**Chapter 20!!! Finally a milestone! I hope it's a good one.
My mailing list is building again, so please tell me if you want to be on it.
I've decided not to change the title. You're right, the story swerves from it – but then so does the Goblet of Fire so there's no problem there.
I hope you enjoy this chapter, as you know it has taken me WEEKS in dribs and drabs because I'm working all the time!!
Ahem, oh yeah, as well as being posted in French by nanouk, Fifth Year is now being translated into Dutch by Ilonka. So loads of thanks to you, and that's where to go if you want to read this fic in either of those languages. **
He'd been putting elastic bands around the daffodils when he'd caught a chill.
He'd done it so many times, there was a kind of rhythm to it – grab, bend, twist, release, and so on.
Over and over he did it, wishing there were less of the flowers in the garden.
He'd always liked daffodils, to a certain extent, but there was something very irritating about having to look after them so much.
Grab, bend, and twist…
A drop of rain fell onto his hand. He looked up at the steadily blackening clouds.
It was hardly warm to begin with, and he was only wearing a too-large T-shirt and jeans which were soaked through and clammy with dew.
He'd been trying to forget the cold, concentrating on his work, occasionally drifting into a daydream about going back to school, but if it rained…
He kept working. Grab, bend, and twist…
It started spitting. Please don't let it do more than that, he thought as he wound an elastic band round, and round…
Snap! He pulled his hand back and sucked it. The band had broken while he hadn't been concentrating.
As he knelt over in the dirt, the rain running down the back of his shirt, he felt something hard hit his shoulder.
He whipped round. There was nothing, only the wind. Something hit him again, on his head, and he looked up. A large clump of frozen rain hit him in the face.
It was hailing. Brilliant. Tentatively he went to the back door of the house and knocked. The door was locked and he didn't have a key.
His aunt opened it.
"What do you want?" she demanded.
"It's starting to hail, Aunt Petunia."
"So?"
"Well.. I was wondering if I could come inside until it stops."
"Pathetic excuse," said his uncle from behind her. "Back to work, boy, and I want all those weeds up too. Out, now, or you'll get the hiding of your life."
Sighing, he obeyed. He tried in vain to shelter his head with his arms as he ran back to the flowerbeds.
He knelt down, feeling the icy grass crunch beneath him.
Mid-June, he thought. It's mid-June. Someone in heaven has a really bad grudge for me. Or maybe it's just a punishment.
He stayed in the garden all day, and the next day he was back out there, shivering with fever.
Mrs. Figg told him he ought to be in bed, but he told her it was just a cold, and complimented her on the apples that were hanging over the back wall. She let him have one.
He wondered briefly whether he was going to die. He had a fever that wasn't being taken care of, after all.
But then he changed his mind. That would be too easy. Way to easy for whoever was writing the story of his life.
I have to have a heroic death, he thought. Or people won't believe it.
That's when he had the idea.
**
"Is that you, Harry?"
The black cat in the doorway yawned. Who else?
"I've been waiting for ages. Everyone else is at breakfast."
You didn't have to wait.
"Hermione asked me to. Someone has to make sure that you eat enough. Especially today." Ron shuddered at the thought of practically triple potions that afternoon.
The cat hopped onto the bed and turned into a fifteen year old boy, who started pulling on his shoes.
"I suppose you're going to insist."
"Indefinitely."
Harry looked up at his friend. "That sounded very weird coming out of your mouth. How much have you been hanging around with Hermione lately?"
"Not enough." There was a brief pause. "I wish we could tell her."
"Me too."
"You think we should?"
"I don't know. I think I want to keep it just us for a bit longer. You know, just until we get used to it."
"Ok. But let's just stick with her a bit more, all right. I feel awful leaving her out of everything."
Harry nodded, got up and led the way to the staircase.
"Harry?"
"Yeah?"
"Would you have… I mean, if we hadn't, you know, would you have kept it from me, too?"
"Probably."
Ron winced. "How?"
"I don't know."
It was a bright, sunny Thursday morning, and the two of them could forget the unpleasant dreams they'd had the previous night.
Ron still wasn't sure if Harry was dreaming the same as he was, and he didn't want to ask.
They reached the Great Hall just in time for Harry to eat enough to satisfy Hermione, and then they made their way upstairs to the Charms classroom.
Professor Flitwick was waiting, and when the bell rang he took the register.
"Now," he said in his squeaky voice when he was finished. "Your O.W.L.s are drawing ever closer…"
Everyone groaned. Professor's McGonagall and Binns had both given them similar lectures.
"Which of course means you need to be prepared. You know many simple charms…" several people snorted.
"And a few harder ones. But a spell does not exist on it's own, you know. Each spell has it's own level of power…"
Harry didn't remember anything of what Professor Flitwick told them. He knew it all anyway.
When Flitwick got onto the subject of the homework he had set them about the subject that interested them he collected them in and marked them as they copied from the textbook.
After copying it out at top speed, (he cheated a little with a dictation spell, muttering the words to his quill), he watched Professor Flitwick marking the papers.
The little man sighed noticeably when he picked up Hermione's folder full of parchment. After a moment he put it aside to mark last. He sifted through the other papers.
Harry could tell when the Professor had reached his own, because he stopped abruptly and separated the three pages. His eyes widened and he almost fell off his cushions when he saw the total.
He looked up, and Harry met his eyes squarely. They smiled at each other. Flitwick motioned to the work on Harry's desk with a questioning look.
Harry nodded and mouthed, "finished."
Professor Flitwick rolled his eyes in mock exasperation and went back to reading the essays.
Harry snuck a look at Ron's parchment. He was only on the third line of text. He had a feeling he could be waiting for a while, so he picked his Animal book out of his bag and started reading it under the desk.
Ron noticed what he was doing and grinned at him.
When everyone else was finished, Flitwick set them questions, annoyed that they'd finished before he'd finished marking.
Harry finished them all in ten minutes and carried on reading. In addition to the ones Fletcher had shown him, he now had the knowledge of several more under his belt and couldn't wait to try them out.
He jumped about a foot off his chair when the bell rang. Ron laughed and packed up.
The three of them chatted happily as they moved away for break.
Hermione was happy and chatty again now that they were talking to her as well as each other, though she was still a little sore at them for not telling her previously about Harry's shield.
The fact that she'd had to be revived from a dead faint made her a little edgy perhaps, but she kept talking about how amazing and how rare it was until Harry changed the subject.
They had been planning to find a sunny spot somewhere in the castle and sit there, but Angelina caught up with them.
"Harry!" she called. "Harry, I found that girl I told you about. You know, for Keeper. I've organised a practise for next week, and you can approve her."
"You're the captain," Harry objected. "You approve her."
"I want this to be a team decision," said Angelina firmly. "Oliver's even coming over one day next week, so I can get him to have a look at her, too."
"Oliver?" Harry exclaimed. "What for?"
"Oh, something about his new girlfriend. She's coming to see someone who goes to the school, or something. Anyway, just thought I'd let you know." She hurried off down the corridor
"Thanks!" Harry called after her.
"Come on," said Hermione, tugging at his arm. "We're going to be late for Potions!"
As it turned out, they were late anyway.
"Potter, Granger, Weasley, ten points from Gryffindor for your tardiness," Snape snapped, as they ran into the classroom seconds after the bell had rung.
They knew better not to argue, and made their way to the back desk, which had, out of habit, been reserved for them.
Like Professor Flitwick, Snape did not seem to be up to a practical lesson on the first class of term. He set them work to do, and collected their homework in.
As he took Harry's paper he bent right over so their heads were level. Harry repressed the urge to shudder as the Potions master hissed into his ear, but he didn't look up.
"I've heard about your remarkable talents, Potter," he spat. "And I must warn you that any wandless magic in my class and Gryffindor will be so far behind they won't get up to zero until term ends."
And I thought two points on my first day was a big deal, Harry remembered, smiling grimly.
He decided, however, that wandless magic would indeed be a bad idea, especially as Draco Malfoy was watching him intently from the other side of the dungeon.
Instead, he did the set work as well as he possibly could. Potions still wasn't his strong point, and he was pretty sure that he'd got quite a few if not all of the questions wrong.
There was about fifteen minutes left of the lesson when Harry felt a something brush up against his leg, and he froze, his head pounding.
~Harry? What is it?~ Ron asked silently. Then he, too, froze in horror as something scaly touched him.
From the back of the class upward, people started screaming and jumping onto their stools. Malfoy was the only one, apart from Harry and Ron who stayed in his seat, his expression unreadable behind a curtain of white-blond hair.
Even Hermione squeaked and looked quickly under the table. Harry saw a flash of black moving up the aisles between desks.
~ Someone you know?~ Ron asked Harry in a would-be-calm voice.
Harry had a feeling it was. That tail was too small to be Azrith, but…
Snape was doing his best to calm everyone down while trying to find out what was going on. He whipped around just in time to see a long, black, something slither out of sight behind the cupboard.
"POTTER!!!"
There was utter silence at Snape's outburst. A little surprised himself, Harry stood up.
"Yes, sir?"
"Don't 'yes sir' me! You deliberately put that… that thing in here before class!"
"How could he have Professor?" said Ron quickly, before Harry could protest. "We've been with him all afternoon."
"Oh, and I'm supposed to believe you?" Snape spat at Ron.
"I really didn't, sir," said Harry trying very hard not to laugh at the expression on Snape's face. "He's been missing for a couple of days now. I didn't think to look for him…"
"Missing?" Snape exclaimed. "And it's been here the whole time?"
"I doubt that, sir," said Harry. "he doesn't like it down here."
"Then what - "
"I suppose he was looking for me," said Harry.
Snape held his breath, clenched his fists and raised them above his head. He seemed to be counting to a hundred very fast. Aunt Petunia had used to do that.
Would you rather freeze to death…?
The whole class now had their eyes fixed on Harry and Snape, Harry determined, Snape furious, standing face to face at the back of the class.
The Slytherins looked overjoyed, and even Draco Malfoy looked up with the usual vindictive smile at the amount of points Harry was going to lose for setting a dangerous animal loose in the classroom.
Snape, however, was too exasperated to do anything other than stand there looking at Harry for the next minute or so, until Harry said, tentatively,
"So… should I move him, then? Only I bet they've all scared him with screaming and that."
Snape nodded, his face blank white and his lips a tight line. He's terrified, Harry realised. He's actually afraid. Maybe I shouldn't have stood him up in front of the whole class
~ What are you talking about? ~ Ron demanded. ~I'm enjoying this, don't spoil it!~
Harry pulled himself back together. Without taking his eyes off Snape's, he whispered,
"Sleeve? Is that you? Come out, I'll take you back."
The class gasped as one as Harry spoke, and then again as the black snake showed himself, slithering around the bottom of the cupboard containing potion ingredients, up Harry's arm and about his neck.
Several of the girls squealed.
"Where've you been?" Harry asked, still staring straight at Snape, who was even paler, if possible, than before.
"I was exploring. Trying to find followers for you. There are many in the castle. I have found some. They want to talk to you."
"Go, Potter," said Snape, his voice tight as though his throat was constricted.
Harry fled.
~ Harry! ~
The urgency of Ron's voice made him stop halfway up the stairs.
Ron? What? What is it?
~ Harry… I heard it! ~
What?
~ I heard that snake talk to you! It was incredible! But… but that's.. I mean…"
Dark Magic, I know. It's probably got something to do with the bond…~ Y' think?! ~
We'll talk about it later. I've got a meeting lined up.
Back in the classroom, Ron had gone white, and his hands were shaking.
"Ron?" said Hermione worriedly. "Ron, what is it?"
he looked up at her, his eyes wild.
"Don't tell me you're afraid of snakes too," said Hermione, trying to sound scornful but anxiety was still evident in her voice.
Ron took a while to register what she'd said. "No," he said finally. "No, no, I'm fine."
They both went back to their notes. Ron opened the connection to Harry immediately, and started chattering frantically to his friend. Harry's calm words made him relax slightly.
Hermione forced her own fear down. She knew Harry, he wasn't evil. What he had just done had made her skin crawl, but she was sure there was an explanation. She'd get it later.
As for Ron – he needed looking after. Well, Hermione could do that.
Definitely.
…
Harry had been expecting several things. He hadn't been expecting what he found in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom on the first floor.
"Why here?" he asked.
"It is a secret place," said Sleeve, still curled comfortably around Harry's neck. He seemed very glad they were finally back together.
"You and your friends are the only ones who come here."
Harry didn't ask how Sleeve knew that. He wasn't sure he wanted to hear a story about his friend waiting behind a toilet all that time, to see if anyone came in.
Although he himself had a good relationship with snakes, the very thought made him shudder.
"For a very young snake, you have a remarkably cocky streak," he said instead, as he put his hand on the doorknob.
"I think the slimy man rubbed off on me," said Sleeve.
Harry would have laughed, but what he saw once the door was opened struck him completely dumb with shock.
…
…
…
…
Hmm, should I????
…
…
…
…
Nah.
…
…
…
…
Snakes.
Black snakes of all shapes and sizes lay draped over the sinks and floor.
Myrtle was sitting cross legged in mid air, chatting to them.
What surprised Harry was that, although she spoke in English, the snakes were answering her, and she likewise.
"Myrtle!"
The ghost girl looked up. "Oh, it's you," she said happily.
"I was wondering when you would turn up. These friends of yours are really good company, did you know?"
"You can talk to them?!"
"Of course I can," scoffed Myrtle, in a voice that suggested she was extremely enjoying doing this to Harry. "Ghosts can talk to all creatures, didn't you know?"
Harry shook this off. There were more important things.
"Myrtle, no one does ever come in here anymore, do they? I mean, the first years…"
"Oh them," said Myrtle, pouting slightly. "No. They came in the first few days after term started, but no one comes at all now. It's so… so lonely… sometimes…"
She started to cry.
"Myrtle…shhhh! I mean, don't, please…. Look, when I go, I'll leave some of the snakes with you, ok? I mean, since you like them so much, and you're the only one in the castle besides me who can understand them…"
Me and Ron, Harry thought.
Myrtle cheered up slightly at this, and she sniffed. "Would you really? They're very friendly. I used to be afraid of them, before… when I was alive, that is, but they're not scary at all. They're absolutely charming, aren't they?"
"Yes." Harry decided that it would not be a good time to tell Myrtle that she had in fact been killed by a snake, since no one appeared to have told her yet.
If he upset her, she was going to have a teacher down here, and besides, what else could he do with all those snakes?
When he went back to Gryffindor tower, Sleeve and possibly a few others could come with him, but the rest would have to stay here.
Harry looked around at the snakes, who were watching him with intensity. The biggest by far was Azrith, who slithered forward to where all the others could see him.
"This is Harry, the new master," he said. "Named by us 'The Little Black One'. He offers us a new home and a new, better life than that the one who made us offered. He offers us a most marvellous thing. Choice."
There were hisses from the crowd as the usually solitary snakes conversed.
"He offers us a choice between wrong and right. Between slavery and loyalty. We must turn against the cruel one who destroys us as readily as he creates us. Let us join The Little Black One."
It was the closest a snake had ever come to public speaking. There was a hiss of triumph from the seething black mass on the bathroom floor.
"Good," said Harry. "Is that settled then? Only it's lunchtime, and I want a few of you in Gryffindor tower with me just in case…"
Sleeve rustled against his clothing, irritated.
"I know you're coming," said Harry.
"I should hope so!"Azrith looked up at Harry. Harry was just wondering how to turn Azrith down when he asked to come, when the huge snake did it himself.
"One thinks that I would be too big, Master. This one is more suited to what you require."
A tiny snake, just long enough to wrap around Harry's thin wrist twice, and only as wide as a pencil, came forward.
"Do you have a name?"
"No," said the snake. "None of us have names except Sleeve. That is a good name. I would like a name like that, please."
"Well," said Harry, kindly, as the snake wound itself around Harry's wrist as though it had been his birthright to be there. So comfortable.
"Sleeve isn't the only one with a name. That big one over there is called Azrith."
"I am?" said Azrith. He mulled this over a little. "How perfect. Yes, it suits me very well. But what about that one?" He indicated the little snake.
Harry sighed. Thinking up names was getting tiresome. But this one, he felt he already knew.
"Your name is Zedik."
The little snake hissed contentedly. "Yes. I like –"
"Master!!"
There was a voice from the doorway. A snake had met another snake who had come in through the door. They had exchanged news while Harry had been talking. Now, he spoke.
"Master! There is news! There is something… it is in the grounds. It is recognised… Master must hurry!"
…
**Ahh… a lovely cliffy. It is half term soon so I hope to update then. That gives you a max. of two weeks. Ah, well. (he, he).
Oh yeah, and stop flipping complaining! I am trying to update regularly but (as I keep constantly reminding people) I'm 14, It's end of year exam time, I have tons of work to do, and I'm behind as it is. Phew, that's out of my system.
It's great to finally do a thanks list. Thanks extra for all your great reviews up to chapter twenty.
Here be thanks:
John: I love those scenes too. Unfortunately I'm running out of stuff to surprise
people with . Ah, well. I'll come up with something.
Kateydidnt: I'm glad you like Mundungus. Me too.
Hrei-siesn: I'm planning on the bond being a big surprise for Harry's father
figures. I'll have fun writing that.
Storyweaver: Thanks for that list you gave me three times, you've made your
point clear! I'm still not sure about romance in this story, though it is certainly leaning in a R/Hm direction.
Fain Oakenbringer: Thanks!
Mell: I'm not sure whether a brain can itch. Maybe that's what headaches are.
Glad you like the bond.
Charma1219: Thanks!
Me: Thanks!
Lady Russell Holmes: I don't get your question. I know why I'd name a spider
'Web', cause they spin them, but Harry's 'Web' form is a frog, because they have webbed feet. Don't confuse me more than I already am! (lol) thanks anyway. I know this cliffie is nothing compared to your last, but there you are.
Inyisa: Neither am I, don't worry.
Skahducky: Thanks!
SlytherinAtHeart: Thank you!
Amerz: Thanks!
Princess55: Thanks!
Heyhun: 3 ½ hours ain't bad, not for my fic!!
Katani Peditedra: Thanks!
Riser155: I'm saving that for later – when? That's for me to know and you to
find out!
Phoenix Flight: Glad you're so enthusiastic! Thanks again for Pitch, dunno
what I would have done without it.
Bumblebee Bucy: Thanks!
Liberty Belleview: Maybe you really shouldn't eat so much chocolate… but I say you can 'cos it leads to humorous reviews! Thanks!
Anonomus: Thanks!
Ccs rox: Ah, the puppy eyes! Nooooooooooo!
Seth: Thanks!
Shinystars007: Thanks!
CSC: yeah, but Wendy does unusual stuff. Get used to it.
Hogwarts freak: Thanks!
Jordan: Well, I've told you now! As for Ron… maybe, but I doubt it. It's not
really his job in this story.
Rathien: Thanks!
Possible Cho Chang: Thanks!
Athelas: Remus wanting to attack Harry has nothing to do with the fact that he
is a werewolf. It has to do with a certain other black rodent… ringing any bells? I'm glad you like the story.
Chanzo654: You are the only one who has picked up on the key. It is
significant, but you're right, you don't get to know yet. I feel bad about Hermione too, I should be letting her in on some stuff soon.
Sean: Thanks!
August Wynd: If I hadn't decided I wasn't gonna change the title I would've used that one! So cool! But I think I like it as it is now. I'll have to reserve it for a chapter title.
Ella: Thanks!
Elysia: There was a bit more Snape in that chapter. I find it hard to write him
but he is an important part to the story. I'll put in more of him soon.
Cool person 33459: I have NOT forgotten about Harry's diary!!! And as for
Wendy, she's special. So there! Lol. (no flames meant in this reply) **smirk**
Pyro: Thanks!
Ssjgoddesschico: Thanks!
TinkerbellOfHell: Nice name! Thanks!
Litine: thanks!
Anya Wood: Hello! Aw, had scabby French Detention today. Blah. You doing
Cairo? We're only on the Nile, and it's boring! I like Mrs. Bentham. He, he, she's comin' after you!! I hope you enjoy E.R whenever it is on… anyhoo must give time to people who actually read my fic, now. (lol) (kill froggy!)
Lanfear (and Adrianna): Thanks!
Elrenia: No worries. I thought I made something clear, but I guess I didn't. I'll
write an extra bit in an upcoming chapter to explain about Wendy's husband. Thanks!
xMex: Thanks!
Andrea: thanks!
Darienetta Stoke: Yes, go Rose!
EriEka: When Harry said everything, he meant everything.
Phew, that took a while! Please review, you know I'm addicted!!!
Love
~*Laterose*~
**