.

"Hmm…" said Xera. "I'm not sure I like it all that much, actually. It's voice sounds like a frog."

She moved down the immobile line of students. She stopped in front of Draco Malfoy, and made a face.

"I don't like this at all," she said. "It's little and yellowy. It looks like a leaf could squash it."

Crabbe and Goyle flexed their muscles at this, but were stopped instantaneously when Xera turned away, certain areas of her tunic moving interestingly.

The next boy she stopped at was, surprisingly, Harry. She put her hands on her hips and looked straight at him.

Small as he was, Harry and Xera were almost eye to eye.

"This one's skinny too," she contemplated. "But I like its eyes."

Ron, standing next to Harry, choked incomprehensively.

Xera looked up at him, taking in his long nose on his rapidly reddening face, which was clashing horribly with his hair.

She giggled. "This one's funny," she said. "Can I have it?"

"You most certainly may not!" said a voice that was very familiar, and very irritated.

Xera looked up, straight at Hermione. She held up her bow, but before she could do any fatal damage with it, Hagrid said, "Righ then. Books out everyone. Xera, give 'em a hand."

Hagrid had set up the benches they had used with the Skrewts the previous year, and they all sat down and opened their 'Monster Book of Monsters'.

Harry was pleased to see that Malfoy was red in the face and spluttering from his own encounter with the Dryad.

Serves him right, the git, he thought.

~ What? ~

Harry jumped. He could have sworn that someone had just spoken from above his head.

Convinced he must have imagined it, Harry went back to pretending to copy notes on Dryads from his book while really watching the little red headed woman flit from bench to bench, ignoring all the female students and making seducing comments to all the boys.

"The Dryads are decreasing in numbers, due to the fact that there are no males of their kind." Hermione read aloud. "For reproduction, they are forced to catch human males. If the male does not please them, they will exterminate it."

She looked up at the small bow and arrow in Xera's hands. "Well, that explains a lot," she said with malice. "Why did she have to come here? She's even worse than the Skrewts."

"I think that's going just a little far, Hermione," said Ron, keeping his head down to hide his slowly fading blush. "At least Xera can't shoot fire out of her behind."

"I wouldn't put it past her," said Hermione, still irritated, but looking back at the book.

"A Dryad lives only and as long as her tree, which sprouts at the same moment they are born. This can be up to thousands of years, depending on the size and species of tree."

"Oak," said a voice right behind Harry.

He spun round only to find himself faced with Xera the Dryad, smiling girlishly into his face.

"What?" he spluttered.

"He's an oak tree, back in the mountains. I miss him. I'll probably go back in a week or so."

"Good riddance," Harry heard Hermione mutter.

"How do you know Hagrid?" Harry asked quickly, in case Xera had heard. "I didn't think he'd been anywhere near Norway in his life."

"Of course he has," Xera laughed. "He only came for the first time a month ago. He came to see Helanthion and the others."

"Sorry?"

The Dryad sighed. "Giants. They've lived in our forest for a while. Not as long as me."

"Giants?" exclaimed Ron. "You mean, the giants?"

Xera shrugged. "Maybe."

"So who's Hel… Hela…"

"Helanthion. He's the main giant. I like him."

Hermione blanched, very noticeably. Xera laughed when she saw. "Not like that. They're far too big. Still, it might be interesting…"

Hermione scarpered, mumbling about having to ask Hagrid something.

As soon as she had left, Xera giggled and skipped over to the next bench, leaving Harry and Ron facing each other over their copies of 'A Monster Book of Monsters'. 

Harry watched her go, trying to ignore the more fascinating areas of her tunic.

Maybe Hermione was right, he thought. I think she is worse than the Skrewts.

~ Harry?~

Ok. That time he had definitely heard it. And it wasn't from above his head, as he had thought previously, it was from inside it.

He looked down to meet Ron's eyes.

"Was that you?" he whispered.

"That depends," Ron whispered back. "Was that you?"

Hello? Harry asked silently.

Ron jumped about three inches off the bench. "I don't believe it!" he croaked. "It worked!"

"What worked?" Hermione asked, sitting back down beside him.

"Oh, nothing," Ron said quickly.

Luckily, Hermione was too engrossed in complaining about Xera to press the issue.

"And then I asked Hagrid about the giants, and he just said that it was between him and Dumbledore! That's so typical of him isn't it? But my guess is that he went to see his mother, Fridwulfa, and ask all the giants if they want to be on our side this time."

We had already worked that out, Harry remarked. I wish she'd give it a rest. My head still hurts.

~ Don't you mean your hand? ~

Both.

There was a dull ache ensuing from the fresh scar running across his palm, like jungle drums.

~ I think she's kind of cute. ~  Ron told Harry as Hermione continued to prattle on. ~ Xera, that is. ~

You wouldn't say that if she had you cornered with that bow of hers.

~ I would if it would make her happy. ~

When at last they packed up their books at the end of the lesson, Hermione said, "Are you two okay? You've been awfully quiet all day."

Harry and Ron looked at each other.

"Yeah," said Ron.

"Sure," said Harry at the same time.

"I forbid you two to stay up late tonight," said Hermione, fingering her prefect badge with a smile.

It turned out that Harry and Ron were indeed, very quiet for the entire day.

When lessons were over and they made their way up to Gryffindor Tower, Ron asked Harry,  ~ What are you going to do about Sleeve? ~

What? Harry had forgotten just how much Ron knew. Namely, everything.

~ Sleeve. What are you going to do about him? ~

Oh, I don't think I need to do anything. He can take care of himself. I hope.

~ What about the other one? ~

Harry groaned inwardly. Ron heard, and laughed out loud.

"Now what is it?" Hermione demanded. "You two have been doing that all day, quiet as anything, and then shocking me with randomly laughing or whatever."

"We're just tired, Hermione," said Harry, while telling Ron, We need to work on this.

~ You're telling me. So, what are you going to do about that other snake? ~

Well for a start I have to name him so we don't have to keep to calling him 'that other snake'.

~ He is a he? ~

As far as I know. Any ideas?

They sank into chairs around a table in the common room. Hermione went upstairs to get extra parchment.

"I rather like Azrith," Ron said at last.

"Where did that come from?"

"I dunno. It just popped into my head, for some reason."

"Azrith… well, I guess it's as good as any. Keep up the random poppings - we might need them."

"Do you really think You-Know-Who will send any more?"

"It's likely."

"Where are you going to keep them all?"

"Don't ask me."

"What are you talking about?"

Harry jumped. Juliet Weasley had jumped in front of them all of a sudden, very nearly giving Ron a heart attack, as he felt shock that was not his own.

"Juliet!" Ron gasped. "Don't do that!"

The eleven year old grinned. "You're no fun anymore," she said. "You got old."

"It's called 'maturity'," Ron growled, sitting straight again.

"Ron, I hardly think that you can be called mature," said Fred, galloping over. "I, on the other hand, have been mature since I was born."

Everyone in hearing distance snorted loudly. Fred ignored them, and proceeded to hoist Juliet onto his shoulders. He balked under the weight, and the girl shrieked.

"Put me down now!"

Fred didn't need to be told twice. He relieved himself of his burden, flashed a smile, and walked off.

Harry realised for the first time that there was another girl standing behind the red head. She was small and dark with long black hair in plaits down her back.

"Oh, Sarah, have you met my cousin?" said Juliet, jovially. "Ron, this is Sarah Pordell. And this is Ron's best friend, Harry Potter."

Sarah's eyes widened considerably at Harry's name. Ron looked properly at her, and remembered a dream from a couple of months back. Harry had been right. Sarah Pordell did indeed look just like her mother.

…

…

…

The next day was more than a complete disaster. The first problem was that the brown owl reappeared at breakfast that morning. It carried a completely black envelope in its claws.

Before Harry could even move, Wendy blasted it backwards out of the window, then waved at him jovially across the hall.

The first thing Harry did when he got to Defence Against the Dark Arts that morning was have a whispered conversation with his teacher who had so embarrassed him during breakfast.

In the end, Wendy agreed to letting Harry sit in on that morning's lesson, besides, she said, she didn't have her little metal ball any more.

When faced with the question as to why she had thought that Harry wouldn't find out about the shields sooner or later, she replied simply, "Oh well, I guess I didn't think about it."

Harry, on the other hand, decided early on that he'd have been decidedly better off with another round from the metal ball.

The first thing Wendy did was insist that he show the class his shield. This caused several accidents among the class involving vanishing chair legs, spilt ink and broken quills.

Hermione, quite promptly, fainted, and had to be revived by setting Neville's broken quill alight and waving it under her nose.

When she saw that Ron obviously wasn't surprised by Harry's remarkable feat of power, she berated them both so thoroughly that they both decided that a duel with Wendy would be preferable to it.

("I KNEW it! I KNEW you were hiding something from me – THAT'S what you were talking about all Monday night –")

This was perhaps lucky, as Professor Little next announced that this was precisely what she was about to do, this time, with Harry.

This was no big shock to Harry, considering Wendy's sick sense of humour, but he really thought that she might have let off just by shocking them only once.

Luckily, she let him have his wand, for which he was grateful. He also stuck to the simpler spells and curses, ones even Neville had heard of. As a result of this, Harry lost, rather miserably.

"You let me win,"  Wendy accused him as the rest of the class filed out, chattering excitedly.

"So?" said Harry, glad that Hermione was already out in the corridor and out of ear shot. "I think that I ought to keep most things a secret for the moment. That way I can surprise my real opponents."

"All right," said Wendy. "But you're taking all the fun out of it. You've been talking to Remus too much."

And Sirius, said Harry silently.

~ Someone ought to tell her ~ Ron replied.

Don't look at me. Sirius can do it himself.

~ God help him. No one else will. ~

Harry didn't know anything solid about his lessons with Wendy and his Recitals with Remus, but after that lesson Wendy told him that both would commence the following Monday.

"Give you a chance to limber up before I start to pound you," she joked. "I want to see you reading in your spare time, mind. "

"Don't worry," Harry told her. "Hermione will pester me thoroughly enough that I won't even try to do anything else."

Both Harry and Ron slept through History of Magic. Completely ignoring Hermione's new 'no talking' rule, they had both been up late into the night, lying in bed, honing their telepathic skills to perfection.

Ron thought that to call it telepathy was annoying, because it sounded too 'Muggle'. Instead, he simply called it 'That Thing We Have'. It drove Harry mad, but he put up with it anyway.

Azrith had slithered off, much to Ron's disappointment, but Harry practised sending pictures by mind, which was fun and interesting once they got it right at last.

They also discovered that they could see through each other's eyes, like they had during the process that had made them blood brothers. This rather startled Harry the first time he tried, but they had a good practice at that too.

Then, at Ron's insistence, Harry had got out of bed at one o'clock in the morning to show him My Lord, Quill, and the little black snake that Ron christened Pitch.

As a result, neither of them had got a huge amount of sleep for the second night running.

After lunch, which was mostly spent trying not to listen to Hermione rave about Harry's silver shield, Harry and Ron ascended the tower to Professor Tralawny's Divination Classroom.

"Good day to you," said a voice from behind the purple mist.

Harry sat back in his armchair, and prepared himself for a long, boring ride.

…

Well, that's over. Thanks again to Reignbow and Pheonix Flight.

Kind of a short thanks list. I didn't give people time to review properly. **Grin**

Here Be Thanks:

Chaser

SlytherinAtHeart: Sorry about my spaces. However, I find it easier to read in this format, and several people I have asked say the same. Thanks for your review!

Adrianne

Me

August wind: I like keeping Hermione in the dark. It's more fun that way – wait till she finds out!

Riser: I don't know about acting differently, but they just might be thinking differently… get it? Get it?

FleccaHPfan: Well done, first prize to you.

Marie: Myrtle is a fun character to write. I really want to bring her into the story more.

Anonomus: I don't think third year counts, as he wasn't in any mortal danger. How do you mean, changed personalities? Please let me know so I can correct it, I am trying to keep them as much in character as possible!

Bananafanayou

Hrei-siesn

Ernie Prang

Beth Weasley

Jordan

Shells: Don't worry, it isn't never ending. It just doesn't have a coherent stop.

John: You like that too, huh?

Charma1219

Skahducky: First prize to you too. Ok, so more people read the lot than I had expected…

Hplovars: Hey! An enthusiastic fan!

Satans lil sis: Weird good or weird bad?

Ian

Litine

Dodo: Thank you!!

Princess55

Windswift: Oh she'll kill you all right. Just in a different way than you were expecting.

JuniperRose07

Lanfear & Adrianna

Fain Oakenbringer

Greeneyes: Why do you think I should up the rating. There's no sex and not all that much violence.. yet. JKR's Harry Potter is G, isn't it?

Amerz: I haven't decided on romance yet, but it looks like r/h.

Shinystars007

Lady Valura

Amy

Pheonix Flight: Thanks a million for your names! I'm thinking of using some of the others as well.

Ssjgoddesschico

Latke Girl: Oh that's ok, I love the Lion King.

Lupin's Neice AJ

K.H.T.

Ooh, that was fun. Haven't done a good thanks list in ages. Hope you all like this chapter. School will start soon so don't get your hopes up for more immediately.

~* Love Laterose *~