Chapter 8: "Dinner With Dumbledore"

~*~*~*~*~*~

"No, thank you, Headmaster," Harry said, refusing the proffered Lemon Drop.

Albus set down the plate of lemon drops and leaned back in his chair. "So, you're a Parseltongue, Harry? Strange. Very strange indeed."

"Parseltongue, sir?"

"You can speak with snakes. People who can do that are know as Parseltongues. Salazar Slytherin himself was one, as well as Voldemort. So, you see, that is odd, because Parseltongue is a hereditary thing, and you are not one of the descendants of Salazar Slytherin, nor were any of your relatives Parseltongues."

"Oh."

"Yes. 'Oh.' Of course, there is one solution, but it may or may not make sense in the long run."

"What is that, sir?"

"If," Dumbledore then pointed at Harry's scar, "Voldemort transferred some of his own traits to you while giving you that scar."

Harry stared at him with a blank look.

Dumbledore sighed-another tired-yet-patient one-and began to explain. "Magic is a complicated thing, Harry. When Voldemort attempted to kill you, not only did he fail, if backfired on him. Therefore, some of the power he had is possibly yours now. Which would also explain a few other things."

"I killed him?"

"No, of course not. Even the strongest wizards have failed at that. But you did manage to rip him of his body, and almost all of his power. He now thrives on other people's bodies and souls. You haven't killed him, but you have postponed his claim to the throne of power. That is a very good thing. It's one of the things that you're famous for, Harry."

"So I became... fused with his power because he was almost killed trying to kill me? How... powerful does that make me?"

Dumbledore chuckled. "There is no way to actually tell that right now, child. But it is time for dinner, which, tonight, I believe, is including American Buffalo. If I remember correctly, a common name for it is 'Rocky Mountain Oysters.' I don't know why, but-"he snapped his fingers and a two complete meals appeared on his desk, "-let's eat."

~*~*~*~*~*~

They ate the ridiculous meal in silence, while Severus, in the Great Hall, ate with the other teachers...

"Why, Severus. I missed you at lunch and breakfast, today. Catching up on your work?"

Severus turned to the offending Professor. It was Flitwick. "I went to Diagon Alley, Filibus. I was busy."

"Oh. Picking up necessary Potions ingredients for your complex concoctions?" the nosy teacher questioned, looked on by most of the other Professors as well.

"That, among other things, Flitwick," he told the other Professor. "Not that it is any business of yours."

"Same old Severus," Flitwick muttered at the departing mage with robes billowing about his ankles. Turning to McGonagall, "I thought you said Albus could brighten the young man up, Minerva?"

"So did I," she responded. "Oh, and avoid the Buffalo. The Headmaster doesn't know what it is, but I do." She had vacationed in New England, in the United States, and knew they kindly referred to Buffalo testicles as 'Rocky Mountain Oysters,' what the Headmaster had kindly served that night for dinner.

Flitwick nodded quickly. "Oh, sure thing, Minerva. Something about it just didn't seem right." He paused, his face getting a sly look. "You think you could transfigure it into a pot roast, Minerva?"

She smiled, and the two friends went off to see, switching the topic of discussion to which house one Harry Potter would be placed in during the Sorting, less than two weeks away.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Dumbledore finished the last bite of his meal and leaned back again. "That was alright. I've had better, but... well it wasn't bad."

Harry agreed and waited for Dumbledore to continue.

"So, Harry. Back to our conversation."

Harry nodded.

"I don't think it's legal for you to have a venomous snake in this school. In fact, I'm almost sure it's not. But..." his eyes twinkled. "Rarely are there people who can control the snake by speaking with it. I believe that if no one else knows of this Cobra, you may be able to keep it, but only if you control it."

From inside Harry's robe came a rather annoyed-sounding hiss.

"Err... Vitesse is a female, sir. I think that may be why she's angry."

"Ah, of course."

"What if there is another Parseltongue in coming to school? Can I tell her?"

"Do you know something I don't, Harry?"

A hiss sounded from Harry's robe.

Dumbledore chuckled. "I'd catch the intentions of this person before telling her, Harry. You never know who could be against you in the end."

Harry nodded.

"Now, on to more business. You got everything you need for school in Diagon Alley today?"

"Yes, sir."

"Do you want to talk about the Dursleys?"

Harry hesitated. "Sir? I... I think I told you everything, sir."

"No, Harry, you know you don't, and I know you don't. But I hope that when the time comes you will tell me. You will, won't you?"

"Yes, sir."

Dumbledore nodded. "And how is Severus treating you?"

"Very well. He seems nice enough."

Albus chuckled. "You think so, Harry? Just wait until he's your teacher."

This frightened Harry a bit. He knew what the Headmaster was insinuating, and he didn't like it. Was Snape a harsh teacher? Would he be, even after their time together before term?

"Should I go, Headmaster?"

"You promise to see me if Vitesse or this other Parseltongue does anything strange. And if you want, or need, to talk about the Dursleys." It wasn't a question. It was a strong statement, coming from an old and firm Headmaster.

"Yes, sir."

"Do you know how to get back to Severus's chambers from here?"

Harry remembered the way. "Yes, sir."

"Then you may take yourself there. Good day, Harry Potter."

"Good bye, Headmaster."

After a hiss from his robe, Harry walked out, under the invisibility cloak once again.

Harry walked three hallways without incident, heading for the dungeon stairs, until, from behind him, he heard a hiss. He could tell it was not a snake's hiss, but a cat's and immediately thought of what Dumbledore had said about a cat named Mrs. Norris.

In response, Vitesse hissed at the cat from Harry's waist, causing the boy to jump. Harry hissed at Vitesse to be quiet, but It was too late. An ugly man turned a corner and walked up to the cat.  Must be Filch, Harry thought to himself.

"Aw, Mrs. Norris. What did you find? It isn't even term yet; no students to punish for another week and more. What has upset you?"

The cat hissed again, and Harry turned to run. Unfortunately, he was not as graceful as a cat, and his feet made loud sounds every time they landed. Filch heard them, and started. "Peeves! What are you doing!" he yelled, looking desperately around. But by then, Harry was a safe distance away, almost to Snape's chambers, and his footsteps were quickly fading.

He knocked at the door because he didn't know the password to get in. Soon enough, Severus opened the door for him.

"Why are you breathing hard?" Severus asked when Harry had deposited his Invisibility Cloak on the table and sat heavily in the leather recliner.

"I ran into Filch."

Severus's Onyx eyes widened slightly. "And what happened?"

"I ran."

Severus snorted. "Oh, brilliant decision, Harry."

"Why did he yell 'Peeves?'"

Severus sat back down. "Peeves is a poltergeist. Haunts the building. He likes to bother Filch during the term. And before, apparently."

Harry smiled, and Vitesse slid out of his robes to curl on his lap again. "Dumbledore suggested a few books for me. I don't suppose you have them, eh?"

"I might. Unfortunately I am not a mind-reader and need you to give me the titles before I can know."

Harry rolled his eyes maturely and said, "'Quidditch Through the Ages', and anything on Parseltongue."

"I have 'Quidditch Through the Ages,' somewhere, and I'm sure there are some books on Parseltongue over there." He pointed.

Harry, much to Vitesse's distress, stood to retrieve the books. Coming back with about four, he set three down on the table, and lay back to read, with, once again, the Cobra asleep on his lap.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Author's Note: I'm very proud of myself, here. I'm just uploaded Chapter 8! Am I the only one thrilled? Next Chapter is the start of term!!! We'll just have to see what happens there, now won't we?

Reviewers!

starange12106: Thanks! another Five points for me... that brings me to 40! Alright. Let's just see how much fun Harry has... I'm guessing it depends... (hint, hint)...

Kayla Summers: I try to update as soon as possible always; that can vary between one time in one week and three times in one day... like today! It's fun, actually...

shirriez: Harry's house will be revealed in the next chapter... (mysterious, eh?). Harry's Parseltongue is a mystery to most, and may or may not be revealed to the majority of the school... (another mysterious...). I speak Latin and French, and felt like doing something different... besides, I like French, and think it is a wonderful language to use for names : ). Vanella is similar to Vanilla, and I love it. I've used the name Vanella in many of my fiction stories, and I thought it would fit in with her character, here. Thanks!

That's it for Chapter 7 reveiws...I only put it up a few hours ago, after all... ah, well. If I get any more for chapter 7, I'll respond in chapter 9. Check tomorrow for Chapter 9!

"Start-of-Term and the Sorting Surprise!"