SERPENTINE
By Yih
Not beta'd
Chapter 4
Three Headed Dilemma
THE THREE HEADED dog was going to be a problem, and a very severe problem at that. He had barely escaped getting injured by the three pair of jaws that had been after his flesh and bones. But he had found what he had been after. Now he was positive that the stone had to be what the bloody hound was guarding. It had only been at the last moment that he had caught sight of the trapdoor that had been beneath the paws. It was the second time that night he had thanked his foster father for the rigid training regiment that he had been put under. Not only had he been quick on his feet to get out of the sodding mutt's way, but he had never lost his concentration nor his attention to detail.
"Harry," Draco snapped, not happy that he wasn't delivering the amount of attention that was required when the Malfoy heir was speaking to him it seemed, "you almost walked into the filthy mudblood."
It was only then that Harry noticed that he had indeed almost run into the Granger girl, and though he managed to avoid it--- some of her books had scattered onto the floor. He saw the two crimson stains flame up her cheeks, and he also noticed that she seemed to be very much by herself. Longbottom and Weasley weren't anywhere in sight and it was blessing too because he didn't think that Weasley would take too kind to a Slytherin insulting anyone from his house even if it was a know-it-all.
Seeing as Draco was certainly not going to lower himself to help the muggleborn girl, Harry dropped to his knees besides her and quickly gathered up her books for her. He could hear Draco's gasp of surprise and could only imagine the shocked expression on the face of Narcissa's son. "I apologize," Harry murmured, "I did not see you, Granger."
"It's all right," she responded, and he noted the surprised nuance of her voice. "Thank you."
"It was my fault, so there is no need to thank me," Harry replied courteously, but his voice was coolly neutral with a well-bred politeness that Draco seemed to appalling lack when he was dealing with anyone that he thought was beneath the dirt he walked on. His foster brother would do well to learn some cold manners that he knew Narcissa had in spades. Draco was in ways very much his mother's son, but there were differences in Draco especially in that he was much more emotionally bound than his mother and that seemed to be an inheritance from Lucius.
"Uh… I need to go to class," she blurted and then ran off in the opposite direction that they were headed. Harry assumed that she must be off to Defense, which had been the class they had just come from. If that were the case, then he pitied her. Professor Quirrell's stutter was enough to grate on anyone's nerves, even ones that had been desensitized by Cruciatus.
Draco tugged on his arm forcefully. "Come on Harry, let's get to class." Harry didn't need to look at Draco's face to know that his foster brother was annoyed by the courtesy he had shown the muggleborn Gryffindor. "I don't see why," Draco complained to him in a low whisper, "why you're so polite to her."
"One day, she's going to be a very powerful witch."
-
HE HAD FOUND no way to get past the three headed beast yet. It was infuriating how close to serious injury that he had gotten. He had been close to minor ones, but a small scratch he could endure under some pain potions that he brew in an empty classroom that he had found that miraculously had all the supplies that he needed to make the potion he required.
It had been his whatever number attempt in whatever number of days. He also had to contend with the problem of getting past both Filch and Snape to get to the forbidden corridor to try his luck. Though he didn't think that Snape would punish him for being out after curfew, it would probably make the Potions Master curious as to why he was out of bounds. It would be best for him if no one was the least bit suspicious of him. Being overly cautious had put a hitch to his plans to though. He wasn't going to get to the stone before the holidays.
He had tried hinting to Lucius that he might like to remain at Hogwarts, but Lucius had told him in a blunt letter that he had to return to Malfoy Manor. It would not do for Draco to come back home and for him not to. If he was going to stay, then Draco would have to stay too and Narcissa wouldn't even consider that option. That bitch was going to have hell to pay when he resurrected his father into the flesh again.
"Aren't you glad to be going home?" Draco inquired aloud as they both were lying on their backs on their respective beds. "No more stupid foolish Gryffindors, no more snoring Crabbe and Goyle, and no more criticizing Zabini."
"Aren't you forgetting the schoolwork?"
"Yes! And no more miserable schoolwork to do!" Draco exclaimed. "This Christmas is going to be the best yet. I can't wait to see what presents I've got. Aren't you excited Harry? Wouldn't it be wonderful if we both got the new Nimbus 2000 for our presents?"
Harry shrugged. He could care less about going back to Malfoy Manor, of getting presents, or anything of that sort. All that he cared about was not to fail his real father, not that Draco knew that Lucius wasn't really his father. Draco really did believe that Harry was his twin, though didn't Draco think it was a bit odd that they had never been instinctively close like more twins were reputed to be?
"I can't believe you aren't excited!" Draco sounded appalled.
"There are more important things in life than Nimbus 2000s."
"But not many that are faster or sleeker in model!"
"You are too materialistic."
Draco smirked. "And gorgeous."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Have you started packing yet?"
"Of course! I'm done. Have you?"
He had other things to do than pack. Besides, he knew if he waited long enough that Draco would end up doing it for him rather than risk being delayed in going home with the earliest group of students. "No," Harry admitted, "I haven't. It's late. I can pack in the morning."
Draco's eyes widened. "You must pack now!"
Harry yawned. "I'm sleepy."
Draco glared at him and threw a pillow. "Sleepy head."
Harry grabbed the pillow and tucked it underneath his head. He was sleepy. He hadn't got much in the past few months and he was fully going to take advantage of tonight and sleep. It wasn't like he was going to get anywhere exploring possibilities now that he wasn't staying for the holidays. And when he heard shrinking charms going off all around him, he knew he had been the master of manipulation. Draco was packing for him.
He was a true Slytherin.
-
ONE OF THESE days, he would like to tell Narcissa to her face how much he loathed her. He was thankful he had finally escaped the bitch and her bitching. She derived too much pleasure in criticizing him. Like how he was never as wonderfully turned out as her Draco was. Of course he wasn't, no one could be as well turned out as Draco. Draco spent hours in front of the bloody mirror to accomplish that.
He took a deep breath of relief as he was finally able to cancel out the glamour charm he had been wearing for months on end. He had forgotten how good it felt to be in his own skin again without any charms cast over them. Even though a glamour charm was far more comfortable than a Polyjuice body, it was still not as comfortable as being without it. There was a heaviness attached to the charm no matter how good it was cast nor how much power was put into it. It weighed on the wearer.
"You looked good as a Malfoy," Harry could recognize Lucius's voice anywhere, "but you look right as a Riddle."
Harry smiled at his reflection in the mirror. He did look quite a bit like his father, didn't he? He had the same dark hair that tended to curl in an unruly fashion. He had the very same fine nose that seemed aristocratic. And he had his father's cheekbones. But his eyes, his eyes were his mother's. He wished he had gotten the chance to know his mother. It was too bad that she had died in childbirth.
"Thank you."
"It's good to have you back at the Manor, Harry."
Harry nodded solemnly. He wasn't exactly unhappy to be back. He enjoyed his conversations with Lucius. He also enjoyed the immense book collection that was stored in the Library, something he fully intended to make use of while he was home for the holidays. There had to be something about the philosopher's stone in one of the tomes. And then there was the expectation of speaking to his father…
"It's good to be back."
-
Harry.
It was his father. Voldemort. "Father."
My son.
The greeting was always the same. "I know what you expect of me." Harry knew better than to hide what he knew from his father. "I will retrieve the philosopher's stone for you at the year's end."
I expect no less.
"Father," he hesitated at first, but he had to assuage his curiosity, "may I ask a question?"
You may.
The questions were burning, but he knew which he had to ask. "Will the philosopher's stone resurrect you?"
No.
"Then…"
It will give me immortality.
He knew that, but there had to be another reason for wanting the stone. The other unknown properties… "But…"
Think on that, Harry. We will talk more next time. The swirl of words faded and Harry knew Voldemort had gone. He was alone again, and he was as confused as ever. But his father had given him clues, vague clues but clues nonetheless. He would think on it.
-
CHRISTMAS DIDN'T GO by slow enough for Draco's taste. At the beginning of the holidays, he had been determined to reconcile his twin with their mum but to no avail. Neither mum nor Harry would give an inch. They would be civil in each other's presence, but the underlining animosity and dislike was obvious. Draco didn't understand. They were mother and son; they ought to get along better. Why didn't they share the relationship that he and mum shared? Even his relationship with their father wasn't as strained as Harry's and their mum. It was strange.
"We're already back at Hogwarts," Draco remarked with distaste.
"The holidays are over," Harry stated simply. "Now it is time to get back to work."
"You and work," Draco muttered. "You ought to have spent more time with us," he emphasized deliberately, "rather than hiding yourself in the bloody library all the time. You have excellent grades. I don't understand why you need to study. You're easily tops in all the classes we're taking. You don't need the extra studying. You could probably breeze through the entire seven years at Hogwarts without cracking open a book. We know much more than what is being taught here."
"It is the Malfoy motto," Harry murmured, "to be the best and always the best."
That true, what his twin was saying. But that didn't mean that Harry needed to study ever single second of every single day. It was also a Malfoy motto to take the fullest of life and seize it. "You are also forgetting our other motto, brother," Draco drawled. "Seize what life offers. You are holing yourself up with your books and not making the most of seizing what is there. What kind of Malfoy are you?"
Harry shrugged carelessly. "A better one than you."
Draco narrowed his eyes. He didn't need the verbal reminder from Harry what he could feel his mum hinting at. Mum had told him in a circumvented manner that he wasn't behaving like Lucius's eldest son. He wasn't behaving like the Malfoy heir. He had seen his father glancing at him more than once in a speculative and thoughtful manner through the holidays. He wasn't measuring up to Harry. Harry acted more like the Malfoy heir than he did, even if he was the elder.
"Harry…" he growled warningly.
"I'm going to the library," Harry announced nonchalantly. "Are you coming or not?"
He had no choice but to follow.
-
THE BOOKS ON three-headed dogs were of no use. There wasn't much on them other than the obvious. That three-headed dogs were rare, dangerous, and excellent guards. What Harry really wished to know was what had to be unobvious? Like how to soothe a three-headed dog such that it would let a person by to see whatever it was hiding. The only good thing that he had going for him was that he already knew what the damn dog was hiding. The question was how to get it.
He might inquire from the Care of Magical Creatures Professor, that old miser had to know but he didn't want to draw any suspicions toward him. He had seen the way the Headmaster had looked at him, really looked at him and he had the idea that Albus Dumbledore knew that there was something slightly off about him. Had the sorting hat told his secret?
It might be dangerous for him if Dumbledore knew that he wasn't really a Malfoy, that instead he was the last heir of Slytherin--- at least until he could resurrect his bodiless father. He knew quite well the rivalry that Albus Dumbledore and Lord Voldemort had shared. The headmaster had been on the side of the light and his father had been on decidedly on the dark side. But what could Dumbledore do to him? That was an interesting thing to think on. It wasn't like Dumbledore could expel him for doing anything wrong only for being the son of the Dark Lord. And that was plain discriminatory.
Hardly acceptable behavior for a highly respected headmaster as Albus Dumbledore most assuredly was. Harry decided not to concern himself with whatever Dumbledore might do. If Dumbledore did anything, well then, he knew that his foster father could deal with him. After all, wasn't Lucius the well positioned Governor of the School? If there was anyone that had at least the amount of power that Dumbledore had over Hogwarts, it was Lucius Malfoy.
And he could trust Lucius to make sure nothing happened to him.
He slammed the book shut loud enough to garner a glare from the librarian. He inwardly scowled, though outwardly he smiled apologetically. It would never to do have the librarian mad at him. He needed to be the definition of a courteous and respectful student, a student that all teachers liked. Well, except for one, he thought with narrowing eyes, Professor McGonagall. For one that was supposedly fair, she definitely did not like Slytherins very much, even a polite and kind one like he was.
Replacing the book back onto the shelf, he decided it was time that he asked for help. He was getting no closer and the end of the school year was drawing close. There was no time to waste.
-
Father,
I need your help.
Harry.
-
My son,
Ask and you shall receive.
Father.
-
"TROLL!" QUIRRELL EXCLAIMED. "Troll in the dungeon—thought you ought to know." The stuttering professor sank into a dead faint. Somehow, Harry found it hard to be surprised.
Well it seemed what he had asked for had arrived. He needed a distraction, and a distraction he got. He hadn't known what form it would be in, but Lucius had reassured him that it would be unmistakable when the opportunity presented itself. Indeed, it was quite obvious. It was unfortunate that he still had not discovered how to calm the damn three-headed dog yet. It looked like he was going to get to try several ideas though… and hopefully not get his head bitten off.
Everyone around him was panicking and it was not making it easy for him to slip away to the third floor corridor without being seen. Problem, problem, he thought with increasing agitation. "Silence!" Dumbledore exclaimed from his spot at the head table. Never had Harry ever thought he'd ever be grateful to the old coot. "Prefects! Lead your Houses back to the dormitories immediately."
This was his opportunity. All he had to do, as he mentally allowed himself to be dragged by Draco toward the Slytherin dorms, was to detach himself from Draco's grasping arms and get away without attracting too much attention to his person. That would be easily accomplished; he highly doubted that Draco would risk his own neck to save anyone's, even his twin's.
Pretending to stumble, he fell to his knees and to his absolute shock Draco stopped, turned, and when he saw that he was on the floor, barreled his way back against the flow of survivor-minded Slytherins to his side. "Now is not the time to display your un-Malfoyish awkwardness," Draco snapped in his typically critical tone. Harry saw that Draco wasn't going to leave him here and when Draco's arm started descending toward his wrist to yank him to his feet, he knew he had no choice but to…
"Praesieo-sedi-ere," he whispered softly enough that no one would hear but forcefully enough that the lesser sister spell of Imperius would work. It didn't quite have the power of the Unforgivable command, but Harry didn't expect Draco to have the resistance of mind to repel the attack when he wasn't expecting it. As he predicted, Draco had a slightly glazed look in his eyes that said he was under Harry's complete power. "Go back to the dorm and if anyone asks for me, tell them I'm in my bed sleeping and make sure that if they check that you've spelled a disturb-me-not charm on my bed to distract any possible visitors. Now go."
Draco went, and Harry had a dog to deal with.
-
Author's Note: Let me know how this chapter went. This has been done for over a month, but I was waiting for my beta to get to it. Obviously, she isn't so I decided to go ahead and release it anyway. I hope you enjoyed it and I desperately need feedback so I know whether or not to continue this. The next chapter has been stuck in a midway point for the last month and a half. Thanks for any feedback and I'd loved to know what you think will happen next! Thanks.